Definitely Worth It... 38G to 38C, South-central Ohio. 5/31/2012 Surgery Date - Ohio

27 years old/ 5'3 inches/170 pounds - 38G preop, 38C post op. Like most of the women here I suffered with huge breasts the better part of my life. I will even go as far as to say my own husband of 8 years wasn't allowed to look at my breasts naked. Ever. I was completely ashamed of myself and I didn't want anyone to see or know that part of me. Because of that I do have 1 pre-op photo, but it's clothed. Since the surgery I am happy for him to see my naked breasts - this has been such a confidence booster for me.
I was a C cup in the 8th grade and continued to grow bigger and bigger until I was a 38G at age 23. At my slimmest size, a size 0 at age 17, I was still a 32DD so even though I am on a weight loss journey I knew my very dense breasts wouldn't get much smaller with weight loss.
I've wanted to do this for soooo long, but put it off knowing I would definitely want to breastfeed my children. My last child was born 7/2010 and was breast fed for 9 months, first child only nursed for 5 months. Nursing with huge boobs is a JOB and a half! I wish I would have known that women could still nurse after a reduction because I feel like I could have nursed both of them longer had I had the reduction earlier in life. Oh well, live and learn right?
I was referred to my PS through my GP and had my first consultation with him at the end of April. I initally wanted to do it for cosmetic reasons, but I was also suffering the many pains associated with large breasts as well as daily headaches and migraines. I didn't really believe I would be approved through my insurance co, but it was the only way I was going to be able to afford the surgery. I left, first off impressed by the level of care my PS and staff offered, then completely embarrassed that I let a total stranger touch, take pics of, and measure my breasts. SHOCKER - A week later, I got a call from my PS office saying I was approved and would I like to set a date for surgery? YAY! Because we were unsure of a pending layoff for my husband, I took the soonest surgery date of May 31, 2012.
Since we lived over 50 miles from the surgical center we were put up in a hotel the night before and the day and night of the surgery. The hotel was... well... less than what I would have stayed at had it been my out of pocket, but sufficient and also allowed me to see the Doc the day after for follow-up and drain removal. (Drain removal was super easy for me BTW)
Surgery day I was a nervous wreck. I was so scared I wouldn't wake up from surgery. I was shaking while they were prepping me... like literally shaking uncontrollably. I have a nervous stomach - (or colon yay) - so I was sick to my stomach. Dr came in and marked me then they covered me in blankets and turned a heat light on me. I was crying like a big baby. Anesthesiologist came in and put my IV in, then I cried a little more. Then they put the good stuff in my IV. Shaking stopped, crying stopped and I said, "Yep, I'm drunk!" I don't really remember much from then on, I don't remember telling my husband bye or being wheeled into the surgery room, but I do remember seeing the surgery room for a brief second before they placed a mask on my face and I was out.
Coming out of surgery was really hard for me. They say I came out and they asked me a pain level and I said 7 but I don't remember saying so. I woke up and had no idea where I was. I knew I had just gotten out of surgery, but I didn't know where in the building I was... I had expected to be back in the same room I was pre-op and I wasn't. I was a crying, bumbling, sleepy mess and I asked where my husband was and they said they couldn't bring him back until I was 'stable'. Well I wasn't having it, I wanted to see him so they relented and went and got him. I was sort of rude and hateful with the nurses and I felt terrible about it but I just wasn't myself. They kept waking me because my oxygen levels would drop and that would make me cry. I told them how sorry I was for being a b*tch but I just wasn't myself. Surgery was scheduled for 7:30am and I was out at 11:30am but wasn't able to leave until almost 2pm because anesthesia didn't agree with me.
When I got back to the hotel I was super sleepy and slept most of the evening and all might. Super uncomfortable, but sleepy enough not to really care. I was definitely hurting. On the way home Hubby stopped at Tim Hortons and got me some soup, and then fed me because I was completely unable to do it myself and kept dosing off. A few hours later I did throw up that soup.
First 3 days were pretty much a sleepy blur for me. Day 4 I was nervous I hadn't had a BM and sent Hubby after colace and enemas just incase. I ended up going twice that evening without any meds. Wiping was a B**** and it even caused a drain hole to open up and pour clearish pinkish fluid. Of course I freaked and called the PS but everything was fine. Pouring drain hole stopped about 10 min later, but continued to leak another 2.5 days.
I saw the PS on day 7 and he removed sutures. I took steri strips off that day before the appointment in the shower. I told the Doc my after surgery bra was hurting me as well as the genie bra, and ahh bra I bought to try out. No bra felt right or good on, he said I could keep trying for a sports bra, or I could let them hang. Letting the hang makes me nervous!! I don't want them to go saggy because I didn't keep them in a bra during healing. He PS said everything looked great and he'd see me back in 4 weeks.
So here I am at day 14, 2 weeks out. Yesterday I got out of the house and tried on a couple bras and I'm definitely a C cup according to 3 different brands - which is exactly what I wanted. I brought home a Warners 38C soft cup and so far it's been really the most comfortable bra I've put on since surgery so I am back to a regular bra now. I am so very happy I made this decision - right now I am struggling with how they look because I know they aren't exactly the cute little tear drops I wanted but I know the doc didn't have a whole lot to work with either. I'm definitely motivated to get some weight off because now more than ever I can really see my gut...I know I will need a tummy tuck regardless and I'm more confident now to pursue doing it for me. This is my life! In 40 years I won't look back and regret it, but I will be super happy I did these things for myself so I can carry myself with confidence!

16 days post op... I've got a couple spots where the clear stitches are poking through my incision lines. Really irritating. Anyone else go through this? Also my incisions are pretty much pain free unless you press fairly hard on them, but the area above my left nipple is really sore and has been since surgery. I forgot to mention my left nipple is completely numb and I am PRAYING sensation returns. It is reactive so that a good thing right?

I'm posting my clothed pre-op photo. It's the only photo I took and I'm ok with that. I already can't believe I was that big!!!

While I am so happy and relieved about the surgery, I think my nipples look a little low on the breast. I was hoping for a fuller bottomed breast with a higher nipple. I'm still ecstatic with the new me, I'm just getting more picky the more reviews I read! LOL

17 days post op... I think I am getting more sore as the days go by. I was cut all the way back (seen in photo) and I am so swollen under my arms. Most of my small scabs are gone, the thicker scabs at the T and the bottom of my nipples are half falling off and I'm scared of ripping them off or catching them on my bra or shirt. Can someone tell me if I should be wearing a bra all the time now or not? I really wish there was a definitive answer when it comes to healing!!! LOL