American Society of Plastic Surgeons
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madnel4
5 years ago
Answered

19 and Desperate

I have asked my primary care doctor about breast reduction when I was in high school. He said it would be smarter to wait as I hit puberty later than average so I waited. My back, neck, and shoulder pain have only gotten much worse and I don’t like the wait I have gained because it is hard to excercise and painful. I haven’t owned a bathing suit in over two years and I just want a normal life.

Procedure: Breast Reduction
Location: Sterrett, AL

Replies 9

Karol Gutowski
ASPS Surgeon

May be better to go see a plastic surgeon directly for a consultation. In many cases, a breast reduction is appropriate at your age. Find a plastic surgeon here: https://find.plasticsurgery.org

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Mark Boschert
ASPS Surgeon

You should definitely see a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area. They can help you determine the amount of breast tissue that can be removed safely to alleviate your symptoms. I agree that if you think you are done growing at this point it is a very good option to have a treated before you develop chronic problems. Best of luck! Dr. Boschert

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Tracy McCall
ASPS Surgeon

You are having symptoms. It sounds like a breast reduction evaluation is reasonable. You want to find a board certified plastic surgeon and you've been given a link for that. You also want someone in your insurance network because this will likely be covered (not always). You can call the number on your insurance card to get some names. You can also call your primary care doctor and tell them that you want a referral because you are still having problems. After all, you did exactly what he recommended. I would expect he would be happy to help you out.

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Mario Carranza-Garcia
ASPS Int. Surgeon

as the other doctors say a breast reduction seems a good choice,

as i am en monterrey mexico the surgery would be much more cheaper

than in the united states.

best of luck

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Trent Douglas
ASPS Surgeon
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Thank you for your question and for doing your homework with ASPS member surgeons. Large breast size can be a big detriment to enjoying day to day life and breast reduction surgery is consistently has one of the highest patient satisfaction ratings. It is best to have an in-person consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area to determine the best treatment plan and timing. Many young women in their late teens do well with breast reduction surgery, it is just important to remember that your breasts may not have finished developing and that you may experience some additional breast growth after surgery. Best wishes on a great result!

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Nelson Castillo

I am sorry to hear of your difficulties but rest assured there is a solution. I would recommend seeing an ASPS plastic surgeon directly for a consultation and discussion of your treatment options. A breast reduction at your age is not abnormal and can lead to a substantial improvement in your quality of life.

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Jon Ver Halen

Dear 19 and Desperate,

Hello and thank you for your excellent question. Based on your description, it is certainly reasonable to seek treatment now, rather than wait for other problems to develop. It is best to answer your question during a face-to-face evaluation, when you can discuss your goals and expectations for the procedure, and you can have a physical examination to evaluate for that procedure. I recommend that you find a board-certified, or board-eligible plastic surgeon with whom you are comfortable. Be sure to have all of your questions answered during a face-to-face meeting with your surgeon, and review before and after pictures of similar patients whom have had this procedure. If you have any questions, call our office for assistance. Good luck!

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Orna Fisher
ASPS Surgeon
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Hello,

Based on your description, you sound like a very good candidate for a breast reduction. Your age is not a problem whatsoever. In fact, the sooner you have it done the sooner you can get to doing the things you want to do that you currently have a difficult time worked. Of course, you will need to see a plastic surgeon so that the procedure and its potential risk and complications are discussed with you, as well as your expectations for the recovery process.

If you have health insurance, you may qualify for a medically necessary breast reduction if you meet their criteria. If you don’t have health insurance then you can save up for the procedure, and most plastic surgeons also offer some form of financing to assist you. I advise you to see a board-certified plastic surgeon so that you can know what all of your options are and you can plan.

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Rick Rosen
ASPS Surgeon

I believe that you should consult with a board certified plastic surgeon and discuss your options and the pros and cons of having the surgery now, vs delaying. I personally believe that a breast reduction is appropriate considering what your wrote. Most growth occurs by this time although yes some growth can occur for the next few years.

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