I am looking for a surgeon who has the ability to get insurance to pay for a male breast reduction. I am nearly 50 and have never been comfortable with my shirt off in public. My breast tissue is probably a B cup. I cannot afford the luxury of surgery. Working out and diet have caused no positive results — if anything, I am more self-conscious.
I would love to be on a reality show or be a patient in a teaching video. It is very difficult to feel positive about my body image. I limit my wardrobe to shirts and sweaters, which I think minimize my breasts, because I hate wearing tee shirts except under dress shirts to flatten as much as I can. I usually wear a size smaller in a tee so it’s compressive.
I do not care about scars — I just want to feel normal for the first time in my life. I suffer from BPII, and many times when someone makes fun or comments on my chest it triggers a change in my state. I am under control medically and able to handle these comments much better these days.
I have spent the last 16 years caring for my wife’s ill parents and raising my daughter and have been unable to find or have the resources to correct this problem surgically. My dream is to be able to just throw a tee on or a tank top and head out of the house, or run on a treadmill without floppy breasts. And to feel normal. I am sure there is muscle there — I have lifted many years to no avail, except my nipples moving further and further toward the outside of each breast.
My absolute dream is a male breast reduction with pec implants. Are there any surgeons who make dreams come true?
John
Dr. Rosenblatt responded:
I have received your request for information regarding correction of excess fat of your stomach, love handles, or chest (gynecomastia). This is usually corrected with liposuction. I have been doing liposuction for >20 years with both tumescent and ultrasonic techniques (the latter being best for male breasts).
I offer a complimentary consultation where I will examine you, discuss your problem, and show you pictures of what can be done. After discussing these points, my office manager will explain all fees. Most of our gynecomastia corrections are done in our certified office surgical suite in order to minimize your cost and maximize your convenience. If you have a lot of breast tissue–usually it is mostly fat–it can be excised at the same time. My anesthesiologists are MDs not nurses, and I pride myself on the speedy recovery of my patients.
This procedure is usually not covered by health insurance because it is considered cosmetic in nature. We offer financing and accept all major credit cards. Any quote over the Internet will not be accurate, which is why we offer a free consultation. The only way you can get the procedure for the lowest cost would be to go to a hosptal such as Lenox Hill Hospital that has a training program in Plastic Surgery. They would do it for the least cost. Remember – the medical insurance you have is YOURS — call them and see if they will cover the surgery – odds are they won't. Good Luck.
I am a doubly board certified plastic surgeon (also in ear, nose, and throat surgery), have been in practice >25 years, and specialize in cosmetic surgery. My breast work is highly regarded by my peers and patients. Both New York Magazine and Castle and Connolly's How to Find The Best Doctors in New York have listed me as tops in my field. I am also included in the Top Surgeons in the United States. I am Past President of the Medical Society of the State of New York and of the New York Regional Plastic Surgery Society.
If you e-mailed me your address, my staff will be sending you information via mail. Also, please check my web-site, if you haven't already [http://www.WRMD.com].
We would be happy to see you as a patient and look forward to your calling the office to set up an appointment for a free consultation.
Dr. Jacobs responded:
Dear John
Thanks for your story — it is very touching. I have a practice sub-specialty in gynecomastia surgery and to date have done well over 1500 cases! And I have heard over 1500 stories very similar to yours.
Unfortunately, the reality is that insurance companies have very strict criteria for providing coverage for gynecomastia surgery. Unless your situation fulfils those criteria, no surgeon can "convince" an insurance company to provide coverage.
I can only suggest you either save money for surgery to be done by a private surgeon or perhaps visit a clinic in a teaching hospital which has a plastic surgery residency program. You can then, perhaps, have the surgery done by a resident plastic surgeon under the supervision of an attending plastic surgeon.
Good luck to you!
Elliot Jacobs, MD, FACS
New York City
Dr. Baxter responded:
It sounds like you are well-motivated to have the procedure but unfortunately insurance does not cover male breast reduction in my experience. Your best bet might be to look into a university plastic surgery teaching program where they might be able to do it at a discount as a teaching case.