Breast Reduction from 36J - Spokane, WA

Hi, this is a bit awkward, but I have to start somewhere... I am 29 years old, 5'5, and how shall I say this? Voluptuous. Rubenesque. Curvy. Currently my breasts enjoy the comfort of 36 J brassieres. I, however, am not too comfy, dealing with chronic neck, shoulder, and back pain. I have two wonderful boys, ages 8 and 2.5, so I am apprehensive about how they will deal if all goes as planned and I get approval from my insurance company to proceed with the breast reduction surgery. I am meeting with the PS today, initial consult, so I felt the need to start my BR journey here, officially, instead of lurking and reading everyone else's profiles and becoming more and more convinced that I need this... I have a letter from my physical therapist, recommending the surgery, as well as a year's worth of massage therapy appointment receipts, not sure how much they will help, but can't hurt to show that I am actively trying to find relief. I also drafted a letter, begging my insurance to pre-authorize me for a bilateral mammoplasty. no pride here, ladies. :-)
I was a DD cup in high school and my breasts have always been disproportionate to my body, and as my weight fluctuated within the past 10 years with two pregnancies and breastfeeding, hormones, etc, my cup size did not decrease, not even with a 50 lb weight loss between pregnancies. I read how some women hate their breasts and cannot understand why. Labor was incredibly painful and traumatizing for me, but I do not hate my children or resent them, I think our experiences make us into better informed, more experienced human beings. Anyways, I have been dealing with upper neck congestion (Thoracic Outlet Syndrome) and shoulder pain for as long as I can remember and always figured that is how I would always feel, but then my doctor brought up breast reduction surgery and I was a bit appalled that someone else saw my breasts as enormous. They are large and cumbersome, but they are a part of me, I did not even want to consider losing my boobies... but as I considered my position and the potential of becoming pain free, I truly warmed up to the idea and I will gladly surrender them. :-) Feeling anxious about the first consult with my PS, about insurance coverage (I cannot afford to pay for this procedure entirely out of pocket at this time, my second cesarean section 2.5 years ago cost a little over $23K), about my family's reaction, particularly not being allowed to lift and carry my toddler, a lot of factors, really, but I suppose I should get to bed now, as it it almost 4:30AM and I was up drafting letters and putting together paperwork all night.

Had a lovely chat with my PS and am starting to feel hope and trepidation. She recommended taking me down to a C cup as she said that is the smallest she can safely do without a free nipple graft, which both she and I would like to avoid. It makes me feel relieved that she doesn't just slice and dice, but puts in effort to not only reduce my size but to also keep them pretty and to achieve a nice shape post-surgery. She has been doing reductions and reconstructions for 17 years and seems almost cocky, which in my book is A-ok, because I would prefer not to hear "oopsies" from a surgeon or a hairdresser while I am in their care. I had read that with my size, 3-5 hrs is a standard average of time for the procedure, she said barring any unforeseen circumstances, it usually takes her 3.5 hrs max and she had a huge binder with before and after photos that are similar to my before size and shape. Lipo on the lateral axilla (sideboob) and she plans to use the anchor incision but will extend the wings that are in the crease and smooth out any fat or tissue on my sides even though technically it is not all breast tissue. So far I am thrilled that she will be my doc. The patient coordinator in my PS office will be submitting my request for authorization to my insurance company on Jan 2, and I am told it takes them 2-4 weeks to make a decision, then, if all goes well, surgery will be set for mid-February- early March. I can't believe that there is a faint glimmer of light at the end of my tunnel! Attaching a few pics, please be kind, I'm no model, clearly, and it's hard to take selfies with a huge camera in the bathroom. lol. Forgot to ask the one thing that is nagging me: I am a pianist and would like to know how soon I can get back to playing (I play for my church) as I will need to make arrangements while I recover. -deep sigh-
Dr. Derby will be using interior stitches and does not foresee any healing issues, my skin is very fair and I bruise and scar easily, so we shall see. EEEEEEEEK! I'm so excited!
My deepest gratitude to all the lovely ladies who are taking the time to read my review and to post encouragements and best wishes. I appreciate every single one of you!

The title is associated with stress and anxiety. I am trying to lose weight before my BR, but with my underactive thyroid and two children who require regular meals and a husband who eats later in the evening, it is very difficult to reduce my caloric intake even more than it is now. With my stupid sluggish thyroid, I have to exercise like mad and basically starve myself to keep from gaining weight, so losing weight is incredibly difficult. Add holiday dinners and baked goods (which I do NOT gorge on) that I occasionally partake in, and suddenly the scale jumped up a couple pounds. My PS did not say anything about my weight and I am very healthy, but I'm self-conscious about my midsection, I am an apple shape but at least I have excellent legs! lol.
Have been pondering the Lipo aspect of the BR, my surgeon plans to contour the lateral axilla (side boob wing into armpit) with tumescent liposuction, it is a pretty violent procedure if you are into researching via youtube videos. Lame as it sounds, I am having some anxiety about the pain (some say it hurts worse than the actual surgical part of BR!), swelling, and shaving my armpits. I know, I know, kind of petty, but even if I have them waxed a few days prior to surgery, the hair will start growing back soon and if I'm all swollen and hurting, feeling prickly like a cactus is going to be the cherry atop my post-op agony sundae. Am I overreacting? Most likely, but it's a big commitment and I'm having one of those days. I know I definitely want this and need it, I even put in my notice at work already, which was hard, but playing a piano vigorously for hours and hours on a daily basis might be counter-indicated post surgery for a few months. I feel kinda guilty for leaving them in a lurch, but at least it's between Christmas and Easter... decided against telling my director the details, she is a chatty gal who does not keep secrets and since I work for a church, it's not as if the same rules are enforced as in a mega-corporation re: human resources etiquette. Just told her I'm having surgery to release a pinched nerve and relieve back pain, which is true.
Without my humongous boobies to camouflage my post C-section x 2 tummy, I worry I will look fat(ter), but console myself that it will be easier to exercise and clothes-shopping will not be the futile effort it is now. My mom has been on board for years, but I told my dad last week, just casually mentioned that I am going to have BR surgery and he did not act too surprised, just asked about worst-case scenarios, cost, etc, but was very supportive, which is nice. My dear husband, who has never before questioned my judgement on big decisions, suddenly has cold feet and has become prickly and cold. He gets this way when he is worried, until coming to terms with things, but it hurts my feelings and when I tell him, he is incredulous that I am acting hyper-sensitive. For example: we were at his parents' house for Christmas dinner after church yesterday and as I sat on an overstuffed couch with a plethora of pillows everywhere (seriously people!), I couldn't get comfortable. Between pulling up my dress to contain the cleavage that would spill out of turtleneck sweaters, not just conservative and tasteful wrap dresses and those ridiculous pillows, as I tried to sit next to him, I felt awkward and uncomfortable so I quietly said to him, "I can't wait til they are smaller, then I can comfortably sit down and climb out of this couch without ending up with breasts under my armpits". He, rather loudly said something like, "no one is making you do anything, if you are uncomfortable here, go sit elsewhere, you never mentioned being in pain before, now you suddenly have back pain because of your breasts?" Seriously? Where has he been for the past 9+ years of our married life??? So I whispered back that he is fortunate dinner is being cooked by his mom, otherwise I might be tempted to slip some rat poison in his plate. he didn't find my attempt at humor amusing and this morning did not take the lunch I packed for him to take to work. c'mon, tell me I'm hyper-sensitive!