Breast reduction

A

anchored

Member
Just wondering if anyone out there has had a breast reduction. If so, can you offer some insights into what your experience was like, whether you would do it again, did you lose feeling, etc. I am a double dang (DD) and I only weight 140lbs at 5ft 6in. and size 8 pant. I don't think I look oversized at times, but my shoulders hurt alot which I know is from the weight of my breasts. I also have to buy shirts larger and I am very self-conscious about myself which I think might be alleviated if I have the surgery. Yet I keep thinking it is not a good idea (haunting voices of the past saying one should not alter what God has given you, etc), but it is pictures of myself that convince me that I am too large for my body frame! Help!!!



Forever "anchored": Leisa
 
i haven't had surgery but know to an extent what you are going through. fortunatley i lost a lot of it from breasfeeding and exercise(lost it on the top first). but if you are having back and shoulder pain, you should not feel bad about looking into this option. you should worry about your health and how you are going to function in your daily life painfree and comfortable. and i can see how it makes one uncomfortable in a social setting, the stares and comments were always just as hurtful and the shoulder pain. i hope others have more to comment on it, but my opinion is that you should see a doctor if physical pain is continued issue.

kassia

http://www.picturetrail.com/ldy_solana

"And do what thee wilt as long as ye harm none"
 
Thanks so much for your reply. I am concerned because I am 38, unmarried and want to have children and breast feed and I understand the surgery will eliminated this option. I have been trying to wait it out in hopes that I will shrink a bit after nursing if I should ever be blessed with such an option. However, I have broken down and have an appointment on Monday for a consultation with a doctor and hope to get his take on what options I have. If anyone else has thoughts, viewpoints, I'd greatly appreciate it...


Forever "anchored": Leisa
 
I don't have personal experience with the surgical aspect...but boy can I relate to the issue of having to deal with a large chest. I'd always been pretty well endowed...but after having my two kids it was getting to be ridiculous the size of my breasts. I was probably around a size E, and I have a relatively small frame and I'm 5'4".

I have to say, like Kassia, I was fortunate in that when I started on my fitness journey I lost the most weight from my chest. I'm now down to a B...and I LOVE IT!!! The reduction in my breast size makes me feel like a brand new person...my back doesn't hurt as much, I don't have those crazy indentations in my shoulders anymore from my bra straps, I can wear cute bras :D , and I can finally wear normal size clothing on top. If I had not lost so much weight in my chest I would have seriously contemplated having a surgical breast reduction. If you have certain symptoms insurance will often cover it.

I had a friend where I used to work who had it done, and while she was rather uncomfortable the first couple of weeks post surgery she always said she would have done it all over again, that it was more than worth it!! Hope this helps.

Deni
 
Deni,

my kingdom to be a C let alone a B lol. i am 34D and i have to say in my area, most stores don't carrying anything less then 36 for D cups. i see alot of 34 A,B,and C.

leisa,i am not sure if the surgery eliminates the breastfeeding option but i am sure the doctor can answer more of those questions. all the research into breast feeding these days,anything is possible. i hope things go well for the appointment. we are here for ya.

kassia

http://www.picturetrail.com/ldy_solana

"And do what thee wilt as long as ye harm none"
 
I am a 34 DD so, it is time for a change! Thanks so much for your replies. I have been working out for years and doing Cathe's workouts for just over a year and I have lost NOTHING in my chest. I was always told it is a gland and won't diminish unless you breast feed, in some cases, and just genetically lose some that way, but to go down a cup size just from working out?? I want to know your exact routine!!!!!!!! Thanks so much for the replies and support!


Forever "anchored": Leisa
 
I had a BR in January of this year. I was a 38F and am now a 36C-D. I couldn't be happier. It is clearly one of the best things I have ever done for myself. I had my surgery in a surgery center. I went in at about 8 in the morning and was home by 2. I had no pain at all. Some discomfort, mostly from being trussed up for the 5 days after the accident (no peeking allowed!), and some burning along the incisions. I did not have a free nipple graft, which made me very happy.

I had my bandages removed after 5 days and I just looked down and cried. I couldn't believe it. My breasts had never ever, even as a teenager, looked and felt like this! I feel so much better, physically and mentally. And I can do things I couldn't do before, like run! I had vertigo for a couple of weeks because of the change in weight distribution. Weird.

I was released to workout on the recumbant bike after only two weeks. I started gradually adding in treadmill and stairmaster. I released to normal activity and Cathe at 6 weeks.

I would do it again in a second. Also, my insurance paid for it 100%, so if you are insured check out that option.

Check out: breasthealthonline.org. This site has a board for people to discuss this procedure. It is very helpful, but one warning, some of the folks hang out there because they didn't have a satisfactory result, and I think it skews the perspective. Folks who had a great result tend to wander away and not post much, because everything is fine. But there is a lot of excellent information on the procedure so I would recommend checking it out.
 
I was incredibly shocked by my diminishing breasts!! I guess I'm proof that you can in fact store fat there...obviously it was the fattiest part of my body :7 :7 !! Once I started doing consistent cardio it was the first place I started losing...not sure why that can't also happen for the belly bulge I still have going on...but that's a whole other topic :D .

Deni
 
Thanks so much for this. I've visited the website and even registered. There is a lot of interesting info. I will keep checking back there.
Forever "anchored": Leisa
 
I too had mine done in January of this year. BEST thing I ever did for myself and I would absolutely do it again. I was a 34D-DD and I am only 5' tall so of course what did everyone notice first?

In any case, even at my lowest weight ever I was a full C and wanted to be smaller. I am now a full 34B but still have some weight to lose. Would be fine will small B or full A honestly.

I had a super easy recovery (or maybe it seemed that way because I was prepared for the worst). My surgery was at 8:00 am on a Thursday. I was out of surgery and in receovery around 1pm.

Unlike the previous poster my dr. kept me overnight. I was actually happy with that because I had drains and did not have to go home with them.

I left early the next morning and honestly felt sore but that was all.

I had a zillion stitches. I had to wear a surgical bra for about 10 days and could not shower but still did really well.

I could not exercise for about 8 weeks but was back up and living normally other than that about a week later.

Talk to the dr about the breastfeeding. Although I have zero plans to be a mom I specifically remember my dr telling me that it would definitely be possible should I change my mind.

Also, I have lost no sensation. It was gone for about 2 weeks but came right back.

I had the same feeling you do re: not altering. I will totally admit however that I wanted to do this more for cosmetic reasons than medical ones. But in speaking to my mom who is also very large I asked her about the back issues. She said that at my age (30) she had none but now at 52 she does.

Check with your insurance on this too... mine covered all but $1500. Between the dr, the hospital and the anestia (sp) the total was $26K!

Let me know if I can answer any more questions or anything for you.
 
Wow!! I have been inspired. I have made another appointment for a consultation. This means I have one on the 17th and one on the 21st!I think this is the way to go for me. How do you recommend checking with my insurance? Just call and ask whether it would be covered?? Isn't there a way that the doctor can submit it to ensure that I am doing this for the medical reason of alleviating my shoulder pain/discomfort? I think if insurance thinks it's cosmetic, they won't cover, right?

Reading the post of folks on the above recommended website was insightful. Many of them describe their cup sizes as in between but spilling over before their surgeries. That would be ME. A double dang (DD) but spilling over and aching! But what is most remarkable is that no one has said that they would do it differently (ie., the reduction is the best thing they've done for themselves).

Thanks so much for your insights!
Forever "anchored": Leisa
 
My dr did everything for me. I had a PPO at the time and they usually involve less hoop-jumping. My SIL had hers done in May and I know her approval took a couple months, mine took less than 3 weeks.

If you have an HMO then call the insurance company. You may need a referral from your PCP to the doc of your choice. Make sure the doc you choose is not only covered by your plan but considered "in-network". Ditto for the facility he/she will use.

My doc took notes and pictures during our consult. Sent the report to the insurance that week re: back pain, shoulders, asthma, etc...

Make sure to tell them EVERYTHING. I have a curveature in my spine, helped... I have Cerebral Palsy... that helped too. Anything you can use, use it. Hey, to me using all that to my advantage saved me nearly $25K.

Again, yes I am soooo glad to have had it done. I look 100% better, feel better about myself, feel better physically and have so much more body confidence. Now I know that when I lose the rest of my weight I will have done everything possible to have the best, healthiest body I can.
 
Hi there! I had a BR back Nov 03. I was an E and now i'm a big C small D. I have tried so hard to lose weight in that area but at 22 yrs old they were big and gravity was taking affect way to early!!

I'm so happy with my decision and if I knew what I know now I would have done it sooner. HOWEVER, I did lose sensation on all the areas that have incisions (including nipples). I will never get it back but it is so worth it because I was in pain daily! I'm glad my breasts finally look like i'm in my 20s (because i am!). I'm not sure if I have lost my ability to breastfeed since I don't have any children. The best thing you can do is to be very realistic about the complications and risks with this surgery. I did, and even though I have no sensation, I'm still very happy with my results!

Insurance wise...I would talk to them first. My insurnace wanted proof that I had done everything medically necessary to "prevent" a reduction. Make sure you get an approval number from your insurance prior to your surgery (at least that's what mine required).

Heather
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top