Breast Reduction: Stories

I have been considering having this breat reduction since I was 17 years old... at 14 year of age I was already 32D! At 16 36DD and now currently at age 21 I am 38DDD/F! This weight is enormous!!

I do not want to live with this back pain so I went in to my primary care and asked her what should I do. She put in a request for me to recieve a consult with a lastic surgeon and told me not to get my hopes up because being that I am currently over weight the insurance may not approve the cost of surgey. That it would be left up to the consulting Doctor to put in a request and then it could still be denied... So with a heavey heart I went to my consult on the 5th of August 2011 (6 days ago) and saw Dr. Nabil Habash @ Seton Medical in Round Rock Texas... I got there 20 minutes before my consult and he was out to lunch. My appointment time rolled around and he wasnt in yet. I am a pretty impatient person when it comes to being made wait when I pride myself at being on time... so when 15 mintues after my appointment time I wasnt called back I was ready to leave... As I was gathering my things the nurse came out to bring me back. I went back and she took my weight and explained things. When the doc came in I was so nervous I was watery eyed and twhen he told me the same thing about the BMI and how picky they are about it I ended up crying. Though I am over weight by BMI standurds I do not look as heavey as I am becasue I truely am heavy boned at 5'6.5... This was actually proven by water bathe test... anyways he said he was sorry to make me cry... I explained it wasnt his fault... and then he asked to take photos... this was the part i dredded most... i dont even allow my husband of 3 years to see me completely naked with lights on :/

So he took pictures. He explained the proceedure and such... I left...

August 10th @ 2:30 I recieved a call that my insurance approved to pay for the entire cost and when would I like to set my surgery... shocked and awed I told them id get back to them.

I talked to my spouce and he needs a month advance to put in notice to take medical leave to help me with our toddler son... and so I set the date for october 6th at 8 am...

Now i am completely nervouse and scared from hearing all these war stories of the docs taking too much away or disfiguring the breasts... I havent heard many good comments from those around me and it is scaring me. I am wanting to go down to a C cup for comfort reasons but am scared that he may make them too small... I have looked up reviews on my doc and can not find a single one :(

Is it worth it to take the chance... what happens if he does mess them up or makes them way way too small for my figure... what then can I do???

So the doctor measured me this morning. and I reported i was a 40DDD but he measured me at 38DDDD, yes that is 4 Ds!I simply can not wait to get this weight off my chest!!

Another thing, I asked the doctors nurse over the phone if she or her could fax me a letter to give to my husbands work(army) so he could take off to help with my 2 year old who is always wanting to be picked up, and since i will not be able to lift more than 10 pounds i will definitely need the help. well i have asked three times and sent two emails... she has said she will do it each time and still hasn't... He has to put in the medical leave at least 32 days before needing it... I am just getting a bit frustrated because if he does not get this paper he can not take off to help me and i feel a bit discouraged by being not taken care of when all I need is a simple email!

Ok so This morning I went to see Dr. Byrd, who is a plastic surgeon 2.5 hours away in Dallas. Let me just say he is awesome, kind and very informative! I chose to look for surgeons there because that is where I will be recovering... not that my first surgeon wasnt kind because he was, it was his staff that i did not like because they took days to ever get back to me through email or phone... anyways, at the appointment this morning they did the same thing as the last appointment with all the measuring and such. but after i was able to go to his office and sit in a chair and talk face to face and even see before and after pics of other patients. i really like this doc. He answered all my questions and was really cool about them because i had a ton of them! We discussed the processes and he put the request through since it all had to be done over for my insurance to pay for it. We talked about dates if the insurance comes bak sometime next week with an approval which we are both positive they will since they did with the last... my main concern was doing it all in a certain time. i was having hope to maybe do the surgery later but it will not be possible because it completely slipped my mind that starting november 16th i start my externship that i can not reschedule... so he says he has room to do it in october to give me appropriate healing time. so now we wait for the approval.

Ok, so I dont know if it was really a good idea or not but I went and looked up breast reductions on youtube and needless to say im pretty freaked! I know I will be out in the surgery and will not feel a thing but the way the surgery is done with all the snipping of the scissors and the cutting with the tiny knife scared me a bit, oh and i still cannot see how the surgeon will know how much to cut... in the videos they all just snip snip snip and take... aaaa im freaked! But im not so freaked tat I will be canceling because I still think all this heavy weight on my shoulders out weighs the the scariness!

I was just way curious! Maybe you should take a look too!

I've decided since I am getting this surgery that I shouldn't stop there... I want to be different... not like cut up my face different but live a healthier, better life. I want to get in shape and stay that way. I set a goal to lose ten pounds before my surgery and I'm nearly there... only 3 more pounds to goal and me doing that has motivated me even more. I'm thinking of joining weight watchers to help me along if the price isn't crazy... I wish they still had the 7 day free trial to see if I even like it and can do it, but I haven't found it. I ordered some simple work out things for home and will try to get to the gym at least twice a week but id like to go more... but I'm not going to be unrealistic since I don't have childcare. But I am still going to do the two days I can and do work out videos at home early mornings while my son sleeps, and also during his afternoon nap time. I don't eat terribly bad as it is but there are days I hog down the chocolate lol, so I'm going to cut that out. And I'm starting all of this now! I can't wait for my surgery to be here and start feeling awesome and be able to actually run again like in middle school... so long ago lol!! Ready for these boobs to be gone!! Sorry for the rambling!!

Im going crazy with all of this waiting!!!

Ive bought the medical bras I'll need, bra top tanks from victoria secret(there was a huge sale so i got one of each color), ive bought the bio oil, scar sheets, ive bought tons of extra fluffy pillows and two body pillows so i will be supported when sleeping...

ive bough wet wipes and all sorts of stuff to make my recovery easier and less of a burden to anyone... and now im having to sit here and wait!!!

Its driving me super crazy! Im just so ready to get the surgery and on the way to recovery!

Another side note... when I told my hubby about how I really wanted to make a new life change and start going to the gym as much as possible so i can get in lots of use on their spiffy treadmills and use those shake weights and chin pumps they have in the lady's gym side... he said he was very proud of me for wanting to do those things...

and ive been going as much as possible. when he gets home from work i head to the gym so he can watch our son... and this morning when i woke up... he was gone for work already as usual...

and on the counter there was my very own shake weight!!! and a note that said "bestbuy will be calling to get a delivery schedule set up to deliver your treadmill, wait for the call"

Made me smile ear to ear :) what a great surprise! He will be getting a nice treat when he comes home!

Oh and as for the shake weight! it rocks... you can really feel the burn instantly and the next morning u feel the ache of a good work out... i like it alot... I can feel a difference after only a week using it for 6 minutes three times a week when i was able to use it at the gym... I think everyone should own one... but its not easy... doing 6 minutes is harder than you think... but worth it!

So though I changed surgeons, twice now, it seems I am only getting ones who have their nurses respond and I havent even gotten to speak to them directly at all since the first appointment! I have called my new surgeons head nurse who I was told to contact with any questions and concerns and I told her I really wanted to see the doc again soon and she told me he would see me right before surgery. i told her that i wanted to see and speak to him before then... and she said she would ask him when would be a good time and still i have yet to hear back and that was last tuesday or wednesday... I feel like im just not satisfied really with how i am being treated. like say if after surgery I have a problem, am i going to have to call and plead for an appointment to be seen or just go into the friggin emergency room every time i have a concern about something!!?? aaa maybe because im so close to surgery(but still so far) im just freaking out and looking for issues! I dont really know... im young and a bit scared, and I just keep hearing all these things that are going wrong from others, and finding out all these new things that can go wrong... and infection is a big deal and then im told that if you are overweight u have a higher chance of infection and whoop Im overweight so im tripping out over that... Im trying to stay positive and not have these fears but late at night when im wide awake its all i can think about! I do not want have of my breast eaten away by strep or some other infection! I wish I knew every single thing I could do to make sure 100% I will come out of this ok and not have anything go wrong! :(

more pics added. with shirt without bra... and after surgery will do the same.

so there is only two weeks till my surgery and my husbands 1st sergeant is giving him trouble bout taking leave... i feel like nothing is going right...

So I met this lady who is a wife to a soldier in my hubby's unit and she had a breast reduction... and they look great!! I asked her did she use anything special on her scars and she said she used Advanced healing Adhesive Pads but Johnson and Johnson. I saw them at walmart for pretty cheap. Reading the box they stay attached even through washing in the shower for a week long... I asked her and she said to be completely honest they last 5 days showering daily... so two days less than the box states. But she said they were for continuos use, like not taking them off daily... they stay on... My question now is has anyone used these? What are your thoughts on them. I have found a few reviews. Like a lady having a tummy tuck used them after getting an infection and packing the wound for weeks... and once she used them it healed in days instead of weeks... so has anyone used these that you know of

Johnson and Johnson First aid Advanced Care: Advanced Healing Adhesive Pads

Link:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Johnson-Johnson-First-Aid-Advanced-Care-Advanced-Healing-Adhesive-Pads-4-ct/10316333

tomorrow is the big day!!! Im excited and nervous but very ready. I will be driving my toddler to dallas tonight to be with his abuela and then head back here... then get up bright and early to get to the hospital by 6am... i just cant wait till then! oh and my pre-op appointment went great. all the questions i had were answered and i feel ready. I will not be staying over night at the hospital but will go back friday for an appointment for my chas chas to get a checkout... He did say that he does not know if i will have drains in or not till tomorrow because that is a last minute decision he makes. Im really really ready. He says his goal volume is between 750 and 1000 grams from each breast... goal size will be a c cup!!! ive already scoped out some pretty bras but wont buy till i know for sure... im just very ready to get this surgery over with and on the road to recovery!

So I just got home from dropping my sonoff with his grandparents for the weekend. It is 2:17am... I have to be up in 2 hours and 4 minutes to shower and head out to get to the hospital by 6am... glad i will have my hubby with me! Im tired but just cant seem to sleep!!! i want to sleep but my mind keeps wondering and i cant keep my eyes shut... The hub cant seem to sleep ether cuz he is watching tv... i dont know if its because we really dont have much time to sleep or what... but im praying for a fast surgery and recovery!

surgery went great... but i woke up in terrible terrible pain. it hurt so bad i cried... which made it hurt worse. hurt so bad i didnt want to breathe... id take small breaths and the moniter kept beeping i wasnt breathing... it was terrible. i had two injections and some pills and maxed out on allowed pain meds... i sucked. my hubby went to walmart to fill my prescription so i could take it... after sleeping a lil while the pain wasnt so bad.... and i was able to see how i looked.... love te size. i told him a regular c yesterday at pre op and thats what i got. i go back tomorrow t have the drains removed and he will take a look at them again... my nps are nice and small and high... i love my new boobs... just not the pain... will take topless pics later tomorrow...

more pics of post op... day 1

So I just found out the doc took 1048grams from my right breast and 1022grams from my left... I had no idea my breast were so dense and heavy... I did not notice them being so light when I sat up in the hospital due to my shock of pain but now I do... and I took my first shower just now and it felt great... to be clean and just look at them in the mirror for the first time full on was a bigger shock... I'm ready for them to heal quicker lol... cuz I need to step up on my work out... now that I don't have these giant boobs my tummy seems bigger than I thought it was... after I'm healed enough and can run I'm also going to start a high protien diet... well not really diet but just adding way more protien into my dinners and lunches instead of so much red meats... more chicken and fish... and I found these awesome protien shakes for 100 calories with 18g or protien per serving... and the price was great too... :) so ill start that as soon as I can start running.

I have a question... is it normal for your head to hurt even though you are taking pain medication. I have had a headache off and on when I wake up from sleeping and its a pretty bad one... my whole head hurts and even sometimes my neck... then when I lay back in the recliner it hurts again... or worsens... I feel like taking advil or ibephrofen to help with the headache but I don't because I do not think I'm allowed to with my pain meds in me... could it be from constantly sleeping? I know that I used to get headaches from sleeping too much when I was pregnant... could it just be that..?

Another thing is it seems I'm breaking out though I'm bathing daily... sometimes twice... my face has broken out and a bit on my chest as well... is it normal...

And I've been using the steri-pads since surgery and when I change them they have like light brown fluid on them... is this normal as well?

Thanks everyone for reading!

I kinda feel like my cha chas are smaller than Cs... I'm not sure because I don't have anything to compare them to really... I know they are bruised and swollen right now and if that goes down won't they just be even smaller?? I know that I'm not used to being small breasted but I really just hope they aren't too small on me. I am not a small person at all and just don't want to look odd... I'm giving myslef time to let them heal and get to the size they are going to heal as but I just can't help feeling they are too small maybe... I do like not having the back pain but still my image is a bit important to me... and will they fill out and become more round...? They look a bit flat front view wise... I guess there is always stuffing if they end up too small for me...

So its been a full week now as of today. And there hasn't been a day that I'm not dizzy. I feel like I can't even focuz on anything much and I'm constantly lightheaded as well. I think its the pain pills so I didn't take a one all day yesterday and was still way dizzy and lightheaded... I ended up taking one around midnight due to pain that was keeping me awake but I really don't want to continue taking this heavy pain pill so I called the nurses hotline to see if I could take some other regular over the counter med like advil or something. I'm just waiting the call back. I will post update pics below.

So tomorrow will be week two! Does this mean I wont have to wear these compression/sports bras 24/7? Im not sure but he did only say two weeks... ill have to ask him that... I will post pictures tomorrow... i want it to be a full week every week before posting pics.

A plus, i drove for the first time yesterday... all day in fact i was running around buying groceries, going to two appointments, and a bunch of other errands... i felt pretty great yesterday... today i feel pretty good just tired. I haven't been sleeping well at all.. but i dont think its the surgery... just my head wont seem to shut down... im laying there making lists of things i have to do and take care of when i really wish i could close my eyes and sleep... doesnt happen lol...

So this custom treadmill my hubby ordered me is still not put together all the way... but i dont mind, its been chilly outside around the low 70s and mid 60s... which is pretty chilly to this Texan lol... so i have taken a few walks... my hubby being home for 25 days is a big help but also a huge frustration... i forget why i like him going to work... :) lol... gotta love em tho...

Im just really ready to be able to start running... i know i cant yet but i do want to. The glue stuff has been peeling off alot. the under breast cut is nearly clean of the stuff... i dont know if that is a good or bad thing...

I have my next follow up appointment for next wednesday. hope it goes great!

Update picture. I think my left breast is more rounded all around than the right. I'm waiting for all this glue to finally come off.

So I went to my 3 week op appointment yesterday... It went great... my only complaint is that i can still feel these stitches and they feel very tight. The doc said that he used long stitches instead of regular stitches to decrease scarring... and that they will take 9+ weeks to fully dissolve... when im laying on my side at night i can feel them the most and its just too hard to lay flat on my back... not due to pain or anything just its not how i like to lay i guess.

I went trying on bras and im a 38d but they may go down more... i bought a couple wireless regular bras and am happy with those for now but cant wait to buy regular bras.