Breast Reduction Reviews
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Breast Reduction - Sacramento, CA

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Comments (70)

Updated 18 Apr 2012

Posted 7 Oct 2011

I had my breast reduction on October 5,2011. I was so nervous in the months before. I am a 5'1 girl with 38F boobs. Way to big for my little frame, even with me weighing 160lbs. After ny reduction i wanted be around a "D" cup because while i liked my big breats, they were just to heavy and caused a lot of pain.

However, from what i can tell as of right now, they look to be about a "C" cup. I am still a bit swollen but most of the swelling has gone down. I have two drains in place which i should be having taken out on tuesday. Overall, even if they are not the size i wanted, i am very happy i chose to go threw with it and the pain is worth it also.



Updated on 8 Oct 2011:
So, today is 4 days post-op. I think overall I am doing pretty well. I do still have a lot of pressure in my chest, which I am assuming is normal. I am starting to get the sharp jolts into my nipples which I am told means that the nerves are reattaching, so I know that's a good thing. I still have yet to see my boobs without my bra since I am not allowed to take it off until my appointment on Tuesday. I am anxious to see them but no matter what I can already tell a major difference in my back.

Updated on 9 Oct 2011:
So today has been a pretty good day. I have not taken any pain med's since 10:00 last night and I don't feel as if I need any. I have quite a bit of pressure still in my chest but I think that is my skin trying to readjust to the new changes. I have had very minimal drainage and it is mostly clear since two days ago. As I have said before my first doctors appointment is this coming Tuesday the 11th. I will get to see for the first time, my new boobs!!! I am so excited. Oh and I am happy to report that all the pain in my hips that I was having, is now gone. I needed to get up and walk around and after doing so it went away.

Updated on 10 Oct 2011:
Questions: Okay so for the last to days I have had an unbelievable amount of pressure in my chest. It feels like I have an elephant sitting on my chest and it hurts. Its making me short of breathe and it hurts to try and take a deep breath. It also feels like there may be some fluid in my lungs,and it kind of burns,is any of this normal almost a week after surgery? When I open up the surgical bra for a few minutes it seems to help the discomfort in my chest but not enough. Is there anything I can do to ease all this pressure?

Other than that, I am doing pretty well. I don't have any pain and I have not taken any of my pain med's. This is the last day of my antibiotics.

Updated on 11 Oct 2011:
So got back from my first check up a while ago. Having the drains pulled out hurt worse than anything else I've had done to me I think. I wanted to punch the DR it hurt so bad. Its better now, sore but that's to be expected. I think overall I am happy with them. They are still pretty swollen but no bruising as far as I can tell. I wil be posting the pics later on tonight. My right boob is a bit larger than my left but not really noticeable. I'm sure after the swelling goes down they will settle and be about the same. I thought I was going to be sad about the size but they look to be a large "C" maybe even a "D" we will see in 3 weeks when I can buy my first bra! Let me know what you think after the pics are up! I'd like to hear if they look alright.

Updated on 12 Oct 2011:
Well it has been one week today since my surgery. Yesterday was the first day I got to see my new boobs. I am very happy with them I think. I am sure and they heal and time goes on, that I will be even more happy with them. I just can't wait to buy my first bra off the shelf!

As for the healing process, I think that it is going pretty well. Yesterday the only pain or discomfort I had was where the drains were removed. This morning however, I woke up in quite a bit of pain. I had to call my PS and ask for a new prescription for pain med's because nothing was helping. I am looking forward to taking a normal shower today. I cannot believe I went a whole week with only two sponge baths. I'm sorry but for me, that is just disgusting. Let's see...so my right breast still twice as swollen as the left, not sure why that is. The pressure in my chest is almost all the way gone and my heartburn I've had for almost 5 days sad subsided but still present from time to time. My chest seems to hurt more when I try to raise my voice or cough but I'm guessing that is normal.

I have a lot of tightness in the skin of my breasts, but with each day it seems to be getting less. Next Tuesday I go back for my second follow up appointment and I think get the stitches taken out. Oh, not sure if I am suppose to yet but this morning I took a nap on my side (where I almost always sleep) and it felt good to be able to do that again but now I am hurting pretty good and I think I may have pulled a stitch but not sure. Does anyone know how long I'm suppose to wait before sleeping on my side again?

I heard that walking is really good for the healing process. Something about blood flow I think. I think maybe later I might take a walk around my apartments and check the mail or something. I have only been out twice since the surgery.

Updated on 12 Oct 2011:
Okay so question...I ended up opening up probably about two stitches today picking up my daughter and then she jumped on me while I was sitting on the bed and now I am in a lot of pain. I called my PS when I pulled the stitch(es) and he just said it will be fine and gave me more pain med's...should I maybe call him back and tell him about my daughter landing on that same boob and about how much pain its in now?

On another note...when I showered earlier, I put my old bra up to my boob to see the difference and WOW is there a difference. Ill post a pic of it later.

Updated on 14 Oct 2011:
So today is another bad day. I am in so much pain. My boobs are so tender and I overall just feel like crap. I am starting to get a headache and pretty dizzy today which hasn't happened to me yet. I am having cold sweats a lot today also...not sure what they means. I feel like I may be running a fever also. I called my PS again and he just keeps telling me that it's all normal and he will see me Tuesday.

Updated on 16 Oct 2011:
Well it's been 10 days since my surgery. As of yesterday all was going well except the incision underneath the breast is hurting pretty bad. Nothing has helped to take the pain away or easy it any. If I lay on my back with the surgical bra off it seems to help but since I can't do that for very long I am stuck with the pain. I see my PS again on Tuesday to see how I am healing. Maybe he will have some ideas on what I can do. My breasts are still hyper-sensitive which is annoying and painful but I am hoping that goes away soon. Overall I would say I am healing well as far as I know. I start school back up tomorrow so I am hoping having all those clothes on isn't going to cause me anymore pain or discomfort; I guess we will see.

Updated on 17 Oct 2011:
Well tomorrow is my two week check up (two week mark isn't until Wednesday actually) but I will get to see my incisions for the first time. I got to see the underneath incision just a bit ago because the tape came off ( I think from showering). The wound still look fresh ( a bit concerning to me, not sure if they should look that way or not at two weeks). But I went and bough two bras today; even though I can't wear them still for a few more weeks. I am now a 38D!!!! It was so weird putting a bra that once only cover the nipple of my size 38DDDD/ 38F breasts, which now cover my whole boob. I am so excited about it but the change is defiantly something I am going to need some time to get use to. I am posting the pics of the two bras I bought. I got each of them for, get this, $2.00 each at Ross. I have NEVER in my life gotten a bra for under $50.00. I cannot wait to start wearing them in a few weeks!!!!

Updated on 18 Oct 2011:
Well I just got back from the drs. I am really starting not to like him very much; oh well though. Anyways, he took off all the tape and I finally got to see the wounds...umm yuck. I am posting pics right now of them. He told me to start using antibiotic ointment of them until I see him again in two weeks...the spot I ended up opening blistered. I literally feel like my boobs are on fire. They hurt soooo bad. I don't know if this is normal or not because he just says the same thing everything I bring something up, "It will go away in time." Excuse me but for me that is annoying, I would rather have a straight answer; oh well guess I will know in time.

Updated on 19 Oct 2011:
So today is the official two week mark. I was told by almost everyone (even people who have never had it done but knew friends who have) that at two week I would be feeling normal and back to daily life. ummm...did I do something wrong because I am in a lot of pain still. It hurts when I breathe. Feels like the wounds are going to pull open from the tightness in my chest. When I go to stand up or sit down I have to be extra careful because and sudden movements makes me want to cry. I still cannot stand up straight. Riding in the car is a nightmare. I have stopped taking all my pain meds because they aren't helping anymore. This pain just feels like an extremely deep cut (which it is). I am not sure how to explain it except to say it is painful to me. Hopefully week 3 will be better.

Updated on 21 Oct 2011:
Hey all! Today is 16 days post-op. I was hoping by now that I would feel much better and although I am feeling better than I have been, I am still in pain. My wounds are looking better and look like they are starting to scab over. I am putting antibiotic ointment on i multiple times a day due to the blister I had a week ago, it is now gone! I have been pretty much swollen as much as possible the last week and think maybe it is due to moving around a lot and being back at school.

Now that I am no longer on pain killers but am still swelling pretty bad, is there anything I can take over the counter to help with the discomfort? Ibuprofen, maybe some Tylenol? Over all my boobs are beginning to settle and look pretty nice! I am happy with them!

Updated on 26 Oct 2011:
So todayis 3 weeks (21 days) post op. I am finally feeling less pain. I am actually doing pretty well. I am still super sore but everyday it seems to be getting better. I am posting a couple new pics I took today. My boobs are different still and I think pretty noticeable but, as I was blow drying my hair for the first time since surgery today I was realizing, OMG I have no back pain or hip pain at all. And I was able to blow dry my whole head of hair with out having to take a break and without getting dizzy. So all in all, even if my boobs are not the same (which they still have a lot of settling to do) I am still very happy. One is settling faster than the other but I guess that is just how my body is healing!

Updated on 3 Nov 2011:
Well guys this is it, it has been one month today!! Just last week at this very time I was sitting here hurting and thinking I was never going to heal; but here I am feeling amazing as can be. My incisions underneath hurt every once in awhile but that is because I am wearing a normal bra now. It only gets irritated if I have been sweating all day so other wise everything is normal! My incisions are looking really good also. They are still pink and irritated looking and I have "bubbles" of skin in the ends of the incisions that have not begun to flatten yet but other than that they look wonderful. The scars are starting to get hard so I need to invest in some scar scream to help with that a bit. I still put antibiotic ointment in them twice a day tho and probably will for another few weeks just to make sure there is no infection that can arise. I am posting a couple of pics!

I have to say that at first I was a bit "ify" after the surgery for a couple of weeks but I am soo over that now. I absolutely LOVE my new boobs and how I feel. I walked around the mall the other day and could not believe that after 4 hours my back was not in any pain. My hips and my feet hurt like crazy but I didn't even stop to have a massage as I usually would. I feel so amazing and I think I look so much better than I did. I think this change in my life was what I needed to get motivate to be more healthy.

Updated on 5 Nov 2011:
So today is exactly one month to the day that I had surgery. Right about now I was begging for them to let me have some dinner because I was so damn hungry. I got it...the whole liquid meal.

As of now, it is pretty much like nothing happened. They are still swollen but not to bad. I am posting a few pics from today to show you all the progress. My scars still still pretty red but I go most of the time without a bra so that may have something to do with it. It doesn't hurt to wear a bra or anything, I just have never been able to go without one as you all are familiar with, so now I can so I do! I can sleep in any position and it does not hurt. It may get a little uncomfortable after a while but that is an easy fix. I stopped using the antibiotic ointment this week as well. I think I am out of the woods for any infections. I have not yet bought any scar fade scream but I am going to do so at the end of this coming week. Hopefully it will help with the redness too.

Updated on 14 Nov 2011:
Okay so I was laying in bed a bit ago and decided to run some cream on my boobs because they were kinda sore along the incisions. As I was feeling the vertical scar on my right side I noticed a large, hard lump that was out of place that I have never noticed before. It feels like a grape was placed under the skin. It is not painful but because I freak out easily, I'm freaking out. The other side feels completely normal. I know it's not a lump due to caffeine because I haven't had any caffeine since before surgery over 5 weeks ago. It's not due to my menstral cycle because I'm not close enough to the next start and I'm fr enough off the last one. (If that made any since). Anyways, I don't know what to do. I'm scared and worried. It feels a lot different from the cysts and fibroids I have post surgery in that same boob. I'm going to call my PS in the morning and see what he says. Any one have any ideas on what it could be?


So other than that, I feel great! Okay better than great! My overall health has improved dramatically and I can't tell you how good it feels to not be sick all the time. I can sleep in any position. I have not tried to run yet, still a bit scared. And I don't lift anything I feel would strain my chest muscles yet. I will post a pic at 6 weeks!

Updated on 18 Nov 2011:
So it's been a little over 6 weeks. Today, as I was getting ready to take a shower, I looked and noticed some scabing with white dots inside (kinda looked like a pimple). I scratched at it and one of the scans came off and puss started coming out....there are two spots like that on the right side and one of the left. They are on the verticle scars. I think it may be an infection...drs appointment on Monday so we will see.

Updated on 7 Dec 2011:
So today has been 2 months and 2 days since surgery. Everything is perfect! I still do not have feeling in my nipples but I don't really care. The scars underneath are still sore from time to time but all in all everything is wonderful. I've only experienced that weird shock like tingle in the boobs once. I can run, jump do anything I want like I never had surgery. If I strain to much they may swell a bit but no pain. It feels so good to not have all the pressure on my back anymore. I can express how much better this surgery has made my life. I am now a 38D and perfect! Posting pics from today!

Updated on 7 Jan 2012:
Sorry it's been awhile guys. As of yesterday it has been 3 months post-surgery. I am doing great. They are still sore but not that bad. I started getting the sharp jolts more often but haven't had then the last week. They are still swollen the majority of the time but I am sure that will go away over time. The scars are still very visible but it doesn't bother me one bit. My back is a million times better. I can run but I have to strap them down tightly or it hurts. My kids seem to on a daily bases jump on them so they have been going through quite a bit of trauma. lol Posting pics right now as well.

Updated on 18 Apr 2012:
Well, It has now been 6 1/2 months since my surgery. Everything is going great. I am able to do all normal activity. My left nipple still gets the shooting pains every once in a while and a tiny bit of sensation can be felt. My right nipple is just now starting to get the shooting pains (which hurts more than the other side does) but no sensation as of yet for that one. My right boob is also quite a bit bigger than the left one but it is probably due to all the caffeine i have been drinking lately and my hormonal fluctuations because normally they are pretty even.

My next drs appointment isnt until August which is nice. I feel so much better. My scars are still very much there but i dont care in the least bit. I can breath, i dont have headaches and my upper back and shoulders dont hurt. It is amazing how much better i feel. Sometimes it is weird to think that i ever had boobs as large as i did.

This review is the subjective opinion of a RealSelf member and not of RealSelf, Inc.

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My Doctor: James T Lin

My rating:

The Dr. was a quick talker. He answered everything really quickly and almost in a monotone voice like he was tired of repeating the same things over and over. He did however, answer any questions I had. He was never hard to get a hold of. He always shook your hand when you walked in or out of his office and always had a smile. He made sure I knew what was happening before the procedure. He told me at the consult that I should know if my insurance would approve within two weeks and exactly two weeks (on my 22nd birthday) his office called to tell me I was approved. Surgery was then scheduled for a few days after school ended. At the follow up appointment he really doesn't take the time to ask any questions or really allow me to ask any questions. He came right in told me to take off the bra and lay down so he could pull out the drains, took a look at the new boobs with me standing, made a few comments and said "see you next week same time" and walked out. I was a little irritated because I had a few questions so I just addressed them to the receptionist and she told me the answers.

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Comments (70)

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Dakaroise 9 Oct 2011
Hi Mrs Laster , i lived in Sacramento for 10 years i graduated from Sac High and Sac State! good to see that you are feeling better, i have been peeking under my bandages as well and i have to say yours look really nice i feel that my nipples are too high! good luck with the rest! keep us updated!!
MrsLaster2007 9 Oct 2011
I absolutely love Sac. I am a city girl coming from a small town and I couldn't be happier here. I am studying Business at Heald College and was planning on starting a Photography Business once I was done but now I am not sure. I know I am so anxious to see what they look like when the bandages come off on Tuesday. When did you have your surgery?
Dakaroise 9 Oct 2011
On the 5th of october!! and i will also get to see the babies on Tuesday! i am soooo anxious though and i am more concerned about the healing that i did the surgery! meanwhile i will just try to keep my sanity till Tuesday!!
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 9 Oct 2011

Welcome to RealSelf!

It looks like you are doing really well!   You are going to feel all sorts of strange twinges and pains for a while.  They do settle down but take a while.

Be patient with the size factor.  You will have swelling for up to 12 weeks so it's pretty hard to tell right now.  Plus with all of the bandages and fluid it's deceiving.  

You are going to feel so much better once the drains are out and you are able to shower again.  Keep us up to date on how your appointment goes.  

new life change 11 Oct 2011
How long did u have the drains in? I had them on 17 hours and they were the worst 17 hours of my life lol... though it hurt to have them pulled out I was way way relieved! With them in I felt like I couldn't move my arms cuz they were in my sides... now I'm feeling better but the itch kills and the pain pills don't help with that lol... how are you doing these days. I'm ready to see a full view of your progress... how long has it been since you've had the surgery? Do u have that tight feeling still or did u at all... I feel like if I were to stand straight up id rip something... do u have stitches on the outside? I have this glue stiff instead of stitches and I'm wondering how long it'll stay put... this coming Thursday will be a week for me... have u past that mark yet? Anything I should look forward to?
MrsLaster2007 11 Oct 2011
Tomorrow will be exactly one week for me. I had the drains in up until today. 7 days of hell if you ask me. Whwn he pulled them out, I could have slapped him it hurt so bad. I am so glad to have them out. Now that all the bandages are off and I only have the support bra, I'm afraid to stand up straight. Lol I feel like I'm going to hurt myself or something. The tightness has gone down but not away yet. I mostly have ridiculous heartburn the last three days too. I am mostly sore today, the only pain I have is where the drains where at. The whole is a pretty good size I might add. I posted the new pics of how they look as of today! I now have an appointment every week for the next 3 weeks to begin taking stitches out and what not! For itching I recommend you ask your PS about giving you Benadryl, it's worked wonderful for me so far!
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 11 Oct 2011

Thye look beautiful!  Once the swelling goes down and they drop a bit you will feel the difference.  

new life change 11 Oct 2011
Yes they do look kinda big... but you wanted a d... I think they look like a d... they look very nice! And are shaped well... not flat. I bet u r loving ur results. Congrats they look great!
MrsLaster2007 11 Oct 2011
I am. I feel really good about the results actually. I was really scared at first and wasn't sure but now that I have been looking at them a bit more I am really starting to get use to them and really like them. I just can't wait to be able to go buy a new bra in 3 weeks!!! Thank you for your feed back! I will post more next week when the stitches and tape comes off! New Life Change- do you have any more recent ones or are the ones up the most recent?
AbbyNormal 11 Oct 2011
Hi and thanks for your comment. I see an ever so slight difference but I probably wouldn't have noticed it if you didn't point it out. Your doc did a fantastic job, kudos to him since he hasn't done many. Looks like a full C to me which is plenty. I'm still an overflowing C or small D where before I was a large D. I showed pictures and brought in a bra to make it clear that my goal was a small B. I guess he just pretended to understand and agree. He hardly took out any tissue. I'm just looking forward to getting this fixed. November 18 will be one year and I'll hopefully find a dr by then so I can move forward with this. Congratulations to you. The discomfort is temporary, keep your eye on the prize.
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 13 Oct 2011

Just keep a close eye on the breast and if it changes let the doctor know.  

MrsLaster2007 13 Oct 2011
Well so far I have puled yet another stitch. This time the bleeding a a bit more. The pain however is increasing and so is the shortness of breath. I feel like I took 3 steps forward and 10 steps back. It has now become where I did not even sleep last night until 6 AM because I could not get comfortable enough. Every position I tried to get into still made my boobs hurt. Is this normal? Shouldn't I be pretty much pain free by now. I mean I know there will a lot of tenderness for a few weeks still, but as for actual pain, I thought that would go away after the first week? Maybe I am just to pain sensitive I don't know. If anyone has any suggestions I would much appreciate it.
ckmia 14 Oct 2011
MrsLaster2007, any news? I hope you called or went to see the doctor. If you feel what is happening to you isn't normal you should by all means go see the doctor. Please update when you can.
AbbyNormal 14 Oct 2011
Not to alarm you but it sounds a little like you may have an infection especially i your stitches opened up. If you're not taking antibiotics you probably need to.
MrsLaster2007 14 Oct 2011
The stitches did open but the strips of tape are still on there so i dont see how it could have gotten infected but i guess its not impossible.
CrownofHisGlory 17 Oct 2011
Hi MrsLater! I hope your appointment went well. What did your PS say about your incision pain? I have a 19 month old son. He is very rough and tumble. My hubby is taking off after my surgery, but I know my little one will not take kindly to being separated from his mommy. When did you PS say you can pick your daughter up?
MrsLaster2007 17 Oct 2011
No I was told that I could not pick up anything over 5lbs for at least 4 weeks. I will see my PS for my two weeks check up ( actually two week mark isn't until Wednesday) and I will know more then. I will update tomorrow after I talk to him and see what he says. I got to see my incisions today because my tape came off underneath probably from getting so wet from the showering. My wounds don't really look like they are healing very well but I really don't know what they are suppose to look like at 2 weeks. I see that I don't have stitched though which is weird to me. Some of my skin came off with the tape also which creeped me out.
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 18 Oct 2011

I love those bras!!  Very pretty and you are going to have so much fun buying even more in the future.

CrownofHisGlory 18 Oct 2011
Looking good!!! A two dollar bra is still the stuff of fantasies over here. ;o)
MrsLaster2007 18 Oct 2011
I am very excited. I keep looking at the bras and looking at my calendar wondering when the day is that I am going to be able to wear them and go buy more. From the look of my wounds today...seems like that may be quite a ways away still.
CrownofHisGlory 18 Oct 2011
I am so sorry that your doctor is being jerky. I hope you feel better soon. However, I don't think your incisions look bad at all. I know it's going to take time, but I think they look damn good now! Was it really painful when your doctor took the drains out?
MrsLaster2007 18 Oct 2011
Honestly thinking about it, the drain being taken out hurt a lot LESS than him ripping off the tape. I seriously thought that my nipple was going to be pulled off with the tape. In no way was he easy or gentle. I think the drains hurt mostly because the hole was super raw. Thank you for saying they look good though. I think so too even though they scare me.
AbbyNormal 18 Oct 2011
Looks great. It will look less frankenstein-ish as it heals. A lot less. Give it time. My tape was never taken off. I was told to let them come off on their own and eventually in the shower they did. Dr's bedside manners really suck, pisses me off. Looking really good tho.
MrsLaster2007 18 Oct 2011
Thank you! Yea the ones underneath came off in the shower last night but today at my appointment my PS pulled the others off. I seriously wanted to slap him. I am trying to give it time but I am not patient when I am excited. LOL
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 18 Oct 2011

Now that the tape is off they should start to heal up quickly.  Getting the air to them is very helpful.

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