What is Breast Reduction?
Women with unusually large, sagging, or uneven breasts may be helped with breast reduction surgery performed at Heartland Plastic and Hand Surgery in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Many women are troubled with discomfort and the inability to perform physical activities they would like to do because of the size of their breasts.
Breast reduction surgery as it is performed at Heartland Plastic and Hand Surgery in Cape Girardeau, Missouri reduces the breast size and reshapes the breast, eliminating the discomfort from larger breasts and giving the patient more self confidence and a better quality of life.
The incisions for reduction surgery are placed around the areola and on the underside of each breast. During the procedure, your surgeon removes excess tissue and contours the breasts into a more pleasing shape.
There are differing methods and techniques to perform breast reduction surgery. On some patients, surgeons at Heartland Plastic and Hand Surgery in Cape Girardeau apply a vertical mammoplasty technique, which gives the breast a more natural appearance with less scarring.
Breast reduction surgery is performed on an outpatient basis at Heartland Plastic and Hand Surgery in Cape Girardeau, Missouri under general anesthesia. The procedure usually takes about 2 hours depending on the size of the breasts.
Can I see before and after pictures of people who underwent this procedure?
During your breast reduction consultation at Heartland Cosmetic and Hand Surgery, your surgeon will let you browse through some before and after pictures of patients who underwent this procedure. This allows you to visualize what the procedure may do for you.
What is the average cost of breast reduction? Is there a charge for the consultation?
At Heartland Plastic and Hand Surgery in Cape Girardeau, Missouri the average cost of a cosmetic breast reduction is $7500 to $7700 (effective June 1, 2009 - with cosmetic discount). A cash discount is applied to all cosmetic procedures if the procedure is paid in full before surgery. If you have commercial insurance, this is a surgery that may be a covered benefit.
There will be a charge for the consultation that may be applied to the cost of the cosmetic procedure or billed to insurance if considered medically necessary. The cosmetic consultation charge is deducted from the cost of the procedure if you decide to schedule your surgery within 6 months. After 6 months a new consultation may be scheduled to review any changes in your medical history.
Is financing available? And will insurance cover any of my fees?
Heartland Plastic and Hand Surgery in Cape Girardeau, Missouri accepts several types of payments. They are cash, credit cards (Visa, Master Card, Discover and American Express), money order, cashier checks. You may want to obtain financing from an agency of your choice.
Breast reduction may be covered by commercial insurance. During your consultation at the Cape Girardeau office, information is collected and a predetermination letter is sent to your insurance company. It will take an average of 4 to 6 weeks to get a response from your insurance provider. If insurance denies coverage because the procedure is not medically necessary, then a letter of appeal is submitted with a support letter from the patient's family physician. If you are opting for a cosmetic breast reduction, the balance is paid in full or financing arrangements made in advance with a financing company of your choice before surgery.
Do I have to stop smoking for Dr. Deisher to perform this procedure?
Heartland Plastic and Hand Surgery in Cape Girardeau, Missouri prefers for the breast reduction patient to stop smoking 1 month before surgery and 1 month after surgery. Nicotine in cigarettes decreases the blood supply to the skin and blood supply is a very important factor to the healing process. We hope patients can decrease their exposure not only to first hand but also to second hand smoke.
On average how many breast reductions does Dr Deisher perform in a year in his Cape Girardeau, Missouri practice?
Although each year can vary, we perform an average of 30 to 50 breast reductions per year.
During surgery, does Dr. Deisher usually use drains for a breast reduction?
Very rarely are drains necessary.
Do I need to stay in the hospital?
Most breast reductions are outpatient surgery procedures where the patient may return home the same day. However, some insurance requires the procedure to be done in a hospital. Based upon the patient’s overall health, Dr. Deisher may recommend having the surgery performed at a hospital instead of at his office in Cape Girardeau.
Is there a better time of year to have the surgery performed?
You should make sure you take off enough time to allow yourself to heal. After a breast reduction, you will have a 10-15 pound lifting restriction for at least 10 days following surgery. (That will include lifting children.) You also have to make adjustments at work due to pain, swelling and being on pain medication. The average time off work for patients in the Cape Girardeau area ranges from 2 to 6 weeks.
Is there anything I need to do to get myself ready for surgery?
To reduce bruising and the risk of hematoma, you must stop taking blood thinners and vitamin E at least one week before and after surgery. If you are on prescription blood thinners, you may need to get medical clearance from your family doctor as well as instructions on how to stop these medications. We also want all herbal medication and diet pills (prescription and over-the-counter) stopped at least two weeks before surgery and one week following.
At Heartland Plastic and Hand Surgery in Cape Girardeau, Missouri cosmetic surgeries are elective procedures requiring you to be in overall good health before the surgery can be performed. If there are questions regarding your health, medical clearance from your family doctor may be required.
This could be for me. What should I do next?
At Heartland Plastic and Hand Surgery in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, David Deisher, MD and J. Stewart Humphrey, MD are board certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery. They offer plastic and hand surgery to patients across Missouri including Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Sikeston. Your next step is to contact the Heartland Plastic and Hand Surgery office in Cape Girardeau today to schedule your initial breast reduction consultation! In the meantime, jot down all your questions and concerns and bring them to your consultation so your surgeon can address them. Call us now. Make this important first step now!
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