I have wanted a reduction for years, and finally did it! My surgeon was trained both in general surgery and plastics, and is very highly ranked (hence my increased cost). It took him 6 1/2 hours and he put in over 1,500 stitches. He also cleaned out all of my fibroids. I spent one night in the hospital. They look great, but at 2 1/2 weeks out, they still HURT. I'm back to work, sore, and only on Tylenol (apparently Advil is not recommended until after 3 weeks). All of that being said, I put on a sweater for the first time this morning and it was TOOOOOO BIIIGGGG!! I've looked at this site and it's clear many surgeons have different procedures and expectations (I had no surgery bra, and NO ADVIL-- others apparently have both). I would do it again in a heartbeat, and the surgeon was amazing.