POSTED UNDER Breast Reduction Reviews
Breast Reduction from 32H to 32DD - San Francisco, CA
ORIGINAL POST
Its been over a year since my breast reduction and...
WORTH IT$10,000
Its been over a year since my breast reduction and I'd like to share my experience with other women who may be considering this type of surgery.
First a little history. I was a late bloomer but once I did get breasts they sprouted almost overnight. Looking back I was probably a 30D/32C but had no idea what a properly fitted bra was. I remember it being painful when they started growing and I hated it along with the male attention that would happen on the street. At this point in my life, 16-20, I was fairly fit and active. By 20, I probably had DD and I had know idea how to dress them or how to wear a properly sized bra.
When I practiced martial arts, I had to wear two sports bras and I recall having difficulty reaching my arm across my chest as my boobs were in the way! Jogging required an underwire plus two sports on top to control the bounce. Sports bras did not come is smaller bands for DD+ boobs back then! Fast forward another 15 years and I was up to a 34G. I had gained and lost some weight but my boobs only grew bigger. By this time I had finally gotten properly bra fitted and the right bra can be so amazing. Ladies, please get a correctly fitting bra before having surgery. It may change your mind!
I decided to seriously look into getting a breast reduction when I lost 12 pounds and needed new bras as the bands were too big and discovered I was now a 32H. I had back, shoulder and neck pain- some from an accident and some from an issue with my joints. I remember thinking, I can't live this way anymore! I made an appointment to go see a plastic surgeon to see what my options were. While I had researched reductions over the years, I wanted to talk to a medical professional. I ended up liking the surgeon and his staff and scheduled my surgery about five weeks later. It may seem like I made a quick decision but I had done my homework before hand. I knew the different types of procedures and had a list of questions and concerns ready when I went in for my first appointment. The surgeon recommended the anchor procedure and went over all the possible risks. I also made sure to check up on the surgeon's credentials and I ended up paying for my surgery myself as I did not want to wait for insurance approval.
Surgery
I wasn't nervous at all the day of surgery. I woke up early and took a taxi to the operating clinic. Surgeon came in to talk to me and went over the procedure again and what size I was hoping to achieve. He then marked me up and the nurse hooked me up to IV etc. They gave me a valium even though I didn't need it and I walked into the operating room and got on the table. Mask came on and thats all I remember until I woke up in recovery. The operation lasted 3.5 hours and around 5.5 lbs of tissue was removed. I could immediately feel the change in weight! I wasn't in any pain just some slight discomfort. My friend came and picked me up after the nurse finally gave me the OK. She drove me over to my moms house where I was planning to stay for a couple days to be looked after.
I forgot to mention I was given some supplements to take starting a week before surgery and to continue taking after to help with healing. I had pain meds as well but after the first day I didn't take them. The next day I went in for a check up and everything was fine. For the next three days, I stayed at my moms and pretty much stayed in bed or sitting. I had very little pain but some discomfort. Every now and then I had what I would call "zingers' or little zaps of tingling pain. The zingers happened a couple times a day for the first week and lasted only a second or two. One nipple became hyper sensitive and I felt that I had lost some feeling in the other but after two to three months feeling on both nipples returned to normal. My stitches came out easily except for a few that had to be removed by the doctor. By day four/five I had resumed normal everyday activities.
Overall my breast reduction surgery experience was excellent. I had no complications, no pain, and my incisions healed well and quickly. The scarring isn't too bad. I probably have stretch marks that look worse. I am very happy with my 34D/32DD size after the procedure!
My advice to other women is:
Do your research!
Find a surgeon you are comfortable with and that is certified.
Make sure you have help at home for a couple of days- even if you are not in pain you don't want to pull your stitches!
By a front clasp surgical or sleep bra before surgery. You are going to need some support but a back clasp is going to be too hard to take on/off.
Don't buy new bras too soon. I thought the swelling had gone all the way down but it hadn't. Wait another month or you'll end up having to buy more new bras again like I did.
Underwires are going to be uncomfortable for the first 4 months as the wire lays against the scars. Buy soft bras or sport bras. You'll thank me later!
Don't go out in the sun too soon! I went to Hawaii for vacation 10 weeks later and sun on new scars hurts! Even with sunscreen!
First a little history. I was a late bloomer but once I did get breasts they sprouted almost overnight. Looking back I was probably a 30D/32C but had no idea what a properly fitted bra was. I remember it being painful when they started growing and I hated it along with the male attention that would happen on the street. At this point in my life, 16-20, I was fairly fit and active. By 20, I probably had DD and I had know idea how to dress them or how to wear a properly sized bra.
When I practiced martial arts, I had to wear two sports bras and I recall having difficulty reaching my arm across my chest as my boobs were in the way! Jogging required an underwire plus two sports on top to control the bounce. Sports bras did not come is smaller bands for DD+ boobs back then! Fast forward another 15 years and I was up to a 34G. I had gained and lost some weight but my boobs only grew bigger. By this time I had finally gotten properly bra fitted and the right bra can be so amazing. Ladies, please get a correctly fitting bra before having surgery. It may change your mind!
I decided to seriously look into getting a breast reduction when I lost 12 pounds and needed new bras as the bands were too big and discovered I was now a 32H. I had back, shoulder and neck pain- some from an accident and some from an issue with my joints. I remember thinking, I can't live this way anymore! I made an appointment to go see a plastic surgeon to see what my options were. While I had researched reductions over the years, I wanted to talk to a medical professional. I ended up liking the surgeon and his staff and scheduled my surgery about five weeks later. It may seem like I made a quick decision but I had done my homework before hand. I knew the different types of procedures and had a list of questions and concerns ready when I went in for my first appointment. The surgeon recommended the anchor procedure and went over all the possible risks. I also made sure to check up on the surgeon's credentials and I ended up paying for my surgery myself as I did not want to wait for insurance approval.
Surgery
I wasn't nervous at all the day of surgery. I woke up early and took a taxi to the operating clinic. Surgeon came in to talk to me and went over the procedure again and what size I was hoping to achieve. He then marked me up and the nurse hooked me up to IV etc. They gave me a valium even though I didn't need it and I walked into the operating room and got on the table. Mask came on and thats all I remember until I woke up in recovery. The operation lasted 3.5 hours and around 5.5 lbs of tissue was removed. I could immediately feel the change in weight! I wasn't in any pain just some slight discomfort. My friend came and picked me up after the nurse finally gave me the OK. She drove me over to my moms house where I was planning to stay for a couple days to be looked after.
I forgot to mention I was given some supplements to take starting a week before surgery and to continue taking after to help with healing. I had pain meds as well but after the first day I didn't take them. The next day I went in for a check up and everything was fine. For the next three days, I stayed at my moms and pretty much stayed in bed or sitting. I had very little pain but some discomfort. Every now and then I had what I would call "zingers' or little zaps of tingling pain. The zingers happened a couple times a day for the first week and lasted only a second or two. One nipple became hyper sensitive and I felt that I had lost some feeling in the other but after two to three months feeling on both nipples returned to normal. My stitches came out easily except for a few that had to be removed by the doctor. By day four/five I had resumed normal everyday activities.
Overall my breast reduction surgery experience was excellent. I had no complications, no pain, and my incisions healed well and quickly. The scarring isn't too bad. I probably have stretch marks that look worse. I am very happy with my 34D/32DD size after the procedure!
My advice to other women is:
Do your research!
Find a surgeon you are comfortable with and that is certified.
Make sure you have help at home for a couple of days- even if you are not in pain you don't want to pull your stitches!
By a front clasp surgical or sleep bra before surgery. You are going to need some support but a back clasp is going to be too hard to take on/off.
Don't buy new bras too soon. I thought the swelling had gone all the way down but it hadn't. Wait another month or you'll end up having to buy more new bras again like I did.
Underwires are going to be uncomfortable for the first 4 months as the wire lays against the scars. Buy soft bras or sport bras. You'll thank me later!
Don't go out in the sun too soon! I went to Hawaii for vacation 10 weeks later and sun on new scars hurts! Even with sunscreen!
Thank you for sharing all of your details with the community, This is helpful to so many women,