POSTED UNDER Breast Reduction Reviews
12 weeks post-op breast reduction
UPDATED FROM archimedese
8 December 2012: Saw my Doctor today for a...
archimedeseDecember 7, 2012
WORTH IT$8,500
8 December 2012:
Saw my Doctor today for a follow-up. He was surprised at how great the scars are healing. He said that I don't have to use the silicon strips anymore and can just keep to massaging the breasts daily. I'm going to keep doing that with oil and moisturisers.
I've noticed comments/queries in this forum about what types are good and in my personal opinion (and background as a pharmacologist), it's the ingredients that matter more than any specific brand of cream, oil or lotion. My doctor agrees; in that anything containing Vitamin E is great for the skin. Most creams and moisturisers have Vitamin E in them. The main thing is to keep massaging!
I also discussed with him my final size and he did say that they will shrink a little more; viz the bulk on the outsides near the torso will go away because his aim when he did the surgery was to have them sit within the torso. However I do have a wide breast bone/sternum and my breasts will never be superclose. I am happy though as they don't sit more than a finger apart and they can't be seen from the back. Given my big arms, I doubt that I'd ever wear anything cleavagy and I'm more than happy with that (not the arms, but not showing any cleavage).
Also I am now officially fit for duty; I can do vigorous exercise and buy underwire bras if I desire. Funny enough I find that I like wearing soft cup bras and I feel like underwire are a bit compressing. I hate the ones with paddings too as they just make me look bigger. I am going to start swimming in the pool again. I need to get back to being fit and healthy as I really can't afford to gain weight; not because I don't want to be fat but all the fat goes to my breasts!
I guess this is pretty much my last post. What I can say to those who read this, it is worth it but it does take time. Give yourself the time to heal before you start exercising. Be patient, eat healthy, do moderate exercise (walking), wear comfortable clothes and bras and don't rush to get the underwire straightaway.
I might post photos down the road if the boobs change but it will be another 2 months to 4 months before I see more differences, I think. I'm not going to see my doctor for another 9 months anyway!
Saw my Doctor today for a follow-up. He was surprised at how great the scars are healing. He said that I don't have to use the silicon strips anymore and can just keep to massaging the breasts daily. I'm going to keep doing that with oil and moisturisers.
I've noticed comments/queries in this forum about what types are good and in my personal opinion (and background as a pharmacologist), it's the ingredients that matter more than any specific brand of cream, oil or lotion. My doctor agrees; in that anything containing Vitamin E is great for the skin. Most creams and moisturisers have Vitamin E in them. The main thing is to keep massaging!
I also discussed with him my final size and he did say that they will shrink a little more; viz the bulk on the outsides near the torso will go away because his aim when he did the surgery was to have them sit within the torso. However I do have a wide breast bone/sternum and my breasts will never be superclose. I am happy though as they don't sit more than a finger apart and they can't be seen from the back. Given my big arms, I doubt that I'd ever wear anything cleavagy and I'm more than happy with that (not the arms, but not showing any cleavage).
Also I am now officially fit for duty; I can do vigorous exercise and buy underwire bras if I desire. Funny enough I find that I like wearing soft cup bras and I feel like underwire are a bit compressing. I hate the ones with paddings too as they just make me look bigger. I am going to start swimming in the pool again. I need to get back to being fit and healthy as I really can't afford to gain weight; not because I don't want to be fat but all the fat goes to my breasts!
I guess this is pretty much my last post. What I can say to those who read this, it is worth it but it does take time. Give yourself the time to heal before you start exercising. Be patient, eat healthy, do moderate exercise (walking), wear comfortable clothes and bras and don't rush to get the underwire straightaway.
I might post photos down the road if the boobs change but it will be another 2 months to 4 months before I see more differences, I think. I'm not going to see my doctor for another 9 months anyway!
archimedese's provider
UPDATED FROM archimedese
It's over 9 weeks post-op and I'm doing well. Got...
archimedeseNovember 18, 2012
It's over 9 weeks post-op and I'm doing well. Got a bit lazy with the massage on the scars (I know I shouldn't be) and I don't wear the silicon strips over 20 hours as I'm meant to; rather they irritate my skin so I keep them to 12-14 hours a day.
Overall I am happy with the breasts but I keep fearing the they will grow. I'd like them to shrink a bit more as I still get backaches and migraines because I'm a D-DD. Sadly as I lived abroad before, no one has seen me beforehand and I don't get any compliments on "having" lost weight ... either that or they think that I look fat! I basically get comments like "Well, they are proportionate to your body...". I know that I don't exactly have a flat stomach but I still wouldn't mind a bit smaller boobs.
When I see my plastic surgeon, I will ask him about it. I still find clothes I can't fit into due to their size and they feel very full compared to just post-surgery. I worry that they'll grow again so I watch what I eat and walk a lot. I intend to start swimming again soon now that the weather is warming up in Sydney.
Overall I am happy with the breasts but I keep fearing the they will grow. I'd like them to shrink a bit more as I still get backaches and migraines because I'm a D-DD. Sadly as I lived abroad before, no one has seen me beforehand and I don't get any compliments on "having" lost weight ... either that or they think that I look fat! I basically get comments like "Well, they are proportionate to your body...". I know that I don't exactly have a flat stomach but I still wouldn't mind a bit smaller boobs.
When I see my plastic surgeon, I will ask him about it. I still find clothes I can't fit into due to their size and they feel very full compared to just post-surgery. I worry that they'll grow again so I watch what I eat and walk a lot. I intend to start swimming again soon now that the weather is warming up in Sydney.
Replies (3)
November 18, 2012
Your new photos look great.not a mark on you! Scars look very good! I'm so sick of being red and irritated all over.I'll be glad when I get mine done!! Don't worry about size yet.these girls say at least 6 months so try not to be discouraged if your hoping to be smaller..I want to be very small to..xoxoxo
November 23, 2012
Thanks Natalierw. I do get red and irriated... especially when I'm massaging the scars and it's worse when my skin itches. It's weird but I have patches of no sensation in some parts of my boobs - not the nipples though - but I can feel them itch and I can't scratch them. I'm a bit scared that my boobs might have grown because I've gained weight since returning to Australia. One of my problems is that even if I gain 1 kg, everything goes to my boobs. I'll speak to the plastic surgeon and ask him if they'll reshape a little smaller in time.
November 23, 2012
You look beautiful in the photos! I like how you don't have any rib-cage touching. I have the same concnerns regarding size, although I think I ended up bigger than you - I haven't enjoyed the bra shopping exerpeince because they still don't have my size off the rack - I think I'll still end up a 34DDD-36DD - basically wearing my same preop bras - I really wanted out of the doubles and have a bra burning ceremony but it looks like I'll be using the same ones. I am also concerned that they'll grow too. I'm 5 weeks so still changing some. Curious to know what your surgeon says and if a revision is possible - I wouldn't look forward to doing that again, so time will tell. I am also going to work hard to lose 25lbs or so to see if that'll do the trick to shrink them more - hope so. I do think you look really nice and comfortable, but only we can judge if we are happy with the results. Its hard to have the right perspective. Keep us posted on what your surgeon says and I'll do the same - I see him in 2 weeks or so.
November 24, 2012
Thank you for such a lovely comment! What do you mean by rib cage touching? As in they sag? Yeah I wanted a C to D cup and being DD means that I'm still getting some back issues and I still feel that they are heavy. But I have also gained about 2 Kgs in the last 6 months and I am afraid that this might have caused them to balloon a little despite the surgery. I will see my surgeon 2nd week of December and I'll ask him what my options are. I'll try to start exercising and see if they shrink a little. As I don't have a flat tummy or small waist, I suppose that they don't look big relative to my body but being only 5'1" and weighing 57 Kg / 125 lbs, I would prefer something under the DDs. Also I'm Asian Chinese and most Asian Chinese aren't bigger than a B or C... Most of the time, I just look like a plump little midget because the boobs make me look like I'm pregnant.
UPDATED FROM archimedese
14 October 2012 - It's now over 4 weeks since I...
archimedeseOctober 14, 2012
14 October 2012
- It's now over 4 weeks since I had my breast reduction. I've started scar therapy; which is basically massaging the scars about 10 mins twice a ay and wearing some silicone sheets that my doctor provided. The scars are still a bit sore if rubbed against.
- I went to a specialist bra shop and got measured to buy a non-underwire bra which would give me more support than a crop top.
- I was very disappointed when I was given a "14DD" size (is equivalent to a 36DD size) even though my band size is only about 26 inches and my cups are about 27 inches. The lady at the shop mentioned that sizes do vary with different bra bands and that particular size was a smaller cut (maybe she was trying to not make me feel so bad). She did say that I probably could fit into a 12 DD (34DD) but she didn't want to irritate the scars so she got me a bigger size.
- I feel as if my breasts are very full at the moment - so I hope that over the next few months, they reshape a bit and decrease in size. The reason I got the surgery was to get rid of my back pain - and to be honest, anything bigger than a D will still cause me backpain (I only started getting more severe pain when I got bigger).
- The discrepancy in dress sizes is just amazing; in some brands in Australia, I can wear a size 10 dress with no problems (size 10 is a sort of medium, where 6=XS, 8=S, 10=M, 12=Large and 14=XL). So even though I wish I had a smaller bra size, I do recognise that maybe it's just the brand.
I have friends who are bigger than me and wear size 14, and they tell me that there is no way my band size is a size 14!!! The bra sizing just doesn't make sense!!!
For now I'll continue the scar therapy and hope that the breasts resize smaller in time.
- It's now over 4 weeks since I had my breast reduction. I've started scar therapy; which is basically massaging the scars about 10 mins twice a ay and wearing some silicone sheets that my doctor provided. The scars are still a bit sore if rubbed against.
- I went to a specialist bra shop and got measured to buy a non-underwire bra which would give me more support than a crop top.
- I was very disappointed when I was given a "14DD" size (is equivalent to a 36DD size) even though my band size is only about 26 inches and my cups are about 27 inches. The lady at the shop mentioned that sizes do vary with different bra bands and that particular size was a smaller cut (maybe she was trying to not make me feel so bad). She did say that I probably could fit into a 12 DD (34DD) but she didn't want to irritate the scars so she got me a bigger size.
- I feel as if my breasts are very full at the moment - so I hope that over the next few months, they reshape a bit and decrease in size. The reason I got the surgery was to get rid of my back pain - and to be honest, anything bigger than a D will still cause me backpain (I only started getting more severe pain when I got bigger).
- The discrepancy in dress sizes is just amazing; in some brands in Australia, I can wear a size 10 dress with no problems (size 10 is a sort of medium, where 6=XS, 8=S, 10=M, 12=Large and 14=XL). So even though I wish I had a smaller bra size, I do recognise that maybe it's just the brand.
I have friends who are bigger than me and wear size 14, and they tell me that there is no way my band size is a size 14!!! The bra sizing just doesn't make sense!!!
For now I'll continue the scar therapy and hope that the breasts resize smaller in time.
Replies (4)
October 14, 2012
Girl, bra sizing in Australia is crazy!!!! I am 20D or 20C or 18D now depending on the brand and the model. I picked up a sports bra from Triumph in 20D then I went to the next shop to pick up the same model but in different colour - tried 20D on again - and it was SMALL! Crazy!. Clothes sizing are crazy as well. Pre surgery I was AUS 22 or 24! just because of my breast were sooo big, now I am 18 or 20 More 18 than 20. But my sports top is 16! Absolute madness!
Don't you for a minute worry that the bra you wear now is DD -I think the lady who fitted you was right -rather make give it a tiny bit more room than squize things..
I am no one to judge but I think your results look awesome - I envy your healing process - well done!
October 14, 2012
Thank you ! :) It's just that I normally wear 10/32F in Simone Perele and around 10/32FF or 12/34F for Fayreform and 10/32FF for Thriumph and maybe 12/34FF for Bendon. In those brands I'm often between 10 and 12 - I really have a very small band size but I notice that when I wear bras with more generic brand (or cheaper) like Ambra, Bonds or some Target generic thingy, the band sizes go up. I have friends who are much bigger than me and they don't believe me when I say that the bra is 14 because they wear size 14 clothes! It's crazy!!!
I hope that your healing is going well too. I love swimming but my arm movement is still not 100% - I am able to lift heavier stuff now but I still feel a "pinch" when I overexert sometimes (eg I cannot zip up the back of my dresses). I can't wait to be able to swim again ... but it looks like it'll be another 5 months before I can buy any underwire.
October 14, 2012
May I recommend you something...if friends say they wear 12 you say the same! :) They aint going to check the label on you are they :) At the end of the day YOU have to feel comfortable in what you wear the label is just for the companies for stock management..does not mean a thing. 12 and 14 and even 16 are very healthy sizes and everyone's shape is different.
I have the same issue - reduced mobility in my right arm...do the "itsy bitsy spider climibing up the wall" thing :) it really does help a bit...but yep...swimming would be awesome! :)
BTW Target has a some really nice post surgery T-shirt bras with no underwire in it. It is going under the range "post surgery" very comfy :)
October 14, 2012
I think you look wonderful. Your shape and size looks great and I wouldn't say you look too big at all (although I know it's about how YOU feel rather than what anyone else can tell you).
October 15, 2012
Thank you for such a positive comment. I'm sure that in time I'll settle down... I was just disappointed because DD is still a big cup for a 5'2" person like me and doesn't help the back pain! I used to be a C and didn't have the pain till I got bigger so I was hoping to go back to it. We'll see how things go; from everything I've read, there is still time for the breasts to shrink a little. I just feel them bounce when I walk and it's annoying!
October 15, 2012
Looking wonderful - at least you pass the pencil test! :)
October 15, 2012
Thanks :) Actually I passed the pencil test before surgery as well. They were big but my surgeon actually said that they weren't saggy so he only moved the nipples up 1cm. I do wish (secretly) that they were smaller and firmer but I am grateful for smaller breasts. I guess in comparison to some women, mine weren't so big even though they were F cups (it's just that I am a small/short person who weighs 120pounds/55 Kg).
October 31, 2012
you look great and r healing wonderfully thanks for the update
November 1, 2012
Thanks Mia. I still have numbness in both breasts which is kinda weird because sometimes they itch but I can't scratch because I can't feel the skin! Good luck with your surgery :)
Replies (2)