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Finally Perky and Normal Size at 58 Years Old -Grand Rapids, MI

UPDATED FROM Happy with Smaller

1 Yr after BR

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Happy with Smaller
WORTH IT$15,000
I'm still thrilled with my breast reduction surgery and I'm 4 days short of 1 yr. My scars have gotten very faint and I feel pretty and sexy in cute little bras. Before BR I often felt like a cow since my breasts were so huge (DDD) and heavy. I would hang out of sexy bras and the shoulder straps really cut into my shoulders because of the weight of the BIG girls. I couldn't get comfortable at night since my huge breasts were always in the way. So I took a few updated pictures of my 1 yr 'after'. In the past year I've also had a TT so I don't have so much fat/skin under my breasts.

Happy with Smaller's provider

David R. Alfonso, MD, FACS

David R. Alfonso, MD, FACS

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

4.9 | 104 Reviews
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Happy with Smaller

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UPDATED FROM Happy with Smaller

Sometimes I think about this "instant"...

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Happy with Smaller
Sometimes I think about this "instant" gratification we have in our society. We look at all the before & after pictures and do not realize the pain & problems we have to go thru to get to the "after" part. That is why I'm so satisfied with this site since there's so many women willing to support and counsel eachother before & after procedures. Good luck to everyone on their way to their "after".

Replies (5)

March 19, 2013
Hi, I also am 58 years old (in April) I had the surgery on Dec. 4, 2012 ... It's the worse and the very best thing I've done. It was awful right after the surgery, probably the first 6 weeks I was in misery! Now I'm loving it. I can wear anything I want ... "real" bras right off the shelves and halter tops etc ... I went from a 38 G to 38 C! I'm not real happy with the scars under my arms, but no one sees them. You look good.
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March 19, 2013
ShirleyPWD :I'm extremely happy with my BR, it was also more serious and longer healing time than I expected which was my own fault I guess. I felt so good immediately I thought it would stay that way. I had some bumps along the road. It's been 5 mos. now and I couldn't be happier. The only thing the BR did was show me all the fat I have on my middle-roll after roll that I couldn't see before (I didn't look very hard either) with my 46 DDD's blocking my view. That's the reason for my TT on March 28th to remedy that problem. I'm sure as I fix one thing, I'll find something else I want to "fix". I'm already thinking about an arm lift/liposuction, thigh lift/liposuction and the list goes on & on. At "our" age things just want to sag and no amount of diet and exercise seems to help anymore. So are you all done now with plastic surgery now that you're perky? Why do you have a scar under your arm? Did the PS do liposuction under your arms or was it part of your BR to make them round? My incision is on the bottom of my breasts, nothing on the sides. I think this makes them a bit flatter but I didn't know any different and the PS didn't mention any other techniques to me. I would of liked to have him do lipo under my arms at the time so I'm wasn't so big around (46-48 C now). I mentioned doing lipo with my TT under the arm and he didn't act like he wanted to. I guess he doesn't think $11,000 is enough to do that also.
March 19, 2013
Yes, I am done ... I don't do well after I've had surgery ... lots of vomiting etc. I don't know why she went about 3" into my side. I did not have lipo, but I was hoping she would throw that in ... that never happened LOL. I'm going to start Weight Watchers as soon as we return home (we have been in Florida since Jan.1). I also have a roll that I didn't know was that big because of the large shelve blocking the view of my lap. I didn't realize the surgery was as serious as it turned out to be. I remember the next evening after the surgery I was laying in bed and asking my husband what the hell did I do to myself ... I wasn't happy for a good two weeks afterward.
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March 20, 2013
I've been sick after scope down my throat, carpal tunnel & gallbladder surgery. I keep telling everyone before surgery how sick I get and they give me extra stuff to keep me from being sicker. I remember hurting and being dizzy and nauseuas after my BR. The nurse would give me more of the good drugs & I'd go back to sleep. I finally had to force myself to get up and pee so they'd let me go home that night from the hospital. Luckily with the TT I'll be staying the night at the Amway Grand Hotel (where the PS office is and so is their surgery dept) and checking in with the Drs. in the morning to make sure I'm okay before heading home. This will be nice to be able to sleep all night without having to go home. 3 days after my BR my Mom had a stroke so we headed to the hospital and then I spent the next 3-4 days there with her. I couldn't take the good drugs because I was driving and had to stay awake. I know I was miserable at night and finally remembered I had vicodin for pain and started taking them again so I could sleep. It was rough for awhile.
March 20, 2013
I know what you mean I told them I get sick to my stomach and they gave me 3 different things for that and nothing worked until Iwas so sick after surgery they gave me a shot of Benydryl in my IV. That did the trick.
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March 20, 2013
I ended up in the hospital with the flu (we thought it might be my gallbladder) the day before my gallbladder scheduled surgery. After throwing up and having diarrhea all night (bless my husband who cleaned up all the messes and stayed with me) I showed up at the hospital and they gave me drugs to make it all quit-sure wish they had some of that for at home. I think I still have some zofran in the cubboard which is prescription for upset stomaches and works good if I need it after I get home.
March 20, 2013
My husband didn't want me to have the surgery so there wasn't much sympathy from him ... he was good and helped me with the drains and getting meals for the first week, but after that I was on my own. When I started this journey I just asked him for his blessing and told him he didn't have to carry the girls around and neck and should pain at times where awful.I guess at this point in my life I needed to do this for myself and not worry about what he wanted. I bless this site ... it is great to talk to people that have gone through this and now I want to pay it forward and encourage others to make the leap to the "otherside".
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March 20, 2013
ShirleyPWD it's great to hear from you since you had a very similar story. This website has been such a blessing. My new RealSelf friends are encouraging me and letting me know after years of doing for everyone else that it's okay to do for myself without feeling guilty or like I have to ask for their blessings. Since my surgery is on Thursday I know my hubby will be here for me until Monday then he has farm work (hauling corn) to get done. By then I figure I'll be pass the blood clot danger and should be able to manage. I've had friends offer to come and help and will ask them if I'm still unable to get up and to the bathroom, etc. by myself.
March 20, 2013
Congratulations and good luck on your TT.
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March 20, 2013
Thanks, I'm sure I'll be posting along the way.
March 20, 2013
Aww I love your latest update about instant gratification and the LOVELY ladies here to counsel each other on our journey. Such a true and beautiful thought. Every one of us has had an emotional and physical journey to get to here, and each one of us deserves to feel better about ourselves and to feel more comfortable. Very thankful to have the support and encouragement of the women here.
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March 20, 2013
Birch: We need eachother since men just don't have the emotions to understand and comfort us like we need. My husband still thinks I'm crazy to put myself thru all this expense,surgery, pain & time recooperating for something so vain. Hopefully he'll like how I look "on the flat side".
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March 26, 2013
You made a great point! I am one week post op and have decided that I not going to rush my healing and results. Thank for sharing and by the way you pics are awesome!
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March 27, 2013
Happy with smaller, your big day tom, I will say a prayer for you tonight okay .Try to get some sleep tonight ... I will be waiting for my reply from you that you are now on the flat side... :)
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March 27, 2013
Thank-you. Hopefully I will be able to post a few "after" pictures on Friday. My PS surgical center is in a very nice hotel and so they pay for 1 night in this nice hotel after surgery. So I should be out of surgery early afternoon, we'll spend the rest of tomorrow and tomorrow night and get home sometime on Friday morning. I told my husband I wanted him to take pictures after I'm all marked up for my surgery and his response was "why"? He doesn't understand all the sharing we do on RS and would never consider taking 1/2 naked pics of himself and posting them on a website for the world to see. Gee after I say that it doesn't sound so great does it? Ha,ha I'll be posting more 1/2 naked pictures I'm sure in a couple days. Thanks again I'm excited and quite calm I believe about tomorrow.
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March 28, 2013
Ok and good luck ok, no rush when you feel up to it post it. Take your time
UPDATED FROM Happy with Smaller

I went back for a consult with Dr. Alfonso today...

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Happy with Smaller
I went back for a consult with Dr. Alfonso today and I'm scheduled for a tunny tuck and liposuction for April 9th. Every since my breast reduction everytime I look down all I see are the rolls of fat that just doesn't go away with any amount of exercise. He explained I'll be cut from hip to hip so they can do the muscle repair inside and all the skin & fat between my belly button and bikini line will be removed, my belly button reset with my skin pulled down tight afer they remove fat from my chest area, sides & back flanks. I found a testimonial (on this site) and pictures of a 58 yr old woman (my age) with more belly fat and probably just as heavey as I am and her after pictures was fabulous. I took her pictures today and said "this is what I want to look like when you're done". I can't wait to show you the after pictures of me with no fat rolls. My "before tummy tuck" pictures are below. Can't wait for the new and improved me!

Replies (5)

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March 14, 2013
Good for you! Looks wonderful and I'm sure you feel better... I can't wait to take that plunge!
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March 14, 2013
Keep in touch after you finish...you look like you need the reduction.
March 14, 2013
You look super.
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March 15, 2013
Best of luck with the tummy tuck! I can't wait to see the after pictures. So nice to have a flat tummy to go with the new perky girls :)
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March 15, 2013
Thanks NannyOgg for the encouragement. I'm really geeked by my upcoming surgery. Now I don't look down at my rolls of fat with discuss (well maybe still a little) so much as anticipation of having them all gone, gone & gone.
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March 15, 2013
I can only imagine the feeling, I've seen some of the before and after pictures on the site for tummy tucks, and I'm amazed at the results.
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March 16, 2013
Your boobs look great, I cant wait to get mines done! Good luck on your TT journey as well! :-)
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March 17, 2013
I just read your beginning of your journey and your story is wonderful , I know the weight is a hard thing to do my husband is overweight and I cannot convince this man of mine to even start. So it's very good that you have made up your mine and want to join the flatter side , Yes I see your the 9 of April and I am the 5 th so we would be the TT women for April and will be ready to show off before summer. This site is wonderful, there are so many stories here its so comforting, because we all heal differently and every detail we can get from all of us on this page is great. So I wish you happiness and the countdown has begun for us . The time goes so fast . I used to have so much anxiety about the surgery that I got over that part now it's the aftermath I'm preparing myself for. But like all the women that have done the Tt, they all have said the first 3 to 4 days is the most uncomfortable after that it gets better everyday . And no one on this journey have said they regretted doing the procedure . So good luck to us
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March 17, 2013
I met with my PS last Wed 4 days ago, made up my mind to do it and set the surgery date and it's coming up in just over 3 weeks which is great. I don't have a ton of time to stress over this. I'll have to compare this surgery to my vaginal hysterectomy 32 yrs ago. I really hurt and didn't feel like myself for 6-12 months. If I keep that in mind maybe this won't be so bad. At that time I also had a very demanding husband (now ex) who was no help and 2 kids ages 1 and 5. I know I'm older so the healing will be slower but now I have a wonderful husband who will take good care of me, my adult children & grandchildren will come visit so I'm in a much better place than I was back then.
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March 17, 2013
Very good because you will need support from hubby and kids . Especially those first couple days:)
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March 17, 2013
He's a farmer and shouldn't be busy in the fields yet so he'll be home. If not I have friends that don't work and can sit with me in the daytime if he's busy. I plan to rest, rest and rest. Thanks,
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March 17, 2013
Oh very good, just enjoy all you can do independently now because when the time come it becomes limited . I'm doing everything now lol getting all the supplies that these ladies have said to get and I'm renting a recliner lol.
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March 18, 2013
Me also 35look. I'm checking into a hospital bed tomorrow, shower chair, elastic exercise band (to hold drain tubes in shower), going to grocery store and added all kinds of goodies to that list. I'll be ready for anything when the day finally comes.
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March 19, 2013
35look I feel like I've cut in line since my surgery has now been moved from April 9th to March 28th-next Thursday! They had a cancellation and had the opening and knew I wanted to get it done ASAP so they called me 1st with the opening. I had to quit my premarin & vitamins & supplements right away. I'm so excited so I don't have to stress for 3 weeks only 9 more days. This will work out perfectly since we had alot of things planned for mid-late April and I will feel so much better than I expected to at that time. I'm sure we'll keep in touch after I'm done with that.
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March 19, 2013
Wow,very good so you will now lead lol,very happy for you . You mention you stopped your vitamins.I thought taking your regular vitamins is good for you for healing just regular multivitamins.
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March 19, 2013
They said they can not be sure of the contents of multi vitamins and other supplements I take-glucosamine & condroitant, fish oil (thins the blood), cranberry pills,calcium-magnesium-zinc, vitamin D. Some can thin the blood, some tend to possibly lead to blood clots so to know what to expect with my blood & surgery I guess it's best if I'm off everything. It's only for 9 days then I'm sure I'll go back on the pills as they suggest I resume them.
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March 19, 2013
Yes No Fish oil ok the stuff you taking will cause blood clots ok. I got concerned because I am just taking multivitamins and folic acid only.
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March 19, 2013
If you disclosed it and your PS didn't say anything you are probably okay with those. They told me it's just too much variance in supplements for them to know exactly which are safe. A few days without vitamins & supplements should not cause me any problems.