Breast Implant Reduction and Lift One Month from Today! - Spokane, WA

While there aren't many breast implant reduction posts and very few relating to small implant sizes, all of your stories have been have been helpful and illuminating. Thank you!

I am 53 years old, 5'4, 120 pounds, 35.5" at breast center, 32.5" at bra bottom, 27" waist, 34" hips. My first and only BA was 20 years ago - saline implants over the muscle but don't know the cc size. I was a 32AA before and am now a 32D. I've always thought them too big but have mostly loved my implants, have thankfully had no issues and except for sagging (aging!), and they're still in good shape. But I'm ready for something smaller - not explant small but definitely smaller by half at least. I want them to be less conspicuous and am ready for more clothing options.

I had a consultation four years ago with a highly lauded surgeon who recommended I think it through more and maybe wait until I had an issue because they're still in such great shape and going to smaller implant would require a lift causing vertical scars. I thought that was good advice at the time and did wait until this year when I decided it was worth it. I am ready to be smaller! I went back to him for another consultation and he was a total jerk, lecturing - actually bordering on shaming - me for coming back and even asked what my partner thought. (Why is that important?!) His assistant literally slunk out of the exam room during our "discussion".

My next consultation was the exact opposite. Dr. Derby was happy to explore all the options and possibilities. We spent a great deal of time talking about what it would take, the challenges, what she thought would work, the different implants now available and the crazy disclaimer paperwork. She said I'd get a call the next day with pricing and scheduling possibilities which I did. Due to some travel, Judy (her RN) was flexible regarding their pre-op testing timing and I've now completed those requirements and am scheduled for my surgery on May 26.

Because I don't know what size my implants are, the new size is a guessing game. I'm childless and post menopause and as far as she could tell through her initial exam, I still have no or very little breast tissue and she guessed my implant size at 350-ish cc's. I'd like to be half the size I am now at most. She conveyed one of the potential challenges is to re-adjust my skin appropriately so the implants fit snugly and everything ends up in the right place aesthetically. (My explanation - I'm sure she was more eloquent and technical.) :) As I understand it, going under the muscle this time will help a little but a judgement call may be needed during surgery regarding size to get the best overall results. In my phone conversation with Judy, she said they'd probably order a couple sizes because they don't do many small implants.

I'm going to check in with them this week with a couple questions ... Would it be helpful to deflate my current implants at my pre-op appointment to get a better idea of size? (10 days pre-surgery -- I can live with stuffing my bra for 10 days, right?) What brands and profile options do they recommend? In our consultation, she thought round and smooth would probably be the best for my body but my head was spinning a bit at the options. I don't remember anything like these choices 20 years ago!

Any thoughts you have are welcome. I'm more excited than nervous at this point but I know the nervousness will definitely come. Thanks again, everyone, for sharing your stories. You are all amazing!

Hi everyone ... I had my surgery a week ago yesterday and am finally at a point to post an update. I went in at 7am and was out at 1-ish with the surgery itself lasting about 3-1/2 hours. Everything went as planned and they were terrific. My first couple days were a blur of muscle relaxers and pain killers to help with really intense pain -- 9-10 on a scale of 10. Yes, this type of revision is not for the faint of heart ... it hurts!!

Day 3 and 4 were a bit better but the pain still pretty up there at 7+. Thankfully it started to taper back a bit after that and by day 7 I'd say I was at a 6. I started backing off significantly on the pain killers (my choice) but was and still am on muscle relaxers every six hours.

Today is day 8 and I'm sitting at a 5 on the pain scale but it's better. It now feels more like what my original surgery (above muscle saline) felt like - super tight, sharp nerve pain bouncing around randomly - but with the added component of the muscle spasms. Whoa. They told me about them but there's really no getting it until you feel them. It's hard to get a deep breath because of the tightness, and heaven forbid you sneeze or cough - ouch!

A major problem that I wasn't as prepared for as I should've been is the constipation from the anesthesia and pain meds. It's the major reason I've nearly eliminated them -- it got extremely painful and uncomfortable. I started stool softeners the day of the surgery but should've maybe started in advance. I went to triple doses of laxatives by day 5 and finally got some relief starting day 6. It was nearly as bad as the surgery pain. I don't normally have any digestion issues so this was new for me. If I had it to do over, I'd start on the stool softener at least a day before the surgery and start on laxatives jut after the surgery or the next day for sure. I recommend eating only foods like grapefruit and other citrus fruits, bran cereal and vegetables. Popcorn has been a good snack for me and at least kept me in some butter. :)

Relative to how they came out, I'm really pleased! Going from large over the muscle to smaller (210cc) under required quite a bit of work as you can see. The white is just the stere-strip on stop of the cuts. There are no stitches to come out and the strips will fall off on their own. They have a long way to go before the swelling goes down and they drop and fluff and do all that stuff but I feel I'm going to like them when I'm done healing. I have a tendency to push myself too hard and the nurse warned me yesterday that I really need to continue to take it easy and look at this as a 6 week marathon vs 2 weeks print. I'll try.

I have my post op on Thursday and will post more photos then. One thing I've really like about my doctor is that I don't go back for post-op for two weeks which makes sense to me now that I've been through it -- there's just no need unless there's a problem and I should be resting. I also got to shower starting the first day after surgery. My partner was great helping me at first -- he didn't think it exactly rough duty! :) I'm on my own now which is a bit tough but fine. No arms above the head so the hair is au-natural and it's actually pretty freeing.

Best wishes to everyone!

Sharon