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

Yay, ralno, pleased it all went well for you. :)

Nosey question, but I have been thinking about having one. Can you give me a ballpark figure of what it's costing you?

I’m in Canada, $100 first visit, $200 second appointment, $7,600 final bill includes, surgical clinic, surgeon fees and post op follow up visits.

I was quoted between 5.5k to 8.5k in Scotland/North of England. That was across Spire, BMI and Nuffield. I ultimately paid 6.5k, plus initial consult fee, plus mammogram.

That includes all follow up for 12 months and the package price also covered additional nights in hospital as I wasn’t well, and post op scans and additional visits for dressings, none of which are standard, but the hospital just covers these costs if they are deemed clinically necessary if you have a package.

Thank you. I wonder if it's cheaper in the US

By the way, it's also about the care too. I'm not discounting that

£5k for me with top consultant surgeon. It was 6 years ago though, so may have increased a little now.
Rain - hurrah!!

Update: Post Op Day 3

Just been in bed all day since I got home on Tuesday, I've been very tender and swollen so taking it really easy not lifting anything or pulling anything being trying to keep arm movements to a minimum. Been taking my painkillers as prescribed, been pretty on time with them because the pain does get a bit uncomfortable at times but totally manageable!

I've a bit of swelling at the tops of my arms but my PS said he had to put extra stitches in my muscles to ensure boobs stay perky because he said there was substantial sagging so I've a few extra stitches which is why I have the extra bit of swelling.

Haven't taken my bra off yet, don't think I could risk it just in case so I'm going to leave the bra on and wash around until I see my nurse next Tuesday. Just wondering when people had their dressings looked at or removed first?

I was in hospital for three days so they were checked regularly, but then I was weekly for three weeks, then dressings came off and paper tape (which I just reapplied myself) till 8 weeks. But reading what other women say in the FB group, that wasn’t usual. Scars are amazing though (9weeks today)

Ralno, I can’t help with the dressing question but I wanted to say thank you for the realistic update. I’ve read it to my dp so he understands my post op needs.

No worries, I'll try keep updates and the weeks go by. I know how hard I found it to find regularly updates.

I have t checked my dressings, I've peaked down to check if there's any oozing or green pus or blood and there's none, bar a little spot of blood from Tuesday but that's it. My nurse and PS were the last to check nipples, infection, bruising etc my right breast was quite bruised on Tuesday but that's because it was significantly bigger than my left. My nurse gave me dressing and said to change only if I need to so that's what I've done, no need to change anything yet anyway... I just worry because I can't see what's going on that I do t know if my nipples are ok for certain, but there's no oozing or anything so I'm assuming to leave them would be better than aimlessly poking around there myself, prefer to leave it to the nurse until next Tuesday

Update: Post Op Day 7

Just a quick update... what a difference a few days makes! Feeling good, still a bit tender but nowhere near where it was a few days ago, just taking paracetamol. Get a few strange tingles and sensations every now and then but quite comfortable. I had a little pear inside my dressing today there's a bit of fluid coming from my nipple but nothing concerning. My bruising has also gone down massively since last week.

Seeing the plastics nurse tomorrow so I'll know for certain where I'm at.

Also, had my partner was my hair for the first time since my op, got a little bit concerned by the amount of hair that came out is this normal after surgery?

hello ralno, yes anesthetic and hair loss are often associated. i'm surprised how much hair i loose on a daily basis soooo i can only imagine how it will seem after 7 days.
i'm hoping my dh will be able to help me with my hair daily...i'll let other's know what i devise.
excellent on the decreased bruising and the followup tomorrow :).
today i picked up a bath bench (nice teak furniture type), a bag of peas which i divided into 4 ziplok bags for ice packs (as per the post op instructions) and the chlorhexadine antibacterial scrub for pre op (it's also recommended for the day 7 shower and beyond).
it's great to hear how your feeling comfortable.
any hint as to sizing? as expected at this point?

Thanks Knitclubchatter - think I panicked, the nurse said the same. It's probably all the hair from the week of not washing

Just back from my check up with the nurse, she said everything looks good and changed the dressing. She also gave me a larger bra because the one I've been wearing for the past week seemed too tight, I had a rash forming around my side. I've been moving around waaaaay too much since I got back though because my left breast is aching a lot, pulled the car door closed and opened a heavy door in the hospital and I feel like I've badly pulled a muscle in my breast, like a throbbing pain so going to take it easy for the next few days.

A friend had cardiac (open chest surgery) and mentioned the difficulty she had and expects me to have with doors! Who knew 😉
Glad to hear things are healing well. Are all your stri-strips still in place? Did the nurse replace any?

Replaced none, said I can start showering and dry off the dressing with a hair dryer on a low heat.

Just got an ice pack on my top of my left breast now 🙈 swelling seems to have gone down slightly, but honestly apart from that I'm in good spirits. I need to buy a normal sports bra instead of the hospital one I think- really uncomfortable around the bottom scars

Found out they removed 501g in total, more from my bigger right breast, so about as much as I thought - although it's funny to think that 500g was giving me so much neck pain!

I found pushing and pulling to be impossible at first. I couldn't even pull the duvet over me and had to be tucked in each night like a child!!

Surgery done, woke with a hot burning type discomfort not pain. Drugs (toradol, gravol, and something else short acting given iV push).
Wrapped up, very nicely.
Home in bed, sipping on coconut water.
When I left the clinic I was feeling woozie, not dizzy, easily unsteady.

Glad it’s safely over, knit, and hope you have a nice straightforward recovery now.

Totally pain free still, a touch worried of when the long acting freezing wears off) two Tramadol every 5 hours making me relaxed and comfy, no need for it every 4.
Not emptying my bladder much. I’d thought I’d be pumped full of saline but evidently not. The dressing and tensor wrap is dry, and in place. No sign of oozing.
Breasts squished down.

Day 3: still no pain, I’ve tapered the analgesic accordingly. As I was worried I was doing too much; loading unloading dishwasher, folding laundry etc.
Thrilled to get the tensor bandages off. The girls are TINY! Showered and Macon bra in place, (as dr recommended) sanitary towels used to protect the incision line.
My belly bulge is really noticeable...
I’m going to go for a walk around the block after lunch.

The belly bulge was the bit that got me, knit. I was like WHAT is THAT!

Just wanted to say this is a great post. Informative and useful, I'd love a reduction. I'm 32L and embarrassed to show them to gp to ask if NHS op is even an option.

unusually certainly don't be embarrassed. all dr.'s are accustomed to seeing breasts of all shapes and sizes.
although i did laugh just prior to going into the OR my surgeon using a special sharpie marker (nothing special about it) drew his markings took out his ruler and at one point his eyes were as big as saucers like a kid in a candy shop he almost looked excited and proclaimed that he knew exactly what he was going to do.
i did the walk btw, i was a touch lightheaded...i'll do it again this evening hopefully hubby accompanies.
a full length mirror is next on my purchase list, i need to be held accountable for this belly.