Has anyone had a breast reduction before?

[Tassie]

Hi girls!

I am thinking of having a breast reduction but cant decide if i should. Should i lose as mucgh weight as i can before i do it? Would that make a difference? Im a 38E now and am looking to reduce them to a C cup. 

[Robin1980]

I had a reduction and it was the best thing I could have done. I did it before children so I couldn't imagine what they would have looked like after kids if I didn't. I would suggest having a consultation and see what the doctor says. They will choose the size that suits your frame. Let me know if you have any other questions. 

[Tassie]

Thanks for your reply Robin!! Im so happy to hear that you are happy you did it and thank you for taking the time to write to me. Which procedure di your surgeon do on you? Ive been to see two surgeons and they both showed me different cutting methods. One was around the the nipple and down like a lollipop and anchor and the other was totally different.

How was healing after? Was it incredibly painful?

Are you in pain now after healing? Did your posture and back pain improve almost immeditely?

Where the physiological issues youve had with having big boobs gone?

After your surgery did you ever lose weight? Did that result in distortion?

Sorry i have so many questions!! But the surgeons are charging $50K and are not that helpful with the questions that only a person in your position could answer.

[Robin1980]

There was some discomfort but it's well worth it. I had I guess the lollipop method. I'm not sure how much it cost but I know insurance covered some of it. I was 19 though so my parents covered the rest insurance didn't cover. I have lost and gained weight since (2 pregnancies) and they look fine. My back is much better then it was. 

[jackiegee]

I also had a breast reduction in 1979 and it was also the best thing I could have done.  I guess I had the lollipop one too.  I would try to lose weight before you have it.  I remember being quite shocked at the size of my stomach after I had it.  first of all I couldn't see my stomach before and of course without the boobs overpowering it, my stomach looked bigger.

The other benefit was that before the surgery I was very droopy - of course, with all that mass there - but after I had nice uplifted breasts for the first time in my life.  and now, many years later, at 63, they are still fairly round and perky compared to other people I've seen of my age.

[Tassie]

Thank you so much for your replies. Im so wishy washy about doing this surgery. Excited as hell but afraid it wi hurt as hell hehehe (biggest wussy ever). I have about 6-8kg to lose before im a healthy weight, im not sure if i should wait before i lose that to do the surgery, im afraid if i wait too long ill chicken out again. 

🙂 Thanks!

[Tassie]

Thanks for the reply jackie!

If you dont mind me asking, what dress size and bra size were you before the operation?

Its so reassuring to hear from all of you how much happier you are after the surgery!

🙂 Tas

[jackiegee]

To be honest, Tassie, I have no idea.  Remember it was over 30 years ago and I had a lot of trouble getting clothes to fit in those days so I made most of my own clothes. 

[jedifan]

Tassie, have you made a decision on the reduction yet?  

After several years of talking about it and complaining, I finally scheduled my surgery.  June 2.  I'm very nervous, especially about the pain part, but excited to finally have it done.

As for weight loss before the surgery, you need to find a middle ground.  Before losing 20 lbs, my doctor said I'd end up as a full C cup after surgery.  Now that I've lost some weight, he says I'll end up a full B at the most.  The thought of being that small is sort of scary.  

My surgery is being covered by my insurance as it's "medically necessary".  The insurance states that you must have a pound of material removed from each breast for it to be covered.  Since I lost weight in my boobs, as well as everywhere else, it's going to be much more drastic of a change.  Regardless, I'm still excited and not backing out.  Even though I have another 20 lbs to lose, I'm maintaining right now until after surgery.  Yes, I want to have a smaller bust, but don't want to go too crazy!  LOL

So, if your surgery is being covered my insurance, you might want to check on their requirements before losing all of your weight.  

Best of luck to you!

[competentgirl]

I had breast reduction 3 or 4 years ago. It was so worth it! I didn't want to have the surgery and so lost a ton of weight trying to avoid it, all this did was leave me with still painfully (to my neck) large boobs (GG) but not enough mass to meet my my insurance companies minimum cups of flesh removed. (Yes, they based it on measuring cups of flesh removed.) I paid for it myself I also gained all the weight back once I wasn't super motivated to try to avoid surgery. (Also, I honestly didn't think I looked good at my smallest possibly healthy weight - my neck looked like the anorexic girls in my class in high school.)

If insurance won't cover it and you can take the time off, my GP told me that Thailand is actually the best place to go for breast surgeries. You can also go and have the surgery for less than or equal cost than having it here. I didn't feel comfortable planning to fly back only a week after surgery (although people do) and could only take a week off.

I ended up with small 'dog ears' (extra skin on the sides) and fairly bad scarring (turns out I'm allergic to the scar reducing gel) and I would still do it a thousand times over. I do wish the doctor would have been willing to take a little more out - I'm now normally proportioned, but the women in my family have small breasts, so I still feel like I have a little more than I need.

I didn't particularly have any pain. The place I went had a great anesthesiologist who did the pain control and he did a great job. I only took a week off, but felt good enough on the last few days that it was like a vacation.

Good luck!