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.

Hello all, I’ve read both threads & honestly it’s super helpful - so thank you for the time you spend answering questions.

My question is… does anyone know of a good surgeon in the south east? I work in a hospital and the go-to surgeon everyone raves about has just retired so I need to find another one!

I’m 44, been on HRT for 5 years, BMI is 31 but I am loosing weight for my health, I am a consistent 32GG no matter what I weigh. I’m planning to pay up front what I can and finance the rest - once I reach a healthy BMI.

I am using Dr Karat in Surrey. I've been super impressed by my appointments so far, and her reviews online are amazing.

Surgery isn't until September though, so I can't comment on the finished 'product'!

There was a feature piece in last Sunday’s Sunday Times Style magazine on breast reduction and Dr Harris (London). Might be a bit far but I found him (and more importantly his nurses) to be excellent.

Thank you both - I’m quite near Cambridge so was hoping to avoid a long car journey post op and also cut down on pre-op travel costs.

I don’t know if that’s realistic but I think it’s time I upped my research. Thank you!

@AgathaMystery Check out Hyder Ridha's reviews online - I couldn't say enough good things about him. Absolute genius and the nicest man. He works across Herts so not too far from you ☺️

@AgathaMystery I went to OSD in Hemel and you can spread payment 0% interest 👍🏼

a friend of mine is ? 2 wk post op and us having terrible itching. Wakes her up at night

I remember itching but not that bad. Did anyone else?

No, I don't remember itching. Can that be a sign of infection? I have had itching with my c section scar when it's got mildly infected? I would recommend she a) take a look in as much as she can to see if there's any additional redness/swelling and b) call her surgeon's office.

I don’t remember itching either, although nearly a year in I’m back on the silicone gel as randomly scars have started to itch. If it’s waking her up I’d tell her to get it checked out.

My daughter is coming here in a few days time. I haven’t seen her in person since two and a half weeks post operation. I presume a lot of the swelling will have gone down in 4 months. She sent me pictures of a new bikini she bought for her holiday. OMG what a difference. Can’t wait to see her!

I had awful itching which was an allergic reaction to the tape. It was a burning itching

@AgathaMystery is Northampton too far away?

Oh yes - tape. Not on my breasts but I had a mole removed on my back 15 years ago and the tap caused a problem and I STILL have weird little flare ups that I have to sort out with a mild cortizone cream.

No itching at all during my recovery, but not uncommon apparently! Can be just things healing, but also yes, the tape, lots of people react to it. I had very nondescript 3M brown stuff, but as has been said, for some people anything sticky creates a reaction. Always best to get checked out though.
Lovely to hear news from everyone @veiledsentiments … sounds like your daughter is doing well 😀

She has just been shopping. Bought nothing, but told me she is in between a size 6 and 8. If she still had the massive boobies this would not have been possible. So happy that she can now dress fir her true size.

Teeny 😀 she must be over the moon. It is amazing though, vanity sizing aside because, well, we all know it ain’t the same these days 😉…. But I can now buy size 10/ small tops … love it!

Her older sister has left many a dress in size 8 petite, which will all fit her. Had a camera shoot on the bathroom door. Hopeful just to bring a cabin bag. Can’t bloody wait. And have persuaded eldest to grandad sit for 3 days so that my husband can see her too. He is more excited than me!

I’ve read though all the threads and it’s really persuaded me to go for it, after thinking about it for so long, thank you ladies for this thread.
I’m going to start searching for surgeons and booking consultations. Can I ask did you take sick leave or use annual leave? I work for a large organisations, so not sure what their process is but if I can take it as sick, I can hopefully get it done this year.

I had sick leave, just say surgery and it should be covered.

I had it done at the start of a 2 week holiday, then went back to work … no one has ever noticed 😂… which unless you tell people is a very common experience it seems! If you read back though, I did find those first few weeks at work pretty tough so take longer if you can.

I took sick leave but it was only granted by my employer if I said I was having it done for psychological reasons not cosmetic reasons. However they took my word and didn’t need anything else.

My sick note only said recovery from surgery or something similarly vague.

I think employers are so worried about accusations of discrimination and doctors are so over stretched that vague sick notes are the norm now.

Ladies … summer though … summer in small stretchy bra tops, no underwires, none of that horrible, ‘hot, uncomfortable, can’t get away from the weight’ feeling. It’s bloody fantastic & after much worry, particularly in the early post op months… I am blooming loving it!!! That is all 😀

Just buying a size.

not three

My protracted journey to reduction is below - sorry it’s long

TLDR I have had two dates cancelled over the last year and am now scheduled for a third at Xmas. I might have to go to an awards event on day 3 or day 5 post op. Wondering if this might be possible. Ten mins by car from home and involves sitting on a chair for approx two hours.

I have wanted a reduction since I was 35 and went up from a D cup to an F cup post breastfeeding. After menopause I am now a G cup at age 58.

I started my journey in Jan 22 with my first consultation. I was told to lose two stone - I was 56 and 12 stone 12 and 5 ft 5.5inches … I hadn’t been below 11 stone for years. I was eventually booked in for April 23 when I was 11 stone 12 and was then told by the same surgeon that my weight was fine. I got covid just before the surgery and it was cancelled. My work schedule and the apparent difficulty in securing dates at the local private clinic meant that I wasnt rebooked until October 23. Two weeks before my date I was told that my surgeon had retired from doing any GA surgery….

so I was back to the drawing board and over Xmas 23 and new year 24 put the weight that I’d lost back on again. I finally found a new surgeon but delayed going to her as I was trying to lose weight first. I saw her at the end on May 24 and she said I didn’t need to lose weight unless I wanted to, and that a very low calorie diet (which I need for loss due to age and very sedentary job with long hours) prior to surgery is not a great idea from a healing perspective. She was much more informative than my previous surgeon. Said that she was going to try to get the clinic to honour my original price as it had gone up quite a bit in recent months and she asked me when I’d like it done. Which was refreshing after two years of messing about with the last guy being unable to give me any indication at all of likely dates.

I asked for the week before Xmas as this will work for me to take some extra time over Christmas to recover without having to have conversations at work. It is the case that the clinic here won’t confirm a date until six weeks before but for now she is aiming to try to secure Saturday 14th or Monday 16th December

I have followed these threads throughout and have been waiting in the wings for my turn!

My question is that I just remembered that my son is working towards something that, if he achieves it, will have an award ceremony probably on Thursday 19th December. It will be about ten mins from my home by car (he will drive) and will probably last two hours maximum and will involve sitting on a (probably hard!) chair

Is this at all doable do you think? I really don’t want to start messing about with my “third time lucky” date if at all possible!!

No. That’s not doable. If you were paying for this, why are they keep cancelling your surgery?