I, like a lot of women who choose to have a breast reduction, got boobs early. I think I was squeezing into a C-cup by 6th grade. Being that I'm only a little over 5', I have always looked top heavy. I've wanted a reduction ever since I knew that it was an actual surgery. I researched it off and on throughout my last couple years of high school and early college but I was not 100% sure how I would go about initiating the process. Toward the end of college I started having intense back pains and after a few months of hoping they would go away, I went to my doctor to make sure it was not anything serious. The doctor suggested that the back pain, and the other neck/shoulder/back pain I had been having since I was about 16 years old was due to my large chest. I tried pain killers and muscle relaxers for a little, but those did not do much. My doctore referred me to another doctor who documented other hazards of my chest (shoulder strap indentations, tingling in my wrists, trench-like stretch marks). This doctor also suggested that I lose weight to help my case with the insurance coverage should I decide to go through with a breast reduction. I lost over 20 lbs, and inches off my hips, waist and thighs, but my chest stayed the same.
I received a referral and insurance approval last winter, and had my procedure done in the spring. At my consultation, the plastic surgeon took various measurements, pictures, etc. I'm a very modest person, so I was expecting this to be very uncomfortable, but it was surprisingly not. After my surgery, I elected to stay overnight in the hospital, which my insurance covered. I was not in a lot of pain, just uncomfortable and it felt like there was a great deal of pressure on my chest. I think I only took the prescription pain medication for 2 or 3 days before I switched to something lighter and OTC. Like I said, it wasn't really pain, just discomfort. I felt sore for a few weeks. I would feel great for a few days and then the the next day I would be really sore along my incisions.
I had been working out a lot before the surgery because I had an acquaintance who had a breast reduction done about a month before me and she said that being in shape really helped her recovery. I started walking and lifting light weights about 4-5 weeks after surgery.
My main reservation about this is that I am not as small as I would like to be. I was a 32HH before the surgery and now, about five and a half months later I am a 32F. I pass the pencil test, which I have not in years. And the muscles in my chest that I could feel being pulled away by the weight of my boobs are back closer to where they started. It is definitely an improvement, but I had discussed with my surgeon that I wanted to be about a C/D. I tried to give a size reference, as in "I would like to be roughly 1/4 to 1/3 the size I am now," because cup sizes can be a bit subjective. I hoping as I continue to lose weight, I lose an inch or two in my chest (I've heard of it happening post-reduction).
The cost I have listed includes the co-pays associated with appointments for this surgery along with prescriptions.
