POSTED UNDER Breast Reduction REVIEWS
20 Days Until My Surgery! - Brookline, MA
ORIGINAL POST
I have wanted a breast reduction for 30 years,...
2BsOrNot2BsSeptember 12, 2013
WORTH IT
I have wanted a breast reduction for 30 years, ever since I developed at age 15 and cant believe it is actually happening. I didn't develop early but it was very sudden. All the women in my family are small boned with large breasts. My grandma had the surgery when she was 60 - I am 44 so I think Why Wait? I am a 34DD but quite out of proportion to my frame. My weight has been as low as 115 lbs (too low for me) this year but my breasts don't shrink at all! And now that I have put some weight back on, they are even bigger than before. My surgery is scheduled for October 2nd. I have a job and two small kids but I am taking 10 days off and my mom is coming to town to help. I'm nervous about
1) the surgery - I've never had surgery before
2) the recovery - there's only so much lying around I can do with 2 kids
3) will I go through all of this and they still won't be small? I would love to get to a B but understand that it's not guaranted.
Anyway this forum was a huge inspiration to me when I was working up the courage to go see a doctor. I feel like I am doing something for myself that I really want. I am also SUPER lucky in that my insurance is covering the surgery. I will add a Before photo here. This is me IN my minimizer bra - clearly i am asking too much of this garment ;)
The other thing is that i have only told my partner and my mom that i am having the surgery - no co workers or friends which is unusual for me. I guess i want to see if they notice and to keep it personal for now. Im really good at hiding my chest so they may not even notice, but I will! Thanks for the inspiration and support everyone. :)
1) the surgery - I've never had surgery before
2) the recovery - there's only so much lying around I can do with 2 kids
3) will I go through all of this and they still won't be small? I would love to get to a B but understand that it's not guaranted.
Anyway this forum was a huge inspiration to me when I was working up the courage to go see a doctor. I feel like I am doing something for myself that I really want. I am also SUPER lucky in that my insurance is covering the surgery. I will add a Before photo here. This is me IN my minimizer bra - clearly i am asking too much of this garment ;)
The other thing is that i have only told my partner and my mom that i am having the surgery - no co workers or friends which is unusual for me. I guess i want to see if they notice and to keep it personal for now. Im really good at hiding my chest so they may not even notice, but I will! Thanks for the inspiration and support everyone. :)
2BsOrNot2Bs's provider
UPDATED FROM 2BsOrNot2Bs
12 days pre
Pre-operative Appt - Done!
2BsOrNot2BsSeptember 19, 2013
So I had my pre-op appointment yesterday with Dr Halperin. It was a lot quicker than I expected. The didn't take blood and I just had a clear mammogram, so she just gave my scrips (Percoset and a nausea patch) answered a few questions and that was it. I scheduled my 1-week follow up. She doesn't use drains and the stitches all dissolve on their own, so there's not lot to do after the surgery except rest and recover!
I have enlisted some extra help for when my mom leaves from our awesome babysitter. I didn't tell her why yet but she is going to come and help out a bit. I am not planning anything except resting for the whole month. And working after 2 weeks.
I am a little nervous about the Percocet - I had it one time for dental surgery and it made me nauseous. Hopefully it will be ok and I wont need to take it too long anyway. It's only 13 more days til my surgery - I am very excited! I can't wait til it is - over and I am on the other side. I am going to post another before pic - it's embarrassing to see myself from this angle, but it just makes me more sure that I need this surgery.
I have enlisted some extra help for when my mom leaves from our awesome babysitter. I didn't tell her why yet but she is going to come and help out a bit. I am not planning anything except resting for the whole month. And working after 2 weeks.
I am a little nervous about the Percocet - I had it one time for dental surgery and it made me nauseous. Hopefully it will be ok and I wont need to take it too long anyway. It's only 13 more days til my surgery - I am very excited! I can't wait til it is - over and I am on the other side. I am going to post another before pic - it's embarrassing to see myself from this angle, but it just makes me more sure that I need this surgery.
Replies (7)
September 19, 2013
Hi, I am 49, weigh 120lbs and am a 34DD and want to have breast reduction surgery. I'm peri-menopausal and my breasts are swollen and painful all the time! I have occasional neck and shoulder pain and am wondering if my insurance will cover the surgery. My question to you is: If your insurance covers your surgery, can you still pick your own plastic surgeon to do the procedure? Thanks and I hope your surgery goes well.
September 19, 2013
Thank you! I think it depends on your insurance. I have heard stories of people bigger than me who had a hard time getting coverage but (very luckily) I did not have a problem. I think the important thing is to demonstrate that this condition has caused you physical and emotional distress. Also, some insurance situations require you to go to a particular medical facility and you can't choose your surgeon, but this seems to be the exception rather than the rule. Find a PS you feel comfortable with, have them submit to your insurance and take it from there. Best of luck and I hope that this works out for you!
September 19, 2013
Thank you 2BsOrNot2Bs! I also live in Brookline so was thinking of consulting with your PS, Terri Halperin. Can you tell me approx. how much the cost of your procedure is (I realize yours is being covered by your insurance) however in the event my insurance doesn't cover it, I'd love to know the cost to see if I could afford it myself. Also how did you choose Dr Halperin? Thanks again.
September 20, 2013
Hi! I'm not sure what the procedure costs without insurance. I never got to that point. But after having another meeting with Dr Halperin i feel very comfortable with her! She makes you feel at ease. I researched several providers in my area and she had excellent qualifications - I liked the fact that she is a woman - of course there are many, many talented male PSs but I just felt more comforable with her. I think a face to face meeting is the best way to know if someone is right for you. Good luck!
September 20, 2013
I am trying to get a consult with her as we speak. She does sound well qualified and I agree - I'd prefer to go to a woman. Where are you having your surgery done? You must be so excited!
September 20, 2013
I am having my surgery done at her office - they operate there routinely and it's only 1 mile from my house! I am really excited. As the date gets closer, it's all i can think about! I like to really prepare logistically for things, so I am taking it to the next level with this haha.. cleaning, shopping, planning. I guess it makes me feel calmer about what is happening.
One more thing - Dr Halperin's office has been great about scheduling appts and my surgery - I could have had it back in August if it had worked with my schedule - I decided to wait (although it was hard) until my son was back in school and my mom could come to town and help. Let me know when your consult is scheduled! I was very nervous talking to her at first but she was easy to talk to....good luck to you!
September 21, 2013
The more you tell me, the more I feel that Dr Halperin might be the right doc for me too. I like the fact that she operates here in Brookline. Funny - I am about 1 mile away from her surgery too. Maybe we're neighbours - lol! My consult is on October 21st. Dr Halperin sounds very busy - which is a good sign. You are very lucky to have your mom come and help you, though I know my hubby will take good care of me. I can't wait to hear how your surgery goes. Funny to wait this long in life for something like this. I need a lift as well as reduction. I am looking forward to be able to buy a bikini from a store rather than have to order matronly double D's from an online catalogue and to wear strappy dresses without needing heavy duty bras! I am crossing my fingers that my insurance will cover the surgery.
I am looking forward to hearing how your surgery goes so I hope you report back here. Best of luck to you too!
UPDATED FROM 2BsOrNot2Bs
7 days pre
I can't stop thinking about next week!
2BsOrNot2BsSeptember 24, 2013
My surgery is a week from tomorrow - it is all i can think about! It's the last thing on my mind before i fall asleep and the first thing i think of in the morning (after, 'why are my kids awake at 5am everyday?') I know it will be here before I know it, but the anticipation is killing me! I'm trying hard to take everyday as it comes and not wish them away. I know this probably sounds weird but with two kids and a job, i NEVEr get a chance to relax and i am actually looking forward to having a reason to stay in bed and having my mom here to help... even though i will be actively recovering, i wont be expected to do anything around the house for a while at least.. that is the only kind of vacation i think i will ever get :) so i will take it. More later - i'm at work!!
Replies (7)
September 24, 2013
I was so excited to have a whole week to be in my house and do nothing! It was pretty awesome! For us working moms that is almost as exciting as the surgery. I did do a little work from home, and I got a little bored at times, but overall, it was awesome, it went way too fast.
I kept my surgery personal too. Just one or two friends, my hubby, and my mom. I went back to work yesterday and nobody said anything. Plus, I wore my most concealing clothes AND got a haircut so that would be different.
I did not like the Percoset! It didn't make me nauseous but I didn't like how groggy I got. I did a lot of reading in the August and July forums to see how other people's recovery had gone. Everyone is different, it's just so hard to know what to expect.
September 24, 2013
Yes, it is kinda ridiculous that I am considering this a vacation... but I guess I will take it :) I have also been reading a lot of recovery stories and they do all seem very different. I will just have to take it as it comes. I managed childbirth with no drugs so hopefully I can manage this pain. and my doctor said if the percosets make me nauseous I can try something different. Also, after childbirth, I was surprised at how much Tylenol actually helped - it made a much bigger difference than I thought it would...so I will have that to fall back on too. I am planning to try and work a little from home if I feel like it, but I didn't tell anyone at the office this so if i'm not up for it they are prepared to lose me for 12 days...so we shall see.
At this point, the anticipation is killing me!! Luckily I have a lot of distractions in the form of a 5- and a 2-year-old. 8 more days!!
September 25, 2013
I've had surgery before and I've relished the fact that I can relax and not much is expected of me for 2 weeks. I have to say that I was not expecting breast surgery to be a long recovery but the more I read and watch (has anyone else watched the online breast surgery and recovery videos on utube?) the more I realize that this is going to be major surgery. I just hope that by the end of 2 weeks I'll be able to go back to work and not feel too tired. It is easy to forget how much Anesthesia and the whole surgery process really takes it out of you. I too am only telling a few people what I'm having done (my hubby, my friend who lives overseas and a trusted colleague). I will have to lie and tell the people I work with that I'm taking a vacation or some other story. That bothers me. I just know they will not understand if I told them the truth, How could they understand - they don't have breasts as big as mine and I certainly won't be telling my male co-workers! I just hope that my pcp understands when I ask for a referral to my PS and doesn't decide to send me for physiotherapy for back and shoulder pain in the interim (half serious here). I mean you can't know what it feels likes unless you have experienced being well endowed and all the physical and emotional pain and embarassment that goes along with it.
September 25, 2013
This is so true - nobody can understand the physical and emotional pain that goes with having large breasts unless they have experienced it. I hear my friends complain all the time about being 'flat', when they are B cups and don't know how lucky they are that they can wear anything they want, go without a bra (I practically sleep in my bra - sometimes I actually do sleep in it!), exercise, and not have to deal with the embarrassment of people staring at their chests... it is so embarrassing - I think that is a lot of what kept me from looking into surgery for so long. I dreamed about it for years and when I finally got the guts to do something about it, it felt so god.
So the recovery will be worth it, and people don't need to know all our business! Just the ones who will support and help us through the process. Definitely keep me updated on your progress...and good luck with your PCP!
September 25, 2013
I am one year post op & its one of the best decisions I ever made. You will be sore but its not as painful as you are imagining. The hardest part for me was at night trying to sleep & find a comfortable position. Definitely soak up the time of help & relaxation!!!
September 25, 2013
thank you Melissaace! I am anticipating that sleeping will be tough - im a total side sleeper and that's only because my chiropractor says it's better for your back. so we will see.. thanks for the encouragement and congrats on your great results!
Replies (4)
Thank you for joining us:)
I think that it's wonderful you are doing this for yourself! You will feel amazing once you are all healed. You will need to go easy for the first 4-6 weeks post op. You don't need to lay around, but don't do anything crazy. No pushing, pulling or lifting. Let your body heal properly.
I am excited for you.