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.

@CatrinVennastin fantastic! Excited for you. You will not look back! I had Lipoelastic bras & as @Martinisarebetterdirty said, make sure you have a couple. Some people get a bit bloated/ swollen after the surgery … not just the boobs 😁… so be prepared to maybe go up a band size, although mostly it’s S/M/L sizing etc with a soft/ compression, crop top style.

I had Macom bras and then the zip up front sports bras from next which I have linked to lots of times.

I was given one Macom at the hospital but bought some from eBay or vinted. Most people only wear them for a few weeks so they’re in good condition. I sold mine afterwards too and made most my money back.

For me it was all about the under band
macom was thin and not comfy

sold mine on vinted

Vinted is a good shout thank you. Have realised I can sell off all my HH bras on there too.

Had a letter yesterday booking me in for a Mammogram in a couple of weeks and it's all becoming very real now.

Congrats on the decision to go ahead @CatrinVennastin !! You definitely won’t have any regrets. I had a Lipo elastic bra from the hospital which I found incredibly uncomfortable at first but I now think that was because I was sore and swollen. Also I think I was blaming the bra for making my under boob scars sore but I think it was actually a slight reaction to the tape as I have very sensitive skin. A bigger sized Macom bra for night times has got me through the first few weeks, it is very soft so doubt it does much compressing but it hasn’t done me any harm.

At what stage did most of you keep the tape off for good? I can remove it now to shower and have been given a roll to replace it myself, but quite frankly i feel so much more comfortable without it.

Tape on for two weeks after my original surgery, but just over a week with the revision as I had a reaction to it. What did your surgeon say @CoolShoeshine ?
Can anyone remember when we are allowed to take baths rather than showers? Streaming with cold here and thinking a hot soak would be bliss.

@CoolShoeshine good to hear you are more comfy now. Tape … I had to have it on for 4 weeks, I just showered & cool blow dried it/ changed it twice a week. But everyone seems to get different advice. I was told it protects/ flattens the scars but other people are without it much sooner. Check with your surgeon. @Martinisarebetterdirty IIRC no baths before any incisions are healed …. maybe just sit, rather than submerge 🤔😁
Feel better soon!

Thanks @Singletrackmind I had a feeling it was close to six week but was hoping it wasn’t!

@Martinisarebetterdirty and @Singletrackmind i was just told that it would probably help the scars to leave the tape on for as long as possible, so a bit vague really.
@Martinisarebetterdirty i was never told not to have baths, only not to get the area wet. I did have a shallow bath after about a fortnight and was fine but I was very aware when lifting myself out to be careful. You can’t beat a chill in the bath!

I would be grateful if any of you could help me with my query.
I had breast cancer in 2013 which was successfully operated on with a lumpectomy.
My other breast was left much bigger so I had a reduction surgery on the NHS.
This hasn't made much difference.
I would like to pay myself to get liposuction on the bigger breast.
Has anyone had this successfully done? Could anyone recommend a clinic in Scotland to have it done? Thank you.

@DancingOnMoonbeams this is sort of what I have had circumstance wise. I had breast cancer 2009 with a lumpectomy, radiotherapy and chemo (I was young - chemo was precautionary). Over the years the non cancer side grew and changed and whilst both sides were big, the asymmetry was awful. I wanted a reduction but my oncologist was reluctant until I hit 10 years, then cue Covid. I had both reduced last August with lipo for shape. Still over a cup size difference so top up surgery early Jan to match them (and looking good so far). I think you might be better with top up surgery if I’m being honest. My surgeon says lipo is for shape not size (I’m London but he’s one of the best for reconstruction and post cancer surgery). Someone has recommended a fantastic surgeon in Scotland either in this or the last thread (Ben someone??) and I’d personally suggest you start with him. Good luck!

It’s Ben Chew that everyone recommends … Glasgow I think @DancingOnMoonbeams & yes as @Martinisarebetterdirty said you’ll prob need surgery rather than just lipo which is generally done in conjunction for shape … I had that.

@Martinisarebetterdirty
@Singletrackmind

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to me, I really appreciate it.
I will definitely check out Ben Chew in Glasgow, good to have a recommendation. X

@Weatherwax13 good luck tomorrow - thinking of you.

Wondering if people had boob jobs awhile ago, still see themselves with a large breast mentally , or have got used to seeing themselves with their new physique

I think I have still got big boobs compared to many, but they’re small enough to be manageable now and look in proportion.

Ok so are you bravissimo in your head? Or marks and Spencer normal range ?

And I so want Bryony Gordon to get a breast reduction

i know. Sorry but it’s true

I am never M&S bras because I think they’re responsible for so many women in ill fitting bras.

Since surgery I have bought from Bravissimo and Next. Bravissimo was my first post surgery bra and I mentally needed them to measure and fit to prove how much I had gone down. If was definitely psychological. I bought the bra because I was excited 😝 Others are all Next but I have some bralettes from primark too.

I see so many people and think that they would benefit from either a good bra and/or a reduction. A girl is my office who is a size 8 told me she was a 34A last week. I told her she was probably a 28C and she wouldn’t have it at all.

I've been following this thread (and your last!) for about a month now - it took a long time to read through it all but I'm glad I did 👍🏼
I've got my op on Mon 12 Feb... excited and nervous in equal measure. Mostly excited. The idea of a summer not looking like a Greek widow swamped in black tents is possibly the most exciting thing of all...

I guess the biggest question mark for me is realistically how soon after I'll be able to walk the dog (one of my very favourite things in life) and do walking school runs afterwards...? 🤔
I'm going to be staying at my mum's for 3 or 4 days for total rest, and not be jumped on by 5/7yo kids and dog!

omg how exciting. About time we had a new team member. Welcome.

@countrytweed I think you need to give yourself time to get over the operation. I had mine on a Tuesday came home on the Wednesday and definitely wasn’t really doing anything until the Saturday when I suppose I could’ve walked to the shop easily . I think I drove after a week.
Walking is not the problem, it’s reaching and having T-Rex hands. But let your mum look after you you can def do little walks not holding a lead after 5 days ? I dunno. It’s funny how you forget

Just looked back at the original thread and after three days I am saying pushing myself up in bed was hard if you want to get up to go to the loo, but remember I had a bit of liposuction under my arms as well.

Sleeping upright is definitely the biggest pain in the arse.