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.

@Heartfullofcheese have you had dressings off? I was told to moisturise twice a day with my normal body lotion from when they came off (two weeks post surgery). I should be able to go on to silicone gel next week (a month post surgery).

Ok ordered a range of sizes to try on!

yes @Martinisarebetterdirty
I have one sore bit at the t junction which I’ve slapped a dressing on as it was rubbing on my bra but I can avoid that bit.
Honestly if I’d cut myself by accident I wouldn’t be worrying at all - I just feel the need to do it all correctly 😂

@Heartfullofcheese …on bras I’m sticking with the compression ones, which I’ve been told I have to stay in for 6 weeks. I’ve got a couple of the Lipoelastic ones which are very comfy. Just about to buy another as 2 isn’t enough on rotation 😂 Also nipples, ahem yes … as I’m still taped I kinda do a bit of strategic covering which works! It’s my 4 week check after the BH so will find out about moisturising & ongoing taping then. As we’ve said, surgeons all seem to have their preferred approach 🤷🏼‍♀️

Hello to all the new people 🙌

Thought I'd share my story, might take a while to type on my phone!

I'm 9 years PO on 24th September. I'm 5"2 and was carrying a JJ cup. I went private for my surgery after the NHS told me I'd need to lose a silly amount of weight and still probably wouldn't give it to me. I met with several companies before settling on MYA due to their knowledge and lifetime aftercare guarantee. They told me what surgeon they thought would suit me and I met him. We estimated bringing me down to a D or DD. He told me he didn't use drains and liked his patients to spend 2 nights in the clinic in London but I'd only have to pay for one so the fee came in at £5850.

On the day, my op took around 4 hours and 7lbs of breast tissue was removed. I felt quite sick when I woke, I'd never had surgery before and felt very sore. I'd bought post surgery bras and button up shirts as I knew lifting my arms wouldn't be happening for a while.

My healing otherwise went well with regular check ups until about 5 weeks in when my dissolvable stitches on the right had faded too early resulting in what was like a superficial open wound. The clinic were hopeful that this would rectify itself and so we spent 3/4 months with me being tested weekly for infection and seeing the nurse twice a week for dressing changes and we regularly took photos to keep track of the healing. Disheartening at the time of course but they didn't want to put me back under if it wasn't needed.

Anyway it became apparent my body wasn't going to heal alone (I'm a bad healer) so I was booked back in for wound revision in the January (OG surgery was 24th september). I was again tested for infection pre surgery and had gone all those months infection free, day of wound revision? Infection! But my surgeon scraped this away, pumped me with antibiotics in surgery and after surgery. I was stitched together with proper stitches that were then removed just over 2 weeks later and I healed no problem.

I wore a DD for a few years but now I sit in an F cup. I actually think I'd have been happy to go a bit smaller but I'm still really happy with the shape and results. My scars healed so well and they still look great.

Checking in - thanks for the new thread @Bigtitsbetty !

44, 11 weeks post-op, NHS patient. Went from 34H to 34D. Still have some swelling and can’t find a bra that fits properly yet so size might change 😁

Hey @user80 good to hear from you 😀 Question for you & others …. Noticed tonight when I was changing my tapes that my skin on the lower bits of my boobs was a bit flaky … nothing major just a few little bits… wondering if that”s just from the skin being swollen? Could also be the tapes I guess. Anyone else?

Peeling like a snake @Singletrackmind - I saw someone on social media say they went flaky too. It’s a bit grim but I guess there’s been lots of stretching and taping and all sorts!

@Singletrackmind its totally normal. The skin isn’t being washed as vigorously as usual so no exfoliation , tape affects the oil production in the skin and surgery causes stress to the body so it’s acting a bit different.

Thanks @Bigtitsbetty @Heartfullofcheese … makes total sense ..: not worrying … just another thing!

I recommend aqueous for rehydrating the skin. Worked wonders on me after wearing dressings on the right for 17 weeks.

Thanks @ZZGirl … from your experience you will know 👍… bit itchy today … ignoring it 😬!!!!

It's a godsend and so cheap, it improved my skin so much within a day!

I’m having a wobble.
I love being smaller but I’m panicking about the unevenness, which is stupid as they were uneven before but the other way round. I also keep feeling like they are still huge which is mad as they fit into a 36 D. But still feel that way.
I also have no idea what to wear, how to be me in this new body.
Words of reassurance and wisdom anyone? Or is anyone feeling similar?

Hey @Heartfullofcheese I’ve been having these exact same wobbles on and off I’ve the last week. You are not alone.😌

My right boob has softened a bit more than the left so right now they are not even. You’d never see it with a bra on but at the moment it’s there. Also am convinced a lot of the time that they are huge when a) I know they are not compared to before and b) they have not been this high on my body since I was … I dunno maybe 15 years old.

It’s early days … I just telling myself that there is so much healing and settling still to happen. I’m not buying anything new until I’ve adjusted. I think it’s totally normal to feel this way. You spend so long living with yourself with the boobage & now it’s gone it would be odd to suddenly jump into your new self like nothing has happened.

HTHs a bit!

Me too! One is round one is pointy! They will settle down. Yes I feel mine are still big but I think they’ve swollen up a bit with me being back at work.

I really want this. I think it would really improve things for me. I’ll have to start saving up

Yes I have one round and one pointy too @Martinisarebetterdirty - the pointy one is higher and also, um, pointier. Like my nipple doesn’t know how to nipple now. Just won’t lie down. I shouted at it this morning 😂 as it makes it obvious that they are not even!
@Singletrackmind you speak wisdom I think. It’s such early days.

I think that, although I knew I was carrying weight not just my boobs, it’s a bit disappointing that I’m not magically slim too. My head knew, but my heart believed it was just my boobs making me look fat 😂
@LaDeeDa123 do it. I’m moaning today but the lightness is fantastic. And clothes with buttons are now attainable!

Yes, I may have bought a strapless top that I’m planning on wearing without a bra 😂
although I’m not magically thin either. One of my nipples doesn’t know how to nipple anymore too @Heartfullofcheese , it remains flat whatever, hope it bucks up and learns soon. Didn’t think of shouting at it though 😂

My surgeon said a great thing once

"Your breasts are supposed to be sisters, not twins"

I would love a reduction I get quite a lot of pain in my neck not sure if related to the size of my chest but I do wear 34j sometimes k 😖
I do believe my bmi would be too high for surgery so definitely need to diet
What sort of diet are people on? I

Your boobs will take a while to settle and look more normal. I think there is massive disappointment in not feeling amazing because we get so fixated on our big boobs that we expect to feel perfect after surgery. For me I could never see my stomach but now I can I feel like it’s fatter than it was (it isn’t).

That said, now I’m building a new wardrobe around my new and settled boobs it’s so much better. Still the best thing I could’ve done.
@LaDeeDa123 Do it. Start investigating now. See some surgeons, get some prices, see your GP. You’re not committing to anything by investigating.

I’m also having these wobbles! Now I can see my tummy I’m like, holy cow, that’s huge. So hello, serious diet once I feel a bit better from all of the hole in the tit drama. Looks to be healing well but will leave a big dip - not too bothered as this was a practical decision not a bikini wearing aesthetic one 😂 I’m still wearing compression bras at 8 weeks so I have no idea what size I am - but I think I am still a bit swollen. However I have decided I bloody love the compression bras as they are so comfy, so I am going to stick with them! If anyone wants to join me on a post-op weight loss drive, just shout and I will start a thread.

Me. I will join. I lost 7kg leading up to the op but another 5-7 kg off would really be good. Plus I desperately need to exercise - but even walking any distance still makes me a bit sore so that will have to wait.
@zzgirl- this is very wise indeed. My sisters need to be looking in vaguely the same direction though please 😂😂

Loving the nipple chat 😂mine seem to know what to do, but my belt & braces taping may be stifling them a bit 🤣. I’ve had a proper, full on work week. It’s better than last week but as @Martinisarebetterdirty said, being more active definitely means more swollen & I am done tonight & glad it’s the BH weekend.

Yes - the ‘sisters not twins’ is the surgeons favourite … but totally fine cause none of us start with a matching set anyhow & I’d rather have this version.

@LaDeeDa123 @swedex it’s a journey, but there’s loads of info & we’ll do our best to help. I may be balancing my cuppa on my stomach while I’m typing ….😁

@swedex I'm doing intermittent fasting (18:6) which has worked for me in the past. @Notooserious I'd join a weight loss thread!