Sorry about that abrupt lead in, but I couldn’t come up with a more subtle way to approach this topic. I’ll assume if you’ve read this far, you’re not offended and your breasts have probably suffered some kind of negative physical effects after breastfeeding.
As much as we can all say that we “shouldn’t” place so much emphasis on our physical appearance, doesn’t every woman want to see her body return back to at least somewhat resembling how it was before childbirth? I know for myself, I can answer a resounding YES!! to that question. Working on obtaining your pre-pregnancy body weight can be enough of a challenge, but usually with some diet and exercise, moms can often obtain positive results towards losing leftover post-pregnancy weight gain and regaining the look of their pre-pregnancy body.
However, if your breasts have become deflated or you’ve experienced extreme sagging after you’ve completed breastfeeding, no amount of exercise or dieting is going to get your breasts back in shape, so it can be very discouraging. Since this topic is one that’s not often openly discussed, you might be surprised to discover just how many other women are also unhappy with the condition of their breasts after breastfeeding, but are reluctant to discuss it or know where to turn to get help.
Within our boob-obsessed society, one situation in which small-breasted women can actually benefit is while breastfeeding. If you have small boobs, the odds are in your favor, as your breasts likely have a better chance of standing up to the demands of breastfeeding, without losing as much of their shape, as large breasts. So if you’re large breasted, the changes that come about from pregnancy weight gain and nursing, could have a greater negative impact on your breasts, but be aware the end result can vary greatly between individuals.
Elective Esthetic Breast Enhancements
Most of what we hear in the news about breast augmentation seems to relate to elective “boob jobs” that women have done in order to obtain whatever they perceive to be a more desired physical appearance in their breasts. These procedures are mostly viewed as “elective” procedures and they often are accompanied with a pretty hefty price tag .. which means, if you want your boobs done, you’ll need to pay for them from you own wallet.
Do Insurance Companies Ever Cover Breast Reconstruction?
While researching this topic it, it caused me to wonder if health insurance coverage would cover paying for the repair of deflated or lopsided breasts that were a direct result of breastfeeding. So I went directly to my own insurance company, Blue Shield of California, and asked them the question. The answer I got was primarily a “no”. Insurance companies do not ordinarily cover plastic surgery procedures like breast reconstructions or augmentations because they view them as being cosmetic and therefore, elective, procedures. They will however, cover breast reconstruction due to medical illnesses, such as with cancer or mastectomies. Be aware that there can always be exceptions to these guidelines, or extreme cases, where a case could be taken before the board for special consideration if the individual is suffering psychological damage, etc, so you should always double check with your own physician and insurance company to learn more about your own coverage. However, in most cases, if you decide you want to have your breasts augmented or reconstructed, chances are you’d better plan on footing the bill yourself.
Look into Getting a Consultation
The idea of getting a “Mommy Job” might at first glance seem like an extravagant indulgence and may not fit anywhere into your present budget. However, it couldn’t hurt to consult with your physician about what your options might be for reconstruction. That way, if you need to be referred out to a specialist (plastic surgeon), you’ll at least have gained some education to know more about what options are available to you. And if you can’t afford it now, you might be able to lay out a plan to make it happen for yourself sometime in the future. Never underestimate the value of something that’s meaningful to you, because if it is, you’re most definitely worthy of it!
