POSTED UNDER Breast Reduction REVIEWS
Literal Giant Weight Lifted...or Surgically Removed
ORIGINAL POST
Something I noticed that was frustrating to me was...
mvmh920December 23, 2013
WORTH IT$7,560
Something I noticed that was frustrating to me was the lack of women my age and body type that shared their stories, which I think are so valuable and reassuring, so I'm going to throw my two cents in to hopefully help someone else.
Since I'm almost a week in recovery from my reduction, I guess I'll start with a little back story. I'm 20, 5'2, 135 lbs, and just very petite, minus my formerly huge boobs. I wouldn't say that I necessarily started developing early, I think I was about a B/C cup my freshman year of high school, but the summer after that my chest just blew up and continued to rapidly grow through high school and collehe. I quickly became the "big boob girl" in my school, my group of friends, you name it, my boobs were my identity. Recently I simply couldn't find bras that fit correctly and was aware I was wearing the wrong size (36DD) when in reality I was more if a 34DDD/32E or even F, which lead me to a breast reduction.
As most women on here understand, finding clothes that fit such large breasts is hard enough, but adding in the fact that I am so small everywhere else made clothes impossible. Shopping for prom the first time ended in 6 stores, a ripped dress, no purchase, and lots of tears. And also being in a long term relationship, male attention was NOT something I wanted but seemed to attract in the rudest of ways. My breasts effected my emotional health in a largely negative way and ruined my self image.
Which brings us to the actual surgery. After meeting a friends room mate this year that had one at 18, I was quick to interrogate her and ask to see her scars (which she happily flashed) and know her story. She told me it was the best decision of her life and she'd do it again, even three years after the fact. So I went home and told my mom and the endless google searches and stream of doctor appointments began.
Since I'm almost a week in recovery from my reduction, I guess I'll start with a little back story. I'm 20, 5'2, 135 lbs, and just very petite, minus my formerly huge boobs. I wouldn't say that I necessarily started developing early, I think I was about a B/C cup my freshman year of high school, but the summer after that my chest just blew up and continued to rapidly grow through high school and collehe. I quickly became the "big boob girl" in my school, my group of friends, you name it, my boobs were my identity. Recently I simply couldn't find bras that fit correctly and was aware I was wearing the wrong size (36DD) when in reality I was more if a 34DDD/32E or even F, which lead me to a breast reduction.
As most women on here understand, finding clothes that fit such large breasts is hard enough, but adding in the fact that I am so small everywhere else made clothes impossible. Shopping for prom the first time ended in 6 stores, a ripped dress, no purchase, and lots of tears. And also being in a long term relationship, male attention was NOT something I wanted but seemed to attract in the rudest of ways. My breasts effected my emotional health in a largely negative way and ruined my self image.
Which brings us to the actual surgery. After meeting a friends room mate this year that had one at 18, I was quick to interrogate her and ask to see her scars (which she happily flashed) and know her story. She told me it was the best decision of her life and she'd do it again, even three years after the fact. So I went home and told my mom and the endless google searches and stream of doctor appointments began.
UPDATED FROM mvmh920
8 days post
Actual Surgery (kind of long, sorry!)
mvmh920December 25, 2013
So Christmas Eve marked the one week I've been in recovery (WOO!), so I'll catch everyone up from where I left off on my last post. I started my breast reduction process by going to my gyno for a referral and she gave me Dr. Singer, who I love and am so happy that I had as my PS, but I'll get to all that later. I got my referral and then was told I also needed one from my primary, which turned out to be the only snag in this entire process. The issue here was that my records had only recently been switched from my pediatrician (they let me stay until 19) and I had not been to see my "grown up" doctor ever. My sisters and mother usually see a woman in the practice but my primary was a man who I will not name, but I will say that I wish I had seen a woman.
I am not gender biased at all, but I feel like the female doctor in the practice would've understood my issue more. When I saw this doctor he basically told me that he didn't like advising patients to get surgery unless they really needed it and he didn't think I really needed it. And the icing on the cake was that he gave me referrals to a pulmonologist (for the breathing) and an orthopedist (for the neck ache) and sent me on my way, never saying if he would refer me to a PS, all after being incredibly unprofessional and rude. I told my mom in the waiting room and she was furious, so she walked into the referral office and spoke to the kind women behind the desk. They took one look at me and said, "Oh don't you worry about that dear. You obviously need this, I'm printing out your referral right now, don't you fret!" Thank god for amazingly sweet receptionists!
So after I FINALLY got my referral I made and appointment to meet Dr. Singer. He came in and examined me, answered all of my many questions, laughed at the amount of research I'd already done after I used the terms "pedicle, infra-mammary fold" and other medical jargon, and reassured me that I would get approved for this. I was especially soothed knowing that Dr. Singer had a very nice resume under his belt and specialized in breast reconstruction. I figured if he could basically make a boob, he could definitely down size one. And while I was getting all the insurance forms done, one of the nurses noticed my anxiety and told me her breast reduction story and even gave me her number in case I had any questions!
Day of pre-op my PS answered any final questions I had, sent my for blood work, and gave me a prescription for one anti-anxiety pill in case I flipped a [RS bleep] the night before surgery. In preparation for my surgery, which was three days after my last final, (nice timing, I know) I bought a track suit to wear the day of surgery, compression socks, a couple of button up front pjs and comfy pants, and two sports bras that hooked in the front for when my surgical bra came off.
Now before I go any further, I'm going to just say right now that my surgery experience was not the average one. Results may vary, I just got really lucky. My mom and boyfriend went with my to the surgery center, dressed in my grey velour suit (looked like a soccer mom), and checked in. The receptionist was the mom of a girl I went to high school with and immediately recognized my boyf and I, so I still felt pretty calm. She assured me that boyf would be allowed to see me at any point my mom could, even if she had to pull strings haha. So they called my name, I went and put on a gown and booties, got my IV in, was covered in warm blankets and then they let mom and boyf come sit with me. While we were waiting my older brother's friends mom walked by and recognized us, and she told me that she would make sure that when I made it to recovery she would be the nurse taking care of me. So as you can imagine I was pretty comfortable at this point, even though I had never had surgery and had serious anxiety whenever I thought of this previously haha.
My anesthesiologist came in and talked to me and then my PS came to mark me up. After he was done he stayed with us, asking if I had any questions, reassuring my mom, and even talking to the boyf about his future med school plans. He even went as far as to make us laugh by asking if the boyf treated my right and then explained all of the medically crazy things he could do to him if he didn't treat me right hahaha. Finally it was time to kiss my family and my boobs goodbye as they wheeled me back. All of the doctors introduced themselves to me as I got situated on the table, and then one of the doctors noticed my last name and realized that he knew my grandfather from his many visits and promised to take good care of me, which just made me even more soothed. Last thing I remember was looking at the big ass light by my head and then I was waking up in recovery to my family friend from earlier asking how I was and feeding me a pretzel stick that I could not seem to chew no matter how hard I tried.
I woke up a bit and wasn't really in pain, just kinnda stiff. Mom and boyf came back and my nurse helped me out of bed, then I went to the bathroom, got dressed, and we drove the two minutes to my house haha. I don't remember much of the car ride, but I do remember getting home, laying on the couch and conking out for about an hour. After that went on for bout three hours I was finally totally alert and pain free. I ate some soup, sat up, spoke to everyone and walked around a bit. For the next couple of days I really didn't have pain, just kind of achy from sleeping sitting up and having my arms propped up. My drains hurt a little bit, but nothing too bad at all. I got them removed after two days and finally got a look at my new boobs. HOLY [RS bleep]!
They were a little scary, but not as bad as I thought at all. My mom was speechless at how good they looked and my PS was very happy with the outcome. I had total feeling in both nipples and very few numb spots on the rest of my breasts. They were small and perky and just amazing to me. He said I was good to go for sports bras and that I should just wear gauze where the bra touched my incisions and put bandaids on my drain holes. I don't have to get sutures removed because I have dissolving stitches and super glue. A word to the wise though: During recovery, make sure to drink at least a little prune juice or take some mild stool softeners if you haven't made a movement after three days. My PS said it was most likely my pain killers causing constipation, but if I didn't go in the next few days, I would need a suppository (NO THANKS). So I took some very mild stool softeners three times and I was good to go.
So I went home, got my hair washed, had my first shower since my drains were removed finally, and just relaxed. I kept taking my pain meds, every five hours instead of three since my lack of pain, but my body soon told me that I didn't need them anymore by getting head aches and nausea whenever I took them (I only puked once through this whole process). I down graded to tylenol and still had no pain, and now I'm not taking any kind of pain medication.
Since I've written a novella here, I'll do a separate update about my week post op! See you guys!
I am not gender biased at all, but I feel like the female doctor in the practice would've understood my issue more. When I saw this doctor he basically told me that he didn't like advising patients to get surgery unless they really needed it and he didn't think I really needed it. And the icing on the cake was that he gave me referrals to a pulmonologist (for the breathing) and an orthopedist (for the neck ache) and sent me on my way, never saying if he would refer me to a PS, all after being incredibly unprofessional and rude. I told my mom in the waiting room and she was furious, so she walked into the referral office and spoke to the kind women behind the desk. They took one look at me and said, "Oh don't you worry about that dear. You obviously need this, I'm printing out your referral right now, don't you fret!" Thank god for amazingly sweet receptionists!
So after I FINALLY got my referral I made and appointment to meet Dr. Singer. He came in and examined me, answered all of my many questions, laughed at the amount of research I'd already done after I used the terms "pedicle, infra-mammary fold" and other medical jargon, and reassured me that I would get approved for this. I was especially soothed knowing that Dr. Singer had a very nice resume under his belt and specialized in breast reconstruction. I figured if he could basically make a boob, he could definitely down size one. And while I was getting all the insurance forms done, one of the nurses noticed my anxiety and told me her breast reduction story and even gave me her number in case I had any questions!
Day of pre-op my PS answered any final questions I had, sent my for blood work, and gave me a prescription for one anti-anxiety pill in case I flipped a [RS bleep] the night before surgery. In preparation for my surgery, which was three days after my last final, (nice timing, I know) I bought a track suit to wear the day of surgery, compression socks, a couple of button up front pjs and comfy pants, and two sports bras that hooked in the front for when my surgical bra came off.
Now before I go any further, I'm going to just say right now that my surgery experience was not the average one. Results may vary, I just got really lucky. My mom and boyfriend went with my to the surgery center, dressed in my grey velour suit (looked like a soccer mom), and checked in. The receptionist was the mom of a girl I went to high school with and immediately recognized my boyf and I, so I still felt pretty calm. She assured me that boyf would be allowed to see me at any point my mom could, even if she had to pull strings haha. So they called my name, I went and put on a gown and booties, got my IV in, was covered in warm blankets and then they let mom and boyf come sit with me. While we were waiting my older brother's friends mom walked by and recognized us, and she told me that she would make sure that when I made it to recovery she would be the nurse taking care of me. So as you can imagine I was pretty comfortable at this point, even though I had never had surgery and had serious anxiety whenever I thought of this previously haha.
My anesthesiologist came in and talked to me and then my PS came to mark me up. After he was done he stayed with us, asking if I had any questions, reassuring my mom, and even talking to the boyf about his future med school plans. He even went as far as to make us laugh by asking if the boyf treated my right and then explained all of the medically crazy things he could do to him if he didn't treat me right hahaha. Finally it was time to kiss my family and my boobs goodbye as they wheeled me back. All of the doctors introduced themselves to me as I got situated on the table, and then one of the doctors noticed my last name and realized that he knew my grandfather from his many visits and promised to take good care of me, which just made me even more soothed. Last thing I remember was looking at the big ass light by my head and then I was waking up in recovery to my family friend from earlier asking how I was and feeding me a pretzel stick that I could not seem to chew no matter how hard I tried.
I woke up a bit and wasn't really in pain, just kinnda stiff. Mom and boyf came back and my nurse helped me out of bed, then I went to the bathroom, got dressed, and we drove the two minutes to my house haha. I don't remember much of the car ride, but I do remember getting home, laying on the couch and conking out for about an hour. After that went on for bout three hours I was finally totally alert and pain free. I ate some soup, sat up, spoke to everyone and walked around a bit. For the next couple of days I really didn't have pain, just kind of achy from sleeping sitting up and having my arms propped up. My drains hurt a little bit, but nothing too bad at all. I got them removed after two days and finally got a look at my new boobs. HOLY [RS bleep]!
They were a little scary, but not as bad as I thought at all. My mom was speechless at how good they looked and my PS was very happy with the outcome. I had total feeling in both nipples and very few numb spots on the rest of my breasts. They were small and perky and just amazing to me. He said I was good to go for sports bras and that I should just wear gauze where the bra touched my incisions and put bandaids on my drain holes. I don't have to get sutures removed because I have dissolving stitches and super glue. A word to the wise though: During recovery, make sure to drink at least a little prune juice or take some mild stool softeners if you haven't made a movement after three days. My PS said it was most likely my pain killers causing constipation, but if I didn't go in the next few days, I would need a suppository (NO THANKS). So I took some very mild stool softeners three times and I was good to go.
So I went home, got my hair washed, had my first shower since my drains were removed finally, and just relaxed. I kept taking my pain meds, every five hours instead of three since my lack of pain, but my body soon told me that I didn't need them anymore by getting head aches and nausea whenever I took them (I only puked once through this whole process). I down graded to tylenol and still had no pain, and now I'm not taking any kind of pain medication.
Since I've written a novella here, I'll do a separate update about my week post op! See you guys!
Replies (2)
December 25, 2013
Fabulous review, thank you so much and I am so happy for you. A lot of people do have a straightforward and relatively pain free recovery, it may just be that when things go wrong, people seek information and find this site, and then look for reassurance. My friend had her surgery about 6 weeks ago and also had a really easy recovery. So lovely that you had support from so many people who know you and your family, some of the experiences reported on this site seem brusque and impersonal. I am having my second reduction 37 years after my first, on January 3rd. I am fit and healthy and hoping to have an experience like yours, got a lovely husband at home waiting to take care of me. I am paying myself and having 2 nights in hospital, which should be like a nice hotel, ha ha!
December 25, 2013
Thank you! I was just so surprised by how easy it was, I must have just built it up in my head haha. Congrats on your first, and the best of luck for your second, I'm sure it'll go wonderfully! Enjoy the pampering!
UPDATED FROM mvmh920
8 days post
8 Days Post Op
mvmh920December 25, 2013
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone! As most of you would probably agree, my favorite gift this year wasn't under the tree, they were on my chest haha. So I have my second post op tomorrow morning, and I have a few questions for my doc that I'll share. On the under side of my right breast, there are no open wounds of any sort, but when I remove my gauze, there is always a small yellow stain. I'm not worried or anything because there's no pain, but I just wanna check with my PS about it. I also want to ask about sleeping on my side, because I simply can't sleep on my back haha. I want to know if sleeping on my side will have any effect on my recovery.
I also have some questions for the lovely ladies here:
If anyone has had dissolvable stitches, when did you start scar treatment, and how did you go about that?
Anybody have super glue over their incisions? What's the deal with that, does it wash off or peel off or what?
Besides the small leak, my breasts are doing great, finally falling a tad haha. And I get itchy sometimes, which sucks. I also had my first zinger this morning so merry christmas to me haha. They are still a little boxy at the bottom, right more so than left, and my left areola (which has total feeling) is a little more "puffy" while my right one (which has little feeling but full nipple sensation) is more flattened. Really not sure what causes that or what will happen, but I am happy with them either way. I really want to find a way to clean up the stitches a little because they look so dark! But I can see there is a lot of dried blood in the glue and I want to see my breasts without the whole sharpie look haha.
All in all I am totally happy with this decision, I feel so much better about my body now. I fear I am still a D cup at the moment, but I am hoping the swelling will go down and leave me a C, but D is still more manageable! The only real emotional issue now is that I still don't want boyf to see them, and yet I kinnda do. I want him to see the difference and see what he thinks, but I don't want him to see the not so nice stitches and what not. I'm sure I'm being over dramatic, we've been together five years now so he's seen the ugly and pretty of me and loves me no matter what, but still, he's a guy and I basically hacked up my boobs haha. My boobs were always so sexualized by everyone I knew that now that they aren't exactly sexually appealing in the looks department I'm sort of at a loss for how to handle them haha.
Really just can't wait to wear a normal non underwire bra and go clothes shopping! And maybe start hitting the gym when the PS approves to get rid of all this holiday weight haha. Happy Holidays everyone!
I also have some questions for the lovely ladies here:
If anyone has had dissolvable stitches, when did you start scar treatment, and how did you go about that?
Anybody have super glue over their incisions? What's the deal with that, does it wash off or peel off or what?
Besides the small leak, my breasts are doing great, finally falling a tad haha. And I get itchy sometimes, which sucks. I also had my first zinger this morning so merry christmas to me haha. They are still a little boxy at the bottom, right more so than left, and my left areola (which has total feeling) is a little more "puffy" while my right one (which has little feeling but full nipple sensation) is more flattened. Really not sure what causes that or what will happen, but I am happy with them either way. I really want to find a way to clean up the stitches a little because they look so dark! But I can see there is a lot of dried blood in the glue and I want to see my breasts without the whole sharpie look haha.
All in all I am totally happy with this decision, I feel so much better about my body now. I fear I am still a D cup at the moment, but I am hoping the swelling will go down and leave me a C, but D is still more manageable! The only real emotional issue now is that I still don't want boyf to see them, and yet I kinnda do. I want him to see the difference and see what he thinks, but I don't want him to see the not so nice stitches and what not. I'm sure I'm being over dramatic, we've been together five years now so he's seen the ugly and pretty of me and loves me no matter what, but still, he's a guy and I basically hacked up my boobs haha. My boobs were always so sexualized by everyone I knew that now that they aren't exactly sexually appealing in the looks department I'm sort of at a loss for how to handle them haha.
Really just can't wait to wear a normal non underwire bra and go clothes shopping! And maybe start hitting the gym when the PS approves to get rid of all this holiday weight haha. Happy Holidays everyone!
Replies (4)