Insurance companies have specific requirements for a minimum amount of breast tissue to be removed during breast reduction surgery in order for it to be considered a reconstructive procedure covered by your insurance policy, rather than a cosmetic operation which typically is self-paid by the patient. Please consider, though, that you need to be satisfied with the outcome of your surgery both in terms of relief from symptoms such as shoulder and back pain, and achieving a breast size that is in proportion to your height and weight.

I could make a guess that your breasts would likely be half their present size after surgery, perhaps at the small end of the C-cup range, but this is a question that can’t be answered accurately without examining you. As far as your current cup size, many large-breasted women wear bras that are smaller than what a bra-fitter would place them in, because the smaller, tighter bra gives more support. Also, using a larger band-size with a smaller cup – for example, wearing a 36 DD instead of a 34 DDD or 34 E -- can serve as a "minimizer." During a plastic surgery consultation, a board-certified ASAPS-member plastic surgeon would be able to give you a good idea of your postoperative size based on the requirements of your insurance company, but ultimately you will need to decide what size you want to be. If it comes down to a choice of insurance coverage or being satisfied with your appearance, you would be wise to consider paying for the operation yourself to achieve a result you can be happy with for the rest of your life.

Breast Reduction