Jonathan Witzke, MD, FACS

My experience with the office staff and nurses was excellent (very kind and understanding). My doctor was very informative in discussing my issues and the options available to resolve the issues. I felt he was easy to talk to and very thorough. The surgery result was excellent and better than I had expected.

I am getting a breast reduction August 25. My doctor says I will go from a F cup to a large A. And bc of that I will need a FNG. I don't want one but ppl have said they've regained sensation and protrusion after. I am not really worried about size but I don't want to look disfigured afterwards, it's such a large reduction. I have lost a lot of weight 313lbs to 220lbs and my breast are still at an F cup but not fatty. My insurance Health Partners says I have to remove 916g from each breast but I only have like 1000g ish but they are still huge so he's basically going to take out all of it. Idk how to ask my insurance if they can take out less bc I've called and the other person on the phone only reads me what's on the HP website and isn't an actual medical professional. If anyone has advise on that I'd be greatful. My PS says bc it's such a large reduction I have to have a FNG but I've also read on this site that a FNG is an archaic procedure. Does anyone think I need a FnG? Any advice on FnG did you get feeling back? At the consultation my doctor suggested only taking out 700g but he didn't put his recommendation in the letter for my approval so now I'm stuck with 916g but I'm hoping I can ask my insurance for less? Idk. I have a month until my surgery so we will see. Updated on 28 Jul 2017: So I called my insurance and they expressed that if Dr. Witzkes team calls and explains that it would be medically detrimental to take so much out of my breast then the insurance should follow his advice i.e. I'm 23 and taking out so much breast tissue is like a mastectomy and I'd have to get a FNG and I wouldn't be able to breast feed or have feeling in my nipple. The person on the other side of the phone expressed that I shouldn't have to worry and that it should be taken care of. But who knows honestly. I have an appointment with dr. Witzke on August 1st so let's see. I set that appointment up before I called health partners for the 100th time to see if he would write another letter and put his recommendation in this time since I was already approved but the front desk said I'd need an appointment to ask to see if he'd be willing to write another letter. Updated on 11 Aug 2017: I have a positive update! I was thinking I wasn't going to go through with the surgery since my SNUR score was high and would have taken me from an F to an A. Thankfully after talking to my insurance and my PS, Health Partners agreed to go with my Witzkes recommendation and instead of removing 961g he's only taking 550g and my insurance will still cover it. I knew if he'd put in his recommendation in the first place they would have agreed. He didn't even have to write a letter according to my insurance (even though they said they wrote a letter I know they didn't). So I won't have to get a FNG which witzke seemed a little too eager to do but now since it's like half of what my insurance was asking initially I shouldn't need it. So yay! Never give up and keep trying. I had to call my insurance so many times to get them to understand why taking out 961 grams was way too much and would cause me to need an fng. I'm also grateful that this is working out. I was very lost and sad but now I'm just nervous bc it's happening so soon! Updated on 22 Aug 2017: Ahh it's in a few days! I'm so excited I can barely sleep. I've been working on my abs the last 2-3 weeks doing 100abs at night and I can def see a difference, which when I get reduced I'm sure my gut will still stick out. I also cut out sugar for 8 days and absentmindedly drank lemonade and that spiraled into 3 lemonades and ended with pistachio cheesecake lol but that's still less sugar than I normally have which is sad. Giving up sugar is so hard btw like it's addicting. I'm trying to focus on a cleaner diet bc I'm worried about making a BM after my surgery. I'm not normally regular in the first place so with all the drugs I'm afraid I won't poop for a week lol. Any tips on what I should do to? While I'm healing I'm going to try to eat more salads and not too much heavy foods. I also walk 10k-20k steps a day and idk if I'll have the motivation to restart after a maj hiatus. It's always hard to restart, like I always say next Monday or tomorrow lol we'll see Updated on 27 Aug 2017: So the last few days has just been me sleeping and trying to get comfortable. I've been walking around the house a bit but idk how much is too much. I was really upbeat coming out the hospital but now I've chilled out a lot. He said he hasn't given surgical bras or used drains for years so I think the unevenness is from the fluid. Over all I think they look as good as they can after being chopped up and put back together lol. I need to make a BM. I've drunken prune juice and tons of water and my belly is huge. I've taken a few sips of coffee since it's a natural diuretic and I'm not hungry really but I'm staying hydrated. Updated on 28 Aug 2017: Omg I finally made a BM! Thanks to a salt water flush. My stomach was so hard a huge and I looked pregnant. My stomach hurt so bad. So I made a salt water flush like I used to when I would do those fad cleanses. 2 tsp of sea salt in 1L of warmer than room temp water. Ugh I'm so relieved tbh. I have my first post op appointment with witzke tomorrow morning. Idk what he'll tell me, probably to just shower and stop being a baby lol Updated on 30 Aug 2017: They said there's a little more fluid in the left one but it should reabsorb. My pain is 3/10 and I'm tired of being so stationary but it hurts when I walk too much. I bought a sports bra at a 38c at target but the cup are formed and there's still room lol so I might be a b cup? Oh and my left nipple is inverted but the right sticks out.

Like Most of you ladies on here the story is all the same. Boobs at a very young age. The pain the embarrassment. The hopes of having pretty bras that are adorable. lol. Well Ive been having back pain for as long as I can remember. NOTHING helps. Massages. Stretching. Physical Therapy. Chiropractor. I wasn't about to get hooked on pain meds either. All this was just a temporary fix. Just a band-aid covering up the underlying problem. My Large Heavy Breasts!!! I say 36DDD but I've never been measured. that's what Bra I've always Worn. Its not like you can go to the clearance rack and always buy a new bra. Stick to what ya know is what I always say!! I had my my 3rd and final child about 6 Months ago. Never Breastfed. I am ready to get what Ive wanted since high school.. A Breast Reduction. For years my Doctors have heard the same old thing from me.. Back pain.. Well now I was ready to do something about it. My Regular Physician Recommend Him. (He had to be in Network with my insurance) She called to make the referral. Cosmetics and Plastic Surgeon in Woodbury MN called me back set up a consultation on December 20th 2016. I went to the Consultation. The Person that put me in the room asked me a few questions Took my weight... She came back and slapped this what looked like a breast implant (it said 500mg on it) on the table and said this is what your insurance company says how much you have to have removed. I got all hot and sweaty because it looked huge. I thought of walking right out. I refused to be intimated by a hunk of jiggly plastic. So I watched a video from the American Society of plastic Surgeons and waited for Dr. Jonathan Witzke to come in. He talked to me about my wishes. Talked about my history. Talked about what kind of reduction I needed. Asked if I had any questions. A different Lady came in They took Measurements and Pictures. Explained the risks. Explained what could happen if I did too much too soon. Kinda freaked me out. The same Lady that Slapped the Implant on the table came back in and talked about what steps happen next and gave me some paperwork in a folder. She seemed very surprised that Dr. Witzke thought I was a good candidate for breast reduction. (Maybe because after many years of practice I've learned to Hide my Boobs very well) It said in the paperwork they let me take home give us 3-4 Weeks to hear back from the Insurance company to see if you are approved. Me being a little OCD I called The office about 3 Weeks after my consultation to check on things and thank goodness that I did!!! because they said that someone had forgot to submit my claim to the insurance. (probably was the implant girl again. LOL. Just playing) They apologized and said they would submit it right away. I was super fustrated because I've waited long enough and now to wait another 3-4 Weeks just seemed like forever again. But I immediately calmed down because I remembered everyone makes mistakes. Including myself!!! I actually heard back within a week!!! (they probably put RUSH on it.) They said that my insurance APPROVED IT!!! Whoo Whoo!! The Health Partner's Same Day Surgery Center of St. Paul Mn called me the next day to set my appointment. I'm scheduled March 3rd 2017!!! Can't wait. My insurance company also called to verify a few things and sent me a link for videos about surgery and Breast Reduction Surgery. So now Im trying to get all my ducks in a row. House Spring cleaned (right now it's 56 in February) It will be spring before you know it and I'm such OCD that I want to get all my Spring house cleaning done before the surgery knowing that I wouldn't be up for that vigorous cleaning for a few months after surgery. Got my post operation care supplies. Week off work. (hoping only a week) Kids are going to stay with grandparents. Hubby will take care of me after. Just ready to loose these Jugs. Oh and I'm trying to loose weight before surgery get back to my not so long ago pre pregnancy weight of 148. Since my consultation in December I've lost 11 lbs. I have 2 weeks to go before surgery I'm going to try to loose more. Very healthy way. Lots of protein. not starving myself. 1,300 calories a day. ***Update. My surgery was reschedule for Sat March 4th not Friday March 3rd 2017. and it was moved locations from Health Partner's Same Day Surgery Center to Regions Hospital in St Paul MN. Updated on 21 Mar 2017: I'm now 17 days Post operation.   I'm am so happy with Dr. Jonathan Witzke!!!  At Cosmetic & Plastic Surgeons. Woodbury, MN. 651-255-7777 I feel like a whole new Lady.  I was off my pain meds within 24 hours after my surgery. I iced for the first 48 hours. Showered after day 2. 500Mg was removed off each boob.  They said that's a pound off each breast.  I will never look at a pound of hamburger the same!!! LOL. I think am a very positive outcome. I'm one of the Very Lucky ones that had amazing Surgeon. Surgery. And Recovery   My children were with my Mother in law and my mom for the week.  I went and got them 6 days after my surgery. I couldn't take being away from them that long. Even though we went to dinner there a few nights to see them. I tried very hard not to pick them up but a moms got to do what a moms got to do. A 6 Month and a 2 year old are not self sufficient. And I wasn't about to wait for Breast reduction surgery until they were. I was pretty much pain free after 4 days other then when I put pressure on them.  My steri strips stayed on for over a week.  I still have Surgical tape/Mesh glued onto my Under Boob the "T" area.  You really cant see that its there. It's Itchy once in awhile.  A little bit yellowish discharge on the bottom of boob for the first 3 Days. (Less then a pinky nail size drops).  I used ultra thin maxi pads stuck them to my bra to absorb anything.   I returned to work 9 days post op.  Now at 17 days post op I am able to sleep somewhat on my side and flat not elevated. I've had extremely good range of motion in my arms about a week out and getting better everyday. I am able to lift my 27 lb child with no problem.  The only thing that hurts is when something puts pressure on my Breasts.. And Holy Sensation!!  Ive heard that some people loose it..  Not me.  My nips are now ultra sensitive to the Cold and Touch I'm actually hoping that it subsides a little.  Every now and then I get the "zingers" that people talk about.  But I don't think they are as bad as people made them out to be.   I hope that I will be even smaller then I am at Day 17. I feel like I'm a little swollen still. want to be a low C. I'm pretty sure that's what he said I would be after the insurance requirement of 500mg each to be removed. Dr Jonathan Witzke is a miracle worker. I'm very happy with my after Boobs! And a whole new chapter in my life!  Thank you!!! Updated on 22 Mar 2017: Well today I removed the Mesh/Tape that was glued to my T area. It was a little uncomfortable but I am so happy that I did it. I feel even better. have all range of arms back without feeling like if I stretch too far my incisions are going to pop open. The glue was pretty hard to remove. I used rubbing alcohol and a wash rag. That part was more painful then the strips coming off. I think that my scars look pretty great. other then the end of them under my armpit area. and they are still a little red from rubbing glue off. There is a bump on each side. I've heard of being able to have it removed later so I'm not too worried about it. I go in 2 days for my 3 week Post Operation visit. Updated on 22 Mar 2017: Wow. You really dont think that a lot was removed until you see it side by side. I am almost 3 Weeks post operation when I decided to take my mesh off. Since doing so i have a lot more comfort. My bra was starting to stick to the glue and I would have to some what peel it off and re adjust many times a day. Updated on 29 Mar 2017: 25 Days Post Operation. I'm feeling amazing. No pain unless I put pressure on my breasts. I wanna say that for the most part my back pain due to my heavy breasts is gone... but I still have pain. Maybe My back is adjusting to the new normal?? I have been been going back and forth about if my boobs are still on the bigger side or not. To me I would have been happy with a small B.... But for my body frame I think I am proportionate. I just have had boobs forEVER!!! and just dont see the need for them.. Lol. Just kidding. I think I'm still a bit swollen so I'm just waiting it out. My Boyfriend accidentally bumped into me over the weekend which broke open under my nipple. Brownish clearish liquid was dripping out (maybe 15 drops) of my right breast but within 5 minutes it quit. I wasn't too worried. It just made me more confident that there was still fluid that is making them swollen. I've ran into a few people that knew I was going in for the procedure and they were like. They still look big!! I'm like I KNOW. laughing. Then I tell them that I had a 1lb off each breast and they are shocked. I was a master of disguise. I hid my Boobs very well with clothing. Tank tops and bras. I honestly will be Happy. Confidant. Thankful. That I had such a amazing outcome. Wouldn't change a thing!! Happy Happy!! Updated on 8 Apr 2017: 5 weeks Post Operation and the swelling has gone down quite a bit. I still hoping for them to go down more but don't think it will be too much of a difference. My ripples under my arm area at the end of my incision has gone down like the Nurse said it would. Not all the way but a lot better then before. My Breast applied pressure tolerance is getting better every day. I even laid on my belly and was vacuuming under the bed.. I got up and was like wow.. I didn't even notice I had done that to my boobs. I feel great. Updated on 9 Apr 2017: 5 weeks Post Operation and the swelling has gone down quite a bit. I still want for them to go down more but don't think it will be too much of a difference. My ripples under my arm area at the end of my incision has gone down like the Nurse said it would. Not all the way but a lot better then before. My Breast applied pressure tolerance is getting better every day. I even laid on my belly and was vacuuming under the bed.. I got up and was like wow.. I didn't even notice I had done that to my boobs. I feel great. ***My previous update didn't save pictures. so I did another same update with pictures *** Updated on 9 Apr 2017: I just wanted to share a Before and 5 week After picture. I just didn't realize how big I was before.. I still feel big but holy I sure was Large. I just was thinking that I haven't had much back pain as before. The only pain I think I have is probably my back adjusting to the new normal. Updated on 19 Apr 2017: I'm just updating some pictures. I have a hard time deciding if I feel like I look too big still or if they are just right. I use to think that I look smaller when I have my shirt on... Now I think that I look bigger when I have it on vs when I have it off.. I'm at war with myself. 99% of the time I feel like they are still too big. Ugh. I should just quit and be at ease with all this size stuff. But going on for years with back pain.. the embarrassment of having XL breasts. All the other scrap that is added you just want the outcome to be 100% Perfect! Which in my case I know it is!! LOL. Like I said I'm at war with myself. I keep reading that it will be a few more months for all the swelling and settling to be done. I would have been happy with an A cup. I SHOULD HAVE JUST ASKED FOR IT!! Anyways enough already... Here are my 6.5 week breasts. Updated on 24 Apr 2017: 7 weeks later. You can tell just how much swelling has subsided Updated on 1 May 2017: Posting some 8 week post Operation pictures Updated on 3 May 2017: Not much has changed. Although I think they have gotten a little smaller. Updated on 20 Jun 2017: I'm so happy!! I feel so much relief. Although I think my upper body is adjusting to a new normal I can honestly say that my back pain has reduced to about 20% I still get muscle tingles and burning sensations in my neck area but I'm hoping that those will fade as my posture gets back to where it should be. I am so much more confident. Also have lost 27 pounds in 6 months so that could be contributing to my body feeling great. I still think they should be smaller. Lol. My scars are fading without using any creams or sheeting. It is hard for me to not tan my scars. I just am all around happy with my results. Updated on 20 Jun 2017: A laying down picture Updated on 27 Jul 2017: 1 week from being 5 months post operation. Plus a 30lb weight loss. I went to Kohls and tried on a whole bunch of bras. Different brands. Different sizes. It came down to a 36C. Which I was happy about. Maybe a larger C. But still a C I have some dumb tan lines. Have yet to tan my scars. Waiting a year or more. I have not used any lotions or scar cream. I'm waiting to see what my body does on its own first. Updated on 20 Sep 2017: I defiantly am in a 36C and when I bend over there is parts where my breast doesn't touch my bra. So a small C?? Very happy still with my results. Now a 35lb loss I'm down to 145. My pre pregnancy weight. I'm just where I want to be. No more no less. I feel like a whole new me. One of the best decisions I made. I was asked by a fellow realself member if weight loss effected my breasts. Now that I think about it I think they would be more filled out on the top if I didn't loose ant weight. Fuller boobs or 35lbs?? Totally go with the 35 lbs lost!! Updated on 20 Sep 2017: Pictures of Before and 6.5 Months Post Operation. The Circled mole makes it pretty clear just how big my boobies were!!!

I had big boobs since 6th grade and can't wait to be active without wearing 2 sports bras or dropping 50+ bucks on one and still having my back ache after going on a short run (and then shortly becoming discouraged). The main reason I've decided to (finally) pursue a breast reduction is fear of going under the knife finally seems less terrible that putting up with a life of back pain (plus cute bras!) I've done the chiropractic thing, the muscle relaxants, physical therapists, and frankly, I'm ready just to see my chiropractor when I sleep in a really awkward position (or something that warrants a visit). I had my initial consultation on 6/8 and just found out 7/21 that I was approved through my insurance (BCBS). The plan is for 500 grams to be taken from my right breast and slightly less to be taken from my left breast. I've also met my deductible through all the chiropractor, doctor visits, physical therapist appts et al on my way to this point so my max out of pocket cost will only be roughly $1500. I've put in for FMLA for my job and have started trying to get all my ducks in a row albeit it being 5 weeks out. I have my pre-op physical scheduled for 8.18 and my pre-op consultation scheduled for 8.19. More details/pics to follow :) Updated on 20 Aug 2015: I'm 8 days out now and figured it's time to throw an update on my upcoming breast reduction surgery. I had my pre-op physical on 8.18 and a visit with my surgeon yesterday (8.19) to go over the surgery and my expectations one final time. I didn't have too much nerves about the whole situation until he said "see you next friday"...eeek! I found out in my visit with my surgeon that I will (more than likely) not have drain tunes and will not be donning a surgical bra after the surgery (Ace bandage wraps). I've been fairly good about not googling worst case scenarios with this surgery, and that's how I think I'm still as calm as I am. I've been busy as hell preparing my apartment for the surgery (I finally upgraded my tube TV to a flatscreen) and also myself (I've been trying to eat healthy and exercise every day). All in all though I think the reason I'm haven't chewed off all my fingers in sheer terror is because how excited I am at the idea of no more back pain. Keep posted, I'll be putting up my next post closer or on surgery day. Updated on 25 Aug 2015: Surgery is in 3 days!!! Figured I best put up my before pics so I can appreciate the change after. Updated on 29 Aug 2015: What a ride. I got a call Thursday afternoon letting me know I could bump my surgery up to 11:15AM from 1:00. I signed up...I had a feeling the whole no food and water for 13 hours was going to get to me. I arrived at the hospital at 10:15, signed in, then was taken to a room where they took vitals and (gasp!) put in the IV. I started freaking out and they offered me a Valium to calm down (this, besides my wisdom teeth was my first surgery ever. I had a gentleman come in later to let me know the surgery got pushed back again to around 12:30, but I didn't care. After that I was wheeled back into the room where I would have surgery, the anesthesiologist hooked up the IV and I drifted off to a happy place until around 4. When I first woke up the nurse asked my pain level and it was pretty intense. They set me up with some pain killer (I believe it was through the IV, and it took it down to a manageable level. They wheeled me back over to my room, where my friends were receiving post op instructions and gave me a percocet before I departed. I got dressed, wheeled down to my best friends car, and embarked on an hour and half ride to my best friends house. Thankfully, the anesthesia did not make me nauseous and I didn't have to use the puke bag they gave me. Once I got home, I was hungry but heeded the nurses worning about taking it easy on eating too much too soon. I had an alarm ready for the next dosage of pain killers and antibiotics and I've been trying really hard to stay on top of the pain, especially for these first few days. I've been sleeping a lot, but did get to take a pic when I adjusted my ace wrap and so far they are the cute, perky boobs, I always wished I could have! The pain isn't as terrible as I thought it would be, either (I opted not to wake up on the middle of the night to take more drugs and was just very sore). I get to take my first shower tomorrow and I have my post op appt set for Monday, the 31st. Updated on 29 Aug 2015: Updated on 30 Aug 2015: I've been pretty much gloating to everyone about how I feel better than I ever thought I would after surgery. So I thought today would be appropriate to start cutting back on pain meds (because of the GI effects and constipation sucks). BAD IDEA. In between my "let's taper off the meds" attitude and my desire to be productive (I'm knitting a cable-intense neck warmer), I managed to push my limits too far. I ended up in tears by the end of the night. I was allowed a shower today but after pushing myself I'm deciding to wait until my post-op appt, which is tomorrow. Other highlights of the day was I had my first bowel movement post surgery. Despite prepping with stool softeners and lots of fiber in my diet, nothing could have prepared me for how terrible the constipation is. I had my sister run out and grab me coffee and Mag Citrate, just in case nothing happened. Thus far, today is probably the most painful day I've had (I'm going to put most of the blame on myself). Updated on 31 Aug 2015: Had my post op app today and looks like everything is healing well :) I am starting to feel less lethargic especially after my shower and getting over the constipation hump. I went home to my apartment today after being taken care of by my best friend since the day of surgery. Now I just have to drill it into my head to not overdo it! Updated on 14 Sep 2015: Healing up now! Just to remember to take it easy now that I feel good!