Breast Reduction – Questions to Ask

Breast reduction is a common procedure in the field of plastic surgery, particularly if cancer is involved. If you are considering it, you need to know what questions to ask.

Breast Reduction – Questions to Ask

The following list of questions may help to remind you of topics to discuss with your surgeon:

What are all my options for breast reconstruction?
What are the risks and complications of each type of breast reconstruction surgery?
How common are they?
What if my cancer recurs or occurs in the other breast?
Will reconstruction interfere with my cancer treatment?
How many steps are there in each procedure, and what are they?
How long will it take to complete my reconstruction?
How much experience do you have with each procedure?
Do you have before and after photos I can look at for each procedure?
What results are reasonable for me?
What will my scars look like?
What kind of changes in my implanted breast can I expect over time?
What kind of changes in my implanted breast can I expect with pregnancy?
What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the cosmetic outcome of my implanted breast?
Can I talk with other patients about their experiences?
For staged reconstruction, what is the estimated total cost of each procedure?
How much will my health insurance carrier cover, especially any complication that may require surgery?
How much pain or discomfort will I feel, and for how long?
How long will I be in the hospital?
Will I need blood transfusions, and can I donate my own blood?
When will I be able to resume my normal activity (sexual activity or athletic activity)?

When choosing a surgeon who is experienced with breast reconstruction, you should know the answers to the following questions:

How many breast reconstruction implantation procedures does he/she perform per year?
How many years has he/she performed breast reconstruction procedures?
Is he/she board certified, and if so, with which board?
In which states is he/she licensed to practice surgery?
What is the most common complication he/she encounters with breast reconstruction?
What is his/her reoperation rate with breast reconstruction?
What is the most common type of reoperation he/she performs?

Any medical procedure should be taken seriously and breast reduction is no different. Make sure to ask these questions on breast reduction when meeting with surgeons.

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