Breast reduction questions

OK...I think I am FINALLY going to do this.

I have been wanting to have a breast reduction and lift for YEARS, but I am soooooooo nervous about the anesthesia.

But, I think I am FINALLY ready.

A few questions:

* I have SEVERE scoliosis and the size of my tatas is not helping at ALL!! I need to get this surgery covered by my insurance. How do I go about doing that?
Do I see the surgeon first and tell them I have scoliosis and they take it from there?
Do I go to a back doctor first for an Xray to prove I have scoliosis (haven't been to a doctor in years).
What's the first step to get it medically covered??

* Who did you use for your surgery, where are they located, and do you recommend them?

* What was the surgery/ recovery like?

* How was the anesthesia? Was it hard to "come out of it"?

Sorry for all the questions, but I'd love to get the ball rolling on this.

Thanks so much!! If you'd like to keep it personal, I would so love if you could FM me.

Message edited 1/3/2011 2:35:03 PM.

Re: Breast reduction questions

I had an enhancement donem which i have heard is more painful, etc, cause they have to cut the muscle and stretch you and all. I woke up within and house, it was very painful, but i would do it all over again in a hearbeat. I could not lift heavty things for 3 monhths... but that is cause of the muscle they cut. The real oain was the first few days, I was still uncomfortable for atleast a month.

I do know friends who have done reductions and i am pretty sure it was less resitrictive than the enhancement, i also know they had no regrets!

Re: Breast reduction questions

I had a breast reduction almost 7 years ago. I also have severe scoliosis and it definitely helped getting my surgery covered by my insurance.
I had to fight hard to have it covered since it was medically necessary.
To answer your questions:

1. First step is find a good surgeon. I'm not sure where you're located by I saw Dr. Joseph Feinberg in Manhasset. (516.869.6200). Tell him you have scoliosis, back pain, etc. If you're like me, you probably suffer from severe upper back pain as well, which is usually overdeveloped trapezius muscles. He will take photographs of your breasts. They usually write up a reasoning for surgery to submit to insurance and then you send that it. Most likely, it will come back denied. Whatever you do-don't give up there!

2. In my case, my insurance wanted me to see a chiropractor to see if that would resolve my back pain. I had a chiropractor in Great Neck (where I was living at the time) and he did a series of x-rays. I followed through with appointments 3 times a week and then re-submitted my request. Since my insurance no longer wanted to cover my chiropractor bills, they approved the surgery.

3. The surgery itself was not bad at all. You're knocked out for it. I did have some trouble with coming out of the anesthesia (vomiting) but it was minor. The recovery is not so easy. You're fitted into a very tight vest for a week, so not bathing. The vest is packed with gauze so your boobs don't move around. I found the tightness to be the worst part. Once the vest comes off after a week, you have tape on your incisions (I have anchor shaped scars) for about a month.

I loved my surgeon a lot. I'm not sure if he's still there but according to Google, he still is. I also saved all my letters of request to my insurance and would be happy to share with anyone interested.

I will say, it was one of the BEST things I could have ever done for myself.
Please don't hesitate to FM me with questions!!