I HAVE to Do This! Bye Bye Boobs!

Hi,

So I've been lurking here several years(!) and nearly went through with the surgery in the past, but for various reasons it all fell apart.

I have been suffering with Fibrocystic Breast Disease and extreme cyclic mastalgia for 20 years now. Way back in 1997, my breast surgeon recommended a reduction to make me more comfortable, but suggested I wait until after I've had children (I've now had 3!). Since then I have been on several OTC and prescription drugs for the condition, tried all sorts of things, but nothing is working for me.

So - here I am now aged 43. I am 5'4", a teeny tiny 105lbs, and my breasts fluctuate anywhere from 86cms at best, to 91cms at worst - this is in the space of a couple of weeks! I am so uncomfortable, in pain, swollen, heavy, and miserable, and frankly I can't face the thought of another SoCal summer with this. I am unlucky in that my breast is ENTIRELY breast tissue, virtually no fat at all, very dense, and this combined with a hypersensitivity to hormone fluctuations is what is making me suffer so extremely from a condition that most women do experience to a greater or lesser extent.

I have no idea what size I even am! If you plug my measurements into various spreadsheets you come up with various different sizes! But a common thread seems to measure me at roughly a 32/34 D-F depending on what time of the month it is.

I know that this surgery won't cure my FBD. But I have had several consults with breast specialists now, and the one thing they all agree on, is that removing as much breast tissue as is safely possible will make me much more comfortable.

On top of the issues with my breasts specifically, I then of course have the physiological issues associated with them (neck, back, shoulder pain, frequent headaches, kyphosis of the spine, inability to exercise properly) and my physical therapist has written a report detailing all of these problems. Then there is the sociological aspect of it all - I get a lot of unwanted and unsolicited attention and I feel ashamed and embarrassed. I slouch, try and hide myself, and I have been through bouts of depression over the years when they have been at their worst. In short - I've had enough!

I have consulted with several plastic surgeons here in Orange County (I am British but moved here a few years ago). The first one I picked because of great Yelp reviews. Unfortunately he let me down quite badly. He was all smiles and happy to do the work when he thought I was a cash paying patient, but then I thought no, why should I pay out of pocket for this surgery when this is treating a medical condition? So I told his office I would like to apply to insurance after all and suddenly his whole demeanor changed. He claimed he could only safely remove 200g(!) which as we all know is barely anything! He told me my breast was "only 400g to start with" which is just unbelievable! I mean - look at the size of me! (once I get some pics up!) and with the dense tissue - no way! I actually rushed home and weighed them that day on a portable scale - 750g!

Needless to say, insurance declined my application and I was devastated.

Then I went to Dr Kyle Song. OMG - it was like night and day. He took all the time I needed, he was kind, and honest. And he said to me - your breasts are very pretty, but they are too big for your frame. What a relief! To actually have someone acknowledge this problem! I handed over all my documentation - a chart I had written up showing at a glance everything I have been through over the years, socially, psychologically, physically, the drugs I have taken, the consults I have done. I gave him pictures, and the physical therapy report, and a long essay all about what I have been through over the years. His assistant Andi is now taking care of the insurance for me. They wrote back after the previous application and said that based on my height and weight they require a minimum of 238g to be removed. Well - Dr Song thinks he can safely remove 350g! I can't believe with that, plus all my reports and documents that they will reject me a second time.

So now it is just a waiting game. Should know within a couple of weeks.

I have found this site to be absolutely AMAZING in helping me even get to this stage in the process. I will be posting lots of pictures and going into a lot of detail over the whole thing, with the intention of "giving back" to all the reviewers here who have helped me. So feel free to ask me anything you want, I am more than willing to offer support and information to anyone else. Here we go! :)

I have JUST received the letter from the insurance company!!! They have approved my surgery!!!! OH MY GOD!!!!!!! I don't know how I feel?! Terrified! Excited! Scared! Ecstatic! Relieved! Changing my mind! YIKES!!!!

In fact, even now, the only thing that terrifies me more than the surgery itself, is going through another Socal summer with these buggers still swinging from my shoulders! This is really going to happen! Wow wow WOW!

I don't know any details yet. They said they have written to the provider as well, so I am guessing he will be getting information like minimum amounts that need to be removed, that kind of thing. I have fired them off an email, but as it's now Friday at 5pm, I will leave it till Monday to get in touch about scheduling the surgery.

OK - NOW I need feedback from people! I am REALLY scared! I have had one surgery before, and I was perfectly alright, so I don't know why I am being such a wuss, but - I'm being a total wuss! Is this normal?! Are most people simultaneously excited and terrified at the very thought of doing this?!

What preparations should I be making for the big day itself? Eating well, cutting out alcohol (ouch!), getting fit, tightening belly so new boobs don't make it look too big(?!), purchasing soft sports bra thingys, assembling an arsenal of "target boobs" to decorate the OR with?! Any and all advice and reassurance gratefully accepted right now!