Life-changing.

Hi Biddy.

It is hard for people who have never had to deal with large breasts to appreciate the strain that they cause, both physically and mentally. I had my surgery August 17, 2011, and I can tell you that it certainly has improved my quality of life. I feel so much better about myself and my body feels so much better. My back and neck pain are practically gone, and on the couple of occasions when I have awoken with a stiff neck from sleeping wrong I'm absolutely shocked that I used to feel like that every day of my life.

The scars and nipple sensation were two of my biggest concerns as well. The first person who showed me her breasts made me almost turn back. Her scars were wide and slightly raised. The fact that I kept remembering though was that she said she felt so much better that she didn't care about the scars at all, and neither did her husband. She said she had a procedure once before and that it scarred similarly and that is just how her skin heals. My scars are quite light and are really not very noticable, and I'm glad I didn't let my fear of them keep me from this.

As far as sensation, I have exponentially more than I had before surgery. I didn't realized my sensation was diminished because of my breast size. But now they are very reactive to stimulation, so I was very grateful for that. Unless they are doing a major reduction and removing enormous amounts of tissue, most women do not need to have their nipples completely removed. They leave it attached to the tissue and nerves surrounding it and use this tissue to construct the new breast. This helps to maintain sensation.

In my opinion the surgery was definitly worth it. My recovery was not bad at all and my life since has been so different. I recently went to an amuzement park and water park with my kids. I was able to ride every rollercoaster and never worried about my breasts coming out of my bra, and I pranced around the water park in a swimming suit I bought off the rack (that hadn't happened in years) and went down every slide and not once did I have to readjust my top or hide under the water to put a boob that had flopped out back in.

However there are risks. They can't guarantee size or outcome. Infection, scarring, and loss of sensitivity are certainly possible. I think it is a personal decision that you have to weigh. Are those risks worth it to you. In my case the answer was yes, especially after I did enough research to realize that even people who had serious infections or complications were happy they had done it. I wish you the best of luck in your decision. Don't hesitate to ask questions or vent your worries here, and you are always welcome to join a conversation on another review. The girls are always so eager to encourage and offer any help they can.

Good luck!

 

Thanks so much for the response, Iowa. I especially appreciate the nipple insight- I've never considered that a reduction might improve sensation! I'm also inspired by your anecdote about the water park. It's sort of amazing to think I could someday wear a bathing suit in public...

Hi Biddy. I just had my reduction of June 5. There has not been a moment when I have regretted having it done, I only wish I had done it sooner. Just like Iowa, I was able to buy a swimming suit off the rack for the first time since high school and not have to worry about falling out. In fact I even made that comment to my daughter today while we washed the car and played in the water, since it is in the high 90's today. I have also been able to buy clothes that fit my body and not my boobs : ) Also for the first time ever I have worn a sports bra that I didn't spill out of and I don't have the great big uni-boob.

I know some of my in-laws disapproved of me having it done, but they didn't have to live with the constant pain. My arms and hands would go numb. I had over 500 g removed from each breast taking me from a 36DDDD to a 34/36C (Wow, what a great thought). My insurance completly paid for my reduction after a little bit of hassle over them delaying because my surgeon took a little bit less than was approved. My surgeon was on a list of providers for my insurance, but I did do lots of research and also got reccomendations from my other drs.

I would gladly go through this again and have ugly scars, because I feel so much better. My scars are healing nicely and are fading already, and it has only been a month since it was done. I hope this helps you some. I would like to encourage you to proceed with the surgery if you feel it will be beneficial to you.

Good Luck!

Hi Big Tittie!

Well I am 3 weeks post surgery and it has been amazing! I am shocked at how fast I have healed and how little pain was involved. I live in Carmel, IN and Dr Siwy did my surgery. As my review says, she is a very technical doctor but I love that. I saw one other doctor in the area but after meeting with her I knew she was the right one for me.

My nipple sensation has also increased immensely. They did leave my nipple connected to the tissue but they reduced my areola.

Since we live so close, I am more than happy to discuss more with you if you have other questions or concerns.

Best of luck!

Deb, Bambi, Smaller Mom - thank you SO much for your comments. You've all given me great things to think about. I've scheduled a consultation with a PS for the end of July. I'll be interested to see if she thinks it would be enough of a reduction to be covered by insurance, which is a major limiting factor for me. In the meantime, it's wonderful to know there's a community like you out there!

Thanks so much for your comment, kirakira... can't wait to hear what else you have to say! :)

Ok, I'm back! Sorry for the delay!

So here's the thing: I have spent 18 years knowing that at some point in the future I am likely to want to do this. I am exactly like you - not big enough to make it a no-brainer, but big enough to be uncomfortable physically and mentally. Like you, I have tried to disguise them over the years. I have almost cut off my blood supply with those blasted "minimiser" (ie "squish 'em down"!) bras. I hunch to make myself smaller and have noticed now that that position has become almost permanent and my middle back seems horribly "rounded." I never stand straight.

I have back pain and neck pain because, although I am not that huge, being constantly in a poor posture creates the problems. Like you I am the right weight for my height (5'5" and 105lbs so actually make that underweight!) and losing weight makes no difference at all.

I CAN'T STAND IT when small chested friends tell me how "lucky" I am, and ask -ha ha ha- if they can have a transplant. Like I haven't heard that joke a thousand effing times already. Why in the WORLD would anyone want a body that gets ogled and even groped (oh yes, it's happened!) by gross sleazy men. Yes, I get plenty of male attention, but have you seen the type of men who go for women with big boobs?! Yuck! Quality over quantity. Every time.

In short, I AM YOU! I also have the added problem of horrendous extreme mastalgia. I've had enough and decided after having all my children that now is the time.

I spent a long time trying to justify it to myself and like you I was terrified. I felt even worse because my Mum works at the breast centre in the local hospital, and so I am forever hearing stories of girls with "real" problems - eg a pregnant 26 year old who has just found out she has breast cancer, etc etc. how can I possibly justify what I want to do??!

Well, the answer is that after a lot of stressing, yes I bloody well CAN! As far as I am concerned, this is not cosmetic and I wish they would change the name of "cosmetic" surgery to something else because it sounds so frivolous and it so isn't, ESPECIALLY when it come to a reduction. This is a real medical problem, and like me, you definitely have it too. You ARE big for your frame. Fact. And if you would feel physically and psychologically more comfortable being smaller then you have no need whatsoever to justify yourself to anyone - especially not here! I find this place the most non-judgemental group of people I have ever encountered and they really DO get it!

I am in the position now where I came how to the UK to have my surgery, but I couldn't get theatre booked in time before I fly home to Japan to enable enthusiasm recovery so I can't have it done this time. I can tell you - before it all was confirmed that I couldn't do it, I was swinging backwards and forwards on it, driving the lovely patient ladies on here crazy I should imagine but they were way too nice to say! But when I finally had a confirmation email from the surgeon about 10 days ago saying he couldn't do it I was GUTTED, and I still am now. I am going to have to wait another 2 years or so, or look into getting it done in Thailand, closer to where I live.

So in summary, here are my thoughts for you specifically:

1) You ARE big. I was SO relieveded when someone finally said that to me instead of saying "you're not that big" - made it even harder to justify and you start to wonder if you have body dismorphic disorder or something!

2) it doesn't matter one iota what anyone else thinks of your body - just you. If you feel uncomfortable, do it. It is not a silly, frivolous thing to do - as ANYONE with big boobs will tell you. And don't listen to anyone C or smaller! As far as I am concerned, I have been a B in my dim and distant past - I know how it feels. They on e order hand have never been a double DD and have no idea what they are talking about!

3) don't focus on the surgery so much. It is scary, but it is just the beginning but and lasts a few hours. Focus more on your recovery which is the important bit and takes far far longer than the surgery. And focus on your end goal - and the 90-something % satisfaction rate that this surgery carries. I have never met anyone who tells me they regret it, and everyone says they don't know why they didn't do it years ago.

4) I analysed the few people who do regret it, and 99% of them had bad surgeons (so do your homework on that one) or were simply two young when they did it and they grew back! One thing I would say - if you know you want to have children one day and can stand to wait till then - I would wait until after you've had children. Not so much for the breast feeding, although that is a part of it,but also because pregnancy and BF generally craps them up, so if you can wait, you can get a reduction, lift and tuck and kill about 5 birds with one stone!

5) As for the surgery itself - speak to the surgeon but generally these days, especially when they don't have to do such a large reduction as in your case, the surgeon will keep the nipples attached to the blood and nerve supply and simply move them upwards on their blood and nerve "post", so there is minimal risk of loss of sensation.

Sadly I can't tell you about recovery, but there are many lovely ladies here who can. Your comment on strappy tops resonated with me. I am still only 39, and in all other respects I like my body. I don't want to walk around looking like a [RS bleep] star either, and I want to dress like I am a sexy slightly mature(!) woman, not a bloody granny. I nearly poked the eyes out of someone who suggested I "just wear baggy tops"!

These are my honest thoughts. You wanted an honest opinion! You are not huge but you are big and seem to be"all chest" compared to your tiny and beautiful shoulders and neckline. I say you need it and I say go for it. I don't think you will regret it for a second, but just think about the having kiddies thing first if you haven't already. That would be my only sticking point. Good luck!

Sorry just wanted to add I typed all this on the iPad and the autocorrect has out in a couple of strange words! Sorry! But I think you can get the gyst of it!

kirakira, I could HUG you.. thank you so so so much. And I really hope your own surgery works out soon! Let me know when and we'll have a long-distance toast to banishing baggy tops forever!

One more thing to add I thought of earlier on - I have to pay the full cost on my own as I don't have insurance in the UK anymore, and in Japan, where I do have insurance, I can't even get this kind of surgery. It's going to be about 10,000 dollars or so, and a few "friends" have commented on the cost of it all. One of those friends has a watch that cost more than my surgery. I asked her why she bought such an expensive watch, and she said "it's an investment, and every time I look at it I feel good" - I said "hello?!" - then she got it! I have other friends with designer clothes or handbags who can't believe what I am spending on my boobs. I can't believe they can't believe it! Expensive handbag, body I hate, or nice but cheap handbag, body I love? It's a no-brainer for me!

Its normal to feel that way, my opinion! This is big!! I have been waiting for a couple months!! Just breath!! Once you are done you will be happy!! Post on july boards those ladies are awesome and they will give you some pointers!! Congrats! Some peace your way!!

I feel EXACTLY the same way. I know that this surgery will be beneficial to my life, body and body image but I can't stop thinking about what might happen actually during the surgery, the fact I could lose nipple sensation, and scarring could turn out worse than expected and then having to explain the surgery to everyone who's every known me because obviously they'll notice I'd be going from a G to around a C or D! But then I think about being able to go shopping with my friends and not wanting to cry because I can only wear a handful things while they have the entire store at their disposable, I think about being on the beach and feeling comfortable wearing a bathing suite, I think about teenage girls not looking at me not snickering when they see my chest, I think about never getting one of those "Oh my god, those must be fake" looks. I think about not having to lay down 50% of the time because my back just can't take it anymore. I think about living the life I want to, and all of that other stuff kind of fades away. I'm just waiting on the insurance information as well and then if that goes well (fingers crossed) I'll be getting the surgery sometime in december. Best of luck and keep us updated!

Always room for more hugs in my life! Even cyber ones! Keep in touch and we will get each other through this.

Your feelings are normal!! This journey is full of them!! I call it a major emotional roller coaster!! A week from now or even a month from now it will always be the same!! I just saw myself for the first time today (its my 3rd day post op!) I was terrified but once I looked it was all good! This site is amazing for its support! This is something that once you are done you will say why didnt i do this years ago!!! The pain:well stay on top of your pain pills!! I feel more pressure than anything. But taking the pain killers help me relax!! This is something that you can do!! You will have a rough day but each day gets better and better!! I have an awesome PS that has held my hand each step of the way and told me to call on anything! You can do this!! Let us know when the big day will be!! if it was me I would say go for it and get it done!! I waited to long and was going insain with it all!!! :) Good luck hun!! love and blessings!!!!