We’ve all had breast reductions - happy to help

[Madagascary]

Setting up as thread 2 is now full here

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/AMA/4876452-weve-had-breast-reductions-ask-us-anything?reply=134967968

props to @bigtitsbettyforgotherpassword And all who contribute.

Something else to be aware of and discuss pre op. When your boobs are smaller you notice how big your belly is!
Also, many women have back and under arm fat which is more noticeable when boobs are reduced. Some surgeons use liposuction , but it will make the operation longer and more complicated, plus more expensive and some surgeons won’t do it.

@Bignanna my surgeon has recommended the liposuction for me so it’s included in my booking. Why do some surgeons not want to do it?
She seemed to think that I’d really benefit from it - though I don’t particularly want a very protracted recovery…maybe I need to have another chat with her

My surgeon said it was a problem- perhaps he just didn’t want to do it. I don’t think the side and back fat is normally included, but perhaps things have changed.

A few of us had liposuction done, mine was included as my surgeon does it to improve shape, all surgeons have their personal style/ preference.

Nipples though … the general start point is that the nipple is retained on a ‘pedicle’ of tissue and repositioned. This retains the blood flow, so the nipple carries on doing its thing in its new position … it’s just smaller, as the aerola won’t be as big on the smaller boob. But you may lose sensitivity/ sensation etc. Mine are still sensitive but are not the same as they were which I’m fine with. They are neat & no longer point downward 😂. Some people lose all sensitivity … or it goes the other way and they are more/ hyper sensitive. Surgeons are used to people being concerned about sensitivity & will advise.

For very large reductions (but they also warn you for any size reduction) you may need a free nipple graft FNG … where basically the whole nipple is detached & then sewn back on in its new position. This means you are very unlikely to have any sensation but it will look aesthetically more normal. The risk with FNG is that without blood supply that the nipple dies. Again the surgeon will explain based on your personal situation & what they think will be best for you.

@Blimmingboobs your surgeon is probably surprised as nipple loss doesn’t equate with what they would consider a successful outcome. Bear in mind that they can improve shape as part of the surgery, so make sure you’ve chatted through all your options before you go ahead.

HTHs… soz … bit if an essay 🤓

Also just to add …my liposuction was around the boob ‘edges’ for shape … anything else, back, arms etc … well that’s just being fat innit 😁 & the best thing you can do is lose weight. If you’ve been hiding away in baggy clothes etc then your stomach may be a surprise to you, but as smaller boobs will sort out your proportions the rest well, diet & exercise will do that 👍

@Bignanna thanks for your reply. sorry I realise my post was very misleading. When I said my liposuction was included I meant she included it in my surgery plan - but the price was adjusted upwards to take account of this. So no not included in price!

I'm due to have my op next week & panicking. Been very chilled about it until... now.

I'm 30, relatively fit and healthy, and assumed I'd have the op, be out recovering for 2-3 weeks then just taking it slowly for a few weeks. I have a very active job so will be off for 3 weeks then on "desk duties" for 3 weeks.
I've been reading - open wounds for months?! Necrosis?! Hospital re-admissions?!
Do most people have a relatively easy recovery?! What increases risk of complications?? I've given up the vape but now I'm stressed 😂.
Panicking now!

I’m not sure that liposuction anywhere else has to do with being fat.

Even as a very young child I had slightly chubby under arms. These obviously got worse once I hit puberty.

And we’re more visible on one side of me than the other.

There’s some kind of Latin name for it, but it means that if I hadn’t had it done even with smaller boobs, I would still have had breast tissue under my arms.

TOTALLY agree about stomach
also beware the recovery from liposuction is pretty sore. Not agony, more bruising and lasted longer
but having a big scar under my left and right arm pits was way worse than the boob thing.

@Mayz1909 don’t worry, you’ll be fine. I went back to teaching after two weeks so I’m sure you’ll be fine at your desk.

My recovery was fine. Needed some help being looked after and washed for a couple of days and it was nice to have my son here cooking for me and so on was certainly in bed / sofa for about 3 days. I’d read somewhere that day three is the worst cause you come down from your general anaesthetic but after about a week I was going out on short trips and stuff. Please don’t let this scare you. Definitely, it’s not a terrible recovery at all.

Also having small tits should (after recovery) make you feel more active. I bloody love going to the gym now and don’t shy away from seeing my appearance in a mirror.

running is a dream

@mayz1909 try not to worry, I'm 20 years older tha you and overweight and got through with no problems. Just a bit of soreness really, nothing too bad. Was able to do short walks and cooking after day or two and back in the office a fortnight after the op.
I know how you feel though, I was a terrible catastrophiser! The surgeon was very reassuring and said that he had absolutely no doubts that everything would go well and that I would be extremely happy with the outcome. Which I am 😊

@Mayz1909 don’t worry too much. I’m middle aged and bounced back pretty fast! Yes, complications can happen and I think it’s more likely the more is taken. But most of them are resolved quickly.
It will be worth it!
I still give my boobs a little smile every day and I have SO many lovely clothes now. Swimming is more fun. Buying bras is easy peasy. Lots of little moments of joy after years of discomfort and feeling uncomfortable in my body.

@Mayz1909 totally normal & what everyone has said, you’ll be fine, just take it easy & allow yourself the time to heal.

My daughter is 22, and she said by day 4 she felt fine. I stayed with her for two weeks, post operation, to cook, wash and dress her etc. Once she didn’t need the compression socks putting on, and could wash her own hair I left her to it. She bounced back incredibly quickly and never complained once.

You´ll be fine. I had nothing like that, I went from a 32H to a 32C-D. Best thing I ever did. They moved my nipples up 6 cm and they survived "like champions" the surgeon said. Had a slight issue with a short area of my underbreast scar which a small injection of steroids sorted. Nothing more than that. I was 2 weeks off work. Was 48.

I had an infection in the wound under my right breast, it took nearly three months to heal, but I think I was in the minority.

The main thing about going back to work is opening heavy fire doors with your bum instead of your arms.

Yes, I hadn’t considered that the doors at work are actually heavy. And I did feel a little bit kind of heavy in the area afterwards. Managed to go to the staff Christmas party three weeks later even though I left early.

I think that’s the thing, that nobody really complains because they’re so pleased to have lost so many kilograms of tit

Can I ask please, does having the nipple detached and reattached affect sensitivity?

@Shallysally my nipples remained attached despite the large reduction. Sorry I can’t recall the information I was told about the nipple graft. I’d say to chat to your surgeon about this.

Hi been lurking on this thread for a while now 😊 after 20 years of big boobs back and neck issues I have finally got on the nhs waiting list for surgery had my first appointment

Sounds like we are almost in the same boat then, nervously excited.

good job for getting the NHS to agree to it 👍🏼

Had my surgery yesterday. The run up to it was so surreal and I had a lot of nerves, but kept reminding myself why I was doing it.

Not helped by the hospital sending me a bill last week for £1200 more than I was expecting, which was very stressful.

Anyway, just relaxing in hospital, going home this morning. Not in much pain, just super tired.

Any tips for the first few days?