Breast Reduction Surgery- A serious discussion
 

Okay, I really hope no guy gets on here and says DONT DO IT! I LOVE BOOBIES!
But seriously- I want breast reduction and have already scheduled an appointment with the doctor. Has anyone had it here?
I mean, I am 5'3, weigh around 120-125 and have had DD breasts since I was 14- that is 10 years! I can't find clothes to fit, people stare at them and I feel like a freak.
Anyone had it regret it?
Love it?
What are the scars like?
How long is the recovery?
How bad does it hurt?

Thanks!

I know someone who had it. She said it wasn't that bad and seem a lot happier with herself afterwards.

I feel your pain-- it sucks to put on a V-neck shirt and for people to stare at you like you're a porn star! I went from a DD to a D, but it was just my body changing in college. (And when you're small-boned and lean, it looks silly to have such big breasts on such a small body!).

Some advice on plastic surgeons:
Do shop around for a surgeon!
Ask to speak with former patients! (A lot of times, that will be his/her nurses or receptionist).
Ask about different techniques for reduction surgery. You might also check out a few medical message boards and talk to women who have had it done.

Good luck!

OK, I haven't had it done, but have 2 friends that have.

Scarring is minimal. Initially, it hurts like hell, but it's major surgery. Afterwards both women were much happier with themselves.

One thing to tell you surgeon though is whether or not you want to breasfeed your children (and yes, it is possible). This will change the way they approach the surgery - making sure to avoid cutting too many ducts and related vascular systems. One of the women I mentioned was finally sucessful in exclusively breastfeeding her 3rd child, who is now 20 months old, after a long struggle to find support and education of BFAR (breastfeeding after reduction).

There is some great pre-reduction surgery information on this site: http://www.bfar.org/. Check it out.

I haven't had it but someone I know just did. It really is major surgery but everyone I know who had it is very happy with the results.

I have thought about it but I have never had any kind of surgery and don't want to do it for convenience reasons only. (I have a fear of needles and medical things. heh.) If a doctor tells me to, that's another story. :)

Have you mentioned this subject in the past? If not, I am having deja vu.

I never had it, but a friend did. She was happy with the results. She went from a DDD to a D cup. Insurance covered all but $5 of it because she had back problems as a result of her large size. Her one concern was that she might not be able to nurse her hypothetical children as a result of the surgery.

I'm not sure of the answers to your questions, but good luck.

I've never had it. Well, I wouldn't need it as I am barely a B.

But I would definitely do it if I were really huge. Really big ones can cause problems later in life... like back problems!

I know many people who have done it. The recovery is a HOT MESS, but you will be better off afterwards. Just make sure you get a reputable doctor.

My aunt and one of my sisters have had it done and neither could be happier about it. They were both just thrilled that they were actually able to shop at Victoria's Secret afterwards. They both said it hurt like hell, and it was hard for my aunt since she had a toddler and couldn't pick him up at all, but both women are much happier after the fact.

Hi--it's interesting that you brought this up. My best friend at school is in exactly this situation and is planning to have the surgery next summer before she starts law school. I would recommend a great issue of Vogue (I think it was April or May's) that had a run-down of what the surgery is like. It's the one with Gwen Stefani on the front cover.

If you get a good doctor, the scars shouldn't be too bad. Make sure you do a lot of research and get a board-certified plastic surgeon. Although I think it is pretty painful. It's kind of like getting your wisdom teeth out--but on your chest.

One of my Best friend's fiancee is a plastic surgeon. He says, by FAR, his happiest post-operative patients are reductions.

I've considered it, done a lot of research on it, just not ready yet.

i had a friend who had it done before she came to college and she is really happy with it.

i have another friend who went to doctors to talk to them about getting it done last summer but it's very very hard to get insurance to cover this procedure now and it would have cost my friend over $10,000 to get it done. instead her insurance company said for her to go on pain pills to "help her back." she was very upset that her insurance company was trying to make her feel better by hiding her pain instead of actually helping her take care of it.

best of luck!

Ladies, I so appreciate your input. I have often thought about reduction, but was told that you lose "sensation" afterwards. Does anyone know if that's true?

I know a couple girls that had it, and were very happy with it.

But as the others said, make sure you do not skimp on the Doc thats doing it. If you need to travel out of state to a teaching hospital that has one of the most reputable surgeons in the nation. ITs worth the trip.

One of my best friends had a reduction, and she said that she did lose a lot of sensation after. But she was still much happier in having it done. She went from a DD to a C. She says she wishes she had gone to a B. She is very petite and thin, so even a C on her looks really big.

As far as her scars, she has minimal ones, and she can breastfeed if the hypothetical kids come along.

She did tell me that "normal" things you don't think about afterward were hard -- such as vacuuming, and bending over to pick stuff up. She said that she'd get half way over and then she would hurt like hell. So of course I came over and cleaned her apartment, and took the cat litter out for her -- she had to be careful of any lifting for a couple of months.

But - like I said, she is really happy that she had it done, and she recommended it to me, if and when I decide to go through with it!

Best of luck -- sending you happy thoughts :)

One of my best friends had breast reduction. She is about 105 - 110 lbs. and had a DD cup size. She wouldn't wear V-neck shirts, tank tops, or sleeveless shirts because she said she looked like a porn star. She told her parents she wanted a breast reduction for high school graduation and had it done. Before the surgery, she would hunch over because her chest was too heavy for her body frame, being small framed and all. The breasts would make her neck hurt and she'd have head aches. She loved the surgery and said she would do it all over again. She really feels better about herself and I say that plastic surgery is wonderful if it's done in a healthy, mature way.

BTW, I don't know if she lost any "sensation" or not because it's not one of those things I usually ask people.

KRose, no need to make this a female only thread except for some insensative people.

Some think that Large Breasts are neat, simply for the fact that they are not wearing them.:(

The Watson Girl of Spa Fame had a Breast Reduction and made her look and seem to feel better.

Large Breasts can be a health hazord. Go for it!

From an Adult Male as opposed to testorne imiciles.;)

If I had the money, I would get this done in a heartbeat. I have a fairly slender frame with DD breasts. I never look professional because nothing fits.

Do you have health insurance? I can't assume these days that anyone is covered, unfortunately :( But if you do, and you're having maybe back problems or discomfort, I think reduction might be covered because it's considered a medical necessity instead of a cosmetic procedure.

I'm getting it done next summer. Cant wait!

I had a breast reduction after I graduated high school and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. Sure, it wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world, but the painful stuff does not last long and the scars are barely noticeable. Two of my friends have had it done since then and they love it and my roommate is getting one next summer. (I think my plastic surgeon should give me a referral fee....)
Anyway, it's a great decision. I was in bed for maybe 2 or 3 days. You can't life heavy items for a few weeks, but other than, recovery is pretty quick and easy. Good luck!

Trust me I am considering it...after I have children. I don't want to take the chance of not being able to nurse. So after the kids, the "girls" will go!

If they don't just go on their own that is! My mother lost 2 cup sizes after she had children - she went from a good C to an A.

I don't know much about it. I do know a girl I went to highschool with had it done. She was always in pain. Her back and her neck were always hurting her.

All I can really offer is to make sure you speak with several plastic surgeons before you choose one. Make sure he/she is properly certified, etc.

I had a friend in high school that had a breast reduction. She actually went on Oprah with her mother before having it done. She was pretty large in the chest even after.

Before having it done, she was having back problems, not able to wear many clothes, etc. I think she was much happier after the surgery. For what it's worth, she really didn't complain about how painful it was, etc. As far as I can tell, the pros definitely outweighed the cons in her case.

Anyhow, good luck with your situation.

Since nobody has mentioned this, I will -- I had a friend who had breast reduction surgery and she mentioned that part of the recovery included having tubes attached to herself that she had to, um, empty and stuff. She said it was really gross and very, very painful. That said, she was really happy about the results after everything healed.

It depends on how the surgeon approaches things. If you need to have the nipples moved to accommodate the reduction you will lose sensation.

One of the two friends I mentioned that had it done said that she didn't lose any sensation, but wishes that she did. She's hypersensitive there, lol.

My friend had it done a few years ago. She is "5'2", 105 pounds, and had DD cups. She had all kinds of back pain and she didn't have the best posture because her breasts basically caused her shoulders to droop from all the weight. Also, she couldn't find any clothes that fit her correctly. She had the surgery and she's now a C cup. She's so much more confident now and can finally wear cute clothes. The recovery was painful for her. I remember visiting her about two days after her surgery and she was lying in bed, in pain all doped up on medication but she said it was completely worth it for the end result.

These are drains...you might have to have drains with almost every surgery because the body sends "stuff" to fight against what is going on in surgery - so things can get too swollen and too bruised. The drains prevent swelling and bruising to excess. Drains aren't always used, but are in some cases.

I appreciate all the input.
I am really nervous but i am making an appoitment.
one of my friends has bigger breasts than i do and she is going to go too, just to see what he says.

I had a breast reduction when I was 15. I was a DD and they were still growing and went down to a full C. After High school I lost 35 pounds so now they are between a B and a C (depends on the bra style). DD's on me was by no means proportional considering I'm only 4'9. They took two pounds out of each one. Scars are minimal and none of my bf's that have seen them have had a problem with it. Truly one of the best decisions i've ever made. I dont regret it at all. If the time shoudl ever come where I needed it again, i wouldnt hesitate to do it.

My plastic/reconstructive surgeon was recommended to me by my primary care physician. I recommend going this route rather than flipping through the yellow pages. It also is better for insurance purposes. Mine paid 90%. If you have any questions about the surgery or the consultation visit or whatever please feel free to PM me. You have my support 100%!

My parents have health insurance.

In general, I don't really have any kind of back pain or discomfort. I really do just want it done for cosmetic reasons. Maybe I should suddenly start suffering from back pain...;)

If you look at the book for the policy, it should have a list of stipulations for plastic surgery. Most policies will only cover reduction if certain conditions have arisen as a result of large breasts. But, it seems to be pretty liberal--no one I've known who wanted a reduction was turned down by their insurance.

Breast Reduction surgery is covered by most insurance plans. Some are better than others. Some require if you are overweight to try and lose the weight first and have documentation of that, as well as back pain and what not. I had backpain as well as grooves and callouses forming on my shoulders from my bras because they were so heavy.

Insurance companies will require a before and after picture of your breasts but your face will not be in it and it's only of the chest; frontal and side views. They also stay private in your records. After the surgery, the doctor took the after pictures and showed them to me (they are done with a polaroid) and my exact phrase when I saw them was "OH MY GOD!" Because the difference was just so dramatic. I had no idea how bad they really looked prior to surgery.

I've actually been turned down twice for breast reduction. I am currently a DDD and we tried weight loss, physical therapy and the insurance company still wouldn't authorize it. They said I didn't have enough cause to warrant reduction surgery. My Dad soon after the second time started his own business so we lost insurance and now that we're on it again I'm probably going to start up the cause again.

I noticed someone mentioned her plastic surgeon was recommended by her general practitioner. Did anyone go through her ob/gyn? I have an appointment coming up and I'd like to preliminarily discuss it with him. I have constant back and neck problems, irritation on my back and shoulders (from the bra digging in), and permenant (and not so comfy) underwire grooves. I'm currently a DD and with my height and weight it just doesn't go. I'm fairly sure my insurance will cover it.
I've flip flopped over it for the past few months. At first it freaked me out, but (not to sound lesbian) when I see other girls w/ nice little A or B cups I get really jealous because they look so lean and neat. Guys don't stare at them like they stare at me and I'm tired of buying shirts in sizes far bigger than what I need just to hide them so I can live w/o harrassment. I'm otherwise in decent shape and thin-average build, but my chest is totally out of proportion to my body.
On average, how long does one need complete rest after the surgery? How long before you can go back to your normal activities?

It might sound Trite now at a younger age, but the Problem is as you mature in life can be even worse! Physically wise!

Get it done. Feel Better in the long run!

Good that you asked, there are people on GC who are glad to help you!

After the surgery, while the stiches are still in, you will not be able to sleep on your stomach; only your back and sides. Also until the stitches are out, you will not be able to run. They will tell you to buy an athletic bra without a wire for the size that you are now. This is because until the stitches come out, you'll need to keep the incisions covered with gauze pads and moist with vaseline or something like that. After the stitches come out you can do whatever you want.

I wasnt in any pain at anytime. They will give you something for pain if you need it though just in case. I spent one night in the hospital. After two days I was out walking in the neighborhood again, and right before the stitches came out i made the mistake of running (playing spotlight in the neighborhood with my friends). Luckily the running didnt effect my stitches.

I sleep on my side anyways, so that won't be a prob. How long do the stitches stay in? And by athletic bra I'm assuming you mean sports bra?
My pain threshold is pretty high, so if you say you weren't really in pain, I'm hoping I won't be either.
Thanks for your advice!


ETA: One more thing...if I got it done over Christmas break, would I be good to go by the time school restarts??