POSTED UNDER Breast Reduction REVIEWS
50 Y.o. and Ready to Be Fabulous. 42 I/J Wanting to Be a C/D with FNG (free nipple graft).
ORIGINAL POST
Ok. I have been reading reviews on real self as I...
Ok. I have been reading reviews on real self as I process my desire for a breast reduction and I wondered if I would actually write one. Since reading others have been helpful to me, I'm writing to hopefully be helpful to someone else. I'm 50 y.o, 225 lbs, 5'1" tall. Currently I am a 42I/J hoping to be a 42D.
Like others I have been big breasted most of my life. As I look at pictures from the teen years, I look huge to me. I have the shoulder grooves, neck, back and shoulder pains. Interestingly my shoulder grooves aren't as bad as they used to be because of wider bra straps, and I wear multiple bras and spread the straps for support. The weight of my breast have impacted my physical activity levels and posture. In my 20's I tried seeing a chiropractor, but it just seem to never end. The root cause wasn't changing. I have always been overweight, but tried to address that as well. From Nutri-system, Weight Watchers, Medifast, Physician directed weight loss programs, over-the-counter diet pills, and even acupuncture. Although I had minimal success with some of those things, it was never sustaining.
I ultimately just wanted to feel good, be healthy, and be more physically active. I always wanted a breast reduction, and as I got older I realized the health issues my large breast were causing me. In around 2006, I developed sciatica. In 2011 I had a pinched nerve which caused my right arm and hand to go numb. It was extremely painful. I believed the size of my breast contributed to my pinched nerve. Wearing a bra during that time was also extremely painful because the straps would put pressure on the muscle in my right shoulder. I ended up doing physical therapy and basically getting functional again. However I still get numb on the right side sometimes. I have an in-home traction machine that I use periodically. Within the last year I have noticed that my back pain is worst. I take over the counter pain killers every day. which isn't good.
In 2010, I did 2 consults for BR. The first PS said I would have no problem getting approved but he would do a FNG and I felt like he was just running a chop shop. The second PS said I would need to loss weight. I got discouraged and just stop pursuing it.
Last year when I turned 50, I decided enough was enough. I researched and identified a PS. I did change jobs and have different insurance and I felt my chances were better. In late November 2013, I call to make a consult appointment. The first available that would support my insurance and what I wanted to do wasn't until March 27, 2014.... that was almost 4 months away.
Well... fast forward and it's March.. and my appointment is this coming week. I just had a mammogram this past week so that wouldn't be an issue. I'm very hopeful about this process. Mentally I am ready to move forward. I have been reading, researching and talking to women who have done this. The group on Facebook has been an awesome resource. So my next post will be after my consult. Pray for me.
Like others I have been big breasted most of my life. As I look at pictures from the teen years, I look huge to me. I have the shoulder grooves, neck, back and shoulder pains. Interestingly my shoulder grooves aren't as bad as they used to be because of wider bra straps, and I wear multiple bras and spread the straps for support. The weight of my breast have impacted my physical activity levels and posture. In my 20's I tried seeing a chiropractor, but it just seem to never end. The root cause wasn't changing. I have always been overweight, but tried to address that as well. From Nutri-system, Weight Watchers, Medifast, Physician directed weight loss programs, over-the-counter diet pills, and even acupuncture. Although I had minimal success with some of those things, it was never sustaining.
I ultimately just wanted to feel good, be healthy, and be more physically active. I always wanted a breast reduction, and as I got older I realized the health issues my large breast were causing me. In around 2006, I developed sciatica. In 2011 I had a pinched nerve which caused my right arm and hand to go numb. It was extremely painful. I believed the size of my breast contributed to my pinched nerve. Wearing a bra during that time was also extremely painful because the straps would put pressure on the muscle in my right shoulder. I ended up doing physical therapy and basically getting functional again. However I still get numb on the right side sometimes. I have an in-home traction machine that I use periodically. Within the last year I have noticed that my back pain is worst. I take over the counter pain killers every day. which isn't good.
In 2010, I did 2 consults for BR. The first PS said I would have no problem getting approved but he would do a FNG and I felt like he was just running a chop shop. The second PS said I would need to loss weight. I got discouraged and just stop pursuing it.
Last year when I turned 50, I decided enough was enough. I researched and identified a PS. I did change jobs and have different insurance and I felt my chances were better. In late November 2013, I call to make a consult appointment. The first available that would support my insurance and what I wanted to do wasn't until March 27, 2014.... that was almost 4 months away.
Well... fast forward and it's March.. and my appointment is this coming week. I just had a mammogram this past week so that wouldn't be an issue. I'm very hopeful about this process. Mentally I am ready to move forward. I have been reading, researching and talking to women who have done this. The group on Facebook has been an awesome resource. So my next post will be after my consult. Pray for me.
PraiseSongBird's provider
UPDATED FROM PraiseSongBird
3 months pre
Completed my consult. Surgery date give, but still need to submit stuff for Insurance authorization.
So I had my breast reduction consultation today. Over all I was very pleased. I felt comfortable with my doctor. And I have several follow-ups to do. So I have to get my notes from my orthopedic doctor and from my physical therapist. I have a surgery date of June 6. I have to have that scheduled before the insurance can authorize. She indicated that she would remove approximately 1000 from left breast and 800 from right breast. So that's about 4 pounds total.
The downside is I may still have to have a free nipple graft because of my size. I'm hoping that that's not the case. But I'm giving the doctor the option to decide during the surgery. I understand the pros and cons. I'm excited and looking forward to it happening. June 6 seems like it's a long way away.
My request to the doctor was to take me down to the size of cup C, a full size C. I think that will work for me. The doctor seems to think that would be fine. She used my BMI as a reference a lot, to let me know that some decisions were because of my size. I am going to continue to work on my weight loss. I am down 15 pounds since January 1. I am trying to average about 5 pounds a month. So my goal is 10 more pounds before the surgery.
I asked about side boobs and she indicated that she did remove some of it as part of surgery but some would remain and she would shape it so that it tapered. She indicated that because of my size typically women don't have significant issues with side boobs. The result would look natural.
I have a slight overhang in the center that she would adjust so my incision would probably go all the way across.
From a time away from work she said at least a week. She would recommend 2, but I should be able to return to work after 1 week.
I asked about drains and she said she rarely used them. Typically used when people with a lot of loose skin that fluid could accumulate. I asked about sutures, glue, tape, staples.. She said she uses dissolvable sutures inside and Xeroform stripes externally with a firm wrapping and the bra until the follow-up. Surgery is usually on Friday and follow-up is usually on Monday.
Overall I was very pleased with the appointment. I’m kind of glad that I have some follow-up to do but I also have a surgery date. It gives me something to do to move the process forward.
The downside is I may still have to have a free nipple graft because of my size. I'm hoping that that's not the case. But I'm giving the doctor the option to decide during the surgery. I understand the pros and cons. I'm excited and looking forward to it happening. June 6 seems like it's a long way away.
My request to the doctor was to take me down to the size of cup C, a full size C. I think that will work for me. The doctor seems to think that would be fine. She used my BMI as a reference a lot, to let me know that some decisions were because of my size. I am going to continue to work on my weight loss. I am down 15 pounds since January 1. I am trying to average about 5 pounds a month. So my goal is 10 more pounds before the surgery.
I asked about side boobs and she indicated that she did remove some of it as part of surgery but some would remain and she would shape it so that it tapered. She indicated that because of my size typically women don't have significant issues with side boobs. The result would look natural.
I have a slight overhang in the center that she would adjust so my incision would probably go all the way across.
From a time away from work she said at least a week. She would recommend 2, but I should be able to return to work after 1 week.
I asked about drains and she said she rarely used them. Typically used when people with a lot of loose skin that fluid could accumulate. I asked about sutures, glue, tape, staples.. She said she uses dissolvable sutures inside and Xeroform stripes externally with a firm wrapping and the bra until the follow-up. Surgery is usually on Friday and follow-up is usually on Monday.
Overall I was very pleased with the appointment. I’m kind of glad that I have some follow-up to do but I also have a surgery date. It gives me something to do to move the process forward.
Replies (0)
UPDATED FROM PraiseSongBird
2 months pre
Things are moving along.
So my todo list from my consult was to get copies of the doctors notes from my orthopedic doctor and physical therapy from when I had a pinched nerve. My consult was a week ago. I'm happy because I've been able to get the reports that I needed. And the bonus was an additional report from 2004 where I saw the ortho for my chronic back pain. I still have to get a letter from my current PCP, but I have an appointment with her on Monday. Things are moving along. I am making copies for myself and I'm going to drop off copies at the PS office.
I've also been re-thinking what cup size I want to be and have decided that a D/DD would look best on me and my body frame. Going down to a C would be too much. I am use to having a full chest and I think a C would feel too small.
I've also been re-thinking what cup size I want to be and have decided that a D/DD would look best on me and my body frame. Going down to a C would be too much. I am use to having a full chest and I think a C would feel too small.
Replies (1)