Question

So this might be a little TMI- So I originally planned to wait until next year some time to get a breast augmentation and lift. I have ALWAYS struggled with my breast since they’re two totally different sizes and I’m so self conscious in just about everything I wear. I’m currently breastfeeding but my plan is to wean him off slowly. I wanted to wait until next year to have more money saved up to pay for it in full but I’m considering looking into loan options offered specifically for this. OR seeing if my doctor could get insurance to pay it. Has anyone with larger breast and back problems had success with getting insurance to pay for the surgery? What would you ladies recommend?  

Answer 1

My daughter had a breast reduction last year. She’s all of 5’ 2” 100 lbs with 28 FF boobs. Her back hurt, her shoulders hurt, and it messed with her posture. It was a process but insurance did cover it.  

Answer 2

I’m actually going through the same thing right now. Insurance should cover from what I was told as long as you were having medical issues from it. Like I’m super self-conscious, my back and neck constantly hurts, I Struggle working out due to size

Comments

@erme yes! My neck and back kill me and have for years!  

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@neighbor yeah I just had a baby an it made my boobs worse. I need covid to be over so I can get the procedure done. They can sign me up to have surgery the next day  

Answer 3

My insurance will cover it, but you have to be within a certain bmi and it has to be a medical reason. They want to make sure you can't loose them naturally  

Comments

@leuko I wish I could lose these naturally lol

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@neighbor girl same! I was a 38DDD before kids  That's why I rolled my eyes hahaha My bio mom was like a 40GG!  

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@leuko I was a 36/38 DDD before being pregnant too and now I’m close to an I. I wear an XL nursing bra(that still doesn’t fit right) and the last time I went to get fitted for a bra I left because none fit right. I’m over these dang things

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@neighbor same! I hope you're able to get it done either way! I'm sure you're going to feel like a whole new person!  

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@neighbor in the meantime- check out Nordstrom. Only place I can find bras that that fit my disproportionate body correctly

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@diapedesis6 I absolutely second this!  

Answer 4

I'm in Ontario Canada and was approved for a reduction with our government program dye to headaches and back pain.  

Answer 5

My insurance approved mine in 3 days. I had back and neck issues, prior chiropractic care, and huge dents in my shoulders. I was lucky they approved so quickly. From my consult to surgery day was less than 2 weeks. Best thing I ever did!  

Comments

I went from a DDD to a B. I wanted those suckers gone! They took roughly 4 lbs total.  

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@jacinda21 I was a DDD before getting pregnant and now the biggest one is close to an I  

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@neighbor I was an I in both when I was pregnant with my 2nd kid. I feel your pain! I can't imagine insurance wouldn't approve. Have you done a consultation yet?  

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@jacinda21 no not yet, I need to have one. I just don’t know if I should talk to my primary doctor or not. We talked about it when i was a minor but my parents didn’t want me to do it yet so we just never did anything. I also had a different doctor tell me it was normal and not to worry.  

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@neighbor I don't have a primary doc (I really need to though), I just went straight to the plastic surgeon. I actually did consults with 2 different ones on the same day. Mine weren't noticeably different but one of my best friends is like that. She was, at the time, a B and D. She did implants to even hers out but that's because she didn't already have huge breasts like we did. I really think you should go ahead with the consult and have them submit it to your insurance for approval. That way you will knkw either way how much you will need to pay. I believe my out of pocket was about $1500. Good luck to you!  

Answer 6

My sister's insurance covered her reduction. She had back problems as well. In order for insurance to cover they had to remove at least a specific amount(cant remember how much). She said the recovery was hard but worth it in the end. She had to have a lot removed, to take her down to a size D.  

Answer 7

Omg. I would love to have this done. I get migraines and I go to a chiropractor every 2 weeks. I think I should look into this.  

Answer 8

I’d meet with a plastic surgeon and have them see what your insurance covers. I had one at 16 because I was a 34E. My insurance required documentation of my diet and physical therapy for 6 months beforehand. This was back in 1997 though.  

Answer 9

Be certain you are ready. Augmentation surgery will affect future breastfeeding. Not everyone realizes this.  

Comments

@crevice168 so true! My milk ducts came back (14 yeas after my surgery) but because of nerve issues and a tongue tie we didn’t catch right away I struggled with my first. My second one was a lot easier but doctors said it was largely because I’d had it done so long ago.  

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@crevice168 this is very rare. If you have a reputable surgeon, with today’s techniques this should never happen. As long as it is an augmentation and/or a lift and not a full reconstruction, it should not affect ability to nurse whatsoever (the surgery does not involve going anywhere near the milk ducts, unless the incision is made around the nipple, in which case the surgeon should warn the patient of the risks). I found out I was pregnant a few months after my surgery and my surgeon showed me the today’s stats - it’s less than 0. 03% affected (including doctor error). I gave birth exactly a year after my surgery and was able to nurse for 14 months no problem.  

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@jovitta complete lactation failure is rare. But insufficient milk supply is not. This still happens 20% of the time. Yes, placement under muscle has less complications than over muscle but risk remains for potential nerve damage. It's wonderful you were able to breast feed for as long as you did. Not everyone with this surgery is able to do it exclusively. Some need assistance from a lactation consultant.  

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@crevice168 maybe with old techniques, but according to all the surgeons I talked to, that is extremely uncommon now, unless the incision is made around the nipple. Otherwise the implant, whether above or below the pectoral muscle (although most only do below the muscle now), should not damage the milk ducts and nerves, with a skilled surgeon of course. You definitely get what you pay for.  

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The study I linked was from last year.  

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@crevice168 does it take into account surgeon error, incision placement? Or the fact that 1 in 5 women have supply issues, in general even without implants (20%)? Does the study breakdown *why* there are issues. Again, according to actual surgeons, the procedure does not involve going near milk ducts or nerves, unless going in through the nipple. I was originally replying to your original comment that stated that breast augmentation will affect future breastfeeding, which simply is not true.  

Answer 10

Augmentation will not be covered by insurance. A lift may be if you have proper documentation of issues and have gone through physical therapy. I worked in plastic surgery for 3+ years.  

Answer 11

I had a breast reduction covered by insurance. My doctor had submit proof that I needed it. I believe there was some back and forth, but he got it done. Also, he could only remove enough to relieve my issues. I would have gone to an A cup if he’d let me.  

Answer 12

Your post says augmentation, which isn’t covered by insurance. Did you mean reduction? That is frequently covered by insurance if you’re having medical issues that are documented. Good luck!  

Comments

@wardlaw yes, a reduction/lift. They’re very uneven so I don’t know the exact procedure to make them(or one) smaller and the same size.  

Answer 13

I have the same problem. The trick is meeting the hight and weight requirement. Also! Insurance will only pay for it if the DR takes a certain amount of CCs. For instance, insurance would pay for me to loose 50 CCs, but that would take me from a DD to an A cup which is not proportionate for my body. So year. It’s very complicated.  

Answer 14

There is a fantastic group called “Just Breast Implants Chat”. everyone in there is SUPER helpful. You should join!  

Comments

Sorry, just saw you were getting a reduction. However there are lots of ladies in there that went through reduction/lift and implants so they may still be very helpful

Answer 15

I had a reduction 11 years ago that was covered by insurance. It was denied multiple times and I had to provide a TON of medical documentation, but it was eventually covered. I would suggest that you be sure you’re prepared to not breastfeed any future children. While not guaranteed, any breast surgery can have a huge impact on your ability to breastfeed. Also, know that if you gain weight your breasts will likely grow again. It’s happened to me.  

Answer 16

Mine paid for a reduction, they won’t pay for augmentation

Answer 17

Like others have said go in for a consult. You can go straight to the plastic surgery location without a referral. They will let you know if it’ll be covered after they submit it. Also you’ll still have to pay the deductible so I did mine at the beginning of my insurance cycle and I used the Health savings plan our employer offered to get the deductible I owed taken out of my paycheck. After you get it there is some time getting used to, I still don’t feel as comfortable with my new ones since it is soooo different, and struggle with what kind of tops to wear. But I don’t miss my big floppy things. I did 2 consults years apart before I finally went thru with it.  

Answer 18

Just make sure you are finished having kids before getting it done. I know someone that made that mistake and had to get them redone.  

Answer 19

Also, you have to be not breastfeeding for at least 6 months, I believe. I would save, but finish that journey and relationship before you begin making consult appointments.  

Answer 20

I believe reductions covered by insurance have to be at least 60% volume in order to be considered which would be a recommendation from the dr. Don’t quote me on that but when I talked to a dr, he was very specific that my DDD were not large enough to have reduced.  

Answer 21

And here I am wishing I had bigger boobs! Y’all make it sound horrible lol. At least you’re not over here in the IBTC with 34B’s  

Comments

@augustus484 because it is horrible  I'd take a 34B ANY DAY! I've had large boobs since I was 12! It's been 17 years of carrying these monsters. I was a 36B at 11  My spine is curved, my upper back is never not in pain, all my shirts get pulled up and down, I have dents in my shoulders, and the boob sweat is real  

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@leuko ahhh ok I will not complain anymore and be happy with my little ones  I’m sorry!