Hi, my name is DC and I am an 18J-K. I suffer from super back pain, excessive under breast itching, shoulder strap marking, difficulty sleeping, difficulty in buying clothers, pain from exercise, the humility that comes with it... the list goes on. I had been a 12DD-E the 5 years prior to my pregnancy (no cups to DD's at 15.. awesome) and I hated them and wanted a reduction even then!
I have seen two reconstructive surgeons. First one told me I was a perfect canditate for the public system and although I was happy to pay out of pocket -he had a kind heart and said he would not consent to operating on me without private health insurance. In the event something goes wrong it was too much to pay out of pocket for a long time in a private hospital.
The next guy I saw said flat out - you won't get in to have it done here (Canberra) as they have too many cancer surgeries and do not like their statistics to look bad so very rarely take on breast reductions. He said if I wanted a chance at any hospital up there giving me a fair go, I would need to see a chiropractor to have scans etc done and also look at a psychological evaluation to see how much it was affecting me. I was knocked off the Canberra waiting list after three months - 'elective' surgery has no place in the public system - DESPITE the fact I was originally referred by my GP and another surgeon who said it would be classed as medical. My hope bombed!
We're now in Melbourne again and I can't fathom another $180 out of my pocket just to sit 5 years on a waiting list. Im not in a position to get PHI right now either so I guess I am at stalemate.
I know the cost now, is around $10,000 with most places, including over night and two days of drainage tubes at home. You will get a portion of this back from medicare, and a portion if you have PHI. The surgeons I saw in Canberra said these days it is about 5-6k out of pocket.
Anyway, I desperately want it done and that is my most recent research/experience to do with it. Good luck!
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