Get the real deal on beauty treatments—real doctors, real reviews, and real photos with real results.Here's how we earn your trust.

See All Reviews
See All Reviews
POSTED UNDER Breast Reduction REVIEWS

Super itchy!!

ORIGINAL POST

Hey ladies So I had my first appointment with...

RT2119March 18, 2013
WORTH IT$3,000

Hey ladies

So I had my first appointment with my regular doctor today, she gave me a referral and long story short I have an appointment with my surgeon on Wednesday (was a little shocked by the fact Australia only covers this procedure on private insurance, Heart really goes out to all those woman suffering without it)

So I have incredibly mixed emotions, I am very very excited, excited about the fact I won't have to live with this pain any more and that I can start living my life.

But on the other hand I'm incredibly nervous and quite scared. I have been reading the reviews and such from this site for a few weeks now and they have been incredibly helpful and made me feel so much more confident about going out and doing something about this, and the ladies on here seemed so helpful and full of advice and support that I thought I would join and share my story.

I also found from my research that there seems to be three main concerns:
1: The possibility of not being able to breast feed. I can understand how this could be a potential issue for some women but considering I am only 21 and have no immediate plans to have children, this isn't a huge concern of mine

2: Loss of feeling in nipples; how many of you ladies actually encountered this problem? It is a little bit worrying but again I feel it's a very small price to pay.

3: Scars, I won't lie this is concerning for me, I have seen before and after photographs and noticed they do fade a substantial amount but is there any creams that anybody would recommend with helpin with this? Also I know this is a ridiculous reason but I have never been in a long term relationship (probably due to the fact that I have such a hang up about my FF's that I almost have a heart attack just thinking about taking my bra off INFRONT of somebody) and now it feels as though I'm swapping one insecurity with another if that makes sense? But at the same time I'm quite like 'stuff it' its my body and its my health it's affecting and after all this is being done for ME not for a man I haven't even met yet.

I guess I will know more about this after Wednwsday and hopefully have a date for my op. (also how long would you say it was before you were feeling up to scratch? I am studying and am a little worried about falling behind in my work)

RT2119's provider

Philip Richardson, MBBS, FRACS

Philip Richardson, MBBS, FRACS

Specialist Plastic Surgeon

4.9 | 55 Reviews
PROFILE

RT2119 rating for Dr. Richardson:

Overall rating
Doctor's bedside manner
Answered my questions
Time spent with me
Phone or email responsiveness
Staff professionalism & courtesy
Payment process
Wait times

Replies (3)

User Avatar
Rachel V
March 19, 2013
1- My OB is the one who actually talked me into the BR. He said most of his patients who have done it cand still breast feed. My PS said it is a 50/50 chance. 2- Make sure your PS does not do a free nipple graft. That is where they cut the nipple off and reattach it higher. That used to be the gold standard of breast reduction, but not anymore. Luckily modern medicine has changed that and the nipple is repositioned without severing it. You should not lose sensation. 3- I just had my surgery a week ago, and even with scars perky breasts look waaaayyy better, lol. I have read that paper tape over the sutures helps them heal flat and smaller. I went out an bought some, along with a few scar creams. Good luck with your appt. I think you will be very happy. I could never just walk around my house topless. I always had a T-shirt, bra, or something covering my chest. Now, I'm parading through my house topless and it's wonderful! I'm really happy with my results and my breasts look much better than they ever have. You will love it!
RT2119
March 20, 2013
Thank you so much for your reply. I actually had my first appointment with my PS today and...I'm having my surgery in a week. In a little overwhelmed as its all moved very quickly but I'm also super excited. Also thanks so much for the recommendations on the tape :D ill make sure I go get some. How has your pain been?
User Avatar
Rachel V
March 20, 2013
I replied- but it ahowed up above. ^^ :)
UPDATED FROM RT2119
7 days pre

So today I went and had my appointment with my PS....

RT2119March 20, 2013
So today I went and had my appointment with my PS. He was really lovely and explained everything to me. I won't lie I was highly embarrassed when I was asked to take off my shirt and my bra, it was daunting, I even told him I was a little embarrassed and his reply was 'I see this all day everyday' haha so that really put things into perspective for me.

He explained that I would need a week of complete rest, that in two weeks I would be able to do small exercises such as walking on a treadmill and that by 6 weeks I would be able to do whatever I wanted. I was actually surprised by this, six weeks is nothing, that will be over so quickly.

Shortly afterwards I was asked about dates and was offered the 27th. I actually think this took me a while to process that this was only next week. I'm incredibly overwhelmed at the minute, things have happened incredibly fast. But I'm also very excited. I know that ill be awake one minute, asleep the next and when I come too it will have been done. How has every bodies experience been with their drains? Did you find their removal painful? It bearable? I think this is the part that is worrying me slightly.

I also spoke to my teachers today and my due dates won't be an issue they are happy to push them for me so that's a huge relief. I now just have to talk to my work and hopefully sort some time off.

Replies (0)

UPDATED FROM RT2119
7 days pre

Since speaking to my PS yesterday I'm almost 99.9%...

RT2119March 20, 2013
Since speaking to my PS yesterday I'm almost 99.9% sure that I want to be a c cup, because its smaller, and smaller is better and because if I have children my boobs will grow again and there's less chance of me ending up right back where I started.

But I made the terrible mistake of discussing this with my grandma, who immediately replied with 'aren't you worried you will look out of proportion' cue my over thinking and I've barely slept because I've been looking up photos and panicking that I'll end up out of proportion AGAIN.

I never had this fear before and I told my ps I wanted to be 'as small as possible' and his reply was 'as small as possible or in proportion?' And my reply was of course 'in proportion' and he then told me c-d. So I know I'm panicking over nothing. Guess its just my nerves kicking in :/

Replies (2)

User Avatar
Rachel V
March 20, 2013
I only had the drain for less than a day on one breast. I never felt it when it was in or when it was removed. I didn't have a lot of pain at all in the beginning when I was taking percocet every 4 hours before the pain started. In fact, I probably over did it because I went stopped into work, went grocery shopping, clothes shopping- all within the first three days! It wasn't until 5 days later that I started to have discomfort, and that was my fault- on a Friday, I requested a much weaker pain medication ( I didn't know it was weaker). I requested tylenol 3 with codeine, because I had it once for a dental crown and it worked well at that time. My PS had originally given me percocets. I didn't know the tylenol 3 would be useless until Saturday, lol. I was miserable those two days and on Monday I requested to go back on the stronger meds. This decision is the only thing that caused me pain- the proper pain medications will keep the pain away while you heal. Overall, the pain has been much less than I expected. You can click on my profile to read my review and look at my pics. I'm so happy with the surgery. Numerous people have told me how much slimmer I look now and I have to agree. The reduction will give you lots of confidence about your body. On thing that I do recommend is finding out what type of reduction your PS is planning on doing. What kind of pedicle (the mound of tissue your nipple is attached to) and what type incisions your PS is planning for you. Let me know, I've done a lot of research and I work in pathology at a hospital, so I also asked numerous OR nurses and Dr's their opinions for the best methods everyday at work for weeks. By the time I was having my surgery, everyone knew I was having he BR done, but I had a wealth of information.
RT2119
March 20, 2013
Awesome, thanks so much. Because I'm not staying overnight I have to take my drains home with me, I can go and have them out the next day or wait another day and have them taken out at a hospital closer to me. My PS told me that what I'll end up with is the 'anchor' stitching, that it goes around the nipple then down and under. He never mentioned nipple grafts just that my nipple would ultimately end up much higher (he pointed it out) and then ran through any complications that could occur (I already knew them all from my research) He also told me the standard reduction size is roughly a c-d id love to go for the c because I'm thinking that if I have children in the future they are going to grow again and I really don't want to end up back where I started!
See More Breast Reduction Reviews
See All Reviews