Closing an Old Chapter and Opening Up a New One - Albany, NY

I am 53 years old and a mom of three children. I am 5'7" and weigh 180 pounds. I have a classic apple shaped figure. I am currently a 40H/38J (J cups are very hard to find). My surgeon said that his aim is to make my breasts proportionate to the rest of me which will most likely be a DD or DDD. I am just looking forward to having them lifted, shaped and having nipples that face forward. I am also having liposuction of my flanks and upper buttocks at the same time.

I have had large breasts since junior high school. Boys were constantly trying to look down my shirt and even used to offer me money to look at them. I have been embarrassed about my breasts ever since. They seem to get in the way of everything. I had to change gyms because I was too embarrassed to jog on the treadmill in front of men. I even tried to join a boot camp - not a good idea to jump rope or do jumping jacks with big boobs flopping everywhere - the same goes for zumba classes.

Seven years ago I weighed 330 pounds and when I was lying in bed after having a strangulated hernia removed I made a promise to myself that I would lose weight so I decided to do it "The Biggest Loser" style and put all my time and effort into exercising and eating right and I managed to get down to 165 pounds within a year - which put me at a size 8/10 after I had my excess skin removed. Unfortunately, two years ago I started feeling tired all the time and had no energy to go to the gym and I gained 40 pounds back. I was recently diagnosed with having a thyroid problem and since I have started to take medication I have gotten my energy back and am now 15 pounds from my goal weight. Having the breast reduction and liposuction will be finally closing an old chapter in my life and opening up a new one.

I am having my work done a week from today in Albany, NY. My mom lives up there and I can rest and relax after my procedure. If I stayed in the city I would never get any rest. Our daughter and her boyfriend are coming to stay so they can keep an eye on my younger son and help out my husband who is disabled (my oldest son is living in Ireland).

I would like to thank all the people who have shared their stories and after pictures. Your words and pictures are truly inspiring and encouraging and filled with such good advice.

Sorry for the long post - but it was very cathartic - rather like a dear diary entry.

I have been so hot and miserable the last couple of days. It is so hard to do everything when it is 99 degrees outside. I only have to go to the laundromat and then I am off to my mom's house. My surgery is scheduled for first thing in the morning and I am just so excited to finally get this weight off my back. I really wish I had done it sooner - but better late then never.

I won't be able to post anything or share after pictures for a week for so because my mother (she is 87) doesn't have the internet. Thankfully, she does have cable so I can indulge in House and Law and Order SVU reruns, and of course, there is always Redbox. My sister gave me a bag full of magazines and books for my birthday so I will be able to indulge in reading as well. I think the boredom may get to me.

Thanks again, for all the prayers and well wishes.

I just got back from my mom's house in Albany where I was recovering from my breast reduction and lipo on my flanks.

I could not be more pleased with my new breasts - I think euphoric is a good word to describe my mood lately. I love looking at them - I can't believe that at 54 I can actually where a normal sports bra and walk around in a tank top with out bopping up and down.

My breasts are still quite swollen and very hard and perky. I had my stitches removed last Thursday (six days after the surgery). I am still taping them. I have to say that the pain from the breast reduction has been minimal - I haven't had to take any pain killers. The only discomfort I felt at first was when the "one size DOES NOT fit all" compression bra was digging into my stitches. I have since switched over to a compression sports bra and feel fine.

If anyone has not had the procedure yet and is reading this - you really need to take your time picking out a sports bra. I had a terrible time finding one that fit comfortably. The zip up one was comfortable but kept on unzipping and then I tried a cute black one only to find that it rode up on my breasts - because my breasts are naturally on the low side so whenever I moved my arms the bra rode up. I have since found one with a big band at the bottom that fits really well. A comfortable bra is a must. My doctor doesn't believe in icing so I haven't been doing that.

By far the most uncomfortable feeling is from the lipo on my back - it felt like I was hit repeatedly with a baseball bat. And, it is very uncomfortable to have to sleep on my back because of the reduction I can't sleep on my side. If I had thought about it, I probably would have had them done at different times.

I will try to post after pictures tomorrow - they are amazing! The surgeon took six pounds off my breasts and five pounds from my back. So I am feeling light and very happy at the moment. The feeling of not carrying around my heavy boobs and having my bra straps digging into my shoulder just feels fantastic. It also feels great to be able to button a blouse and not have it gape open! Also, I got my nipple sensitivity back already which was a pleasant surprise (although they do feel pretty strange sometimes rubbing up against my bra).

The only downside to the whole thing was that I was only able to see my daughter for a day before I had to drive her and her boyfriend back to the airport. Which means it is just me, my disabled husband and 12-year old son at home. That means I am going to have to try very hard not to do too much.

Also, I would like to thank everyone for their support. This web site is an amazing place for people who are thinking about having a reduction or for those of us just having it done.