Breast reduction - any stories/advice?

[mrsbjunior]

I suppose the title says it all. I am booked in to have a reduction in two weeks time!!!! Been planning one for about ten years but have waited until having my two DSs before going ahead. Beginning to feel the nerves and wondered if anyone had been through it and had any advice.

also if anyone is thinking about the same thing I would be happy to share what I go through.

Thanks

[hiddenhome]

I had one when I was about 22. It was great. I was blissfully happy with the outcome. There is some scarring, but you can use Bio-Oil on them. I was told that I probably wouldn't be able to breastfeed, but that turned out not to be true and I managed fine. The only thing that was a bit uncomfortable was having the drains removed. You are in some pain straight after the surgery, but you'll be given painkillers for that. You need supportive bras afterwards and no upper body exercise until you've had your check up.

Don't be nervous, you'll be fine

[LineRunner]

How much does it cost?

[LineRunner]

[hiddenhome]

I think it costs about £6000 to have it done privately. Mine was done on the NHS because I was getting back pain. Big boobs run in my family I would like to have mine done again really because they've grown back since breastfeeding ds2

[mrsbjunior]

its not cheap but basically the PCT where I live have removed all funding for breast surgery so I had no choice other than to go private. It's over 5K but i figured i have spent that much and more on car services/fixing in the last 10 years and I am more important than my car so thought if i don't do it now then i never will!

Thanks for the reassurance hidden - scared but excited - buying tops from a "normal" shop rather than Bravissimo will be great!

[hiddenhome]

Oh, wearing nice bras and tops is lovely

Ask for a pre-med if you're feeling nervous Honestly, you'll be fine. The feeling of looking down at your chest (all bandaged up, but flatter) after the surgery is great. I kept patting mine to make sure they really were smaller. You do feel a bit battered and bruised, but it's totally worth it.

Get some vitamin C and Zinc and some Arnica to help with the healing and bruising. Plenty of protein afterwards will help with wound healing too.

[mrsbjunior]

pre - med - great idea! I have a great surgeon who seems really good and she has been doing it for 15 years so hopefully she knows what she's doing by now.

have only told a few people I am having it done and i wonder if anyone will notice.

Protein rich - mmmmm, wonder if I can get my husband to cook lots of steak whilst I lie on the sofa watching crap films

[startail]

Friend at university's mum did.
Got hurt in a car accident and used her compensation. Said the difference it made to her neck and back pain was enormous.

Good luck

[hiddenhome]

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[BlingLoving]

Oh, fabulous. I never regretted mine. You will be sensitive after. Keep the cat from climbing on you! lots of bio oil to help with scarring.

Most people will not notice specifically. They will think you have lost weight!

Enjoy!

[beachyhead]

I had one on the NHS about 3 years ago. Echo what was said here, so happy with the results, the surgeon just said ' they will be smaller and perkier ' and they are... Most happy when I'm just wearing pj's and T shirts in the morning with no bra, and they just sit where they are supposed to .

Two painful bits, drains coming out and also when I had my first period, as your boobs swell up and there's just not as much skin to go around, that last bit was so unexpected, I thought something was going wrong....

The other thing I would say is that post op, my headlights are quite often on, which makes me look cold all the time or aroused...not sure what's worse

[mrsbjunior]

Thank you lovely ladies for all your help.

The surgeon marked with a pen where my nips will be. My boobs haven't been that perky since i was 18!
Kind of looking forward to it. Trying not to tell the 5 year old too much or it will be round school like wildfire!

Will keep you updated

[dabdab]

A friend of mine had hers done, and she said that the doctor said it had been basically like she was carrying a bag of sugar constantly around her neck. She says it has saved her years of back pain. Hope all goes well.

[FuckUAndTheHorseURodeInOn]

I had it done 7 years ago - no issues at all. Very happy.

However, please do not underestimate the pain of the drains coming out. It is hideously painful and I shook for ages afterwards. Very unpleasant. Request painkillers half an hour before they pull them out

[mrsbjunior]

Thanks for the advice re the drain. Sounds vile. Will post an update soon x

[UserNameNotAvailable]

Good luck, I'm having mine done on the 19th of April. I'm having a free niPple graft as my notch to nipple is more than 40 and I want t

[UserNameNotAvailable]

Sorry hit post too early, as I was saying, I want to go small -from a 36j to a 36b/34c. I'm so excited I can't wait.

[mypinkmonkey]

Hope all goes well. I am 7 weeks post-op on Tuesday and very pleased. Went from a G to a D and can't wait to go shopping for summer tops. It is painful (obviously) but is manageable - just keep thinking of the long term benefits!

[Stylelostinlabour]

Had mine done 12 years ago before children and they haven't changed maybe a bit lower but hey that's natural. I also breast feed one of mine, the first I didn't want to as wasnt that long after reduction. So still had boob issues but the other was fine.

I went from a 36g/gg to a 36d and the effect wasnt so much physical but physiological as it changed the way I viewed everything from clothes, my body and people around me - was life changing in a good way.

The only problem I have had is when pregnant I used to get really cold nipples and they would go white and burn like anything but I know only get this very occasionally when I'm really cold (think sub -10)

Was the best thing I have ever spent money on.

The drains coming out horrid and I was physically sick with the pain but it was over rather quickly but keep thinking of lovely Freya half cup bra's will get you though it.

Also don't do too much after as you can stretch the skin which will make the scar bigger

Good luck you won't regret it at all!

[mrsbjunior]

Well here we go. I go in at midday. Crept up on me quickly. Very nervous now but excited too. Picked up the little bras this morning can't believe how small they look. Will post later with update. Thanks for all the support. Wish me luck.

[HintofBream]

When the stitches were taken out I remember stopping counting at 186. No pain. I am surprised at so many people saying the drain removal was very painful, it hardly hurt me at all, maybe just lucky.

[HintofBream]

Clicked too soon, sorry. Hope all goes well and you are as pleased as the rest of us with the result.

[yawningbear]

Hope all goes mrsbjunior, I am on a waiting list to see if I will be accepted for the op on the nhs, so many hoops to jump through before I am at the point you are at, but like you have been wanting/needing the op for years but wanted to have dc's first. Really hope you have a quick recovery and get to put a non massivo bra v soon!

[mrsbjunior]

OK update time. I'm now 6 days post op and it has been an "interesting" week. The op went very well, was terrified of the general but as everyonw told me it was so easy. Woke up and felt woosy for ages and had these compression stockings that had air pumped into them overnight to stop DVT which kept me awake for most of the night but the boobs were fine.

They are now extremely bruised but not too painful which is good. Have got appointment to get new dressings so i can shower again!! DH is not the best hairwasher so can't wait to have clean hair.

I can't believe that the op was so straight forward but I am now in awe of my own boobs as they are so pert. I know they will drop into a more normal postion but at the moment they are the boobs of a 16 year old.

only problem is now I can see my stomach!!!

Thanks for all the support everyone

[mypinkmonkey]

Fabulous news mrsbjunior! I'm now 8 weeks' post op and am wearing 34 DD - used to be a 30G and they have dropped a bit but still look fantastic! I'm more or less back to full mobility although I still get tired if I do too much but absolutely no regrets. Strappy summer tops here we come!!