We’ve had breast reductions. Ask us anything.

[Bigtitsbetty]

Following on from our epic first thread I had a breast reduction

We are a group of ladies who have breast reductions for a number of reasons and are all at different stages of recovery.

I bought several Lipoelastic ones that I’m still using. They come in S/M/L etc so you just need to know your band size.

I was put into a Macom bra post surgery (supplied by the clinic) and have the option to buy a second at a discounted rate when I go for my dressing change on Monday (which I will be doing). It works on back size rather than cup size. I’m a 30 back so I’m assuming I’m in an XS, but I’ll find out on Monday!

Mine is called 'lipoelastic' and it's supremely comfortable.

I'm going to keep it for life.

I didn’t like mine for long. The bottom was too thin and dug into my wounds

I had my two month review today, going back again in another couple of months. He agreed that they are pretty uneven so hoping they settle a bit more and might do some additional surgery to even them up (reminder mine are weird due to radiotherapy in one side so that side heals in an unpredictable way).
Hope everyone else is ok, how are you feeling @LilyGlobe and @MorrisZapp ?

@Martinisarebetterdirty how you feeling about it now?. Much harder process for you with the previous treatments to deal with. Sounds like your surgeon is on top of things & listening. .

Yes how’s it going everyone? Such a gradual process - I looked back at the pics I took in week 2 when I was stressing right out and it’s so different now … patience everyone this stuff takes time!

I’m actually still delighted, dressed they are wonderful, and he had my photos on screen and I couldn’t believe If put up with those massive wonky things for so long. I hadn’t quite realised just how upset they made me and how much I hated them and I came away with sheer relief. If there’s touching up surgery then fine but I’m so happy with where I am that (at the moment) I’m not fussed.
Im glad you’re sounding happier @Singletrackmind - it does take time but we are all getting there!

That’s such good news. I look find looking at them before now quite repellent

I’m doing really well thanks. Swollen and itchy but I’ve dropped down to painkillers just a couple of times a day. I can’t believe I only had the surgery on Monday!
I’m getting my hair washed this evening and I cannot wait!

@Martinisarebetterdirty that is great! Really pleased that you are. 😀
Yeah I think for me it’s been a journey. Mine were never huge in the way that I know many of you have dealt with … but they were properly, nastily saggy. So the difference unclothed is amazing .. but clothed less so as I was incredibly good at squashing them ‘up and in’.
But now I can swan around in a soft bralet with my perky pair, whereas before I spent the day being suffocated by underwire. That alone is worth it. This weekend I will be finally disposing of all those wired contraptions!
@MorrisZapp @user80 how you doing?

Exactly this! Such a good word!

I propose 'bralet' going forward as bralette makes me want to crack eggs and add mustard 😊

I'm so much better this week, got my energy back and feeling basically normal. Still under the nurses but I'm hoping I can stop with the dressings after my appointment tomorrow.

Now all I need is the gift of patience!

I know sorry, I’m normally such a grammar pedant but I can’t be bothered to spell that properly @MorrisZapp 😂 Glad you are doing well!

Macom bras don’t need a cup size, they miraculously adapt to whatever you put in them (though I would never have managed to get my original boobs in them.) I love them so much that I haven’t bothered to get any others, and actually got more. The surgeon took the piss but they make me so happy 😂

I’ve had my hair washed and blow dried…feel amazing!
My follow up appointment with the consultant has been confirmed today for early January too.

4 months tomorrow for me 🙌🏻 and they are definitely settling. I felt like I had one weird wide boob for a while, but they’re dropping into proper boob shapes now. Phew.

I'm struggling with my self image atm. I had hoped to reset after the op and lose some weight, but instead I’ve gained about 9-10lbs 😩 I keep my weight steady by intermittent fasting, basically I skip breakfast every day and I often do 5:2. I was told under no circumstances was I to fast during recovery, and this weight gain is the result. Tedious. I’m now back to IF but as we all know, it’s much harder to lose it once it’s there. My fabulous new boobs, while no longer being a source of constant discomfort, only make my stomach look bigger. So I’m still not quite at the point where I can fully appreciate it.

I feel like I was the same as you @Singletrackmind, more droopy and saggy than enormous. I mean, big enough at a 34H, but not as big as some. Having said that, I do remember ordering a size K when I was breastfeeding some years back 😂😂😂

@user80 me too. Because my recovery was such a bomb site I’ve not been doing my usual 5 hrs exercise a week and then I topped it off with bloody covid and we had to say goodbye to our cat. I’m basically at even stevens with my weight pre surgery despite losing a kilo off each boob. So annoyed with myself/circumstances/ the universe and now trying to get back on track.

Sorry about your cat @Notooserious 😓
I keep telling myself it’s a long game 🤷🏻‍♀️

@user80 @Notooserious .... don't panic!! We are in this together!

I'm a habitual exerciser and had planned to run into the surgery being super fit. As it turned out I started the year in a massively fatigued state that I think was partly peri/menopause stuff. Managed to clamber through that and then less than 3 weeks before surgery I had a reasonably significant accident that meant I couldn't do any exercise at all in the run up to the big day.

Started back in the gym early Sept and it's going to be a right old journey back up to fitness as I've got a proper 'podge' on 😂that is going to take a bit of effort to shift😬 But ... it will be sooo much easier without the saggy boobs, yay!

So don't be hard on yourselves, there's always some life stuff trying to trip you up, but you've made it through this massive life changing event so the other stuff is totally doable. You've got this.

SAME SAME SAME

I too am at pre op weight, most dispiriting. I've spent a month on my backside when I usually do between 10 to 20 thousand steps a day. Now I'm fully fit again, the weather is so appalling I can't get out for a walk.

I know I can address this in time but the belly issue is so real.

@user80 Thank you 😍

Yup it has to be a long game. I’m essentially writing most of October off for exercise thanks to still recovering from covid, crazy weeks at work with lots of travel, and family here for a fortnight, but after that ballet restarts, my husband and I have agreed that we can both have 2 nights out a week each so I am going to barre class, and I will be able to get back into routine with skating and the gym once a week. It’s just bloody bonkers here till then, so my focus will have to be on my eating. I do find life just generally hard when I’m not getting exercise though.

You all know it’s not exercise but food intake right ? 😂

Indeed but exercise acts as an appetite suppressant and mood boost for me so being able to exercise makes staying off the biscuits a hell of a lot easier! And also it’s something to do that reduces the time for sitting on my arse eating the biscuits…

Of course. 😊

I had my wound review yesterday, all looking good. Dressings are off now and I’ve got tape to change every 3-4 days. The lymphatic drainage massage was incredible and I’m tempted to pay for another next week.
Seeing them for the first time was actually very emotional. They look fantastic! I cried, I think my only regret is not doing this sooner.

I’m pretty much off pain meds now, just taking ibuprofen once or twice a day if I really need it.

Got the ok to drive, so I went to work yesterday afternoon 😂