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!

A good surgeon will let you ask all the questions you want to at your appointment, and if they don’t have time will let you call/email them. The won’t pressurise you into anything. They will have unidentifiable photos of previous patients that they can show you.

You can search surgeons in the GMC website for their history and experience.

OP, your experience sounds very similar to mine - 20 odd years ago. So I'm just tagging on here to say that 20 years later, I'm still insanely happy I did it. In my case, I've gained a lot of weight in the intervening years and so my breasts are definitely quite large now (I'm a 38 FF - I was a 32D after surgery). But I often think about what they would be like if I hadn't had it done and my word, it's terrifying!

I think it’s about 7.5 now, but this probably an out of London price.

Thanks @Bigtitsbetty

I would have thought there would have been a massive difference. I treating that you stayed the same.

Lads. I’ve got a date for surgery. A few weeks.

ive got a question about who you tell. I don’t really want the wider community knowing and looking at me. Now I’m wondering if I really need to tell anyone beyond immediate mates.

op and others - did people notice if you didn’t tell them? How did you deal with all this.

I had mine done in 2017 and it was the best thing I’ve ever done.

they haven’t grown back, still look amazing and I no longer hate my body.

@Madagascary literally nobody said a word no was off work for 6 weeks and nobody asked, and I didn’t tell. The only people that knew were HR and they weren’t allowed to tell anyone. My surgeon just put ‘post op recovery’ on the note, legally you don’t have to tell then what surgery you’re having. Good luck!

I’ve really noticed how much my shoulders ache. Can’t look at them in a mirror ever since I decided to go for it

And no one noticed you looked different?!

That’s so exciting!

I had a friend who had a nose job and the surgeon suggested that she have a radically different haircut/colour before she returned to work. She had really long hair and had a pixie cut. EVERYONE noticed the hair and said how different she looked, it changed the shape of her face etc. NO-ONE commented on her nose. I was one of the few she told about the surgery and I don’t think anyone suspected. Her nose was really different though!

I think that would still work. People don’t care as much about us as we think they do. Today was my first day back at work and some people commented but they all knew. My boss couldn’t look at me properly. He was staring at my forehead the whole time and daren’t look down

Lol at forehead!! Thanks for that advice. Not sure I’d dare a hair change 😂

@Bigtitsbetty how are you feeling now. ? Week four?

also. (Sorry!!) what top did you wear for the first week or so. People say with buttons .. I can’t think of anything I’ve got

@Madagascary I bought some very cheap oversized button down shirts to wear for the first week. Be aware that the surgical corset type bra fits very high up - on me showed above all of my tops. So for when I was fit to leave the house I had bought some high necked loose jumpers. I also bought new button down pyjamas for the hospital as it allowed nurses to get to my dressings easily.

I found the corset so uncomfortable so after a week or so my surgeon recommended a seamless crop top from M&S to wear at night or if I just needed some relief from wearing the corset. They come in a pack of two - one black and one white.

Re telling anyone. I told my three closest friends and my mum only. DH told his parents after the surgery had been done. For some reason I felt embarrassed about having the procedure done but as soon as it was done I didn't care who I told!

The difference was very noticeable but you spend a few weeks wearing loose clothing so it's easy to cover it up.

What was more noticeable was my new found confidence. Friends commented on how much happier I seemed in my new body. My posture completely changed.

This is such a useful thread, thank you. I'm currently a 34JJ but need to lose around 2 stone to bring my BMI down before I qualify for safe surgery.

Signing up to PureGym now! I'm fed up of my norks!!!

I have a question about choosing your surgeon. I've made a list of surgeons I'd like to explore further, but each charge a £200 initial consultation fee. How do you decide or do you just take it on the chin that you may have to pay the £200 a few times until you find one you gel with?

I chose a surgeon who had operated on somebody I know, different procedure, but because it was a personal referral I got my consultation free

Thanks, I’ve got one of those postsurgical ones for the first two weeks and then after the stitches come up off hope to have the Marks & Spencer one like you describe. One of the benefits of having it done in winter I suppose

Also great tip about pyjama top. I might get a couple of cheap ones from Primark or something. Could I wear my husbands T-shirts, he’s huge.

Will the verticals scar from nipple downwards fade? Is there any risk it will look 'pulled' as the scar tissue won't stretch or sag as much as the boob flesh on other side?

Problem with t shirts is you will struggle to get one on if you can't lift your arms up at all. You are not supposed to lift them at all for first week or so.

Washing hair is also tricky - I got DH to wash mine for me and he blow dried it ( badly!) too.

I also found a V pillow helped make me more comfortable while sleeping or resting.

@pocketvenuss my scars are 6 years old now. They have faded but still still quite obvious. They are completely smooth though. I used silicon scar reduction tape for months after my surgery as recommended by my surgeon and I'm glad I did.

Yes thank you, I was thinking of a V pillow, someone on TikTok said a wedge pillow to. I sleep on my back so it won’t be a great hardship

Feeling really good now. Nice to be back into a routine. No problems at all but just trying to not overdo it.

It was quite warm a few weeks ago so at first I wore some over sized t-shirts. I just went with stretchy stuff so I pulled it over me.

In hospital I just wore the surgical gown and then got dressed. I don’t have pyjamas! In bed I just wear knickers and the macom surgical bras. In the day now I’m just wearing some sports bras from next.

I paid for some but some were free. I saw it as just another part of the costs.