Hello everyone! I am so glad there is this community. Your posts have helped me a lot. Thanks!
I am a healthy 61 years old, 5’3” 123 lbs. women with a 34DDD+ bra size. My frame is small so it is hard to carry such large breast. Over the last 40 years this has caused back pain, shoulder indentations, and my back is getting curved.
Most people don’t realize how big my breasts are. I am an expert on minimizer, sports bras and how to dress so my breast would not show off.
I’ve always been and still am physically active but stopped jogging 15 years ago when my breast grew from 34D to 34DDD+. The pain made it painful to jog even when wearing two sports bras.
My fear is that as I get older my breasts are going to get even larger and my level of physical activity is going to decrease and the pain and curving of my back will increase and affect my overall health and quality of life.
For years my doctors and physical therapist recommended surgery but the insurance company would not pay for it. Finally this year surgery was approved. I am very happy about it but also a little nervous. I’ve never had any surgery and anesthesia really scares me.
This morning I had my pre-op meeting. My surgeon explained things clearly and answered my numerous questions. She asked me what size I would like them to be and I responded a 34C. She did not commit to a cup size, but she said my breast would be reduced to half their size.
My surgery is scheduled for February 19th. I am a little nervous but looking forward to not having back aches and great summer tops.
I will follow up.
Updated on 18 Feb 2014:
Tomorrow is my surgery. I am little anxious but happy that it will be over soon.
I am looking forward to life without back and shoulder pain.
Updated on 19 Feb 2014:
7 hours postop and feel well and a little feeling groggy. Took a nap. Post more soon.
Thanks for the good wishes!
Updated on 20 Feb 2014:
Thanks to everybody! One day post-op feeling a little tired but well.
Las night I had back pain from being in my back during the 4 hour surgery.
The pain is minimal and I am resting a lot. They send me with a JOBST Surgical vest which is good because the band is way below the incision.
Updated on 21 Feb 2014:
I am still doing really well with only minor discomfort. I have taken minimal pain killers. The girls are so hard. I hope I continue with minimal pain. I am sleeping a lot.
Updated on 23 Feb 2014:
Third day: I went for a short walk with my husband and later he drove me to the public library to get a book.
Did not sleep much. The pain is almost nonexistent, just soreness. Have not taken Percocet today or yesterday. I also showered with my husband’s help. The tapes are intact and I have some bruising. I like the shape and perkiness of my new boobs. I don’t have tubes and everything looks fine. I think my doctor did a really good job.
Took some ibuprofen (200mg) in the afternoon and then at night another. I’ve been knitting which is relaxing.
Fourth Day: I am still feeling pretty good but today maybe a little more tired.
I did empty and loaded the dishwasher and did minor things around the house. Took a morning nap for two hours and then took a shower with no help.
No painkillers today. I am nicely surprised since I expected more pain. I hope everything keeps going this well. I am posting pictures before and 4 days after the surgery.
Updated on 26 Feb 2014:
It's been a week since my BR. The pain has been minimal. I did used 2 pecocets the first day and I am getting by with 1 or 2 Ibuprofen (200mg) a day. My energy level is not great but I am feeling good.
Resting is important.
Thanks for the support it has helped a lot.
Updated on 1 Mar 2014:
Yesterday I went to my 1st post-op appointment. The surgery was real successful and almost everything looks ok except for a little opening in the area where the surgical cuts intersect. Doc recommended an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.
They took 457 grams from my left and 357 grams from my right breast.
I am really happy with the results of the BR. I ‘ve been almost pain free just a little sore. I expected more pain.
The negative news: the pathology report came with “a small focus of atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH)”. The doc said I should not be worried but I should follow up on this.
My mammogram was Ok because the spot with ALH was very small. Has anybody had ALH?
I am a little confused and just starting the research about ALH.
Updated on 15 Mar 2014:
This is such a great community and has made my BR so much easier and enjoyable. Thanks to all of you ladies!
I am 3 weeks post-op! Yesterday I went to the 2nd post-op exam. My PS thought everything was going really well and she took the tapes off. Everything is evolving, as it should. During the day I am usually Ok but at night I feel swollen and with minor pain. Last night and today I have been feeling itchy. Could this be due to the removal of the tapes? Spicy food I ate last night? Or normal healing process?
She recommended that I use silicone gel (Kelocote) instead of silicon tapes. She said silicon gel is easier to use than the tape. Has anybody used Kelocote silicon lotion? I’ve never heard of it before but I ordered from Amazon last night. I also bought Bio-oil.
I am looking forward to the summer. I hope that now with my lovely new small boobs I can get a really nice summer dress that fits!
Updated on 25 Mar 2014:
It has been 5 weeks since my BR. Thanks to all of you ladies for your posts. I don’t know what I would have done without you.
I am very happy about my BR. I have not had any back or shoulder pain. Gone are the days of strap indentations in my shoulders.
Things are going much better. My energy level is still not 100% back, but higher than they have been in the 5 previous weeks. I force my self to rest and to listen to my body, which is not an easy task for me.
After my PS took the tapes (3 weeks post) the itching started right away but stopped after taking over the counter allergy pill( Benadryl) as peediewife suggested. Finally I can sleep for some hours in both my sides. I still feel very tight along the horizontal incisions below my breast, I have bumps over the stiches. I think the scars under my breast will need a lot more time to heal. I am hoping that once the stiches dissolve these bumps will be smoother and won’t open up. My lateral incisions are healing faster. I am using Kelo-cote, which is a silicone gel, over the scars and Bio-oil around them.
The first week after surgery I used only a Jobst surgical bra, this is the bra I was sent home from the hospital. The Jobst surgical bra was great right after surgery and at night because the band is soft, wide and seats a couple of inches below the incisions. After the second week I started using a Marena 2” bra during the day The Marena bras offer more support but is not as soft as the Jobst which I still wear at night. I have yet to go bra shopping so I really don’t know what size I am. I think I will wait a couple of weeks.
I don’t know if I am swollen during the day. In the evenings I do feel swollen and tight around my breast. I think my breast have not come down yet.
Updated on 16 Apr 2014:
It’s been 8 weeks since my breast reduction. Although recovery has not been perfect things have improved a lot during the last 4 weeks. My breast are not swollen, the itching disappeared. I don’t think the stiches have dissolved yet. I have been almost pain free, except for two days last week (week 7th) when my left breast hurt for 2 days. I don’t know why this happened but the pain disappeared as quickly as it came.
Energy: My energy level is good. I am back to all my regular activities and started to exercise. I walk, take long hikes and yesterday I went to my first Jazzercise class.
Scars: They are are getting better with some help from Kel-Cote (silicone gel) and Bio Oil.
Size: I don’t know what size I am right now. Before BR I was wearing 34DDD bra which was really way to small for me. My guess is that I am between 34C and 34D. Before I was 38” (97cm) and now I am 34”1/2 (88cm) around the fullest part of my breast, so I am a lot smaller.
Pain: Practically gone
Things that helped :
- Resting
- Wearing a wireless supportive bra 24/7.
- Allergy medication for itching.
- Bromelain for swelling.
Things are so much better than before BR. My back does not hurt and I am much smaller regardless of cup size. I am very happy with my BR. Only regret not having done it earlier.
Thanks to you ladies for the advice and posts. I really don’t know what I would have done without this wonderful site.