Well thought now I have plucked up courage will write my review.
I am 51,5ft 6 and at present 12stone.
My breasts developed at an early age 11and I remember being in bra from junior school. Always felt uncomfortable with them and fed up wearing size 14 skirts and 16 to 18 tops. Men always stare especially on holiday when I was in a bikini. I would hold one breast up and see my waist and loved the look. 5 years ago I sold my house and had some money,it was the time Ulrika Johnsson was in the papers having hers reduced. I so wanted it done but was single at time but frightened what a potential partner would say.
Move on 5 years and I am happily married to the most amazing man who accepted that I did not like my breasts being droopy and heavy and was happy when I mentioned a reduction. I also had a fibroadenoma in Left breast and wanted that removed as causing me pain and thought an ideal time.
Choosing my surgeon was easy,private ofcourse as no medical insurance in UK to cover cost. My surgeon had done 2 breast reductions on friends and upper eyelids on another friend. So I met with him first in May and he was charming and approachable and I immediately felt at ease with him exposing my droopies. Met with him again in September for a few last minute questions.
Surgery set for October as I had holiday in September.
Pre op week before very simple,blood tests,full medical history,BP etc. I think I was low risk as pretty healthy.
The day of the op was fast approaching,think more excited than anything else. Reported to hospital at 11.15 and went to theatre about 14.15. Anaesthetist also lovely and it did help having a theatre/recovery nurse that I knew as by this point about to jump off the bed!!
Woke up about 2 hours later,clock said 16.45, a burning pain in my nipples so had some oramorph which worked a treat.Here my surgeon likes to use a pec block which is about 30mls local anaesthetic administered into nerves around chest,think that helped a lot. Two drains insitu as previously informed. My first night I did not sleep as foot pumps on and too scared to close my eyes. pain level good,only needed 1 codeine and 2 paracetamol regularly. No nausea but think I am lucky like that after anaesthesia.
Minimal amount of blood in drains next morning so removed,ouchy.....luckily had a very funny nurse who made me laugh whilst doing it. Home day 2,cuddling a pillow.
Sports bra on and into chair to do nothing.
I am a bad patient!!! Being on the other side is not easy!! My husband is great. My instructions from surgeon were,sports bra on,no showering and see you day 12. Well long wait till they were unveiled.
Pain wise things have been good, wounds steristripped and covered with tape,I did not want to look at them and my brain played up a lot thinking the worst. But I did look after myself with high protein diet,arnica,vit c and zinc.
Day 3,4,5 and 6 the worst, as swelling,zingers and side incisions feeling like 2 bits of flesh rubbing together. Wishing the time would pass and thinking about smaller tops. I asked for a minimum D and they are ridiculously pert at the moment!! I like looking down on them. I have read so many good things on real self like don't get het up on size etc and that by 6 months they will be dropping and fluffing so feel reassured by all you lovely ladies on here xThanks x
Day 12 feeling great but nervous as see surgeon today.
Updated on 21 Oct 2014:
Went to see surgeon today. Tape and steristrips removed. OMG so bruised and swollen,also blisters where I have reacted with tape. He says OK but I freaked out as so tender. Now need to put vaseline on scars and wear a very light bra. They feel so uncomfortable now. My lovely husband says not as bad as he thought. Surgeon must have thought I was an idiot as I made such a fuss.....but so anxious and frightened that things went ok. I do bruise easily as pale skin but this is ridiculous. Size wise I love them,he was worried gone to small,but just the fact that they are not hanging is a bonus. See him again in 2 weeks. Please someone reassure me that my reaction is normal. I sort of don't want to look at them but know that I have to. Has anyone else had bruising that takes ages to go away. Not sure it helps but my period is due soon. I read another reviewer that said she just wishes time would speed up and be past this stage. Me too!! Will get hubby to take picture tonight.
Updated on 22 Oct 2014:
Tearful yesterday! Wanting the next few weeks to whizz by! Love my husband so much,always here to cheer me up and give reassurance. Righty still swollen and notice a tiny amount of yellow fluid on bra. Nipple also hypersensitive on this side and I hate applying vaseline to scars. Overall though I think improving bruising wise. Still having pain relief regularly as do not want to wait till I get pain. Last night I slept well and think I am getting more used to sleeping on back and upright. Steak for dinner tonight although no alcohol since op. Am taking high doses of Vit C and zinc and very healthy diet( Hb pre op extremely good)
Music helps me recover,so playing it loud and singing away.Staying positive.
Updated on 27 Oct 2014:
At lastI am feeling myself again. Just been for my first dog walk. I have a 6 year old labrador and worried she might pull me but I need not have worried...she was as good as gold and walked slowly.
My only problem is bras!!! My friend who had a reduction last year gave me 2 soft camisoles which were easy to step into . But I have to change them every day as so much vaseline!!! Had a trip to M and S yesterday to buy the Santori bra and they could not find it and suggested I buy on line. So ordered yesterday for next day delivery but email today saying they can not deliver. Also ordered a Genie bra from internet but not arrived. I feel they need more support and with both camisoles on they felt great. Also got some non stick dressings to put in bra along suture line so vaseline does not ruin all my bras. I can look at them a lot more now and bruising improving. Love the size but not sure I will be the requested D cup...more like a C. But I did this for myself and my body issues. In the summer fed up wearing big bras under little t shirts and rashes under breasts. Also now fibroadenoma removed hopefully no pain or puckering in breast.
Keep thinking positive ladies. Seeing surgeon next week and need to apologise to him for being such a baby last week when dressings removed.
Minimum pain relief....to be honest taking it mainly as sore back and shoulder!!
Updated on 29 Oct 2014:
Well last night whilst swapping bras and applying vaseline I noticed a small sloughy area at T junction below R nipple. Totally freaked me out!!!! Think it smelt a bit as well. The swelling in this breast is taking a bit longer to go down and also this one is the most painful. Funny that as other one more bruised!! I wish I had put dressings in bra earlier as wonder if rubbing on bra has caused this. So at nine o'clock this morning on phone to surgeon's secretary. She rang me back within hour and has asked me to see nurse at hospital at 14.00. Because my surgeon also works for NHS unable to see him which I appreciate. Fingers crossed this is not the beginning of wound separation!
Updated on 30 Oct 2014:
Well I saw the nurse yesterday and told nothing to worry about. The area that I was worried about had scabbed over and was not looking red or infected. But my anxiety levels through the roof!!! Think it may be the small amount of codeine that I am still taking,not for breast pain but for my back and shoulder. Last night I had a lovely soak in the bath and washed under my breasts with wet make up pads and then vaselined up again. Today as well I am wearing a tight long sleeved t shirt and OMG they look amazing!!! So cheered myself up again and had a little dance!!!
Updated on 2 Nov 2014:
So nearly 4 weeks and think I am slowly healing. My left breast is perfect but righty still misbehaving!! Area below nipple at t junction still looks sloughy and reddened area now on horizontal scar,maybe from bra rubbing. This side was the most swollen and nipple hypersensitive,thankfully that improving too. The area around collar bone on this side also remains swollen,but presuming from the pec block. Lots of swelling below breasts and my ribs are tender now. Meant to be going back to work Wednesday but will not even think about it until wound healed properly. Also have 2 bags 12lbs and 9lbs to carry at work!!! So will ask surgeon is advisable. Feeling a bit down in the dumps about my healing.
Updated on 3 Nov 2014:
Day 26 and this afternoon I had an appointment with my lovely and patient Consultant. My areas that I am concerned about on R breast are stitch abscess'. I am to continue with my daily shower with simple soap and then to rub E45 into scars and surrounding tissue. The non stick dressings are fine. Still some bruising and skin now shiny. My right nipple not as hyper sensitive as it was so that improving too. Have feeling in both of them which I am so grateful for. He has done a fantastic job and I just want to hug him!! Not sure the done thing though!! Will definitely get husband to take pictures tonight girls.
Updated on 5 Nov 2014:
Well still not happy about mucky bits on suture lines. Have stopped E 45 completely hoping they will dry out. Have been brave and taken some pictures tonight.
Updated on 27 Nov 2014:
Four weeks and 3 days and mostly feeling good.But there is a piece of stitch poking out from vertical scar right side. I am just cleaning with saline once a day and putting non stick dressing on( dry gauze sticking and hurt to remove) Not due to see consultant for another 8 days so presume I just hang on. I have read on this forum about them being cut or pulled out. This breast also looking an odd shape and in tight top looks bigger. But I am told I am to be patient!!! It is my wedding anniversary in 4 weeks and husband booked short holiday bt at this stage I am thinking no swimming or sunbathing.....whate a shame.
Updated on 27 Nov 2014:
In all the posts on here think I am being brave mentioning this as no one else does!! Intimate with my husband last night,first time since operation. Boobies in a bra! But it did mean so much to me, felt special as it was me the person he loved and not my breasts. I guess that is the great relationship we have.
Updated on 27 Nov 2014:
On Monday I did not feel too good,bit flushed and shivery with a headache. That night during my shower and dressing change I thought my right breast was a lot angrier looking and my 3 areas of reduced healing looked worse. So yesterday morning I rang the hospital.Wasseen by a lovely nurse who actually saw me last week with consultant. She agreed they were looking redder. She got a spotlight on them and looked closely!!! She thinks there is new tissure there...hoorah! She then ot out some sterile tweezers and removed bits of scab from aroud nipple,something I could not bring myself to do,was waiting for them to wash off in shower. They now look so much better. Reviewed by Doctor and now on antibiotics. Last night after 3 doses everything felt so much better. Happy happy happy.
Updated on 27 Nov 2014:
Been a bit remiss of updating here but my mind has been on other things......healing. So saw consultant beginning of last week and he was very reassuring again. Me on the other hand angry that my body not doing what it should! "Rome was not built in a day" was his answer, you will heal. He really is a caring man and shows so much concern when I see him. I think he realises that I am an anxious medical professional. Right breast is my problem still, vertical scar has 2 ulcers about 2cms in diameter, they do look clean and red. I was given another dressing to try, a mesh. This breast is also slightly bigger and bulkier around the cleavage, the scar is overlapping here too. I spend a lot of time looking down my clothes at my cleavage and this is the bit that is worrying me. I know I have to wait at least 6 months for swelling to diminish and for them to fall into place. I will feel bad mentioning it to him however as think he has done a wonderful job. Left breast beautiful, I call this one Monday and bad one Friday!!
I will not lie, this has knocked me sideways, I am healthy and have done all the right things to heal. I have been so hard on myself, becoming emotional and tearful. Initially I dreaded showering daily and looking at them but love them now. Do not forget a major operation and I have about 80cm of scar(yes I was bored one day and measured!)
Things to look forward to..... Next week is my 4th wedding anniversary and my darling husband is taking me on holiday abroad for some sun. Although I will not be able to lie on my abdomen or swim I am planning on relaxing in sun and reading my book ( as per Drs orders). Christmas is coming and I have already splashed out on some new clothes. Now I have amazing pert breasts( my friend said I looked like I had lost a stone in weight) I am determined to tone up again, back to gym and eating healthily is my new aim.
Will take some pics soon , especially in new bikini top, a bandeau, that I have never been able to wear before because boobies were so low slung.
Happy healing everybody. I read so many good reviews on here about people healing well and bouncing back that I thought I would give you my perspective. We are all different, genetics pay a big part. Relax and rest, let your body do its best in its own time.
Updated on 27 Nov 2014:
Updated on 15 May 2015:
Seven months post op. Been getting on with life and new boobs!
Things settled probably about five months,became more comfortable and able to wear underwired bras again. Had two weeks holiday in Egypt and splashed out on new bikinis. Felt great as no one staring at me and no sweaty rashes under them.
Saw my consultant at six months and explained overall that happy but right breast cup size bigger than left as you can see from picture. My main problem is my cleavage,bulky and small dog ear. I asked him if he would do some revision work under local anaesthetic and initially he said no....that I would need a GA. I protested as really do not want a GA. He has now agreed to some revision work under local anaesthetic but in main theatres,bug not in his office. So I gave things 9/10 but looking at them in this picture I hate them! Odd looking things that are on my chest wall! My scars are ok but where I took a while to heal the skin is very thin.
So deciding if this was a good thing or not..... I like them enclosed in a bra and covered by clothes but not so much naked. But think I am being over critical with myself...a hatred of my body probably as getting older! Yes I am more comfortable,settled into a 38D bra and yes not so self conscious. My husband loves them however they look and he is the most important but I need some more persuasion.
I am presently trying to lose some weight and get fitter so they may end up empty sacks again! If this is case may look at some stuffing in later years.
Surgeon lovely as ever and probably fed up with me(I get this impression some times)
Hoping all my lovely reduction ladies from October are doing well and would love to hear from you.
Updated on 15 May 2015:
He thinks I am an idiot and he loves them as perky!
Updated on 10 Dec 2015:
Not sure where the year has gone!
Last saw Mr F in April and asked for small revision which he agreed to. Put it to back of my mind, lots of lovely holidays and builders renovating my house and creating dust, dust and yet more dust. Enjoying having smaller breasts and getting to love them and suddenly it was time to see him again! So fourteen months after my original surgery I have just had a small revision of dog ear on right inner aspect of breast( cleavage) it was a bit bulky there and driving me potty as what I saw when I looked down.
It was so simple to do, local anaesthetic and bish bosh 15 minutes later completed. I was very nervous and rabbited on throughout( I am sure that I do not normally talk this much!) As I said to nurse as I walked in, just talk to me! To keep me occupied and don't cover my face with sterile drapes! Don't know why I bothered being nervous it really was simple and easy.
This time a small opsite dressing was applied so I can shower( no one likes a smelly person at a Christmas party!)
It was done at 09.00 and at 15.00 I had a couple of paracetamol but that was all, no pain at all. Then off to celebrate my wedding anniversary.
Just taken these pictures six days later, I do bruise beautifully but it does not hurt. Just about to take dressing off and start vaselining my new scar. As you can see my scaring really is good,thanks to Mr F's skilled surgery and aftercare and some good genetics!
Going back to see him in six weeks. Will update then with more pictures as there really has been a big difference last pictures in April.