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 love the idea that you are all travelling around the country looking at different surgeons. I wonder how much of a fools errand thid is. I just went to the local guy and he was fine.

Is this in response to me?

I don’t think it’s a fool’s errand to look for the right person who is going to advise you well, do revisions if necessary and do the best so your scars are the best they can be.

@SansaStark90 you’re better being closer to home in my opinion, because the travel if you need an urgent appointment afterwards is something to think of. I’ve not been on for a while but my guy was amazing, I picked him as I’d had breast cancer previously and so as well as a reduction wanted evening up and he specialised in reconstruction. He was very expensive and if I’d just wanted a standard reduction I might have shopped around but my oncologist recommended him. Having said that I needed top up surgery and that was in my initial fee (this is where travel is relevant in my long story so bear with!). After my second surgery the stitches were very weepy, and it was after my two week check up that I was popping back in to make sure all was ok a couple of times a week. I was back at work then and there’s no way I could have done it as easily if I’d been in a hotel for the surgery.
I always say this but look on Tatler, they have an excellent cosmetic surgery guide and it’s very well researched by them (my oncologist was saying it’s seen as a huge honour by surgeons to be included).

My recommended surgeon was only a 90 minute drive away but in the end that felt too far.

You don't just go in once, I think in total I visited 5-6 times.

I also think that outcome and recovery to some extent depend on you, your body, your resilience and your compliance.

Hey ladies I bowed out a while back so haven’t read everything to catch up. But on surgeons and distance. I did my first consult in London but eventually opted for a surgeon in Bristol whose private hospital is only a 25min drive away. My recovery was straight forward but even so it was much, much easier than had I chosen the London option (I looked at a few there).

in the meantime I can continue to report that having small boobs is literally the single best thing I have ever done for myself & I am fitter, slimmer & happier in my mid 50s than I was in all the previous decades carrying around those blooming boobs. Wishing you all good recoveries & all the encouragement you need if you are still planning or feeling nervous about it. Get it done you will not look back!

Hello, I've tried reading this and the last thread but keep getting overwhelmed with all the information.

I wondered whether anyone could answer some basic questions for me?

I'm in my 30s and have wanted this since I was 18. I'm looking at going private, either in London (home) or Wiltshire (parents home).

1. My BMI is around 29/30. (Weight fluctuates, size 14-18, around 5"5) Will I be turned away?
2. I would like to go very small, even though it won't look classically 'proportionate' with my body. (Big tummy that I'm hoping to lose post op.) Would a surgeon do that or will they only do what they think looks 'good'?
3. How do you even start figuring out which surgeon to go for? All the websites look the same and suggest the same kind of results?

Thanks so much for any help. I really hope I can make this happen, seeing the joy and relief it has brought so many of you on here has made me really emotional.

Hi @ownroom

1. I had my surgery on 7 May, my BMI is 28 and I asked my surgeon at consultation if I needed to weigh less. He said it wasn’t necessary and that was the end of the conversation! I’m in my 60s and don’t really want to be any thinner, my skin isn’t up to it! I think the BMI requirement might be an NHS consideration.
2. I’m fairly certain surgeons won’t guarantee a size as it depends on your physique. But I’m certain a good surgeon will understand your desire to be as small as possible. It’s something to discuss in detail at your consultation. My surgeon offered three consultations - and an online chat just before surgery. There were lots of opportunities to discuss what I wanted.
3. This is the most important bit - do your research! I’ve been in a WhatsApp group with women I met through the Facebook “UK Breast Reduction Group”. The difference in surgical approaches is staggering and I hadn’t realised this. I went on personal recommendations, and my surgery was expensive, but I’ve had brilliant aftercare, which is all included. I had an overnight stay, no drains, PICO dressings and weekly appointments following surgery. So I’d suggest you do your homework and work out what’s important to you.

Finally, I’m delighted with my results and haven’t regretted this for a moment. My only regret is not doing it sooner.

My recovery has been straightforward. No pain, only mild discomfort. Scarring is minimal, and that’s on older skin and with side lipo. I took paracetamol for a couple of days and that was it. I was back at work after a week and a half (although I work at home and have a desk job).

At 7 weeks I’m not able to swim or run yet, but I can do yoga and Pilates and I’ve kept up walking from my first day out of hospital.

Good luck 🍀

Hey, my BMI was higher than yours and seems less of a consideration for private rather than NHS surgery.

I had to make it very clear to my surgeon that I wanted small boobs not just perky boobs.

Wasn’t really about aesthetics for me but I had to convince him.

Even threw in a little reverse psychology for good measure; if you can’t do that I’ll be disappointed as I’ve been told you are a great surgeon…

It worked!

i Am coming up for three years post op now and my boobs have settled at around a DD cup. I have lost a lot of weight since surgery so my back is smaller hence larger cup size. They are still fine though.

My boobs are very wide and round naturally so to go smaller than that would have looked ridiculous. My surgeon wouldn’t guarantee a size and I would doubt any surgeon that said they could.

@ownroom i would recommend losing any weight you want to pre surgery to lose the fat from your boobs. It will give a much cleaner asthetic.

I would definitely go near your parents home because it's gonna be cheaper and easier. They can only reduce the breast so much without affecting blood supply at risk risking necrosis and stuff so it's not just a matter of what looks good. It's what a matter of physically able.
Your stomach afterwards is a big shock so if you're not happy with it already it's only gonna be more of a shock afterwards.!

That said, exercising is so much easier with a breast reduction ..but most weight loss is food isn't it?

alrhough it's not painful. I disagree that you all you need is paracetamol.
Also agree that get a surgeon that doesn't routinely give drains. I have a job where I'm on my feet although not like labour or anything and you forget about things like fire doors and so I was happy with two weeks off work.
The first few days of a shock getting over the anaesthetic. For me the lipo was far more painful and long lasting. And getting to a sitting up.
Hated the sleeping propped up.

I'm 9 months post op and it's the best thing I've ever done. Definitely given me a new lease of life in terms of exercising. I realised I danced at a wedding without feeling self conscious recently, which I wouldn't have done before.

Definitely try and lose weight sooner. The only downside for me has been the shape with my tummy being so much more prominent.

A surgeon close to you is ideal for travel after surgery. My surgeon was in Farnham, so halfway between you and your parents and I loved her. Isabella Karat.

She told me I could go curvy (more proportionate to hips, around E cup, but then they would sag), middle (around C/D cup - what I went for) or athletic (much smaller). She told me to look at loads of before and afters and tell her what shape I liked and she would work towards that.

I've never felt so understood and cared for by a doctor. I know I was paying her, but even so she was brilliant.

Hi @nicnoo99
I’ll PM you - I have questions if that’s ok x

Hiya, I don’t know how useful this info will be to anyone but still felt I should mention it.

I’ve just had a hysterectomy (vaginally, no abdominal scar) and I had been advised, and expected, the recovery to be significantly worse than the breast reduction.

However I am happy to report that it’s not even half as bad.

So I guess what I’m saying is that I wasn’t just being dramatic last time, just unfortunately didn’t recover as well for whatever reasons.

I had an abdominal hysterectomy. BR surgery recovery was worst just because of the sleeping position and not lifting arms. Although coughing and sneezing was easier after BR!

Oh yeah coughing is no joke

Im looking into this surgery now and so happy to find this thread! Yay.

Hi, so pleased to have found this thread. I am 10 days post surgery and I am struggling with the tightness under my boobs where the stitches are. Is this normal. It feels like I can’t take a deep breath (worse upon standing/walking). When will it settle !! It makes me so anxious because it isn’t getting any easier. X

I can't remember feeling like that, but yeah, basically everything gets better although it seems to take forever when it doesn't

Are your stitches taped? I remember that feeling tight/itchy until the tape was removed. I think you just have to expect discomfort and trust the process. It will feel better in a few weeks.

@Autumngirl7 …
yes it will get better but it takes time. I was pretty anxious for at least the first 4 months 😂 10 days is very early. As above it may be the tape if you have it & or the stitches. Just kid glove yourself and be really careful to protect yourself during the healing process. If you have any concerns contact the surgical team, that’s what they are there for 👍

Thank you so much I only have steri strips as allergic to the tape. Taking forever and not feeling I’m getting any better. Not left house as too uncomfortable. Back to bed I go.

sorry to post again but feel a little braver now to open up a bit and really hope that’s okay. I wish I had found this thread before my procedure. I hope that this post does not put anyone off of having a this procedure as i am a rare case but just feeling so sad and anxious and have no one that I can talk to. I had my original uplift, implant removal, capsule removal 2 weeks 4 days ago. All went very smoothly, great job although felt my nipples could have been higher but felt started to recover well with not too much pain. 8 days post I decided I was well enough to go out. Clinic had advised for me to have a little outdoor walk. I went for a walk but def over did it. I ended up in worse pain of my life and had developed a hematoma and needed urgent surgery to drain. Breast was reopened and re stitched. I ended up needing 2 litres of blood (transfusion). The only case my surgeon has ever had this happen to in 15 years. This breast is now much bigger than the other and the nipple is at the bottom of my breast facing the floor. I am heartbroken. The recovery second time around is far worse. The extreme tight feeling like an elastic band as prev mentioned is unbearable. I feel weak and disfigured. I am not sure why I am posting this just to say be very careful post op. Also I guess I am asking how long before you felt human, less tight etc. I am 11 days post second surgery now barely able to walk about due to tightness. I am mentally in a bad place.

@Autumngirl7 I think you need to speak to your clinic and share with them. They will be able to fix the size difference, I had too up surgery on one side 6 mi the after my first surgery.