Breast reduction surgery (reduction mammoplasty) is a surgery some patients pay for themselves and others ask their insurer about, and how it is described shapes who books and what they expect. This guide is for practice owners, patient coordinators and front desk teams: what MedlinePlus and FDA say about breast reduction and the procedures callers compare, which claims to avoid, and how to turn requests into well-informed consultations.
- SearchAn adult looks for care near them.
- Your pageWhat you treat, who sees them, one way to book.
- Call or formThey call or send a request.
- Front deskBooks the visit and never guesses a cause.
- Clinical teamThe clinician decides the plan.
1. Know what breast reduction surgery is and is not
MedlinePlus, on breast reduction, says “Breast reduction is surgery to reduce the size of the breasts.” It explains that “the surgeon removes some of the breast tissue and skin” and that “Your nipples may be moved higher to reposition them for cosmetic reasons.” It says breast reduction may be recommended for very large breasts (macromastia) together with problems such as “Chronic pain that affects your quality of life.”, chronic rashes under the breasts, or difficulty finding clothes that fit. It also says “Some women may benefit from non-surgical treatments, such as:”
- exercising to strengthen the back and shoulder muscles;
- losing excess weight;
- wearing supportive bras.
So surgery is not the only option, and it is not the front desk’s place to suggest any of these. The surgeon examines the caller and explains which option fits, if any. Do not present surgery as the only answer.
Callers often say reduction when they mean a lift, or both, and those are not the same request. On breast lift, MedlinePlus says “Extra skin, and sometimes some breast tissue, will be removed and your nipple and areola may be moved.” and lists “Breast lift with reduction” among its other names. On breast reduction it says “Sometimes liposuction is combined with breast reduction to improve the shape of the breast and armpit areas.” Do not promise that one procedure will give a caller both a smaller and a lifted shape; the surgeon decides what is planned.
Under 21 CFR 878.5040, FDA regulates a suction lipoplasty system as a device “intended for aesthetic body contouring”, Class II (special controls). Do not call a technique or device “FDA-approved” unless its own FDA record says so (see FDA approved or FDA cleared?). See also how to get more breast lift patients, how to get more liposuction patients and, for male callers, how to get more gynecomastia patients.
2. Keep claims in line with the risk information
MedlinePlus’s breast reduction page lists the risks of anesthesia and surgery in general as reactions to medicines, breathing problems, and bleeding, blood clots, or infection. The risks it lists for breast reduction itself are:
- difficulty breastfeeding, or being unable to breastfeed;
- large scars or wounds that take a long time to heal;
- loss of feeling in the nipple area;
- uneven position of the nipples or differences in the size of the breasts.
It also says “Scars are permanent.” and “You may have a temporary loss of sensation in your breast skin and nipples after surgery.” On symptoms, it says “Pain or skin symptoms, such as striation, may disappear.” MedlinePlus does not say they will, so do not promise pain relief or any other result in ads or on the phone.
Write about breasts with respect. Some callers come because of pain, rashes or posture; others for how clothes fit or for reasons they keep to themselves. MedlinePlus lists “Unwelcome attention that is making you feel awkward” and “low self-confidence” among the reasons; do not turn either into an ad hook. Do not shame body size, and do not use sexualized copy or imagery. Keep ad copy aimed at adults, and never target minors in ads or social campaigns. Do not build ad audiences from anyone’s breast size, pain, health conditions or other health information.
Be careful with teenagers. MedlinePlus’s plastic and cosmetic surgery page has a section for teenagers that links to an outside page on breast reduction surgery for teens, so some requests will come from or about minors. For a minor, a parent or guardian books and consents, and the surgeon decides whether and when surgery makes sense.
Avoid “top-heavy”, “busty”, “too big”, “bikini body”, “beach ready”, “end your back pain”, “permanent results”, “guaranteed results”, “risk-free”, “scarless”, “no downtime”, “insurance will cover it” and “FDA-approved”. Better: “your surgeon will examine you and explain which option, if any, fits”.
3. Answer first-call questions honestly
- How much does it cost? Give a clear starting price, say what it includes (surgeon, facility, anesthesia, follow-up visits) and that whether a breast lift, liposuction or other surgery is planned at the same time affects the total.
- Does insurance pay? Do not promise coverage. Coverage varies by plan, so the practice checks each patient’s plan.
- Do I need a breast reduction or a breast lift? “We cannot tell that on the phone. The surgeon will examine you, ask about your health and medicines, and explain which option fits.”
- Who is the surgeon? Give the surgeon’s name and real credentials. Let callers check them with the state medical board.
When a caller asks about insurance, staff take the plan details and say the practice will check; they never say the surgery will be covered.
Leave screening to the surgeon. Your intake form can ask what the caller would like to change, any symptoms they want the surgeon to know about, whether they are or could be pregnant, whether they are breastfeeding or plan to, current medicines and supplements, smoking, health conditions such as diabetes or heart disease, past breast surgery and the date of any recent mammogram; for a minor, the parent or guardian fills it in. MedlinePlus tells patients “Ask your surgeon if you need a screening mammogram based on your age and risk of having breast cancer.” It says “Smoking can slow healing and increase the risk for complications.” and that patients “may be asked to temporarily stop taking medicines that keep your blood from clotting”; those instructions come from the surgeon. Never tell a caller to stop a medicine or to stop smoking by a certain date. The surgeon decides whether someone is a candidate and whether surgery is suitable. Front desk staff only collect the answers. Use the new patient phone script for the rest of the call, and book the consultation, not the surgery, while the caller is on the line.
4. Plan the consultation and recovery
MedlinePlus says “If you have diabetes, heart disease, or other medical conditions, your surgeon may ask you to see your health care provider who treats you for these conditions.” On mammograms, it says “This should be done long enough before surgery so if more imaging or a biopsy is needed, your planned surgery date won’t be delayed.” Tell callers the consultation may include questions about medicines, health and breast history, and that the surgeon may refer them to their own physician or ask for a mammogram first.
For recovery, MedlinePlus says “You may go home the same day or stay overnight in the hospital.” and that patients wear a surgical bra or soft supportive bra “for as long as your surgeon tells you to”. Ask your surgeons for written notes on each option (breast reduction alone, with liposuction, or a breast lift): anesthesia, where scars are expected, return to work and exercise, surgical bras and follow-up visits. Share them with callers early. Aftercare depends on the surgery; the surgeon gives exact instructions.
5. Price, finance and follow up
- Self-pay patients may be entitled to a good faith estimate; see the good faith estimate guide.
- If you advertise a discount, follow advertising prices and specials. Avoid deadline pressure on a surgical decision.
- If you offer financing, follow the patient financing guide.
- Before-and-after photos need written authorization and honest comparisons; see before-and-after photos. FTC guides treat a patient’s result as typical unless you disclose what patients can generally expect.
- Follow up after the consultation without pressure; see consultation to treatment. Track breast reduction requests separately, from request to consultation to surgery.
Where MediLeadGen fits
MediLeadGen sends practices requests from people interested in cash-pay elective treatments. Each request goes to one practice only, with the person’s consent naming that practice, at a fixed price per delivered request.
See how it works for practices
Questions practices ask
How do we get more breast reduction patients?
Answer requests quickly, give clear prices and what they include, introduce the surgeon by real credentials, keep claims in line with the risk information, and book a consultation where the surgeon can examine the caller and explain which option fits.
Should the front desk tell callers whether they need a breast reduction or a breast lift?
No. MedlinePlus describes breast reduction as surgery to reduce the size of the breasts and lists breast lift with reduction among the other names for a breast lift. Staff collect intake answers only; the surgeon examines the caller and decides which option fits, if any.
Can we advertise breast reduction as a fix for back pain?
No. MedlinePlus says breast reduction may be recommended for very large breasts with chronic pain, and that pain or skin symptoms may disappear, not that they will. Aim ads at adults, never shame body size or use sexualized copy, do not target ads by health information, and let the surgeon decide whether surgery fits.
Does insurance cover breast reduction surgery?
Coverage varies by plan. Check each patient’s plan, and do not promise coverage in ads or on the phone.
General information for practice teams, not legal or clinical advice. Check device labeling, FDA requirements, state rules and your advertising with counsel and your clinicians. Last reviewed October 2026.
More resources
- How to get more breast lift patients: a plan for practices
- How to get more gynecomastia (male breast reduction) patients: a plan for practices
- Before-and-after photos in practice marketing: patient permission and honest results
- Consultation to treatment: how practices help patients decide, without pressure