Breast Reduction Surgery Cost and Procedure Guide

When it comes to breasts, bigger isn’t always better, especially if the size and weight of your breasts are impacting your physical and/or psychological well-being. For many, the solution is breast reduction surgery, which has one of the highest rates of satisfaction of all cosmetic surgery procedures.¹

Read on to learn more about breast reduction surgery for women and men, and what it costs.

What Is Breast Reduction Surgery?

Breast reduction surgery, also known as reduction mammoplasty, is a surgical procedure designed to reduce the size of the breasts. Not only does the procedure make the breasts smaller, but it also reshapes and lifts them so they’re proportionate to each other.¹

How Much Does Breast Reduction Surgery Cost?

The national average cost** of breast reduction surgery is $8,579, but it can range from $5,624 to $14,581.³ The price of breast reduction surgery can vary significantly, depending on several factors, including:

• Surgeon’s experience and reputation. A highly trained and experienced plastic surgeon often charges a higher fee. While budget is important, choosing a board-certified surgeon with extensive experience can help you get the best results and lower the chance of complications.
• Complexity of your surgery. The complexity of surgery impacts how long your surgery will take. Factors that determine complexity are your breast size and the extent of sagginess being corrected, as more time will go into reshaping and lifting the breasts.¹

If you’re having another procedure done at the same time, such as a nipple and/or areola reduction, or if your breast reduction is part of a mommy makeover, that will also affect the complexity and cost.

Other factors that can impact the cost of breast reduction and should be discussed with your surgeon beforehand are anesthesia fees, follow-up appointments and special garments that you may need to wear during the recovery period, such as a surgical bra.⁴

Calculate the cost of a breast reduction near you**

Average cost of breast reduction surgery by state/district

The average cost** of breast reduction surgery can also vary depending on where you live:³

Does Insurance Cover Breast Reduction?

Breast reduction may be covered by health insurance if it’s considered medically necessary; the criteria for coverage may vary among insurance providers. Insurance providers do, however, require that a certain amount of breast tissue be removed. The amount is based on body surface area.⁵

Your plastic surgeon may need to provide documentation to support your request, such as a letter, medical records showing what other treatments you’ve tried and/or photographs. If your breast reduction is covered by insurance, you will still have to pay copays or deductibles.⁴

How Can You Pay for a Breast Reduction?

There are several ways to pay for a breast reduction, depending on what your provider offers and your budget. Some pay up front with cash, check or a credit/debit card. Others may choose a payment plan offered through the practice.

If you’d prefer to pay over time, the CareCredit credit card is another option many patients use for out-of-pocket health and wellness services. If approved, you can make monthly payments (with promotional financing options where available). Promotional financing options vary, so review the details and ask the office whether they accept CareCredit before deciding.

Signs You May Need One

Though breast reduction is often done for cosmetic purposes, people may have breast reduction surgery for medical reasons.⁸ Medical and cosmetic concerns helped by breast reduction surgery can include:⁹

• Breast pain or numbness caused by the weight or size of the breasts
• Breasts that are disproportionate to your body frame
• Headaches or neck, back and shoulder pain from the strain of heavy breasts
• Heavy, saggy breasts with nipples that point downward
• Large male breasts (gynecomastia)¹
• One breast that’s larger than the other naturally, or due to lumpectomy for breast cancer treatment
• Poor posture due to the weight of the breasts
• Psychological impact of having large breasts, such as embarrassment or self-consciousness
• Skin irritation and rashes under the breasts
• Trouble finding tops and other clothing that fit your chest properly

Who Is a Good Candidate for Breast Reduction?

A consultation with a plastic surgeon is the best way to determine if you’re a good candidate for breast reduction, and if so, which type is best suited to your body. You may be a candidate for breast reduction if you:⁶

• Are bothered by the appearance and/or feeling of your large breasts
• Are having neck, back or shoulder pain due to the weight of your breasts
• Are healthy and don’t smoke
• Have deep indentations from your bra strap
• Have limited activities because of your breast size
• Have skin irritation under your breasts

An important thing to keep in mind is that while breast reduction is permanent, your breasts can still change due to factors such as pregnancy, menopause and other hormonal changes throughout your lifetime, as well as weight loss and weight gain.⁷

Types of Breast Reduction

Breast reduction involves surgically removing the breast fat, glandular tissue and skin through incisions. There are two different incision patterns that can be used, depending on patient preference and the amount of breast tissue that needs to be removed:¹

• Lollipop incision. The incision goes around the areola, which is the darker area that surrounds the nipple, and vertically down the breast to the crease, creating what looks like a “lollipop” scar.
• Wise incision. This technique uses an upside-down T-shaped incision on patients with larger breasts or those requiring more tissue removal.

The nipple is repositioned during surgery while still remaining attached to its original nerves and blood supply. If needed, skin around the perimeter of the areola is removed to make it smaller so it’s proportionate to the new, smaller breast size.²

A free-nipple graft, which involves removing the areola and nipple and transplanting it in a higher position, may be included in the procedure if your breasts are very large and pendulous.²

How Does Breast Reduction Surgery Work?

Your plastic surgeon will advise you on the best technique for your breast reduction based on the amount of tissue that needs to be removed and your preferences. Once you decide on the procedure that is right for you, here’s what to expect.

Preparation

Here are things you may be asked to do to prepare for a breast reduction:¹⁰

• Have a medical evaluation and lab tests.
• Get a mammogram before and after your surgery.
• Take certain medications.
• Adjust or stop taking current medications.
• Stop smoking.
• Make arrangements to have someone drive you home after surgery and stay with you the first night.

Procedure

Here’s a general rundown of how breast reduction surgery is done:²

• Anesthesia. Breast reduction surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia or using intravenous (IV) sedation and local anesthesia to numb the area.
• Incision. The surgeon will make the incision you agreed on before the procedure. This may be a lollipop incision around the areola and down the breast, or an inverted T-shaped incision if you have a lot of tissue to remove.
• Tissue removal and repositioning. The surgeon will reposition the nipple while leaving it attached to the nerves and blood supply, unless you’re having a nipple graft. Excess breast tissue under the skin is then removed and the breast is lifted and shaped.
• Closing the incisions. The surgeon will pull the remaining tissue together to shape and support your new, smaller breast using sutures layered deep within the breast tissue. Sutures, surgical tape and/or adhesives are used to close the skin.

Breast reduction surgery typically takes three or four hours but can take longer depending on the complexity of the changes needed to achieve the desired size and contour.¹

Potential Complications

Breast reduction complications are generally mild.⁹ Your surgeon should explain the potential complications to you in detail before you agree to the surgery.⁷ The chance of complications may be higher in people who smoke, have a BMI over 30 or are having a higher volume of breast tissue removed.⁹

Potential complications include:⁷

• Anesthesia intolerance
• Bleeding
• Breast asymmetry or irregular shape
• Bruising and swelling
• Cardiac and pulmonary complications, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Changes in breast or nipple sensation that may be temporary or permanent
• Changes in the shape and size of your new, smaller breasts if you gain significant weight
• Fat necrosis deep under the skin
• Fluid buildup
• Infection
• Nerve, muscle or blood vessel damage
• Partial or total loss of areola or nipple
• Possibility of needing another surgery or revision to achieve the results you want
• Potential inability to breastfeed

Breast Reduction Surgery Recovery

After breast reduction, you’ll go home with dressings over your breasts and possibly small drains in the incisions, depending on the type of breast reduction you had. Your surgeon will give you aftercare instructions so you’ll know how to clean and care for your wounds. You’ll be told when to return to your surgeon’s office for a follow-up and/or to have the drains removed.¹¹

You’ll be given a surgical bra to help support your breasts and minimize swelling as you heal for the first four to five weeks.¹¹

Depending on your job, you should be able to return to work after two or three weeks. You should be able to return to your usual activities, including working out, in about four to six weeks.¹¹

You will have some pain, bruising and swelling at first.¹² You may also notice some drainage from the incision lines in the first few days.¹³ Pain typically improves within the first week, and many patients transition to over-the-counter pain relievers within a few days.¹² Your incisions may feel itchy, numb or tender for two to four weeks.¹²

Results

Swelling can take several months to improve completely, and it may take three to six months for your breasts to fully settle. Breast reduction scars can take up to a year to fade.¹²

You may notice changes in breast or nipple sensation after surgery. These changes are often temporary, but in some cases they can be permanent.⁷

Helpful recovery tips

Here are some helpful tips when recovering from breast reduction:

• Put down an old or dark towel or blanket on your bedding or furniture to avoid stains from any drainage.
• Sleep on your back with your upper body slightly elevated for the first few weeks of recovery.¹²
• Opt for loose, comfortable tops to avoid pressure or irritation to your breasts while healing.
• Button-down shirts and pajamas will be easier to get in and out of without having to raise your arms.
• Wait until your swelling has decreased to get fitted for new bras.

Financing Breast Reduction Surgery With the CareCredit Credit Card

Ready to revitalize your appearance and boost your confidence? The CareCredit credit card makes it easy to pay for breast reduction surgery and related expenses not covered by health insurance.* Use our Acceptance Locator to find a doctor or cosmetic surgeon near you that accepts CareCredit so you can stop dreaming and start living your best life. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your CareCredit account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to cosmetic procedures, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for dentistry, pet care, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Adrienne Santos-Longhurst is a writer who has been covering health and lifestyle for more than two decades. Her work has appeared in Healthline, Insider, Medical News Today and more.