Andrew Baertsch, MD

When I started to Develop - way back WHEN ( LOL ) at the end of 8th Grade when I was 12 years old - I could have worn like a T-Shirt kind of bra and weighed 88 Pounds. When I returned to School for 9th Grade - I was 125 Pounds and a 36 D ! That was QUITE the Big growing spurt !

When I was 15 ~ I had a Breast tumor that I had surgery to remove from my right breast. That left Me being 1 Cup size smaller on the right side. From them on - I have just gotten Bigger & Bigger & Bigger ! Getting TOTALLY out of Hand ! More than the " Tuck them in your Sock's " - Models !

I have 4 herniated discs in My neck and a pinched nerve - ( and 4 herniated discs in My back ) and then had a Torn Rotator Cuff and a Spur that was repaired with surgery. ( I was Kidnapped and Beaten for over 6 hours on 8/26/2002. ) That left Me with MANY - MANY Permanent Injuries. Among them were 10 to 12 broken ribs.

The weight of these boobs has been hurting Me for a VERY Long Time ! Neck - Shoulder & Back & Ribs. I HOPE that I will find some pain relief by having the Breast Reduction. I Figured that if I could stand the Pain from My shoulder surgery in 2011 - that this might not be as bad.

Updated on 4 Mar 2014:
As far as I Know ....... The PS Said he will be taking approx 500 off of the Right breast and 600 off of the Left one. The Office Gal said it usually takes about 1 1/2 to 2 Hours. I'm not sure how to Post Pics on here yet - but will try and find out.

Updated on 4 Mar 2014:
As far as I Know ....... The PS Said he will be taking approx 500 off of the Right breast and 600 off of the Left one. The Office Gal said it usually takes about 1 1/2 to 2 Hours. I'm not sure how to Post Pics on here yet - but will try and find out.
What EVER they do ......... I Hope they will FINALLY be Equal in size !

Updated on 7 Mar 2014:
Still yet ...... so VERY ..... VERY Sore. I Hope that this Pain will just go away ! Kevin said that they Took 660 off of my Left Breast and 620 off of the Right one. I WILL Post my Pics - as soon as Kevin imports them off of my Camera ..... to his Computer.

Updated on 7 Mar 2014:
I went Yesterday ( Thursday ) to get the Drain Tubes out. ( Surgery was on Wednesday ) I really didn't get to see very much ! To ME - They LQQK Awfully Small !

Updated on 7 Mar 2014:
NOT SURE . WHAT is the best way to wash up - if I don't want to go in the Shower as I DON'T want to get my Hair all wet. I Think that the Itching i'm feeling under the Front edge of the Surgical Bra they put on me - also feels like it's Burning - so maybe that is what happens as we heal ? I was just going to try and sit in the tub and wash off that way. If anyone has any Advice - it would be Greatly Appreciated !

Updated on 18 Mar 2014:


Updated on 18 Mar 2014:


Updated on 18 Mar 2014:


Updated on 18 Mar 2014:


Updated on 18 Mar 2014:
It almost looks to me - when I Look Down - that there is hardly anything there - But maybe that is just my perspective - after having such Large Hanging Breasts ? It almost reminds me of a Little Hershey's Kiss under my Shirt ! LOL ! This MIGHT take some getting Used to - after the Swelling goes down and the Changes with time.

Updated on 18 Mar 2014:
My 2 Week Post Op Exam is on Thursday, March 20th.

Updated on 18 Mar 2014:
It doesn't really show - HOW FAR AROUND - the Cut is from Surgery ! Mine are all the way around to the Back of my Underarms. Somehow - I am now 1 Inch smaller around the Ribcage - Band measurement - than before surgery ! I DID Measure 36 Around and Now I'm 35.

Updated on 18 Mar 2014:
The Amount Reduced................ they removed 1 1/2 Pounds from Each Breast. ( 660 Left Breast & 620 Right Breast ).

Updated on 23 Mar 2014:


Updated on 23 Mar 2014:
These New Post - Op Pics were taken March 19th , 2014

Updated on 26 Mar 2014:
I am Sending Kevin to the Health Food Store for me today as it is 56 Miles away and I DON'T want to ride that far ! I am getting the Bromelain and the Arnica Gel. They are on the Counter now and waiting for him to Pick them up ! I SURE Hope this helps ! SOME of the Swelling has gone down - but still pretty unbearable ! They did not carry either one of these at WalMart when we were there after my 2 Weeks Post Op Checkup. It's been 3 weeks Today so far ! ( I HAD MY SURGERY ON MARCH 5th ) .

Updated on 7 Apr 2014:
They have gotten to be Less Hard - even though they still are very Sore ........ Less hard on the Right and starting to Jiggle a little as I walk ? They are still Hot and get almost on FIRE - and then I use Ice - and I'm at 5 weeks out on Wednesday the 9th.

Updated on 7 Apr 2014:
IS THAT WHAT YOU CALLED " DROP AND FLUFF " ? I think it was Colorado Lady that had mentioned this ! ? ! I will Post Pics later on today - after we get back from the health Food Store and out to Eat at Texas Road House ! NUM - NUM - NUM ! SIRLOIN STEAK - HERE I COME !

Updated on 7 Apr 2014:
MAYBE THEY ARE TURNING INTO JELLO JIGGLERS ? Still a really STRANGE Feeling !

Updated on 21 Apr 2014:
Not much new on the Healing Stages here ! One thing though ....... is the Little Zingers - Zappers ......... have NOW gone and turned into TOTAL TIT - TWISTERS ! Must be Muscle Spasms of some kind - as it feels like the CLAW HAND of the Game with the Crane in it - Grabs you and TWISTS and TURNS on your Nipples ! I Know it has to do with the Nerves coming Back ...... but I sure hope it settles DOWN ! Going to try and drive to WalMart to get another Bra or two - from the One I found the other day ! I'll Post Pics of the Sports - Bralette thing I got with the Help of the Great HELPFUL Sales Gal !

Updated on 2 May 2014:
I Will be Up-Dating my Pics and also took Pics of the Sports Bras I found at WalMart. They LQQK Like the Genie Bras - and 2 Hook in the Back - and One does Not ! They are all VERY COMFORTABLE ! I got 1 White & 1 Black that have Back Hooks and Lace on them - and the Beige does NOT. I have to step Into that one. All 3 - were just $ 5.98 Each ! They have removable Pads in them - so you can wear them WITH or WITHOUT a Pad in them !

Updated on 5 May 2014:
THE BEIGE ONE FROM WALMART - is pretty much Identical of a Genie Bra. It has the 2 Inch Bottom on it - and it does NOT have any Hooks on it - so You have to step into it ! I'm not sure WHY the Sizing is SO FAR OFF ? I Actually went down 1 Inch around my Band Size and went from a 36 - down to a 35 .......... and I had to get a Size 2X in ALL of the bras I bought ? The Pics of them - are Inside My Camera Yet. I WILL Post them - when we take them off !

Updated on 5 May 2014:
I Forgot to Put down the Sizing for the Sports Bras from WalMart. They came in S - M - L - XL - 2X. NOT in any sizes for Number Measurements.

Updated on 19 May 2014:
My Sister Sandy went and scanned this Picture of me - from 1974 ! YOWZA ! I have my 40 Year High School Graduation this year ! It is Me on the Left - My Cousin Steve and then My Cousin Laurie on the Right.

Updated on 28 May 2014:
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) May 27, 2014
Hey Ladies,

I want to hear from you with an answer to the following question...

Signs that you know it's time to get a Breast Reduction when_________________________.

Be creative, be real and share the first thought that comes to your mind.
Reply

ROTFLMAO ! When we get so COLD with our Big Long Hanging Boobs - that we tuck them INTO our PJ Bottoms - just to keep our Freezing Snow Cones Warm in the Winter ! ALSO ......... I KNEW it was TIME .... when I had my Rotator Cuff Surgery - and I'de wake up at Night - ( EVERY NIGHT ) in extreme Pain ....... from the WEIGHT of my Boob - on my Sore Shoulder - Arm ! I Told Kevin - when I saw this Picture on Face Book - that I was " ALL READY TO GO TO WALMART NOW " ! He got quite a Big Laugh out of this Pic ! Just HAD to Share ! It was TOO FUNNY OF A PIC ........ NOT to share it ! :-)

Updated on 5 Jun 2014:
I will ALSO be able to find out about the Side Swelling ! I Stopped off at the PS's Office - when I had to go up and go Shopping for My Grand Daughter's Birthday party Sunday ! I said I HAD WAITED - the 1 Month - then 2 Months and then 3 Months and I'm TOTALLY Yet still Perturbed ! I KNOW that it is supposed to " TAKE TIME " and we need to be " PATIENT " - but with ME - It's Ridiculous ! If you went and took an Empty Paper Towel Roll of cardboard and Tucked it under your Arm - That's WHAT My Sides feel like ! I still can't put my arms down to my Sides yet. The Nurse said that she COULD SEE - that it was still terribly Swollen and she went and made me an Appt. to come in and see the PS - on his Day back from his Vacation - which is June 16th. ! I ALSO went and got Measured at JC Penneys = and the Gal there - Measured me and said that your Band Size - is the Measurement ABOVE your Boobs ! So - that Measured to be 40 ! And My Bust measures 41 - 41 1/2 so even though around my Rib Cage - I went down to 34 1/2 Inches around - I would be a size 40 A !!!!!!!!!! LIVID HERE ! Very Upset - since I had ASKED to be a D - since that's what all my Bra's are - and I couldn't ever afford to go and buy any More ! SO .......... Since they HAD NO BRAS - that came in a Size 40 A - I don't have anything for this Sunday's Party or also for the Wedding I am going to at the End of the Month ! MAYBE he can take the Side Stuff and Insert it in the Bust ? I don't know WHAT he can do - But I'm still really bummed out ! ;-( My Left Boob is an A ..... and the Right One isn't EVEN AN A !

I am GLAD that I'm SMALLER and have No Headaches, ( Migraines were really getting to be a Pain in the (_Y_) ...) and No Back and Neck and No Shoulder Pain .......... But NEVER agreed to be THIS SMALL !

Updated on 5 Jun 2014:
The Nurse said when she saw the side swelling - to KEEP on Taking the BROMELAIN ! She said that it really helps and will make a Big Difference !

Updated on 10 Jun 2014:
I'm WAY BEHIND here - with Reading and Responding ......... for all of the E - Mails I Got - when our Phone Service had an Outage ! I got thru 6/6 earlier - but have over 600 More E - Mails there starting with June 7th ! No Phone Service - and NO INTERNET CONNECTION ! DID NOT MAKE ME A HAPPY GIRL ! I Missed the 2nd Baby Loon Egg Hatching and when The Service was Restored TODAY ........ the Baby Loons ( 2 ) were all gone and Off the Nest with the Parents - and Never got to see 1 of them ! And then they will Migrate South and NOT Return for 3 Years ! We haven't been able to watch the Live Loon Cam now - for 2 Years - as Last Year - No Loons mated on Loon Lake. There are some Pics and Video's at LARRY's LOON LOVERS on FaceBook- and Open Group ! If you'de want to see the Nest - a Nesting Platform - You can see the Live Cam at MN Bound dot com. The Cam will still be Live for a Few Days - but then NONE - till Next Year ! I DID get to see Fluff Ball # 1 - Hatch out of it's Egg - and then # 2 had about a Dime Size Hole in the Egg on Sunday when I went to Waconia.
I will try and Catch up here with E - Mails & Posts ! Kevin is going to Get My Pics too .

Updated on 10 Jun 2014:
Some of My Blast From The Past Patterns - for Peedie !
http://vintagepatterns.wikia.com/wiki/Special:Search?search=5640&fulltext=Search&ab=47%2C53

These Below - I STILL HAVE ! LOTS of Patterns - from 60's - 70's - 80's - 90's !

Updated on 14 Jun 2014:
PICS OF THE BRA's I FOUND AT WALMART : .......... I TRIED to find these at the WalMart dot Com Website to post THEIR Picture of them- but they were NOT THERE ? I even entered the UPC Number for the Search - but they wouldn't show up - Said FOUND NO RESULT - so they must only just be available IN STORE.

Updated on 14 Jun 2014:
THESE ALL HAD REMOVABLE PADS IN THEM ....... The Beige One had SMALLER Pads and the White & Black were Kinda BIG - so I Just put the Beige Pads in the other 2 Bras.

Updated on 17 Jun 2014:
I MIGHT have to end up getting another one in Black as I haven't really found much in the Stores. This one is NOT So Wide in the Front. The other ones come up pretty high underneath a Shirt - and they seem to Show . I have a Wedding to go to on June 28th, and Gave up with Shopping !
http://www.clearpointmedical.com/compression-wear/surgery-recovery-bras-medical-comfort-bra.aspx

Updated on 28 Jul 2014:
Too bad it won't work for ME - but Might for Others !
http://www.lanebryant.com/cacique-plus-size-sexy-bras-intimate-apparel/4043/index.cat

COTTON LACE NO-WIRE BRA
$36.50
BUY 1 GET 1 50% OFF
COLOR:
White ~ Cafe ~ Mocha ~ Black ~ Marsala Red ~ Nine Iron
SIZE: (view size guide)
38C 38D 38DD 38DDD 40C 40D 40DD 40DDD 42C 42D 42DD 42DDD 44C 44D 44DD 44DDD 46C 46D 46DD 46DDD 48D 48DD 48DDD

$36.50
BUY 1 GET 1 50% OFF
ITEM #206565
COTTON / SPANDEX
HAND WASH
IMPORTED
4 HOOK & EYE CLOSURES IN BACK
CACIQUE, EXCLUSIVELY BY LANE BRYANT

Updated on 28 Jul 2014:
LACE NO-WIRE BRA
$38.50
BUY 1 GET 1 50% OFF

ITEM #201576
POLYESTER / COTTON
HAND WASH
IMPORTED
4 HOOK & EYE CLOSURES IN BACK
CACIQUE, EXCLUSIVELY BY LANE BRYANT

Updated on 28 Jul 2014:
THIS WAS AT JCPenney.com

Warner's Back To Smooth Contour Lift Wirefree Bra - 1375

web ID: 1262012

SIZE OPTIONS

AVERAGE FIGURE
select a size
34
36
38
40
select a cup
A
B
C
D
COLOR OPTIONS

select a color:
Butterscotch W Van
Cloud Blue
Rich Black
Toasted Almond
White
bra calculator
glossary

Warner’s wirefree bra boasts smooth contoured cups with a light natural lift and innovative back-smoothing fabric that eliminates unsightly bulges.

light natural lift
sculpted back for more coverage and smoothing
smooth contoured cups
nylon/elastane
washable
imported
manufacturer’s style #1375

Updated on 28 Jul 2014:
SO FAR ........ THE A CUP IS ONLY AVAILABLE THRU THE INTERNET. THEY HAD NONE IN THE STORE !

Tomorrow I have a consultation. I'm so excited. I'm mainly excited to have my nasty-hanging-belly-thingy photographed. (Um, no...) I'm excited to get the ball rolling. It's been 20 years since I've lost 120 pounds. Time too feel good. Time to be able to look at myself without extreme disgust and self loathing. Stay tuned, friends.

Updated on 5 Mar 2015:
I had my consultation with Dr. Baertsch today. What an amazing man. He lifted my unsure spirit and made it sound like this procedure will be a breeze. Now... I wait the long 2-3 weeks to hear back if it will be covered by my insurance. Once this is approved (because I'm positive it WILL be, I'll post pictures of my tummy/skin. Feverish prayers are being lifted for a positive answer. I am feeling a peaceful sense of excitement. Stay tuned friends...

Updated on 1 Apr 2015:
Excuse me while I wipe the tears from my keyboard. Yesterday I got the call from the doctors office that my claim was denied. My apron doesn't hang low enough over my pubic bone, nor do I suffer from bad enough rashes. Wow. Part of me understands and, in turn, sympathizes with those who suffer worse than I do. BUT I am the one living in this body that I have grown to detest, loathe, despise. So, I have no chronic rash, and my apron may not hang "low enough" (really?), but the mental taxation is enough to drive this "skinny~fat girl" crazy. I spent a great deal of the day crying and feeling defeated. My super supportive and amazing boyfriend said (in much lengthier words than these) "Just do it anyway." It's something I've dreamed about for 21 years. I don't want to go another day waiting and wondering. SO, I called the doctors office back and scheduled a panniculectomy for April 29, 2015, pre-op the 23rd. I'm feeling happy, sad, angry, anxious, etc. I'll post again soon once I pan out my thoughts and emotions. Thank you for letting me vent, my sweet friends.

Updated on 25 Apr 2015:
I visited with Dr. Baertsch on the 23rd and everything is ready to go. It was a bit eye opening having my pre-op. Everything became "real" all of a sudden. I am nervous, excited, anxious, etc. I have a dear friend who has had this done and is helping me with my fear, questions, everything. She sent me peppermint oil in the mail to help with the nausea that occurs afterward. My mom is a great cheerleader. She's been suggesting I do this for the past 20 years. My boyfriend is a saint. My kids are great. I'm very well supported and that feels great. I will be posting "before" and "after" pictures... I just haven't got around to it yet. xoxoxo!!

Updated on 28 Apr 2015:
I'm ready. Nervous but ready. Abdominoplasty tomorrow at 11am. I'll post after pictures as well.

Updated on 1 May 2015:
I feel amazing. It went amazing. I'm dealing with some nausea and soreness, but that's expected.

Updated on 1 May 2015:
I am beyond thrilled with my results. The "after" pictures I've posted are only 2 days post op. I'm sort of in shock. I was able to take my binder off for the first time today and I cried and cried when I saw the results. SO pleased. I've wished, wanted, and waited for this for 20 years. So glad I went for it. And I'm assuming my results will look even better in time because I have so much swelling just now. Thank you, Lord!!! What an amazing opportunity. Thank you to Dr. Andrew Baertsh, and his staff at the Lakewalk Surgery Center in Duluth for the amazing experience. I am at a loss for words. It was one of the most emotional experiences in my life (other than the birth of my children). I was able, for the first time IN MY LIFE to look in the mirror and not hate what I see. I'm so ready to be back on my feet and enjoying life.

Updated on 15 May 2015:
My 2nd drain came out yesterday and WOW do I feel FREE!! I love that feeling. My swelling in the upper part of my torso has lessened and I see a bit of contour. Doctor said my 2 week results are "superb". I'm keeping my binder on 24/7 except for showering. It's like my safety blanket. My incision is healing nicely and I feel so blessed. I was sad and depressed last week, not loving my results. How quickly things took a turn for the better.

Updated on 17 Jul 2015:
I'm nearly 3 months post-op. I'm so happy with my results. I can't believe how swollen my lower tummy still is. I had my final post-op appointment with Dr. Baertsch and he said it can take up to a whole year until I'm "normal". It's been a great journey. I'm excited how my results will continue to improve.