Breast Reduction: Stories

Planning a BR and TT. Although I've made some serious lifestyle changes, nothing will get rid of my big belly and droopy boobies!

I received my approval today! I'm so excited. My surgery is scheduled for April 18th. Everything's going, boobies and belly! Now the planning begins. I'm stressing a bit over the discomfort of the compression garments more than anything. I'm always ripping my clothes off as soon as I get home, so the idea of having to wear garments 24/7 has me a bit antsy.

Well ladies it's 9:00 pm and I have my last two cigarettes to smoke. By morning I will not be smoking. I'm a little nervous, but I am taking Chantix as an extra helper. I've stopped before and stupidly had a drink one night 13 months later and started up again! Drats!! Now I have to do this all over again.

If you don't smoke, don't EVER start!

April 18th can't come quick enough. I order a pillow wedge tonight and a compression surgical bra. I wasn't sure whether to go with the Palmer skin therapy oil or the Bio Oil so I got both!

Pray for me that I keep my strength and stay away from the cigs!

Day one without smoking! Not bad if I do say so myself. I wis I had stopped on a Monday as I think it's easier to get through a weekday than it will be to get through the weekend.

I bought some compression bras today from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002T1FRAG/ref=oh_o01_s00_i00_details
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017VX6IE/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006EB7ZF2/ref=oh_o03_s00_i00_details

This is the pillow wedge I bought too:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015Y8RPK/ref=oh_o02_s00_i00_details

I hope they work well. So I hope all of this will work well.

Congrats too all you beauties on the other side!

Day three without a cigarette! I'm doing just fine. No horrible cravings at all. I went shopping today for a bathrobe and tops that open down the front. I found one, but I decided to re-purpose my favorite cotton tank tops. I'm going to cut them down the middle and sew velcro down the opening so I can still have my favorite tops to sleep in just with a velcro opening in the front! I thought it was ingenious!

Still cigarette free, yay me! My pre-op consult is tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to it. I feel like I have 25 questions and I hope he gives me enough time to ask them all. I always feel like doctors try to rush you out and I'm hoping it's different with plastic surgeons. I guess he'll let me ask all I want as long as I'm still holding the money! :-)

I've probably been over thinking everything. I've been ordering all kinds of stuff like a bed wedge for $79.00 which ended up going back. Too narrow and hard. I also bought some compression bras and two were too small so they went back. I think I need to calm down and let things just happen. I did keep a leg wedge to elevate my legs though. We'll see Lord knows I'll find many more things to buy before 4/14!

4/18! My surgery is 4/18!

Last pre-op consult today! It went great. Dr. Grenga answered all of my questions and really put me at ease. He also assured me I don't need to go spend a lot of money. Let's just get through the surgery and see where we stand afterwards. Thanks to Sherry A. who also told me to keep my money in my pocket! I really appreciate the advise and will follow it.

PS said he will take out 700cc from each breast and I should end up a small C which is where I'd like to be.

I'm in NY visiting my three sons. It was a good way to get away and take my mind off of this adventure for a bit, but of course here I am blogging as usual!

My oldest son who is 27 moved into a new apartment and needed his mother's help with unpacking and furniture shopping. (with my money of course)!! But it's been a blessing as usual to help him and we just really love spending time together..

So right now I'm sleeping on his hardwood floor with nothing but a blanket and let me tell you, my whole body's killing me! Lord I am not 20 anymore! I'm now 11 days away and just can't stop counting.

I still wonder about my end result. I feel like my stomach is so large so I'm not sure of what the outcome will be. I want to look as amazing as everyone else on this site. Sometimes I feel like I'll be the one with the horror story and bad results! PS said he will work hard to get out everything possible with full Lipo from top to bottom along my sides. Also 700cc is planned per breast and I"m so curious as to what size that will make me.

Anyway - more ranting later. Thanks for listening to me!

Happy Resurrection Sunday everyone!

9 Days to go!! I hear many of you talking about you had blood work done and prescriptions. I didn't have any of that! PS said he will prescribe a pain pill day of I guess. I think I will call tomorrow and find out if I can pick up prescription by Monday.

My PS is very well known here and has excellent reviews, but I'm wondering why others had blood work and I didn't.

Seven more days until I reach the flat side! I have to say I expected to be so anxious this week, but actually I am more relaxed and calm that the entire last month of waiting. Not sure what that is about but I'm grateful for it. I have most things I need like bras, hot & cold compresses, tylenol regular & PM, gauze pads. will go out this weekend for some supplements from the vitamin store. I plan on getting Arnica Montana and also Bromelain. I had started taking a probiotic this week to make my digestion better and I really feel the difference. I hope it makes my BMs as soft and painless as possible. I do still have a list of about 15 things, but I'm sure some are me just over thinking my recovery.

I've already called someone to come and clean my house and had the lawn done this week. I guess I plan on relaxing my way to the other side!

I put a question out there, but it seems no one has really tripped across it except one helpful lady. I'm wondering about whether any of you had the pleasure of having to buy new clothes due to a smaller body shape. TT & Br plus lipo, I'm just wondering if any aides out there had to go shopping after a while.

I had lost like 35 lbs over the last year and went down 2 sizes so I just bought all size 16. Can't say I'd mind if I have to re-shop though!

5 more days!. I had an appointment with the anesthesiologist today. Just wanted to talk to me about what he would be doing and I was glad I got to see the facility and where I'll be going on Wednesday.

Went out to dinner with my co-workers and family and had a good time. I plan on relaxing tomorrow and start taking some Bromelain & Arnica tomorrow as well.

I'm almost there!

3 Days until my big day! Everything is set now. All my shopping is done, cleaning is done, va jayjay is shaved and ready :-). I juiced some beets, cucumbers and kale yesterday for the first time. Can't say it was really enjoyable, but I know I need more veggies and juicing gets you the most bang for your buck. I'll be juicing fruits especially pineapple which is good for swelling.

I am ready for the slice and dice!!!

Well I'm now 12 hours from my big moment! I have to tell you ladies, yesterday was not a good day for me and that's why I wasn't even on the boards at all. I went to my primary Dr. to ask about a particular diet pill. Well I actually saw her P.A. and she said I needed to take an EKG in order for her to prescribe it. Low and behold she said I have an atrial flutter. When I tell her I am having surgery on 4/18 she says "well I suggest you see a cardiologist and cancel your surgery, but oh it's really no big deal, but get it checked first."

I was freaking out and called the anesthesiologist and my PS. They said as long as I am not feeling any flutters or am out of breath they will move forward and monitor my heart during surgery. It's possible one of my pills is causing the crazy flutter. And since my pulse and breathing is fine, they see no reason not to proceed.

I feel confident and comfortable. If I had never went I wouldn't have hear of this anyway! Nothing is going to stop me now!

Hi everyone! Surgery was a success! Nurses at the surgical center were so wonderful! I really think they made the experience so pleasant. Just wanted to send a short note to let everyone know I'm ok. When I'm more cohesive tomorrow, I'll give a more detailed report.

Day 1 Post Op - I can't believe I'm on the other side! The Chesapeake Surgical Center was absolutely wonderful. I couldn't ask for a better staff to take care of me. I was at the center by 6:15 am. I was given a surgical warmer to keep my body warm prior to the surgery. Dr. Grenga came in and marked me up and assured me he would do his best and he did! Once I was in the operating room, I felt like I said hello to everyone ask about their morning and then...Nothing! Next thing I know I'm being ask to wake up.

I guess I'd have to say the muscle repair has been the most tight and painful thing along with the lipo on my hips. The hips look horrible! all purple and yellow, I'll try to get a picture up on that tonight.

My sister Toby is my caregiver for the next few days and Lord! She has been getting on my nerves more than anything else. She is a wonderful person, but she tends to be
straight to the point without much of a bedside manner. She's not very understanding when I moan or groan or ask for help in and out of bed, but I am very grateful for her help. I keep teasing her about her horrible bedside manner so we're now laughing about it all and we are best friends so it's all good :-)

I am so glad that I did this and am excited to see my body change and get better! I'll keep you ladies updated. This site has helped me get to this point and I am so grateful that RealSelf is here. I felt so prepared every step of the way and I owe that to RealSelf!

Day 2 post op. it's 3:00 am and my drains are leaking. Everyone is asleep so I'll just wait until my sister wakes up to help me fix whatever is wrong. Took some Percocet to get me back to sleep and also help with this dreadful muscle repair pain my in stomach. Feeling a Loy of gas also. I guess that's the beginning of the BM that we have all been afraid of. I'll let you know how that goes.

I'm already getting to a point where I am tired of feeling everything. I want these drains gone, the bruises gone, and even my sister gone! :-) This is definitely a process and a test of patience and understanding. I have three drains for my stomach and only two are draining into the drains, the other is leaking through my pants, so I'm always feeling wet and yucky quite a bit. I wan my sis to push it back up maybe the tube slipped a little but she's not trying to do that!

I have bad bruising from the lip on my hips which is all I can see right now. I'm trying to send a pic with my breast shown hopefully it will upload..

Love all of you for all of your support!

3 Days post op - It's about 4:00pm on Saturday and I'm just waking up watching some tv with my mom. My family is nervous for me to take off the stomach binder even to take a photo, but I will have one for you girls soon.

My PS was o.k with my one drain that was leaking and not going into the actual drain bulb. He purposely puts three drains in the stomach and feels either the third is draining with the others which are at high drain outages. Also since it is leaking as long as the fluid is leaving the body that is all that is important. He says Monday may be my day for drain removal depending on the outage amounts, so we'll see.

Day 4 Post Op - Well I finally had my first BM! OMG, it was so difficult and painful, but once it was out, my stomach felt so much better. I have now had three BM's since 6:00 am this morning. So I guess I'm regular!

I really just want these drains gone and mine are more of a bother since one is continuously leaking and I constantly have to change my clothes because of it. My energy level is very low so doing all of that just takes it toll. I hope to call in tomorrow (Monday) and be told to come in to have the drains removed.

Everyday life is tough for me since I am my grandmother's caregiver. I have to cook for myself and when I go in the kitchen and perhaps moan, I scare her and she gets all freaked out. It's almost not worth getting up to get something to eat. She's needed my help a few times, but all in all she has been able to tend to herself thank God.

Good luck to everyone going in this coming weeK!

Ok. More drama for Teri.. How about I woke up with shingles on my leg! My PS says its common to get that type of breakout when you have surgery. So now I'm dealing that that and then guess who decided to stop by?.....My freakin period!! Please laught for me ladies 'cause my strength is being tested like you would not believe.

Doesn't seem like I'll be getting these drains out anytime soon so I'm gonna take some Percocet and zone out for awhile.

Day 6 Post Op - Wow time flies. I feel better today about so many things and I owe it all to my little friend Percocet (or Perci)! I really medicated myself yesterday and today and feel so much more relaxed and better able to deal with everyone and everything.

My crazy sister came by and we juiced some fantastic veggie juice with beets, cucumber, broccoli and grapes. Very good blend. We have a good time together so that was fun, then she got on my nerves and I kicked her out! :-)

My advise to anyone about to go through this is to take your meds and relax through this process. Don't try to overdo anything. I can just hear my body saying thank you since I gave it some rest!

Day 7 Post Op - One week since it was my turn! Well good news I got my drains out today! my PS is so sweet he novocaines the area so you feel nothing at all. He likes how I'm healing and says I have a lot of swelling which is normal and expected. He told me to remember that I am still at the beginning of this journey and no where near the finish line. I like that advise and think we all need to keep that in mind.

I missed you all yesterday, I was having problems with my router. But I'm back now. Hope everyone is recovering well. I am feeling pretty good, but as I said since before my surgery, this binder is killing me. I do not like wearing things that feel very binding and of course this does. I know it's for good reason so I deal with it, but Lord I can't wait until this part is over!

I'm planning to go back to work on Monday and I'm really not sure if I'm ready. I guess I'll have Sat. & Sun. to see how I feel and then decide from there. I have a desk job so it should be ok.

My stomach still feels so tight, numb and swollen and I also noticed that my BB is crooked. I don't even know if that's something to make a big deal about, because I can't imagine how he would fix it, but I think I will call Monday and mention it.

I'm really enjoying this time of rest and lounging as I call it, but I know it can't last forever. I'll try to get some new pics up soon. Talk to you all soon!

4 Weeks Post Op

Hi everyone! I am so sorry I've bee away for a while. I'm feeling pretty good 4 weeks post op. My tummy is still hard and swollen so I can't see the result so much there, but I have faith that I all in time. I went into this knowing that I was not at an ideal weight. Let's face it I'm a big girl, but I am here to say I am so happy with my results so far! I love my breasts, they are beautiful. I do have some fatty overhang on the sides that will go down in time with continued weight loss which WILL happen. And I may still have him do a slight revision there as I do feel during his contouring he should have taken more of that out. End result was we took 957 CC from one breast and 1013 CC from the other. Much more then previously expected. At first I thought they were too small but now I really love them and the freedom they give me. I also had 15 Lbs total removed from my tummy. Again, I am sorry I haven't stayed in tout, but I plan on doing better with that. It's important that we stay connected and share.

Week 4 Post op Update

My breasts are looking so great! They are very tender and sore though although not hard any longer. 90% of my scabs are gone and I am massaging with Palmer's Skin Therapy which worked immediately. I can feel and see healing from the oil in only like 4 days of use. Great stuff. My nipples are so tender, thank God I don't have baby or a man who needs to be sucking on them anytime soon! :-) Although trust if I suddenly had a man, Lord knows I'd find a way to deal with it! (Sorry ya'll know my humor by now) I do have the boob fat on my sides which I know is more the sides of my body that my breasts, I just wish he had gone there and done some lipo since he was already over there. I will be discussing a revision with him on that.

My tummy is looking o.k. No great result for me there, but I am not complaining. I lost like 13-15 lbs off my stomach and can already tell I am at least down i clothing size on the bottom. From my pics you probably don't see a difference, but ladies there is a huge difference! If it continues to go down with the compression I will be ecstatic.

For me it almost seems like my surgery was ages ago and not just 4 short weeks ago, so I need to stop judging my results so soon. I am beating myself up that my stomach doesn't look like all you sexy ladies, but I am staying positive and optimistic. I'm going to trust in my Dr. and get back to the gym as soon as I am real able and then see where it stands.

If anyone reading this has any advice on how I can take better pictures with my iPhone please let me know! I feel like my pics are too far away or something. Please share the secrets!!

I meant to add that I must say my va jay jay is looking pretty awesome these days!! :-). It's so nice to see it again!