POSTED UNDER Breast Reduction Reviews
Finally Joined the "Normal-Sized Chest" Club - Toledo, OH
ORIGINAL POST
I would first like to thank all of you who have...
WORTH IT
I would first like to thank all of you who have told your story on this site. It considerably helped me be comfortable with my decision, as well as my awareness of any possible negative effects of this surgery.
I have had large boobs for as long as I can remember. They grew overnight. I have the stretch marks to prove it (the only spot on my body where I have them).
I am 31 years-old, no kids, approximately 5'6" and 175 pounds (well, I was the day of my surgery. I have lost a few pounds on top of the boobage weight). I wore either a 36F or 34G prior to my surgery.
The physical reasons for my surgery were back aches, shoulder indentations, a chronic skin infection under my boobs that I've basically had since spending a few months in a very hot, humid environment in 2009. I am a recreational jogger and the back and neck pain after a jog was not fun. Anytime I jogged more than 4 or 5 miles, I had what I referred to as "road rash" - wounds where my super-supporting, non-elastic, zero cotton sports bra rubbed skin off. All of you here and reading this can relate to the mental and emotional reasons for wanting this done - unwanted comments and attention from men AND women, the inability to buy reasonably priced bras and bathing suits (most often having to order these from specialty stores online), the pain of shopping for shirts and dresses, etc.
Prior to asking my doctor to submit a referral for a plastic surgeon, I did eight weeks of physical therapy, x-rays, an MRI (which did show that some discs were starting to bulge), and a visit to an orthopedic specialist who said that my back pain was unrelated to large boobs because the bulging discs weren't in the area usually affected by large boobs (yes, I cried after this appointment).
I visited two plastic surgeons who were in-network for my insurance. The first one (and the only one relatively close to me) was a total quack. He did submit the surgery request to my insurance company, and to my surprise, it was approved. I did not want this doctor to touch me with a ten-foot pole, so I went to the next closest doctor with good reviews in Toledo, Ohio (about a two hour drive from me). I could have gone to a non-network doctor, but I figured this would just give my insurance company a reason to disapprove the request. Luck struck twice though, and my insurance approved it with the second doctor. In mid-April, we scheduled my surgery for May 19th. At the time, it felt like it was ten years away.
I never really freaked out about my surgery and before I knew it, my surgery date arrived. My wonderful, extremely supportive boyfriend took me to the hospital. We stayed in a local hotel the night before the surgery, and the night after since I had to see the doctor the next day to have my drainage tubes removed.
They knocked me out as soon as I scooted myself on the operating table, then the next thing I remember I was waking up in the recovery room. They removed around 625g on the right side, 550g on the left.
This was the first surgery I have ever had that required general anesthesia, and let me tell you, it kicked my @$$. The nausea was horrible and I did start throwing up right before leaving the hospital. I threw up again after trying to eat something that night, but luckily I felt much better the next day.
I ended up leaving the hospital with only one drain tube. The other somehow got pulled out somewhere between the doctor sewing me up and the recovery nurses showing my boyfriend how to empty them. They called my surgeon and he said it was not worth it to put it back in, so they sent me on my merry way. To those of you who had drainage tubes for days, I salute you. That thing was such a pain!
My surgery was on a Monday, and that Wednesday I felt awful again. I had a massive headache and could hardly stand up and move without getting dizzy and nauseous. My doctor did tell me at my Tuesday visit that I lost more blood than anticipated, so this is probably the biggest contributing factor to my misery.
The first time I saw my improved boobs was four days post-op. They looked awesome! My boyfriend even likes them! They looked more symmetrical that day than they do now. My left one seems to be a little lower than the right. They weren't symmetrical before surgery, so how can I expect them to be 100% symmetrical now? I really only notice it if I'm looking for it. I do think my surgeon did an amazing job.
I am now about a week and a half post-op. I still get dizzy if I stand for more than a couple of minutes (especially if I'm not moving around), but it seems to be getting better. I have only driven two times and very short trips. I will have to drive myself to the doctor two hours away on Tuesday, so I'm hoping the next few days help a lot.
A few things you will want to have - a pillow for the car ride after surgery, and any time for the first week or so after (thank you everyone on here who suggested this!!!!), popsicles in the freezer (my throat hurt from the tube for about 2-3 days), and extra pillows in bed to prop you up a little bit if you aren't a back sleeper.
I did say that this surgery was worth it. The only thing that could make me sad is if they are still too big to easily buy bras or bathing suits. I was able to get cheap sports bras at the store though, so that is a significant improvement!
I have no clue how much this surgery cost and I apologize for that. I haven't seen any bills and I am fortunate enough not to have a deductible (maybe this is a trade off to my insurance not having many in-network plastic surgeons in my area that do anything other than hands). I believe my doctor did say the out-of-pocket cost would be around $7,500, but I could be wrong.
I'm sure I am missing so much that I wanted to include, but I know I can always add more later.
A few questions for those of you who have had this done -
1. If you lost sensation in your nipples, if/when did you regain it? My right is fine, left not so much.
2. When did you bra shop for anything other than sports bras? I know I am still quite swollen and that I shouldn't shop yet.
I have had large boobs for as long as I can remember. They grew overnight. I have the stretch marks to prove it (the only spot on my body where I have them).
I am 31 years-old, no kids, approximately 5'6" and 175 pounds (well, I was the day of my surgery. I have lost a few pounds on top of the boobage weight). I wore either a 36F or 34G prior to my surgery.
The physical reasons for my surgery were back aches, shoulder indentations, a chronic skin infection under my boobs that I've basically had since spending a few months in a very hot, humid environment in 2009. I am a recreational jogger and the back and neck pain after a jog was not fun. Anytime I jogged more than 4 or 5 miles, I had what I referred to as "road rash" - wounds where my super-supporting, non-elastic, zero cotton sports bra rubbed skin off. All of you here and reading this can relate to the mental and emotional reasons for wanting this done - unwanted comments and attention from men AND women, the inability to buy reasonably priced bras and bathing suits (most often having to order these from specialty stores online), the pain of shopping for shirts and dresses, etc.
Prior to asking my doctor to submit a referral for a plastic surgeon, I did eight weeks of physical therapy, x-rays, an MRI (which did show that some discs were starting to bulge), and a visit to an orthopedic specialist who said that my back pain was unrelated to large boobs because the bulging discs weren't in the area usually affected by large boobs (yes, I cried after this appointment).
I visited two plastic surgeons who were in-network for my insurance. The first one (and the only one relatively close to me) was a total quack. He did submit the surgery request to my insurance company, and to my surprise, it was approved. I did not want this doctor to touch me with a ten-foot pole, so I went to the next closest doctor with good reviews in Toledo, Ohio (about a two hour drive from me). I could have gone to a non-network doctor, but I figured this would just give my insurance company a reason to disapprove the request. Luck struck twice though, and my insurance approved it with the second doctor. In mid-April, we scheduled my surgery for May 19th. At the time, it felt like it was ten years away.
I never really freaked out about my surgery and before I knew it, my surgery date arrived. My wonderful, extremely supportive boyfriend took me to the hospital. We stayed in a local hotel the night before the surgery, and the night after since I had to see the doctor the next day to have my drainage tubes removed.
They knocked me out as soon as I scooted myself on the operating table, then the next thing I remember I was waking up in the recovery room. They removed around 625g on the right side, 550g on the left.
This was the first surgery I have ever had that required general anesthesia, and let me tell you, it kicked my @$$. The nausea was horrible and I did start throwing up right before leaving the hospital. I threw up again after trying to eat something that night, but luckily I felt much better the next day.
I ended up leaving the hospital with only one drain tube. The other somehow got pulled out somewhere between the doctor sewing me up and the recovery nurses showing my boyfriend how to empty them. They called my surgeon and he said it was not worth it to put it back in, so they sent me on my merry way. To those of you who had drainage tubes for days, I salute you. That thing was such a pain!
My surgery was on a Monday, and that Wednesday I felt awful again. I had a massive headache and could hardly stand up and move without getting dizzy and nauseous. My doctor did tell me at my Tuesday visit that I lost more blood than anticipated, so this is probably the biggest contributing factor to my misery.
The first time I saw my improved boobs was four days post-op. They looked awesome! My boyfriend even likes them! They looked more symmetrical that day than they do now. My left one seems to be a little lower than the right. They weren't symmetrical before surgery, so how can I expect them to be 100% symmetrical now? I really only notice it if I'm looking for it. I do think my surgeon did an amazing job.
I am now about a week and a half post-op. I still get dizzy if I stand for more than a couple of minutes (especially if I'm not moving around), but it seems to be getting better. I have only driven two times and very short trips. I will have to drive myself to the doctor two hours away on Tuesday, so I'm hoping the next few days help a lot.
A few things you will want to have - a pillow for the car ride after surgery, and any time for the first week or so after (thank you everyone on here who suggested this!!!!), popsicles in the freezer (my throat hurt from the tube for about 2-3 days), and extra pillows in bed to prop you up a little bit if you aren't a back sleeper.
I did say that this surgery was worth it. The only thing that could make me sad is if they are still too big to easily buy bras or bathing suits. I was able to get cheap sports bras at the store though, so that is a significant improvement!
I have no clue how much this surgery cost and I apologize for that. I haven't seen any bills and I am fortunate enough not to have a deductible (maybe this is a trade off to my insurance not having many in-network plastic surgeons in my area that do anything other than hands). I believe my doctor did say the out-of-pocket cost would be around $7,500, but I could be wrong.
I'm sure I am missing so much that I wanted to include, but I know I can always add more later.
A few questions for those of you who have had this done -
1. If you lost sensation in your nipples, if/when did you regain it? My right is fine, left not so much.
2. When did you bra shop for anything other than sports bras? I know I am still quite swollen and that I shouldn't shop yet.
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