Finally, at 54! - Lansing, MI

I have had neck, shoulder, and back pain for as long as I can remember from my large, heavy breasts. I was finally able to get reduction approved by insurance and had the reduction 4-28-14. I read up on comment boards like this to be prepared for surgery and post-op. Instant relief! My procedure included removing tissue down along and under my armpits also, so I am basically cut from one shoulder blade around the front and back to the other blade. There was a lot of swelling, but I also realized 2 days later that those were my new breasts so high up on my chest! I don't think they have ever been there! 2 weeks out, I developed a hemotoma-bleeding inside my left breast. It swelled again and was as hard as if I needed to nurse. Blood was also collecting under my armpit. The Dr. drained 90+cc in his office and scheduled me for an additional 15 min. surgery to drain some more and insert a drain if needed. He felt that he had gotten it all with the second surgery, but 3 days after that one, I started draining a lot from under the armpit. I came into his office again and he re-opened about 1" of the incision and I massaged the upper half of my breast while he worked my side under the arm and got about another 1 1/2 cups of fluid out. He said it wasn't a hematoma but a seroma. A seroma is when the tissues keep producing fluid, which will build up if not drained. So, after we drained as much as we could, he left me with a small rubber drain tube and I'll come back in 3 days to have it removed. Now, all of this might sound bad. But I understand that it is not common at all and actually I have never been more than uncomfortable through all this. I have not been in any actual pain since I came home from the 1st surgery. Of course, it would have been nice to not have these set-backs, but in the end I am still without my big ponderous breasts and without the neck, shoulder and back pain. I still VERY glad that I had the procedure. I am still telling my daughter to start making medical history now so she can have one when she is ready. I still recommend it to all who are cursed with heavy breasts.