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POSTED UNDER Breast Reduction REVIEWS

(Update: Surgery has been COMPLETED) Surgery in 8 Days - Suffolk, United Kingdom

ORIGINAL POST

Hello all! I've been reading all the reviews...

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AppleWooApril 20, 2012
WORTH IT

Hello all! I've been reading all the reviews and stories and I just had to join! It's so encouraging and informative to have you ladies post here and share your journeys. I am a 28 year old mother of three girls. I have had big breast since I got my period in middle school, and by my senior year in highschool I was 118 and a 36 D. That increased to a 38 E/F over the course of 8 years, after Depo, three pregnancies, and almost 75lbs weight gain! Also came the back aches, headaches, neck pain, intercostal pain, and so on...the usual. I have been on my reduction journey for three years now, I got pregnant in Dec 2009, so it went out the window! I am an AF veteran (non retired of course) turned Air Force wife, so I am covered under Tricare Prime and medically qualified for a BR. I am currently 187lbs and I work out as aften as I can, from brisk walks to running/alternate walking at the gym. So I plan to continue to drop weight. My PS is Dr. Charles Malata and he is one of Britains leading PS. The hospital here on base referred me to his office. I had my consultation on the 3rd of April, and he pretty much pre-op'd me then...lol. He plans to take out 500 or a little more from each breast and I'll stay 2-3 days before I am released and the reigns are turned over to my husband ;) I am very excited and will take all the advice, encouragement, warnings, concerns, anything you have to offer! Thanks so much ladies and I'm glad to become part of the family here. Also, I am willing to take photos for a picture journey companion, anyone wanna give me the quick way to post pics? May God bless each and everyone of you, swift recoveries and safe surgeries to all who are taking the big step soon as well! Blessings!

AppleWoo's provider

Charles Malata, LRCP, MRCS

Charles Malata, LRCP, MRCS

Physician

AppleWoo

AppleWoo rating for Dr. Malata:

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Answered my questions
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UPDATED FROM AppleWoo
8 days pre

Hello Ladies, I hope everyone is well! I am...

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AppleWooApril 20, 2012
Hello Ladies, I hope everyone is well! I am attempting to add a few before photos to be able to compare with after photos later. They are different poses to show my breast size currently, my body type, and such. Thanks for all you ladies do.

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UPDATED FROM AppleWoo
8 days pre

Hey Ladies, I did it!!! Bless the Lord...lol...I...

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AppleWooApril 20, 2012
Hey Ladies, I did it!!! Bless the Lord...lol...I updated my before photos, with my husband's permission. You all just don't know how much your pics have helped me! I'd like to help others as well by posting all aspects of my journey. Seven days to go, and I am beyond excited! Ok, so the trick for the photos, in case anyone else runs into trouble: I switched browsers from Firefox to IExplorer, they uploaded fairly quickly after that change! You guys be blessed! I am also losing weight, so I guess you'll get to see that progress as well!

Replies (15)

Iowa71
April 21, 2012

Welcome, Apple! This really is a great site. It offered me so much support while I was waiting for surgery and during recovery.

The best way that I've found to upload pictures is to save the pictures to your computer. Then update your review and go down to the add pictures portion and browse for your photo. I don't know that you can do it from a tablet though. From what I've gathered it has to be an actual computer.

This week will go so quickly! Good luck and keep us updated!

 
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AppleWoo
April 21, 2012
For whatever reason, I'm getting an error saying that the file can't be read, and I've tried converting it...
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AppleWoo
April 21, 2012
Thank you for the warm welcome! I have found so much info from this site, and the encouragement is beyond amazing! The days have flown by since my first appt for a referral to my PS, I'm already in the seven day count down! I'm a little nervous, but mostly excited! I appreciate the support Iowa!
Iowa71
April 21, 2012

What system are you using?
Iowa71
April 21, 2012

Hey! I see the pictures! Thanks for sharing them. After you give yourself time to heal and are able to move around normally you are going to be amazed at how much better you feel. I had never worked out in my life until after this and now I'm on the treadmill and doing pilates just because it is so much easier to move! You are going to love the new you! I started as a 34H and had just under 500gm removed from each side and now I'm a 34DD.
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AppleWoo
April 21, 2012
Woah, goodness, I was a G right at the end of my pregnancy and when I first started nursing, then they went down gradually and I'm back to where I was after my first daughter! I can't imagine being that size ALL the time! Oh bless!
Majenta123
April 21, 2012
Hello AppleWoo.

What size are you now?Are you using health insurance insurance?

Good luck!
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AppleWoo
April 21, 2012
Hi Majenta! I am a 38 DDD/E/F depending on bra! I am a dependent of a USAF Active Duty member, so I'm covered under TriCare Prime Overseas. I still had to obtain a referral and I had to get authorization for the surgery to be covered, and be 100% coverage if medically necessary to have the rice sure done. Here they refer you off base or the in house PS, right now in our hospital we don't have one, so we are sent to a Private hospital and provider PS, if you know anything about British health care, a private hospital is usually paid for out of pocket or covered under a more expensive insurance company. My Consultant PS (doctor) is a very well known PS and is also a reconstructive surgeon, one of the best. So TriCare put me into good hands. Also he is a TriCare Accepting PS, unlike most of you, sometimes we have no choice who our PS is, and it's a good thing that they chose one of the best. That's a huge blessing, this whole ordeal is a huge blessing!!!
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AppleWoo
April 21, 2012
Haha auto correct! Not "rice sure" but procedure*... I can truly say that God has looked out for me in this situation!
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Jacqui in Canada
April 22, 2012
Hi AppleWoo,
I had my BR done on April 2nd - went from 36DDD to a 36C. I was so scared and put the surgery off for years, now I wish I had not waited so long. It really was not as bad as I thought it would be. I really had no pain in the recovery room, just stinging. Had the surgery at 11:30 in the morning and was home in my own bed by 5 pm. Was quite sore when I tried to move, cough, sneeze for a couple of days, but only took Advil for pain. I am now almost 3 weeks post op and starting to feel really good. I wish you luck on your day and will be following your progress on here!
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AppleWoo
April 22, 2012
Thank you Jacqui! I'm praying that the surgery and recovery go smoothly! I've seen where a lot of women on here weren't in too much pain and some whose wounds healed quite nice, I know the same can be done for me, I'm very hopeful!
Majenta123
April 22, 2012
Great! I hope he gets you down to your ideal size. I wasn't so lucky. Still to see my PS and address my concerns. Hope he is open to do a revision for me.
Pain is not too bad. Maybe cause I imagined the worst :). I think it's just being uncomfortable for the first few days. I was off painkillers on day 3 and was walking about even if I was a bit slow on movement. All the best!
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AppleWoo
April 22, 2012
Majenta, I really hope that you can get the results that you want. I did see some info on different sites that say that swelling could last up to a year post op! I'd give it some time, but I WOULD talk to your PS about it! Where did you go, and are you actually located in London? I'm on the other side of Cambridge! I am being seen and treated in Cambridge by Spire Healthcare, in their Cambrideg hospital.
Majenta123
April 22, 2012
Yeah, swelling and nipple sensation, but there should be size difference. I had it done with MYA in central London.There are a few Spire Hospitals in the East Anglia. I would have had it in one of the it I was still staying that side. I really can't wait to see him.
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