Breast Reduction

I had a breast reduction years ago and would do it again tomorrow if I had to. It is the best thing I have done for myself. Marie Christiansen at Park Nicollet is good as is Louise Turkula at Edina Plastic Surgeons. Insurance will often cover the procedure if medical criteria are met. Good luck!

I just had a breast reduction in March. My dr is Maris Christensen with Park Nicollet. I am very happy with the results and sooooo glad I did it!! I have found a couple websites that people who have had the surgery or are going to have the surgery are on. A great way to ask questions and get info from people who have been through it. If you have any questions or want the websites..feel free to email me. Also..there is a book out about what to expect and more with a breast reduction surgery. It is called :When Less is More and the author is:Bethanne Snodgrass. I got it from the local library. Almost forgot..insurance approved my procedure. They did not cover it 100% but they did cover most of it.

I had one done about 13 years ago and I'm still happy as can be that I did it. (My significant other isn't so happy about it, though. :) But I did it for me as it's my body and comfort, not his.) I was 26, and before I had kids, so I think I gained a little of it back after 2 boys. In any case, I had a pound taken off each side, and afterward, I looked like I'd lost 10-20 pounds! I could buy shirts and pants in the same store, and find a one-piece swimsuit that actually fit.

Advice for you is to find a Dr in your HMO that can give you a referral to a really good cosmetic surgeon...you don't want a general surgeon...or someone who just feels you up in the exam. A good Dr will show you the pics of before and after...good and bad. He/she will measure where your breasts are compared to your elbows and feel the weight. And, after the surgery, will recommend bras to help reshape your new breasts.

(I used Meleleuca oil on the incisions and they healed really quickly...my Dr was impressed.) Today, the scars are barely visible.

I was able to breastfeed some though I had to supplement with formula (and the Dr had told me I might not be able to at all). All in all, it was the best $12,000 (of my health insurance's $) I ever spent! :)

Good luck and if you have any questions, feel free to contact me directly...

I had it done almost six years ago, and my only regret is I didn't do it sooner! I will say I thought the recovery was actually a bit worse than my c-section. It took longer & it seemed like there were more things I couldn't do. For a week I couldn't do much. I didn't have kids at the time, so between my husband and my mom, I had pretty good care.

I went to Dr. Lee of Edina Plastic Surgery. He had hospital privileges at Fairview Southdale. You do want a surgeon who has hospital privileges. Dr. Lee operated right in his office, but in case something went wrong, the hospital was right across the street. My insurance covered it because I'd been having back pain for some time. I also got three weeks of short-term disability from work. I worked at a desk at the time, but moving my arms was surprisingly one of the most difficult things to do right after surgery. Good luck!

I just wonder how insurance companies will pay for something cosmetic. I think it's rare. Will you have to pay out of pocket? Would you have to pay for it all at once?