I started developing very early, I was probably about 9 when I saw the first signs of breasts coming in. I was happy about it until I turned about 12. I was probably in a D cup or approaching a D cup by that time.
By the time I was 14 and in high school I was a 28DDD. My breasts were so big that some kids at school made a game out of them and another girl's breasts. There was a poll going around: who had the larger cup size, me or Katie (name changed). The kids got a mutual friend of ours to ask each of us separately, knowing we would gladly tell her because she was our friend. For those wondering the outcome, I was the larger cup size....
Fast forward to now, I'm 27 years old and am now a 32J. I'm 5 feet 4 inches tall and 137 pounds. My breasts ballooned to this size (from a 32G to 32J) after I started depo provera 2 years ago and gained weight. I went from 130 to 150 pounds almost over night! I've been working to lose weight (I'm almost down to my original weight yay!) in hopes that my breasts will shrink and although my tummy is shrinking, my breasts aren't going anywhere ugh...
I've been complaining of discomfort, self confidence issues and back, neck and shoulder pain since high school but now it's UNBEARABLE. I can't even sit through an entire movie while sitting up. My back starts hurting so bad I have recline or lay down.
So, after going back and forth with the idea since I was 16 years old, I've finally made up my mind, I'm getting breast reduction surgery.
On September 2 I called my insurance company to see if I have coverage for that, sadly they only cover 35% but that's better than nothing. Then I called my regular hospital to set up an appointment with my PCP. To my surprise he had an opening for a telephone chat the very next day! So I took it and told him my issues, he forwarded me over to a surgeon. I have a chat with the surgeon scheduled for next week, September 10. Fingers crossed!
Updated on 7 Sep 2019:
I can't wait to wear things I've always wanted to wear and go bra-less.
I've been having dreams about getting a reduction for the past week, I wake up pretty disappointed lol
I have been close to tears thinking about the relief and boost in my confidence
Updated on 8 Sep 2019:
But now I'm wondering how am I going to pay for this? I've considered care credit but after doing some research and seeing some reviews I've decided against it. Other people have said they are pretty shady, I'm very protective of my credit so I don't even want to risk it. I'll go with my original plan of getting another credit card with my regular bank. I like my bank and I trust them. They haven't let me down yet. So I'll go to the bank on Monday and speak with a banker about my options.
At the moment I'm still going through the process of seeing if insurance will cover part of the surgery.
But I know even with insurance paying partially I won't be able to afford it without help.
Another issue is: will the surgeon I want to go to accept my insurance??? I want the surgeon I want to better ensure results I want... should I reject my insurance's assistance to get one of the surgeons I really want?
Anyway I'm very excited and optimistic!
I speak to a surgeon in two days! It's not a consultation... just a short phone call my PCP set up, I suppose just so the surgeon can ask me some questions about my health issues regarding my breasts.
Updated on 10 Sep 2019:
So, today I had my phone call with the surgeon that my PCP referred me to, he seemed pretty laid back and answered all of my questions clearly. I'm so excited he said he doesn't typically use drains (yesss)!
After all of my questions were answered he gave me the number to his medical assistant so I could set up an in-office consultation.
So that will be for next week! Yay!
As of now I have two in-office consultations with two different surgeons next week. I want to set up a consultation with one more surgeon for next week who I'm very interested in, she's a woman who specializes in breast reductions and her results are fabulous!
The only issue I have is that for the surgeon my PCP referred he doesn't have a website, no before-and-afters or anything like that because the hospital he works for wants to maintain their patients' privacy, which I understand, but I don't like that I can't see if he's actually good reshaping?? Maybe he'll have pictures in the office. It wouldn't hurt to just go to the consultation and see what he can do for me.
Updated on 11 Sep 2019:
Regarding the woman who specializes in breast reductions... yeah so it's mid-September and just for a one-hour consultation she's scheduling all the way out into December right now since she's BOOKED SOLID and only meets potential patients one Mondays and Thursdays ugh. And honestly, I'm not trying to wait that long to get the ball rolling. I want to do this while I still have my nerve.
Speaking of nerve, as things are coming together I'm beginning to feel veeery nervous. My boyfriend's mom has had a breast augmentation some years ago, so I think I'll ask her what the healing is like for the breasts in general although what we both are seeing (or saw) plastic surgeons for opposite reasons.
Updated on 12 Sep 2019:
I was getting dressed for work this morning and stopped in my tracks seeing myself in the mirror. I’ve been losing weight (13 pounds so far) and the rest of my body is getting so small and these jugs aren’t going anywhere... it looks so ridiculous to me.. like too cantaloupes on my chest.
Not to mention how much my neck and back will be in pain by the end of the work day.
Updated on 18 Sep 2019:
I’m sooo happy and excited because my consultation went GREAT! It was my first consultation with any surgeon and I feel so good about this doctor that I’ve decided to go with him (he was in my top 2, I really wanted to go with him or Dr. Greenberg anyway).
He answered 85% of the questions I had before I even asked him. His results and reviews are amazing and he was so kind.
He even said he would do his best to get me down to my dream size but was sure to let me know that may or may not be possible since it’s like 6 cup sizes down and he will at the very least improve my asymmetry. My breasts might just be sisters rather than twins but I’m okay with that because right now I feel as if they’re cousins lol
He and his assistant asked when I wanted to do it and I said ASAP! They found an open spot for NEXT WEEK! I was so surprised they could get me in so fast!
So of course I took the spot and paid my $1,200 deposit.
My insurance most likely won’t pay because they want me to go to a doctor within their network but to be frank, I don’t feel comfortable with any of them because I can’t find them online, they’re pretty much nonexistent on the Internet. My mom tried to search for the doctor my PCP referred me to and all she found was a Facebook page that he hadn’t posted on since 2017. So absolutely NOT.
Updated on 24 Sep 2019:
So it was pretty quick and not at all what I thought it would be!
They just took some before pictures, answered more questions I may have and went over what to do before and after surgery.
The anesthesiologist and a nurse is also supposed to call me this evening or tomorrow evening some time.
I paid the rest of my doctor bill and that was pretty much it!
I paid $1,200 for my deposit so the remaining was $11,600. Omg I had to clench my chest. That was more than the price of my car! Lol
But I know it’ll be worth it so I’m my stressing about it.
Updated on 26 Sep 2019:
Omg I’m so happy! I can’t even see my breasts yet but just from seeing the difference in size and how different my back and neck are feeling already, I’m sooo happy!
I don’t know my size yet, but I’m currently wearing and fitting into a 34 D (starting size 32J) sports bra!! The waist band is a little big because I’m normally a 32, but I didnt want to go through the trouble of finding a 32D sports bra that zips in the front with the possibility of me not being about to fit it anyway after swelling goes down.
Anyways! My doctor, the nurses and anesthesiologist were amazing! So kind and made me feel really comfortable. They pretty much melted away my anxiety because of how reassuring they were.
My nurse called both my boyfriend and me a few hours after the surgery to check in. And she’s supposed to call tomorrow as well.
I honestly feel really great. I’m walking around the apartment by myself. Not doing too much but I can get my own water, use the bathroom by myself and other simple things where I don’t have lift.
My boyfriend prefers to do things for me, which I love, but I do want to walk around and have some independence, the doctor says walking a little right away will help me heal up faster.
Unfortunately I have drains but they’re not as uncomfortable as I thought they’d be! Yay!
Updated on 29 Sep 2019:
I was allowed to shower yesterday and I was so scared to even look at myself that I had my boyfriend unwrap me and tell me if I looked “scary” or not lol but omg 2 days post op and I already was looking great!! Dr. Lepore did such an amazing job. And it seems he got me to the size I was hoping for which is a large C/small D. My post op sports bra is a 34 D and without gauze there’s a tiny bit of room! And this is WITH swelling! I’m so excited I could cry tbh!!
Anyways today I tried to go without the strong pain pills and only take Tylenol and was super uncomfortable.. I’m only 3 days post op and have drains so maybe it was just too soon. My mom told me it’s great I’m trying to push myself but don’t overdo it since it is a major surgery. So I decided to take the Percocet for a few more days and stop them after getting drains removed on Thursday, by then I’ll be a week post op.
I’ve been eating really light.. mostly fruit, nuts, soups and popsicles. My appetite is fine but I don’t wanna overeat since I’m not moving around a lot.
I’m super constipated as well I haven’t gone #2 for 4 or 5 days.. I pooped on Wednesday, my surgery was on Thursday and now it’s Sunday.
Exlax isn’t working AT ALL. I hear milk of magnesia does the trick so I’ll be trying that next.
Does anyone have any suggestions for going to the bathroom??
Updated on 2 Oct 2019:
Omg people on YouTube always said it didn’t hurt and was just kinda uncomfortable.. BUT IT HURT lol thank goodness removing the drains is so quick. And it anticipated it being painful so I took a Percocet about an hour before my appointment.. so the pain was at least toned down. I don’t even wanna think about how painful it would’ve been without it.
A few minutes after getting them removed I felt 10x better! I honestly felt like I was weeks post op instead of only 6 days post op haha.
My boyfriend took me to target afterward because I wanted to try on some bras because the sports bras I bought beforehand are a little loose now yay! It’s a D bra, so I tried on a size C and it fit perfectly!! Omg!
My doctor promised me he would do his BEST to get me to my goal size and he did it!!! HE IS SO AMAZING :’) he brought me down 7 cup sizes he’s a miracle worker.
Updated on 9 Oct 2019:
It was a little uncomfortable but definitely not too bad, just in case it was painful I took a pain pill an hour before my appointment which was a good decision!
The office workers and doctor always remember who I am when I come in, and can I just say I LOVE that! They’re so sweet and friendly and efficient and perform good work!
My doctor said in two to three more weeks I should be fine to exercise again, so yay! And now that the stitches are removed I can start moisturizing my breasts!
My next appointment is in about 5 to 6 weeks since things are healing up so well, but he did say if I need an appointment sooner than that I can definitely come in at no extra cost.
Well that’s about it for now!