POSTED UNDER Breast Reduction REVIEWS
50 Years Old and I'm now a "B" for the First Time in my Life! Life is GOOD!
ORIGINAL POST
I'm writing this review after the fact. I'm three...
WORTH IT
I'm writing this review after the fact. I'm three weeks post op today and I feel wonderful! Surgery was July 3rd.
Big regrets.....that I didn't take pictures before my reduction and that I didn't do this 30 years ago!
I can't say I developed early, but when I did begin to develop (during the summer going into grade 8) I quickly went from a training bra to a full D. I'm only 5'3" and a chunky 165 lbs! I'm always working on losing those 30 lbs :)
I should mention that I was born with Spina Bifida so I have had many back surgeries and the extra weight in my breasts only added to the constant back pain. I went for a consult January 2013 and got the call for surgery on October 25, 2013. The problem was I also got a call on the same day advising that I needed another back surgery and they had scheduled this back surgery for November 4th. The breast reduction would have to wait. My back surgery had complications and I needed 2 more back surgeries (December 2013 and January 2014). I've had many surgeries in my life but these three were the hardest ones. As I get older my body doesn't recover as well. :)
To be honest with everyone, following my surgery in January I didn't think I could do another surgery and I had thoughts of not having the breast reduction but time makes you forget pain and by May I had decided that I would go ahead with my reduction in July.
This surgery was going to be different....this one was for me!
The surgery for me was almost completely pain free. I can't believe how the same surgery can be so different from person to person as well as doctor to doctor! I started as a 38DD but closer to a DDD. I wore genie bras for the past three years after DD bras would no longer fit me and so I didn't have to face a true bra fitting! I say DDD but who knows what Victoria Secret would have measured me at! My surgeon does not have you wear a bra post surgery? I had the anchor incision. When I left the hospital I had only light gauze along the bottom, up the middle and covering the nipples. I had minimal bleeding the first day and nothing again after the home care nurse came to change the bandages on day 2. After that there has been no bleeding and there was no bruising at all. I wanted him to take me to a B but at this moment I am probably a small C. I saw my PS at day 6. I felt more comfortable wearing some sort of bra since I was going out in public so I wore my genie bra and put it on by stepping into it. He trimmed some of the sutures and dressed the wound with a light gauze on the nipple and under at the T where it all comes together. I saw him again at 14 days. At that time he said I didn't need anything on my wounds. My home care nurse wants me keeping a small dressing on the T juncture which she says is not entirely healed so I'm still putting a small piece of gauze there. I'm hoping that there is still some swelling and that I will eventually make it to a B. Surgery for me was on a Thursday. By Sunday I was out running errands and by Monday I was driving myself around, driving myself to my appointment at day 6. I'm lucky to say that since my surgery I only experienced pain when I awoke in the hospital. I took my pain meds as prescribed, the first 5 days at home and experienced almost no pain whatsoever. The only drawback has been that I'm not yet comfortable sleeping. I'm not a good back sleeper due to several back surgeries since birth (including 3 this year alone!!), and I tend to start my night in the lazy boy. I'm walking 5k every day and back to my regular routine! Overall my experience has been a 9 out of 10. I'll give it a 10 out of 10 if I end up at a size B!
I recommend this surgery to anyone who is unhappy and suffers with large breasts. I am so thankful for this wonderful website and for the supportive women I have had the pleasure of conversing with!
Big regrets.....that I didn't take pictures before my reduction and that I didn't do this 30 years ago!
I can't say I developed early, but when I did begin to develop (during the summer going into grade 8) I quickly went from a training bra to a full D. I'm only 5'3" and a chunky 165 lbs! I'm always working on losing those 30 lbs :)
I should mention that I was born with Spina Bifida so I have had many back surgeries and the extra weight in my breasts only added to the constant back pain. I went for a consult January 2013 and got the call for surgery on October 25, 2013. The problem was I also got a call on the same day advising that I needed another back surgery and they had scheduled this back surgery for November 4th. The breast reduction would have to wait. My back surgery had complications and I needed 2 more back surgeries (December 2013 and January 2014). I've had many surgeries in my life but these three were the hardest ones. As I get older my body doesn't recover as well. :)
To be honest with everyone, following my surgery in January I didn't think I could do another surgery and I had thoughts of not having the breast reduction but time makes you forget pain and by May I had decided that I would go ahead with my reduction in July.
This surgery was going to be different....this one was for me!
The surgery for me was almost completely pain free. I can't believe how the same surgery can be so different from person to person as well as doctor to doctor! I started as a 38DD but closer to a DDD. I wore genie bras for the past three years after DD bras would no longer fit me and so I didn't have to face a true bra fitting! I say DDD but who knows what Victoria Secret would have measured me at! My surgeon does not have you wear a bra post surgery? I had the anchor incision. When I left the hospital I had only light gauze along the bottom, up the middle and covering the nipples. I had minimal bleeding the first day and nothing again after the home care nurse came to change the bandages on day 2. After that there has been no bleeding and there was no bruising at all. I wanted him to take me to a B but at this moment I am probably a small C. I saw my PS at day 6. I felt more comfortable wearing some sort of bra since I was going out in public so I wore my genie bra and put it on by stepping into it. He trimmed some of the sutures and dressed the wound with a light gauze on the nipple and under at the T where it all comes together. I saw him again at 14 days. At that time he said I didn't need anything on my wounds. My home care nurse wants me keeping a small dressing on the T juncture which she says is not entirely healed so I'm still putting a small piece of gauze there. I'm hoping that there is still some swelling and that I will eventually make it to a B. Surgery for me was on a Thursday. By Sunday I was out running errands and by Monday I was driving myself around, driving myself to my appointment at day 6. I'm lucky to say that since my surgery I only experienced pain when I awoke in the hospital. I took my pain meds as prescribed, the first 5 days at home and experienced almost no pain whatsoever. The only drawback has been that I'm not yet comfortable sleeping. I'm not a good back sleeper due to several back surgeries since birth (including 3 this year alone!!), and I tend to start my night in the lazy boy. I'm walking 5k every day and back to my regular routine! Overall my experience has been a 9 out of 10. I'll give it a 10 out of 10 if I end up at a size B!
I recommend this surgery to anyone who is unhappy and suffers with large breasts. I am so thankful for this wonderful website and for the supportive women I have had the pleasure of conversing with!
MJ1964's provider
UPDATED FROM MJ1964
27 days post
New bras!
Okay, did I just buy 4 of the most comfortable bras in the world for a total ..... Ready for this?......less than $20 total.
Walmart $4.97
Walmart $4.97
Replies (7)
August 2, 2014
I'm only 5 days post op, so I don't know what size I am. There is a lot if swelling especially around the sides where the lipo was done. I'm looking forward to feeling normal.
August 3, 2014
Hey - congratulations! When I saw the title of your initial review it sounded like I might have written it (except I'm in Atlanta, GA)! I'm 50 and also hoping for B (though the doc said C may be more likely. I'll remind him at the markup). I'm in the waiting stage right now, as i met with the ps last Tuesday and just listening for the magic call to hear that the insurance has been approved and we're good to go. Please keep posting your updates and recommendations; it's very helpful. Your new little ones look amazing! Congratulations! I bet buying clothes will be much more enjoyable for you now. :)
August 4, 2014
Thanks very much. I'm very happy with the outcome. I had an easy surgery and recovery. I went shopping in Michigan today; an 8 hour shopping trip. I'm 4 weeks post surgery and feeling great. The swelling seems to be diminishing. I tried on bras today and the C's were too big! :) I never thought I'd be able to say that. I always dreaded shopping for bras.....I have bought 8 new bras in the last 4 weeks! I'm out of control! :)
Let me know when your approval comes through. My biggest word of advice is "go small". I asked my doctor to take me as small as he though he could for my body. I want to experience the second half of my life on the small side! My best to you!
August 6, 2014
So happy for you!! Question: how would you estimate swelling size wise? Did the breast size go down approximately half size (or less) after the swelling diminished? Thanks
August 6, 2014
Thank you! I would say when it's all said and done I will have gone down a full size from the swelling alone.
UPDATED FROM MJ1964
1 month post
1 month post surgery
My recovery has been simple and uneventful. I feel great. There is still some swelling along the bottom outside of my breasts. My scars are minimal. I'm still taping my incisions. This is my decision to tape. My PS doesn't advocate any scar treatment. He believes that scar healing is based solely on the persons ability to heal and not on anything you put on a scar. I figured it couldn't hurt and I've read from different women on the site that it helped them.
I tried on bras yesterday. Some B's fit and some C's fit. It all depends on the make. :)
Activity wise, I'm doing everything I did prior to surgery. Sleeping gets better every night. Now it's time to work on the extra pounds. I'd like to take off 30 pounds and get down to my goal weight. This is my next adventure.
In 2 weeks I have an appointment to see my PS for a 6 week follow up.
Overall I'm very happy with my outcome!
I tried on bras yesterday. Some B's fit and some C's fit. It all depends on the make. :)
Activity wise, I'm doing everything I did prior to surgery. Sleeping gets better every night. Now it's time to work on the extra pounds. I'd like to take off 30 pounds and get down to my goal weight. This is my next adventure.
In 2 weeks I have an appointment to see my PS for a 6 week follow up.
Overall I'm very happy with my outcome!
Replies (7)