I had a breast reduction AMA

[Bigtitsbetty]

I had a breast reduction two weeks ago. I’ve gone from a 34GG/H to a 34D.

Crack on with any questions!

[Bigtitsbetty]

My appointment went really well. The surgeon is very happy and has taken photos for his portfolio.

He showed me the before and after photos. I couldn’t believe the before photo and how much smaller they are now. I’m still in an E cup bra so so didn’t think I’d gone down that much, even though I’m happy with the result.

He’s going to email me the photos so I can show you all the side by side shot.

[Madagascary]

Oh that’s great! I dread to see the before pics tbh. Was bad enough at the time. I hated looking at them.
Remember you might be an E but you’re PERKY

[Singletrackmind]

@Bigtitsbetty Great! I think the cup size thing is misleading - as you and @Madagascary have said, how they look/ feel to you + perkiness is the most important thing & being 2 whole dress sizes down is a very real measure.

[Madagascary]

I remember not wanting to look at them at all once I’d decided about the operation. Weird

[Monkeyseesmonkeydoesn]

Question on BMI please....what was yours at the time of surgery and did that differ to what your consultant told you it needed to be? Basically asking if there was any flexibility around the guidelines...

[Bigtitsbetty]

My BMI was 27/28 I think. My surgeon definitely won’t do it over BMI 30.

i don’t think they do the surgery if BMI is over 30 because too much breast tissue would be fat.

[Madagascary]

Hi. Wasn’t a thing for me but anaesthetist did mention weight being a thing

[OhNoOhDearOh]

I am an E cup too but they’re half the size of before and they fit my body. Friends still think that sounds huge and maybe it does but they’re amazing!

I didn’t change any clothes sizes (I have a small back)

my BMI was checked only as part of my pre op but I had a healthy BMI anyway I think it was around 23/24.

[Madagascary]

I’d like to add onto this, just in case anybody is reading it for information that these bras from Marks & Spencer were very good once you got bored of your post surgery ones.

they have a really nice thick band which I found more comfortable than the Macom ones once swelling has gone down. Ignore the fact they for mastectomies

[Singletrackmind]

@Madagascary they look nice. I meant to ask … did your surgeon recommend which bras to have/ wear post surgery…do they provide them? I see the Macom ones are just ‘back’ size only & then ‘mould’ to cup size which I guess makes sense if you don’t really know what your actual size will be. Also should they be front fastening for ease?

[Madagascary]

I got medium, and when they arrived, they looked absolutely tiny

[Madagascary]

Mine gave me a leaflet with his (presume commission based) discount code. Get two because I had a little bit of a leak because of my liposuction on the one immediately post surgery so it was nice to have a clean one to put on.

Pity I just sold mine . Look on vinted.

[Singletrackmind]

Thank you! Will get on this nearer the time, but defo planning to have a few I think.

[Madagascary]

The teacher at my exercise class today said she can’t get used to my new shape- every time she sees me in the class She has to do a double take 😀

[Singletrackmind]

@Madagascary … just great 😀

[Bigtitsbetty]

I had two macoms. I bought one from eBay and got one ‘free’ from the surgeon. I had medium and I’m a size 12/14 ish.

I sold them both on vinted too. They do sell well so not a stupid investment. It’s the last expensive bra you’ll have to buy.

[Singletrackmind]

Good advice ladies thx - 🙏🏻 Am trying to pace myself mentally at the moment and not obsess looking at before & afters …

[Madagascary]

Oh I was all over TikTok. I’ve a mate on Instagram from it all - she’s Canadian !!
obsess away

btw. Those bras in marks sale rn

[user80]

@Singletrackmind Do you mind me asking where you saw someone / you you saw in Bristol?
Looking for recommendations in the south Wales area, if anyone can help.

[MaHHoosive]

Thank you so much for this thread @Bigtitsbetty was recommended it on an AIBU post tonight and just read through the whole thing!

Finally spoke to my GP last year after hating my huge boobs for years and years and having fully expected to be told to "deal with it" was surprised to be told he deemed me eligible for a referral on NHS but he didn't want to refer me until id lost some weight as that would be the first thing they'd look at (NHS is subject to getting BMI down under 27)
Was around 11 stone at the time of seeing Dr although through adult life weight has averaged 8.5-9.5 stone (got super fit in lockdown 2 then gained a lot during lockdown 2 making me heavier than I've ever been in my life)

Currently wearing a 30HH (hence the user name I just changed to!) but even when dieting and exercising and getting down to 8-8.5stone I was still wearing an E-F cup.

Am aware even if I am referred it's only the start of a very long journey and there is a chance that private may be my only option, but this thread full of positive stories has made me all the more determined to get them reduced whatever it takes time and money wise 🙂

[user80]

@MaHHoosive What was it that convinced your GP to refer? What symptoms have you experienced?

[MaHHoosive]

@user80 They haven't referred me yet, but they said I'd be eligible once my BMI reduced.

Not sure what was the "key" point but he asked a lot about things I have tried, like diet and exercise, professional fittings (have only been able to buy from bravissimo for years as nowhere else with shops does my size) what issues I have etc. He also made several suggestions which I had already tried. I believe you can access your NHS trusts eligibility criteria online because as people have said previously it's a bit of a lottery depending on where you live.

[Singletrackmind]

Hello @MaHHoosive @user80 !
so the thing that tipped me, having battled with this my whole
life was the realisation that it really didn’t matter have much training I did, I’m never going to reduce my boobs! It’s breast tissue & you can’t exercise it off.

I know it seems stupid to have taken so long to work it out because it is true that you can shrink them a bit by losing fat but for those of us with big heavy ones most of that is breast tissue. Having got to that point it was a much easier decision.

@user80 my Bristol based surgeon is Elena Prousskaia … has a really active/ informative Instagram account

[Bigtitsbetty]

Welcome to the thread @MaHHoosive!

The posters in the other thread saying if NHS refuses it doesn’t need doing clearly have no idea. Like I said on there, counselling was never going to change the physical aspects and limitations of big boobs.

I also think people are used to seeing surgically enhanced boobs not naturally large boobs which is a different thing altogether.

[Madagascary]

Hi!! That’s amazing you might get it on the NHS. Hope it is fast enough i

as we all know , once you decide you want it NOW.