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has anyone had a breast reduction? i'm seriously considering having it done and would really love to hear people's experiences as i'm very nervous. Also if you had to done di you go privately or on nhs? thanks in advance!
Had it done 4 years ago privatly, went in early, operation and stayed in one night, on self admin morphine drip for a while and then on co codemol or something like it.
thanks sophiewd. what was the pain like afterwards and how long did it take to get back to doing normal things, driving, looking after the children, etc? also do you mind me asking what size you went from and to. Also what's the scarring like. sorry for all the questions - i'm so nervous but really want it done! thanks!
I had it done last summer and am thrilled with the results. It took me a while to get used to though, the scars looked shocking to begin with but now they're fine.
I went from a 34J to a 34E - it sounds like they are still big but they are very pert and don't look massive at all.
Is it really freaky to offer you my 'before & after' photos?? (I would cut my head off!!)
Get a good reccomendation for a surgeon though as results can vary.
Oh and I drove after 4 days. Took it easy with picking up the children for about a week. Was dopey for a couple of days after so I stayed in a hotel, kids at my Mum's.
It was before I got married so no kids but was back at school working after the holidays (had it done at the bginning of the easter holidays), pain was ok just strong painkillers after hopsital and scarrung fine as well Went from 42G to C cup.
Will do - hubby has our laptop with him which has the pictures on but I'll post later in the weekend and then put them on my profile (for a very short time!!!)
thanks sniffyhock - really kind of you. doctor said i could pick up ds (2) ater a couple of weeks, but what happens he pushes against my boobs - he often suddenly moves, pushes, etc - will the stitches burst and will it damge me? Also really worried about being able to put ds i his car seat afterwards, beacasue of the lifting and bending/twisting to put him in - will that be ok after 2 weeks?
Hi ohdear - are you online? Let me know and I'll post the pictures today. I never thought I'd post photos of my boobies on t'internet!!!!
My DC were 3 and 8 months when I had mine done and I was fine after a week. You need to train your DS to get into his car seat so you can just do the straps. I had a few problems on one side where it wasn't healing but after a course of anti-biotics, it was fine.
I'm really interested in getting this done. I did speak to my GP once (and burst into tears ) and she gave me the name of a surgeon to contact. I have a colleague who has had a reduction, she went in recently because of a minor problem with the scar tissue.
It's not very nice to be known for the size of your breasts. (And I got asked onceagain when my baby was due )
Great perky nips sniffy! You are a darling for posting those. I desp want one am 32hh and size 10 and need smaller ones. Have dents in my shoulders and posture probs too. am still feeding ds2 but am lining up for op in a years time. Will beg nhs but am prepared to pay somehow. can I ask about nipple sensitivity?
It was a really good decision for me. It was strange in a way not to be known for the size of your breasts. They had defined me for so long I really worried about it IYKWIM.
It took me a while after the op to feel happy with them but now my confidence has soared. In fact, we only took the after photos today and seeing them side by side made me smile!
TBH I've never been hugely sensitive in that area so it's never been a problem. Sex wise, they've been a huge bonus!! I used to hate buying a slinky nightdress as my boobs looked shit without a bra but now I'm much more daring!
Underwear options are better now too. I'm still not tiny though but I feel like my body is balanced.
the balance thing v important. I have no hips to speak of and the tittage is just a cruel comedy from nature. I have been doing pilates but it as much my wanting to mask them that causes the shoulder tuck shrug. dp is sad but supportive...
oh sniffy could I please have a look too? And if you are anywhere in SE could you tell me who your surgeon was? - you can e-mail em on prufrock at hotmail.co.uk.
I'm an extremely saggy 32GG at the moment and would love to have a reduction/lift - whilst I manage well with decent bra's I'd like my boobs to look good out of them as well. Dh might be about to have 3 months off work and it's the only opportunity I'll ever get to take some recovery time.
I've made them visible again. Will just delete them at bedtime!!
Prufrock - I'm in SE but actually had them done in Shropshire as my parents are there and a friend recommended the surgeon. He was brilliant!
I also only remembered tonight that he didn't actually do too much of a reduction. Because my boobs had gone up to a J cup then back down to FF, a lot of the bulk was just empty skin. I think (not sure) that he only reduced one side as they were very uneven, then lifted them both.
Wow. They do look lovely. And no really visible scarring either (well I'm presuming that big line around your back is where your bra was I know what you mean about empty skin - I was in 36M breastfeeding bras. I often think that if I could just attach a bulldog clip underneath to gather up all the spare skin they'd be fine again - but that gets a bit too fetishy!
pru you paint such a picture. We are similar you always pop up on v important threads for me! Cholestasis, depression and now more importantly... Breasts!!! mine are still fullish but def sagging and more fleshy than before ds2. I have grown more with each child!!!! Never go back either. I say 32hh because I cannot mentally go any further up in cup size. oh tangled web
This is so great - I have been thinking about this more and more over the last few weeks. I am a 32JJ (just think huge) and my back is in agony. I crack it at least 20 times a day and my shoulders are constantly hunched. I have total coathanger shoulders and they hurt like hell.
Yes, there's an aesthetic side to it I guess, but I really just want to not be known for big boobs and nothing else.
Could I also see the photos too? How long was it before your partner..ermm how shall I put this...enjoyed your reduction? How much did it cost - I heard about 3K or so?
I put my name down as a 16 year old with GG cup and nothing ever happened, so what are the realistic chance of getting this done on the NHS?
I seem to remember that hubby got a look in after a few weeks. They weren't very attractive for a while as the scars obviously scabbed up at first. I think they cost more like 5k.
OneLieIn - is it worth starting off with going to your GP regarding your back and take it from there.
Just go to my profile and then click on 'SniffyHock's pictures' to see them.
thanks for asking pru. I'm ok. Ds1 been having ishoos of late so have shelved mine. Been active in garden got some school mums to chat to. Things are better!
Prufrock - the bottom two pictures best show the scarring. It's in the crease though and has faded a lot (but yes, the line around my back was my bra - would have been very scary if that had related to the op!!)
And as I left this last night and went to bed, I remembered another reason for reduction- when I lie on my back, they choke me. Seriously, the fat leans against my windpipe and I can't breathe.
Done the doc thing, had physio, osteopathy etc and nothing seems to help - this is a last resort really.
freya bras are gorgeous I bought some recently from bravissimo. But even then its still only hiding my jugs behind pretty fabric. Still sit on front of me like hitchhikers on the wrong road.
I would sooo love a reduction, I am wearing 38G atm but I'm fairly sure they aren't big enough in the cup, however they are the biggest cup size I can find locally and I need to fit them. I need to lose weight though - although they were out of proportion before I put the weight on. I have a dowager's hump too (nice) and have had neck and shoulder problems, to say nothing of the oh-so-attractive dents in my shoulders and the fungal infections underneath etc etc etc
Hi, I had a breast reduction last xmas, it is without a doubt the best thing I have ever done for my health and self essteem. I got it done on the nhs, I think it was about 6 months from me going to see the gp to it being done. I went from a 34G to a 34 C/D. The recovery did take quite a long time, I was 2 weeks before I could really do anything, I would say 6 weeks before I could do everything I need to do (I have 2 toddlers) and about 2 months before I felt fine, Now it is 5 months on, the scars are barely visible, I don't need to wear a bra if I don't want to, I have had no back pain even though before I couldn't sleep as back pain woke me up every night. I have full sensitivity and everything is great. Sorry rambled a bit there.
thanks, dita. I'm a bit worried about the possiblity it could be 6 weeks before i could do everything with ds though. my surgeon said i should be able to pick him up (he's 2) after about 2 weeks
trying to remember exactley, dh had up to 2 weeks off, then I went to my mums for a week, after that I managed although struggled a little, my dd2 is also 2 and can walk nearly everywhere, get herself in and out of buggy etc. Expect to feel really crap for a week or two just from the anasthetic. It is worth going to see gp, I didn't think I would get it but apparently they have criteria and I met them all, although i think one of the criteria is a BMI of less than either 25 or 30, so if you have a little weight to lose it might be worth trying first. Good luck.
thanks dita. I've seen my gp and she confirmed i maight get it on nhs as my bmi is under 25. But i think i might have it done privately because then i can choose exactly when it;s done and it'll be easier for dh to get time off. It's not laway possible to him to get 2 weeks off
my BMI is 22 will def give nhs a go. But last time gp laughed at me. Am told mental health angle is good thing to focus on? but also nhs will not guarantee cup size?
That wasn't very nice of your GP Piffle. I would ask another of your GPs in your practice about this, you may get a more sympathetic response. I had to get myself sooo psyched up to go and ask about it.
I was told they would not give you a choice in cup size either, when I went for pre op 3 days before consultant told me to have a good think about what size I wanted to be and that he thought a d was about right but it was up to me. I never used the mental health angle, just had a really bad back and shoulder grooves and rashes underneath etc.
yep that's about the size of it. Size 8-10 hips bit of a post natal beer belly and huge hooters they must weigh half a stone I reckon. Dp concurs we did a test weigh with him taking weight of my boobs... Things we do huh
Have you ever worn a halterneck??? My neck gets bruised if I do that!!
32JJ - I will check my BMI, thanks for the tip. I am guessing it's too hgih at the moment. If I book with the docs now, I should be able to lose 2 stones by the time they can give me an appointment
Can I gatecrash ladies..........I have been wanting this to be done for 2 years now. I am a 36HH but have a BMI of 32 and even thoug I want to go privately surgeon wants me to lose 2.5 stone.
Anyone fancy a weight loss for BR surgery thread ?
We could motivate each other and swop stories as it were!!
i have my second appt with the surgeon tomorrow, and after that i'll have to decide whether to definately go ahead - the thought of doing it terrifies me, but is exciting too!
good luck and keep us posted. I am determined now. I got home form work yesterday and cried as I took my bra off with the releif as they are so uncomfortable. I have tried everything and spent a fortune on bras incl at rigbey and peller which is the most uncomfortable bra I own. ! It was a 100 pounds.
I have 35 pounds to lose before the surgeon will operate so I start today !
got on ok with surgeon but am now so terrified of the whole thing i don't know if i dare have it done. I'm not sure if i can cope with the pain afterwards and the thought of seeing the scars really frightenens me. I've wanted this for so long but now it's becoming a reality, i dont' know what to do. Also had my letter saying i had an appt with nhs consultant (had booked in privately) does this mean , i could have it done on nhs? Even if i can have it doen on NHS, i wonder whether going private would be better? I'm in a real state over this
Was given a self admin morphine drip for the first few hours then strong painkillers, DH had to help me bath for the first few days as wasn't aloud to get scar wet but he does wash hair very nicely .
Also a lot of consultants work both privately and for NHS, going private, can guarantee you will get iot done and when you want to.
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