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.

I had mine “topped up”. In my original fee my surgeon said that if I needed further surgery he’d do it for free. So whilst he couldn’t guarantee size he’d sort noticeable differences. One of mine ended up a fair bit bigger and he happily did second surgery to even me up. I don’t think he would have for me feeling too big but then I left it in his hands to give me proportion.

Hi all I have posted once before after reading loads on this thread but was wondering if anyone has had surgery on the nhs! I’m currently on the waiting list for my operation and feel very lucky to of been accepted for the funding, I have struggled for over 20 years but never been able to fund this surgery myself. I have been on the waiting list since last July hoping I haven’t got much longer to wait. 😊

Ohh only just found this thread and had BR 3 months ago sadly they don't seem very much smaller but have not been measured yet. Did have some issues with one having cut etc on t section and I'm hoping for some bralette recommendations that have deeper seem to avoid rubbing on t section. Grateful for experiences and insights xx

Hey all,
I’ve been reading this and the previous thread with interest. Just amazed at how many women have had BR and am encouraged by the positive outcomes. I’m in the early stages of planning my BR. Tried to get a GP referral years ago and then gave up. Not massively overweight but told I wouldn’t be referred unless lower BMI.
Anyway, fast forward a few years and the pain/knots in my neck and migraines are getting me down; I’m sure it’s due to having big, heavy boobs. I’ve never enjoyed having big boobs and have decided at 48 that enough is enough and I want them reduced.
Found what seems like an amazing surgeon in my area and have my first consultation in a couple of weeks. My weight has gone up and down a bit over the years and I vary between a 10-12 on top (sometimes an 12 too tight across my chest) and a 12-14 on the bottom. I’m a curvy girl and wondering what size would suit my shape as I have hips! I have lost 8-9 pounds since Xmas and am aiming to lose at least another stone or more before surgery so that my boobs reflect the weight loss, as they do shrink when I lose weight.
I am usually a 32GG but went up to a 34GG after having the Mirena coil fitted. I put on weight and had terrible water retention. A few months in and now a few pounds lighter, this seems to have eased, though my bra size is still 34GG. I suspect I may have gone back down to a 32 back size, but if I downsize the back then I’ll probably be a 32H and there is no way I am shopping for bras again. Sorry long post….
Main questions:
Did your surgeon recommend the best size for your body shape? I still want to be curvy and in proportion so am thinking a 32 DD.
if you went private, how long from initial consultation was your op?
If you suffered from neck pain and migraines, did this ease after your op?
If you had the op before going through menopause, has menopause affected the size of your boobs since your op?

I am sure I will have more questions but realise I’ve written an essay. Just so nice to read of others’ experiences and I feel less alone. TIA.

Hello! I had to argue for mine to be smaller than surgeon suggested but imagine that this may vary per surgeon.

I have not yet hit menopause but was partly why I wanted to go as small as possible in case they ever got bigger due to hormonal changes or weight gain.

He could have actually done the surgery quicker than I could get organised to have it done but again that probably varies per surgeon.

My neck, back and headaches have all improved but I still have a dodgy shoulder.

I have no regrets.

Thanks for your reply. So how long did you wait from consultation to surgery? Just wondering if they’ll offer a date within weeks or months. I need to have a goal to aim towards re weight loss and overall health. I’m pretty healthy but want to be as physically fit as possible to help with the recovery. What size did you go from/to?

Morning, I think he said he could have done mine within the month but I was also grieving at that time so I waited almost 3 months.

I was also thinking about the overall relief from the literal weight off of my chest and it probably does vary. I had quite a lot removed (3.4kg in total which was the weight of my firstborn child!) because I went from a double J down to a C.

Hope that helps

I am a third of the way to booking. Having read these threads, I devoted 6 months to losing weight and am nearly 3 stone down. Boob's are still gg/h cup! Next step is 6 months of personal trainer/gym. Never done this before but want to build up back and core muscles in stomach first. So in August 25 I will book surgery.

Blimminboobs - that does help, thank you.
HelloFromJohnCraven - good luck with your weight loss. Have you seen a consultant yet?
Ideally I would like to get it done in July, after my hols, but partly wondering if I should wait until the autumn as I love to be out and about and active in the summer (if we get one) but then I think sunshine helps with recovery. Need to see the consultant first - maybe she will have other ideas!
I filled out an online form for my initial appointment and found the questions quite brutal, as I had to really dig deep about why I am doing this. It made me feel a bit sad that I have never enjoyed the attention of having large boobs and that wanting them reduced isn’t just about easing the pain they cause - it’s about how they have made me feel - ie very self-conscious. It’s amazing how many people in my life have felt it OK to comment on their size or use nicknames - I had buried all of that deep down but having to bring it back to the surface has had a weird affect. Anyone had anything similar?

@ForeverYoung40 Yes, I definitely found it emotional to explore the mental impact of having big boobs amd totally relate to what you have described. It made me realise how often I'd put up with supposedly funny comments or got a self-deprecating remark in first to try and pretend it was no big deal. It felt like, because my boobs were so ridiculously large, they'd moved into comedy territory and were fair game for other people to comment on them. It was only when I told family why I wanted the op that I realised how relentless it had been to feel so self-conscious for so long.

Re timing, if you're OK with waiting then personally I'd go for autumn. The support stockings are hot for a start and showering and hair washing was tricky initially so not being too sweaty made that more bearable. I was advised not to fly for a month either side of my op so if you're flying for your holidays that might be an issue. But if summer works best for you, go for it!

I had my reduction done over two years ago, I still have scarring which doesn’t seem to be going away and it’s like some of the scarring at the front had puckered. Anyone else?

Hello,
I am having my op next week (eek!) and wondered if there was anything I’m unaware of that I should buy / prepare ?

So far I have a wedge pillow, V pillow and memory foam travel pillow. I’ve got button pjs and shirts, booked a couple of hair washes (hospital suggest no proper shower for up to two weeks!) and stocked up on laxative and paracetamol. The clinic are providing 4 compression bras.

I’ll meal prep and organise the house this weekend, and my husband and mum are on hand to help out while I rest and recover.

Hello all,

I saw my surgeon today for our third consultation and looking to have the operation mid-April. I have very large boobs (36K) and we talked about using a technique whereby the nipple is removed and reattached (previously we'd talked about the 'anchor' procedure where the nipple stays attached). If he removes the nipple he can give me a smaller shape and I wondered if anyone else had had this op? How did you find it?

I had the anchor method but I literally said I’d rather have no nipples than come out with a bust which I considered to be too big.

That triggered a lot of concern which led to counselling.

A double J? Cripes, I'm a double H and that's bad enough. My shoulders ache and I am out of breath when I walk.

Why don’t you just get some mounjaro? You could lose far more easily on that

I certainly know what you're talking about! The glances,the stares,the whispered comments, the fact that they my boobs, body and sex life became public territory, the fact that my mum was in denial about it (noone had had big boobs in her side o the family; she didn't buy me a bra until the girls at school told me that I needed to get one. the boss's son at Clarins in Paris, who would call me into the office to fondle them, (he promised me a job for which I was desperate), the comments in a pub - 'why do you wear a bra? Are they so big that they'll fall down to your knees if you don't wear one? - men who told me that they don't like large-breasted girls, the comments from women ' they're humungous - are they real?' , the men who think I'll go round the back and shag them just because I've got big boobs, who want to stare and discuss them. You become an object.

I had to keep asking my mum if I could get properly measured for a bra as I was buying cheap ones from Primark that clearly didn’t fit. As she also had big boobs, I thought she would understand the need for proper support.
Re the bra shopping thing, I hate buying bras. Through my teens, twenties and thirties I found that every time I went, I had to go up a cup size. I found it so upsetting. When I got to an E cup in my late teens, I wore a minimiser bra to try and make them look smaller!
I’ve talked about having a reduction since my teens and I’m 48 now. I just don’t want to wait any longer. Got my first appointment with a private consultant next week so will keep an open mind and see how it goes.
I’m not totally sure how my husband feels about it. He says he understands and supports my decision but has made some quips about it being part of a midlife crisis and it’s starting to piss me off. I think there is some jealousy on his part - though I’m not quite sure of what. I think it’s about control but that’s for another thread!
I also feel very private about this, which is weird as I usually tell my friends everything, but with this I feel like it’s my business and I don’t really want anyone else’s opinion or judgement - even good friends can be very judgemental.

I wouldn't discuss it with your friends - yes, people are judgemental. I had a friend who went to Brazil to have a face lift. She asked me should she tell other people and I said, no, because that's all they will talk about " you know ,Shirley who had a face lift".

When I told my friends it was about to happen, I said to them” I’m going to tell you something and your answer is yeah that’s a great idea”

They were universally lovely and got me really sweet presents like gift vouchers for a local bra shop. If they don’t approve, they’re not your friends.

I did virtually the same thing, told the ones I love for the support and not anyone else

And, as discussed on previous threats, unless you are very booby in the way you dress, people just don’t notice

Oh yeah I literally cannot believe that nobody has noticed! It has blown my mind.

I think I am about 14 weeks post op now but still find an underwired bra too uncomfortable to wear. Surgeon had told me to otherwise I wouldn’t bother. Anyone got any experience / advice please?

Yes, both breasts appeared the same size at first, but as time went on the right one was smaller. The surgeon didn’t want to do any about it, probably because I had a post op infection under the right boob, which took a long time to heal. It’s six years since surgery and both breasts have increased in size , not a huge amount,but a bit more than I would have liked. The difference isn’t really noticeable now.

Why would you wear underwire?