Breast Reduction Beverly Hills
What is Breast Reduction?
For women whose breasts are excessively large and do not atrophy after childbirth, a breast reduction operation, also known as a reduction mammaplasty, may be helpful. This operation is very similar to a breast lift, except that it involves the removal of a large portion of the breast tissue as well. Dr. Brenner, a board-certified plastic surgeon, can effectively treat many medical problems arising from excessively large breasts by performing breast reduction in Beverly Hills. It will also address cosmetic dissatisfaction a patient may have with overlarge breasts.
Breast reduction surgery can correct the following breast deformities:
- Breast ptosis, in which the nipple-areolar complex has fallen below the desired level. The degree varies from mild to severe.
- Macromastia, in which a woman’s breasts can become extremely large. Also known as breast hypertrophy, macromastia can cause significant medical problems such as rashes underneath the breasts, back and shoulder pain, shoulder grooving from extra weight pulling down on bra straps, and decrease or loss of nipple sensation.
Breast Reduction Before & After Photos
What are the benefits of a breast reduction?
Breast reduction surgery can greatly improve the quality of life for women who have struggled with overly large, pendulous breasts. The benefits of a breast reduction in Beverly Hils include the following:
- Relief from back, neck, and shoulder pain caused by heavy breasts
- A better, easier fit in clothing, bras, and swimwear
- Increased physical comfort on a daily basis
- Improved confidence and self-esteem
- Greater ease in running and exercise
- A lighter physique
- More symmetrical breasts
- A more youthful profile
- Appealing, round breasts
- Reduced pain from bra straps
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Dr. Brenner Patient Testimonial
Are you a candidate for breast reduction in Beverly Hills?
Women who would like to reduce the size of breasts that are too large or heavy for their frame are candidates for breast reduction. Ideal candidates for breast reduction should meet the following requirements:
- Are in good health
- Do not smoke
- Have no serious medical concerns
- Are not taking blood-thinning medications or supplements, or can stop taking these
- Are experiencing back, neck and shoulder pain caused by the weight of their breasts
- Have skin irritation at the breast crease
- Are limited in physical exercise and activities due to overly large breasts
- Have realistic expectations about what a breast reduction can achieve
Breast Reduction Procedure
You will be placed under general anesthesia or intravenous sedation with local anesthesia to ensure your comfort during your breast reduction. Dr. Brenner will then remove excess skin, breast tissue, and fat from your breasts and recontour a smaller, rounded, attractive shape to your breasts, along with moving the nipple structure to a youthful location on the front of the breasts. The specific technique used will vary depending upon the exact issue being addressed.
What are the breast reduction incision types?
In some cases, Dr. Brenner will use a lollipop incision, which is around the areola and down the front of the breast, extending down to the inframammary fold. In most women with very large breasts, a full (or anchor pattern) incision will be required in order to remove the severely excess breast skin.
Excess breast tissue is then removed, along with extra fat and skin to reduce breast size. Rarely, in the case of patients with extraordinarily large breasts, the nipple and areola may need to be removed and reattached at a higher position as a skin graft. This is known as free nipple grafting.
What is the cost of breast reduction surgery in Beverly Hills?
The cost of breast reduction surgery can vary, with a common price range being $6,000-$15,000, though costs can vary depending on the specifics of your surgery.
The total cost usually involves several fees:
- Surgeon's fee
- Anesthesia fees
- Operating room fees
- Post-surgical garments
- Prescriptions for medication
The lower end of the price range reflects out-of-pocket expenses for patients whose insurance covered some of their surgery.
For more information on the Schnur Sliding Scale and how it is used to determine insurance coverage for breast reduction, visit our Schnur Sliding Scale page.
Are there any risks or complications?
Like any surgery, breast reduction carries some inherent risk. The common issues patients could experience for any surgery are:
- poor scarring due to poor healing at the incision site
- reaction to anesthesia
- infection
- bleeding
Potential complications specific to breast reduction include asymmetry of breasts, change or loss of sensation, skin or nipple loss and the inability for the breasts to produce milk. Please note that some changes to nipple sensation following surgery is common, and usually lasts about six months to a year.
The more thoroughly you follow post-op instructions from your surgeon, the fewer chances there are of developing complications.
What is recovery like?
As part of the recovery process from your breast reduction in Beverly Hills, Dr. Brenner will apply skin tapes as well as a padded surgical bra in order to provide gentle compression and support during the initial healing phase. Drainage tubes may be placed in at the time of surgery in order to facilitate the removal of excess fluid. Additionally, Dr. Brenner will prescribe oral pain medication to provide patients with the utmost comfort and pain free recovery experience.
What to expect after your breast reduction surgery with Dr. Brenner
During the first several weeks of recovery from your breast reduction surgery, breasts may be extra sensitive and tender, as well as bruised. Light activity may be resumed within a few days following your surgery. Heavy lifting, vigorous exercise, and sexual activity should be avoided for at least two weeks following your surgery.
Not only is Dr. Brenner a breast reduction specialist, but he is also a caring physician who looks after his patients after their breast enhancement or reduction surgery. During the weeks and months that follow your surgery, he and his office staff will do anything they can to ensure your total comfort.
Will insurance cover my breast reduction?
Having a breast reduction in Beverly Hills can greatly improve the quality of life for women who suffer every day with rashes, back pain and even sleep deprivation due to having very large breasts. Insurance can cover the cost of surgery based on a determination that reconstructive breast reduction surgery is necessary to restore normal physical function.
The process begins by seeing a breast reduction surgeon such as Dr. Brenner in Beverly Hills. The purpose of the visit is to document the physical need for the surgery. Insurance companies vary in what they cover but in cases of cancer patients who need breast reduction following mastectomy, coverage is mandated under the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998.
California law requires plans that cover breast reduction to provide benefits when certain criteria are met. The first point is that macromastia must be diagnosed as the reason for the functional impairment. A visit to Dr. Brenner’s Beverly Hills clinic will accomplish the necessary physical examination. During your visit, Dr. Brenner will document any other functional impairments.
Funtional Impairments
Functional impairments can include:
- Severe skin rashes that do not respond to medical treatment
- Severe functional impairment of physical activity
- Rounding of the spine caused by the weight of the breasts (kyphosis)
- Signs of nerve compression
- Chronic breast pain from the weight of the breasts
- Shoulder grooving from bra straps
- Headache, back and neck pain
Additionally, the Schnur Scale is used to determine a ratio of breast tissue to be removed compared to the patient’s height, weight and skin surface. These are technical requirements that Dr. Brenner can provide for submission to insurance companies. Women with macromastia should not have to suffer on a daily basis when reconstructive breast reduction could restore quality of life. Insurance companies will cover this surgery but they must be convinced it is a medical necessary rather than cosmetic.
Use of the Schnur Sliding Scale in breast reduction
In breast reduction surgery, or reduction mammaplasty, it takes good surgical judgment and a fair amount of experience in order to know ahead of time the correct tissue amount that will need to be reduced from each breast. Further, the performing surgeon must also be able to determine ahead of time the amount that the patient’s insurance company will require to be removed in order for it to be considered a medically necessary procedure. A tool that is useful in determining the minimum required amount of breast tissue to be removed is a tool called the Schnur Sliding Scale.
The Schnur Sliding Scale chart is an evaluation method used with individuals who are considering breast reduction. This method was developed by a plastic surgeon who was studying women who had breast reduction surgery for medical reasons. The patients body surface area and average weight of breast tissue removed is incorporated into this chart. If the patient’s body surface area and weight of breast tissue removed fall below the 22nd percentile, then the surgery is deemed cosmetic in nature, and therefore not medically necessary. If however, these two factors are above the 22nd percentile, then the operation is considered medically necessary when the appropriate criteria are met.
Breast Reduction FAQs
Am I a Good Candidate for Breast Reduction?
A woman who is in good overall health and feels that her breasts are too large for her body is generally a good candidate for breast reduction surgery.
Can Breast Reduction Surgery Remedy Asymmetrical Breasts?
Each body is unique, and each surgical procedure is tailored to the needs of that patient. For those with heavy, asymmetrical breasts, the problem can be resolved with breast reduction surgery.
How Much Downtime Will I Need Following Breast Reduction Surgery?
Most patients report that they are able to stop taking pain medication within a few days of their breast reduction surgery. You should plan to take approximately one week off of work following your surgery, although some patients return to jobs with little physical activity even earlier.
What is the Best Age to have Breast Reduction Surgery?
Although it is often recommended that women wait until their bodies are fully formed to pursue breast reduction surgery, some women have breasts so large that a surgery may be warranted in the late teens.
Will the Results of my Breast Reduction be Long-Lasting?
Yes. Unless you gain a considerable amount of weight or become pregnant, the results of your breast reduction will be lifelong.
What other Health Conditions Can Be Improved Following Breast Reduction?
Breast reduction surgery can improve your overall feeling of wellbeing including alleviating back, neck, and shoulder pain, as well as an improvement in skin irritations and rashes caused by friction.
Other Breast Reduction Resources
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Teenage Breast Reduction
Dr. Brenner specializes in teenage breast reduction surgery, helping teens find relief from overly large breasts.
How to Reduce Swelling After Breast Reduction
Tips to reduce swelling after surgery.
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