Has anyone had a breast reduction?

[19Hannah]

AIBU to ask who has had a breast reduction surgery?

I have rather large 32HH breasts. I'm severely overweight at the moment, but even when I was a size 8/10 my breasts were the same size, and as you can imagine look rediculous.

I struggle to do anything at the gym due to my back pain, contributing to my weight issues, mega confidence issues with being so overweight and having huge boobs, unwanted comments since being young from old creepy men, practicality of getting clothes and bras to fit. Had physio weekly since 15, I'm now nearly 26 and can hardly move in a morning, take every painkiller I can and it's just so depressing! I've lost a stone so far and have another one to lose before I can have the surgery which is just hard with the pain it causes, but I guess that's just what I have to do to get surgery

So back to my original point, I'm aware of the massive scarring which doesn't bother me - Other than that were your experiences?

I did about 15 years ago. Never looked back. Was told at the time I would never breastfeed. However am pregnant now and they are 95% I can. The operation is even better these days.

Yeah, I have also been told I may never breastfeed again, but I'm not sure I'll have another child, and although I'd love to bf if I did, it's something I'd sacrifice for pain right now! Thanks for your response

I had a breast reduction 32 years ago now (I was 15). Mine were bigger than yours and I was starting to develop a curve in my spine.

It wasn't wholly successful as I was still growing - and so did my breasts so I'm a G-cup now but it's not as bad as it could have been. My scars aren't bad even back then but I would ask the surgeon to do their best so that the underwire on your bras don't sit on top of the scars because that hurts.

I did about 25 years ago. Lost a total of nearly 10kgs across both breasts, and am still a 34H. Have bad scarring, reacted really badly to the anaesthetic, couldn't breastfeed. If I had my time over again, the only thing I'd do differently would be to ask them to take even more off.

I did 18 years ago for all the same reasons as you. I don't regret it at all (I was 21).

I've lost some sensation in my breast tissue (mainly underneath my breast) and they've grown bigger (but in relation to my weight gain over the years).

I can barely see the scaring now but it didn't bother me in the first place.

Unfortunately for me I wasn't able to successfully breast feed which is the only downside. Despite being told I should be able to, I produced milk but not enough to feed my babies and none of the professionals I encountered had any/enough experience to be able to really help.

My advice would be to rest after you've had it done. I washed my own hair the day after my op which I really shouldn't have done (bent over a bath). It wasn't my best idea!

Good luck OP, I don't regret it at all.

I have, 12 years ago, would do it again in a heartbeat. Genuinely lifechanging surgery for me.

Downsides: recovery can be rocky (it was for me at first) so plenty of rest and good nutrition is crucial. There is scarring as you say but for me that has faded and now I barely see it.

Yes - 12 years ago, I was 19.

I have no regrets and some issues, no nipple sensation at all and the delightful post op 'dog ears'. I requested the surgery not to detach my nipples fully as I wanted to try and breastfeed, plus I didn't like the idea of nipple necrosis which means I have the T shape scars across my whole chest.

I managed breastfeeding (mixed) for nearly 3 years!

I would do it again, it's been fab - even though my boobs are massive again. Warning: they can grow back.

I did, 11 years ago.

And I couldn't breastfeed ds. However at the time I was never planning second, it's just one of those things. I never felt sad or badly done to because of that.

Yes I recommend it. Provided you do all the research h and have it done somewhere good. So many horror stories out there
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My surgeon wouldn't do it until I had lost the weight though. He said losing weight after could change my breasts again and I could end up unhappy about with them.

10 years ago. No regrets at all - I have sensation in my nipples and scars have faded well. I look a million times better, and feel so much more confident in myself. Totally recommend it.

I had one five years ago.

At the time I was in the region of a J-K cup and they were horrendously saggy. My nipples were actually down beyond my waist

I didn't find the recovery too bad at all. Despite my nipples being completely removed I regained most of the sensation (although one is a little slow when I'm sold....), no idea re: breastfeeding though as I've no kids. I did have some issues with scarring. The bits round my nipples and directly under my breasts healed really quickly and are very faint now but the bits on my sides went hypertrophic. Although they're not really raised or itchy/painful anymore they are still very red and obvious. I've also got the aforementioned "dog ears" going on as well.

I have put weight on back on since then and I'm now back up to a G cup but the improved shape makes them so much easier to manage. I'm still so very glad that I went ahead and had it done.

I'm around the same size as you and plan on a reduction after I'm done having kids but I don't have any significant boob related pain and I'm very lucky in that so I might be looking at sooner if that were an issue. I'm just sick if how huge and awkward they are.

Thanks for your replies! I'm 99% certain I'm going ahead, ti be honest I'm more worried about having a general anaesthetic! It's encouraging to hear positive results..

This thread has been great information. I'm a 28KK and am literally counting down the months until I can start planning mine.

wheat if you have the inverted T or anchor incision for breast reduction - the skin is pulled together on the rib cage, it creates a fold / point in the skin under your arms at the seam. Which is kindly referred to a 'dog ears' as they can resemble that.

It can make bra fitting slightly more troublesome.

It's also where chest drains may be placed, one of mine is exaggerated as the removal of my chest drain was dire, and tore the healing tissue.

I am really considering this as well. I am 48 and a 36 gg/ 34 have and am only 5 foot tall. I have lost weight but boobs are exactly the same. I have endless backache and neck ache and shoulder pain. Does it cost a lot?

I'm considering this too. I'm about the same size as you OP, but unlike you I've never actually had any back or shoulder pain. I think partly for me it may have been because I was heavily into dance for years so had a very strong back? I don't know.

Anyway, I want mine done purely for vanity reasons. I've lost 2 and a half stone and want to lose 2-3 more, my boobs have always hung downwards with the nipples pointing down and it upsets me to the point I don't want my husband to look at them. I am also getting a lot of hormonal breast pain at the moment which I never used to, but don't think a reduction will particularly help with that.

How painful is the after op period? How long does recovery realistically take?
I'm a 34h and have been considering this for years, but wanted to wait until after I had kids. I have young children now, and so I think I need to wait til they're all a bit older and no lifting etc required. The general anaesthetic makes me nervous, as does the pain, and being laid up for weeks unable to look after my kids? But omg do I dream of small bouncy boobs that don't need a circus tent type bra to keep them up!

greenfolder I am the same size and height as you, nightmare isn't it? I have considered a reduction for a while now. Can I ask those who have had it how much it cost and any recommendations for where to go? I'm south east based but prepared to travel!

Watching this with interest, I'm considering this too, I am a 34H (size 10/12) and after almost 20 years and 2 dc I've had enough.

Can ask, for those of you that have had a breast reduction, did you get it on the NHS? or does it pay to go privately?

I had mine done a couple of years ago. No kids, theyve always been massive due to going on the pill at 14. I was a 32H with a bmi of 25. Had neck pain only but they were just so cumbersome and hard to manage. Lovely and perky, just big and wide.

I went private (Spire Cheshire - Warrington). cost £6k. Crucially, I had the lolipop incission (around the nipple down the breast) and my scars are almost invisible now and flat. No risk of dog ears too. No pain at all and I drove the next day and felt great. They halved in size (3 pounds lost!) and now look like an 18 year old's breasts. No need for a bra and Ive lost 20lbs since the op and am fit now as well.

Silicone scar strips are a must as are proper bras (soft) afterwards. Try Marcom. Feel free to pm me for more info or pictures - Im an expert now!

Best thing I ever did. Truly.

Not me, but a close relative. We have the "family norks" and she was much slimmer than me. She says it was one of the best things she ever did.
As an aside, her reduction was done on the NHS as her back/neck/shoulder problems were so severe, and all down to the size of her chest.

Im planning to in my 40s as dont mind being younger with huge breasts (hate them some days but dont mind thrm generally) but have always hated the thought of having old saggy breasts.
Im 38 40 j k depending on brand and would like to be a 34 or 36e f thats what i was at age 16 big but perky and manageable.
I had a consultation and breastfeeding was ruled out after and id be losing aound a stone total to go down 5/6 cup sizes.

My breasts are heavy.

Can't comment on cost mine was NHS.

Post op wise there was a little pain which was easily managed with codeine / paracetamol, nothing major. I had an infection in my stitches post surgery which was uncomfortable and involved lots of dressing changes.

I had dissolvable stitches, not all of which dissolved so do have an unsightly lump on one nipple.