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What excuse (if any!) did you tell your work/co-workers about your Breast Reduction?

By Nicole Karlis on 11 Feb 2013

Hello BR community!

My name is Nicole and I'm the managing editor here at RealSelf. I'm in charge of creating content about all things booty and breasts. I'm working on a blog post about what to tell work/co-workers and would love to hear real stories.

If you could please take the time to help and share your personal story below, that would be great. What excuse (if any) did you tell your boss/co-workers? Did anyone ask you about your absence when you returned?

Looking forward to hearing your stories; thanks!

Comments (33)

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Elle850 27 Feb 2013

My husband suggested that I just tell everyone as in his view it was going yo be obvious. . So I did. The best comment I got from a man was "it will improve your golf swing" but generally it was yep we can see why you're doing it - good luck. From women it was how much, where and let me know how it turns out.

jazzylady 25 Feb 2013

OMG, I was SO worried about this.. It was one reason I delayed my decision for so long. I am the only female in my small group, in a male-dominated math field. Anyway, I just said I was having surgery, that I wasn't ill, that it was female stuff. Not a one has asked me specifics, but did kind of try to get me to give more information, which I did not. I am due to have the surgery this Friday. I am hoping that they will just think I lost weight or something when I get back. I am tall, and my boobs, though very large, kinda "smash" into my chest with a bra, and I wear loose tops. Maybe they will think I had liposuction? Who knows! I am NOT telling, because I will never hear the end of it and have to deal with eyes going to the boobs all the time!

soilschick 25 Feb 2013

The most common comment and reaction I had from people who did not know about my surgery: You lost weight and look great. No one really needs to know details if you are not comfortable. Be prepared for that great feeling of lightness of the chest and great decrease in pain. I say this surgery is the best thing I have done for myself in years. :)

jazzylady 25 Feb 2013

Thanks, soilschick! That is all good to hear!

Birch 26 Feb 2013

Hi Jazzylady, I have an acquaintance who had a dramatic change in her figure due to her BR (HUGE change in size; she looks fantastic now!) and she didn't want to share anything about her BR at her work. She told them she was having a personal female procedure done. To her surprise, they all just complimented her on her weight loss when she returned. Not ONE person asked her what she had done, aside from a few women telling her they had had fibroid or other types of (uterus related) procedures done as well (I guess they assumed this is the type of procedure she had done). The reason I found out about this, is because I had complimented her on her weight loss too (not knowing at the time that she had recently had a BR). She just recently told me, when she found out I am preparing for my own BR, that she had had one last year and it was one of the best decisions she had ever made. I think it is a personal decision, to share or not to share your choice to have a BR, and it is absolutely acceptable to be very discreet about it, or to shout about it with pride from the rooftops lol! What is most important is that if this is what we want or need for our bodies, health, and self image, that we go ahead and do it and seek support where we choose. Good for you for going through with this, and good luck on your surgery this Friday!! I'll be watching for an update from you afterwords. :)

Birch 26 Feb 2013

I am looking forward to that feeling of lightness soilschick! I can't wait!! :)

soilschick 23 Feb 2013

So far the funniest reaction happened on Thursday. I know the general contractor's staff on a hospital project for two years. The safety officer walked right past and did not say anything to me. I was bundled up and I did say "Hi Nick". I saw him two hours later in the jobsite trailer. He saw me and started going on how I looked great and asked when I arrived onsite. I told him I arrived about 7 am and that I said Hi to him earlier. He blushed, said he was sorry and he did not recognize me. lol

JessicaH 21 Feb 2013

I told my co-workers, and to my surprise, two of them had a BR too. We became closer, and they were able to give me some great advice.

Kit3333 17 Feb 2013

I clean house and I am not shy I told most everyone I clean for some asked why , most of them are glad for me I know I'm glad about it . I don't want to lose my work so I'm honest told them it will help back problems,, very excited

Birch 17 Feb 2013

I'm just beginning this process and waiting for insurance approval, so it's possible my feelings may change once my BR takes place, but at this time, I'm not planning on telling anyone anything. If they notice and ask me questions, I'll probably just tell them I've gotten back into running regularly and lost some weight (which I am sincerely hoping to do after my BR anyway!). I don't feel obligated to explain what I'm doing to anyone.

soilschick 15 Feb 2013

I went to work yesterday and today for half-day. The reactions were funny, cute and great. People who knew could not get over the huge difference in size. I was told that I appear cheerful, happy and light. My old work clothes are huge on me. My favorite safety jacket is so loose now. I still feel weird about having my seatbelt so close to me. People who did not know asked where I was for the last month and congratulated me on my weight loss.

NoMoreDDD4Me 15 Feb 2013

Yay! Congrats. I like the seatbelt now.

chalupatamale 16 Feb 2013

Thats great. I went into my office the other day for the first time since I work remotely and everyone thought i looked thinner too... Yay

Kit3333 17 Feb 2013

I didn't think about the seat belt I can't wait !!!

NoMoreDDD4Me 14 Feb 2013

I'm an RN. So, blabbed about it to the other nurses I work with. They either wanted one themself, already had one, or wanted augmentation and jokingly asked if I could donate for a transplant ( to which I told them they don't want it...believe me). Management is very good about not asking about reasons for medical leave, but I'm sure they have heard. It doesn't matter why, because they can't descriminate at my job. I had the surgery at my own hospital on the same floor I work on, anyway...it seemed more awkward to not be completely and bluntly honest.

Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 13 Feb 2013

Thank you ladies for all sharing with Nicole:) You all Rock!

Nicole Karlis (Community Manager) 13 Feb 2013

Thanks for all of your wonderful answers everyone! Very helpful!

rhkwiatkowski 12 Feb 2013

I said that I was having "female related" surgery and that I was fine - but needed to be off for a month.

arielllie 12 Feb 2013

I told my job I was having surgery and I'd need to be gone for 4-6 weeks. None of the upper management asked what the surgery was for. However, I was willing to share what was going on with my coworkers because I was so excited! Several people told me about people they knew who also had breast reductions. I started at a new job after my surgery, so nobody could ask my about my absence. However, when I told people about the surgery, they couldn't believe that I was ever that big!

Just Me N Cali 12 Feb 2013

I informed the management that I was having surgery. After mentioning that I was having surgery a coworker asked for what I told them. They also wanted to get it done and had been wanting too for years!...

chalupatamale 12 Feb 2013

I work from home so really didn't have that issue.. But I am actually proud to tell people that i had it done since it was for a legitimate reason and not just cosmetic. Though my 4 year old twins did go into their school and tell their teachers that Mommy had her boobs lifted and i just told them that i was having "surgery" and my Mom would be doing the school run for a couple of weeks. So when i finally started taking them again I asked if either of the kids had said anything and one of them told me what they had said.. So I explained that I had a BR and why. She said.. Ohhhh that makes much more sense.. She thought i did not seem the type for cosmetic surgery.. hahah So I am sure all the kids went home and told their parents that Riley and Ryders mom had her boobs lifted... Great!

soilschick 11 Feb 2013

I have not gone back to work yet. I have a very physical job in construction. But I told both offices, superintendents on jobsites I managed, and guys I worked with on daily basis. Most were very supportive and knew of women who had BR surgery. I will tell the reactions when I go back.

Not to old 11 Feb 2013

I simply said I was having surgery for my back.

Misslc86 11 Feb 2013

I work with mostly men (in the Agriculture industry at that so many of them older and more conservative!) so coming up with a story felt vital to avoid an awkward conversation. I simply said I was going to be out for a week with surgery. The ones who asked what for I told it was no big deal just to fix some back issues but "don't celebrate just yet, I'll be back in a week so you won't be rid of me that long!" Steering away from specifics and keeping the convo light went really far for me. I did tell a few of the girls that work there, and I'm sure it will go around eventually, my main concern was avoiding having to talk about my breasts with 20-40 or so married men!

Misslc86 12 Feb 2013

I guess to update since i have had my first day back today, I did end up telling one of the guys after he started asking about my back surgery, at first I think he was embarrassed since he had asked so many questions but I reassured him it was fine--in fact, the conversation ended with him joking, "Well, I have a receding hairline and a bald spot. Now you know something personal about me so we're even." My reply to that was, "I'm telling everyone." Most people just welcomed me back and hardly asked any details which I expected, and all in all I had a great first day back at work. Don't let telling your co-workers be a huge obstacle for you in your job. Tell the people that are on a need-to-know basis as much information as they need to know, and you will probably be surprised at how not-pushy people are when it comes to details.