Breast Reduction: Stories

Like many of you, I contemplated having this procedure off and on, and particularly since I became "aware" that I was no longer a size 34B. Over a period of years, since going into menopause, my breasts have been increasing in size. I kept thinking, "just lose some weight and they will slim down". Yeah, right. I am 67 years old, 5 feet tall and small in figure, but grew in breast size to a 38D. Yikes! Sideways, I looked like a blimp. I would wear very loose-fitting tops just to hide my "dis-figure". Most days, I couldn't wait to get the boulder holder off to get relief from the tightness and strangulation feeling that I had with it on. Dolly Pardon, I don't know how you do it! What pushed me over the edge was the day I couldn't get my favorite blouse buttoned! That was an "UGH" day. My decision to finally jump in with both boobies was the day a friend of mine said she had it done and that she should have done it a long time ago. She had mentioned she had the procedure to my husband, who was doing some carpentry work for her. The first words out of his mouth were "Don't tell Leslie!!". A lot of good that did. When I found out she went through it, I called her, went to see the results and then I took off like a runaway train!

Four weeks later, I was in the operating suite with my sweet lady doctor marking my chest. I was nervous and apprehensive, but the train was moving and it was too late to jump off - and, man, am I glad I didn't chicken out. I now look more "normal", according to my doctor, and feel 100 pounds lighter - yay! 13 oz of breast tissue was removed from the left and 16 oz from the right. I am now 6 days post surgery and feel a little bit better each day. I have done nothing but rest. I had the drains in for two days and was relieved when they were taken out. They were more of a nuisance than anything else. Ice was my friend. It lessened the pain and lessened the swelling. I'm still using ice packs and warm showers, both helping greatly. I must have a high pain tolerance, as I didn't need to take any medication until the third day, and have only taken 3 OxyCodone at the most. I took one pill before bed to help me sleep. I don't need them anymore.

The only weird sensation, and sometimes startling sensation, comes from my left nipple area, sharp, quick, sparks, like the nerves firing, which I am assuming is the healing affect of the nerves. They seem to have settled down a bit. It is a bit unnerving to feel them though. I don't know if I will get nipple "function" and sensation back, but we'll in time. My friend said she started getting feeling back at about 5 weeks. The most irritating thing is the tape, irritating to my skin. I get the stitches out tomorrow and hopefully some of the tape off. Overall, I am glad I went through with it. The pain in my arms and neck have settled down and almost gone away. If you are hesitating, don't - just jump in and git r done. Unless you have an incompetent doctor, you won't be sorry. Because I am on Medicare and a supplement, the cost to me is $0. The estimated cost if I had to pay for it would have been around $6,000. Oh, my doc also did a little bit of lipo on each side and took out about 100 grams of fat. Glad it's over, glad I did not wait and contemplate for the next several months, and glad to share with you all. Just remember, the first week is the hardest, but if you can rest, take it easy, and get through the "discomfort", you will be glad as I am that you finally took that first step to "heaven"! By the way, I think I got in very quickly because it's summer and most ladies probably want to wait for the sun to disappear behind the clouds.

Hi ladies! I am now 11 days post surgery and I am surely experiencing the healing process. I am still very sore and a little uncomfortable, but I am now able to wear the bra WITHOUT padding. The areas that are the worst are where the lipo was done, on the sides, underneath the armpits. My skin color has come back to normal, with the yellowing pretty much gone around the breasts. The tape still feels a little uncomfortable, a little irritating to the skin. Will be glad to get it off for good. I've been experiencing some "itching" deep within the tissue - very unusual feeling. I haven't had need for daily medication still. Pills don't seem to do much for the pain, just put me to sleep, and that's not bad either. The bra has been feeling extremely tight because of the swelling still present, so I used "extenders" on the bra clasp to relieve some of the pressure - and they work great. I had a three-prong one and a two-prong one, so I used them in tandem with one another. Overall, I am very pleased and would do it again if needed (????). Hope to be dead and buried before that happens :) In any case, I am still very pleased. I am now able to wear blouses that would not fit before, and that makes me a happy camper. And when I look at myself sideways in the mirror, I don't look like a "blimp" anymore!!! So, if any of you who are reading this blog are still hesitating, take the jump and you will be just as euphoric as me and others who have taken the plunge. Happy titties to you all!

This is now day 23 and I am doing great. I had the original tape(s) removed two days ago and what a relief. The tape was causing "irritation", but no redness showed, so my doc said it was just part of the healing process. She reapplied the tape, but using shorter strips. Much more comfortable. I no longer need the tape once these start "peeling" off. I still have a bit of swelling and one nipple is a little higher than the other. It may even out once the swelling is down, but it doesn't really bother me. I won't be walking around naked on some beach, so why stress out about it. I feel that I am slightly larger than I was just 3 days after surgery (when I had the drains taken out); that may be due to a little fluid accumulation after the drains were taken out. It will probably be another month or two before things really settle into what will be "normal". I am just happy that I am smaller than before, a perfect size really, and that blouses that did not fit before, now do. Even my sports bras are more comfortable. How cool is that! The soreness is about half of what it was, some of the stiffness of the tissues is waning a little into a softer feel and overall it feels much better. I still have no feeling in the areolar area or the nipple, but that may be a later comer. I do, however, have feelings in the breasts where I didn't before, so I am progressing. My doc told me that it could take from 6 months to a year to completely heal. I'm okay with that. So, you ladies out there that are still on the fence, just do it. You won't be sorry --- as long as you have a really good doctor. Don't just settle for the first one you "interview" with. Get one that has been recommended to you, preferably by someone who has been under the knife with that doctor, if at all possible. I will post more pictures once the tape is off and the swelling is down more. That's it for now. Be back again soon.

I thought you might like to see the bra I spoke about in my last posting.

Hi Everyone,

I just got back from a 7-week trip around the U.S., visiting friends, make new friends and seeing more of this beautiful country of ours. That's why you haven't heard from me. So, how am I doing? Fantastic! I am so glad that I had the surgery before I left (6 weeks before I left), as I was so much more comfortable during my trip. For the first time in my life I was able to go without wearing a bra, wearing spaghetti strap blouses without feeling "conspicuous"! Those perky little things just held their own! It made those long drives so much more bearable. I've posted more pictures to show you how well I am healing. On the trip, I used a liquid Vitamin E to help with the scarring; now I'm using cold-pressed Castor Oil, rubbing it in while messaging the entire breast areas. This helps to break up the scar tissue and minimize severe scarring. As much as messaging is uncomfortable, it is important so you can get the scar tissue broken down and it also circulates the blood better. The left breast is still a little swollen. I have minimal nipple sensation, and loss of some sensation in the areas where the tissue was extracted, . I do however feel something in the incision lines now, which means I am healing good. My doctor told me that it will take from 6 months to a year to fully recover. I've been asked if I would go through this again - and I say, in a heartbeat! Not only has it made a difference in my physical being, it has made a difference psychologically. I don't feel like a "freak" anymore. I have my follow-up with my doctor in a few weeks and I can't wait to see her reaction at how well I am doing. I've had no infections, no discomfort, except for the first two weeks or so, and it has solicited quite a few comments from my friends - "Have you lost weight?" Amazing. I hope you all have had my success.

I meant to tell you all more about my experience with bras. I tried wearing the front-snap bra, but without padding it was very uncomfortable. The padding kept moving around, so it was a pain to deal with. I finally found the sports bra that is pictured above. It is a "Balance " Camibra with removable cup inserts. It is one of the most comfortable bras I've ever worn. However, I've notice lately that when I'm sitting for long periods, it gets to feeling "tight" and seems to rub a little on the incisions. It's a relief when I remove it. I expect that that will improve as time goes on. Underwire bras are the worst. I was told to stay away from them. Thus, I am giving all mine away. Hopes this helps.