POSTED UNDER Breast Reduction REVIEWS
Necrosis and Other Issues
ORIGINAL POST
Hi all. I had breast reduction surgery on...
KwanYinDecember 2, 2016
WORTH IT$9,000
Hi all.
I had breast reduction surgery on 9/12/2016. I am grateful that I was able to have it done, but there have been problems from the beginning. I am posting today in hopes of getting some feedback, support, or advice. I am unhappy with my doctor and I am thinking of switching. It is hard to imagine switching doctors in the middle of all of this but it's also hard to imagine continuing on with my current doc.
This is my second breast reduction surgery. I had it done 14 years ago. I put on 60 lbs 5 years ago and my breasts went back to their original size. Second time around is more high risk, which my doctor warned me about. I am now experiencing the worst of all my doctor warned me about. I did not think it would happen, but it has, and it's been a difficult journey. Every time I see my doctor I feel worse. Every time I see his PA I feel better. So now I treat the PA like my doc and my doc like our supervisor. :)
When we unwrapped my breasts for the first time after surgery, the right side was bruised and I had no feeling in the nipple, nor in some surrounding areas. That was a Tuesday. He had me come in for a follow up earlier than normal, on that Friday. I had another surgery that day, for the bruising.
Cosmetically, I have some problems with the shape of my breasts, which I took pictures of. They are very full on the outside but not on the inside, to the point that they are actually somewhat concave where I might have cleavage. The medial stitches on the right side were not in a straight line at all, and it has a rippled effect. Now I have major fat necrosis on the right side and minor on the right, and it has only made things look worse. So those are the cosmetic problems I am having. I am an insurance patient and wonder if they would cover having those fixed. Kind of doubt it!
Cosmetic things can be fixed. Some things can't. My nipple/areola complex died on the right side, and like I said, I have had major fat necrosis on that side. The pain has been something to deal with. I am now using a non-narcotic painkiller; I still have pain, I struggle with taking Hydrocodone on top of it. I say struggle because I would rather not take it, but sometimes my mental state is weak enough that I just can't take the pain any more. I don't mean to say that it's a weakness to take pain pills, but in my case, the pain isn't SO bad, it's just so constant that I feel drained and frankly fed up, and so sometimes I take extra pain meds (the doc knows and approves). I would really rather not be on narcotics for this long, and right now I'm not taking them. Also, it used to hurt if I laid down for too long. After the necrosis came on, I had to sleep sitting up for about a month, and I slept terribly, and so I was taking prescription sleeping pills. This has been way too much pill popping for me. I ran out of sleep meds and so haven't taken them for 3 nights, and haven't gotten more than 4 or 5 hours in any of those nights. But I don't think it's pain that is waking me up now, as it did before. I think it may be stress related. I have some other difficult life stuff going on and I'm finding that with all of this going on, it's harder to deal with other things. Please excuse me if this is getting too long or off topic.
So problems with my doctor. I just don't like him! He always seems like he is in a rush to get out of the room and end the appointment. I always have questions, and feel like I am inconveniencing him to ask them. But I ask anyways. I also find him to be dismissive. I have come to find him hard to talk to. I could explain more but this is going to be long so just take my word for it! Or ask for further detail.
Two things happened that were deal breakers for me with him.
#1. When he realized that my nipple/areola had died, he didn't tell me in clear terms, and I actually left the office not understanding what had happened. I went to his office with one main concern; the survival of my nipple. He told me that I had an "eschar," and then (uncharacteristically) went on to explain more. He said it's like a big scab and that when it came off there would be healthy tissue underneath. I took "healthy tissue" to mean a nipple but I guess he meant skin. Because my nipple was dead. Then he told me that he would see me in a month. "A month?!" I exclaimed. He said yes, a month was fine. I took that to be another good sign, that he didn't need to keep an eye on the nipple. But the area kept leaking and I wasn't comfortable not being seen for so long, so after about 10 days I made an appointment to come in; that was my first appointment with his PA. She was amazing, explained to me that the nipple had died, took all the time I needed, didn't seem in a rush, and was friendly and funny and put me at ease. So after that I tried to always see her and not him. I made an appointment to see him again and I asked him about the nipple being dead, and he said "I explained that to you last time" and he seemed a bit exasperated. He repeated the stuff about the eschar and the healthy tissue and I told him that I didn't understand that that had meant the nipple was dead. He said nothing. I don't like that whole situation.
#2. This bit I find so humiliating. So the PA removed the eschar and I have been going in to get it cleaned out periodically, which frankly is somewhat traumatizing. I sort of wish she would have just left it on, even if it would have taken longer to heal, because dealing with this open wound has been for me truly awful. I'm just not good with stuff like that. I try not to say this but I will say it once here, it is seriously gross. There is a giant, gaping hole in the front middle of my breast, and it is very slowly closing up. It's been almost 2 months and it's about halfway there. So about three weeks ago, I noticed that it smelled bad. My friend told me I needed to get that checked out. I already had an appointment with the doctor, so I saw him and asked him about it. This is the humiliating part. He gave my breast a very dramatic little whiff and told me that he didn't smell anything. I told him that you can always smell it on the dressing, which he was holding in his hand. He told me "I'm not smelling that." With attitude. I just find it all so embarrassing. Of course nobody wants to smell the bandages from my necrotic tit. I get it. But it is a diagnostic tool! Was I out of line to suggest he do that? I don't think so but I'm open to hearing about it if I was. Then he worked on cleaning it out, and when he sat me back up, the smell where my breast had been was so strong, I was like, "you don't smell that?" and he said no. Again, attitude. I saw the PA a week later and told her about the smell, and she smelled it - smelled my breast and the bandage both, and said that it was a normal smell. Well, not "normal" normal, but normal for what I had going on. I know this is weird and gross but so is surgery and I do wonder what other people think about this. After that, I really never want to see him again. I will if I have to but my preference is not.
Also, the necrosis has been very painful. It has given me stretch marks on the side of my right breast where it sticks out – those hurt while they were forming, too. The pic in the cami top is to show that things look pretty good when they are covered up, but honestly, with the necrosis, things don't look like that anymore, my breasts are now misshapen and can't wear a tight top currently if I want to look ‘normal.’ My current doc wants to just leave it, he said we don't have to operate on it ever, and it's my choice if we do. Being an insurance patient, that made me nervous about it being covered. I said I want to and he said that even so he wouldn't operate now, that we should wait. So, I feel like a second opinion is in order because I think that possibly another surgeon would operate sooner. I just want to know what another surgeon thinks about the whole situation. The necrosis is starting to soften up. It has gone from baseball shape to fist shape.
My second opinion is with a doctor that was recommended by the PA, somebody else in the same office. It occurs to me that that’s a bad idea but any reasons that I can think of would make the second doctor unethical, and I don’t think he would be. The PA recommended him highly, and I think she is really terrific.
Sorry this was so long. I would really appreciate feedback, advice, support, whatever.
All of this said, I am still really glad I had it done.
Also, I don't know why some of my pictures are upside-down!! Doh!
I had breast reduction surgery on 9/12/2016. I am grateful that I was able to have it done, but there have been problems from the beginning. I am posting today in hopes of getting some feedback, support, or advice. I am unhappy with my doctor and I am thinking of switching. It is hard to imagine switching doctors in the middle of all of this but it's also hard to imagine continuing on with my current doc.
This is my second breast reduction surgery. I had it done 14 years ago. I put on 60 lbs 5 years ago and my breasts went back to their original size. Second time around is more high risk, which my doctor warned me about. I am now experiencing the worst of all my doctor warned me about. I did not think it would happen, but it has, and it's been a difficult journey. Every time I see my doctor I feel worse. Every time I see his PA I feel better. So now I treat the PA like my doc and my doc like our supervisor. :)
When we unwrapped my breasts for the first time after surgery, the right side was bruised and I had no feeling in the nipple, nor in some surrounding areas. That was a Tuesday. He had me come in for a follow up earlier than normal, on that Friday. I had another surgery that day, for the bruising.
Cosmetically, I have some problems with the shape of my breasts, which I took pictures of. They are very full on the outside but not on the inside, to the point that they are actually somewhat concave where I might have cleavage. The medial stitches on the right side were not in a straight line at all, and it has a rippled effect. Now I have major fat necrosis on the right side and minor on the right, and it has only made things look worse. So those are the cosmetic problems I am having. I am an insurance patient and wonder if they would cover having those fixed. Kind of doubt it!
Cosmetic things can be fixed. Some things can't. My nipple/areola complex died on the right side, and like I said, I have had major fat necrosis on that side. The pain has been something to deal with. I am now using a non-narcotic painkiller; I still have pain, I struggle with taking Hydrocodone on top of it. I say struggle because I would rather not take it, but sometimes my mental state is weak enough that I just can't take the pain any more. I don't mean to say that it's a weakness to take pain pills, but in my case, the pain isn't SO bad, it's just so constant that I feel drained and frankly fed up, and so sometimes I take extra pain meds (the doc knows and approves). I would really rather not be on narcotics for this long, and right now I'm not taking them. Also, it used to hurt if I laid down for too long. After the necrosis came on, I had to sleep sitting up for about a month, and I slept terribly, and so I was taking prescription sleeping pills. This has been way too much pill popping for me. I ran out of sleep meds and so haven't taken them for 3 nights, and haven't gotten more than 4 or 5 hours in any of those nights. But I don't think it's pain that is waking me up now, as it did before. I think it may be stress related. I have some other difficult life stuff going on and I'm finding that with all of this going on, it's harder to deal with other things. Please excuse me if this is getting too long or off topic.
So problems with my doctor. I just don't like him! He always seems like he is in a rush to get out of the room and end the appointment. I always have questions, and feel like I am inconveniencing him to ask them. But I ask anyways. I also find him to be dismissive. I have come to find him hard to talk to. I could explain more but this is going to be long so just take my word for it! Or ask for further detail.
Two things happened that were deal breakers for me with him.
#1. When he realized that my nipple/areola had died, he didn't tell me in clear terms, and I actually left the office not understanding what had happened. I went to his office with one main concern; the survival of my nipple. He told me that I had an "eschar," and then (uncharacteristically) went on to explain more. He said it's like a big scab and that when it came off there would be healthy tissue underneath. I took "healthy tissue" to mean a nipple but I guess he meant skin. Because my nipple was dead. Then he told me that he would see me in a month. "A month?!" I exclaimed. He said yes, a month was fine. I took that to be another good sign, that he didn't need to keep an eye on the nipple. But the area kept leaking and I wasn't comfortable not being seen for so long, so after about 10 days I made an appointment to come in; that was my first appointment with his PA. She was amazing, explained to me that the nipple had died, took all the time I needed, didn't seem in a rush, and was friendly and funny and put me at ease. So after that I tried to always see her and not him. I made an appointment to see him again and I asked him about the nipple being dead, and he said "I explained that to you last time" and he seemed a bit exasperated. He repeated the stuff about the eschar and the healthy tissue and I told him that I didn't understand that that had meant the nipple was dead. He said nothing. I don't like that whole situation.
#2. This bit I find so humiliating. So the PA removed the eschar and I have been going in to get it cleaned out periodically, which frankly is somewhat traumatizing. I sort of wish she would have just left it on, even if it would have taken longer to heal, because dealing with this open wound has been for me truly awful. I'm just not good with stuff like that. I try not to say this but I will say it once here, it is seriously gross. There is a giant, gaping hole in the front middle of my breast, and it is very slowly closing up. It's been almost 2 months and it's about halfway there. So about three weeks ago, I noticed that it smelled bad. My friend told me I needed to get that checked out. I already had an appointment with the doctor, so I saw him and asked him about it. This is the humiliating part. He gave my breast a very dramatic little whiff and told me that he didn't smell anything. I told him that you can always smell it on the dressing, which he was holding in his hand. He told me "I'm not smelling that." With attitude. I just find it all so embarrassing. Of course nobody wants to smell the bandages from my necrotic tit. I get it. But it is a diagnostic tool! Was I out of line to suggest he do that? I don't think so but I'm open to hearing about it if I was. Then he worked on cleaning it out, and when he sat me back up, the smell where my breast had been was so strong, I was like, "you don't smell that?" and he said no. Again, attitude. I saw the PA a week later and told her about the smell, and she smelled it - smelled my breast and the bandage both, and said that it was a normal smell. Well, not "normal" normal, but normal for what I had going on. I know this is weird and gross but so is surgery and I do wonder what other people think about this. After that, I really never want to see him again. I will if I have to but my preference is not.
Also, the necrosis has been very painful. It has given me stretch marks on the side of my right breast where it sticks out – those hurt while they were forming, too. The pic in the cami top is to show that things look pretty good when they are covered up, but honestly, with the necrosis, things don't look like that anymore, my breasts are now misshapen and can't wear a tight top currently if I want to look ‘normal.’ My current doc wants to just leave it, he said we don't have to operate on it ever, and it's my choice if we do. Being an insurance patient, that made me nervous about it being covered. I said I want to and he said that even so he wouldn't operate now, that we should wait. So, I feel like a second opinion is in order because I think that possibly another surgeon would operate sooner. I just want to know what another surgeon thinks about the whole situation. The necrosis is starting to soften up. It has gone from baseball shape to fist shape.
My second opinion is with a doctor that was recommended by the PA, somebody else in the same office. It occurs to me that that’s a bad idea but any reasons that I can think of would make the second doctor unethical, and I don’t think he would be. The PA recommended him highly, and I think she is really terrific.
Sorry this was so long. I would really appreciate feedback, advice, support, whatever.
All of this said, I am still really glad I had it done.
Also, I don't know why some of my pictures are upside-down!! Doh!
UPDATED FROM KwanYin
3 months post
Found a new doc
KwanYinDecember 6, 2016
Well, I went this morning for a consult with a new doc, somebody in the same practice as the doc that I started with. I feel weird about that but not weird enough to not do it. I don't want the old doc to feel bad, but really his feelings are out of my control and not my problem. I had fear that the new doc might have an agenda, but that would be a major lack of integrity on his part and I just did not expect that.
I really liked the new doc! He gave me a lot of choices - choices for wound care, choices for surgery. He explained everything really clearly. He took his time. He had read my chart notes and we discussed them, he had lots of questions and made room for any of mine. And he was nice. So I
plan to move forward with him.
He said I could go the patient route and do wound care for about 2 more months, or I could decide I am done with this and have him surgically remove the fat necrosis and close up the wound. He explained each choice thoroughly. He gave me some choices for wound care that would make things heal faster, or have fewer dressing changes. I really like having choices.
If he does the surgery now, he might have to take a lot out and I'll be uneven. Then I'll probably want reconstruction later. Maybe even an implant. Can you imagine, getting an implant after wanting smaller breasts for your entire adult life? I sure as heck can't.
So for now I'll do wound care with an enzyme cream that should help the necrotic fat slough off faster, two dressing changes a day.
I am grateful for a new doctor who seems to be much more attentive and helpful in dealing with my complications.
I really liked the new doc! He gave me a lot of choices - choices for wound care, choices for surgery. He explained everything really clearly. He took his time. He had read my chart notes and we discussed them, he had lots of questions and made room for any of mine. And he was nice. So I
plan to move forward with him.
He said I could go the patient route and do wound care for about 2 more months, or I could decide I am done with this and have him surgically remove the fat necrosis and close up the wound. He explained each choice thoroughly. He gave me some choices for wound care that would make things heal faster, or have fewer dressing changes. I really like having choices.
If he does the surgery now, he might have to take a lot out and I'll be uneven. Then I'll probably want reconstruction later. Maybe even an implant. Can you imagine, getting an implant after wanting smaller breasts for your entire adult life? I sure as heck can't.
So for now I'll do wound care with an enzyme cream that should help the necrotic fat slough off faster, two dressing changes a day.
I am grateful for a new doctor who seems to be much more attentive and helpful in dealing with my complications.
Replies (7)
January 20, 2017
Hi I had pretty much the same experience. I waited 53 years to get a breast reduction and lost a nipple and had fat necrosis in both breasts. Thank you so much for your post. I really thought that what happened to me did not happen in this day and age. I am with a new PS now and am very happy. Best of luck to you in your journey for great boobs!
January 20, 2017
When did you have the surgery. Same thing happened to me. So far my end result is my right breast has no nipple and it's smaller than the other because PS had to remove dead tissue. I still feel hard tissue in both breast that makes me think I still have dead tissue in them. Not sure what that means.
January 22, 2017
Thanks for your kind words. What happened to you? I can't find a post from you. I would love to hear from somebody who is going through the same thing as me; if you want to message me, that would be great. Stay strong and thanks again.
January 24, 2017
Hi I had to have right nipple removed also which left a smaller breast. I had a lot of scar tissue in both breasts. This does feel hard. My left breast felt like it had a large bar of soap in it. My surgery was in 2014 and I just recently was ready to consult a new PS. I am on the road to felling better. It really does take a lot of time to heal from this type of complication. Physically as well as mentally. Best wishes to you
January 24, 2017
I'm glad you are feeling better. I think time and patience are our friends on this type of a journey...
January 24, 2017
Hi oneida. I have the same result as you. No nipple on right breast and a lot of dead tissue removed to result in a smaller breast. I also still feel hardness in that breast along with some in my right. I sure hope I can just live with it and not have any more surgeries. I still don't regret the reduction. I feel so much better.
UPDATED FROM KwanYin
4 months post
Phantom Nipple Pain?
KwanYinJanuary 18, 2017
My right nipple and areola died after my breast reduction in
September of 2016. I seem to be having "phantom nipple pain." Has anyone
else ever experienced this?
I have an abscess that is now about 4 cm deep, which I have been treating twice daily with Santyl and packing. I've been doing this process for about 6 weeks.
In
the past week I've been having what I call "phantom nipple pain." It's
like a sexual nipple feeling, but it is so strong that it's actually
painful. Not a terrible pain... it reminds me of sour candy that makes
me squinch my face up.
Has anybody ever had anything like this?
September of 2016. I seem to be having "phantom nipple pain." Has anyone
else ever experienced this?
I have an abscess that is now about 4 cm deep, which I have been treating twice daily with Santyl and packing. I've been doing this process for about 6 weeks.
In
the past week I've been having what I call "phantom nipple pain." It's
like a sexual nipple feeling, but it is so strong that it's actually
painful. Not a terrible pain... it reminds me of sour candy that makes
me squinch my face up.
Has anybody ever had anything like this?
Replies (4)
January 19, 2017
I just read your review- and I am so angry for you. How dare a physician give you attitude regarding the outcome of your surgery. Of course you are worried and freaked out; you don't deal with this on a regular basis and I would hope he doesn't. Things can go wrong and it seems to me that you are fully cognizant of that fact. But the manner in which he dealt with the issue lacked basic understanding and compassion. Best thoughts for your continued healing.
January 19, 2017
Thanks. I stopped seeing that doctor and have a new one. I love the new guy, so all is well. It was a good learning experience. (Meaning, of course, that at the time it sucked! But now that it's over, it's fine) He really did behave badly, in my opinion. Glad I can have a new doc and move on.
January 20, 2017
Hi I had pretty much the same experience. I waited 53 years to get a breast reduction and lost a nipple and had fat necrosis in both breasts. Thank you so much for your post. I really thought that what happened to me did not happen in this day and age. I am with a new PS now and am very happy. Best of luck to you in your journey for great boobs!
February 24, 2017
Please post the PS name. You are not breaking any law. You will help other woman get the best advice for themselves. So sorry you went through this.
Replies (18)
I don't think this would cause the second dr. to treat you any different. Since your PA suggested him I think it shows she has no faith in your current PS.
Lastly, I think you should post his name. Lots of women use this as a tool to guide their decision, I'm one of them. I chose my surgeon after seeing his work here. Your experience is real and so are your results and how he treated you after. You're not bashing him, you're sharing your experience.
There are 3 docs in the clinic, the PA works with them all and knows their strengths and weaknesses. She does have faith in the PS in question, just thinks that he can be less attentive for complications than the doc she recommended. She assured me numerous times that he is a good guy and a good doctor. And he generally probably is.
I appreciate your thoughts about posting his name, and I agree. I will post his name soon, I'm just not comfortable doing it while I'm still under his care.
I actually agree with your thoughts, and thought them myself. But I wanted to have as little change as possible, and I wanted to stay with the office and this PA. This whole thing is so far out of my comfort zone, and starting all over with new people feels way too daunting.
I feel really frustrated in reading your story, please excuse me for making it about me, but my doctor offered me NOTHING when I started having problems after my surgery. I got no treatment when he thought it was dying, he just kept an eye on it.
I am with you, sister-the hole is gross! I go in every other week to have it cleaned out, and they cut away necrotic tissue from inside. I can't feel what they are doing for the most part, but I can a bit, and I found the cleaning to be traumatizing the first few times we did it. The last time I guess I had gotten used to it and it wasn't so bad. But it's rough. The smell is not infection, the PA said it's a normal smell for this situation. So that's good news.
I'm curious, reconstruction for what? The nipple? Do you have fat necrosis in the breast? Is he removing that?
I'm sorry that your doc is short with you too, it has felt so awful to be treated like that. I will be thinking about you and hope to hear more from you about how it is going.
<3 best of luck
I am one who always wants all the information, you may not be like that. <3
I saw the doc that the PA recommended and I really liked him, so I'm going to work with him.
Yes, finding out my nipple had died was devastating, I am still trying to wrap my head around it. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers, I really appreciate them.
When all is said and done, I'm still grateful to have had the surgery.