Breast reduction patients are some of the happiest patients that plastic surgeons see. The relief from neck and shoulder pain is almost immediate. There are some common questions that all reduction patients ask. First – “Will I need a lift as well?” Answer – a reduction is also a breast lift. The difference between a reduction and a breast lift is that a reduction lifts the breast and at the same time reduces the size of the breast. A breast lift only lifts the breast but does not change the size of the breast. Second- Will my insurance cover this? Answer – In many cases. Insurance companies have set criteria for the amount that breasts need to be reduced in order to qualify as a medically necessary procedure and be covered by insurance . In general a reduction of two or more cup sizes will usually be covered. In addition chronic neck and shoulder pain as well as grooves in the shoulders from the bra straps digging in ( sounds painful!) are evidence that insurance companies look at in order to determine if they will cover the procedure.