Should I do breast reduction before or after Lap-Band sugery?

All,

I'm not certain what to do, so I figured I'd check with folks who've been there. I've been approved for breast reduction already and I'm going in for my first appt. with surgeon/dietician this week to discuss Lap Band surgery. I've completed a bunch of pre-paperwork (paperwork they review even before they'll consider you for an appt.), so I've passed the first step. My breast reduction approval is good until the end of March '08. I know that there's awhile to wait before you can get your Lap Band surgery, if approved for it. My concern is if I have the breast reduction before the Lap Band will they turn me away for the Lap Band? I have upper back problems and, gosh, if breast could be donor organs I'd have signed up long time ago!!!! My plastic surgeon said that they only drawback he could think is that they may become smaller than I'd like (no problem to me!!!). I just want to make sure that (a). I don't blow my chance for Lap Band surgery AND (b). my boobs don't end up sagging a whole lot, if at all, if I have it done beforehand.

I don't want to wait until after Lap Band surgery to have my reduction if I don't have to. I have about 88 - 93 pounds to lose. I'm, at the least, a DDD.....swigging low~w~w!!! I have upper back problems also. "High Beam Headlights" would be awesome. I'm tired of walking around with poor posture because of them.....they get in the way! Also, I'm wondering if the insurance would still pay to have it done once I have the Lap Band & lose weight. They may not consider it "medically necessary" then. Decisions.....decisions...... Any suggestions?????

HI-
I started out a 44 DDD - F before my lap band July 25, 2007. I'm now at a 38 DD with about an 80 pound loss give or take a couple of pounds. I would have to agree with your doc. If you're fat goes, the fat in your boobs does too. Have you always been larger breasted? I've been at least a C cup since I was 10 years old. By the time I was 13 I was a D cup. I've never been below a D in the last 23 years. That is from 150 lbs all the way up to 282 lbs. I guess what I'm saying, is if you have alot of breast mass and not just fat mass, then you could have the tissue removed and not get too small. If they're big because of your weight, then you should wait until your close to your ideal to have them taken down.
Hope this helps, cause I'm going to have mine lifted after I hit my ideal.

I say do Lap Band first and wait because your boombs will go down when u lose and get saggy than get reduction that's my plan

I agree. I had a BR 3 years ago. Although I don't regret it, I would recommend doing it at or nearer goal.

Things change so much when you lose weight.

Good luck.

I would certainly wait till closer to goal. I've never been small chested. I would be devastated if I'd gotten the surgery then shrank them up with weight loss and ended up with an A or a B cup. Nothing wrong with that size for those of you that are there :) It's just not for me. At my tiniest I was a D cup. And besides, my hubby would NOT be happy ;-)

I so understand I need to get the BR because of back problems but don't want to be a A, B maybe a large C. I love my girls but the sagging and back pain and not being able to to wear halter tops without a bra , and the peep hole u get with button down shirts I can do without ....

Have you discussed this with the plastic surgeon? I would also be concerned that your ins co. will not approve you after March 08 because your breast size will be reduced and may not be at the guidelines they allow to pay for it.

do you know what the guidelines are for your ins. co. At what breast size will they pay etc.

Then maybe you could lose a little first with your band, but do the reduction while you still meet the guidelines and maybe the surgeon can compensate at the time of surgery making you kind of tight? I don't know if the last thing is possible.

I would talk with the plastic surgeon.

Great advice here.

I'm at a 48DDDD right now. I've lost close to 60 pounds and the boobs have barely budged. I still have horrid trapezia pain and shoulder soreness. This I treat with Naprozin. I spoke with the doctor and he said we need to weigh the options of back trouble and pain NOW versus waiting another year or so. I'm going to go in for an evaluation anyway. My insurance covers NOW but may not cover when I get down as they consider it cosmetic. There is % they also go by.

Post back your plan, I'd love to follow it.

with my insurance they just require that you have some type of phyiscal problems in the last year, meaning back ache , bra strap digging in shoulder, shoulder pain and a current pic. but I think losing the weight is more important than the BR I can live with saggin boobs and but If you don't lose the weight you might not live long enough to enjoy the new boobs

Thanks for all of the feedback. You're all right in one way or another. I did get approved for Bilateral reduction AND for the Lap Band, thru my insurance. I spoke with both the plastic surgeon & my Lap Band surgeon. I am so sick and tired of digging brastraps, upper back pain, and the aforementioned "peek-a-boo" shirt! Also, the bad posture is enough to make ya ill when you see yourself in the mirror! The Lap Band surgeon didn't see any reason why we couldn't do the surgeries at the same time. I've never lost a lot of weight in my boobs when I've lost weight before, so I'm going for it. I based my decision on that fact, plus that my insurance does have a minimum # of grams of weight that needs to be removed, plus health issues (mine being my disk problems plus some arthritis in my upperback) to be approved for them to cover the surgery. I can't afford to pay for it myself, so I'm going for it at the same time. My surgeries are going to take place on March 11th (2008). I figured that I wouldn't get approved once I lose weight from the banding. I'm going to speak with the plastic surgeon to see what he plans on doing (ie. higher/tighter/whatever). My appointment with him isn't for another month & a half. Once I find out what he plans on doing I'll let ya all know! :eyebrows:

Anytime I've ever made it to goal, my boobs have shrunk considerably, but it seems like they are always the last to go. I bet as you get close to goal you'll find them much smaller!

I know I will need to get a lift eventually, but I don't anticipate needing a reduction once I lose the weight.

Exactly! My Plastic Surgeon recommends doing it before goal weight for just the reason that shortgal says. He was right, and waiting until after goal weight means I no longer qualify for insurance payment of this procedure. (So I make sure my Bandster buddies get it before goal if they are aiming for insurance payment. If they can self-pay or finance, then they can wait if they want. But the insurance company wants to see large volume breasts before they pay, and at/near goal - then your breasts may still need work, but no longer have large volume left.

Think about it!