To ask if you've had a breast reduction.

[Rowanhart]

Having a breast reduction on Friday. I'm current 36FF going to 36C.

Anyone already had best reduction? Advice, recovery tips, pros and cons gratefully received.

Any advice for hospital bag things I might not think about.

[Lonelynessie]

No I haven't, but I'm desperate for one. I'm 32hh and it causes me so much pain daily, but I don't have the funds for the op Hope all goes well for you

[branofthemist]

Yes. 11 years ago.

No amazing tips really. But don't plan anything where you are standing up for long periods for the first two weeks at least. It aches awfully after about an hour.

Oh and don't worry when they swell and are huge within a few hours. Mine looked like huge fake boobs. But one the swelling went down they looked great.

Good luck, one of the best things I ever did!

[CaptainCrunch]

Yes, in 1999. On nhs too. I weighed 9 stones and had 34J bra size. Went to 32DD. It was worth everything. Took about 8 weeks to fully recover and had an infection which required intravenous antibiotics. Still highly recommend it.

[Rowanhart]

Lonelynessie, I qualified for NHS funding. Took a long time but worth sticking with.

Can I ask you ladies about your scarring? Is it v visible?

[Katkincake]

Yup - had it done on nhs back in 2001 in my mid 20s. Went down from 36g now a 34d (smaller still when I wasn't so plump ).

The drains are a faff as you get back in your feet and try to go to loo with them clipped on your gown and also pushing a drip. Morphine helped to start. I have an enduring memory of waking up in the middle of the night and seeing group of nurses stood at bottom of my bed looking at me, I panicked but they were just offering me some more - they looked disappointed when I said no. Scaring good thanks to the gel strips I had to wear for an hour or two each day.

One thing I was disappointed in (at the time on first reveal) was the look / shape, basically got the same boobs but smaller. I'd got it in my head that I'd have lovely rounded pert boobs, I now know differently - overall happy I had it done.

As for your bag - I'd saved up the first 3 Harry Potter books to read and got through them all - the days before smartphones - I'd be on here, Pinterest and Facebook these days!! Hope it all goes smoothly and you're pleased with the results.

[imustbepatient]

I had one 20 years ago, one of the best things I did. Yes to taking it easy in the first couple of weeks, certain movements and lifting heavy things will hurt and can pull on the stitches.

I love the shape of mine now compared to before. Even though they are bigger now as I've gained weight, they are still a really nice shape!

I do have scars but they are pale, mostly sit underneath and aren't very visible. You can just see them a bit at the sides if I wear e.g. swimsuits with not much to them. However due to aforesaid weight gain I don't really do that any more!

Once the dr says you can, use vitamin e cream etc to rub on to help with the skin and scar heal smoothly and to minimise the scarring. For the hospital, take clothing and sleepwear you can get on and off easily without too much arm movement / lifting. And get a couple of soft seam free stretchy crop top type bras for sleeping in. You don't want your breasts to be pulling to the side or moving too much when you are sleeping.

Best wishes for your op.

[imustbepatient]

Cross posted with you katkin! I think as I hated the shape of mine so much before, that I really noticed an improvement afterwards.

I'd forgotten about the drains, you just reminded me about those! Hurts when they are taken out too but it is a very quick and short pain.

Have panadol on hand for the weeks after, to take the edge of the pain if you need it.

I can still remember my dr marking me up with black vivid before the op, using what looked awfully like a plastic school ruler to do the lines and measurements...

[notheroldie]

Sorry to hi jack, but how do you get to have one? I'm a 34 JJ and have had out sized boobs since a teen (34 G at school). I've seen an osteopath recently and he suggested it, first time any one has ever mentioned it.
I'm on pain meds every day, have physio and have a hunch developing. I am over weight but cardio exercise (cant spell sorry) is a literal pain in the neck and boobs as I just cant jog/ run jiggle about without a lot of pain.
Did you just ask your GP? (I'm late 40s so not worried about looks/ breast feeding etc etc)!

Please let us know the out come of you op and if you are pleased etc

[ConfuciousSayWhat]

Can I ask are you getting it on the NHS? If so how did you talk your Dr into the referral?

I'm desperate to have more reduced. I've lost a significant amount of weight but all that's done is reduce my band size. I'm still in excess of an F cup (not been measured recently and seem to grow each month but I know my F cup bra is too small)

I spent my 20s with nothing and wanting a breast enlargement then I had children and they've never stopped growing

[JustWantHappiness]

*mine not more

[Fatcakes]

Best thing I ever did.
If I could have taken anything into hospital, it would have been a toiletry bag or similar to carry the drains around to loo etc. (I ended up using a gift bag from a pressie someone brought in!).
Scars are fine. Pain was minimal.
Good luck for Friday. It will completely change your life.

[Katkincake]

Imust - agree they are a far better shape than before I just had unrealistic expectations - The top of my boobs grows from my armpit to centre of my chest so that's what shape they stayed as - why on earth was I expecting perfect icecream shaped mounds afterwards?? . They're still pert now at 40 after breastfeeding my now 2yr old, so it can't be all that bad!

Scaring is fine now, very pale can't see around nipples or from nipple down. But, like Imust says, you can see it most on sides in a swimsuit or bikini but I just buy styles that covers it up.

[evilcherub]

How did you get the NHS referral? I was told by my GP that you need to be at least an H cup before they will consider you?

[dodiebantock]

I wish you the best of luck - it was one of the best things I ever did - and know you will feel like that too (in a couple of weeks!) Just keep in mind that soon you will be able to wear nicer clothes, no need for cover ups, no risk of rashes, pain in the back, etc etc and all the other trials of having a big chest - and no need for any industrial sized bras. Treat yourself to some nice new underwear. I go into M&S occasionally and gaze (with horror) at the bras I USED to have to wear and each time thank my lucky stars that I had the patience to wait over three years for the op on the NHS. I now wear Sloggie tops or the soft lyrcra bras tops - enough support and blissfully comfortable. Be kind to yourself, don't rush your recovery and know it will all be worth it! GOOD LUCK!! .. and please let us know how you are in recovery!!

[ConfuciousSayWhat]

H cup you say. I may get there by next year at this rate!

[Rowanhart]

Hi all,
In terms of doctor referral there are two things which counted in my favour.

1. I have a very bad genetic history of breast cancer and have twice had to have lumpectomy because they couldn't test lumps the needle way due to breast to being too large to reach the lump.
   
2. I have a long term shoulder and neck injury from being beaten as a teenager during which was hospitalised for 6 weeks. The strap rests right on the worst place. Mostly I keep on top with chiropractor and yoga but is getting more painful.
   
   The thing as I went prepared, with evidence to argue toss with doctor. Her referral was first step. Then two more appointments one hospital, one doctors where kept making same points, before securing funding.
   
   It's been a year since I first went and getting op this week.
   
   Thanks for all the advice all. It's really helpful.

[IJustLostTheGame]

Marking place.
I'm a 28 g and preparing my self to ask GP about reduction on the nhs.
My upper back and shoulder are constantly stinging.
I also have scar marks near my arm pits.

[IdaDown]

I was advised to wear a very very supportive sports bra for the first 6/8 weeks post op. At a post op check the nurse checked it was fitting correctly.

I don't know if they'll wrap you post op, but I had what can only be described as giant sticky tape wrapped above and below new boobs - best supportive stuff ever. Bugger to get off though.

I've got an anchor shaped scar under boob, straight up to and around nipple. This has faded over time.

Do you know if your surgeon will be removing (then reattaching) the nipple or cutting around it? Cutting around and leaving nipple in situ means less risk of loosing the nipple.

[Truckingalong]

Mine was a walk in the park. Minimal pain, fabulous pert shape, no hiccups and just faint white lines now. My best advice though is to stress to your surgeon to go as small as possible. Most people who have the op wish they'd gone smaller, including me. Have you looked on real self?

[ineedwine99]

I have, 9 years ago on the NHS (bad back/neck/shoulder pain, was a 34HH), best thing i ever did.

Recovery went well, no major pain afterwards, my only thing was the morphine made me sick.
Take it easy afterwards, they will be very swollen so you wont get an idea on size for a little while. Sports bra for support, ideally one with bra hooks on the back or a zip front to save you streching too much.
Melolin gauze is good as minimal sticking to the wounds so easier to remove, though initially the hospital gave me what look like a giant plaster.
Anchor shaped scar, my mum had an op and used bio oil once she'd healed and you can barely see her scar so i'd recommend that.
Good luck! You'll feel tonnes better afterwards

[ineedwine99]

I was only in 1 night so made sure i had a book and snacks
Also, one thing i did notice once healed, mine had changed shape a little (i bit wider than befoe the op), no big deal but just means that in certain styles of bra there is occasionally a litle bulge at the side, just have to push it back in :-)

[imustbepatient]

Yes katkin, hooray to the pert breasts at 40! Well, a lot more pert than they would be otherwise.

I had 40% removed as this was the most the surgeon would do as apparently the risks and complexity of the procedure increase more above that figure. But mine was 20 years ago so they may have different techniques etc now, so definitely ask.

And also yes to having the procedure done by leaving the nipple attached rather than cut off. It just 'floats' from its blood supply etc while they are doing the op, then they reattach it (reduced in circumference usually) in its new position. I couldn't breast feed exclusively after I had children many years later, but I could do mixed feeding for about four months for each DC.

Mine wasn't done on the NHS but I did get a reasonable sum back from my insurance company for 'pain and suffering', due to the back pain and muscular impact / knots my breasts were causing. Worth looking into if you have some form of health insurance through work or similar.

[IJustLostTheGame]

I went to the GP yesterday to ask about reduction.
She's referring me.
She said they rarely agree to it, they should in my case but probably won't.
I can but try.

[rainytea]

I had one too and just love it. I agree with Trucking that it's better to go smaller than you think you want. I wish I'd gone smaller, especially as I've put on a fair amount of weight. However, as they are still smaller than my face I'm not too bothered ;)

It was the best thing I've ever done and I'd do it again if I were in the same situation, only I wouldn't have waited 10 years.

The scar depends on the type of incision. Mine was "lollipop", so the nipple was moved higher. This also changed the shape (for the better).

And one of the very, very best things was how differently people look at you afterwards. I actually had people talking to my eyes, instead of my nipples. And clothes shopping...amazing!! And I didn't do it for either of those reasons.

Bra-wise I had to wear a sports bra afterwards to keep them in place for a while - no underwiring was allowed to start with.

Thinking about this is giving me motivation to lose some weight!