My story is slightly different than other people's. I was flat-chested as a kid, when all the girls in my class were developing. I prayed to God to get breasts, and he answered my prayers! I got breasts when I was 15. Well, he never stopped answering my prayers, because now I'm a DDD! I'm 5' tall, about 118 lbs. I go to the bra store to get fitted every few years, since I was in my 30's. First I was a C, then I grew to a D, and last year, my bra was digging into my skin so much I got fitted again. DDD?!? And still a 32! I made the decision to get a breast reduction right then and there.
I told my doctor about my back, shoulder, and neck pain, and she wrote a letter of recommendation. Got a consult with a surgeon that my doctor recommended, and she said I was a good candidate. That's all I needed to hear. My surgery is in a week and a couple of days. I've waited the whole year for this; I could not be more excited!!!
This site has helped me so much. Thanks to everyone past, present, and future for helping me along.
Updated on 19 Jun 2017:
I had my pre-op appointment today. I made sure to drink a lot so that I'd have a sample ready in case they needed one. Guess what? No urine sample needed! No blood work either. It took 15 minutes. Dr. Halperin came in, took a look at my boobs, and asked again what size I wanted to be. I told her, as I had before, a B, but I understood that I would maybe get a C, and I was fine with that. I told her I wanted to be as small as she could make me, and she said, "A B, pretty small. Okay!" Yep. Pretty small. She said that she doesn't use drains, and that the stitches were dissolvable. Wear a sports bra 24/7 for 3 weeks, and that was it, good to go. I had brought along the 3 surgical bras I had gotten from Amazon. She said those were fine, but I really just needed a snug sports bra that zipped or snapped in the front. Hmm...should I return the ones I got? I might.
Surgery will take about 2 hours, recovery about an hour, then I can go home. It's at a clinic, not a hospital. She made it seem like it wasn't a big deal, but thank goodness for this site, because I know what will happen in the weeks and months afterwards! Maybe she downplays things because she does this every day, or maybe she doesn't want to scare people. Or maybe it will be a breeze! I planned this knowing I'd have the entire summer off to recover. I got a prescription for Oxycodone (she said that's only for the first couple of days, then I can switch to Motrin), and an anti-nausea patch to put on the morning of the surgery. Nothing to eat or drink, including water, hard candy, or gum, after midnight the night before surgery.
I rented a recliner to sleep in for a month, an idea I got from this site, and I'll take a pillow the day of for the seatbelt on the ride home. I'm ready!
Updated on 22 Jun 2017:
I'm renting a recliner to sleep in for a month. My question is, where should I put it?? In the bedroom so I can just sleep in it at night, or will I want to have it in the living room for naps and to watch TV?
What have others done with their recliners? It would have been great to rent two, ha ha! Thanks for any advice.
Updated on 27 Jun 2017:
Here I go, about to take my second pre-surgical special shower! See you all later-everyone posts right after surgery. Will I? I can't imagine wanting to, but heck, I do have a smart phone, and I'll just be sitting around, so maybe I will.Yesterday I was cleaning the cat litter, and some dust got in my eye, making my lower lid puffy and giving me bloodshot eyes. I freaked out, thinking they would
Updated on 27 Jun 2017:
Arrived at 6:45 AM for my 7:30 appt. Said "see you later" to my husband, and the nurse took me in the back where I changed into a gown.
Took vitals, answered questions, met the anesthesiologist. Everyone was so nice and sweet. Dr. Halperin was running late, just a few minutes. At one point I was by myself for about 2 minutes, so I said The Serenity Prayer. Immediately after, I got dizzy and nauseous. Called the nurse, and threw up! Dr. Halperin thought it was nerves. Dang! I was SO relaxed the whole time before that. I was pale too.
A few minutes later, I felt better. Dr. H marked me up, I got the IV, and walked into the operating room. Got an oxygen mask, nurse and anesthesiologist said vey sweet things, that they'd take care of me, and I was out. More later...
Updated on 28 Jun 2017:
I was supposed to be in the recovery room for an hour, but ended up staying for 3! And even then, I didn't want to leave. I think I said to the nurse, "Are you kidding?!?"
At home, I had to walk up 3 flights of stairs. When I got to the very top, I hurled. Got in, and slept on and off. Not much pain, which surprised me.
This morning, a nurse called to check in me. I can switch to Tylenol now. On my instruction sheet, it said no ice, which *really* surprised me! The nurse said it messes with blood circulation. Maybe next week I can have ice.
I changed the pads in the bra they sent me home in, and I got lightheaded. Back in the chair I go! Overall, I'm feeling good.
Updated on 29 Jun 2017:
I haven't heard much about this on this site, but I think it's important. During surgery you're intubated, and on my recovery sheet it said that you may have a sore throat, and to have liquids first until you can tolerate more.
I learned the hard way. I had jello and applesauce, and water (always lots of water), and I craved crackers. My advice: don't eat the crackers! They're dry and brittle.
On my second day, yesterday, my friend brought me some food-chicken and rice and broccoli. Omg it was so delicious, I scarfed it down. And then...OUCH!!!! The roof of my mouth hurt so bad!!! Not ready for solid food yet.
Another thing I haven't read about is it says to cough and take deep breaths to prevent pneumonia, I think. It's a good idea, because there's stuff in my throat, like when you have a cold. That's it for now. Pics tomorrow!
Updated on 30 Jun 2017:
So today is day 3 post, and I just took my first shower. I was so nervous to take the bra off. And now I know-with good reason! My boobs feel SO weird!!! Hard, not moving, yet like they're going to fall off.
My husband showered me. We put a plastic stool in the tub, and put a hand towel on top for me to sit on. He took down the shower sprayer and just gently sprayed me all over. I used my regular soap and cleaned very gently, then he rinsed me off. Not tackling hair washing today.
I got patted dry with a towel, and was so happy to put a bra on again. Security! All in all, I think I look really good. I'm just squeamish. Now I'm exhausted, back in the recliner. Whew!
Updated on 1 Jul 2017:
Okay ladies, help me out. My boobs are SO swollen, and so is my belly. Yesterday, after 4 days of no BM, it finally happened, but my midsection still feels weird. A little numb, swollen. I'm off the Oxycodone, just alternating Motrin and Tylenol.
I went for a short walk yesterday. I want to take it easy, but it's hard to know what's the right amount of activity. I'll go for another walk today. The worst is the swelling, and my office said don't use ice! Also, how in the world do you wash your hair???
Please send kind thoughts, advice, funny pictures!
Updated on 3 Jul 2017:
Wow, what a roller coaster ride this recovery is! I was on a combination of Tylenol and Motrin, but I started to feel spacey, so I stopped all meds for one night. Yesterday I just took one Extra Strength Tylenol, and was okay. This morning I have pain and intense itching on the lower incision of my left breast, so I just took a Tylenol. This area has been hurting the most; I'm scared to really look at it.
My appetite is good. I washed my hair yesterday, which felt amazing. I'm really going stir crazy inside. Today my husband and I took a walk at the park right near our house. Ahhh...it was great to be outside, even for 10 minutes.
Do other people have pain after a week? I don't feel like I can do anything even somewhat normally, but it seems like reviews I read gloss over hard times. Just want reassurance that this is normal and I should continue to take it slow. Right???
Updated on 5 Jul 2017:
Had my first post-op today. I figured it would take 5 minutes, and it did. She said they look good. She touched my nipples and asked if I could feel her doing that. What a strange sensation! I could...sort of. It's like they're a little numb. I'm not worried about it.
I told her that one of my breasts hurt more than the other, and she said, "They're sisters, not twins. They won't do things exactly alike." Omg I cracked up! She didn't remove the steri strips, said to just let them come off on their own.
I made an appointment to see her again in 2 weeks, when she would probably give me new steri strips. At that point I can just have the bra on during the day, but not at night. I don't want to take it off at night for a long time, it's become my security blanket! We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
After I got home, I took a 2 hour nap. I told my son, saying, "It's amazing how something like a little surgery checkup can..." and he said, "Take a lot out of you?"
Ha ha, lots of jokes today!
I walked to the library and back, so a little more than 3,000 steps today, with only 1 Motrin this morning. Things are looking up!
Updated on 10 Jul 2017:
I'm feeling better every day. The first week was rough, but starting around Day 9, I got more energy. A little too much! I took 2 walks on Day 9 (7,000 steps total), and that night and the next day I was swollen and sore. I knew I was swollen when I took my bra off and had lines all over! I didn't leave the house the next day, and I'm better now. I'm back to taking just one walk a day, about 3,000 steps). My iPhone counts steps (Health icon), and I've logged how many steps I've taken every day. I have a Reduction Journal. I just jot a few notes each day to keep track of my progress. It's helpful.
Something very strange-When I sleep in my bed instead of the recliner, I wake up with a very sore back and core! As soon as I get up and move around a little, it goes away. I think I must be tensing all night so I don't roll over-I'm thinking about recovery even in my sleep! I need to relax, ha!
Tomorrow will be 2 weeks. I have to remind myself that it's still early. Great series to watch during recovery-Broadchurch.
Happy July!
Updated on 19 Jul 2017:
Had my 3 week post op, where Dr. Halperin removed my steri strips. Yowsa! I'm having a hard time with the way my bumpy scars look. I know they will flatten and heal eventually, but ugh! She wants me to use Mederma gel twice a day ("Don't just put it on, really massage it in.") . The first time I did it, I freaked out because of the feeling-like touching hard worms. Then I went to the store and got medical gloves-problem solved!
She said I could now sleep on my side, and that has been the BEST thing ever! Makes such a difference. It's a little uncomfortable, but I just change positions and it's fine. She also said I could sleep without a bra now, but I'm not psychologically ready for that. It's amazing what happens to one's psyche as a result of this surgery. I'm so happy to have done it, I look amazing in tee shirts, but the weird body dysmorphia-ish feelings that come with it was a little unexpected.
Tip: If you really like the bra they sent you home in (I did), ask if they sell them when you go back for your post-op. I just got one from the office for $30. Very comfy!
That's all for now-happy Wednesday!
Updated on 26 Jul 2017:
Passed the one month mark, whew! Continuing to heal well. The issue these days is sensitive skin. My nipples are itchy, as is the skin around my nipples. Dry and flaky. I read somewhere that it's just the Mederma gel that dried, but it has happened right after a shower when I don't put any gel on. My surgeon said to apply it twice a day, and I did that for about a week, but the tube says once a day, so I'm not sure if I'm sensitive to it or not. Took a one day break, and that seemed fine. Hard to know. I think I'm going to talk to my dermatologist about it.
I've gotten small pimple-looking spots around the edges of my nipples. I tend to just leave things alone, and they resolve. The healing process is so strange.
I still feel pretty swollen, especially at the end of the day, after I've been active. Makes sense, but makes me want to slow down. But my energy level is up! I'm sleeping better now, still in a bra, because it's uncomfortable without one. Weather has been nice, so I'm going out again today. Happy Wednesday!
Updated on 7 Aug 2017:
Turns out I had an allergic reaction to the Mederma-my skin is so sensitive! I asked my dermatologist about alternatives. She said Vaseline was okay, Cerave healing ointment, and she told me about this cream from France, Biafine. It's expensive, and a pain to put on-you have to apply a thick layer, then cover with damp gauze, but if it helps with the scars, that's fine with me! She said it's also good for sunburns.
Then I went to my surgeon, who said that because I have fair skin, my scars won't really be prominent anyway. They might take longer to heal, but in the end will fade a lot. So I'm not concerned.
I *was* concerned about a stitch poking out of my right boob! I looked it up-it's called a "spitting suture". It's when your body doesn't absorb the stitch. It poked out, then got a spot around it, like a pimple. I didn't want to look, but she pulled it out with tweezers. She also took a couple out from the underside of my left boob. Whew! With the right one, it continues to leak from that spot, so I've been keeping a bandaid on it, hoping it will close up.
She gave me clearance to shop for a regular bra. If you have a Lady Grace store in your area, I highly suggest going there. They have experts who fit you, and know what kind of bra is good for post surgery. I've worked with a woman named Maria, who told me to come in for a bra that will make me grow like this (boobs up and out), and not like this (boobs squished out to the sides).
That's my plan for today-healing, and a new bra.
Updated on 7 Aug 2017:
I went to my local amazing bra store, and got fitted. The woman helping me said I'm ready for Step 2. I tried on 3 bras, and I liked (and bought) 2 of them. The tan one is Wacoal, a brand I've worn for years, and the other is a sports bra-Anita, a European brand. The kicker is that before my surgery, I was a 32 DDD, and the bras that I bought were 34 DD! This surgery really messes with your mind sometimes. She said I'm still swollen (hence the side fat in tan bra), but I will see a noticeable difference in 6 months. I've known this all all along, but it's still hard to hear. Anyway, it felt fantastic to have on a regular bra again, and not a post-surgical one. It was so cute, it was like a kid getting new shoes. She said, "Do you want to wear it now?" I didn't; took them home to wash first. They were expensive, about $50 each, but I'd rather have the support and just chalk it up to an added cost of the surgery. I've gone through and will go through many bras between now and next summer. I want to save them all and maybe do an art installation! Ha ha!
Updated on 6 Feb 2018:
It’s been 7 months, and wow, it’s taken this long for the swelling to go down. I’m down to a D. Feels great! Hoping to shrink to a C by the summer. Fingers crossed!
Updated on 30 Apr 2021:
The most fascinating thing is that I went from a 32 to a 34/36. I'm currently wearing a 36 C. I wear the Anita sports bra that I recovered in. It's the most comfortable; I've tried others, but I'll stick with this one. I've gained about 8 lbs. during the pandemic, so that's made my boobs fuller, of course. It's SO worth it!!!