I started wearing a bra in the 3rd grade. By 5th grade I was a 36C. Now at 39 I squeeze into a 40 DDD. My family dr told me to order them online, but I dont think she understands how difficult that would be. My entire life people have commented on how large my breasts are. Thank you for bringing that to my attention! I didnt realize! Several gynecologists have suggested breast reduction surgery to me when I was younger, and I refused. One doctors jaw dropped in disbelief, and he asked me why. I said that my granny lived with them for 81 years and never complained, and I didnt want to upset her. She cried when my Aunt got her reduction, because God blessed her with them. Now that I am almost 40 I am absolutely miserable. I cant get up from a sitting position sometimes. It feels like my chest cavity caves in, and I cannot breathe, or move. I feel paralyzed and it is very scary and painful. My husband has to wrap his arms around me and lift me up. After this I decided to go to my family dr who was actually the first dr to tell me I should not do this. I was shocked because I am much larger than I was when all the several doctors I seen in my younger years highly recommended it. Is it my age? Well, she proceeds to tell me that I need to do physical therapy and muscle relaxer treatments before she can refer me to a surgeon. So I completed both. No good luck with those pills, and physical therapy did help but was so painful it made me nauseous! My fingers and toes started to feel like pins and needles. My physical therapist states that it is caused from lesions in my arms and chest being wrapped around nerves. She even said I need this surgery! I still have the pins and needle feeling, and I still have instances when my chest feels its caving in and I cannot move. I am told that is not physically possible, but that is what it feels like! They say its muscle tissue that I feel caving in. Well whatever it is I want it gone! I finally have a consult with a dr who is finally in network! That was difficult to find! He has several good reviews. My mother and husband are very supportive. Granny wouldnt want me hurting, and Im looking at it as like a gallbladder or apendix surgery. Its gotta come out! Im also afraid that because I am over weight that they will not do the surgery. I have seen that issue on this site and Im worried about it. I have gained alot of weight lately. It is so hard to do anything anymore. I cant reach in front of me or look down sometimes. My back feels broken. I have been trying to lose before my consult, but its been the holidays! Ugh! I wont post pics until I know for sure that I will be able to get surgery approved. Please any encouraging stories are appreciated. Thanks for hearing my story. Updated on 24 Jan 2018: I go for my consultation in the morning! Very nervous! Wondering what to expect? Hope I am making the right choice. I know I will be better off in the long run. Im just chicken! Updated on 25 Jan 2018: Had my consultation today. Dr seemed to emphasize. He said, "No offense in anyway, but they are way to huge for your frame." He said it will take about a month to hear back from insurance. He said he is guessing to remove 5 lbs total, and that I could go back to work in a week. ??? That seems really soon, but I am a front desk girl. After I got home I read on my visit summary that I am a current, everyday smoker. I quit 12 years ago. So, I will be calling them tomorrow to fix that. I hope it doesn't go to insurance like that. The photos of this doctors work looked fantastic. Fingers crossed. Updated on 9 Feb 2018: Omg! I really thought I would be denied due to my weight, but I am approved and scheduled April 16th for surgery! Im so overwhelmed with emotions! Updated on 13 Feb 2018: Emotions have settled and reality has sunk in! I am ready! Let's do this! I really still can't believe that this is finally happening! No one has commented any encouragement or suggestions on any of my reviews. I wonder if it is because I haven't submitted any pics? I am hoping the doc will give me copies of the before and after pics that he took. I requested off two weeks from work. I hope that is enough time to recover before going back. I can't wait to get this done! April 16th can't come soon enough! I am going to stop being chicken and submit a pic of my scary monster boobs. We are all in this together though right? So here it goes! Updated on 21 Feb 2018: So, when I first got the approval call I was in shock I guess. I was happy and excited. I cried a little, but I was also freaking out. I didn't expect to get approved so fast. Anyway, the weekend past, I calmed down, and I told myself to be positive. After all...I couldn't look to my left for the last two days, because I had it in my neck and shoulders so bad. I go to bed COMPLETELY FINE! I wake out of a dead sleep having a panic attack asking "What am I doing to myself?" Again...Positive thoughts. I'm going to feel so much better. Everyone says it is so worth it. Yet, I keep doing this! I told myself to stay off of the Internet, and if I am going to be to look only at positive stories. I do not know why I keep waking up with these panic attacks. One day I wanted to actually cancel my surgery! What is wrong with me? Anyone else experience this? I think that maybe it is because they are a part of me, and it is all I know? They are a just a part of me. My mother says, "at least you are still going to have breasts." My mother is a breast cancer survivor. I feel so selfish freaking out, because I know what she went through is way worse. She is so brave. I am making myself a complete basket case. Updated on 1 Apr 2018: Well. Pre-op is Tuesday and surgery is 2 weeks away! Can't come soon enough! I had an episode at work. I locked up and couldn't move or breathe. Felt like the top left side of my cleavage area caved in again. I could feel it spasm. It was so embarrassing. I havent had this happen at work before. My hands went tingly and my coworker said my chest was turning beet red. The next morning it had purple dots. Maybe busted capillaries? The dots were gone within 24 hours. Now it just feels tender to touch...like a bruise. Updated on 3 Apr 2018: Pre-op was different than any pre-op that I've had done before. I expected blood work and post op information. Nope. It was really just a sit down with the doctor on any questions I had. I had list! Lol. He seemed excited and happy to answer my questions. Thats nice since some physicians make you feel rushed or like you're a bother. He says I can shower two days after surgery. I can raise my arms 1 week after, yoga and exercise 1 month after, and that I would only be sleeping in a post op bra for a month! He doesn't use glue. I will have stiches and steri strips ???? a lil nervous about that! He also doesn't do lipo on the sides. He showed me pics of his work for reassurance. These pics look amazing. You can barely see the scars on these people, and these pics are supposedley 1 month post op! I am getting excited now. I really hope to recover ok. He said the main complaints are fat necrosis that may go away in 3to5 months, and knots at the T under the breast. 13 more days ladies! Updated on 7 Apr 2018: For those of you that have Macom bras. I am having a difficult time on deciding between the standard or the i-bra. The standard has more reviews than the i-bra. However, the i-bra says 5/5 support vs the standard being 3.5/5. Any recomendations? Then there's the 2nd stage bra. I am thinking too much into this and overwhelming myself arent I?! Updated on 11 Apr 2018: I ordered my macom bra today. I hope it comes in time. I should've ordered it sooner. 5 more days til surgery day! Updated on 12 Apr 2018: So my initial consultation summary stated that I am current everyday smoker. I called the office immediately, because I quit in 2004 or 2005 (I cannot remember), and I am very proud of it. I failed quitting numerous times, and finally achieved my goal! Anyways the office assured me that they would remove it from my chart, and that it would not affect my approval. Today the surgery center called to go over my medical history. I turned in a ton of paperwork with the information stating I DO NOT SMOKE! The lady says, " I see you are a current everyday smoker. When was your last cigarette?" I am furious!!!!!!!!!! Updated on 13 Apr 2018: My bras are as big as my head! Idky the one is coming out upside down after I upload it? There is no crop option showing up. Maybe it will after I post. Updated on 13 Apr 2018: The bandsize fits well. That spillage tho! And my arms are about as big as my boobs! Updated on 15 Apr 2018: So I worked 10 hours, did laundry, cleaned. Used my weird soap they told me to use. All while having this horrible sinus headache all day! Idk if Tylenol is ok? My work told me to put vicks on my temples. I did and it actually worked! My throat is sore. And...I started today! 10 days late! Why couldnt I started on time?! I dont wanna deal with that too! Updated on 17 Apr 2018: Hey everyone! Had a rough night and morning, but on the right track now I hope. Feeling much better. Had a reaction to medication. Very sore and swollen. There is some bruising along my stitches. I hope that is normal. I have been coughing a lot. I hope that didnt cause it. I havent seen the nips. They said they will be sunk in and that is normal and that they will eventually pop out. He did not have to remove them tho. He removed a lil over 3lbs on the right and 2lbs on the left. I love them. I look normal! I know I cant judge their looks right now, but I feel they point towards my arms so I have no cleavage.its just weird being able to see my belly! When I first came to I thought my bra was way too big. But im very swelled now and have filled this puppy up! My neck and shoulders are very sore and trying to relax. I has woke up some nerves and caused my hands to go numb. The numbness has subsided now, but neck and shoulders are still sore. They feel really tensed up. I used a heat pad once and that helped a lil. Mostly ice on the boobs. Over all I feel I made the right choice and I think Im going to look and feel great! Updated on 18 Apr 2018: Felt much better today. Can move my arms a little more. Still very swollen. I have some drainage that my mother is worried about. Is this normal? I figure that it depends on the individual. Were gonna call the office in the morning. She says my paperwork says I shouldnt be swollen or draining at this point. I think its expected. Hubs helped me shower. Didnt get my hair washed. I got pretty emotional and kinda freaked out seeing the girls today!. Im so swollen I cant fit in my macom bra. Im swollen in other places other than my boobs like my hands and abdomen. Anyone else experience this? Updated on 19 Apr 2018: Today was a good day. I made it 12hours without pain meds before I caved in. I Felt sharp stabbing pains, and the sensations of THO even though they are not out yet :( Ventured out for a car ride to the pharmacy for some probiotics. The curves on the country roads were rough. The drs office called and checked in with me today which was a wonderful ease of mind. She told me that the swelling I am experiencing in places other than my breasts are normal and caused from the i.v. fluids given during surgery. She said it could last a couple of weeks, but It has gone down significantly today. She asked me about any fever, rash, drainage, nausea, or vomiting. I said no to all of the above except the drainage. She asked what color, I told her pink, and she said that is expected. Then night time comes, and I notice this rash all over my neck and chest area. It doesnt itch! Maybe I still have some of the antibiotics I was allergic to in my system? I took benedryl, and it is gone away. My pink drainage is now yellow! I have read that this is nothing to worry about, and that its good that its coming out. However, my breasts are the same color of yellow around my areolas. That has me concerned. So I guess I will be calling in the morning. I hope I didnt over do it today. I actually felt good and had more mobility. The swelling gone down enough for me to get into my macom bra. It was very tight, so I was afraid of cutting off any good circulation. I did have less pain in the sides of my boobs and more mobility while wearing it. I only wore it long enough to clean my other one. Once I put it back on I felt like I had no support at all, and its way hot! I will suffer til tomorrow and see if anymore swelling goes down before trying macom on again. I can really tell a difference! And I managed to take a pic in it. The comparison to before is unbelievable! I will hopefully have more pics soon. Thanks for being with me during this journey everyone! Updated on 19 Apr 2018: Updated on 20 Apr 2018: Waiting on a call back from the dr. Im stressing myself out over the color of my breasts being the same color as my drainage! Im orange today! Please tell me this is normal. Also stressing about my nipples! I need to relax! Updated on 20 Apr 2018: Updated on 20 Apr 2018: Updated on 20 Apr 2018: 3rd time trying to post Updated on 20 Apr 2018: . Updated on 21 Apr 2018: Im not sure what the problem is, but here is one last try of uploading the recent pic of me! Updated on 21 Apr 2018: Thanks to everyone who helped calm me down and for being with me on this journey! Updated on 21 Apr 2018: So the orange was yellow before it turned orange. It is turning back to yellow and some black and blues. Really had minimal pain today, and moving my arms almost back to normal. Trying not to over do it. For some reason today I felt drained. Im so impatient and cant wait to see final results. I know they will be awesome, because I handpicked an awesome surgeon. Im amazed at how quick Im progressing with mobility and pain. Anyways, anyone remember how long before u can sleep laying down? I still can't. Updated on 22 Apr 2018: I cant believe its been almost a week! Things are looking good! I will post more pics after my post op on Tuesday. I got a new front closing sports bra today. I cannot believe I can even wear one! I would never have dreamed! I was looking for more button up shirts, but the selection was limited. So i tried on some pull overs, and boy I shouldnt had! It was taking them off that hurt! So button ups it still is! I was very active today. The end of the day I worked on some homework, and I realized how bad I was slouching at the computer. This is something I need to work on. Im just glad I realized the problem. Happy healings everyone! Updated on 24 Apr 2018: Well doc says everything looks good and to just give it time! Some more steri-strips came off in the shower today. The ones that are still there look kinda gross, but they dont feel like they want to come off yet. My right areola is very painful without the steri-strips, so Im afraid to remove the remaining ones. He was going to replace them, but then he asked me if I have reactions to bandaid adhesives. I do, it always turns my skin red and purple. So he said no added steri-strips. I dont seem to have had a reaction to the steri-strips, but hes the professional and Im going to do what he says! Puckering around the areolas will eventually smooth out, and the nipples will come out eventually too. He said I can start using scar gel, but to make sure there is silicone in it. He also said a cheaper version for scar treatment is papertape. I am going to get the gel. All in all I love them so far! Theyre only going to get better from here! The nurse I spoke to when they were orange was happy to see they are looking well too! Pain level today was different. Random, shooting pains that feel like when u put ice on your teeth! I feel the almost 2 hour ride to the office swelled me up today too. I am looking for a 2nd compression bra to have. I checked on amazon for the czsalus, and they dont have my size. Any other recommendations? Updated on 24 Apr 2018: Updated on 24 Apr 2018: I braided my hair yesterday btw. I could never hold my arms up that long before I had this done. That was 7 dpo, and I was able to do that with NO PAIN! Updated on 28 Apr 2018: Where are my nipples?! Patience young padwon! Updated on 2 May 2018: Hey! Went back to work today. Wasnt too bad except by about 2pm I was needing ice! I woke up today to my scars hurting, and they seem to be raising. The girls seem to be getting some bounce to them. Still swollen and bruised tho! I have been having some pain on my ribs underneath my right breast. I dont know if the swelling has just gone that low, or if my band is too tight. Im trying a different bra and seeing if that helps. Hope everyone is doing good. Updated on 7 May 2018: Every day is getting better! I just hope I am not over doing it. Ive done some extensive house cleaning. So far Im ok. I really want to pull weeds in the flower beds, but hubs wont let me just yet. I would like to at least just try. I hurt myself a few times reaching down, so I better just wait. The dr recommended a silicone gel called Biocorneam Advanced Scar Supervision with spf30. I was told to check amazon for cheaper prices, but also warned to check the reviews due to it being a fake product. I checked amazon, and the reviews about it not being the true product scared me into not trusting it. So I checked walmart.com and found it thru a supplier called All Day Beauty, LLC. No scary reviews here, but the color of the lid doesnt match the picture in the pamplet that was given to me. The ingredients all match. I hope it's legite. We will see. Tonight is my first treatment. We will see how it goes! Updated on 7 May 2018: Updated on 7 May 2018: Why wont my pics post?! errrh! Updated on 7 May 2018: Updated on 7 May 2018: Updated on 8 May 2018: So I have read that our scars will get red and angry. I am 3weeks in, so is that when to expect that? I am wondering if this is normal, or if if is yeast? It doesnt itch, but I have some tiny bumbs on my chest for some reason. They don't itch either. I will try to post a pick of my chest area and see what u guys think. Updated on 8 May 2018: Doesnt look that bad in the picture compared to in person. Updated on 13 May 2018: So today...monday is week 4. Saturday night I ran the vaccum for my inlaws. I thought that I could listen to my body, and if I felt I couldnt do it then I would stop. I felt fine and did it. Then about 20mins later as Im driving home I start getting sharp, excruciating pains around my right areola. Once home I checked them and the pleating around my right areola seemed bigger than before. I was hurting so bad. Sunday was worse. I had to work and I was near tears from the pain. I actually took my left over norco because of it. After work I checked them again and I feel the right areola looks bigger than the left. The pleating looks flattened out, so I thought that my compression bra maybe squished them closed? They were just open holes the night before! I cant tell if its a scab or a stitch in one of the spots that was a pleated hole. My incisions are extremely red only around the areola. The left one hurts and is a lil red too, but nothing compared to the right. Everyone just wait your full 6weeks to recover. I learned the hard way. Im off work today and tomorrow, and I was planning on weeding my jungle of flower beds. There is noway I can now. Updated on 16 May 2018: Today is my one month anniversary of having my new boobs! I have been very sore since saturday. The pleating is gone. I am hoping that the biocorneum caused that to go away and not from me unstitching something inside. I know they say that the scars get angry red. The only redness that I have is around my areolas and its shiny! Im hoping its just part of the healing process and not from something Ive done. I have been extra cautious since I hurt myself. I have thought about calling the dr for ease of mind. I dont know if Im ok and Im just freaking out? Some good news is my nipples are trying to come out! They arent slits anymore. I will post pics soon as I can. Updated on 19 May 2018: I ended up calling the doctor. Under my right breast is hard and the outer side of my breast turning red. It is very painful. Any movement with my right arm hurts it. My left breast feels great with very minimal pain. I am right handed, so I have been limiting its use. Dr says to give it the weekend of rest with lifting nothing greater than a gallon of milk. If redness and pain doesnt go away by monday Im to call back. Im also supposed to watch for a fever and to see if its hot to touch. I have had none of that, but have been very tired and nauseous. I havent done much of anything but rest. Now my breast looks light pink. Im hoping its getting better. U can barely see it in the pic, but it is there. The hardness and pain is still there. I think the redness of the areola is much better. It looks like smudged red ink in spots. Posting pics. Updated on 19 May 2018: Updated on 28 May 2018: I am 6 weeks post op and I am the smallest I have ever been! I wonder if I will continue to get smaller, because I still have some swelling mainly in the right breast. My nipples are still not out, but looks like they are trying? So I guess I still do have some swelling. My checkup is June 12th, so Im hoping they're out by then. Everything I own that was too small before surgery is now too big! I just cant believe it! I found an old bra thats DD and its too big. So I really need to get out there and find out if Im a D or C. The only pain I am really experiencing now is under my right breast on the rib cage. I do not understand why. My bra is not too tight, but I do notice it doesnt hurt near as bad if I go braless. I have been going braless at home, but it scares me that I will lose my lift or something. Totally not used to that! Updated on 1 Jun 2018: So Ive been fighting some kind of illness. Fever 101.5, headaches, & bodyaches. Fever is gone, but still feel ill. I took ibprofin for the first time since 6 weeks before surgery. I took it probably (400mg) 4 times over a 48 hr period. Do u guys think that would affect my breasts? I have been struggling with righty for awhile. Pain, discoloration, and swelling. Well today lefty started hurting. A tiny pinhole has appeared underneath lefty. There is small seapage. Im putting triple antibiotic ointment on it. Also, underneath both breast are looking black like some bruising is appearing. The pain in my right breast is also on my ribcage and radiating down passed the ribs. It actually starts where your gallbladder would be, but I dont have one. Im starting to wonder if its a separate issue. I tried on bras and lefty is a perfect C! Righty has a significant amount of spillage. I know its expected to be larger, but its by a lot! I called doc and now Im on Bactrum 800mg twice a day. I would post pics but my phones gonna die. No electricity for 13hours now due to storms. Im sure all our food in the fridge is bad. Gotta be up in3.5 hours for work. Cant sleep cause its hot and the hubs cant wear his c-pap so very loud snoring. Ugh. Ive been wearing a new sports bra, so I switched back to the old one. I dont know if maybe it wasnt supportive enough and caused bruising, or maybe its from the ibprofin usage. I thought that was fine to take 2 weeks post op? Oh, and my breasts are showing a lot of veins. Updated on 5 Jun 2018: I have a follow up on the 12th which is 4 days shy of my two month mark. I have two days worth of antibiotics left. I can feel a difference. I have been moving more freeIy. I still have some pain on the right, but it is less severe. The pain in the ribs has lessened too. Im thinking my right may have lessened in size too. I hope I am right. Im going to finish my antibiocs and then try on another bra and hope righty is more the same size as lefty. Im glad that I called the doctor about this. I knew something wasn't right. Im so glad these antibiotics are working. Updated on 6 Jun 2018: Should I just get married again?! Haha! Look at the boobage just hangin out there in the before photo! Updated on 16 Jun 2018: Hi everybody! I had my follow up last Tuesday. Surprisingly he said I am still very much swollen! He said to wear my compression bra for another month, and to wait at least that long before trying on any new bras. He said its only been a week since I finished my antibiotic, and that I need to give myself more time to heal. I just cant believe theyre gonna get smaller! I have to go back in december to follow up on my nipples. He said if they come out before then and Im feeling ok that I could cancel that appointment. He explained the procedure to extract my nipples if need be. It sounded horrible, so I said I would wait it out. He said thats probably a good idea, and that swelling could last 6months or more. I had a 2month post op photo taken. That and my before photos taken at the consultation visit were put on hubbys flashdrive for me. I about died when I seen my pre photo! I look like I was trying not to fall on my face from all the weight. No wonder I hurt all the time! Im feeling ok, but theyve been hurting more lately. Maybe the heat? I will take this temporary pain over the pain I had before. I am still glad I made this decision. Updated on 16 Jun 2018: Updated on 17 Jun 2018: I forgot to mention that I can see a purplish or bluish line sometimes under my breast. I try to massage it and it really hurts! It is all red now. I included a photo. Its so red u cant see the purple right now. I was told that the purple is dissolvable staples! I also closed my eyes and purchased the biocorneum gel from the office. I did notice a difference in consistensy from the one I ordered online. The online 20 oz bottle didnt even last a full month. I used it twice a day, and a little is supposed to go a long way. The online one was more like a lotion. The one at the office is white like lotion, but has more of a gel like consistancy. I bought the 50 oz this time and was told it should last me a year maybe two! I recommend anyone purchasing this to buy it from their physician so they know they're getting the right product! Updated on 20 Jun 2018: They were so swollen and sore yesterday that I blamed it on the heat. Although I am sure the heat played a part, my monthly visitor is my main blame! Ouch! Updated on 21 Jun 2018: Still swollen today with some small bleeding under lefty again. Seems to be the same spot as before. Its the purple area I asked about and the dr told me it is dissolvable staples. Now its like a red circle. Ive put triple antibiotic ointment on it again. It kinda itches but hurts too. It doesnt look bad, but I'll take a pic of it. I am 9 weeks post op. Updated on 21 Jun 2018: Do they look as swollen as they feel?! I hope this is just PMS and it goes away soon! Updated on 24 Jun 2018: THANK U TEZZZZZ! I dont know why I never tried this stuff sooner! My right one still feels strange, but it hurts so much less. Lots of relief! Updated on 2 Jul 2018: Well the Arnica helped a lot. Im on another round of antibiotics. Still some infection in my right breast. I feel like it just moved from the outer side to the inner. Under lefty Im having some small open wounds. Im trying my best to keep it clean and then I add neosporin. Sometimes I place gauze because of drainage, but the gauze hurts. Im just hoping it gets better soon. I feel my breasts do look great, and I can see the difference the arnica gel has made. Still no nips:( i think someone on here told me it took them 12 weeks for their nipples. Im going on week 11. Updated on 2 Jul 2018: Updated on 2 Jul 2018: Updated on 10 Jul 2018: I know I should go to a specialty bra store, but there are not any around here. I have tried a few C's on with no luck. I guess I will try D next. Updated on 15 Jul 2018: Has anyone feared that their girls are growing back? I know im still healing and swelling can take awhile to go away. Im sure its all in my mind. Im also sorry I havent been on much. We have a lot of work going on with our house, and my mother is keeping me very busy. School stars back up next month. I hope the plumbing in the house is done before then. Ok let me get back on topic here...lol...the arnica get has really helped, and I still have that tiny hole under lefty. The good news is it hasnt changed. Just hasnt gotten better. Still no nipples :( I am 3 months out today. Might be TMI, but Ive tried getting them to come out. The result was pain and redness for a few days. Anyone have patience to give me? Updated on 5 Aug 2018: Hey all. Sorry its been awhile. We have had a lot of stuff going on with the house! Luckily it is just about done! Hows everyone feeling? I still have no nipples. Some days my breasts are larger than other days, and some days theyre tender and some days theyre not. So Im guessing i have a lot more healing to do. The spots under my left breast i feel are finally getting better. Now, at the bottom of the areola on my right started to be red and tender. Apparentley it had opened and scabbed over and I didnt realize. It was stuck to my bra and I ripped it off when I took my bra off and caused it to bleed. Its a very tiny spot. My hubby fixed me up with some triple antibiotic, and he discovered what appeared to look like fishing line sticking out of my breast. He pulled it right out. I made a remark that maybe I have been over doing it, and he said yeah but its been long enough u would think you could do whatever. Hmh. Im so afraid they're growing back too. Just tellin myself its still in different stages of healing and Ill be allright! Updated on 9 Aug 2018: Good night everyone! Cant sleep. Just hoping that I don't sound like a crybaby when I go on about my swelling and inverted nipples! I am very thankful and feel very blessed to have a better quality of life. I'm no longer having weird attacks in my chest. My back and neck pain is gone along with the tingling. I actually ran up the stairs at work! Before it was a struggle to not fall on my face, and it felt like I was climbing a mountain. I am seeing a difference in my scars. I feel the Biocorneum gel helps smooth them out. I don't know how I feel about the scars around the areolas though. There is still some pleating on the right, and the incisions seem to get angry red at times. Im not sure about most people at about 4months, but I think I should be pain free by now. really tender on the inner sides. The outer sides of my breast are numb in places. Updated on 19 Aug 2018: These are photos from my consultation in February. I just figured out how to get them on here! LOL! The front facing one just looks like the weight is pulling me forward, and that I am trying to not fall forward onto my face! Updated on 19 Aug 2018: Surgery was April 16th, and this was taken at post op on June 12th. 5lbs removed total. 3 from the right and 2 from the left. Before surgery my inflammation markers were very high, and my endocrinologist stated that this surgery would probably decrease it significantly. I know that I feel better, but I didn't think about my numbers until my follow up last week. I expected them to be bad, because I had to stop my medications for surgery and never started taking them again. He was very impressed with the improvement with no medication! They are 3 points away from normal, so I still need improvement. However they went down almost 4 points! He said with inflammation going down that my other labs would improve from that. Leptin and I forget what the other one is...See! This surgery is so worth it! Updated on 20 Aug 2018: This is four months and four days post op! My scars look great. No redness today around the areolas. I finally got a real bra that closes in the back. It is wire free. I did try on wire bras, and I just don't like them. I can feel the wire poking me in the sides. I can wear a 40D with the waist being snug and the cup fitting ok. I ended up buying a 42C. The waist was more comfortable, and the cup fits fine. I like the sound of C better than D...just need to work on that 42! It isn't a pretty bra though. It is a plain, white Playtex 24 hour bra that came in a box. I am disappointed that I didn't find a pretty one that would fit. Perhaps I need to get out of town to find me a proper pretty one? I have noticed that my breasts are sore after wearing it a long time. I have also noticed a change in my nipples. I am thinking because maybe it isn't as constricting as the post surgery macom bra I was wearing. I feel like sometimes they are sticking out more than other times. I hope it is real and just not wishful thinking. Updated on 4 Sep 2018: Hey ladies. Remember back in the beginning after surgery there were those sharp, shooting pains in our breasts? I always assumed it was the nerves reconnecting. Well at almost 5months post op I'm sitting there last night and bam! Sharp shooting pains in righty around the areola. It went on for a good 10minutes. Guess it goes to show that I am still healing this far out! Updated on 22 Sep 2018: Hey RealSelf friends! I haven't been on for awhile. I have been feeling pretty ill. Anyways, something about me you may not know. I had my son at 22weeks 9 years ago in March. He was stillborn. We have struggled with fertility since. I finally came to the realization that children will not be in our future, and that helped with my decision for my breast reduction. After my reduction my lab work significantly improved. Things like inflammation and such. My breasts have really been hurting and swelling something awful lately. I was late for my monthly visitor, but that happens sometimes. Nothing out of the ordinary. When I started vomiting I decided to take a pregnancy test. I got two positives two different days. I still cannot believe it. I will be 40years old in December! I know it isn't proven, but I really feel that the breast reduction helped with my fertility. Anyone else on here have this happen? I am worried not only because of my past history, but because I know my breasts aren't completely healed. They have already gone up a cup size! I hope they do not grow anymore, and that they go back to where they were when I have this baby! My nipples are still inverted. I know the dr. said that once swelling subsides they will come out. They are swollen more than ever right now! My follow up with him is in December. I am not sure to call and let him know the news, or to wait until my appointment. I am afraid he will be mad that I messed up his work. I am so overjoyed, and have always wanted a child. I really was not expecting this! I commented on someone's review awhile back about them becoming pregnant after their tummy tuck. I cannot remember who it was. Be careful ladies! LOL! I really hope to find someone on here who became pregnant after their reduction. Will I need another one? Prayers are appreciated. I hope this one sticks. I think I will wait until my December appointment to tell him just to make sure I make it that long. Positive vibes! Updated on 29 Oct 2018: Hey everyone. Haven't been on in awhile. A lot going on here with surgeries and bedrest! I am 13 weeks pregnant now. I won't elaborate too much since this isn't a pregnancy site! Just prayers please! Lots of them! Anyhow, my breasts have only gone up a cup size. I'm wearing a 40D now and I bought a 42D that's a lil roomie for me to grow into. They are the Bali bras, and I really like them. My nipples seem like they are trying to poke out some. More so lefty than righty. There are also white bumps appearing on my areolas. Anyone experience that? I was unable to go to my profile when I signed in. There was no option? I had to go to my notifications and click on whoever commented last to get to it? I will post pics soon of my 6.5 month post op pics of my now pregnant boobs soon. Updated on 6 Nov 2018: Here is a photo of my comfy Bali bra, and also of my 7 month post op 14week pregnancy boobs! I can't seem to get a bright picture with flash for some reason. I am wondering if anyone can see the white spots on the areola pic? They look almost like skin tags. Updated on 25 Nov 2018: December 11th is my final follow up with Dr. Hsaio. He doesn't know the news, so I am nervous! I hope he says everything is ok. I have noticed that when I massage my scars with the biocorneum gel that there is a long hard line that is very sore running next to my scar and not on the scar itself. Scar tissue perhaps? I will just have to wait and see what he has to say. Hope everyone is doing well. Updated on 11 Dec 2018: Had my 8 month follow up today. Dr. Hsaio seemed very happy for us! I told him it was his fault. LOL. He says he has had patients cancel their surgeries due to pregnancy, but this is the first case he has seen where pregnancy happens afterwards. I still firmly believe that the surgery improving my inflammation levels helped me become pregnant. He says they are definitely fuller from post op, but that they look great. He says I am ok to try and breast feed. I asked about my nipples still not being out. I am going to see him again in August to see if they are out yet. That will be 3 months after baby is due, and hopefully they will have gone down in size by then. If they aren't out then he suggested this procedure that sounded very painful. He said I would not be able to breast feed if I have this procedure, and he isn't sure about insurance covering it. So lets hope that the girls make it out! If I understand the procedure correctly, he says they pull the nipple out, and scrape around them breaking up whatever is holding them back. They then may take fat from the breast and inject it into the nipple to make them fuller. Now mind you, before my surgery I had very plump and huge nipples. He says it is hard to tell in the pre op photo, because they are pointing so far down south. I know though, and I miss them. I really feel that once I get an actual chance to fully heal from surgery and all the swelling goes down that they will come back. Let's hope! By the way we hopefully find out a gender on Dec 21st! Merry Christmas and happy healings ladies! Updated on 11 Feb 2019: How is everyone? Baby and I are ok, she is a girl btw! The breasts are doing fine. Im a lil discouraged with how big they're, but it could be a lot worse if I didn't have the reduction! I'm trusting what my surgeon said that they will go down in size after birth. I asked him if I would need another reduction, and he pulled up my before photos. That calmed me down! Lol they are nowhere as big as that! I hope everyone is happy with their surgeries and that u are healing fine! Updated on 28 Jul 2019: Hi everyone! My baby girl arrived May 1st at 9lbs and 22 inches. She is perfect in every way! I was able to produce breast milk even though my glands were severed and some possibly removed. I had to use a nipple sheild, because my nipples were still dimples. It got to be very frustrating. The sheild would fall off, or she would knock it off. I eventually just started pumping the milk into a bottle for her. I was absolutely amazed that I was able to produce after a breast reduction surgery. Then the 7 week mark hit, and its like my body just quit. I was pumping every 2-3 hours, and it would take all day to make an ounce. I decided to quit, and was thankful that I was able to supply for her for 7 weeks. I tried supplements, oats and whole grains, drink mixes. Nothing helped. I believe it may have been because of the surgery? Idk, but I am 12 weeks post partum, and my breasts are going back down finally! I never got to heal all the way due to getting pregnant 4 months after surgery. My surgeon said that once swelling goes away that my nipples should come out. Well. Finally swelling is going away! Lol they are starting to come out more. Except if I am laying on my back they are completely inverted. That is embarrassing. My husband says he doesnt care, but I do. Deep down I think he does too. I have a follow up appointment with my surgeon on aug 20th. Im thinking of cancelling it. Insurance will not cover surgery to fix that problem. My surgeon says he doesn't really recommend it, because its painful and will make me have no sensation whatso ever. What do u all think I should do? Updated on 22 Jul 2021: So, been awhile. 3 years since surgery. My scars look phenomenal, and u can barely see them. I wanted to go back and look at my progress and story. My nipples are really upsetting me more than usual here lately. In my after surgery photos, where my nipples should be are huge dimples, or holes. I remember seeing my mother and my aunt's face when I came out of surgery, and the nurse said don't worry they won't stay like that. Well, they have. I have noticed that when I'm trying to find the right one it feels like it's under the areola and not centered where the nipple should be. I can kind of see it in one of the pics. In all the photos on this site, I am unable to find someone's after surgery pics where their nipples are dimples, or caved in. My decision to have the surgery was still worth it, but I feel like a freak. My Dr tried telling me that maybe they were inverted before, and that it's hard to tell in my before photo because they are hanging so low. Umh, no I had nips for 39 years. I don't know to talk to him again, or maybe get a second opinion. Just trying to find someone else on here with something similar. Also, has anyone had really bad itching on their scars for no reason? No rash or raised bumbs. Just a mad itch.
Hey guys my name is Chelsie I am 23yrs old had Gastric Sleeve April 29 2014 lost 100lbs had my second baby 4 months ago at weighing in at 207 got back Down. To 189! Yesterday I Had a pani and abdominal skin and fat removal some may call it a SKIN only TUmmy Tuck he did not repair my muscles or lipo my flanks but I am very happy so far with my results I am in quit a bit of pain, he did make me a new belly button and I can sit or lay and see my HOO Ha lol!!! He took off 8lbs of skin and fat! I am going to post my before pics now I can't stand up straight yet for the after but will very soon this procedure is not very common so figured I'd tell yal my story n yes insurance covered it all! It would have been 3000 if I wanted muscles repaired n lipo but yea don't have 3000 laying around lol! Hope u guys can follow with me in this journey! Updated on 13 Jul 2016: Hey girls! I have two drains at my lower hip one of each side n a pain pump I think them alone is what's causing most of my discomfort I am taking 1000mlg of percoset every 4hrs on the dot as I do not like pain! This pic ain't much but I can't stand up straight yet n he cut me wayyyy almost to my back lol didn't think he would go that far back! But so far very happy with it but veryyyy swollen I keep ice packs on n it helps a lot as soon as I can stand up straight I will post pics!! ???????????????? Updated on 14 Jul 2016: Ladies I have a 3yr old and a almost 4 month old my mom was gonna help and is as much as she can but not really at night and hubby has to get up at 1a.m for work so yea pretty much on my own cut in half with a 4 month old n it has not been easy! She sleeps pretty good but still up a couple times here n there! Still very sore of course but now feeling pain around my new belly button area that's causing a lot of discomfort I keep a lot of ice in me usually any suggestions on how to make this easier with my 4 month old n being cut n half! Updated on 18 Jul 2016: Hey ladies a week post op still very swollen n sore back is aching from being hunched starting to stand straighter n straighter everyday tho incions look good n still happy! Will post bout best pic I can get today Updated on 19 Jul 2016: One drain out still Lil hunched here's a pic n still swollen
I got my mentor silicone implants August of 2015 and one month later my body started aching almost as if I have the flu but the flu never comes. Constant body aches it never go away fatigue and strange symptoms relating to my period time (I'm guessing there has been a change to my hormones) because my periods are different it's cloudy and not solid fluid like it used to be before I got my implants also my body aches increase around menstral time. So, 19 months in and it's not getting any better it's only getting worse I have visited the doctor in Georgia a doctor in Ohio and I spoke to the doctor in Texas via phone. I have a been on this community for a long time and if you read the reviews you'll soon see which doctors those are the only explant they did not put in implants they are by far experts in this field. The doctor in Ohio said I need to full sac Removed $8,000 for surgery! The doctor in Georgia also thought the same thing (she was a strange one .... I didn't even talk about pricing with her) I talked to a doctor in Texas he was so very nice he suggested I get the implants removed and that if I can have the doctor take out partial portion of the sad that's totally fine my symptoms were is it's mostly the implants that's causing the problem. The muscle will be fine I don't need to have it necessarily reattached it'll heal on its own. I'm trusting him because he's done several thousand over the last 20 years he's very familiar with how the body heals and the success rate with patients not removing the sack surrounding the implant. I will send updates as I move through the process and pictures thank you so much to everyone who was previously posted before me! - [ ] Updated on 11 May 2017: For some reason around my period time my body aches get worse! Man I'm having a hard time the last few days ... only one week to go! I'm m ready to have more energy, no body aches, no random breast lumps or fatigue! One more thing .. my nails have ridges in them now vertical ridges! This is a new symptom. Visit: two sites one www.healingimplantillness.com and www.lovemybubbles.com. I can tell you after spending nearly 8,000 after implant and explanation I will have no shame adding a little extra lift to my wardrobe! Who cares if the silicone is outside... lol MORE UPDATES TO COME! Updated on 15 May 2017: I have my surgery Schuled to get implants out without capsule out because I had immediate reaction to my implants. It took my body to produce body aches, hormone issues etc literally one month after implant. It makes me think I am reacting to the foreign object more than all the talk about toxic this no that. I am thinking because they have been in for only 19 months I have a good chance that if the implants are taken out my symptoms will soon go away ..... it's a risk! I know :( Dr melmend in Texas said I will feel much better, I don't need the capsule removed .... I pray he is correct! Any advice from someone who kept capsule and feels better? Please reply :) Updated on 26 May 2017: After a week of complete agony over if I need to remove the complete capsule for complete healing...I came to the conclusion that YES I do need to remove the capsule despite what Dr. Melmed had told me. The fact is that if you show symptoms you are taking a huge risk if you don't take the capsules out! I am not taking this risk, I refuse to look at even the slight risk to have a third surgery. SOOO Dr. Hsiao is a breast reconstructive surgeon... ladies the best thing to do is find the best breast reconstructive surgeon in your state (IF YOU CANT GO TO DR. FENG IN OHIO OR ANY OTHER EXPLANT SPECIALIST) Dr. Hsiao sees breast cancer patients daily and he is very familiar with the en bloc procedure (removes the implant AND the capsule at one time) this is a regular procedure for him when dealing with cancer patients. He is an expert at repairing muscle as well because he provides reconstructive surgery EXAMPLE: Tram Flap on a regular basis. Ladies what I am saying is IF you need to go with a surgeon in your state and can't travel out of state to go to a specialist try interviewing a cancer reconstructive surgeon. This is the best advice I can give. Updated on 16 Jul 2017: Today is Sunday be my surgery was Friday morning. The day after surgery my bed friend came over and said .. wow! You have color in your face. Funny... I notice the same thing yesterday morning! My chest feels lighter I can breath easier and I walked up my long driveway uphill with out getting out of breath. My hormonal issues and body aches and fatigue are still here but I am sastified with the improvements i seeing in just two days. I will post more pictures soon. I can't wait to feel 38 again an loose the 16 pounds I have gained! Updated on 16 Jul 2017: Well after all this .... I got what I wanted... even boobs. Gezzzz it seems the VERY large implant stretched my tissue out so it matches my other breast. I'm happy with they look this far. I guess I can't complain
My pcp doctor referred me to Mr Hsiao!! I have already had my pre-Op appointment now i'm just patiently waiting on the day of surgery 2/22/2017. Can someone tell me how was the pain after surgery???Updated on 14 Feb 2017: Well its tuesday 2/14/2017 I have 7 days until my surgery. As time draws near i think im more so ready to get it done and over with then i am worried.. This is something i have had a problem with since i was a teenage, and now that im in my adulthood it has gotten worser. I cant wait til i will be back/pain free from these large 40FF.Updated on 21 Feb 2017: Today is the night before surgery. A lot of ppl are worried if i'm scared or what not. Well i'm excited, anxious, ready to see what they will look like, nervous, and last but least ready to get it over with.. I have to be at the hospital @11:30 surgery is at 1:00 2/22/2017 i will post after surgery.
Getting ready to have paniculectomy, abdominoplasty and breast reduction and lift. I had gastric bypass almost two years ago. Extra hanging skin after bypass was getting infected and I was having terrible back pain from my laege breast. Insurance is paying for everything except the conturung and liposuction. I paid out of pocket around 6000
Dr. Hsiao is very nice and professional but also down to earth. I think a sign of a good doctor is he/she telling you what could possibly go wrong. Run the other way if a surgeon tells you "this will be so easy, no problems at all" because that isn't ever the case in life. In just meeting with Dr. Hsiao one time I'm confident he'll be a great choice for this minor surgery. I asked him why he couldn't just pop out my lipoma like Dr. Pimple Popper does and he had some great reasons why that wouldn't medically be the best choice for both him and me. I'll post photos when it's removed. He measured it at 6cm and it's on my upper right arm. Updated on 16 Jul 2016: This is my right upper arm, as you can see this lipoma is BIG! Updated on 30 Jul 2016: Surgery was yesterday, 7.29.2016. There were a few issues with scheduling but I still got it done on the day intended. Everyone at Community South Surgery center was so caring. A nurse brought by two movie passes to apologize for the scheduling issue that happened on the morning of surgery. My husband said it lasted 45 minutes and Dr Hsaio came out and talked to him. I asked DrHsaio to remove the lipomas in my upper thigh as well. The ones on my leg were smaller and not encapsulated like the one in my arm so my leg hurts today. He prescribed pain medicine but I haven't taken it. I took 800mg ibuprofen this morning. All in all, no complaints so far. Updated on 31 Jul 2016: Silicone strip on the incision. It's bruised and painful if I don't take meds. I've taken ibuprofen twice. Still haven't felt like I needed prescription meds because I don't know how I will react to them and I have two young kids to take care of. Updated on 8 Aug 2016: At my follow up which was 6 days after the surgery, Dr. H said my lipoma had abnormal cells (Lockhern) and had to sent away for further review. Now I feel like an idiot for not getting that thing removed years ago. My husband has basically convinced himself I have cancer. Ughh, the waiting on results is kinda crazy because it could take one month! Updated on 24 Aug 2016: The pathology report from Harvard was good news. No reason to determine malignancy in the abnormal cells.
