Breast Reduction

Hello! We're at the very early steps of researching a breast reduction for my 20 YO daughter. Does anyone have personal experience - good or bad - with any plastic surgeons in NJ (willing to travel)? Feel free to PM me, if you prefer.

Many, many thanks! 


No personal experience but as a lactation professional I just want to suggest discussing with potential surgeons the possibility of doing the reduction in such a way that preserves the majority of ducts in case breastfeeding is something she might someday be interested in if she chooses to have children.

Good luck! 



Are you looking for insurance coverage or not? I only ask because from what I’ve heard (friends with kids in similar situations) it’s much harder to qualify these days. And when you do, it’s a designated covered $ amount. Many surgeons either don’t do it or they require you pay the difference. 


If you are doing it no matter what, Anthony Berlet is amazing. 


sent you a pm.

Alas, doulamama, this isn’t possible. Most are unable to breastfeed afterwards. The very nature of the surgery ensures this.


mammabear said:
Are you looking for insurance coverage or not? I only ask because from what I’ve heard (friends with kids in similar situations) it’s much harder to qualify these days. And when you do, it’s a designated covered $ amount. Many surgeons either don’t do it or they require you pay the difference. 


If you are doing it no matter what, Anthony Berlet is amazing. 

Ideally, insurance would pay, though we would make up any shortfall. She's 5'2" and a 32H, so they're very heavy and are especially large for her frame. They hurt her back and neck all of the time now, her bra straps cut into her shoulders (and we've tried a lot of options) - and she loves sports but is in a LOT of pain afterwards.

Do you know someone who used Dr. Berlet?


Lil Miss LL had it done when she was 16. Doc didn't think insurance would pay but Horizon Blue Cross covered the whole thing (5 ft and 32DD) Doc also said he worked hard to preserve a chance of breastfeeding if she wanted to after having a child. No guarantee he said but possible. Overlook was amazing and we are a St B family! Unfortunately her doc passed away last week. Good luck to you both


zuluqueen said:
sent you a pm.
Alas, doulamama, this isn’t possible. Most are unable to breastfeed afterwards. The very nature of the surgery ensures this.

 That's untrue. I had a friend who had BR surgery in the 1980s and another person I know who is now In her mid-thirties who were both able to breastfeed after. 


shh said:


zuluqueen said:
sent you a pm.
Alas, doulamama, this isn’t possible. Most are unable to breastfeed afterwards. The very nature of the surgery ensures this.
 That's untrue. I had a friend who had BR surgery in the 1980s and another person I know who is now In her mid-thirties who were both able to breastfeed after. 

 


there are some surgical methods that spare more ducts and so bf is possible though we are always prepared for the fact that the need for supplementation is more likely if the mom has had any breast augmentation

I’ve had clients able to bf/produce milk post-reduction or implants.


@zuluqueen I don’t seem to be able to figure out how to check messages


shh said:


zuluqueen said:
sent you a pm.
Alas, doulamama, this isn’t possible. Most are unable to breastfeed afterwards. The very nature of the surgery ensures this.
 That's untrue. I had a friend who had BR surgery in the 1980s and another person I know who is now In her mid-thirties who were both able to breastfeed after. 

well, zuluqueen didn't say that it was impossible to breastfeed after surgery. she just said most are unable to.  Don't know if there's research out there to show whether that's true or not. There is this, for those interested.

some quick googling shows that it largely depends on the reduction technique, so doulamama is correct to make sure that the surgical approach is discussed and understood, as it increases the chances of success, but doesn't seem to guarantee it. Looks like the patient should go in expecting at the very least to have breast feeding seriously impacted post-surgery, find a good surgeon and hope for the best.



shh said:


zuluqueen said:
sent you a pm.
Alas, doulamama, this isn’t possible. Most are unable to breastfeed afterwards. The very nature of the surgery ensures this.
 That's untrue. I had a friend who had BR surgery in the 1980s and another person I know who is now In her mid-thirties who were both able to breastfeed after. 

Agreed. I have a high school friend who did the surgery in the later 1980s and she, too, had no problems breastfeeding the children she had 15-20 years later.


I think some people think breastfeeding is automatically easy. Whether or not you've had some type of breast surgery that isn't always the case. Some people try once and give up for various reasons. Others work really hard to make it work. My one friend who had the reduction figured out a way to make it work, although it wasn't easy at first. 

Anyway I could see how someone would think it might be impossible with reduction surgery but it doesn't have to be, and it's obviously a good thing to bring up to the surgeon in advance.


drummerboy said:


shh said:


zuluqueen said:
sent you a pm.
Alas, doulamama, this isn’t possible. Most are unable to breastfeed afterwards. The very nature of the surgery ensures this.
 That's untrue. I had a friend who had BR surgery in the 1980s and another person I know who is now In her mid-thirties who were both able to breastfeed after. 
well, zuluqueen didn't say that it was impossible to breastfeed after surgery. she just said most are unable to.  Don't know if there's research out there to show whether that's true or not. There is this, for those interested.

some quick googling shows that it largely depends on the reduction technique, so doulamama is correct to make sure that the surgical approach is discussed and understood, as it increases the chances of success, but doesn't seem to guarantee it. Looks like the patient should go in expecting at the very least to have breast feeding seriously impacted post-surgery, find a good surgeon and hope for the best.



 How nice that a man stepped into this breastfeeding thread to explain things....  question 


how silly. A man can read up on research or know someone who has gone through it just as easily as a woman can. Would you rule out all surgeons who are male for this procedure?


finnegan said:


drummerboy said:

shh said:


zuluqueen said:
sent you a pm.
Alas, doulamama, this isn’t possible. Most are unable to breastfeed afterwards. The very nature of the surgery ensures this.
 That's untrue. I had a friend who had BR surgery in the 1980s and another person I know who is now In her mid-thirties who were both able to breastfeed after. 
well, zuluqueen didn't say that it was impossible to breastfeed after surgery. she just said most are unable to.  Don't know if there's research out there to show whether that's true or not. There is this, for those interested.

some quick googling shows that it largely depends on the reduction technique, so doulamama is correct to make sure that the surgical approach is discussed and understood, as it increases the chances of success, but doesn't seem to guarantee it. Looks like the patient should go in expecting at the very least to have breast feeding seriously impacted post-surgery, find a good surgeon and hope for the best.

 How nice that a man stepped into this breastfeeding thread to explain things....  question 

 I was kinda waiting for that.


to be fair, it’s a breast reduction thread and only tangentially a breastfeeding thread - didn’t mean to hijack 


doulamomma said:
to be fair, it’s a breast reduction thread and only tangentially a breastfeeding thread - didn’t mean to hijack 

 well, it's an important related issue.  and it could be an important factor in choosing your surgeon. it's useful that you brought it up.


BklynToMW said:


mammabear said:
Are you looking for insurance coverage or not? I only ask because from what I’ve heard (friends with kids in similar situations) it’s much harder to qualify these days. And when you do, it’s a designated covered $ amount. Many surgeons either don’t do it or they require you pay the difference. 


If you are doing it no matter what, Anthony Berlet is amazing. 
Ideally, insurance would pay, though we would make up any shortfall. She's 5'2" and a 32H, so they're very heavy and are especially large for her frame. They hurt her back and neck all of the time now, her bra straps cut into her shoulders (and we've tried a lot of options) - and she loves sports but is in a LOT of pain afterwards.
Do you know someone who used Dr. Berlet?

  Yes, I used him! He’s amazing. He was referrrd to me years ago by a close friend who happened to be the sales rep for the largest breast implant company. He covered most of NJ and saw many, many doctors. He said Berlet was the best he’d ever seen. 


mammabear said:


BklynToMW said:

mammabear said:
Are you looking for insurance coverage or not? I only ask because from what I’ve heard (friends with kids in similar situations) it’s much harder to qualify these days. And when you do, it’s a designated covered $ amount. Many surgeons either don’t do it or they require you pay the difference. 


If you are doing it no matter what, Anthony Berlet is amazing. 
Ideally, insurance would pay, though we would make up any shortfall. She's 5'2" and a 32H, so they're very heavy and are especially large for her frame. They hurt her back and neck all of the time now, her bra straps cut into her shoulders (and we've tried a lot of options) - and she loves sports but is in a LOT of pain afterwards.
Do you know someone who used Dr. Berlet?
  Yes, I used him! He’s amazing. He was referrrd to me years ago by a close friend who happened to be the sales rep for the largest breast implant company. He covered most of NJ and saw many, many doctors. He said Berlet was the best he’d ever seen. 

 Thank you, mammabear!


I had breast surgery with Dr, Peter Salas at St. B. He was so kind and caring. Really invested in communicating with patients. He does a lot of breast surgeries in St. B and Overlook. He and his partner, Dr. Pria Patel, worked together on my surgery. They were really terrific too me and my family. 



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