For many women, having large, voluminous breasts is the epitome of the feminine physique; however, those who have overly large breasts are often in constant pain due to the excess weight. Oftentimes, women who are active in sports and fitness routines find that their breasts hinder their ability to fully partake in an activity. To remedy this bothersome feature, women choose to undergo a plastic surgery procedure – breast reduction surgery.

Recently, it was reported that Romanian tennis player Simona Halep underwent a breast reduction due to severe back pain and interference in her performance. Like Halep, other athletic females who have large breasts may find relief with this procedure. In Houston, breast reduction surgery is frequently performed by Christopher K. Livingston, M.D., F.A.C.S., P.A., a board certified plastic surgeon. He has the experience and training to achieve natural-looking results for women who suffer from this condition. By removing excess fat, tissue, and skin, Dr. Livingston can help to provide women with the ability to become more engaged in physical activities, as well as attain a more balanced body shape through breast reduction surgery.

Those in The Woodlands area who seek a breast reduction specialist to help reduce neck, shoulder, and back pain may wish to contact Dr. Livingston. After the procedure, many patients have found that they are able to become more active in their favorite sports and/or fitness routines. Breast reduction surgery ultimately helps to lessen the pain, discomfort, and/or dissatisfaction that is previously associated with overly large breasts.

Sugar Land breast reduction surgeon Dr. Livingston may be reached at his Houston practice. Prospective patients are encouraged to contact him to learn more regarding the procedure.

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Breast Augmentation vs. Breast Reduction: Contrasting Procedures, Common Goals

Breast augmentation and breast reduction are two sides of the cosmetic breast surgery coin. While seemingly opposites, these two plastic surgery procedures actually have the same goals: to make you feel more comfortable and confident with your own body. It’s all about matching your breast size and shape to your needs and lifestyle.

For example, Jill Parsons recently told her story about her life-changing breast reduction surgery in Road and Trail Talk Magazine. An aspiring competitive runner, Parson’s overly large breasts caused her difficulties in breathing and shopping for clothes. It also created neck and back pain and unwanted attention from both men and women. As a 25- year old woman who wore size six jeans and a 36DDD bra, she compared her discomfort to having a sandbag draped around her neck. The health threats were so great that her breast reduction surgery was covered by her insurance. She recovered within two weeks and was back training in the gym in a month. Unburdened of five extra pounds on her chest, breathing difficulties and unwanted stares, she had the confidence to work her way up to achieving her goal of running a half marathon.

As a contrasting example, Dr. Robert Wald, an Orange County breast augmentation specialist, does life changing work through breast lifts, breast enhancements and breast reconstruction in addition to breast reduction surgery. With patients in Orange County and Riverside County, breast augmentation plays an important role in restoring the femininity and self-esteem in women who have undergone changes due to aging, pregnancy or breast cancer. These women can confidently wear the clothing and swimsuits that they may once have caused them embarrassment.

The story of Jill Parsons’ breast reduction and the successes of Dr. Wald’s breast augmentation procedures both illustrate cases where breast surgery led to a significant and positive lifestyle change. When it comes to breasts, bigger is not always better—it’s all about feeling comfortable in your body.

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Two California and two Las Vegas women have been charged with organizing, and participating in a scheme to defraud the local Culinary Union’s health insurance program. The women submitted claims for unauthorized cosmetic surgery procedures performed on union members in Mexico, according to U.S. Attorney Greg Brower of Nevada.

Rebecca Acosta, 46, of Chula Vista, Calif., was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury on three counts of mail fraud. Acosta was arrested April 14 in San Diego and released Wednesday on a $150,000 bond. Three other women have been charged by criminal complaint for their involvement in the scheme, Brower said. Ana Bertha Acosta, 39, of Dulzura, Calif., was arrested Monday in San Ysidro, Calif., and Sara Casales, 47, of Las Vegas was arrested April 14 in Las Vegas. Both are charged with health care fraud and aiding and abetting. Lucia Solano, 49, of Las Vegas, also arrested April 14 in Las Vegas, is charged with making false statements to investigators.

In 2006 federal investigators initiated an investigation to determine if Las Vegas insurance providers were being targeted for fraudulent medical claims by Mexican medical providers, according to court records. The investigators found that the Hotel and Restaurant Employees International Union Welfare Fund, also known as the Culinary Fund, which offers medical insurance to at least 50,000 people in the hospitality industry in Las Vegas, had been billed about $4.9 million for “out of country” claims from about January 2002 to February 2006. Those “out of country” claims were almost entirely from Mexico, investigators discovered. Most of the claims were for “emergency procedures” in Mexico.

When investigators began interviewing a number of the patients, they were told that the insurance claims were fabricated and that they had actually had cosmetic surgery in Mexico, not emergency services. The Culinary Fund does not provide coverage for cosmetic surgeries, unless they are medically necessary, such as breast reduction and certain types of rhinoplasty.

Rebecca Acosta, the prinicple suspect, and her cohorts allegedly devised a scheme to defraud the Culinary Fund of money through submitting false health care claims. Acosta and the others met with prospective patients at a Summerlin residence and elsewhere for consulting on cosmetic surgeries, court documents say.

Acosta told the patients that she would bill the Culinary Fund for the cosmetic surgery, such as breast augmentations or “tummy tucks,” even though such procedures were not covered through the insurance program. She told patients that she would make it appear as if the patient suffered an unexpected injury in Mexico and had received emergency medical care, and then allegedly made arrangements for the prospective patients to receive a cosmetic procedure at a Tijuana, Mexico, clinic. She followed by charging the patients a fee in addition to any reimbursement they would receive from the Culinary Fund. Acosta instructed each patient not to disclose the true nature of the treatment they received in Mexico.

Once the patients received treatments in Tijuana, Acosta and the others submitted false and fraudulent claims to the Culinary Fund, requesting reimbursement for emergency medical services, even though they knew that the patients had actually received breast implants and body contouring surgery, court documents state.

Between September and October 2005, Acosta allegedly submitted three fraudulent claims for reimbursement for emergency procedures performed on three patients and the Culinary Fund paid more than $42,000 on the claims. If convicted, Acosta faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count; Ana Bertha Acosta and Sara Casales face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine each; and Lucia Solano faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case is being investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Crane Pomerantz.

“This indictment sends a stern message to those medical providers that defrauding union health and welfare benefit plans by filing fraudulent claims will not be tolerated by my agency,” said Daniel R. Petrole, deputy inspector general for the U.S. Department of Labor. “We are firmly committed to working with other law enforcement agencies to investigate this type of crime.”

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