Question:
getting insurance to pay for breast lift ONLY

Has anyone successfully been able to get their insurance company to pay for a breast lift ONLY? I really need a breast lift and I'm beginning to get rashes and breakouts from the skin, however my surgeon does not believe my insurance company will pay for it because it is not accompanied with a reduction. Says that there is nothing there to reduce! LOL. So, what I'm wondering, is were you able to get your insurance company to pay for a lift only? How did you do it? and do you have any tips and or letters you can share? Thank you very much!! [email protected]    — Christie N. (posted on October 1, 2003)

October 2, 2003
I also went in for a reduction consult, and he told me that (even though they hang almost to my belly button) there is not enough breast tissue to warrent a reduction he thinks I would be happy with. Since then I found that because I am 5'4" that I can get by with a little less removed, so that would leave me about a B cup. And that's ok with me. He thinks that it might be to small. But my thought is that they are hunks of skin that are nothing but an annoyance for me. I have always been big breasted and really wish I would have looked into this before I lost all the weight. He even told me that had I come in prior to WLS it would have been much better, because they leave the breast tissue only in a reduction and you don't lose breast tissue through diet or excersize. I really don't think insurance will cover a lift only reductions.
   — Dana B.

October 2, 2003
Hi Christie, I am not sure, and I don't want you to get your hopes up, but the insurance company I work for would probably approve this lift if you are having rashes and skin problems. Unfortunately they would pictures, etc, to determine that it truly is medically necessary and not cosmetic. They might also have you try a prescription cream first before approving the surgery. You never know with these things...if nothing else, I hope this gives you some ideas on angles to take!! Good luck!
   — Louise D.

October 2, 2003
There is a woman over at yahoo groups-OSSG grads who has pictures of her lift and her insurance paid for it. She is 10 years post-op and had documented not only rashes but back problems. Start documented. She is not a 36C and looks very good. That is the first lift I have heard of being paid for by insurance-its usually the reductions that get paid for and then only if they reduce it by a certain amount.
   — Cindy R.