The areolar only incision surgery cannot be done for massive excisions of breast tissue and fat at this time. Most people will in fact have the "anchor" type incisions. You can only get so much tissue out of a small hole. It is neat surgery to watch though, very amazing.
AHA, the catch!!! I think I would have been able to have that done, though, since they only took me from a DD to a B/C. I was 19 years old and at a normal weight. It just makes me wish I'd have waited, you know? I have keloid scarring under my breasts.
Breast reduction should have no effect on future breastfeeding. I have two friends who have done it and are happy about it. Both had backaches and headaches due to weight. One had >5 lbs. removed (total) and had drains to contend with for a while, but now is doing fine.
I had a reduction when I was 19 - I was busting out of a DD and am under 5 feet tall. I had horrible back pain and was developing the shoulder grooves. All it took for insurance to cover it was going to a plastic surgeon and having him send pictures and a report in with his advice to do the surgery. I was still under my parents' insurance, as I was still in school, but I believe it was a whopping $20,000! Back then you stayed overnight, plus I was in surgery for 6 hours which is longer than usual. Their final bill after insurance was about $1000, which was basically the 10% of the actual doctor bills.
Best thing I ever did in my life! Would you believe the ONLY pain I had through the entire process was the stitches holding in the jackson-pratt drains I had for two days? Once those were pulled, I felt 100% normal again! I had some numbness for about 6 months, and still have a little of it years later, but who cares? It was so worth it!
Theoretically, breastfeeding shouldn't be a problem because they almost always leave the nipple connected to the nerves and milk ducts, but there is a possibility that scar tissue might cause problems later on with feeding. To me, it's worth the risk.
As far as losing weight afterwards, you'll still have breasts, don't worry. They only take out a certain amount of breast tissue and fat, so that even if you lose a lot of weight, you still have breast tissue that won't go away. If you gain weight, of course they'll get bigger, but in the end the amount of tissue left is the same no matter what.
One suggestion - you've probably seen the anchor-shaped scars that reduction leaves. I'd recommend buying those silicone scar-reducing things that are especially shaped for reductions, or using Mederma. When I had mine done, that stuff wasn't widely used, so all I had was vitamin E oil. One thing I saw on TV is that some docs are actually only cutting around the nipple, taking the tissue out, and then sewing it back on so that the only scar is the one around the nipple! I almost died when I saw that, I was so jealous!!!
Wow Gompers thanks for all that great info :) ...I know that my insurance has said they will pay ("if it is medically necessary") - well I will make damn sure it is...I dont know how it cant be - I dont even know what cup size I really am since I sort of stuff them into something I probably shouldnt...
From what I have read recently I think the surgery now costs about this:
Breast Reduction Cost Average Physician Fees ................$6,234
Gompers, BSN, RN
2,691 Posts
AHA, the catch!!! I think I would have been able to have that done, though, since they only took me from a DD to a B/C. I was 19 years old and at a normal weight. It just makes me wish I'd have waited, you know? I have keloid scarring under my breasts.