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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to want a breast reduction?

88 replies

Badabingy · 05/08/2010 13:35

hello all

I have always had big boobs- when I was at uni I had them measured and they were 34F- before I got married i went to Selfridges and they measured them as a 30K!!!

The only nice things I can get to fit are from Bravissimo. Smock tops make me look pregnant and fitted tops make me feel self conscious. I am embarrassed to get undressed in changing rooms. I hate swimming and can't go running. I know that people think of me as the 'big boobed one': a colleague once told me that he had described me as nice and clever, with big boobs to my new boss (mortified) and in the pub people were describing another girl and said she had big boobs then looked at me and said but 'nowhere near as big as yours'. I didn't breastfeed as I was too self conscious about getting my boobs out- did it in private as long as I could but in the end just had to give up. Oh and in summer it's an nightmare- I am really itchy underneath my boobs and my straps dig in. I am round shoulder-ed as I have always hunched over to hide them.

Has anyone else had a breast reduction and how did you find it? What was the recovery time? I really wouldn't want to tell anyone that I am having it/have had it done as I feel to embarrassed- is this possible to get way with? This has beeen going on for years and years. i would love to have normal sized boobs and not be a freak show, being paranoid that people are looking at me.

Any thoughts and shared expereinces would be so welcome.

Thank you girls.

OP posts:

suwoo · 13/08/2010 23:17

Hi Thandeka

Mwah

Thandeka · 14/08/2010 08:02

waves at Suwoo! (was going to hijack thread but will put on FB instead!)

Oh yeah babadingy- a breast reduction can make you lovely mumsnet friends when you discover what you have in common

EmmaBemma · 14/08/2010 09:04

I had a breast reduction in 2004. To answer tortoise's question - I've been pregnant twice since the op, and my breasts did get a lot bigger with each pregnancy - from a DD to an FF/G both times - (my pre-reduction size was 34G) but the last time they did shrink back down to their original size within a few months - though I didn't breastfeed. They were slightly less perky, however.

This time I am breastfeeding and they're about an FF/G still, but they somehow don't look so massive to me as they were before the operation. I assume they'll eventually shrink like they did last time when I stop breastfeeding.

Elenio · 14/08/2010 10:17

i had one in January. Although the size has not dropped dramatically - from 32GG to 32E/F - the difference for me is huge!
The sheer fact that i can walk around without a bra is amazing. I used to have to wear a bra 24hrs a day.
I feel a lot more confident and although the scars do slightly bother me and i am sure they will fade.
I had mine done privately as i no longer live in the UK so could not (or rather should not) use the NHS. OP went very well (i was terrified!) and recovery was very quick.

best thing ever!

Original poster

Badabingy · 15/08/2010 02:09

Me again! Now sorry in advance if there are loads of typos in this. I wear glasses and can't find them so am tapping away in a very blurred world!

I saw the plastics nurse at the private hospital today and had a good chat through everything with her. Even managed not to cry- woo-hoo! The surgeons are NHS surgeons and I feel happy with their level of experience etc. Now here's my dilemma...

I start a new job in September and am not working at the moment. I would love to be able to be join post-op and not be known from the start as the one with big boobs.

For this to happen I would need to get a consultation asap, with the surgery happening 2 weeks later (they have a 2 week 'cooling off' period so you don't rush) so as to allow me recovery time. If I were to defer my start date by a week it is possible this could be achieved.

BUT... should I be rushing into it this quickly? It would mean forgoing the NHS option (luckily we can afford the op but of course it's still a big amount of £££). I know now that I want to go ahead with the op- but am wondering whether this is all too quick? The other option is to wait, explore the NHS option but take off 2 weeks (min) 6-12 months into a new job at what will be a crucial time project-wise (or perhaps delay it even later than that).

My husband is supportive but I could tell he was a bit surprised when I mentioned trying to get it done before my new job starts. In a way I feel that I need to do this asap now I have made my mind up and I would so love to turn up at my new job looking normal. But is rushing silly???

What do you think?

OP posts:

Original poster

Badabingy · 15/08/2010 02:09

Me again! Now sorry in advance if there are loads of typos in this. I wear glasses and can't find them so am tapping away in a very blurred world!

I start a new job in September and am not working at the moment. I would love to be able to be join post-op and not be known from the start as the one with big boobs.

What do you think?

OP posts:

Thandeka · 15/08/2010 11:24

I would say defo do it before you start new job. You will have so much confidence and be so much happier in the new job if you do.

Original poster

Badabingy · 31/08/2010 16:53

Hello all, just in case anyone's watching this thread I wanted to say that I went ahead and had the op last week! update all on "Am I being unreasonable to want a breast reduction Part III".!!

XXX

OP posts:

triedntested · 22/11/2010 11:58

This is great, it has taken me forever to think about posting and I searced the thread and the info is all here. I am a size 34 J. Bravissimo is wonderful and makes them look smaller as does the funereal black top every day BUT for all the reasons you all state above after thinking about this for 28 years I am going to see my GP tomorow to ask her. Thanks everyone and good luck. Better still, I have decided to do it, if the NHS is not an option I will find the money somewhere...I would be really grateful of any surgeons names if any of you happened to have it donw in Warwickshire?

RottenTiming · 17/06/2011 10:38

Resurrecting this thread to see if you got your reduction triedntested.

I'm 5'8" a size 18/20 and have 34/36 K breasts. Experience tells me however that when I was a size 14 they were F/G so weight loss will not solve my overall problem.

For as long as I can remember now I have suffered from red weeping infections under the boob between June and September and any other time when I get sweaty/overheated for a moderate length of time. I really need to get this under control, does anyone have and tried and tested methods for dealing with the infection/problem area ?

They are very sore at the moment and I've dressed the affected area with antiseptic cream and gauze pads held in place with surgical tape.

My weight spiralled when the size of my boobs made most forms of exercise unpleasant/painful and even if a sports bra were big enough they strap them down so firmly that sweating/infection is aggravated. I can't bear the stares if I go swimming so I don't do that either plus the chlorine aggravates the infections and I don't think it's hygienic of me leaving the a residue of weeping fluid from the infected ares in the pool water.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 17/06/2011 10:44

I've had a breast reduction, OP. I had it when I was 15. I don't remember how big my chest was but, if you sit down, look at your knees, then extend your hands out so you can't see your knees at all - that big. I had terrible backache.

It was 17 years ago and surgery may have changed in the meantime but essentially, I have a scar running underneath each breast, a scar running up from the bottom middle to the nipple (which was relocated) and scars around each nipple. All my scars are very faint now but I still have to be careful that my bra wires don't 'sit' on the scars are the bottom.

It was worth it but if I could go back in time, I wouldn't have had it done at that age, it was a difficult time and I wasn't comfortable in my own body then, not a child yet not an adult.

Get lots of information, OP, read everything you can about it and decide. :)

darnley · 17/06/2011 14:25

Hi. First post so be gentle with me.. I had the op about 5/6 years ago and went from a DD to a C. Unfortunatley, I was the one in ten that failed to heal properly, and had several months of difficulty with my new boobs.. I have been left with fairly extensive scarring underneath my breasts. However, I would do it again, even with the problems, as it was worth all the hassle and expense.
My problem now is back size rather than cup size...bring on the diet..

hiddenhome · 17/06/2011 14:28

I had a breast reduction at the age of 22. Best thing I ever did

Unfortunately, they grew back during my pregnancy with ds2 and they've never shrank despite weight loss. I think it was the breastfeeding that did it

I'd love to have another one, but can't afford it.

I'd say go for it if you really want it. It's so lovely having smaller boobies and so easy to get tops that fit. I look a total mess now and much fatter than I really am cos of my bazookas

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