Patient Tool
Breast Reduction Calculator
If you’re considering breast reduction surgery and wondering whether your insurance might cover it, the Schnur Sliding Scale is usually the first number reviewers look at. It compares your body surface area to the amount of breast tissue a surgeon would need to remove for the procedure to be classified as reconstructive rather than cosmetic.
Schnur Sliding Scale
Breast Reduction Calculator
Please enter valid height and weight values to calculate your threshold.
Your BSA on the Schnur curve
Methodology. BSA is calculated using the formula cited in the original Schnur paper: BSA (m²) = height (cm)0.718 × weight (kg)0.427 × 0.007449. Resection weights are taken directly from the published Schnur Sliding Scale, interpolated linearly between table values. Reference: Schnur PL, Hoehn JG, Ilstrup DM, Cahoy MJ, Chu CP. “Reduction Mammaplasty: Cosmetic or Reconstructive Procedure?” Annals of Plastic Surgery, September 1991; 27(3): 232-237. DOI: 10.1097/00000637-199109000-00007. PMID: 1952749.
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Insurance & Coverage
We're out-of-network — and that works in your favor
Most patients are reimbursed directly by their insurance after we submit their Schnur score and surgical documentation.
Insurances with the best benefits for this procedure:
NYSHIP · Aetna · Cigna · UnitedHealthcare · Blue Cross Blue Shield · Anthem
Please note: Medicare, Medicaid, and Fidelity do not reimburse for out-of-network procedures, so we’re unable to accept these plans for this surgery.
How Insurers Use This Number
A reference point, not a verdict
Most major U.S. health insurers reference the Schnur scale when reviewing breast reduction claims. If your surgeon documents that the planned resection weight per breast meets or exceeds the threshold for your body surface area, the procedure typically qualifies for coverage as medically necessary.
The threshold comes from a 1991 study by Dr. Paul Schnur, which established the 22nd-percentile cutoff that most carriers still apply today.
Coverage also depends on documented symptoms such as chronic neck or shoulder pain, skin irritation under the breasts, postural changes, and evidence that conservative treatments haven’t resolved them. Your specific policy terms apply on top of that.
What This Calculator Can't Tell You
The number is a starting point
The Schnur scale gives one data point. It doesn’t account for chest wall anatomy, breast composition, prior surgeries, or the aesthetic outcome you’re hoping for. Dr. Kashan determines the actual planned resection during consultation, working from a physical exam alongside photographs and a discussion of your goals.
Many patients whose numbers fall below the threshold still proceed with reduction as a self-pay procedure, since the symptoms that prompt surgery don’t always correlate neatly with the scale. If your number sits close to the threshold either way, that’s worth discussing in person. Small variations in measurement or surgical technique can affect whether a claim qualifies for coverage, and how documentation is written matters too.
What This Calculator Can't Tell You
The number is a starting point
Board-certified plastic surgeon based in New York. Consultations include insurance verification and a personalized surgical plan.