At our practice in Richmond, breast reduction is a common procedure for women who wish to reduce the size of their breasts. A breast reduction reduces the volume of oversized breasts. Women with very large or pendulous breasts often experience both physical as well as emotional symptoms. Aside from a negative body image, feelings of self-consciousness, or social embarrassment, you may have back, shoulder, or neck pain, or may have irritation of the skin underneath the breast.
Also known as reduction mammoplasty, a breast reduction can resolve posture issues, put a stop to constant painful bra-strap indentations and rashes under the breasts, and reduce chronic neck, shoulder, and back pain. Breast reduction ranks among the procedures with the highest patient satisfaction.
There are many great advantages to getting a breast reduction in Richmond with expert plastic surgeon—Dr. Darrin Hubert. We’ve included some of the benefits:
Breast reduction can improve your self-esteem, physical symptoms, overall quality of life
The surgery can reduce the size of breasts for aesthetic and functional reasons
The procedure will give you more comfort and help you fit better into tops and the clothes you want to wear
As one of the top breast lift practices in Richmond, we’ve had the joys of treating patients for over a decade. We’ve included some of the best candidates of the procedure:
Candidates typically want to reduce the size of their breasts by at least one cup size
We ask that our patients have realistic expectations on what the surgery can and cannot do
Patients should be in good overall health and not smoke
The first step to getting a breast reduction in RVA is to contact us. By giving us a phone call or filling out a contact form, we’ll schedule a consultation for you to come to one of our two offices and meet one-on-one with Dr. Darrin Hubet. During your consultation, you’ll be able to express in difficulties you’ve been having with your breasts, surgical desires, and ask any questions. Dr. Hubert will provide his expert recommendations.
If you’re happy with Dr. Hubert’s surgical advice, surgery will be booked and we’ll provide you with instructions that will help us set up for success with your surgery. Dr. Hubert will have some very specific questions for you, which will include, details on any past surgeries, quality of health, any medications that are currently being taken, and if you smoke cigarettes.
Please be very honest with your answers, as the reason for the questions are so that we can decrease the chance of risk and complications.
A routine mammogram may be necessary before your procedure to establish a baseline. The procedure begins with the administration of general anesthesia. General anesthesia induces a temporary unconscious state in order to ensure that the patient feels no pain or discomfort during surgery. The chosen incision pattern can then be created using a scalpel.
Breast reduction then involves the surgical removal of skin, glandular, and fatty tissue. Next, the nipple is relocated to a higher, more natural position. If you have an over-stretched areola (the pigmented, dark area around the nipple), this can be reduced in size as well. Once these changes have been made, the incisions are closed with the help of dissolving sutures.
There are two main types of breast reduction incisions, and each is specialized to allow a different degree of access to the underlying tissues of the breast.
Anchor Technique: This option is best for patients dealing with a large amount of excess tissue. It involves an incision around the areola, a vertical incision down to the breast crease, and a horizontal incision across the breast crease.
Lollipop Technique: This incision technique is most suitable for achieving a moderate reduction in tissue. It involves an incision around the areola and an incision down to the breast crease.
The best incision pattern option for you will be chosen during your breast reduction consultation.
This bra will help to control post-surgical swelling and bruising, as will ice packs. If surgical drains are placed during surgery, they are typically removed in the office within the first few days.
Patients will need to take some time off from work. They must avoid heavy exercise routines or other strenuous activities for several weeks after the surgical session. Once the healing process is complete and all swelling has fully resolved, patients will be able to enjoy their smaller and more proportionate breasts.
The cost of a Richmond breast reduction can vary on a number of factors. Often, breast reductions are covered by your health insurance. In order to get insurance coverage, you must meet their criteria, such as documentation of symptoms, failed conservative treatments, and removal of a minimum amount of tissue. If insurance does not cover your procedure, you still may benefit greatly, with improvement in both your symptoms and appearance. Dr. Hubert will meet with you in his office to discuss all options and pricing.
To find out more about getting a breast reduction in Richmond, schedule a consultation by contacting our office. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Darrin Hubert will be available to answer any questions you may have and can get you started with the process.
before
afterView before-and-after pictures of real patients of Darrin Hubert, MD, FACS
Your Breast Reduction Questions Answered
What if insurance doesn’t cover my breast reduction?
Your health insurance might cover breast reduction surgery. This is how the process works. After your consultation with Dr. Hubert, he will contact your insurance company with the following information:
Then the insurance company will either approve pre-authorization or they will deny it, based on those factors. As an aside, the health insurance company exists to help you pay your bills, and by doing so, they make money. The less money they pay out in benefits, the higher their profits. So it seems that some health insurance companies have identified breast reduction surgery as one area where they can justify cutting back the benefits they pay out. In fact, some insurance plans specifically name breast reduction as a procedure they simply do not cover under any circumstances. And you might not even know that’s what your policy says unless you have read all the fine print. Dr. Hubert is ethically bound to act in his patients’ best interest. However, the health insurance companies have a significant duty to their shareholders, despite how much they say they care for your health in advertisements.
But you still may greatly benefit from breast reduction surgery even if your insurance won’t cover it. Most women are extremely happy they had breast reduction surgery because they feel so much better. The good news is you can still have the surgery, you just pay for it out of pocket. You might find that it is much more affordable than you think! Dr. Hubert’s staff can handle it like any other cosmetic surgery, such as a tummy tuck or liposuction. The fees cover the surgery, the anesthesia, and the facility (outpatient surgery center). We will let you know exactly what those costs are up front, so there are no surprises. A lot of women choose this option if their insurance doesn’t cover breast reduction surgery or if the amount of tissue to be removed is not heavy enough for them to authorize. As the insurance companies seem to be covering breast reduction less and less, this has become much more popular for women to look and feel their best.
& testimonials
Dr. Hubert did an amazing job with my breast reduction. I’m not one to typically write reviews. However, I have to say he is a perfectionist and I highly recommend him!
Out of town
Dr. Darrin M. Hubert extends a warm welcome to patients from other cities, states, and countries. We understand that finding your perfect match in a surgeon may require you to travel far away from your home and we are thrilled to help you plan your exciting journey to beauty and confidence.
