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!

@Madagascary … fantastic! Really great to hear your news. I know it’s been said a lot but hearing about people being out the other side helps massively. I am counting down the months now. . My left boob is defo a bit bigger … 🤣

Hey what a great thread. I have a consult late May. I'm wondering about sick as an elective cosmetic procedure (privately not nhs) I'm not sure I'll get sick - was going to book two weeks annual leave but after reading this thread not sure this will be enough. I do not want to tell anyone at work the nature of the operation. Can I just say I'm having an operation and leave it at that? Or say something like it's gynae and leave it at that? If the surgeon does the sick note (is it them or the GP?) can they be a bit vague as to what you've had done? What's everyone done? Sick or holiday?

@stardustpixy my HR honoured it as it was ‘for medical reasons’. I had 6 weeks (TT at the same time)

my surgeon wrote my sick note and it said ‘surgical recovery’ - he was extremely clear that it’s nobody’s business and he wouldn’t write more than that

@ohnoohdearoh
Did they ask what it was for in the first place or did you say it's something you need doing / not give details? Or did they make you specify? I'm pretty sure if you say you need surgery they surely won't ask what for? Wouldn't it be assumed it's for something you need?

Yes. This was me. Pm if you’d like to chat. I think work thought was women’s stuff. No one notices afterwards

@Madagascary that/ you looks great! Remind me as we are 17 pages in now 😆… what bra size were you before & what are you buying now?

Was a ?32f/g

im still not measured but that’s a size 12. Think maybe a c/d

The concept of a) halter neck
and b) wireless. 😳.
those Straps should be tighter. Then even better.

@Madagascary enjoy it! We are (or you were) a similar size & body shape … yay there’s hope for me!
Go rock the halter neck 😀

@Madagascary that looks AMAZING

Did anyone have to have a new mammogram? That's £££

No? Never mentioned. I’d query

@stardustpixy it was recommended that I had a mammogram. I think I paid £250 for a private one. I’m under 50 so I’d never had one before.

I spoke to HR regarding my surgery. I was allowed to have it as sick leave if the surgery was ‘psychological’ or ‘physical’ issues but didn’t request to see any evidence of this. My sick note did say breast reduction but I didn’t request any different. When I had a hysterectomy they just wrote surgery and were non specific.

I took a weeks annual before hand though to isolate in case Covid was doing the rounds at work.

POST OPERATIVE COMPLICATION ALERT

l’ve just come back from Iceland and we went to the Blue Lagoon. Checked all the photos afterwards and my nipple scars can be seen poking out the top of my costume! Obviously when my costume was dry it was higher up but the weight of the water pulled it down a bit. Damn these pert nipples!! 😂
I’m going to buy a halter neck as that should cover them completely.

How low WAS IT?!!

It was only the scar and top part of the areola!!! Not full nipple. I’ve just never had to worry about that before. I’m not used to them being so high.

I’ve just ordered lots of new costumes to try on!

Loving the POST OPERATIVE COMPLICATION ALERT Betty 😂 What a great problem to have - better than finding them poking out the bottom of your tankini 👀

Swimwear though ladies … I basically gave up
in my early 20s and have not owned a single item my whole adult life. Just too self conscious about the whole thing. So this cheers me up loads 😀way to go with the accidental flashing @Bigtitsbetty 😂

I’ve now moved my surgery forward … 14 weeks & counting!

I’m so invested.

@stardustpixy sorry I had meant to reply to some of your questions! Mammogram … I’m over 50 so have had one in the last few years. I think if I hadn’t I would probably pay for one.

Time off - I am also telling absolutely no one about the surgery … the bloke knows obv 😆… so on that basis I am
just taking 2 weeks holiday as then I don’t have to explain anything to anyone.

Saw NHS surgeon for first meeting today. He confirmed I’m eligible 🥳 and he hopes it would be done this year, ( it has to be fitted in around more urgent (cancer) surgeries, obviously).

He said they do the surgeries with 2 surgeons - one for each breast. This makes it quicker. Has anyone heard of this before, and would it worry you?

They also only do about 5-6 of these a year. He could refer me to another plastics team if I wanted a higher-volume surgeon, but this referral would take longer. Thoughts?

Finally, I was told a mammogram was necessary, although I’ve never had one so that might be why. Lovely new experience to go in the bucket with smears and dental work 😣

Wow!! On the nhs is amazing. Well done.

@user80 that’s great news!

In my research I saw some ops (everything is findable on YouTube) where there were two surgeons operating. I’d be interested to know why… I’m guessing it’s faster & theatre time is expensive but it’s also two skilled people at once, so costly. I’d ask.

I looked for surgeons who specialise in boobs & do all of the various breast ops including reconstruction. Most of the private/ plastics people do a range of (other) stuff, but I chose a surgeon who does A LOT of boobs. I personally felt that was important.

I would ask who would be doing yours & what their specialisms are. It’s perfectly reasonable to want to know that & you may find that you will have two very skilled people looking after you. Ask who the higher volume team is & what the likely additional time will be if you were referred so you can make an informed decision.

It’s standard practice to have had a mammogram, consider it a basic ‘due diligence’ before operating on this body part. Honestly they are not that bad although I am looking forward to a future where they are not squashing my huge boobs between 2 very cold glass plates 😬!

With a private operation you also pay a bit extra to have some of the removed tissue sent for pathology to test for abnormalities. I’m assuming the NHS surgery would do this as standard.

HTHs a bit … soz for the essay!

Very helpful, thank you @Singletrackmind It feels like such a bewildering field to navigate at the moment.

He said they use 2 surgeons because it’s quicker, pure and simple. It sounds like it’s not uncommon then, which is reassuring.

I was seen at a breast clinic where they deal mostly with cancer patients - so I would assume they do all the surgeries associated with that, including reconstruction- but I will ask. Will also ask about the plastics’ team waiting times.

I had the mammogram there and then (painful on poor lefty, just uncomfortable on righty). I was actually pretty impressed that they did quite a lot at that initial appt, also including “before” photos. Next step is a meeting with the breast nurse in June, to ask more questions, get more detailed info and see some before and after pics. I think then it will be decision time.