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.

Hi all, 3 weeks post reduction today. I am so happy, my neck pain that I’ve had for years has just disappeared. The joy I felt last night when I put on my trench coat and it met in the middle!
I agree so restrictive to exercising & should be seen as a medical issue for all the discomfort it causes. I am delighted even with a surgery bra on and dressings in this heat compared to how I normally feel, sweating underboobs , heavy chest.
So worth it but I am still very tired and recovery is hard especially the first 10 days.

Just treating myself to a pedicure..

Been a while and I’d forgotten how much I love the massage chair but I mortified I was about the jiggling boobs! No jiggle now, love it!

For the swimmers the joy of not having to pick up boobs to dry under them after a swim, also I’m happier to get changed in a communal changing room. I go swimming dressed in my swim costume on one occasion I’d forgotten my bra which wasn’t a problem other than the shock of realising they’d stay in place without a bra. I did feel a little self conscious braless but I don’t think anyone would notice.

@Maryward I hope you don’t mind me asking if you could share a bit more about those first 10 days?

I’m trying to work out how to manage my time after surgery. My surgery is on a Wednesday and I’ve booked a week and a half off work: I work at home so am hoping that means I’ll be able to work after that.

Could you have done something online in the first 10 days even if you couldn’t do it in person?

I also do a fair bit of volunteering so not sure how many things I need to cancel after that first 10 days. I’m hoping things like parkrun might might be OK because I’m standing in a hi-viz vest shouting but am assuming anything more energetic is off limits.

Surgeon said no swimming for six weeks, which his estimated healing time. He thought it might be possible earlier only if my wounds had healed.

@Dogsandswimming I felt weak! Was very tired. I was on antibiotics for a week prophylactic after surgery, think everyone gets. Also was given sleeping tablets to take for first 4-5 nights after surgery. Plus I took a nsaid pain killer twice a day & an ibuprofen in the afternoon. So it’s a lot of meds the first week. Think they took a few days to leave my system so after day 10 I felt brighter. I was taking them an ibuprofen in the morning & at bedtime . Now just take at bedtime , more for little swelling that happens during the day. Pain is gone 3 weeks later. I personally had a lot of pain the first week, a lot of bruising . I had lipo to axolla and to my back and quite a large incision as my left breast was bigger. I didn’t have much of an appetite either, maybe again due to meds. Forced myself to each the chicken each day for my protein. I also had a lot of abdominal bloating which I found very uncomfortable.
I think yes definitely could do something online but I’d schedule it mid morning or evening as by afternoon I personally needed a rest. I see people on tik tok who seem absolutely great but they’re generally younger. I’m late 40’s and probably was tired before op from work & family life etc
Anything more energetic than walking is unrealistic. You won’t be able to jump & down, wave arms around , better not to pull heavy doors. I was collecting my daughter & couldn’t open the door to her dance class! It’s better to be cautious which I have been & maybe over zealous in minding myself ! I have seen so many rush back to normal life routine because you feel ok & very happy but your wounds are not fully healed and you can easily get a break under your breast where the anchor incision is. I really did not want this to happen as it delays your healing by weeks. So I would advise to really force yourself to take it easy.
I had abdominal surgery years ago , had a big wound (gynae issue)when my kids were so young and I had to get on with things but really it just delayed everything & my health was not right for about 6months. You definitely need someone to take a week off to look after you. I mean you could make your own tea , dinner, shower etc but it’s better to get someone else to do it !!!! I felt faint in shower as well so don’t have one on your own, I left the door open for the first couple of weeks.
So to conclude I suppose really it depends on your pain post op and the number of medications you need. Different for us all , hope this helps.

Recovery
Its the t rex arms that is the issue and the tiredness. But you can do normal stuff like eat!!
its discomfort and tiredness from the GA for about 5 days. You can easily type and stuff.

No sleeping pills! @Maryward recovery sounds horrific compared to mine, and I had had lipo

My surgery is a week today! All of these posts resonate - lifting boobs to dry underneath, rashes, photos, not wanting to exercise because of the wobble… I’ve booked a dog walker for the first two weeks as my lab pulls and is strong so hoping that will be enough. I also used inheritance (thank you mum and dad) and maybe that’s why so many of us leave it until later. Hard to believe it is not available on the NHS when it is so debilitating. But I am super excited now and will definitely be reporting back.

Good luck Dolly. I will definitely be thinking of you! ♥️
I know all will go well.
When I get my inheritance I hope to have it done this year if possible. If not, early next year. I’m hoping to take adult DCs away in November so would need to get it done early September at the latest I would think.

Yoh can’t have dogs pulling on you for at least a month

It’s the little things…

Every day I can’t get over how narrow my bra straps are now!

Also am not in my usual dreading-the-summer-fear-cycle right now.

For anyone here not yet had a reduction are you aware of the fabric strips which you can get to tuck under your bras to help with the under boob moisture? I only found out about those a few years ago and they do help.

@Blimmingboobs I agree! The narrow bra straps I was so looking forward to - I had my reduction in December so this is my first time wearing thin strap summer vests with equally thin strap bras. Just great!

Afternoon all - I am done! Currently having a lovely time on oxcycodone but still quite sore underneath. I think I’m a size D, which from a K is pretty good and about what I was expecting. I haven’t had a proper look yet but already feeling elated to have had the surgery

HOW EXCITING! Well done - remember hard and high for ages,
remember to ask how much weight they took off - they weigh it!

Plus you have a CHEST that is not all boob fat - buy yourself a necklace to celebrate

Wonderful!

Morning! Feeling ok today. I’ve had various painkillers overnight including codeine and ibuprofen but settled on paracetamol (it doesn’t seem to do much tbh). Not a lot of pain unless I move about and then it’s sore. I’ve noticed pain under my arms this morning so I must have had some lipo.

I’ve got a couple of questions - one is, any tips to help with sleeping on my back? I’m usually a side/front sleeper and I found it really hard to to get to sleep last night without lying kind of side on with my chest pointing up. The other is, I’m a bit confused about post op bras. I’ve seen the M&S ones mentioned a lot - are they as good as the Moreno ones for compression? Or are they for later on?

Finally - big flipping belly shock! I see what you mean! But I don’t care, my boobs look amazing and it is so exciting to feel like I can blend in with the rest of society without worrying or feeling self-conscious pretty much all the time. So happy

Obviously, I'm not a doctor, so I can only talk about my own experience. I think I wore the compression bars for just under a week and they went to the other ones because the underneath of my boob where the incision was was hurting.

sleeping - make yourself a giant nest around your upper body

I had very sore armpits but no lypo.

I had a massive v shaped pillow which I had a love hate relationship with.

Think I wore the compression bras for at least a month.

Lovely, thank you. I’ve just ordered a moreno one for now. Ready to go home!

Congratulations @HaloDollyI’m very happy for you. I’m 3 weeks behind you - so can’t wait to follow your recovery.

I hope it goes smoothly and you really enjoy your new self. Keep us posted.

Hi Dogsandswimming, oh great, we can commiserate/celebrate together. This is day three and I’ve decided to knock the dihydrocodeine on the head. It’s not doing an awful lot for the pain and it makes me feel so washed out. I had one yesterday afternoon and slept for hours but had another at bedtime and woke up feeling like poop so I will stick to paracetamol today. It might be because I take Sertraline and they interact? The pain is not all the time, just when I move about and it is sharp in some areas but not all over.

I had a shower yesterday which felt amazing and I saw my new bobs properly for the first time 😍 I did a bit of washing but I could feel the stitches pulling (I think). I got a Macom bra from Amazon delivered (the red one!) and it is comfy. There’s no cup size , you just go by your back size and it fits around whatever you have. I’ve kept the box to sell it on later. I’m still wearing the compression stockings - I actually lost a relative to a pulmonary embolism after knee surgery which has played on my mind a bit. Looking forward to being able to take them off though! 😊

Ooh thanks for the reminder; I wore the stockings (and compression socks I got on Amazon) fur around a month because of the blood clot fears in my family. I also wear them still on long days and flights.

I am waiting for a flight now and had a massive airport win: didn’t get stopped for a bra check at security (first time ever!) no underwire at all today, enough metal to build a tank previously!

I hear you!
I always seem to be singled out at airports because of all the heavy duty wire in my bra 😔
I’m loving hearing all your stories now you’re on the ‘other side’
I hope to be in the same position as you all in the near future (just waiting for late parent’s house to be sold…inheritance!)
I’m still terrified at the thought of a GA though!

@RosaMoline i was also afraid of the GA because of my age (59) but I told everyone here, as well as my surgeon and anaesthetist and everyone really allayed my fears. I didn’t like the idea of confusion post op and the anaesthetist used a mix that minimises that - I woke up as bright as when I went to sleep!

I am 4 months out now and still in awe of my new 34C boobs and it’s the best thing I ever did! No more underwire ever! Also I’m still losing weight because I feel so much more motivated now - and also because it’s true what everyone says - you do get a shock when you first see the size of your tummy when the big boobs are no longer there!