Introduction
Breast reduction surgery is among the more popular surgeries in the UK! Some women get breast reduction to relieve chronic back, neck, and shoulder pain due to large and heavy breasts, discomfort such as suffocation because of breasts pressing down on the lungs when lying on the back, and consistent chafing, irritation, and rashes under the breasts. And others may undergo this breast procedure to get smaller breasts that make it easier for them to exercise, help them not feel conscious or embarrassed about their body, or improve their appearance.
Whatever the reason for anyone exploring breast surgery procedure, understanding its cost is an essential part of the decision-making process. If you find yourself at that point in your research, this article delves into the financial details and attempts to help you make a more informed choice about your body, health, and well-being.
What Is Breast Reduction Surgery?
Breast reduction surgery, also known as reduction mammaplasty, is the procedure to remove breast tissue, fat, and skin to make them smaller, feel lighter, and give them better shape.
Women who are above the age of 18 in the UK can get breast reduction surgery. Usually, breasts don’t need to be a particular size for them to be eligible for surgery, but women with bigger and heavier breasts predominantly opt for it to relieve physical and health-related distress. If however, you plan to have a family and nurse, surgeons may advise you to consider breast reduction after completing your family.
Breast Reduction Surgery: Medical vs Cosmetic
Breast reduction surgery may be necessitated by both medical and non-medical reasons. These may include:
| Medical Reasons | Cosmetic Reasons |
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How Much Does Breast Reduction Cost?
Different aspects of a breast reduction procedure influence the overall cost. These include:
Consultation with a surgeon: Meeting with the surgeon of your choice and consulting them about the procedure is the first phase. The cost of consultation is impacted by the experience of the surgeon.
Breast reduction surgery: The cost of breast reduction surgery is also influenced by where you get your surgery done – an NHS-registered hospital or a private clinic. It’s important to note that private clinics provide their pricing structure for this procedure. The location of the hospital or the clinic may also play a role in the cost. In addition to these, there are costs associated with the surgery from the operating room, anaesthetists, equipment, and materials. The cost of surgery is also influenced by its complexity, the technique used, and if it’s combined with any other procedure like a liposuction or a lift.
Post-Op Care: There may be post-operative care and follow-up consultations required which are usually factored into the complete cost of surgery that is offered to patients.
Physiotherapy: Physical therapy is usually advised after surgery to alleviate pain, improve your posture, and help regain a complete range of movement (this is important as soreness from surgery and limited arm movement could occur post-op). Costs associated with physiotherapy should ideally be included in the overall budget for a breast reduction procedure.
Additional costs: There may be a few other costs to factor in such as the cost of blood tests and mammograms, medicines for pain management and post-op recovery, and compression or surgical bra for support.
The cost of breast reduction surgery under the NHS can come up to around £6,500. Consultation and follow-up care are charged separately. At private clinics, the cost of surgery may differ.
Cost Sheet for Breast Reduction Surgery at Sunion Health | |
Consultation | £150 |
Surgery | £5600 |
Follow-up Care & Consultation | £600 |
Physiotherapy | NA |
Additional Costs | £145 |
* Costs mentioned here are indicative costs only. Please refer to your hospital or clinic for actuals.
Types of Insurance Available
Private insurance companies or the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK may cover plastic surgeries only. In other words, surgeries that have a repair, remedial or reconstructive aspect and are medically required. They don’t cover cosmetic procedures that aim to enhance people’s appearance.
There are two types of health insurance available in the UK: private and public (the NHS).
| Private Health Insurance | Public Health Insurance |
Plans may vary and may cover a part of the cost of surgery. Policies may include limitations such as age, comorbidities, etc. Patients must satisfy the pre-set criteria to be eligible for coverage. | Free services such as consultation with the GP, nurse, and others. Provides comprehensive coverage along with a vast network of hospitals and clinics across the UK. May provide help with travel costs. |
Eligibility for Insurance for Breast Reduction
Usually, breast reduction surgeries are categorised as cosmetic procedures, and aren’t covered by insurance companies or the NHS. However, there can be an exception. If the procedure is medically needed owing to either a physical or psychological reason, insurance may cover it.
To get insurance coverage, patients must meet the eligibility criteria for a medically necessitated breast reduction procedure. For breast reduction procedures by the NHS, these criteria are laid down by the local Integrated Care Board (ICB) and can vary from region to region. In the case of private healthcare insurance providers, the criteria are set by the organisations.
Will the NHS Pay For My Breast Reduction?
To be considered or be eligible for breast reduction procedures under the NHS, you must first consult a certified surgeon or a GP and get a physical assessment. The evaluation will be based on the guidelines prescribed by the local ICB, and they may vary from region to region.
It’s important to note that some ICBs may not fund breast reduction procedures at all. But, generally, the guidelines recommend evaluating for different medical reasons such as chronic pain, breathing difficulties, mental health concerns, and others.
You may also be asked to get a psychological assessment if it’s recommended by your local ICB. Finally, you may be cleared for breast reduction surgery if you satisfy the eligibility criteria.
ICBs may include additional criteria regarding the size of breasts, weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), age, and lifestyle. They may also seek to evaluate if other options to alleviate the health issues have been tried but failed.
How to Get Breast Reduction Under the NHS?
Step 1: Consult your local GP. They will check if you meet the criteria set down by your local ICB and if you do, they may refer you to a board certified plastic surgeon for assessment.
Step 2: The assessment by the plastic surgeon can be expected to be more exploratory and involve questions regarding your medical history and health concerns that prompted you to seek breast reduction surgery. The surgeon will share information regarding the results and the risks of the surgery. They may also refer you for a psychological evaluation.
Step 3: The final decision is made by a panel of local ICB representatives after review. They review the results of your assessment and check whether your case presents a strong enough reason for the surgery to be done under the NHS.
Other Ways to Finance Breast Reduction Surgery
Apart from the NHS, you could go with your private health insurance provider to cover the cost of breast reduction surgery if it’s included in your insurance plan.
To get breast reduction surgery covered by your private health insurance company, you will have to prove that the procedure is a medical need. You will be asked to provide documentation over 6-12 months to illustrate the health issue you’re suffering from and how breast reduction surgery will help solve it. Approval for coverage must satisfy the medical necessity criteria to be considered and will still be at the discretion of the insurance provider.
Patients choose private health insurance providers when getting their breast reduction surgeries because they typically offer shorter wait times. They also provide patients with more freedom to choose their surgeon based on their expertise, experience, and positive reviews.
Alternatively, you may choose to self-finance which would be the quickest way to get your procedure done. Both these options are introduced to patients after their first consultation.
Breast Reduction Surgery for Men
Sometimes, men experience imbalances in their oestrogen levels that cause one or both breasts to become abnormally large. This condition is known as gynaecomastia and breast reduction surgery is one of the procedures to resolve it. Obesity is the other factor that may contribute to this condition.
During the breast reduction procedure for gynaecomastia, the surgeon makes an incision around the nipple area to remove excess breast and fat tissue to tighten the chest. This procedure is predominantly done under general anesthesia and may involve an overnight stay at the hospital for recovery. It takes several weeks to completely heal and you will be asked to avoid heavy lifting, excessive physical exercise, and stretching. Expect yourself to take at least 6 weeks for a return to normal, active lifestyle after surgery.
Breast reduction for men is not available under the NHS except under special circumstances such as having gynaecomastia for a long time, alternate treatments that haven’t helped, or the condition causing excessive pain. This procedure may be more commonly performed at private hospitals and clinics, with or without private insurance.
How Much Does Breast Reduction Surgery for Men Cost?
| Cost Sheet for Breast Reduction Surgery at Sunion Health | |
| Consultation | £150 |
| Surgery | £4600 |
| Follow-up Care & Consultation | £600 |
| Physiotherapy | NA |
| Additional Costs | £145 |
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
How much breast tissue is removed in a reduction surgery?
It depends. There is no standard amount of breast and fat tissue that is removed during a reduction procedure. However, influencing factors include the patient’s goal, the size and shape of the breasts, and body shape and proportion. The amount of breast tissue removed can weigh between 2 pounds and 8 pounds and is unique to every patient.
What is the minimum breast reduction to qualify for surgery under the NHS?
Most ICBs under the NHS do not set a minimum breast size when considering a reduction procedure. They evaluate to check if medical reasons necessitate surgery and that is pivotal for their decision-making.
What is the wait time for breast reduction surgery under the NHS?
Breast reduction surgery availability under the NHS varies according to the eligibility criteria set by the ICBs. Since this type of surgery is categorised as non-urgent, wait times at the NHS are known to be longer with a maximum of 9 months from the day of appointment through NHS referral.
What is the referral process in the NHS for breast reduction procedures?
The referral process is simple: You must first consult a General Physician (GP) if you think you can get breast reduction surgery under the NHS. The GP will take your medical history and assess you based on the criteria set by your local ICB. If they see that you meet the eligibility criteria, they may refer you to a plastic surgeon for a further assessment to evaluate if the procedure is a medical requirement for you and provide you with more information about the results and risks of the procedure.
Is male breast reduction covered by the NHS?
Breast reduction procedures are usually not covered by the NHS since they, most of the time, fall under cosmetic surgery. However, in rare cases, the NHS may consider male breast reduction if you’ve had gynaecomastia for a very long time, it hasn’t been resolved by other treatments, or the condition causes a considerable amount of pain.
How much does female breast reduction surgery cost?
Breast reduction surgery for women can cost around £6,500 under the NHS. Charges related to consultancy and follow-up care are additional.
Is breast reduction surgery for men in the UK expensive?
Breast reduction surgery for men, under the NHS, can cost anywhere between £3,500 and £5,500. Charges for consultancy or any follow-up care are not included.
Can I get breast reduction surgery covered by insurance in the UK?
Yes. There are two options: public insurance under the NHS and private. For breast reduction surgery under the NHS, you must be referred by a GP and meet the eligibility criteria set by the local Integrated Care Board (ICB). Under your private health insurance, you will have to check if the breast reduction procedure is covered. If it is, then you must provide documents to prove it’s a medically necessitated surgery.
Is private insurance better for breast reduction surgery?
The wait time with private insurance is shorter and they provide more freedom to choose the surgeons and hospitals you want for your breast reduction procedure.
Conclusion
References
Breast Reduction on the NHS. NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-reduction-on-the-nhs/
Breast Reduction (female). NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cosmetic-procedures/cosmetic-surgery/breast-reduction-female/
Breast Reduction (male). NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cosmetic-procedures/cosmetic-surgery/breast-reduction-male/
Find Your Local Integrated Care Board (ICB). https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/find-your-local-integrated-care-board/
