Breast Reduction: Stories

I am 36 years young, and wear a 40DDD (and need bigger but am too lazy to be refitted). I am currently overweight, which has added to my breast size. At average size I am a 38DD at least. I work as a RN and have so much trouble charting etc my back hurts from bending over the computer all this weight pulling me down!

I looked into having a reduction 8 years ago, but opted out. I was afraid to loose the girls. But 8 years later the pain is no longer bearable. I have headaches ALL the time. I got laser eye surgery 2 years ago (blaming my headaches on my poor eye sight) it did not ease my headaches. My neck and shoulders hurt all the time. I bought a sleep number bed to ease my back pain. It helped some, but not as much as I need! SO I made the leap and I am going for it! My insurance will cover it, I just pay my deductible which is $1250.00.

My surgery is on a Tuesday and I am going back to work the next Monday. I now am a nurse manager so I do not do patient care, and work at a desk. But after reading some others posts I fear 6 days of recovery is not enough??? I would love your input. I am also having some liposuction on my upper abdomen and arm pit area.

I am usually a pretty strong fearless person, and tolerate pain well. I was shopping 2 days after a c-section. But again after reading these posts I am a little afraid. I have never taken a oral narcotic. ( I had some pain reliever in my IV after I gave birth) I was not planning on taking any after this surgery, but now I am scared! I sleep on my stomach and the thought of sleeping on my back horrifies me. I am single and only have the help of a friend the first day, then after that my 14 year old son (sweet as sugar that boy, but he a boy non the less) so house stuff he can do, but comfort etc not much help there!

I am not sure what size I will be. My PS and I have not really discussed it. My pre-op with him is May 23rd. I tell everyone I don't care what size I will be, I just want the pain gone. But truth is I DO care! I don't want to have small boobies :( I really want a very full C or small D. But I am not sure that is going to happen. They are so saggy and pendulous now, most after pics I see they don't look like they really are lifted much?

Hello beautiful ladies!
I am sure I am driving my friends nuts! All I can think about is this surgery, I am so darn excited. It is just under a month away, and I am worse than a child waiting for Christmas!
I want to thank everyone on this site, reading your reviews, and comments is tremendously helpful. There are so many things that I had not thought of! I keep looking at it from a nurses prospective and not a patients!
How long was it before you could lift your arms up to wash and brush your hair? I have VERY thick long hair that goes way past my bra? Will I be able to lift my arms right away to put it in a pony tail every morning?
Thank you all so much, you guys are just the best!

I bought a recliner! I don't need much of a excuse to shop! I got a Lazyboy on sale at Slumberland, some great deals now if anyone needs one! $300.
Thinking about what else I will need, making a list
Ace wraps (have these at work)
Telfa
Micropore tape
wedge (if I want to ditch the recliner for bed)
some zip or button ups (I realize I have NO button up tops) weird
probably another bra
Miralax
easy to digest foods
Have I forgotten anything experts????
Hope everyone is doing well!!
Oh and I posted a before pic- don't laugh.

Hello all you wonderful women! I hope you all had a great Mothers Day!
I had my physical and labs done, and besides this darn ear infection everything is on track. Labs good and everything has been faxed to my PS. Less than a month to go! I am so darn excited!
I see my PS on the 23rd, and thanks to all of you I have a great list of questions going!

Question, how did you know what size sports bra to buy for recovery BEFORE your surgery? Did you use the same band size prior to your surgery and cup size you planned on being after? I am mostly concerned about the band size, wont reducing my cup size make me smaller around so lower the band size? I do not want to have to go out to shop after the surgery if I dont have to, even then I am sure I will not feel up to trying them on so still wont really know size. I want to save the shopping for FUN bras later! :)
Also, I am purchasing a wedge pillow, curently I am on JCP website, looks good. Has anyone purchased the wedge from here? I went to Wahlmart today and nothing....
A little over 2 weeks away! super psyched!
Thanks in advanced for all of your guys wisdom! This site is so helpful!

Hello ladies!
Less than 2 weeks to go! Met with my PS yesterday, paid my portion. Got my RX for Zofran, Percocet, and Keflex.
He is going to take about 1000 out each breast, and Lipo my sides (under arm) He uses drains bilat, and they will come out the next day. He does NOT give a garment to wear, and just told me to buy a sports bra. Does this seem odd to anyone?

10 days to go!! OMG I am soooo excited! The girls at work threw me a bye bye boobies party on Friday! They made a cake with boobies on it, and a awesome card with large breasts on the front and tiny ones on the inside! Super cute!
I purchased the bra Kimmers suggested, and got a supportive one like Iowa said. Filled my RX's today, and got stool softeners, bio oil, and neosporin (just in case). My office already looks like a wound care supply store (from work) so I am set there. I have my recliner, and a wedge. 3 zip ups (to wear as shirts :) ) I think I am all set. I wish it was tomorrow! Oh and I ordered these fruit smoothie things from Schwans, that does not have dairy just fruit! So I can sip away on those all day!
I also ended up adding trunk liposuction which will cost me $4500. So I am pretty excited about that too. It will obviosuly make my surgery longer, and recovery a little more involved but hey what ever!!!!
Just finished reading a bunch of peoples updates and I am glad to see so many happy gals! Good luck to those going in this week, and keep resting to those that are on the flip side already! :)

OMG surgery is tomorrow! This time tomorrow I should be home, and weigh a few pounds less! I am sooo excited, I hope I can sleep tonight! :)
Hope everyone is doing well which ever phase you are in.
See you all on the flip side!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On the flip side! I am Home and doing super good! I am sure I am doing so well because there are still narcs etc. on board from the surgery. So ignore the typos etc, my fingers feel rubbery and I feel a little dim witted!
Here is how it went....
Arrived 8:45 (30 minutes earlier I am such a spaz about being late) Did all the nursing stuff questions VS etc. Spoke with anesthesiologist, then surgeon came in, talked with me even more, reviewed my desires, his procedures, and what he felt it would look like.
I went back, and was out! Woke up in excruciating pain! 9/10 They gave me Vistaril IM and 1 oxy and with in 30 minutes felt better, and with in a hour felt pretty good. Came home, and felt so good r/t to nausea that we stopped at Jimmy Johns. Got home and Iced them, and broke down and took 2 oxy now pain 1/10 at rest and 3/10 with activity. Some of my incisions bled through, so we removed all the gauze, reapplies more steri strips drained drains and re ace wrapped. (My best friend is here, and we are both RN's) so we think we know, and can do everything!
Sitting in recliner now and gabbing with BBF.
I am sure tomorrow with be icky, but today I am great so I am living in the moment!
I posted pics too! So far I LOVE them!!!!!! super super happy, so worth it!
Hope everyone is doing well!
I have lipo on my hips, and that is actually more bruise and painful 2/10 than my breasts.

day after surgery- Still feeling pretty good, only taking Tylenol for pain, and the lipo hurts more! VERY hard to sleep on my back, I think that is the worst part. Got my drains removed today. They wanted me to put on sports bra or something, but I re wrapped with ace wrap which feels great!
Loving the look so far! My aureolas are so small! Love it! Went to PS then Target today, out for about 5 hours, I took a nap when I got home, but generally feel really good!
PS scolded me for doing to much already. But I can not help it, I feel so OK! I will post more pics in a few days when there is more of a change. Next PS appt on wed.
Hope everyone is doing well.

June 8th 4 days post op (including surgery day)
Pain is minimal, taking Tylenol 3xday. Its more of a nagging pain when I move. The real treat was getting my Period Wed! sigh. I do have full sensation, so thats good. I am way more tired yesterday and today, and still feel foggy in the head! I have not taken the narcs since Tuesday AM, but still feel very dim! I have no energy, getting on the computer feels like a huge chore. I am sleeping OK. Nights in bed utilizing the wedge. I was able to get on my side a little bit. I took the ace wrap off because it was bunching up, and can not get it back on myself, so I put the post surgical bra on. I did not even really look at the girls, I was so tired I just wanted to get the bra on and sit back down. I finally had a BM yesterday, so i feel better in that respect. This darn abdominal binder is a pain in the rear! Just put a call into my PS to see when I can take it off, and the TEDS. It is soooo nice outside here, and I can not even get the energy up to go out. Did you guys feel this way? how long did it last. Ideas to get more energy??
Hope everyone is doing well.

5 days post op (Sat) Feeling better. Less foggy, and a tidge more energy. I slept a little better last night, and more on my side. The "itching" has started and it is driving me crazy! Pain is minimal, no need to take even Tylenol. As I mentioned before I also got some lipo of the trunk, and thats really swollen. I gained 10.5lbs after surgery from all the fluid!!! I look fatter than ever!! hee hee. I have been too tired to attempt full shower, and a little apprehensive since I will be alone. But this sponge bathing junk is for the birds so I will have to attempt it, either tonight or tomorrow AM. Posted more pics from yesterday.

Monday-7days post op-
Worked from home today 4 hours, then drove to have lunch with some friends. I was tired when I got home, but not too bad. No increase in discomfort. Plan on staying home tomorrow, and only working 4 hours. Wed is my follow up with PS. Sure hope the numbness from the lipo goes away soon! It was fun to see all of my friends reactions to the "new" me! Boosted my confidence. :)

9 days post-op (Including day of surgery)
Hey guys! Feeling great and loving life!
Saw my PS today and he was ECSTATIC! He said "oh wow you look great!" (as he should say since it is HIS work) :)
Had the steri strips removed. The nurse was shocked I had not already taken them off and clipped the stich ends. Believe me I REALLY wanted to, and it took all my strength not to! Everything looks pretty good. Put some more tape on to smooth things out. I told him I was working from home, and he was cool with that. Said I could wear a underwire in about 5 weeks, and sleep on my stomach as soon as it was comfortable. However he still wants me to limit raising my arms, so sleeping on my stomach is out since my arms are above my head the whole night. dont
Went and got a pedicure today, and will get my hair done Friday. (its a disaster right now, since I am 2 weeks late on my foils!) Then I will really feel human again!
I noticed today looking in the mirror that I have chest muscles! It looks so awesome with out my breasts shoved up into my face! It is so nice to see some definition between my face and chest! It used to look like one big slobby mess!
I put on a shirt that I wear often today and thought to myself (OK honestly I said it out loud to myself) "why is this so long, I do not remember this shirt being so long" I then realized HUH because with these little boobies its not lifting the shirt up 4 inches! And it is soooo baggy! LOVE IT! I used to feel a little uncomfortable wearing it because it was a little snug.
I go back to work (actually into the office) Monday. I talked to my boss today, and she said just come in when you get up, dont set your alarm, and when you get tired just go home. LOVE my work. Since I am not floor nursing anymore it will be so much easier, mentally, physically and more flexible.
I hope that everyone waiting for their surgery is keeping calm and relaxed, and everyone recovering is as pain free and energetic as possible!
:)

So my right breast appears about 1/2 cup size smaller than the left. PS says he took the same amount out both sides. Prior to surgery he asked if 1 was smaller than another, and felt me up real good and we determined no. But part of me vaguely remembers one being smaller than the other when I was younger (and you could tell more when they were a D and perkier) Now I fear it was the right! Surgeon again did the feel me up thing, and said the left was more swollen than the right now, so give it time and we will see. I myself am not so sure. I hope they even out, but if they do not I will live. I am still VERY happy I did this and one being a little smaller is so much better than HUGE breasts.
I tried to wear a "regular" bra with out underwire but it was too uncomfortable. So back to the lame front closure sports bra type. I am going out with my pals Sat and want to look at normal as possible, so I will try again then!
I will try and take some pics again today and post.
Hope you all are well!

Feel great today! (minus my BIG gut) GOt my hair foiled, and blow out, eyebrows waxed, and nails done! Spent $200 at Kohls. New bra (keep your panties on girls NO underwire, dont worry) a dress with a emblem in the MIDDLE! woo woo and other shirts in the juniors!!! NOT plus!!! worked in the AM then went out, no nap and feeling pretty darn good! Posted pics! (ignore the darn gut)

16 days post op-I think. Hey gals, hope you are all doing well. Went out with friends yesterday and had a blast, and feel great today! The only thing I did not do was the bean bag tournament :( I wore a shirt that I just bought in the Juniors section!!! NOT plus size to fit my breasts! :) I am still Icing 1-2x day but have not taken Tylenol for over a week. Slept on my side all night too! Still holding off on trying to sleep on my tummy, but hopefully soon! I go back to work full time tomorrow! The new bra I bought was size........... 40C! :) WOW
have any one you gals tried on your old bras? I am thinking about it, should be funny!
I saw some people posted about massaging and using things like bio oil? My PS said nothing about this, why are you doing it? What are the benefits, and when should one start?
Thanks!