Breast reduction surgeon recommendation in the South?

[SouthernLimelight]

I am 58 years old and a size 36FF. I’ve occasionally considered breast reduction in the past. But post-menopause my breast size has increased even more, and shape dropped also. I’m getting increasing back ache and shoulder ache and general discomfort (and some self consciousness). I cannot find a bra that’s comfortable, no matter what I do. So am seriously considering breast reduction, perhaps to size C.

I live in the South of England, near Bournemouth. I suppose could travel a bit, I am not sure how far is realistic, perhaps up to 2 hours?

I can’t really afford it, but I will probably have go privately. I think it would be difficult to get it in the NHS 🙁, though I will ask.

Are there any clinics or surgeons anyone could recommend to me? Please do PM me if you prefer.

Thank you so much.

I’m going to post this in MN Health forum as well.

I can’t help with a recommendation in your area but there is a FB group called ‘plastic surgery questions answered by uk surgeons’ which is really helpful and there are several surgeons on it from the South Coast. Don’t travel too far - I was 70mins away and really it wasn’t great coming home and then I had to go back daily for a few days. I was 60 when I had mine done. Be aware though that you don’t get to choose a cup size, and also that in my experience surgeons don’t know what they are talking about when it come to bra size. I was a 32K. I had 7 lbs removed and I’m still a 32G. My surgeon insists I’m a C. Yes, I would be if I was wearing a 40 band. However, they are much smaller, and they are now in the right place hitch makes a huge difference. Good luck - take your time finding the right surgeon.

Thank you Cherries, that’s very helpful. I was a bit concerned re. distance question and your experience has also been useful. Plus the cup size thing. I couldn’t find the FB group you mention, but I have found I one “breast reduction in the UK” or something like that. So I have tried to join there today.

I live near you OP & I know 2 women colleagues who had breast reductions locally, I believe one at least was on the NHS.

I would urge caution as it's major surgery as I'm sure you're aware, one of the women had so much blood loss she almost died.
The other regretted the surgery because she then felt her hourglass figure was not in proportion.

I'm a 34G, even when I lose weight I find I still have a large cup size. So I understand how you feel.

I've been harassed by men because of my chest, even by a small group of lads at my local gym which is horrible, have backache, and get fed up with my chest generally.

Im too scared personally to have surgery, however I think you should go for it if you feel it is for you.

I've heard that many women feel it does improve their lives & maybe they have had better experiences than my colleagues.

Dan marsh, the plastic surgery group. Look at his pics on Instagram. He did an uplift and implants last year and I'm going in for a small revision tomorrow. My boobs look like a different persons now. Fantastic.

Yes Tehmina, all valid points. I am not totally decided. I am losing weight (I'm a size 14 bottoms) but I am not seeing much loss in the bosom area. I don't get alot of unwanted male attention, partly perhaps because they have never gone over a G size and I am not small-framed,, but I find the discomfort and lack of freedom irritating. If I wear strong "properly fitted" upholstered bras I find them so uncomfortable and feel like the Queen Mary. If the looser, unsupported ones, its discomfort in a different way. I have always been overly concerned about what clothes I wear on my top half, because anything tight or a light colour or high necked etc etc is a no-go. And I think it has affected my self-confidence in life, though I don't think it affects everyone that way.

I'm still not sure. I know it is 'major surgery'. Its not cheap. At my age too - its either now or never, or equally, maybe just learn to "accept" it now. Most people who write about it are glad they did it and wished they'd done it earlier. But your friends' cautionary tales are perhaps the unheard voices on this too, thank you.

thank you sallie I'll take a look.

@SouthernLimelight

Thank you Cherries, that’s very helpful. I was a bit concerned re. distance question and your experience has also been useful. Plus the cup size thing. I couldn’t find the FB group you mention, but I have found I one “breast reduction in the UK” or something like that. So I have tried to join there today.

Yes, I’m on that one as well! Sorry, when you couldn’t find the group I went back to check the name and I see it’s actually a secret group, which I think means it won’t come up on searches. Depends how private you want to be - if you wanted on, you can PM me your FB name and I can invite you - but know that’s not for everyone. Once in, you can post on the group anonymously via the admins, which is what I do.

Breast reduction nearly three years ago is the greatest thing I’ve ever done for myself. I’ve never regretted it for a second. Physically and practically re clothes it is great, but the surprise was how my well-being soared. Just see myself so differently now. I’m 46 and went from 32GG to an E. Life changing. I am in South West so too far to recommend, but had best care and straightforward recovery.

Thanks Foxglove

Ahhh .... the mystery of cup sizes. I’ve never been clear. I read this today:

a DD on a 28 band is much smaller than a DD on a 38 band! In fact, if you were to take a 38DD and keep the same amount of room in the cup on a 28 band, you’d be looking at a 28GG! That means someone who wears a 28GG has the same breast volume as someone who wears 38DD

So really I could be a 32H or more ....

Still thinking about it ....

@SouthernLimelight, i had mine done at age 60+ best thing ever.
not in the UK so no help there but with the advent of long lasting freezing solutions i was pain totally pain free.

Now my surgeon based my sizing on my body build and the girls are lovely BUT with the lack of bust the belly flab was 100% more noticeable.
so it meant a lot of exercise and careful eating to look as good as possible.
thankfully without the boobs flapping about as i walked/jogged/swam etc it was much easier than in the past and way way less sweaty and uncomfortable in the summer.

Sounds excellent Fall, though I hear what you’re saying about weight in the middle.

I've been looking into this for a while. While there are risks, there's a very high satisfaction rate with this type of surgery. I have been warned that, post op, you will feel they are too small / are likely to have a "what have I done?" moment until you get used to them.

Ive also been looking and near you, I had thought about the Spire group hospital at Portsmouth ..

Instead of breast reduction have you thought about lipo on the breasts? I went to see a surgeon about it. It is less riskier and has good results. With breast reduction the areola can die and risk of keloid scarring.

Thank you all for your further posts. I have heard of liposuction on the breasts Wonderbrush. It seems to be able to be done in some cases, I'm not sure of the criteria exactly, as what I've read is very vague. Thanks for flagging that up as a possibility.

I looked briefly into this, the surgeon I went to see for a consultation told me there is a limit to how high they can be lifted and how much volume can be removed, so you might have to manage your expectations.

On a different point, I worked in few elderly care homes when I was a student, and really felt sorry for the women who had large breasts, they had endless problems with skin issues and feeling uncomfortable.
This was one of the reasons I thought about getting mine done, but as mine aren't too big if I keep my weight at the bottom end of my BMI plus I had no one to look after me post op I decided not to go for it in the end.