Breast reduction

[brownbeauty]

Has anyone had or is considering a breast reduction.
I'm currently 38G n soo uncomfortable..
I have pimples n sores under my armpits from where the wire bows out n pokes me all day..
I get terrible underboob sweat..
I hate the massive beige or white or black bras I get to choose from.
Just basically sick n tired of being eyed up n talked to at chest level..
The back n neck pain r on another level.


I have money saved..
Just looking for reassurance and
a few kind words by ladies who have been thru the procedure..
many thanks

[AStatelyPleasureDome]

Go for it. My problem wasn't just the size, clothes not fitting, discomfort etc, but it was so depressing that they were so droopy, like two sacks hanging down. Now they are like those of someone much younger.
I had virtually no pain or discomfort, but was fed up with the 6 weeks of waiting to be able to go into normal bras - then I bought loads!

[mamaiFifi]

Best thing ever!

I had one 10 years ago, my mum had one 2 years ago and my sister when she turned 18 Bout 5 yrs ago.

All on nhs, make an appointment with gp.
BMI has to be a certain level maybe 26 or something before they consider u.

I breastfeed successfully and now have a DD cup but nothing like they were before, mind you I wouldn't mind a wee lift again 😂

I really hope my daughter doesn't get the gene!

[hamsterwheel]

ooh, one question! For those of you that have had the surgery, who had their nipples removed and whose were left in place?!

[Branleuse]

Truckingonandon - i didnt say all, i said a fair proportion.
Op said a lot of her issues come from bras rubbing. Its worth a shot to explore this further surely before surgery?
Im not anti surgery, ive had surgery but its expensive and intrusive. If finding a comfortable supportive well fitting bra could help, surely thats first port of call. 70% of women are wearing ill fitting bras

[Branleuse]

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7342144.stm

This was the article.

[Passthebubbly]

I had a reduction and lift 2 years ago. Best thing I ever done no regrets

[Lynne1Cat]

I suspect you're wearing the wrong size bra. I'm a 38GG, have always spent a lot on bras (£30-40 each), and have never once had spots/sores or anything (unlike my equally large-breasted mate who squashes hers into a smaller size).

Get measured properly, invest in some good-quality bras, and ask your doctor for Trimovate cream. Sudocrem, over the counter, may help.

By the way, the wires of a bra should sit FLAT against your chest (sort of in-between the breasts)

[Annamadrigal]

@hamsterwheel mine were removed and reattached, slight loss of sensation but not too bad and I was still able to breastfeed after

[BlingLoving]

I didn't even know completely removing them was an option? The way it was explained to me is that they're removed (with all the ducts and bits left intact) while the rest of the breast is cut away, then reattached. This is what I believe causes the risk of loss of sensation and problems breast feeding - it' because the nipples are, in effect, "swinging in the wind" for a while! . In my case, breastfeeding WAS a problem. I had milk, but was never able to increase the supply sufficiently quickly. It was better with DC2, which according to my reading is probably because BF DC1 would have activated additional healing, but in my case it wasn't enough.

A friend had a similar experience - almost zero ability to BF DC1 and some limited ability for DC2.

[littlepeas]

My nipples were moved and made smaller - they weren’t completely detached during the surgery though, they were left attached to some tissue and then moved into their new place. I think this is fairly standard.

[Brambleboo]

I had a reduction about 25 years ago. The recovery was pretty hard, but they were great afterwards. You must maintain your weight, though. I didn't manage to keep my weight under control and my boobs are pretty much back to where they were. I'm more accepting, and less self conscious, of them now I'm older.

[Brambleboo]

I forgot to include in my post- The doctors said that my nipples might not be responsive to stimulation, but it hasn't been a problem; they're as good as they ever were. They also said I'd not be able to breastfeed and would need medication to dry up the milk. Not sure if that has changed as mine was so long ago. Didn't matter for me as I never had kids of my own.

[AngelsWithSilverWings]

Mine were removed , made smaller and then reattached. I still have sensitivity but not as much as before.

[takemetomars]

could those who have had a good, recent experience post the names of their surgeons??

In Dorset now but willing to travel

Now 52 but wanting to take the plunge

[UnapologeticallyUnhinged]

@AStatelyPleasureDome oh the joys of bra shopping! I used to only be able to afford to buy 3/4 per year max.

And while we are on the subject, would these 'ill fitting bra' bores please do one. We know most women are not wearing the right bra but I'm going to assume these are smaller women ie a 32D wearing a 34C -when you are spending £40 on ONE bra that's got to last you, and you will also likely have to sleep in, you make damn sure it gets fitted properly. And to someone who considers their monstrous breasts a deformity and resents the physical pain and sleep deprivation that having a size 8/10 body with 32J breasts attached, having to do this can be quite traumatic. For me buying one bra was a whole day out to a specialist shop.
As @BlingLoving pointed out earlier I also spent from age 15-38 covering them up, tshirts on the beach, neck high tops etc. Even then people still thought it was funny to 'accidentally' touch them (women were worst for this) constant jokes about 'melons' and getting called Tits McGee. Friends putting their bras on my head and taking selfies, laughing. And I'm ashamed to say I laughed along too despite being really quite upset. But after 10 years of being on daily Naproxen and later Diazepam for the horrible back problems I had as a result of not having a frame big enough to support carrying round the equivalent of 2 bags of spuds around all day, I was fortunate to get my appointment through finally.

Sorry about the rant but a bit of albeit well designed fabric wasn't enough to help me.

[Howgoesit]

Had one last year taking me from a 28hh to an f. Paid privately as I didn’t qualify for NHS. Best decision I’ve made. So much lighter and more comfortable. Recovery wasn’t too bad. Back pain disappeared overnight!

[littlepeas]

Have pm'd you takeme

[littlepeas]

"Research suggests that women tend to underestimate the size of their back by up to four inches, and overestimate their cup size by up to three sizes."

That article has it the wrong way around.......plus I agree with unapologetically, no bra could have fixed the way I felt about my boobs.

[AngelsWithSilverWings]

@UnapologeticallyUnhinged don't apologise for ranting! You've summed up exactly what it's like.

Why do people think it's acceptable to mock people with large breasts? And you are right that women are actually worse. They think nothing of mentioning them , asking why you don't get them done ( as if it's just like getting a new hair cut) touching them , telling you to wear bloody 1950's style dresses urghhh!

I used to be known as Boobs at work - I hated it and used to go home and cry but apparently it was just banter and I had to put up with it. Then there's the men who would shout " nice tits" at me from cars and vans or would say it as they walked past me in the street.

And don't forget the posters on mumsnet who refuse to believe that anyone with a cup size above an F can possibly be classed as slim. I was 8 stone when I was 30 - I was tiny everywhere except for my boobs and still wore an F cup.

So much more going on than just needing a better fitting bra!

[mamaiFifi]

@UnapologeticallyUnhinged
I can completely relate to your post, I was size 10 and made me look overweight and alway had to wear at least size 14.

By the time I was 13 I had a boy in my class who used to mock me by saying 'milk it' there was some add on tv at the time. When I played sports I used to strap them to me and wear two bras.

My mum brought us to be measured all the time and we paid £30 each time at least for these rare minimiser bras. I couldnt participate in pe in school because of the uniform.

I never got my reduction until I was 21. For people to say it could be avoided by wearing the wrong bra - thats ignorance.
They told me they removed the equivalent to a bag of sugar.

As regards to nipple the kept it attached but made it smaller and move them up. Scar woould remindnyou of an anchor.

[Teaonthelawn]

I has a breast reduction 8 years ago when I was 50 taking me from 32JJ to 32DD. My breasts were huge, heavy and pendulous. My GP suggested sudocrem and a better bra. To be honest I felt this really dismissive and unhelpful. Hovever he (reluctantly) referred me to a brilliant, surgeon - I am delighted with the outcome. I had the operation to improve my overall health and well being and totally recommend the procedure especially if you are K/J/JJ.

[merlotbythefire]

Just wanted to say thank you to brownbeauty for starting this thread and to everyone else for your contributions. I’m at the beginning of researching reduction surgery and this is all so helpful and encouraging.

Whilst I am not going to rush into anything, as a current 32H, I feel hopeful and that I have a lot to look forward to!

[FreshHerbs]

I would love a breast reduction as mine are mahoosive. Really had enough of them. Has anybody got any links to any good clinics abroad as I couldn't afford the surgery in U.K.

[AngelsWithSilverWings]

@FreshHerbs I'd worry about doing it abroad as you would surely have to keep travelling back for the post surgery check ups? I had a year of regular appointments to check the healing process was going ok and to manage the scarring. This also included a minor procedure under local anaesthetic to tidy up some loose skin under my arms ( all included in the original price) I was only signed off once the final tidy up procedure had healed.

[Trampire]

I'm not worried to publicly say I my surgeon was Richard Sutton and I had private surgery at The Circle Hospital in Bath (if it's anywhere near anyone?).

It was a very positive experience. The post care was great too.