Consultation went well.
The surgeon/office would classify it as “breast reduction” (despite the fact that, well, it would be reduced to almost flat LOL) because that is the technique I like best, and as such I will not need to produce a letter of readiness. That is only if I go through insurance after all.
It will cost $8,032 which is delightfully specific and lower than anticipated.
Long Story
I met with the surgeon and he seems totally fine. Definitely in the older/traditional camp, but listened to me and looked at my reference photos, and thinks that shouldn’t be a problem to accomplish. No judgement. No gatekeeping. Everyone in the office was really nice, too.
He reiterated that because of the pedicle technique (which retains blood flow to the nipple unlike double incision surgeries) it can’t go as flat and they can only “reduce to safety” but that is still in line with what I want.
It’s being billed as “breast reduction” for simplicity’s sake and because I’m doing this out of pocket, and the total cost is $8,032. That includes surgery, anesthesia, facility fee, etc. The only thing it doesn’t cover is pain meds for after.
Revisions would typically be covered, but he wasn’t too worried about dog ears in my case.
Complications would be covered.
And because it’s being billed as “cosmetic” not “medical need” I won’t need to produce a letter of readiness from a therapist.
Overall I had a good feeling. He’s done a ton of breast surgeries before, and while most are “standard reductions” he knows the technique well, and this is simply a modification of that. He’s also done double incision top surgeries, and I saw some pics of both-- both look fine. Scars are where I would expect them, and things looked a-okay!
The timeline is likely 1-2 months out from when I schedule.
The part where I process all that
Holy shit this could be real. This could be real SOON.
I don’t need a therapist to sign off on it. I can call and schedule it tomorrow if I wanted to and have it done in March or April.
I want to do that.
But I also want to sit with it because it’s a big decision.
What is the recovery timeline like? How much time away from work?
I’m so glad the surgeon understands what you want, the cost is known (and not as expensive as I expected), no letter needed, and you can schedule when you want!!
LOL and frankliy I DON"T want to sit with this. I want to schedule it NOW and GET IT DONE.
But I should sit with it.
So I will. At least for a few days.
I’M LITERALLY WIGGLING WITH HAPPINESS YA’LL.
YOU CAN’T SEE IT.
BUT I AM.
I’M STANDING IN THE KITCHEN WAITING FOR MY FROZEN RAVIOLI TO BOIL AND I’M WIGGLING WITH EXCITEMENT.
My only advice: surgery recovery sucks. Your body is awful and every minor discomfort compounds. I suggest that you not have it done in summer when your house is too hot and uncomfortable. You will be miserable and sweat + incisions = higher risk of infection.
Yay, yay, yay! Best update ever! You can feel your happiness and relief through your words! I’m so excited for you!!
$8K seems like a bargain. That’s less than some people’s deductibles!
I will echo Smacky - do not have this done during the summer with no air conditioning. That would be majorly uncomfortable and majorly suck.
I will give you all my recovery tips at some point, but I want to emphasize and reiterate now - take off ALL the time from work you can possibly get. I don’t care if they tell you you can go back to work after 2 weeks, take ALL the time off from work you an possibly get. If you can get 4 weeks, take the full 4 weeks. Combine it with some vacation time or short term disability or whatever. You only get one chance to heal. You can afford it. Take off as much time as possible. (Do I need to say it again? Hehe.)
+1 to taking aaaaaaaaaaaall the time off you can. Are you eligible for FMLA? You’re having a major medical procedure so this is definitely the time to do it if your company/position qualify. (You’re probably already thought of that but I don’t remember seeing it in the thread.)
Yup!! Totally eligible for FMLA and will be going that route with this for sure.
I’m almost looking forward to the convo LOL bc I’m going to be circumspect as hell and they’re going to try to get the deets and it’s noooot going to work.
We’ll see what tomorrow brings, but at this point I think I’m just going to pull the trigger on scheduling the surgery.
This is something that I want.
I don’t need a therapist to tell me that yes I want it. Therapy will be useful for preparing myself, for navigating family and other feelings, and for the actual anxiety disorder I have (LOL) so I’m still glad I have it. But I want this. And I want to have surgery in April before it gets hot, as @Smacky indicated.
Upthread when I not tactfully was blabbing about “reduction” as a CPT code for billing and didn’t explain myself well this is exactly what I was hoping you’d have available as an option! Yay yay YAYYYYYYY
I also think it’s completely reasonable that I am Freaking Out So stoked that you were LISTENED TO AT FACE VALUE. That’s how it should be always and I LOVE that this step for you was how it should be!!
YES THANK YOU AHHHHH I’M VERY PLEASED AS WELL AS YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO TELL.
:3 :3 :3
to be clear, I’m not even going to try to get insurance to cover it as a reduction. This is where me having the money in the bank means I’m willing to pay for it rather than fight for it.
I’m still excited about that bit even though it’s related to insurance - I knew it was common practice here in the metro proper, but it is very pleasing that it’s not as uncommon as I feared
So…I’m sitting in a magnesium salt bath soaking a sore knee and yelled so suddenly when I saw your post it scared ALL THREE PETS out of the room.
This is just so so fucking AWESOME that you have a legit TIMELINE for YOUR torso!!
Scars are where I would expect them, and things looked a-okay!
!!!
I’m so excited for you!!
