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PROCEDURES / BREAST
Breast Reduction
on Long Island
Many adults and adolescents with large breasts have struggled with chronic pain and embarrassment for years. Often, breast reduction surgery is medically necessary to improve quality of life. When considering breast reduction surgery, you want to work with the best medical team to walk you through your options and the best administrative team to cover the financial aspects. Harris Plastic Surgery is the best option for breast reduction on Long Island.
Are You a Candidate for Breast Reduction on Long Island?
Patients interested in breast reduction on Long Island come to our office with different concerns, goals, and desired outcomes from surgery. For one reason or another, their breasts have continuously caused them problems, and they’d like to know what their options are. Here are a few of the scenarios that we often see:
| Common Reasons for Breast Reduction on Long Island | |
|---|---|
| Reason | Description |
| Neck, back, and shoulder pain |
|
| Skin conditions |
|
| Shoulder grooving |
|
| Mastectomy asymmetry |
|
Breast reduction for minors: Breast reduction for minors isn’t a problem so much as it is a unique category. While most reductions are done on individuals over 18, sometimes it’s medically indicated for younger people if their large breasts are affecting their health, development, and activity levels.
When our patients suffer from one of the above conditions, we walk them through a detailed consultation to help them understand their options and what they can expect from surgery.
What to Expect From Breast Reduction at Our Long Island Office
Starting with the initial consultation, we take an empathetic approach to our patients interested in breast reduction.
Initial Consultation
The initial consultation begins with an exam to document the physical conditions reported and review their connection to the size of the patient’s breasts. A question-and-answer session will allow the patient to receive more information about recovery, potential surgical scars, and potential results. Based on the individualized assessment made at that time, a customized surgical approach will be recommended. The common goal of all of the procedures is to remove an adequate amount of breast tissue and skin and to lift and reshape the remaining breast tissue into an aesthetically pleasing breast shape.
Insurance Coordination
Medically necessary breast reduction surgery may be covered under insurance like the NYSHIP Empire plan, which is the common coverage for many of New York’s civil servants. Our insurance coordinator helps walk you through the process of submitting breast reduction surgery for insurance coverage and navigating copays, coinsurance, deductibles, and more. Once there is a plan to cover the surgery cost, it’s time for the procedure.
Surgical Approaches
While Dr. Harris will complete a custom surgical plan for every patient well ahead of surgery, there are two general approaches to breast reduction:
Vertical, or “lollipop” |
Traditional, or “anchor” |
| This approach uses a more limited incision to perform the reduction and reduce scarring. Dr. Harris makes an incision around the areola, extending vertically down to the fold beneath the breast. In some cases, a limited horizontal extension of the incision is made to lie in the under-breast fold. This allows Dr. Harris to remove excess tissue while minimizing the scar. This approach is typically done on individuals with a lower amount of breast tissue to remove. | The traditional breast reduction approach uses a similar incision to the lollipop one, but then a third incision is made horizontally under the breast, again following the natural fold. While this creates an anchor-like scar—hence the name — the third incision is not as visible as the others. This technique may be used when there is a larger amount of breast tissue to remove. |
The breast reduction operation is typically performed under general anesthesia as an outpatient—i.e., there’s no overnight hospital stay. At Harris Plastic Surgery, we follow the latest evidence-based guidelines for a safe and rapid recovery from breast reduction surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions About
Breast Reduction Surgery
Breast reduction surgery, also called reduction mammoplasty, involves the removal of any excess breast tissue, skin, and fat to achieve a new breast size that is proportionate to your body and to alleviate discomfort associated with overly large breasts.
Good candidates are individuals who experience physical discomfort (back, neck, or shoulder pain), skin irritation under the breasts, restricted activity, or self-consciousness due to large breasts. They should also be in good health, non-smokers, and have realistic expectations about the results.
The surgery typically begins by making incisions around the areola, vertically down the lower pole of the breast, and possibly along the crease beneath the breast. Excess fat, tissue, and skin are removed. After removal, the remaining breast tissue is reshaped and lifted.
Breast reduction surgery usually takes 2 to 4 hours, depending on the extent of the reduction and the surgical technique used.
Recovery times vary, but most patients return to work and their normal activities after about 1 to 3 weeks. However, some strenuous activities and heavy lifting should be avoided for 4 to 6 weeks.
Like all surgical procedures, breast reduction surgery carries risks such as infection, scarring, changes in nipple or breast sensation, asymmetry, and issues with breastfeeding.
Scarring is inevitable, but the extent and visibility of scars will depend on the surgical technique used and individual healing processes. Scars typically fade over time and can often be hidden under clothing and swimwear.
Many insurance companies will cover breast reduction surgery if it’s deemed medically necessary due to physical symptoms like back, neck, or shoulder pain. It’s important to check with your insurance provider and obtain documentation from your doctor to support your case.
Preparation includes discussing your medical history and expectations with your surgeon, undergoing a physical examination, and following pre-operative instructions like quitting smoking and avoiding certain medications that can increase bleeding.
Breast reduction surgery can impact breastfeeding, particularly if significant amounts of glandular tissue are removed or if the nipple is detached and repositioned. Discuss your concerns with your surgeon if you plan to breastfeed in the future.
Look for a board-certified plastic surgeon who has extensive experience in breast reduction procedures. Check their credentials, review before-and-after photos of previous patients, and read patient reviews to ensure you’re making an informed decision.
Harris Plastic Surgery is the leading expert for breast reduction on Long Island because of the detailed approach we take to every patient. We make sure you receive the medical and financial knowledge you need for the results you want while reducing your out-of-pocket costs as much as possible.