Breast Reduction
Surgery
Covered by Insurance | Dr. Scott Newman
Covered by Insurance | Dr. Scott Newman
- For many people in the New York area, breast reduction surgery is not cosmetic — it is a medically necessary procedure and is frequently covered by insurance. With 33 years of experience caring for breast reduction patients, Dr. Newman’s office understands the approval process insurers require.
- A dedicated member of our team has contacts at most insurance companies and works closely with patients throughout the approval process to help each case proceed efficiently.
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Insurance Accepted
Over 7000 Breast Procedures Performed
5-Star Patient Reviews
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- Dr. Scott Newman, MD, FACS is one of the most experienced Breast Plastic Surgeons in the United States. With more than 7,000 breast procedures performed and 26 consecutive years as Chief of Plastic Surgery at St. John's Riverside Hospital, Dr. Newman brings a depth of institutional authority and surgical expertise that makes him one of the most sought after Breast Plastic Surgeons. His offices serve patients throughout Westchester County, Putnam County, Connecticut, Nassau County & Suffolk County on Long Island, Manhattan and all of New York City, and Northern New Jersey.
- Most major commercial insurance plans cover breast reduction when the procedure is medically necessary. Dr. Newman's office handles the entire insurance process — benefit verification, coordination of medical documentation, photography Schnur Sliding Scale evaluation, and preauthorization submission. Many patients are genuinely surprised to find that surgery is accessible with little or no out-of-pocket cost.
Real Patient Results
- See the life-changing results our patients love.
- This is a line-drawing representation of the actual patient photos. Click below to view the complete before-and-after gallery.
Does Insurance Cover Breast
Reduction Surgery in New York? — Dr. Scott Newman
Is Your Breast Reduction Covered by Insurance?
- Breast reduction is among the most commonly covered plastic surgery procedures, yet many women do not realize they may qualify — or they assume the process is too complicated to navigate on their own. Both assumptions are wrong.
- Insurance companies cover breast reduction when the surgery is medically necessary. The criteria they evaluate include:
• Chronic neck, back, or shoulder pain attributed to breast weight
• Bra strap grooving or indentation of the shoulders
• Recurrent rashes, skin breakdown, or infections beneath the breasts
• Nerve symptoms — numbness, tingling, or pain radiating into the arms or hands
• Restricted physical activity, exercise capacity, or daily function
• Weight of breast tissue to be removed meeting or exceeding the Schnur Sliding Scale threshold for the patient’s body surface area (calculated from height and weight)
Dr. Newman's office works with most major commercial insurance plans, including:
NYSHIP Empire Plan — covering many New York State, Westchester County, and Yonkers employees, teachers, police, fire, municipal workers, and their dependents. One of the most comprehensive plans available and among the most common plans seen in Dr. Newman’s practice.
• GHI / Emblem Health PPO
• Aetna PPO
• Cigna PPO
• United Healthcare PPO / Choice Plus
• Oxford PPO
• Empire BlueCross BlueShield PPO
• Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield
The Schnur Sliding Scale — What It Means for Your Coverage
- The Schnur Sliding Scale is the evidence-based tool insurance companies use to determine the minimum weight of breast tissue that must be removed for a breast reduction to qualify as medically necessary. The threshold is calculated individually based on each patient's height and weight — meaning it is different for every person.
- If the planned tissue removal falls at or above the required amount, then procedure is classified as medically necessary and is typically eligible for insurance coverage. Dr. Newman's practice uses the Schnur Sliding Scale as part of a comprehensive pre-operative evaluation, and his team has extensive experience presenting the strongest possible documentation to insurers on each patient's behalf. Patients who are uncertain whether they qualify are strongly encouraged to schedule a consultation — borderline cases are often successfully approved with thorough, well-prepared submissions.
- Dr. Newman's website includes a Schnur Sliding Scale calculator that gives patients an early estimate of whether they may qualify before scheduling their consultation.
Why Dr. Newman's Credentials Set Him Apart
- In a market with many plastic surgeons, the credentials that distinguish Dr. Newman are not simply impressive — they are unmatched in this region.
- Chief of Plastic Surgery, St. John's Riverside Hospital and Dobbs Ferry Hospital— since the year 2000. Twenty-six consecutive years.
- Over 7,000 breast procedures performed. Breast surgery is not just a component of Dr. Newman's practice — it is the core of it.
- Inventor of the original 3D imaging technology now marketed worldwide as VECTRA. Dr. Newman created the technology other surgeons use.
- Assistant Clinical Professor of Plastic Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine — a faculty appointment.
- Fully-trained General Surgeon. Dr. Newman is one of the very few plastic surgeons in New York who completed a full five-year General Surgery training program before his plastic surgery training, and served as Chief Resident in General Surgery — a level of surgical foundation that distinguishes his technical depth from that of most of his peers.
- Board Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS).
- Fellow, American College of Surgeons (FACS).
- Member, The Aesthetic Society — the most selective organization in aesthetic plastic surgery.
- Member, American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
- Voted Top NYC and Westchester Plastic Surgeon for more than 25 consecutive years.
- The distinction between authority and pedigree matters when choosing a surgeon. Other Westchester and New York City surgeons may have trained at prestigious institutions. Dr. Newman runs departments, holds faculty appointments, and invented technology those institutions now use. His patients benefit from that level of mastery at every stage of their care.
- My overall experience with Dr. Newman and his staff was excellent! My initial meeting with Dr. Newman was for breast augmentation, but after finding out I had breast cancer just a short time later, Dr. Newman was the best doctor I could have asked for to help me through. He assisted my breast doctor in performing my double mastectomy and performed every reconstruction surgery after that, and my results are amazing!!
- — Angela
Your Breast Reduction Journey
Step by Step
Your Breast Reduction Journey Step by Step
- Step 1: Consultation
- Your consultation with Dr. Newman is comprehensive, unhurried, and personal. He evaluates your symptoms, your anatomy, and your goals. His team simultaneously begins the insurance verification process. You leave the consultation with a clear surgical plan, a realistic understanding of recovery and results, and clarity on your coverage status.
- Step 2: Pre-Authorization
- Dr. Newman's office prepares and submits your complete pre-authorization package — clinical documentation, photographs, Schnur Sliding Scale calculation, symptom history, and supporting records. The office submits this directly to your insurer and follows up until a determination is received. You are updated throughout. Pre-authorizations are received within two to six weeks- most commonly within two weeks.
- Step 3: Pre-Operative Visit
- When your surgery date is scheduled, you will also be scheduled for your pre-operative visit — typically during the week before your surgery. If your situation requires pre-surgical clearance from your primary care physician, that visit will be arranged first. During your pre-operative visit, the specifics of your breast reduction surgery will be reviewed in detail, and you will have ample time to ask any additional questions. Surgical consent forms are completed at this visit, and all prescriptions are sent electronically — your pharmacy information will be confirmed at this time.
- Step 4: Surgery
- Breast reduction is performed under general anesthesia and typically takes three to four hours. Most patients return home the same day. Dr. Newman performs most breast reduction surgeries at the Dobbs Ferry Pavilion of St. John's Riverside Hospital — an ideal facility for this procedure that combines the comforts of an advanced surgical center with the comprehensive resources of a hospital. Dr. Scott Newman has served as Chief of Plastic Surgery at St. John's Riverside Hospital for 26 consecutive years.
- Step 5: Recovery and Results
- Most patients take one week or less away from work and resume light daily activities within that window. Strenuous exercise returns at approximately three weeks. Many patients describe immediate relief from the back and shoulder pain they had lived with for years. Final results — including resolution of swelling and softening of scars — are typically complete at three to six months but could take longer. Scars typically heal well. Breast reduction consistently ranks among the procedures with the highest patient satisfaction in plastic surgery.
Surgical Technique:
Customized for Each Patient
With more than 7,000 breast procedures behind him, Dr. Newman has refined his approach to a level of technical mastery that produces consistently excellent, natural-looking results. For Breast Reduction patients, Dr. Newman employs a variety of techniques to reshape the new breast based upon your anatomy and body-type and your desired result. He will typically refine your result to improve upper fullness of the breast- a common request among patients. Dr. Newman frequently uses the central or superior pedicle technique- approaches that preserve circulation to the nipple-areolar complex, maintains sensation, and achieves natural upper-pole fullness while delivering significant reduction. Dr. Newman almost never uses the free-nipplegraft procedure.
Every patient’s anatomy, starting breast size, and desired outcome is different. Dr. Newman discusses incision planning and technique selection in detail at the consultation, selecting the approach that delivers the best individual result with well-positioned, minimal scarring. Patients are counseled on healing and scar management from the outset of their care.
VECTRA 3D imaging — the technology Dr. Newman invented — is available at his practice, allowing patients to visualize simulated results before making any surgical decision.
Three Locations Serving the New York Metro Area
- Dr. Newman serves breast reduction patients at three office locations:
- southern Westchester- serving patients from Scarsdale, White Plains, Bronxville, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings-on-Hudson, Tarrytown, Armonk, Riverdale, Northern Westchester, Greenwich CT, Stamford CT, and northern NJ.
- Serving patients in Nassau and Suffolk counties, including Manhasset, Great Neck, Garden City, Roslyn, Port Washington, Huntington, and the South Shore.
- Park Avenue, Upper East Side, serving patients from all five boroughs and the broader New York City metro area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — for many patients with commercial insurance plans, breast reduction is covered when it is medically necessary. The key factors are your documented symptoms and the amount of tissue to be removed relative to your body size. Dr. Newman’s office can often verify your benefits before your initial consultation and manages pre-authorization from start to finish.
The Schnur Sliding Scale is an evidence-based chart that calculates the minimum weight of breast tissue that must be removed for insurance to consider the procedure medically necessary, based on your height and weight. Dr. Newman uses this scale as part of every breast reduction evaluation. An online calculator is available here.
Most patients take one week or less away from work and resume strenuous activity at approximately three weeks. Many notice immediate relief from neck, back and shoulder pain. Final results are typically visible at three to six months.
Dr. Newman’s office works with most major commercial insurance plans and has established contacts at many of these plans that make the pre-authorization process more efficient. These include NYSHIP Empire Plan, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, Oxford, Empire BlueCross BlueShield, Emblem, and Anthem. Contact the office for a benefits verification before your consultation.
Breast reduction does produce scars, but their placement is carefully planned and they typically fade significantly over time. Dr. Newman discusses incision planning and scar management in detail at every consultation, and patients are given specific guidance on optimizing their healing.
Choose an office
Choose an office
- 914-423-9000
- 212-472-6100
- 516-882-1020
- Westchester, NY
-
1 Odell Plaza Suite 277
Yonkers, NY 10701
- CALL: (914) 423-9000
- Monday–Friday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Manhattan, NY
-
1035 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10028
- CALL: (212) 472-6100
- Monday–Friday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Long Island, NY
-
1165 Northern Blvd. Suite 303
Manhasset, NY 11030
- CALL: (516) 882-1020
- Monday–Friday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Offices in Westchester, Long Island, and Manhattan. Dr. Newman's office works with most major commercial insurance plans.
- CALL US TODAY
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