Are you a medical professional? Breast reduction for teen

[Whatwouldnanado]

My gorgeous, intelligent daughter has decided she needs surgery to reduce the size of her breasts. In a year she has gone from 32E to 36F. Hates not finding clothes to fit and says she has back and shoulder pain.
She says she has felt awkward about having bigger boobs than her friends for years.
She is nearly 19, andit’s her body her choice but I want her to explore alternatives before she goes down the route of an operation.
Is this usually suggested by doctors before surgery?
Being something completely new to me I did some research and found a medically based website on the subject with masses of suggestions to help herself through diet and exercise. This was rejected as criticism of her weight.
Before going to university she attended three dance classes a week. At home we’ve always had a normal healthy diet, home cooking, lots of fruit and veg available etc. No big deal. We are all naturally slim I suppose, her dad and I enjoy walking together at the weekend. he rides a bike and I do yoga.
At university she caters for herself, and when she’s home she joins us for some meals when she’s not working etc.
Anyone who knows her can see that she has put on weight all over. She is tired all the time too. She wanted me to accompany her to a doctors appointment where she lied and said there was no other weight gain. It’s as though she wants a quick fix.
After one or two questions they referred her to a NHS clinic.
I understand there will be a waiting list.

It's highly unlikely she will be seen in a clinic....

I don’t think NHS will do it now. 15k should cover it privately for reduction and uplift if needed both at the same time. Research your consultant and make sure you get one who is good at breast reductions.I would support her decision myself having big breasts is a hindrance to a lot of things in life and reduces activity imo.

Could your daughter be comfort eating because her breasts are making her miserable?

If she's had large breasts through school I'd imagine she has been teased to death about them from the boys (and some nasty girls).

I went through this and also developed an eating disorder to try to regain some control. My life would have been so much better if I'd just saved and gone private at a younger age when my skin would bounce back than go through a few decades constantly aware that my breasts were the focus of attention that I never wanted.

Try to get her to lose some weight and go private while she's young. Reduction has the highest rate of satisfaction and many clinics offer surgery at 0%.

Expensive but worth it.

A 36 back wouldn’t usually make you morbidly obese ffs, you wouldn’t need to be overweight at all - you could be an average sized person with slightly broad back, or a tall person with a perfectly normal sized back.

Your back measurement is to with the size of your rib cage as well as any additional weight you carry.

Band size = measurement round ribcage
Cup size = measurement of chest round fullest part of bust - band size

If you go down a band size the cup size number will increase so you need a larger cup

An A cup on a 28 band is smaller than an A cup on a 36 band. Try for yourself by comparing the underwire sizes ext time you are looking at bras

https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/clothing/shopping-guide/how-to-measure-bra-size

No a 36 E has the cup volume of a 32 FF , it is two sizes up in both band and cup, the same increase as the dd’s dress size, so makes sense.

Just don't tell her she can get them all lopped off of she says she thinks she's a boy.

OP students often pile weight on at first, then lose it again in the second or third year.
However as your dd is also always tired then it would be worth getting her iron levels and thyroid checked. Tiredness due to anaemia can lead to snacking on sweet things to get energy, the same can happen with an underactive thyroid, plus a reduction in metabolic rate.

Ozempic for a an 18 year old is beyond ridiculous.

I'm a 36F and wear size 14. It's big, but not abnormally so. I doubt the NHS will consider her a priority unless she keeps growing.

I’m the same, in both respects. My boobs aren’t really that big - certainly not reduction sized.

@Whatwouldnanado your daughter would probably be a lot more comfortable if she got a properly fitted bra. I wear Curvy Kate brand, and they are so supportive.

I'm a 34j and manage fine. I don't need surgery to make them smaller. It's intrusive and you have to sleep sitting up for many months.

Can your daughter get a boot fitting bra and do exercise?

Hinderance in what way?

Thank you for all the responses. I am glad to spark such a discussion.
Bra fitter is excellent, been used by our family for years and she is comfier in a more supportive one. I understand NHS is unlikely to help, just wish the dr concerned had taken a more holistic approach and given her advice on general weight loss. As described above a bit of more direct talk would help in lots of cases
In the meantime while she is home I have quietly minimised higher calorie choices and maximised opportunity for walks. She’s having a good summer, happy getting out and about with friends. If she asks us to pay privately we have many good reasons not to, and she can pay herself when she is older if necessary.

At the same age I was told that I wouldn't get it done on the NHS. Doctor advised that I wait until I was 25 and had finished "developing" before going private.

@Whatwouldnanado the doctor is a Gp, a general practitioner. To treat community stuff where possible and refer on. They are not a breast surgeon so can’t talk her through the process as they don’t know it in detail and she’s gone asking for a referral for a reduction and she’s not massively overnight if a size 12 so they’ve not weighed her as out of the remit there. It sounds like you and your partner are more focused on weight.

I’m a 34J, crippling back pain, dents in my shoulders and recurrent intertrigo under my breasts and I still don’t qualify for an NHS reduction 🤪

I’ve already started saving to have it done privately once I’ve completed my family. I’ve always wanted perky little boobs!

Red raw, open wounds under my breasts from quite literally sweating my tits off on a 13hr shift is a hindrance, I’d say.

And don’t get me started on trying to run anywhere 😂 you’re the same size as me, do you genuinely not have any issues?!