Breast Reduction from 40K to ??

I wanted to let you all know what the cost of my surgery was. I added ALL the bills up (hospital, surgeon, recovery room, lab, etc., etc. and the total came to $52,922.65. Yikes, eh?! Fortunately, we didn’t have to pay anywhere near that amount. My surgery was covered by insurance (pre-approved a few months ahead of time). The total amount allowed by my insurance company (their agreed upon rates and all that jazz) was $13,640.55. Much better! Due to my maximum out of pocket amount per year, we only ended up paying $1,588.73. Totally and completely worth it!!! Now that I’m a year out, I need to take some new pics to show you. I don’t think it looks that different other than everything being healed and the scars being a bit lighter.

I would absolutely do it all again in a heartbeat! The pain was minimal and I was actually able to order a new swim suit from Land’s End this summer. No more custom made suits for me!! I would actually go through it again, if my surgeon were able to take even more off.

The incisions around my areolas are a little darker red this week. Wondering if that’s from the moisturizer I had to use for the past week? They aren’t bothering me.

Tried to give you a couple different views. The white patch is still there...

Thought I’d also show you my “tools” for healing my incisions! Each morning I tend to each breast with the following steps after I’ve pulled my bra on but left it up high above my breasts:
1) use one hand to hold up breast and keep it up the entire time
2) dry off with towel
3) apply melaluca (tea tree oil) to skin underneath bottom incision ward off yeast rashes
4) apply helichrysm right on and around opening(s) in incision
5) use blow dryer on low setting to fully dry skin on and around that bottom incision
6) apply nystatin ointment to opening(s)
7) apply ABD pad
8) pull bra down into place
Then I repeat for the other side. Also, some days I’ve had to use moisturizer around my areolas as the skin was getting too dry (PS told me to do this). I will also show you a pic of what it looks like to have my bra holding my ABD pads in place. I think this was the last day I used the 8x10 size pads. After that, I switched to the 5x9 pads. I wish they made these even smaller. I really prefer the feel and function of the ABD pads over gauze pads, etc. I know some people like using menstrual pads, too.

At night I just use the melaluca, new ABD pads and an athletic wrap to keep them on so I can go without my bra (I really needed a break from the bra at the end of the day earlier on) and no tape. Took me a few weeks to figure this one out. I should prob take a pic so you can see what I mean.