Breast Reduction: Key Takeaways
- Overview: Breast reduction achieves a smaller, lighter breast size by removing excess fat, skin, and glandular tissue. This not only provides more proportional, rejuvenated breasts, but also alleviates chronic discomfort such as back and neck pain, bra strap indentations, and other symptoms.
- Benefits: By reshaping the breasts and removing excess tissue, breast reduction can alleviate the burdens of a heavy, overly large breast size. The nipples and areolas can also be made more proportional. Breast reduction surgery is widely known for making a positive impact on one’s confidence, self-image, and quality of life.
- Candidates: Breast reduction is ideal for healthy women who are at a stable weight and bothered by the weight/size of their breasts. Realistic expectations and a strong understanding of the breast reduction procedure are essential.
- Procedure: Performed under general anesthesia, breast reduction is an outpatient surgery. The length of the procedure ranges from 2 – 3 hours.
- Recovery: Downtime after breast reduction typically lasts one to two weeks, with most patients returning to non-strenuous work within 7 to 10 days. It can take months for all swelling to fully resolve.
- Cost in Wichita, KS: In Wichita, Kansas, the average price range for breast reduction is around $9,000; however, some insurances may provide coverage for qualified patients. Financing through CareCredit® may also make the procedure more affordable.
Large, heavy breasts can cause chronic pain in the upper back, neck, and shoulders. Often, patients are bothered by skin rashes below the breasts, especially during warmer weather. In addition, there may be interference with work, exercises, and normal activities due to one’s breast size. Buying clothes and bras that fit properly can also be very difficult.
Breast reduction is one of the most common breast surgeries performed by Shaw Plastic Surgery. When performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, the procedure can give patients who have heavy, excessive breasts the relief of a more manageable breast size. Dr. James Shaw, a top board-certified plastic surgeon in Wichita, rejuvenates and reshapes the breasts by personalizing the breast reduction procedure to each person’s unique needs.
Some of the happiest patients we see at Shaw Plastic Surgery are those who have just undergone breast reduction surgery. The most frequent comment after surgery is typically, “I wish I had done this sooner.” Dr. Shaw comments that If a patient is having significant discomfort from their heavy breasts, there is no advantage to postponing surgery. The situation often worsens with aging and gravity.
How is the Breast Reduction Procedure Performed?
Breast reduction surgery is performed by James M. Shaw, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon, under general anesthesia. Patients go home the same day. You will need a responsible adult present to drive you home. Postoperative pain is typically less than anticipated, but patients will have a prescription for pain medicine to use after surgery. Dr. Shaw will provide detailed post-operative instructions, but he comments that ice packs may work even better than pain meds — the fewer pain meds, the less chance of side effects. Many breast reduction patients say the everyday pain endured from the weight of their breasts is worse than the temporary post-operative pain.
Breast reduction and a breast lift are nearly the same surgery. The difference is the amount of tissue removed. Also, breast reduction includes resizing and repositioning the nipple, if necessary, to make the nipple-areolar complexes more proportional. If applicable, a patient’s insurance company dictates a minimum amount of breast tissue to be removed in order to meet their criteria for approval.
How Much Does Breast Reduction Cost?
In Wichita, Kansas, the cost of breast reduction can be much lower than other parts of the country. Surgical costs are personalized according to the details of one’s treatment plan, such as:
- The extent of tissue removal
- The surgical technique utilized
- The overall complexity of the procedure
At our office, a cost estimate cannot be given until a patient’s needs are assessed in a consultation. For any out-of-pocket costs, plastic surgery financing options like CareCredit® can help qualified patients pay for their procedure over a series of small, low-to-no interest installments.
Breast reduction surgery may be covered by insurance, and there is an approval process to go through before the surgery can be scheduled. The exception to this approval process is patients who have Medicare, which does not have an approval process. Generally, it is a covered procedure, but Medicare cannot tell you ahead of time whether or not they will pay for it.