POSTED UNDER Breast Reduction REVIEWS
Breast Reduction & hydradenitis supprativa - Austin, TX
ORIGINAL POST
I was facing a future of crippling pain and being...
WORTH IT$13,000
I was facing a future of crippling pain and being wheelchair bound before I made the decision to give myself a fighting chance to change it. My woes started around age 15 when I developed large breasts early and began having cysts in my armpits and pubic area. My breasts continued growing and was lugging around 32F at my thinnest in my 20's which caused chronic pain in my neck,back and shoulders . I dislocated my left knee In 8th grade doing ballet and my other knee dislocated in college. After 7 knee surgeries over the past years I have bone on bone grinding and am in need of replacing both joints now. My cysts weren't diagnosed as Hydradenitis Supprativa until I was 32. Previous to the diagnosis I had thought they were from ingrown hairs until my mid 20's when they increased in size ( from pimple to golf ball) and frequency of occurrence. It was then that the cysts began appearing on my breasts and along my sides. I was terrified that I had cancer or even possibly AIDS, so it was a relief when I was diagnosed with HS. Between the debilitating pain of cysts and crippled knees I wasn't able to get enough exercise to balance my weight and slowly put on the pounds. It was a cluster****! After years of wishing I had normal sized breasts I had the means to do something about it. 13
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UPDATED FROM RSMember2257
On September 25,2012 I had my breast reduction,...
On September 25,2012 I had my breast reduction, the first of 3 procedures that will give me the chance to change my life. The surgery removed 5 lbs from my breasts.. As most women with large breasts I had never been unable to get a conclusive mammogram due to the density and presence of cysts. Originally, I had thought I would need a bilateral mastectomy to protect myself from breast cancer. I discussed my concerns with the surgeon who shared his wife's experience with similar issues and decided to get a reduction and hold off from the full mastectomy. I had the tissue sent to pathology for a thorough screening for breast cancer and am currently waiting to hear the results. His wife had cancer present in her breasts and she did have the mastectomy, but she is healthy now. For many women a breast reduction isn't so much about the way they look, but about our health and quality of life.
The first thing I noticed upon waking up after the surgery was how I could get a full breath of air. I hadn't been able to fully inhale due to the weight on my chest for years. I had just gotten used to it so I didn't even realize until I took those first few breaths how different it felt to get my lungs full of oxygen. What a difference it is to actually breathe, lol!! I had no pain at all and I was already in my post surgical compression bra so I could see the contours of my new breasts. They were no longer the suffocating blobs of fat that usually rested in my armpits when laying down. They were a normal looking breast size. I am still in awe of how beautiful they are.
It wasn't until I got up to walk with the nurse that I realized I was no longer limping from the pain in my feet caused by my Sciatica and for the first time in years was able to stand up straight. My posture was bent forward and had begun to develop a hump in my back from the weight of my breasts before. This was a miracle! I hadn't known what to expect from lightening my load. I read that not all women experience relief from back pain with a breast reduction, but am overjoyed to report I haven't had one lick of pain or soreness since the surgery. I'm 9 days post-op now and absolutely thrilled with the results.
Cosmetically, the shape of my breasts is what they were when I was a C cup at 14 and the embarrassingly stretched out aeriolas are now the most adorable nickel sized beauties that I ever saw. It almost seems a shame to have to cover them up. For now I am healing well and following everything my surgeon told me to do. It will be a while before I can go topless, but I'll be flashing my friends soon enough :) My husband, who was a major fan of my over large natural boobies (lol, sicko!) is now saying he wants to keep me in seclusion because of fights he may have to get in over how good I look! I got plenty of attention from men and women before, but it was more humiliating than flattering because I felt like a freak. Now I feel beautiful and being able to carry myself with grace instead of plodding along bent forward with a limp has given me confidence in my appearance, which is a new feeling to have. I literally wept in joy over this. The depression that had become normal in my life just isn't there anymore. Next to my wedding day and the birth of our daughter this is the happiest I've been.
I paid for my surgery out of pocket because it was too important to wait for approval by insurance. My PS has submitted the claim to my insurance - GWH Cigna - and should be approved for health reasons, but I have been told that the insurance companies rarely approve breast reductions. I have read many reviews of women who received approval with fewer health issues than I have so I am hopeful that I will receive a refund and plan to fight my case until I get it. I have three Dr's that will write letters for approval, including my primary who has seen me since I was 17 and has been familiar with my health issues. I hope this will be enough to get my surgery approved. With my health issues I can't imagine why they wouldn't approve it. The HS cysts had left my breasts deformed with ugly scars. I think I have a pretty solid case on that alone. I don't understand why it is so easy for thin women with large breasts to get approved, and difficult for larger women with more health issues. It really defies logic. I could go on about my thoughts on our screwed up, money driven health system but it won't change anything so why waste my energy. Just know I won't roll over if they don't approve me the first time. I'm used to having to struggle for what is right and have a lot of determination to win this battle.
I hope posting about my experience will help others, especially those who are suffering from HS because it is a rare disease that is often misunderstood and has a high suicide rate. This disease had made me feel a burden to my family and I was already becoming a shut in with a very low quality of life which could have ended sooner than it should. There is currently no cure for HS and besides my PS, Im also working with another Surgeon, Dr. Clyde Smith, who is makimg me his guinea pig and pioneering a treatment using laser to zap the cysts before they become monsters. So far it has stopped them from growing, but this will have to be done for the rest of my life because HS is genetic and it may go into remission for a while but always comes back. It's important to me that others will keep up with this throughout my process.
The first thing I noticed upon waking up after the surgery was how I could get a full breath of air. I hadn't been able to fully inhale due to the weight on my chest for years. I had just gotten used to it so I didn't even realize until I took those first few breaths how different it felt to get my lungs full of oxygen. What a difference it is to actually breathe, lol!! I had no pain at all and I was already in my post surgical compression bra so I could see the contours of my new breasts. They were no longer the suffocating blobs of fat that usually rested in my armpits when laying down. They were a normal looking breast size. I am still in awe of how beautiful they are.
It wasn't until I got up to walk with the nurse that I realized I was no longer limping from the pain in my feet caused by my Sciatica and for the first time in years was able to stand up straight. My posture was bent forward and had begun to develop a hump in my back from the weight of my breasts before. This was a miracle! I hadn't known what to expect from lightening my load. I read that not all women experience relief from back pain with a breast reduction, but am overjoyed to report I haven't had one lick of pain or soreness since the surgery. I'm 9 days post-op now and absolutely thrilled with the results.
Cosmetically, the shape of my breasts is what they were when I was a C cup at 14 and the embarrassingly stretched out aeriolas are now the most adorable nickel sized beauties that I ever saw. It almost seems a shame to have to cover them up. For now I am healing well and following everything my surgeon told me to do. It will be a while before I can go topless, but I'll be flashing my friends soon enough :) My husband, who was a major fan of my over large natural boobies (lol, sicko!) is now saying he wants to keep me in seclusion because of fights he may have to get in over how good I look! I got plenty of attention from men and women before, but it was more humiliating than flattering because I felt like a freak. Now I feel beautiful and being able to carry myself with grace instead of plodding along bent forward with a limp has given me confidence in my appearance, which is a new feeling to have. I literally wept in joy over this. The depression that had become normal in my life just isn't there anymore. Next to my wedding day and the birth of our daughter this is the happiest I've been.
I paid for my surgery out of pocket because it was too important to wait for approval by insurance. My PS has submitted the claim to my insurance - GWH Cigna - and should be approved for health reasons, but I have been told that the insurance companies rarely approve breast reductions. I have read many reviews of women who received approval with fewer health issues than I have so I am hopeful that I will receive a refund and plan to fight my case until I get it. I have three Dr's that will write letters for approval, including my primary who has seen me since I was 17 and has been familiar with my health issues. I hope this will be enough to get my surgery approved. With my health issues I can't imagine why they wouldn't approve it. The HS cysts had left my breasts deformed with ugly scars. I think I have a pretty solid case on that alone. I don't understand why it is so easy for thin women with large breasts to get approved, and difficult for larger women with more health issues. It really defies logic. I could go on about my thoughts on our screwed up, money driven health system but it won't change anything so why waste my energy. Just know I won't roll over if they don't approve me the first time. I'm used to having to struggle for what is right and have a lot of determination to win this battle.
I hope posting about my experience will help others, especially those who are suffering from HS because it is a rare disease that is often misunderstood and has a high suicide rate. This disease had made me feel a burden to my family and I was already becoming a shut in with a very low quality of life which could have ended sooner than it should. There is currently no cure for HS and besides my PS, Im also working with another Surgeon, Dr. Clyde Smith, who is makimg me his guinea pig and pioneering a treatment using laser to zap the cysts before they become monsters. So far it has stopped them from growing, but this will have to be done for the rest of my life because HS is genetic and it may go into remission for a while but always comes back. It's important to me that others will keep up with this throughout my process.
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UPDATED FROM RSMember2257
I meant to say that is important to me that others...
I meant to say that is important to me that others who may be suffering from HS might read my story and find hope and inspiration in their own plight. I will keep up with this through my process. :)
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