Prof Mark Ashton - Melbourne - Breast Reduction I've Waited 20 Years for ! I'm THRILLED !

Yesterday I had a breast lift as part of my abdominoplasty to rectify a 20cm muscle separation as well as the removal of 'dog ears' on each side of my breasts post-reduction.

Mark Ashton (amazing amazing amazing surgeon !) has lifted them both up as they had dropped since my huge reduction. He also re-shaped the nipples to match each other.

He has done a neat right angle cut (an L shape) opposed to the anchor cuts I had last year.

I have absolutely no discomfort or pain whatsoever which I find staggering.

So it's been 8 months now and I have lost another 14 kgs since the reduction. I still wear my tight surgical bra to exercise if I am jogging but I am now able to do yoga class in a crop top and I feel so light and able to move.

This has been the most life changing experience of my life (second to having my children) and it has given me better physical health (weight loss assistance) and better posture. I no longer wake up with headaches, and my collar bone no longer clicks in four places when I get up in the morning. Clothes fit me and I am no longer defined by my huge, bulging chest.

I am returning to my beloved Prof. Mark Ashton in two weeks for a breast lift (he removed 2kg of tissue and told me all along he would need to lift me once everything settled) and removal of dog ears from the reduction as well as Abdominoplasty.

I can't rave about Mark enough and can highly recommend him for Melbourne patients.

After not needing much paracetamol over days 15-18, I've started experiencing some deep, small spasm pains (nerve pain I'm assuming) in the middle of each breast behind the nipples. I'm back on regular paracetamol, and I've been told the tissue healing inside the breast will be the cause of this new kind of pain. It's not unbearable but I'm really still very tender around the nipples and I have tingling pain like little needles if I run my finger tips over the skin surface of the breasts.
One thing I hadn't counted on was how painful my first period would be post-op !!!! I normally get tender, painful breasts during my period but combine that with post-op swelling and it is like breast feeding engorgement pain !!!!
BACK SLEEPING HAS BEEN THE HARDEST THING TOO ! I'm a stomach sleeper and the back sleeping position in the surgical bra has been tough at almost 3 weeks now.
Looking forward to when this acute pain and incision discomfort is over !
Still .... NO REGRETS !!!! Every time I put on a shirt that buttons up I smile and think OH YES !

For you ladies thinking of having a breast reduction - the one thing I really want to drive home to you to you is that you need TONS of physical and emotional support ! I have had moments in the last couple of weeks where I just cried for no good reason purely because I felt blue and frustrated starts pain and the post-op restrictions. I've been told post-operative depression is quite common and I've definitely had my moments.

If you've got a supportive partner then you'll be fine - but if you're single like me, make sure your mum or somebody can REALLY help you in every way, every day. If you've got kids this is particularly important. I still can't lift my arms above shoulder height which affects every little thing like reaching for a glass in the kitchen or an item on a high shelf at the supermarket. I also hired a weekly cleaner for a couple of months to do the tough cleaning like vacuuming, mopping and bathrooms so my house wouldn't fall apart.

I'm 2 days shy of the 3 week mark and my parents are still driving me around and I'm no princess I promise ! I went on a day trip to the country with my family the ITHER day and the bumpy drive really took it out of me - a mistaje on my part as I had increased pain subsequently over the next few days. 1.5 hrs driving was too much it seemed.

But surgery over 35, 40 etc takes a good min 12 weeks to really recover from and rest in the first 6 weeks is imperative to your overall healing. You HAVE to allow yourself selfish time to recover, sleep and be aided !