Breast Reduction Surgery

[rakno2]

Hi All,

I am due to have breast reduction surgery in April. Obviously I'm very anxious about the surgery but I'm more anxious about the recovery.

I am 32, my breast size is 34DD/E depending, and I work as a teacher.

My query is about recovery time/ complications. As I am a teacher I have chosen to have this procedure done over the 2 week Easter break and hope I don't have to take anymore time off- as I don't want to have to tell my employer about my surgery.

Just looking for advice, should I tell my employer I am going for surgery, just in case? Is two weeks enough time for recovery?

Thanks xx

Yes I'm in good shape. Not super fit or anything and I work in an office but also out on site a lot. I think everyone's different and it really depends on how the anaesthetic affects you or if there are any complications.
Sorry I've no advice about what to tell your employer I told my HR department and they were very supportive. You might be surprised.

I didn't tell my employer at the time. It's none of their business and not many businesses will be generous about leave for cosmetic surgery. I simply said I was having surgery and I wasn't asked any more by either my boss, HR or occ health. If pressed, I would have lied quite frankly and said something gynae.

I had my BR done about 5 years ago now and it was the best thing I have ever done. I went down from a 34G to a 34D. I had my BR done in London by a Mr Karidis - think that's how his name is spelt. He was absolutely amazing, the surgery went well and I was back on my feet in 2 weeks. Just eat well, give up smoking, button up shirts are a plus and I used a front zip bra from M&S. The pain was minimal, the only thing would be coming round from the op felt awful! I had the anchor and still have scars but they are tiny, main thing is have realistic expectations and go with a good surgeon - not the cheapest. Showering is going to be a pain in the bum though. Good luck!

Haha @RuggyPeg fair play! You're right it's not any of their business, can I ask how much time you ended up taking off in the end?

I honestly can't remember. It's about 6 years ago now. Probably not much longer than 2 weeks but I had a job where I could work from home too, so I probably did a bit of that. Whatever you have to do to make it work is worth it though. It's a life changing op. After day 1, I just took a few otc painkillers but didn't really need them. Having the dressings off is a bit disconcerting, as you feel like your skin is going to split and your insides fall out but obviously, that's not the case! Use a plastic surgeon too, not a cosmetic surgeon. Big difference.

@RuggyPeg why's that? I didn't realise there was a difference between a plastic and cosmetic surgeon? I thought the cosmetic surgeon was just specialised?

Training, level and depth of experience. All plastic surgeons are cosmetic surgeons but not all cosmetic surgeons are plastic surgeons.

I looked for someone who was also working in the NHS as a consultant plastic surgeon, and who did a lot of breast reconstruction work. I didn’t want someone who specialised in Botox and did the odd boob job on the side. I also wanted full hospital back up, rather than a clinic which couldn’t cope if something went wrong, eg with the anaesthetic or a major bleed. Interestingly, he also said that he was ver yagainst BR being labelled as ‘cosmetic’ surgery as he felt it undermined the seriousness of the procedure and also the clinical need for it. He saw it as plastic surgery, often carried out to alleviate an orthopaedic issue, and in many cases as worthy of nhs funding as any other elective procedure.

Exactly Cherries and very good advice. I had mine done in a hospital by a consultant plastic surgeon for that exact reason.

i too have chosen a plastic surgeon that is part of the usual hospital medical/surgical staff. although i'm going as a paying private patient. going through the medical covered plan (free) the wait list to be seen by the dr. is 12 months with several more months till the surgical date. as a paying private patient i was seen within a week of calling for a consult, and (fingers crossed) will have the surgery as stated April 29th so just over 2 months.
the you tube video's of the procedure look complex.
some sites recommend the silicone post op bandages (tape) to reduce scaring any thoughts on those?

I've used the silicone sheets for scarring from a different procedure, on my neck. Much more minor surgery but overall I was pleased with them. I've really no hard evidence that they did anything but I'd use them again.

Massage was also really good - I was finding it difficult to turn my neck after the surgery and the massage helped. At one point I was seeing my physio about shoulder/back/neck pain and we talked about my scar and she offered to massage it for me, she was much firmer than I was being and much less scared of the scar. Obviously having someone massage after breast reduction is a bit different but I'd definitely go with self massage. I was told not to use bio oil but to go with something more nourishing like vitamin e oil.

I appreciate both those are for surgery somewhere else on the body but I assume the principles apply.

I’ve got a consultation next week for this surgery. I too have chosen one who currently holds an nhs post.

I’m nervous and excited! I’ve never worn a button up shirt or a strappy too.

I’m 47 and a 30gg

I suspect the surgeon will give specific advise based on the exact procedure they performed, and the size of the reduction. I know someone who was done just a couple of weeks before me but we’ve had different instructions. I was heavily padded and taped for two weeks, and now have to use silicone tape for three months and continue with a surgical compresssion bra for that period. I’m not to attempt massage for another month so that I don’t disrupt the internal stutures.

Oh gosh yes, absolutely. Sorry, I didn't mean to imply anyone should start doing anything without advice, especially not massage, just wanted to mention the two things that helped when I had skin cancer taken out and to sort of say that with the massage, it's a bit scary doing it yourself.

No, no, didn’t I think you did :). I think it was more a response to a pp asking upthread :). Sorry if I sounded snappy.

I hope my surgeon provides clear instructions.

Hi I hope you don't mind me butting in. Did you all have yours done privately? Dd is desperate but can't afford a private operaction. She's 19 and a 32Hh. Do they even do breast reductions on the nhs?

My daughter had a breast reduction when she was 24, her employer knew why she was off work, she was only off work for a week after the operation, hospital gave her painkillers she didn't need them everyday, say's it's the best thing she ever did, she's 39 now

Yes, private. Extremely difficult to get it done on NHS now.

Practically impossible to get an NHS one, although I WAS approved for one in Scotland. It kept being postponed though, and after a year of that, I decided to go privately as I just wanted it done.

My daughters was done here in Scotland on the NHS.

I leave London to go back home tomorrow and the two macom bras my dd ordered for me arrived!

That’s great knit, they really are perfect post op, I only take mine off to shower - andin fact have just bought a third one as I had a black and and beige but felt I could do with another light one.

Re progress, I’m doing well, I’m a month post op now, still extremely bruised and a bit misshapen and pop sided but scars are healing beautifully and I’m assured they have a lot of settling to do over the next 6-12 months. Feeling much more like myself now.

Great to hear this as the concept of everything taking time to settle is new.

Yes, you sort of expect (or at least I did!), that I would come out of theatre with the finished article, but my surgeon said in the first three months, it was all about surgical recovery - how the scars were healing, nipple preservation etc - then from three months to a year it was about aesthetics and cosmetic result, as the breast settled into their final shape and size. He said I shouldn't even begin to think about cosmetic result till 6 months, and that they might look quite odd till then, especially as they will settle at different rates. My surgeon follows up for a year to ensure the final cosmetic result is good.