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Plastic Surgery Blog » Answering the Top FAQs About Breast Reduction

Answering the Top FAQs About Breast Reduction

Posted on October 6, 2014 by Dr. Douglas Steinbrech

Answering Your Questions About Breast Reduction | Manhattan NYCWhen prospective patients enter a breast reduction consultation, every single one of them is new to the procedure, to the benefits that it offers, and to the risks it may pose. Breast reduction surgery is a life-changing surgery that can provide both physical and emotional benefits for each patient. That’s what brings patients into a plastic surgery clinic with lots of questions about how, why, and when. For women with heavier breasts, life can be a challenge every day; breast reduction can boost self-image, relieve some of the weighty burden, and alleviate chronic pain. If you’re wondering a lot of the same things that other prospective patients do, here are some of the most Frequently Asked Questions and their answers.

Question: Are Breast Reductions Covered by Medical Insurance?

Sometimes breast reductions are performed for purely cosmetic reasons, but these surgeries are very rare. The vast majority of breast reduction patients seek the procedure because of constant pain, discomfort, physical limitations, social troubles, emotional distress, and other problems. Overly large breasts can get in the way of many things, from bending over to wearing the perfect wedding dress. Because of the enormous strain this situation can put on women, some insurance companies have begun to cover breast reductions.

If you are one of the many cases where overly large breasts have actually begun to cause medical problems, you’ll find your answer more easily: yes, your breast reduction is covered by your medical insurance provider. In these instances, heavy breasts have caused chronic pain in the shoulders, neck, and back. If you have been working with a general practitioner to alleviate these pains, you may already know that a plastic surgery consult is your very next step. Through this clinic, you can coordinate the procedure you need under the coverage available to you. Find out more specific information for your insurance carrier, who may require a co-pay for the procedure.

Question: Can I Pick the Cup Size I Want to Have After My Breast Reduction?

If only everything were as easy as ordering from a fast food menu, plastic surgery procedures would happen with a snap of the fingers. Sadly, you won’t be able to ask for a specific cup size during your breast reduction consultation. Well, you could ask, but your plastic surgeon won’t be able to guarantee it. Basically, the surgical process can’t work backwards in that manner. Instead, your plastic surgeon will evaluate your body’s structure and proportions to determine what size breasts would be best suited to your frame. Aiming for that size, he will remove as much breast tissue and fat cells as is safely possible to achieve that size. You might get close to the size you had in mind, but it’s not exactly as easy as ordering from a catalogue. In the meantime, hold off on buying any new bras until after your breasts have healed from surgery and you are no longer required to wear a surgical support bra. You’ll likely end up with a lot of store returns to make.

Question: How Much Pain Should I Expect From Breast Reduction Surgery?

Because the breasts are a very sensitive part of the female anatomy, most prospective breast surgery patients expect that they’ll be in quite a lot of pain afterwards. The truth is that there’s no reason to be nervous at all. In fact, most patients are surprised at their very manageable amount of pain and discomfort, which tends to be moderate at worst. Cold compresses, pain medication, plenty of rest, and other healing strategies can all be used to minimize the discomfort felt after breast reduction surgery. Your breasts will definitely be swollen, bruised, and sore for a few days to weeks, but you will feel better with each passing day.

Question: What Will Happen to My Nipples After Breast Reduction Surgery?

Many prospective patients assume that any breast surgery will harm the nerve endings in the nipples. This is easy to assume, considering that the nipples are removed and relocated to a more appropriate position as part of the breast reduction process. However, today’s plastic surgeons are skilled at surgically repositioning nipples and areolae more today than ever before. Permanent nerve damage and even the inability to breastfeed later in life are not unavoidable outcomes from your breast reduction.

While some nerve damage is possible, most patients retain much of the sensation in their nipples following a breast reduction. At first, it is typical to experience some tingling and numbness in both the nipples and areolae, something that will fade with time. A skilled surgeon will be able to minimize the damage done to the nerves during the relocation of the nipples.

He or she will also take every measure to preserve the milk ducts, especially if you have expressed a desire to have children and breastfeed in the future. Make sure this is part of your conversation during your breast reduction consultation, as it may factor tightly into his or her surgical plan for you. Most surgeons today are able to transplant the nipples without damaging the milk ducts and milk glands that make breastfeeding possible. While many women choose to hold off on breast reduction surgery until after they have finished breastfeeding once and for all, some women cannot choose that option for themselves. In these cases, your plastic surgeon can preserve as much of the nipple function as possible while still achieving the results you desire.

Question: How Important Is My Choice of Plastic Surgeon?

As with any surgery, the success or failure rests greatly on the shoulders of your surgeon. Choosing the right plastic surgeon to perform your breast reduction is an essential part of planning for success. An experienced, well trained, and skilled plastic surgeon can reshape your breasts to better complement your body type while alleviating the strain they have caused you. He or she can provide you with invaluable advice on preparing for and recovering from your surgery, guiding you through every step of this important part of your life.

If you’re ready to learn more about how a breast reduction surgery could help you, a consultation with a skilled plastic surgeon is the best way to get the information you need. Contact the office of Dr. Douglas S. Steinbrech, a fully trained plastic surgeon who is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons, to book your consultation today. He will be happy to walk you through what you should expect from a body lift procedure or any other surgery that might address your areas of concern. A specialist in Minimally Invasive Aesthetics, he incorporates this philosophy into all of his surgical and nonsurgical procedures, while aiming to get you the best results possible. Dr. Steinbrech has been selected by the Consumers’ Research Council of America as one of America’s Top Plastic Surgeons. Contact his office, located at 60 East 56th Street, Suite 3A, in New York City, by calling (212) 750-0070.

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If there were more stars, I would click on many more! Dr. Steinbrech and his staff are amazing, and most importantly, highly professional. I had a previous breast augmentation 2 years ago that went horribly wrong and as a result the implants had to be removed after a week of surgery due to complications. I was extremely distraught by my entire previous experience, lack of professionalism, and trauma the surgeries caused my body. I had post-surgery and self-image depression, which lasted two full years- yes, two full years!!! Let's face it, as women we are highly judgmental and insecure with ourselves, and my small breasts were my number one insecurity, which worsened after the first unsuccessful surgery. After professional therapy and many crying sessions, I finally had the courage to give myself and my breasts a new chance. I did a lot of research about breast augmentation as I needed a reconstructive breast surgeon that understood the trauma I went through previously and that could provide me with the mental/emotional support that I needed in order to attempt breast surgery once more. I found Dr. Steinbrech's office through referrals. His vast experience is also in reconstructive plastic surgery, which made me feel much more at ease. The staff and everyone involved understood my trauma and helped me feel comfortable with my decision of getting the procedure done. They went far and beyond my expectations with the care and assistance I received pre-and-post operation. The staff worked with me through every single decision and doubts I had, and were very prompt in answering ALL my questions- and trust me, this time around I had PLENTY! I had my breast reconstruction/augmentation surgery on February 2017 and I have healed better than I could have wished for. There were hardly any signs of bruising and my breasts currently look/feel very natural, and it has only been four months since my surgery. I truly recommend Dr. Steinbrech. I am not just writing this review just to write it because I never really write online reviews- but I think that by sharing my story it will offer hope to anyone that has gone through something similar and have had traumatic experiences with previous plastic surgeons. Of course, everyone heals differently and one must set realistic expectations based on our own body's anatomies, but personally, not one moment have I regretted my decision and my new breasts look awesome and symmetric!

  • Real Patient

Doctor Steinbrech, Kelly and the rest of the staff are amazing! Have the best experience every step of the way... From the consultation to the surgery to the follow up appointments. They spend a lot of time during consultation to ensure they understand what you want, but most importantly what is best for you. I am 43 male, 5'10, 165 work out regularly and have a personal trainer, I just couldn't achieve the "bubble butt" results through exercise as it is heavily depends on genetics. I did my research, read through many reviews and narrowed down to 3 surgeons in NY and finally decide to go to Dr Steinbrech. So glad I chose him. He is an amazing surgeon, knowledgeable, experienced, caring, funny and an artist. He made me very comfortable and confident through out the process. The pain after the surgery from a 1 - 10 scale will be 5. It just feels like a really hard workout and your butt is sore. The most annoying thing is that you can't sit, sleep on your back, bend and the drains. The drains are very uncomfortable as they are stitched onto you so every time you move, you feel the pull. To help picking things up or assist on putting on pants, I recommend using a pair of tongs. After the surgery, one has to take care of the incision and make sure it is clean and dry. After shower, I recommend instead of using towel to dry your butt, use a blow dryer. I highly recommend Dr Steinbrech and his team for any work one might want to get done.

  • Real Patient

If you are looking to have plastic surgery done on your body, look no further. Dr. Steinbrech is one of the most professional, caring and skilled surgeons. My body looks better than ever! If you want to look and feel great and have a doctor who cares about his patients and tells you exactly how you are going to look afterward he is your guy!

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Dr. Douglas Steinbrech

Dr. Steinbrech Manhatan New York CityDouglas S. Steinbrech, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon that specializes in body lift . Dr. Steinbrech is certified by the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons and a diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Learn More

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