After deciding the best time to heal was during a pandemic, I consulted with 3 separate surgeons to begin the breast reduction journey. I ended up choosing Dr. Hulsen and felt that he was the most attentive to my questions and would give me great results. I have never had a major surgery before but even through the ups and downs of recovery I would choose to do this again in a heartbeat. Updated on 30 Nov 2020: Starting at a 30JJ UK sized bra I had dealt with heavy breasts that not only gave me back pain but made fitting into any clothes a hassle. I choose my surgeon based on who I felt "cared" the most. Dr. Hulsen was amazing at listening and answering my questions. He was also the only one who actually measured my chest (crazy to me still) Right after waking up from surgery I noticed such a weight off my chest. The first night was the worst, I found it hard to get comfortable to sleep, but it only got better from there. I only needed to take the harder painkillers the first night, and just took ibuprofen after Day 1. My 1 week checkup I was told everything looked great. Updated on 1 Dec 2020: After the one week checkup I was showering about every other day. I think the tape held on to a bit of water from my showers as it always felt more irritated afterwards. I started noticing some yellow liquid leaking out of my right breast and through the tape. When the tape was taken off at 2 weeks post op it was discovered that an incision had split open. Kind of scary but my surgeon insisted that it was common enough with such a large reduction (1000g per breast!). I was instructed to change dressing everyday and visit again in another 2 weeks. Updated on 4 Dec 2020: After my 2 week checkup about into my 3rd week post op I was noticing the open incision on my right breast was becoming larger. I took daily photos to compare the progress and early onto my 4th week post op I emailed my surgeon to ask his opinion. He responded the very same day and had me come in for a visit. Because the wound was getting larger he had me apply petroleum jelly and a nonstick bandage to it daily. During this visit we also scheduled a day to have the opening restitched up for my 5 weeks post op. During all of this time with an open incision pain was really a minimum and not a concern, it was mostly just uneasy to have to change a bandage of open skin. I was very much looking forward to being restitched. It was done in-office with some numbing shots and took about an hour. I left that day with basically a 5 week healed left breast and a day 1 right breast. Painful again the first night but I am feeling better and better the more it closes up.
