Breast Reduction: Stories

Hey ladies,

This is my first post on here and thought seems as my surgery is only a few days away I would share my story and let you all know how I get on!

A bit of background info - I'm from the UK, 23 years old and currently a 32FF hoping to get down to a C (surgeon said it may end up a small D which i'm fine with). I've wanted a reduction for as long as I can remember and I have NEVER been happy with my boobs so this has been a long time coming! Its not even the size thats the main problem, its the fact that they are so saggy for my age and both look completely differet to one another! I do a lot of running and own a horse, so lots of horse riding too and they are just such a burden I hate them!!

Obviouly here in the UK you have to pay for cosmetic surgery and I knew I would never qualifiy to get one done under the NHS (plus I didnt want to be put on a 3 year waiting list) so money has always been a problem and has stopped me from doing anything about it. Last year I decided enough was enough and if i was ever going to be happy and confident I needed it doing, so I got a loan from the bank and started going to consultations... now here I am 2 days away from the op!!

I have never been in hospital before, let alone had surgery, so nervous is an understatement! I think the worst injury I have ever had was a swollen knee which needed crutches when I had a fall from my horse a few years ago! Luckily as I have paid for this surgery I am in a private hospital which sounds more like a hotel (own room, en suite bathroom, visitors whenever i want etc) so that has made me feel more at ease. My 2 best friends have also taken the day off to be there all day which has made me feel tons better!

I have no idea what to expect pain wise, as I have never had surgery I dont know what my body will be like healing and have no idea what my pain threshold will be like! I am a terrible worrier though so I know for a fact that having wounds and stitches is going to freak me the hell out and the slightest twinge or pain is going to make me think i've got an infection! If anyone could tell me what type of pain they experienced and how managable it was that would be great! Oh and I'm taking Arnica at the moment as have heard this is good for swelling and bruising, has anyone had any experience of this? Also I ad read quite a bit on here about wound separation, is this common for a reduction? That scares me!

Another thing I am dreading is having to sleep on my back for so long as I am usually a tummy and side sleeper, I think thats going to be one of the hardest things! how long until everyone could sleep on their side? I have got lots of pillows though and have just invested in a V shaped one which I has been reccomended. I've taken 2 weeks off workv whch i'm hoping will be enough (I have a desk job so no manual labour) how long did everyone else take off?

I think I'm about as prepared as ill ever be to be honest... just the whole thought of the anaesthetic is scaring me though, I know it sounds stupid but because im such a light sleeper and the slightest thing will wake me normally I have this horrible feeling that the anaesthetic is just not going to work properly on me and that i'll wake up during surgery or be aware of whats going on?! The anaethetist is meant to be ringing me tomorrow though to answer any questions I have so I will go over all my concerns with him!

Well I think thats it for my first post but will try to check in again before my surgery, if not I'll see you all on the other side with (hopefully) nice small, perky boobies and no complications!! Eeeeekkkk!!

2/2/13 - Just posted to the comments section below by accident, check it out! x

3/3/13 - well I'm on day 2 post op and not much to report, feeling pretty miserable and fed up today! Time has stood still, I'm constipated beyond belief so feeling nauseous, if I want my pain killers I have to eat but due to being so clogged up the thought makes me feel sick so haven't eaten since breakfast! Also sick of sleeping on my back and am sooo stiff! Did anyone else feel like this? I also came home from the hospital this morning so at least I'm now in my own bed, the journey wasn't too great so I'm glad I only live 15 mins away from the hospital! I'm not due back there till Friday when the nurses will change my dressings so until then I can't see anything, kind of glad really as can see the bruisings come out and there is some blood underneath the dressings on my nipples, I guess all this is normal though? I'm such a worrier in freaking out at the slightest twinge and am positive there is more blood than there was!

Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day, the way I'm feeling now I can't imagine I'm going to feel normal for months :( I only booked 2 weeks off work and feel like there's no way ill be back to normal in 2 weeks!

Also should I be getting up much and walking around? My mum is telling me I need to but all I want to do is sleep and rest, where do you find the balance of both? Getting up makes me feel sick as well!

Sorry for the negative post today girls I just needed to get it out of my system, hopefully will be feeling more positive tomorrow! X

Update post op day 3, what a difference a day makes! Actually slept really well last night and more a less straight through apart from waking up to take my pain killers! Also finally found a comfy position to lye in, got about 4 pillows behind me so I'm slightly reclined and have my V shaped pillow under my legs near my bum so I can lean into that, has helped loads! Pain is minimal (though I have only just woke up) but going to carry on with my painkillers as depending on how the day goes I'm thinking of sitting in the bath to freshen up. Overall I feel much more positive this morning and hope I continue feeling better! Just slightly worried that my dressings aren't getting changed till Friday, seems strange that there being left that long, how will I know if something's gone wrong under there?! Wish I could have a nurse come check on me everyday! Haha my boobs so feel softer today though and a bit more squishy which I guess is a good sign! Will update again later!

well its post op day 5 and actually feeling ok! Bored out my mind already which i guess is a good sign! Pain is very minimal and im only taking paracetamol now as the stronger pankillers were making me woozy, I stopped taking those yesterday morning and definitely feel more awake! The only major problem im having now is having to sleep on my back, I kept waking up last night so irritated that I couldn't turn over! When was everyone able to go on their side? Dreading tonights sleep as I know im gonna feel the same!

Im getting out of bed a lot more now and going to attempt to wash my hair today (with my mums help of course) and going to try to go over to my dads for tea, I think an hour or two out the house is going to do me good!

Got my appointment at the dressings clinic on Friday to get my dressings changed, I'm really nervous to see what they look like underneath as havent seen whats going on under their and hope I dont freak out when i see them! My bruises are now yellow so I guess that means healing! Cant see my nipples or any of the incisions so im hoping there going to look like what im imagining in my head (tiny little lines that have healed nicely) rather than big ugly horrible scars that are getting infected or something! My mind seriously runs away with me sometimes!

I need to put some pictures up really but havent go any before pics yet, im going to have to ring my PS and get him to send me his so I have something to compare them too then will get them up!

Will report back soon!

Well it's a week today since my surgery, can't believe how quick its gone! This time last week I was just coming round from the anaesthetic in the recovery room! Just got back from my appointment at the dressings clinic, they took my dressings off and said I didn't need then anymore and that I could start wearing my sports bra and just stuff it with gauze for support! They did put some more steri strips on though as she said they did need it for another week or so! All in all I'm happy with how they look, thought they would look a lot more 'butchered' than they do after only a week! You can't even see the cut around the nipple and the other incisions I know will disappear over time!

My only worry is that they do look different and it seems the nipples aren't quite even! Now I know I have swelling and stuff so it makes it hard to tell what they will look like bit I've got a feeling that after the swelling goes and they drop that they are going to look different! They were very uneven in the first place though so he did say they may not end up exactly symmetrical, guess that's just something I'm going to have to live with and I guess it's a lot better than they were before! I'm going to try and add some pictures now so would love all your opinions and thoughts! Unfortunately I don't have any before pictures ( couldn't bare to take them at the time and forgot in the lead up to the surgery) so only have the post op pics but you can see the progress! Would love to hear what you all think! Will update again soon!

Well I went out properly for the first time today, went shopping for a few hours with my mum. Felt absolutely fine but knackered now, kind of glad though as im not sleeping well at all at the moment due to having to stay on my back so hopefully ill sleep better tonight! I now have my genie bra on with gauze to pad over my incisions and nipples, just had a little check of them and the is a tiny spot of blood on the gauze from one of my nipples where it has obviously bled at some point today, should i be worried about this? I dont have steri strips around my actual nipples and this is where its bled so I worry theres nothing holding the nipple to my skin so to speak! Im such a worrier Im getting these horrible images my nipples going to fall off!

Just had another look at the girls, I still think there too saggy :( don't get me wrong their a hell of a lot better but I also expected them to be a lot more perkier! I think the nipples are too low! Especially when the swelling goes down and they drop even more there gonna be really low :( or when the drop do they fill out a bit more underneath? I guess it's too early to tell but I wish I had been more clearer in saying 'I want the am perky as can be!!' have added another pic so let me know what you think!

Just had my 2 week follow up appointment with my PS and all dressings are now off! He said I am healing absolutely fine and can basically go back to normal now! Can't believe how good the scars look they are barely noticeable! He's done a fantastic job! I've also been given the go ahead to get back to normal, he basically said its down to me now and comfort, I can do things when it doesn't hurt to do them basically! So that means I can get back to sleeping on my side when I feel I'm able to, woohoo!

Still obviously swelled and briised but he said im exactly where i should be for the 2 week mark and he said I should go a little smaller than I am now but I'm seeing him again in 2 months and I should be at the right size then and be how I should look forever! Have added some pictures for you all to look at! Just hope as my swelling goes then even out a little and look more similar! One is a lot more swelled than the other as more was taken out so I hope they will!

Also feel so bare now all my dressings are gone! They were like my comfort blanket! Haha think I'm still going to use my nipple pads in the day though purely because my nipples are so sensitive so need a bit more padding!

Well I'm now day 18 post op and doing well! Hardly any pain and went back to work yesterday! I'm obviously sore and tired towards the end of the day but nowhere near as bad as I expected! Have posted some pictures for you all to see, healing seems to be going really well apart from they are looking very different from each other which I'm a little worried about! I hope it's just that ones healing quicker than the other as it looks as if the left has dropped more than the right and it feels like the right is still a little more swelled! What do you guys think? I hope they do even out!!

Well it was 3 weeks yesterday since my op, cannot believe how fast its gone! Was my first week back at work this week and went absolutely fine! I only sit at a desk anyway so knew it wouldn't be too bad, zero pain and only some tiredness (what you'd expect after 2 weeks of doing absolutely nothing!)

Healing is going really well, incisions are pretty much healed now apart from a few little scabs, their well on their way to disappearing though and are getting smaller by the day! My boobs are also starting to soften and take shape, just hope they don't drop too much more as want them to stay nice and perky! Still a little concerned that my nipples are a little too low, but I suppose there a hell of a lot better than they were! Trying not to judge until at least 3 months but its soooo hard! Also they still do look a little different, I'm praying that its just because of swelling as a bit more was taken out of one so I'm hoping it is just a little behind on the healing process (it would make sense as that is also the one that there is more bruising and scabs) I'm pretty sure they won't be completely identical when its all over but if they just get a little more alike ill be happy! They were so different in the first place I'm sure he's done the best he could with the boobs he had! I think it's still a little bigger as well even though more was taken out, but again I'm hoping that's just down to swelling!

Also finding myself really lacking motivation to diet and eat well, I thought I'd be the opposite since I can't go to the gym or run but I'm just finding myself stuffing my face all the time!! As soon as I can exercise again that's it, I want to loose at least a stone! Hope that will also make the girls a little smaller and I can drop another cup size! That's going to be my motivation!

I've been wearing my genie bras up until now as there so comfy but I know I'm going to need more support and compression now I'm more active so have bought some sports bras that I'm going to start wearing today. I'm usually a 32 back size but bought a 36 as still feel swelled and think a tight band will irritate the hell out of me now! Also fitted perfectly into a D cup :D which is strange as I'm measuring as an E when I get the tape measure out! Oh well! Now my incisions are pretty much healed I know I'll feel more comfortable with a 'tougher' band.

Also i can now pretty much sleep on my side again and have been tentatively for the past 5 or 6 days! Woohoo! Haven't gone onto stomach yet as know that's too soon, but I don't care as long as I'm comfy on my side I'm happy! Getting a good nights sleep makes such the difference!

Anyway will update with pictures again soon! All in all healing has been a breeze and much easier than I thought! Prepare to be emotional though! Haha

Well it was 4 weeks since my surgery this Friday just gone, how it's flown by! Not much to report really, pretty much feel back to normal now and as if I've never had an op! Very very minimal pain, only really feel a pain if I do something too quick or roll over onto my side too fast in bed! The only way I can tell now is my nipples are super sensitive and often tingle if something is rubbing on them, very annoying but I'm getting used to it! Just glad to still have feeling so its only a good thing!

As for my scars, they are healing well, I think they must get worse before they get better as they are very red, almost purple but have been massaging cocoa butter into them morning and night religiously so hopefully they will start to fade soon! Had a little problem with what I thought was a scab all along has turned out to be a stitch but popped to the hospital this morning and the nurses just snipped it and said it will dissolve on its own, they seemed perfectly happy with how things are going!

I've also started power walking as dying to get back to some form of exercise, also think I'm going to ride my horse next weekend as just absolutely dying to ride and walking along side my friend riding is just not good enough! If I stick in walk so I'm not bouncing around I think I'll be absolutely fine! I trust my horse completely and know he will look after me!

Have added some pictures anyway so you can see the progress, I still think my right is a little behind in healing and think I've still got a bit more swelling on the side but we are getting there! What do you all think?

Well it was 5 weeks on Friday since my surgery, not much to report really, not in any pain at all anymore and feel back to normal! I rode my horse for the first time this weekend, that went well and he was very good and looked after me! I wore 2 bras just for extra support and stayed in walk, was lovely to get out and about in the countryside with him again :)

I actually feel like my boobs are getting bigger though, did anyone else feel like this? The pictures I've took makes them look huge and I still feel like their saggy and my nipples are too low! I'm hoping that its just the fact that I've rode this weekend and been really active so I have swelled, I don't feel sore or hard though so I'm not sure? I'm paranoid to even take my bra off as feel like they are just sagging!! I'm kicking myself for not stressing enough that I wanted to be really perky, I wish of mentioned it again when my PS was marking me up but due to nerves etc I didn't even think!

Sorry for the low post I'm just not feeling good about my results at the moment, I know they are a hell of a lot better than they were but to still not be happy after I've spent all this money is getting me down... I don't know, maybe ill never be happy and its more psychological!!

Well it was 5 weeks on Friday since my surgery, not much to report really, not in any pain at all anymore and feel back to normal! I rode my horse for the first time this weekend, that went well and he was very good and looked after me! I wore 2 bras just for extra support and stayed in walk, was lovely to get out and about in the countryside with him again :)

I actually feel like my boobs are getting bigger though, did anyone else feel like this? The pictures I've took makes them look huge and I still feel like their saggy and my nipples are too low! I'm hoping that its just the fact that I've rode this weekend and been really active so I have swelled, I don't feel sore or hard though so I'm not sure? I'm paranoid to even take my bra off as feel like they are just sagging!! I'm kicking myself for not stressing enough that I wanted to be really perky, I wish of mentioned it again when my PS was marking me up but due to nerves etc I didn't even think!

Sorry for the low post I'm just not feeling good about my results at the moment, I know they are a hell of a lot better than they were but to still not be happy after I've spent all this money is getting me down... I don't know, maybe ill never be happy and its more psychological!!

Just noticed all my pictures have been removed in between week 1 and the most recent ones I put up yesterday, gggrrrr how annoying! Have added them again so you can see the changes...

Quick update, 6 weeks today since my op and not much to report really, think my swellings gone down a little more as they look better in the picture than they did week 5 and my mum commented this morning that I looked smaller! Woohoo! Ordered a post op bra in a size 34 dd and it was too small as well! Made up! I think I could even be a C in it as it was gaping! See my pics anyway for progress

Finally plucked up the courage to add a before photo, have done it as a comparison to week 6 and as you can see there is a MASSIVE difference! It makes me sick when I look at my before picture! I really did look deformed!!