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

I'm getting my surgery done on the 15th of April.

Just wondering if anyone has any tips for recovery etc? I'm getting to get a Macom bra and ice pack too. I'm going to have 2-4 weeks off work depending on how well my recovery goes.

Hello again!

So I'm 2 weeks pre surgery, Ive bought ice packs, a V pillow and easy to change tops.

As it's just me and my partner living together - I will be by myself for a lot of the recovery. He will be taking 3 days off after my surgery and for the rest of the recovery I'll be by myself. Just wondering if you could share any tips/ advice during my recovery? Things I might need to purchase before hand etc as I'm getting a bit anxious about being alone for the greater part of the recovery.

Any tips would be very very greatly appreciated!
Thanks ladies xx

I had one a few years back, was back at work within a fortnight with no problems. I was a bit tender but nothing more than Paracetamol needed by then. Went from a 28HH to an E which still sounds big but doesn’t look or feel it. Absolutely life-changing!

Had anyone recently had a yes from the NHS for a BR?
I'm only 22 but I went to the doctors when I was about 20 to ask about BR, in a 34G, size 10/12(boob dependent), and I got a big fat blaring no letter from the NHS.

I want to go back and try again but I felt a bit humiliated after the first rejection. I could never afford to have it done but they are the absolute bain of my life and I hate what I see when I look at myself.
I was always taunted at school for my boobs as they grew in very quickly, I was an E when I was 15

I'm certain I dont want them, but I'm also worried about looking out of proportion if I do downsize?

I due for my second consult on the 3rd. Will report back in a few days :)

There is a brilliant Facebook group called 'breast reduction uk members only' which is really supportive and full of helpful ladies

shortandsweet, I think in England they stopped doing them completely about 2 years ago. In Scotland it is still just possible to get them, and I was actually approved (at a 32K). However, 18 months after my approval it still hadn't been done, as it kept being cancelled, so in the end I went privately.

ralno, I think you will be fine. It's only me and my DH at home now, I had mine done on a Thursday, was home Sat evening (had some complications so was in a bit longer), and he went back to work on Monday. I couldn't drive or carry shopping initially though, so I guess it depends if he is home in the evening to do shopping. Otherwise, stock up on food, paracetamol and ibuprofen. But honestly, I was fine to be left.

I’m just home from my second appointment, surgery scheduled for the 29th.

I've my pre admission tomorrow!

Now it's just 10 days to surgery, any recovery tips?!

I'm a 26ff and spent the most miserable £250 being told I should get myself to M&S and wear a 34D and stop 'mucking about in bravissimo, the will just sell me something in order to feed my insecurities.'
I also got told I'm the wrong shape anyway. I'm more of a wide boob shape rather than long sticky out, if you see what I mean.
I'd be a size 6-8 if it wasn't for my boobs, as it is I wear a 10 on top and nothing ever fits. Plus I have scars on my shoulders and terrible backache.

That’s awful, game. I did have a tussle with the first surgeon I saw who insisted that 32K/L wasn’t an actual size, and I should try a 38DD. But there are great surgeons out there, and I’m very happy with who I finally went with - and incidentally he only charged me £35 for the initial consultation, in a BMI hospital. £250 was a lot. I saw three surgeons in total before I decided. One was £180, one was £110, and one was £35. The actual surgical costs were the same for all of them, as it’s the hospital that sets these.

that's very sad game. part of the reason i went private, i didn't want my reasons judged. even a couple of my friends said i was being silly as they are "not that big". i didn't read up/watch video's and just went in with my heart and the dr was accepting.
i didn't shop around as to fellow retired nursed (who were not the peop's who poo poo'd my idea) both spoke very highly of the same fellow.
oddly enough once he said the mastoplexy would be helpful and agreed to do the surgery i watched a few you tube video's and oddly my reasons and the reasons lots of people also choose to have it done were the same.
don't give up.
tiny frame and large breasts obviously is a problem for you.

Getting my reduction in 3 days.... getting very very anxious about it now. Been on real self and I've seen some awful recovery stories.

I'm getting my reduction at Springfield Hospital in Chelmsford, has anybody got theirs done there?

Thanks xx

i'm thinking positive thoughts for you and hope you will be on the tread (and on the mend) when i have mine on the 29th...18 days to go!

Rain - no, not there but think positive thoughts! My op was nowhere near as bad as I thought it was going to be. Everything was delicate and sensitive but never painful. I had normal painkillers for a couple of days and that was it. The delight you will feel about your new shape/size will overshadow any discomfort. I know it's daunting (I was terrified) but you will be amazed. Come back on here when you can and tell us how it went.

I expected to be bed bound for a week and had everything in place for this. As it turned out, I was up and about the next day! Obviously, I was tender and limited in what I could do but I was on the sofa watching TV and mooching about the house. It took me a couple of weeks to go out in busy places in public cos I was terrified of being bumped into but other than that, it was all plain sailing. Worse bit was having dressings changed for the first time and the support off. I felt like my skin was going to split open! Obviously, it didn't!

Good luck, ralno. I think it is very frightening to choose to have non-essential surgery, but honestly, even just 8 weeks in, and not having had a totally smooth recovery, I would still say it’s changed my life enormously for the better. And remember RealSelf is dominated by US and South American visitors. There they are sometimes doing it in MediSpas and doctors’ offices under sedation, or going to states where doctors aren’t required to have insurance for cheapness. That’s why they end up on RealSelf asking for help, because their doctor isn’t providing it. I bet those who are going to properly accredited plastic surgeons are being well cared for and doing mostly just fine.

@ilovecherries thanks that's defo settled me a lot! Just at home trying to get the house clean before Monday. My partner works away so I'm basically doing a lot by myself, he's taking a few days off to lol after me next week so now it's just a waiting game....

Can't believe that in 2 days I'll be getting this done, I've honestly been wanting this for the last 6 years. I had a significant amount of weight loss 6 years ago where I joined weight watchers, I was 14 stone and managed to lose 5 stone initially but my stable weight over the last 5 years has been 10 stone. Which I'm happy with but have been left with a significant amount of skin and very droopy boobs, I haven't had children yet and am 32 but I've been so unhappy with how I look. I always said that when I was financially able to I would get this done! So here I am.... 2 days to go...!

I’m really looking forward to hearing more from you, 16 days to go over here. Not sure what to wear home though as I don’t own any button front shirts/tops...although I have two sets of pj’s. I plan on buying some hospital type skin prep to use pre op (night before and morning of) to decrease my chance of skin infection.
I’ve practiced getting in and out of the vehicle without using my arms much...it’s a truck so needed to check that out. Pillow needed under seat belt....

I actually managed fine with normal tee shirts. The only things that were ‘musts’ for me were front opening bras (which I’m still wearing at 8 weeks), a pillow to tuck under the seat belt, and psyllium husk capsules, which I took twice daily from the beginning and managed to avoid all the constipation issues everyone seems to report because of the long anaesthetic.

@Knitclubchatter I just bought a few loose fitting tank tops and two zippy tops from primark.

@ilovecherries the hospital will give me two bras to wear. I'm getting an additional piece of tissue removed from under my left breast, it's a lump of excess tissue from my breast, so I'll have one extra scar 😭
My right breast is significantly bigger than my left so I'll be getting a reduction and uplift on my right and just an uplift on my right

Thinking of you ralno, hoping all went well and your comfortable.

Hey! All went well, feeling good muscles are tender and trying not to move my arms much. I had morphine last night when I got out of recovery but I'm now on just ibuprofen and paracetamol, antibiotics. Just resting at Up at home, was discharged around 11am

Very tired and tender but feeling good!

So did you overnight in a hospital?