POSTED UNDER Breast Reduction REVIEWS
60 + Years Old, 36G, Waiting for 9 Years to Do It, Now I did it!
ORIGINAL POST
Feeling really nervous, not sure what size breasts...
WORTH IT$5,800
Feeling really nervous, not sure what size breasts to ask for (still need to lose 15 pounds), just got insurance approval, now surgery date set, spoke with anesthesia, worried about post-op pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of nipple sensitivity, worried about chronic pain syndromes, have allergy to latex, worried about not liking the size (too big or too small, i dont want to look baggy breasts if i lose weight)
Luvann's provider
Replies (29)
December 26, 2016
I am 5 days post op. I was a 40H in one breast and about a 40HH in the other. Post op pain is horrible; make sure you are wrapped up tightly and supported (it does help) and you take your pain meds. They made me sit up in a recliner within a few hours of waking up from anenthesia. I stayed over night. Make sure you take stool softeners with the med pains. I got consipated and ended up straining myself and heading back to emergency. The size you land at truly depends on your insurance and your frame. Most insurances require you to take a minimum off each. I wanted to land at a D. That would look nice with my frame, and if I lost more weight (as I plan to), the breasts would be proportional. I have heard horror stories. A friend's doctor took too much and her nipples died. She looked crazy. Another friend's grew back. Do your research. Discuss with your doctor your goals, insurance requirements, the type of incision they will do (this changes the healing, look and scarring), how much they will take (initial eval had him taking 700 cc to 800 cc. Date of surgery, he said he would need to take at least 900cc off 1 breast and at least 950 cc off the other. 1lb=450cc) My goals were to relieve chronic pain and be porportional. The nausea was pretty bad. Dr prescribed a pill and Sprite helped a lot. Vomiting goes away as the anethesia wears off. I had to hold down liquids and walk on my own to leave the hospital. I am also allergic to latex. My hospital doesn't use it, but they put a band on you with your allergies so that's not a worry. Just make sure everyone knows. Have someone there who can make decisions and understands your wishes. My surgery ran long and my dr checked in with my family before going any smaller. He did my surgery to offer the most relieve for my condition while keeping me proportional and at a size I wanted. Be sure you feel comfortabke with your doctor, she listens to your needs and look at her work. Ask to see reductions of patients similar to you so you can see how it will look.
Now my first thought when I woke up was they were small. I was a bit disappointed. It took me awhile to realize that 1) my breasts were huge. Everything looked small compared to them. 2) They are set high and won't settle into their final shape for months.
Fear is normal. I almost ran out of there. But it was a good decision and I love my breasts now. Good luck with it!
December 27, 2016
Thanks for your reply, and about bowel and constipation issues, I plan to take miso soup and clear liquids the day before, take miralax and prune juice to clean myself out the day before, plus I'm trying to buy stuff I'll need for recovery at home, what would you recommend?
December 27, 2016
Broth soups and plain toast was what I lived on....soda crackers and tea for nausea...get gravol suppositories as I was quite nauseous so that helped tons
December 27, 2016
Hard to say on that one. I had no clue and really did mostly liquids and crackers for the first 2 days. When I ate something more substansial, I felt better. I'd talk to your doctor about that.
December 27, 2016
Hmmm sensitive question but were you able to wipe yourself behind the first days after ?
December 27, 2016
No. You will need someone in the house with you. My first day was no bath, no shower. I could go to the bathroom, but my period started the day after my procedure, so I used adult underpants and slept on and off. On the 3rd day near the end, I called myself taking a bath for the first time without help and almost passed out. For me once the binding (surgical bra and pads) came off and the breasts were held by their own weight I was lightheaded. Not a full tub either. Just enough water to cover my legs. Someone bathed me the next day. Get an extra surgical bra. The original one will get blood and drainage on it. Someone had to hand wash and toss in the dryer, but the less support the worse I felt. Before you go in stock up your fridge, put things low where you can reach them (you will not be able to raise your arms above your head), cook meals make portons and put into freezer for easy retrieval. Either have someone at home to help or have people come by in shifts to check on you. Buy baby wipes (much easier to clean yourself after using the bathroom). Adult underpants are just easier in my opinion than underwear. And get button down tops and elastic waist pants or yoga pants. I couldn't wear button down shirts prior to my surgery, so I only had maybe 2 that were sitting in the Goodwill bin. You will not be able to pull stuff over your head. I had a few things I can pull up over my hips, but it still gets tricky with the arms. Get easy to slip on shoes without laces or ballet bedroom slippers with hard soles. Putting on socks will not feel great so I wore those slippers out the house. Make sure your clothes in your closet are within reach and the same as things in a dresser. You will not feel great trying to bend over or reach. If you live in an area that snows, make sure you have someone who can shovel it out. If you have limited help, check with your county about medical transportation to get to follow up appts.
December 27, 2016
U can lose weight later...get it done and see where you're at! You will love smaller breasts! :))
December 27, 2016
Thanks, that's what I think too, there is never a perfect time or weight, and I already have a surgery date and hospital bed on Jan 3 booked. I'm gonna just do it! I'm ordering arnica and body pillow, and gonna ask about scopolamine patch and aemem
December 27, 2016
The worst part for me was the nausea after....I haven't found the pain at all bad ...swelling and pressure is what it mostly is like but I do take small amounts of pain meds so I move around a bit which is healthier post surgery...let me know how you do? By Jan 3 I hope to be well on my way :))
December 27, 2016
Oh and go buy six ice pack things u can freeze and keep re using ...if you use ice for the first three days every hour or two it's such a help...15 minutes at a time every few hours
December 27, 2016
I mean Emend for nausea, I have some compazine suppositories, wish there was something for pain besides opiates that cause nausea and constipation, any other ideas or tips most appreciated
December 27, 2016
Try and keep lots of fluids down and mostly water(good start at weight loss lol) and I didn't eat much so didn't feel constipated at all...moved my bowels day 4 and feel fine...make sure you have help for the first few days of possible? My husband really helped, running for ice packs, water, food etc ...I'm Canadian so our drug names are different but don't get too hung up on that? I'm taking Tramacet and they say to take two pills every 4 hours? I take half a pill every 6-8 hours....yiu feel better if you're not too drugged up and you get better faster? But absolutely make sure you're comfortable ....first day after the surgery is the worst day but not terrible
December 27, 2016
How was it getting up to use the restroom the first few days? Do I need a bedside commode? Did your husband help you to the bathroom?
December 27, 2016
Yes you're a little shaky especially due to the pain drugs? I could have done it on my own but he did help me for safety... I'm day three now and honestly feel amazing! Watched tv tonight and wandered around a bit in the house....i have my surgeon date this Thursday where he takes off the bandages so I will finally see the results! It's quite hard to tell what I look like right now and I don't feel significantly smaller because I'm bandaged and swollen but I went from a 32DD to a small B...that's what I wanted :))
December 31, 2016
Ice packs and several so you can rotate them. Also a thermometer to monitor your temperature.
December 31, 2016
Thank you, just getting all my supplies, trying to get anesthesia to give me Amend for nausea....
December 31, 2016
I have to say I'm a week now and this operation is seamless! Slow recovery but not much pain just sweeping and bruised feeling. I will say now to you(because I've spoken so positively about this experience)my only setback was the day after surgery...I had to go to the emerg because I was vomiting so badly from the anaesthetic and got terribly dehydrated! I should have gone earlier but being a nurse just put it off and thought I'd be fine :(( I need IV fluids and IV anti nauseant....all good after a few hours and I've not looked back. So ensure you get the patch in surgery because you will avoid this.
December 31, 2016
I'm a week and yes sleeping great and feel good tonight...have a good soft support bra on and very small doses of pain meds now...you are going to be so thrilled at how light you feel at my stage! I've already talked my girlfriend into it as she came and saw the results today lol...it's all so nice to look forward to so don't get anxious...these people are such experts!
Replies (7)
January 2, 2017
My surgery is scheduled for January 11th. Nervous but very excited. All the comments are helping a lot to prepare myself for what I need.
January 3, 2017
I got all the supplies, not sure if I'll need them, but just drinking fluids today do surgery and pain meds don't make me too constipated.
January 3, 2017
Oh it's tomorrow right? All the very best and you are going to feel amazing in a week! I'm sitting here after a lovely bath and cannot believe my new small breasts! It's miraculous :))
January 3, 2017
Thanks for that. I am just figuring out what i should take to the hospital for the overnight stay. I am taking my Emend 1 hour before i go in the morning, then i hope to get a pectoral block and Toradol, so i can have less opiates, with a scopolamine patch, and i am taking only liquids and milk of magnesia today in hopes of cleaning out the bowel so i don't get too constipated. My husband is staying overnight in the hospital with me. Then i am taking a pillow in the car for bracing on the ride home. all of this stuff i learned here on this site! thank you all, fingers crossed i wont get too much buyers-remorse, even though i know to expect a little of that in the beginning.
January 6, 2017
Mine is on the 11th too. Already ordered my bras. Trying to stay calm and positive , but very nervous. Good luck to you. I am sure all will go well. Thousands did it and are very happy. So will we.
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