To ask about breast reduction experiences/outcomes

[SaucyJane]

I've always hated my stupid massive boobs. They add about 3 dress sizes to my appearance and point due south! Weight loss has made no deference; they refuse stubbornly to shrink at all.

I always thought I might have a reduction after breastfeeding if I had kids. As I'm currently feeding my younger and last DC (hence posting at 3am ), I'm thinking much more about it.

Has anyone here had it done or known anyone who's had it done and what do you think of it? Are you happy? Would you recommend it overall? Was the recovery really bad?

Thank you!!

Difference not deference!!

i had a friend who had one and she wasn’t pleased with the scarring. She also had trouble with her nipple placement healing properly.

She also was unhappy with the numbness. Her nipples are totally numb.

I had it done - not entirely happy with the scarring, and my nipples are numb, but no problems with healing or recovery. I do not regret it, I can now wear normal clothes! As a disclaimer, I am happily single, so have only myself to please

Mmm, both the things that worried me! I think nipple movement is always needed though or it won't look right..... but god I want to wear normal clothes that aren't many sizes different between top and bottom.... thanks v much!

One of my friends had it done years ago, but they grew back.

I had it done - scarring was extensive but has faded now. Also I gave up smoking a year after and piled on 1.5 stones. Boobs went from a d cup to an e but are not droopy still, I definitely don't regret it.

I’ve not had it done but I do anaesthetise for a lot of breast reductions.

Unless you qualify for one on the NHS the best advice I can give you is to research your surgeon thoroughly. Be prepared to travel to get the surgeon you think will have the best outcome rather than look in your local area. Ask them about their complication rate, their surgical site infection rate and how they manage their complications.

Nipple numbness is common but not inevitable. Nipple necrosis is rare but ask your surgeon if they have had any cases of it. Ask to see before and after photos, ask for positive recommendations from previous patients. Make sure your surgeon is a registered qualified plastic surgeon (and if you can get one who is moonlighting in plastics from a daytime job in oncoplastics so much the better).

In terms of recovery, it’s not a major deal. You’ll have to avoid heavy lifting for a few weeks and make sure you exercise your arms carefully. No underwired bras (but wear a very supportive sports bra day and night) until your surgeon says so. For scarring, I’d get some hypofix dressing tape and use it for around 6 months. It supports the skin either side of the wound to take the tension off and helps reduce keloid scar formation.

I’m not in the UK now but happy to answer PMs on specifics if I can help!

Hic that's amazing, thank you! I would be paying for it and it would be in London so a private surgeon shouldn't be hard to find - your tips on finding the right one are great.

Hoping to feed the munchkin for about 12 months so I may well take you up on the very kind offer of a PM q & a as that goes on. Just for now I'm going to pretend that nipple necrosis doesn't mean what I think it does (black nipples falling off, right?? 😱😱😱)

I had a reduction a year ago. Went from J cup to e/f. While I have no regrets I do wish my cup size was smaller yet. However, I no longer get people staring at my chest, my body feels more in proportion now - the rest of my body is slim-ish!- and I don't feel I have to walk about with hunched shoulders to hide my chest. I can fit into ordinary tops, and shirts now too. So the scarring was never going to bother me, and anyway it is almost faded now.

The scarring is normally on the underside of the boob so not too obvious, plus the surgeon didn't completely remove and regraft my nipples, they were still slightly attached and repositioned, so blood supply not cut off. Yes they were a bit numb, as well as the underside of my boobs, but feeling is coming back now that the scarring feels softer underneath my skin. But to be honest, I was only concerned with removing the burden and pain of the huge norks- numbness and scarring wouldn't, and didn't, put me off the op. They were small fry compared to heaving them around! My husband wasn't concerned about those things either, he just wanted me to be happy.

Recovery was a good 3-4 weeks for me, but for some people it is about half of that. After care was great. Dissolvable stiches too etc. I had to go private too, not London though.