I should have done this 10 years ago - but here we are with no regrets

I started thinking seriously about breast reduction a year ago, called in March 2022 for a consultation (at the time, the consultation was out of pocket as Dr. Ridgway was out of network for my insurance, but highly recommended so it seemed reasonable to get the consultation and see how things went). The consultation was in late July 2022, during which Dr. Ridgway gave an extremely thorough explanation of the various degrees of reduction possible (surgical methods, what to expect for my body size, what I wanted to get out of the surgery, etc). She was clear with explanations, encouraged questions and extremely realistic. 10 stars out of 5; would highly recommend Dr. Ridgway and her office. Morgan, the surgical coordinator, was incredibly helpful and provided quotes, options, and all the background/paperwork I needed to think things over. Morgan also texted/emailed, was helpful and responsive, but also very warm/professional in the process. I scheduled my surgery for late January 2024 (by which time I had better insurance!!). I had a pre-op visit during which we again talked over my expectations and hopes, and what to expect during and post-op. The surgical center was efficient and professional, and Dr. Ridgway once again discussed my expectations (and degree of reduction desired) again to ensure I would be happy with the results. Reduction (approximately 500g from each side, from a DD to a B/C cup) took about 3 hours, and I was resting at our hotel room (we had to overnight due to our remote location) before noon. They were spot-on about what to expect (discomfort, but not unbearable pain), and the worst part was worrying about the drains (that was just me, really; it wasn't a huge deal). My first follow up was the next morning - after reviewing the drain outputs, they were removed (whew...) and off we went. The first week was slow-going (move slowly, rest a bunch, minimal lifting) and I lived in my surgical bra and pajamas. Next follow-up appointment was one week post-op, and I was getting around pretty well by then; easy follow-up appt. I'm just over 2 weeks post-op, and I absolutely LOVE what I'm seeing (despite still being covered with steri-strips and wearing giant gauze pads to ensure no rubbing). I went back to work after ~10 days, and that too was just fine. Overall, I would give SUPER high marks to Dr. Ridgway - her manner, professionalism, skill, communication, etc, were above and beyond. The office staff have all been competent, professional, friendly and helpful. Awesome place! What I would recommend: have pre-made meals ready for at least a week ( my husband went on a Costco raid with a list & got enough to keep us fed for a while - it took the pressure off for meal prep/cooking), have snacks & drinks easily accessible (Nuun tablets, Gatorade, etc). I borrowed a recliner from a friend to sleep mostly upright - that has been an absolute life-saver!!! It's keep me sleeping on my back, and I'm sure minimized swelling. Use lots of pillows to get comfortable. Stock up on zip-up/button-up tops (to avoid pulling things over your head). Get a spare inexpensive zip-front/front closure bra without any underwires ( I found some on Amazon after not finding anything in stores where I had my surgery). Get one of those long-handled grabbers (that you'd use to pick things up off the floor, or off shelves); it helped minimize bending over and also reaching over my head. Use a small pillow to pad the seatbelt strap in your car. Hmm... that's all I can think of right now! Pros - I'm elated with my new mini-boobs, despite still having some swelling. They're located where "normal" breasts belong, not dragging down midway to my belly button ;) I feel more proportional to my height (5'1") already!! And I wish I'd pulled this trigger at least 10 years ago. Cons - be ready for some downtime, but it wasn't as bad as I'd suspected it would be (but we're all different, so YMMV). Sleeping is a bit tough, but I had ample warning there. Think that's it for now. I really don't have any good before/after pictures, but may add some later on. No regrets!!