Breast Reduction: Stories

I am 24 years old, 5'10, 212 pounds. I am a lead line cook in downtown Portland, OR and I have managed to save up enough sick time to cover my recovery time! I am a 38K. I would love to go down to a C/D. With insurance (covers 80% with a $3000 out of pocket max), short term disability (will reimburse me $2400), and $500 annual medical reimbursement from my work, I should only have to pay $1000 out of pocket at most. Because of the intensity of my job (I lift A LOT of HEAVY stuff) I am hoping to take 6 weeks off of work. I am going to go for my consultation in mid October, after my short term disability plan starts. I am trying to get down to 170 pounds by January before I have the surgery. I am using an app called "Calorie Counter" on my Android phone and eating between 1200-1500 calories a day. I have lost 16 pounds since August 2nd.

Discovering this site was my motivation to start losing weight and preparing my body for surgery! I was referred by my gyno in December 2011 for a reduction, but decided I wasn't ready financially. After talking to my HR at work and realizing all of the potentials of my benefits, I realized I CAN DO IT! I also have an amazingly supportive boyfriend who is joining me on my health journey. He loves me just as I am but has been happily oohing and ahhing over post op pics with me! YOU LADIES ARE AMAZING. I am so happy to read about all of your experiences! I was a C cup at 10, a DD at 12, and a G by the age of 16. At a K cup, I am ready to take the plunge! Hopefully they will go down a few cup sizes before the surgery, but even so I know they will still be massive. My back is ready for a break from having to wear armor plated boulder holders!

Adding some photos of the boobage.

I am now 201 pounds, my disability policy kicked in, and I just got approved!

My pre op is February 5! Surgery is set for February 20! I am ready to go shopping already!!

I had my reduction on Wednesday. Everything went really well.. I ended up getting a lollipop scar so healing should be easy!

I have 8 weeks off of work for my recovery because of the intense physical nature of my job as a chef. I had my wraps on for 2 days post op and was religiously icing my chest for 15 minutes every hour. I was also taking 1 percocet every 3 hours, and occasionally taking 2 every 3 hours to "stay on top of the pain" although truthfully I was in very little pain, even in the recovery room. My friend also gave me some edible pot brownies, which definitely helped relax me so I could sleep on my back. My mom and boyfriend are here taking care of me so I have had to do very little physical activity since my surgery. I am contemplating going out tonight because I feel so good!

I will say that the worst thing about recovery so far has been constipation. I took some milk of magnesia 2 days post op and I feel a lot better today. I would suggest taking it daily as soon as you have your surgery until you are relatively normal. Also try to drink water every hour.

When I took my bandages off after 48 hours, I was scared shitless that I was going to look like a freak. The wrappings were so tight that I had a headrush unwrapping them. I didn't have any drains put in under my wrappings, just a lot of gauze and some of the gauze was stuck to my chest from the dried blood. My boyfriend helped me shower off but I started seeing spots after a few minutes (which was enough to get the gauze wet so it fell off) and I felt fine once I sat down and had some cold water. I really can't believe how great my chest looks already though! Only two days and almost no bruising or soreness. My nipples still seem really perky too.

I am trying to eat at least 100 grams of protein daily, as well as some fruits and vegetables. I am on day 3 and no longer taking anything for pain. I am wearing a sports bra from Walmart that is super comfortable. I am normally a size 38 band but went up to a 40 so it wouldn't cut into my chest too much. I am supposedly between a D-DD, and I was at least a J cup before.

One week post op. No pain. Still taking it easy. No draining at all. Showering every other day, and changing my abd pads in my bra daily.

I had 940 grams removed from the left, and 850 from the right.