Breast Reduction Surgery Cost: Everything You Need to Know
How Much Does a Reduction Mammoplasty Cost?
The cost of breast reduction surgery can range from $5,000 to $10,000. According to statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average price for breast reduction in 2020 was $5,913.
Some surgeons offer low-cost breast reduction procedures. But it’s essential to know if these prices include all fees associated with the surgery. If you do a reduction mammoplasty to relieve pain, there’s good chance insurance will pay for the surgery.
Factors Influencing Breast Reduction Prices
There are many factors that affect the cost of breast reduction procedures. The price of this surgery should include the surgeon’s fee, hospital fees, anesthesia, and other overhead. If hospitalization occurs the cost can increase. The technique used during surgery can also affect its prices.
If a patient undergoes another procedure in conjunction with a breast reduction the total price will be higher than the cost of a breast reduction alone but lower than if the surgeries were performed separately.
The cost of this intervention will also depend on where the surgery takes place.
The Truth About Low-Cost Breast Reduction
Surgeons or medical centers that offer low-cost breast reduction surgeries may not be the best option. If an offered quote seems especially low, patients should ask what’s included to avoid a costly surprise later. If breast reduction prices don’t include charges for necessary procedures, fees, and other possible add-ons, a low-cost breast reduction can be pretty expensive.
Also, if the low cost of breast reduction includes all the necessary fees, it’s essential to review the surgeon’s background who performs the surgery. It’s important to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon who has the experience and skills. The total cost of a substandard breast reduction will significantly exceed the initial price.
Breast Reduction and Health Insurance
Many patients choose to have a reduction mammoplasty to relieve the pain and discomfort. Because of this, insurance often covers breast reduction. However, there’s no guarantee that the insurance company will cover the costs of your surgery. You must meet specific requirements to increase the chances of approval.
Medical Necessity
The procedure must be medically justifiable in order for insurance to cover it.
When there’s physical damage that is a medical necessity. The typical physical complaints of those affected include neck and spine impairments. Stress in the shoulder area from bra straps is also often the case.
The application should clarify that breast reduction would alleviate health problems.
An emphasis on psychological impairments isn’t advisable. Otherwise, the health insurance company may recommend psychotherapy instead of breast reduction.
Medical Treatments and Certificates
Those affected should already be receiving medical treatment because of their physical impairments. Certificates and evidence of treatment measures such as physiotherapy positively affect the application.
Evidence of regular participation in a sports program may be beneficial. If you have experienced a significant weight loss and the chest circumference did not decrease significantly you should mention it in the application.
Estimate From a Plastic Surgeon
It’s advisable to submit one or more cost estimates from plastic surgery specialists with your insurance application. After an initial consultation, you will receive a list of the costs. Cost estimates should always show all price components.
Make sure that the offers aren’t conspicuously expensive when making your selection. You can also ask the health insurance company whether they work with certain surgical facilities in advance.
The patient usually submits the application for reimbursement of costs. The doctor is by their side right from the start, advises them, and can attest to their suffering.
The treating surgeon is responsible for preparing a binding cost estimate for breast reduction. The application for cost coverage should also include medical certificates, a personal letter, evidence of findings, any therapy measures that have already taken place, and photos of the breasts. After receiving the application, the health insurance company has a specific period to inform the patient of its decision.
But if the health insurance company has to prepare an expert opinion, the insurance company has five weeks to make a decision. However, if the company fails to decide during this time and doesn’t inform the patient of the reason for the delay, the application is automatically approved. In this case, the health insurance company has to cover the breast reduction costs. If the insurance company rejects the application for reimbursement of costs, the patient can appeal.
How the Price Is Determined
The price for a breast reduction consists of the following points.
- Consultations and preliminary examinations: Prepare the person for the procedure.
- Equipment of the clinic and personnel costs: Depends, among other things, on the extent to which the care takes place on-site.
- Surgery: Includes costs for the operating room, surgical technique, anesthesia, duration of the procedure, and painkillers.
- Hospital stays: Usually limited to one night.
- Aftercare appointments: These appointments accompany the healing process.
- Special bra for the healing phase: A compression garment that supports complication-free healing.
- Individual additional services: These can arise from a simultaneous correction of the nipples or an extra breast lift, for example.
Breast Reduction Surgery Options
A breast reduction occurs under general anesthesia and takes about 2-3 hours. While there are various surgical techniques for breast reduction, all methods involve the incision being made around the areola.
The breast reduction surgery option selected may also contribute to the cost. The stitches would be removed after 7-14 days if no self-dissolving sutures were used. The breasts are wrapped in a soft cotton bandage after the procedure for protection. After the breast reduction, the patient should wear a special support bra for three to four weeks.
What if the Clinic Doesn’t Offer Financing Options?
Various financing models make it possible to pay for a breast reduction even without the clinic accommodating. For example, if the clinic or the doctor treating you doesn’t offer a financing program the patient can take out a personal loan.
Loans from banks or other financial service providers enable the patient to finance the breast reduction. Detailed advice before treatment makes it easier to choose a suitable loan and can ensure that the selected model is tailored to the patient’s financial situation. In any case, it’s worth comparing several financing models in advance.
Advantages of Breast Reduction
Like any cosmetic surgery operation, breast reduction offers advantages on a physical level. Below are some of the advantages of breast reduction.
Balanced Breast Volume
A surgeon acts on the breast volume by applying a balanced size and shape to the rest of the body. The consequence is a much more uniform presence of breasts adjusted to the patient’s body, with which their proportions obtain an essential benefit.
Health Improvements
In most cases, breast reduction implies a better quality of life. The joy of enjoying something as simple as a life without pain in one part of the body is one of the most important benefits of breast reduction surgery.
Improvement of Flaccidity
The passing of the years causes a fall in the skin and greater flaccidity, which causes an increase in the size of the breasts. A remarkable benefit of this treatment is that this sagging is addressed. Also, the height and natural size of the breast are recovered.
Treatment of Abnormalities
The search for a better body isn’t always motivated by personal preferences but by an involuntary evolution of the body. For example, the appearance of malformations and asymmetries can be due to environmental or internal factors. Breast reduction serves as a cosmetic surgery treatment to address these goals.
Emotional Improvement
Patients who enjoy proportionate breasts without pain and are visually attractive are the ones who gain the most confidence because they’re happy and satisfied with their bodies. Breast reduction surgery has a high percentage of patient satisfaction. It’s little wonder it’s called the “happy surgery.”
Scars After the Breast Reduction?
The surgeon performs the surgery through three points. So, you should expect three scars. The first scar is around the areola, the second is vertical to the lower fold of the breast, and the last is along the entire lower fold. However, it also depends on the surgery method used.
The surgeon will recommend compression strips and the appropriate creams to improve the scar’s final appearance. It usually takes several months for the scar to take on its final appearance. Avoid sunbathing directly on the chest during the first year so that the scar doesn’t become hyperpigmented.
Risks Associated With Breast Reduction Surgery
The risks associated with breast reduction are:
- Bleeding, bruising, and swelling
- Injury to nerves with possible permanent sensory disturbances
- Wound infection and wound healing disorders
- Unaesthetic scar formation and proliferation
- Allergic reactions to drugs and materials used
- Anesthetic complications
Depending on the procedure, there’s also a risk that breast reduction could impair breastfeeding ability. This is relevant for young women who want to have children.
Before and After Breast Surgery?
There are several factors you should consider before and after breast reduction surgery.
Before Surgery
- First and foremost is the comprehensive, detailed consultation with an experienced specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery with the appropriate qualifications.
- Rule out pre-existing conditions.
- Don’t take any blood-thinning medications, such as aspirin, for about two weeks before your breast reduction surgery appointment. Do not take any hormone preparations such as birth control pills.
- It’d help if you clarified your allergies in advance.
- If weight loss is part of your plan before breast surgery, adjust body weight beforehand. After the surgery, losing weight causes the breast tissue to sag again, significantly reducing or nullifying the surgical effect.
- Limit or stop consumption of alcohol and nicotine.
After Surgery
- Wound drains are removed after a few days.
- If the feeling of tenderness in the breasts is too strong and painful Painkillers can be given in the first few days.
- After the operation, there will be a pressure bandage over the chest area, followed a short time later by a medical bra, which you have to wear continuously for about three weeks. It’s sufficient in the next three weeks if the bra remains on the body during the day. The bra should relieve the scars and support the shape of the breast.
- About a week after the breast operation, scar care can start for about a month. To do this, carefully cream the seams with a wound ointment. Only use scar gel when the wound has healed completely. It’s best to contact your doctor first.
- Avoid sleeping on your stomach.
- UV light can darken scars, making them more noticeable. To prevent this, avoid direct sunlight for about three months after breast reduction.
- Swimming and full baths are only possible again after the wound has healed.
- Don’t exercise during the healing phase.
- Refrain from activities that involve using the upper arms, shoulders, and chest for the first six weeks.
- Sexual intercourse is only possible with great caution in the first six weeks.
- You should be able to work after one to two weeks
Final Thoughts
Since the cost of such treatment depends on various factors, it varies from patient to patient. For this reason, we can only give the price of breast reduction as a guide.
Breast reduction surgery costs are usually between $5000 to $10,000. However, the prices can be higher, depending on the scope of the operation, surgical technique selected, and length of stay in the hospital after the breast reduction.
