Love the 'Perks'! : ) - United Kingdom, GB
First I would like to say that Real Self has...
First I would like to say that Real Self has helped me so much! You are all amazing people who I thank for sharing your personal experiences with others who hope to have breast reduction surgery!
Since about the age of 15 I've been self conscious about my boobies. I barely looked at them myself so developed an intense anxiety when I thought of showing them to a guy. Throughout my teens and twenties I would miss out on life all because of these monkeys strapped to my chest! I can joke about it but believe me when I spend a couple of minutes thinking about how having big droppy breasts has had an effect on my confidence I get immensely blue about it. I have dreamt about wearing normal bras, normal clothes, feeling normal. No neck pain, rashes and strap marks would be a great start!
I was on the NHS waiting list a few years ago after being referred by my GP. However before they performed surgery I was told that I would have to have a BMI of 25. Basically this meant that I had to lose about 3 stone. You can imagine how the strict criteria helped me feel super great about myself! Then the service stopped funding breast reduction apart from in extreme circumstances. My only other option was to go private and pay for the surgery myself. Not easy to find the money down the back of the sofa!
Anywaaaaaayyyy several years later here I am, 31 until January, carless to fund my surgery and have finally booked my date for the 8th October 2012! I have researched so many pictures and info that I'm surprised that the boob police haven't investigated yet! : )
My biggest fears I guess are infections, comedy scars and/or that my surgeon has a huge sneezing fit in the middle of the op and ties these bad girls into a knot! Seriously though what human being goes into elective surgery without one little fear? Remember though that this isn't something we feel like doing just for a laugh! We're all so different and have chosen to do this for different reasons. Some of you have had children (I haven't yet), some wish to have more comfort, some see a breast reduction as a functional thing, some for cosmetic reasons. Me, personally I'm doing it for all the above......
I could ramble on about my boob story for such a long time that they could go out of fashion. I am nervous about the surgery. I'll probably be a blubbering wreck the night before and will need to be clonked across the head with a saucepan on the actual morning, but I'm gonna keep reading on here and thank all the stars in the sky that I am not alone in this. Thanks guys. xxxx
Replies (6)
Welcome, Cariad! You've come to the right place :-D This is a great place to worry, vent, joke, and find the support to help you get through this next month. I can't imagine what it would have been like had I not found this site. It really is wonderful to not feel so alone. And to have others to talk all things boobs (without people looking at you like you are a freak of nature!) Good luck and keep us updated on how you are doing!
Well this is really bizarre I am having some crazy...
I'm waiting for the hospital to send me the info about the op, invoice and everything so anxious about all that. It's been over a week since they verbally gave me a date for the 8th of October but I won't be settled with it in my head until it's all in writing and paid for. This seems to be bothering me more at the moment. I suppose after wanting it for so long and being so close I don't want any hiccups. I've arranged time off from work and don't want to mess them around either. Pleeeuuurggghh my belly is constantly doing somersaults at the moment and every other little stress in life seems to be amplified. Anxiety does weird things to ya!!
Hope everyone on here is well. Take care guys.
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Well today I've been feeling a little blue. I...
It's been a couple of weeks since the hospital gave me a date for my op and I haven't received any written documentation regards payment, pre op or anything so I phoned them to check on things. Everything is fine it's just that they have had a lot of admissions and as I have never been in hospital before I guess I'm just anxious about the whole thing. It's a lot of money but I have wanted to do this for years but the odd doubt creeps up into my head. Things like what if my boobs fall off after the op? (don't worry, that's a joke....I don't actually think this). My biggest fear at the mo is an infection. Everyone must feel this surely. No one is forcing me to do this but myself. I feel as if I have to. It's almost like my whole life has been on hold for this one event in life. Crazy. How can someone allow their body to influence their life and self esteem so much?. I promise I'm not just doing this for attention! The opposite actually. I haven't gone swimming in years. It would be nice to go in a bathing suit without fear of another swimmer thinking that some puffer fish have escaped from my costume!
I'll let ya know when I know more. I'm gonna need to be sedated like a loopy gorilla thats escaped from a zoo before long. My nerves are shot and it's making my bum go funny! hehe
xxxx
Replies (4)
Nerves are so totally normal. Just remember why you are doing this. I could have easily been talked out of the surgery so many times, but I am so glad I didn't. It has made things so much easier for me. I am more confident. I walked around a water park with my kids this summer and didn't feel like a circus freak. I actually felt quite proud that I was a 40+ broad and looked so smokin' hot (OK, I probably wasn't THAT hot, but I sure felt like it!) And not once did a breast threaten to burst its restraints and attack the public!
Infection was my biggest fear too. Here is what I did. Two weeks prior to surgery I started using Antibacterial Safegard Body Soap with every shower. I continued to use it until I was about 6 months post-op(yes, I probably could have stopped using it a bit sooner, but I tend to be a little dramatic) Also, do not keep your dressing supplies (gauze pads, wraps, etc) in your bathroom. There are lots of germs floating around a bathroom and you do not want any of those little critters landing on something that you are going to place up next to your incision. No one touches or even looks at your new boobs without sanitizing their hands first...yes, dramatic again, but if you can avoid the infection it is worth everyone thinking you are a nutcase! Realize that even if you do everything right, you may still get an infection. If you do, don't freak out!!! Give your body the rest and time it needs to heal, and it will. Don't hesitate to call your PS with any worries or questions. Fever, extreme redness to a specific area, heat at the site are signs of infection. At the first sign of this call your doctor so action can be taken as soon as possible. The sooner you get on top of the bacteria, the better.
You are going to do great and you are going to love your results. Hang with us and we will cheer you through this!!
I'm from the UK too. I had my BR on 29th August from a 34 GG/H to a 34 B (possible final result according to PS- full C).
If you don't mind me asking, are you welsh? I was scared too. My fears were the anaesthesia and post op pain. All the wonderful ladies on here said the waiting is the worst part. They were so right. I got though my waiting time with their love, patience and support. Breezy81 is spot on with her comments. I too am fixated on boobs as i am so excited at what I can wear once I am healed- it's a whole new world! Best wishes and if i can help being here in the Uk too, please ask away! x x