Breast reduction is an extensive operation, with inherent risks. Like all elective surgery, the risks of the operation must be balanced against the potential benefits, and not all women interested in the procedure will be able to have it. The following are widely accepted exclusion criteria for the operation:

• Significant anemia or illness
• Smoking
• Weight greater than 20% over the normal standard. (The breasts are a combination of fat and glandular tissue. Excess weight contributes to excess breast size and also increases surgical risk. The plastic surgery clinic and the referring doctors have these weight tables, duplicated below. Women falling outside of these ranges will likely not be scheduled for consultation. (Height and weight will be measured in the surgery clinic.)

If the amount of breast tissue to be removed in order to attain the desired size is below a certain mass, the procedure would be deemed “cosmetic” and not covered by insurance.

Height	Weight (lbs)
4’ 8”	121
4’ 9”	126
4’10”	130
4’11”	134
5’ 0”	139
5’ 1”	143
5” 2”	148
5’ 3”	153
5’ 4”	158
5’ 5”	163
5’ 6”	168
5’ 7”	173
5’ 8”	178
5’ 9”	185
5’10”	189
5’11”	194
6’ 0”	199