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Bond Buzz #1

Question: What’s the difference between a Breast Lift and a Breast Reduction? Do I have to have scars? Are one or both covered by insurance? 

Answer: The obvious purpose of a Breast Reduction is to make heavy, oversized breasts smaller and lighter to reduce back and neck aches, rashes under the breasts and strap indentations.  A Breast Lift (Mastopexy) is a cosmetic procedure to lift sagging breasts for a lifted, perkier appearance.

The incision in both procedures is the shape of a “keyhole”.  In the reduction, maximum tissue is removed to make the breasts smaller; in a lift, minimum tissue is removed so that the breasts will remain about the same size. Although the reasons for both surgeries may be different, they both share a common goal: to relocate the areola back into a higher position so that the nipples are facing forward, not down.

Both surgeries will result in a “lollipop” shaped scar, a line around the perimeter of the areola and another line going straight down on the breast.  If the breasts are not very saggy, the procedure may be done with a peri-areolar scar, one thin line along the lower edge of the areola.

Breast Lifts are cosmetic in nature and are not covered by insurance. Since Breast Reduction is considered a medical procedure, it can be covered by insurance.  The patient must provide proof of “medical necessity”: a documented number of visits for chiropractic or physical therapy and letters from physicians describing their treatments and recommending Breast Reduction. 

Contact us for answers to your questions about breast reductions and breast lifts.