How Much Does Breast Reduction Surgery Cost? A Detailed Look

How Much Does Breast Reduction Surgery Cost? A Detailed Look

Large breasts can cause you to suffer from chronic neck, shoulder, lower back and middle back pain. When you’re in constant pain and you can’t participate in certain activities because of your large, heavy breasts, it lowers your quality of life. The added weight on top can even create an imbalance in your posture.

Breast surgery that reduces the size of your bust is a common procedure. About 35,000 women a year get the surgery, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Additionally, advances in cosmetic surgery have made innovative breast-related procedures even safer than ever before. From the traditional breast enhancement surgery using breast implants to the revolutionary fat transfer breast augmentation, you have options.

The team at Rowe Plastic Surgery, a cosmetic surgery practice in New Jersey and New York City, suggests finding the best breast surgeon for your procedure, one who makes you feel comfortable and who listens to your goals and desires. This requirement is especially true if you’re thinking about a breast reduction, as the skills of your surgeon makes a huge difference in preserving your natural feminine curves.

What Is Breast Reduction?

In a breast reduction procedure, your cosmetic surgeon removes excess breast fat, glandular tissue and skin, while lifting your breasts. The results are perfectly shaped breasts that compliment your body. Breast reduction surgery, which always includes a breast lift as part of the procedure, alleviates medical problems related to large breasts, including:

• Stiffness in your neck and back muscles
• Pain in your shoulders from your bra digging into your muscles
• Numbness and tingling sensation in your upper body
• Headaches

Besides these medical factors, women opt for a breast reduction for cosmetic reasons that include:

• Asymmetrical breasts
• Tubular breasts
• Nipples that don’t point in the same direction or are uneven
• Nipples that feel puffy

Who Benefits from Getting a Breast Reduction Surgery?

Pregnancies, breastfeeding, fluctuating weight and the constant pull of gravity can eventually make your large breasts turn downward, leaving you with sagging breasts. According to top breast surgeons, women always require a breast lift along with their breast reduction. They may also need nipple reconstruction or maybe a nipple reduction as well.

Is breast reduction worth the price? The six most common advantages women mention after their breast reduction include:

1. I’m pain free. Women who’ve been suffering from chronic back pain find instant relief after the procedure.
2. I have more energy. Post-procedure, women discover how the surgery has made them feel younger and more energetic. They’re no longer carrying around that extra weight.
3. Clothes fit better. Women have complained about having to buy clothes one or two sizes bigger just to accommodate their large breasts. Now, their new clothes fit their body perfectly.
4. I have more confidence. You feel less self-conscious about your breasts when venturing into public.
5. I can more easily participate in my favorite activities. You can walk, run or stand without problems. Your posture improves. Some women even talk about how changing their bra size has given them the motivation to take up sports or other forms of physical activity.
6. I sleep so much better. Large breasts used to interfere with sleeping positions. You finally get to sleep in any position you want.

What’s the Cost of the Breast Reduction Surgery?*

Cost plays a big role in most life-changing breast surgeries. While breast reconstruction procedure following a mastectomy is covered by insurance for cancer patients, the majority of other breast surgeries aren’t. But you can always try to have your health insurance pay for your breast reduction.

For insurance purposes, purely cosmetic surgeries aren’t considered medically necessary. For a breast reduction, which always includes a second procedure, a breast lift, the average out-of-pocket cost is around $6,000. This isn’t the real cost of the surgery, but rather the base rate. Factors to consider in the price of a successful breast reduction surgery include:

• Board certification. The breast reduction surgeons at Rowe Plastic Surgery may have a higher consulting fee due to their years of experience and their board certification. In return, you get the assurance of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, which stands behind the certification. Certification isn’t easy to achieve and has to be renewed every few years.
• Experience and skills. The skills of your surgeon, along with the years of experience, contribute to the success of your procedure.
• Affiliations. Ensure your surgeon has professional affiliations with area hospitals and professional organizations. It’s also a good sign if the doctor has won awards, such as a “Top Doctor in the New York Metro Area.”
• Qualifications. Check on the qualifications so you know the surgeon has studied at a reputable medical institution. Ask where residency and advanced training took place.
• Referrals. Every plastic surgeon worth the money has before and after photos of previous patients. You can even ask for a past patient to talk with about her experience.

So What’s the Real Cost of a Breast Reduction?

Besides the surgeon’s fees, your surgery for breast reduction also incurs additional costs that increase your final price. You can expect to pay on average, anywhere from $15,000 to $25,000, for your breast reduction surgery, which includes the breast lift.

Your ultimate breast reduction surgery costs include items such as:

• The anesthesiologist’s fees. Breast reduction surgery is not considered minimally invasive surgery. You need general anesthesia for this procedure.
• The cost of the surgical facility. Some plastic surgery practices have their own ambulatory surgery centers, which minimizes these fees. Hospitals usually charge more if you have to use them.
• Locations. Where you have the procedure can increase or decrease the costs. The surgeons at Rowe Plastic Surgery believe it’s worth finding a practice that offers top-notch services. You want a surgeon who makes you feel at ease before, during and after the surgery. Your relationship with your plastic surgeon doesn’t end with the surgery; you need regular checkups to ensure your recovery.
• Prescription medications. You likely need pain relievers for a short period after your surgery for the pain and swelling.
• Pathology lab tests. Your surgeon may determine to collect some tissues samples to have analyzed if there’s something unusual during the surgery.
• Post-surgery garments. For the short-term, you require a special bra to support your breasts and prevent too much movement while they heal. After you’re healed, you likely need to buy new bras that match your new breast size, but that’s not included here.

Your breast reduction surgery can become a costly affair if you’re paying out of pocket. To help with the financial burden, some plastic surgery practices often have flexible payment plans. Contact Rowe Plastic Surgery to find out how much your specific procedure may cost. Visit the nearest office in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Plainview or Water Mill, NY or in Red Bank or Montclair, NJ.

*Price range is based on a national average of Breast Reduction Surgery not specific to Rowe Plastic Surgery.