StarsHallowGirl

Has anybody had breast reduction surgery? My HMO finally agreed to send me to a plastic surgeon for a breast reduction. I go on June 6th for a consultation. I was just wondering if anyone has had it done? Also does anyone know about how long your out of commission for before you can go back to work?
Thanks

Lfgd20

Shannon-
I have and HANDS down it was the BEST thing I ever did!!! It was absolutely amazing. I was out of work completely for four weeks, but back in school after one. I chose not to go back to work so quickly, cause I knew school (which can be like another job) would wear me out. Once I was back at work I took it easy, I worked retail so I worked in the office, lingerie, and audit. I didn't want to lift anything to big that would cause pain. I was back driving after about a week and a half, if you have any questions post em here or Pm me...I would love to answer them for ya!!

__________________

sleepydumpling

I'm interested in girls experiences with this too as I am considering getting a breast lift and minor reduction if I can get below a certain weight. I've ALWAYS had very large boobs, which doesn't bother me much, but the fact that they have always hung south DOES!

I talked to my doc a bit about it this week and she seems to think that if I can get under a certain weight it would be a good idea just to "tidy" them a bit.

How painful is it? Is it very "yucky" by way of the wounds? How are you going with scarring?

Thanks for the info!
K

Boink

I've done extensive research on this. After years of neck and head pain, I finally saw a chiropractor and he took XRAYS. I have bone spurs and arthritis of the neck. The first thing he recommended was breast reduction. I haven't had any babies and if I ever change my mind about that, I will most definately have one afterwards. You can't breast feed after a reduction.

The web is a great resource, there are tons of plastic surgery websites with people recounting their experiences. I would look some up for you, but our traffic is being monitored at work now... The best advice for surgery is make three consultations, ask for pictures... lots of pictures, good surgeons will provide them to show off their work. There was a very young girl on another forum who had it done and she said she loves it.

sleepydumpling

My doctor told me that you CAN breast feed after a reduction. Because that was one of the things I asked her - would it affect my ability to breastfeed in the future. She said no. Strange! Maybe it's because I only want a minor reduction - mostly I just want a lift?

kellyandrews

It will be the best thing you have ever done! It is worth everything you will go through. PLEASE give yourself some time to rest though. A couple of weeks. The doc will tell you six weeks. Resting will reduce your scarring. Use Mederma and antibiotic ointment as well. I didn't rest enough, because I felt okay, but let me tell you,... rest rest rest!

My insurance co. paid for mine. I was 22 years old. I don't regret it. It improved my self esteem. My advice is to go smaller than the doctor tells you. Breast tissue grows back some. Trust me on this, please.

__________________
kelly

kellyandrews

No matter what the doc tells you, it WILL affect breast feeding. I was still able to, but NOT enough to keep my daughter alive! I had to supplement with formula more and more. If you want to breast feed, then get the reduction after that's done. If not, then go for it!

__________________
kelly

Lfgd20

Okay lets see if I can answer all of your questions...every surgery is different and you want to ask your doc how he does his surgery...

This next part might be TMI, so if you don't want to know, don't read

There are two main ways that a plastic surgeon can do a Breast reduction. The first is to completely disconnect the nipple and areola from the breast, resize it and then attach it. This way the mamary glands are impacted and you normally CANNOT breastfeed.

The second way is to go in a moon shape under the breast, up the center and around the areola/nipple area. They take the breast tissue out and never disconnect the nipple or areola, they just resize it and then stich it all back up. I had this kind, and although they cannot promise you can breastfeed, they normally tell you that you will be able to!

I had mine done when I was 19 and it greatly improved my self esteem. Although I realized that I have a "belly." My shirts always used to hang from my breasts so I never knew what size my belly really was. Ha ha...

Have someone there to drive you home (obviously) I stayed in the hospital overnight and had the drains removed before I left. That part hurt! My mom took great care of me, i am a tummy sleeper so I slept in a recliner for the first month. I had great painkillers which I took for the first few days. I also had liposuction under my armpits becuase there was breast tissue over there, still some. The lipo hurt way more than the surgery!! My friends called me "penguin" for a couple weeks, cause I walked unconciously protecting under my armpits. My shoulders were hunched up and I protected myself!!

As far as scarring goes, it has been three years (WOW) since my surgery and you can barely see the scars. The edges near my arm pit are a little pinker than the rest, but I lifeguarded and they saw the sun a little. You can still kind of see them if you look really carefully, but not too much.

If I have forgotten anything, keep asking questions, and I will keep answering em!! Have a great evening!

__________________

sleepydumpling

Thank you to those who have posted information.

Lfgd20 - one of the reasons I don't want much reduced out of mine (more just a lift) is just because the big boobs disguise any belly so effectively!! Everything hangs so much better off a rack!

I'm a LONG way off considering doing anything seriously yet (I have a lot more weight to lose) but it's good to get some info to help me with thinking about it.

Cheers
K

Lfgd20

I definately want to lose some weight too...that would help! Things do fit me so much better now, and I can actually find bras and swimsuits in my size!! Once I get rid or lessen the belly, I will be much much happier. :laugh:

__________________

SABTeacher

I had one in 2002, and I don't regret it. I was only out of work for a week and a half after the surgery. You can expect some pain afterwards, but the pain meds help. There is also a lot of swelling, and you are not considered fully healed until 6 months to 1 year afterwards.

My insurance covered the entire surgery, and I only wish I went a little smaller than I did.

My OB/GYN says that I may or may not be able to breast feed. She said that it depends, and that many women can but they don't have enough milk so they need to supplement with formula.

Make sure your plastic surgeon has a lot of experience with Breast Reduction. Mine didn't have that much, but he did a lot of augmentation and lifts. I thought it was good enough, but a reduction is VERY different. My surgery wasn't perfect, and I have more scarring than I should. My insurance would not cover a revision surgery to fix the imperfections, so I'm just living with it. I figure that I'll wait until I am done having kids and breastfeeding and then I'll save money to fix them. Even though they are not perfect, I'm still happy I did the surgery. No back, neck or shoulder pain!!!

Best of luck,
Shari

StarsHallowGirl

Thank you so much, for all your replies!! I letyou know how my appt goes next monday!

Boink

It's the luck of the draw according to a PS I spoke to, as well as my GP and research I've done online. Even if they don't remove the areola, there is still some damage to be had by the nerves and milk ducts, as well as glands. You could still feed but not produce enough milk, too.

I would LOVE to do it otherwise. I'm a 36GGEE? or something like that. I have to have custom fit bras.

StarsHallowGirl

I just went today. I told the Dr that I wanted an A but he said since I am trying to lose weight then I should have a B cause I could end up with nothing otherwise, plus in porportion with my build I should have a B. So fine I'm going from a DDD to a B sounds fine to me As long as everything goes ok with the insurance then it looks like Aug 11th.

__________________
Me(Shannon) 27, DH (Brian) 34, DSD (Emily) 6
married : May 12,2007
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

dx pcos 2002

sleepydumpling

Good luck Shannon - and be sure to tell us how it all goes when you do have it done!

K