Tata to the Ta-tas - Inver Grove Heights, MN

Hey Ladies! Well, I went from a B to a DD in the 8th grade. I had to wear a minimizer bra for track and field in high school and got so many comments from boys and men. It was embarrassing to be hit on by dirty old men and have men stare at my breasts while I was talking. In college my guy friends would make a game of trying to throw ice down my shirt. I went along with it because I thought it was better to have a sense of humor about my breast size than to get irritated and tell them to stop. That's when I started wanting a BR. My female friends would talk about it too and even my mom (who also has a large chest) would make comments about my breasts. Still, I was over weight and didn't want to have a BR until I had lost the weight. I also didn't have noticeable back or neck pain because my stomach helped hold my breasts up.

About 6 years ago I had lost some weight and was at my current weight (170 5'7") but started gaining it back and then some. Of course a lot of it came on in my breasts. Now I have lost 80lbs and hardly any off my chest. I have pain along my whole back from my neck down to my tail bone and I am tired of trying to do ab and core work when it seems like I am not even getting to the abs, just trying not to suffocate while lifting my shoulders off the floor. I'm close to my goal weight and got approved (found out Thursday) for a BR!!!!! So excited. My deductible is very low. I'm a little nervous but mostly excited. Some of my friends can't understand how much I look forward to saying buh-bye to the boobies!

My PS was a recommendation to my PCP from a breast surgeon (they do mastectomies etc) and he did an additional 2 year residency at the Mayo Clinic in breast reconstruction. I was nervous because I don't know anyone who has had theirs done by him and the Dr my friends referred to me has retired and is currently in the Himalayas. I had nothing to worry about, the PS was extremely professional and had a nurse in the exam room with us at all times. I never even got to ask my questions because he answered them all during the consult. He did a breast exam and said that he didn't feel anything suspicious (what a relief b/c breast cancer runs in the family) but if there was anything in the tissue it would be sent out for biopsy. He also confirmed what I suspected, I have very fibrous breasts and he doesn't feel that the last 10 lbs would come off my breasts b/c they are mostly tissue. He even knew approximately how much the insurance would say to take off for it to be "reconstructive" and he showed me on me roughly where they would sit. He can't guarantee size, obvs, but he said it will be around a small C when he's done.

My aunt (dad's sister) had hers done 8 years ago and she said it was the best thing she's ever done. They took 2.5lbs off each side and she's a B/C now. PS said he would take off approx 600g which is 1.5 lbs per side. It was helpful to talk to my aunt about her BR. She was happy to hear I am staying overnight at the hospital so the nurses will deal with the drains and meds for the 1st night (it's a bedded outpatient procedure) then the PS will come remove the drains, fit my surgical bra and send me home! they're going to call me today or tomorrow to schedule. It will be about 5 weeks from now. I am excited, but cannot even imagine what this will be like!

Yahoo! I have a surgery date. Monday June 4 at 7:30 am. I have to be at the hospital at 6 am. It was really kind of funny when I talked to the scheduler she went over some details for pre-op and surgery she was VERY specific. "Nothing after midnight. No gum, chewing tobacco, nothing in the mouth at all." Apparently she had had to reschedule someone's surgery because they had been chewing gum or tobacco. The date is about a month later than I anticipated, but I actually think it's great. It gives me a little more time to get my supplies together and meals pre-made and frozen. I am so excited!!!!!! Also, I told the nurse at my PS office about this site and I am emailing the web address to her so she can use it for other clients!!

I had to buy yogurt the other day so I went to Target and looked at bras. The straps are so TINY. And sports bras are so colorful. I can't wait until I can wear a sports bra for my yoga-tai chi-pilates classes. And on the elliptical too maybe? I don't know I hear different things from different people, one of my friends says she still wears really good supportive bras for running but I don't run so I might just wear the sports bra anyway. I don't have to decide right now. I'm also glad the date is a few months out because I'm still about 10 lbs from my doctor's goal weight for me (I've lost 80 lbs so far and decided I would have surgery when I was 10 lbs out). Right now I'm 170 at 5'7" and I'm a 38 E. Doc says I'll be around a small C cup when I'm done. That's what my aunt is (she had hers 8 years ago) and she loves it.

I'm tripping a little bit about body image, I've had the ta-tas for so long that I'm not sure how I'll look with average sized breasts. Part of me feels like "Oh, I'll look different" and most of me feels like "YES! I'll look different!" I won't miss the gross attention I get for them. That's for sure.

I called the hospital too to see how they bill this. I'm staying in the hospital overnight which I'm thrilled about because I cannot imagine wanting to do two car rides right after surgery.

I will post some before pics as soon as I can. I welcome any input, questions or feedback.

HI ladies!

Well, I got the pre-op paperwork to take to my PCP in May. I made my pre-op appt with the PS, I see him May 17th. I also had several conversations with the hospital and the insurance company to make sure I know what's covered and what's not. The insurance company has been great and the hospital has been awesome too.
My mom emailed me and said that she could come up and stay overnight if it would be helpful and I, of course, accepted. She was asking me about the procedure, but then she said that it was making her queasy and not to talk about it any more. That made me laugh because I can't imagine that she will want to help take care of my incisions. Thankfully, I am staying overnight in the hospital for observation, did any one else do this? How was it?

I am feeling like the day will never arrive. I am trying to be patient, but it is so hard to wait! Two months feels like forever. One thing a friend in the medical field told me is that people tend to heal better in the summer (I'm in Minnesota so it's cold and cloudy here a lot) because of the sunshine. And I am glad that it's being done in the summer so I don't have to worry too much about sweaters or coats.

I've been applying for new jobs, I'd really rather not go back to the one I have now. I drive to my client's homes and I see between 2 and 4 clients a day, so it's a lot of driving.

Well, that's what's new. Any comments or feedback on what was most helpful would be good. I am going to start gathering things for my recovery soon.