Hello, I’m 5’4″ at 130 pounds. Now that I’ve finished high school and moving onto a new section of my life, I have been thinking about breast reduction surgery. My breasts have always been larger than most through the years of school (starting at sixth grade), and it always had me feeling self conscious and has brought down my self esteem, especially when others in my family did not have this issue as a child. They hang over my stomach, I have upper back and neck issues and my shoulders are always slumped forward it seems. I’ve always had skin issues on the sides and underneath my breasts. I’ve done research on the different procedures and read stories, but have not yet spoken to a family member about this issue despite all the years of pain my breasts have caused simply because of embarrassment. But now I’m tired of the back and neck pain and tired of never feeling comfortable in clothing. I have lost weight over the past year and have seen no change in my breasts, unfortunately. How should I talk to my family about this? Should I look into talking to a surgeon about getting a breast reduction surgery? Also, the likelihood of it to be able to be covered by insurance given what I’ve stated here? Thank you for your time.
0 Answers
Dr. Janet Turkle wrote on :
Overly large breasts can cause lifelong physical problems such as neck and back problems. It is important that you see a board certified plastic surgeon to learn what your options are. It certainly sounds like you may be a candidate for breast reduction surgery. Following a consultation, the surgeon’s staff can help you determine what your insurance benefits are and what would be necessary for you to obtain coverage under your plan. How you speak with your family is a personal decision. However, it is always a good idea to be honest about both your physical and emotional pain.
Dr. Gustavo Galante wrote on :
The symptoms you are describing are quite typical for patients with large breasts.I would suggest that you seek consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon. He or she will be able to ascertain whether or not you will benefit fro a breast reduction procedure. They should also be able to assist you in obtaining pre-authorization for the procedure if it is a covered benefit under your health insurance plan. As far as your family is concerned, this is a personal matter, and you are of an age where you are responsible for your own health. Hopefully, you have a supportive family that will understand your problem and how it is affecting your daily activities.