I was wondering if anyone has had a breast reduction?

I have been thinking about getting one for sometime. Now that I am done having kids I think it's time.
I have chronic back pain...my shoulder are always so sore and I have arthritis and that makes things even worse.

I am a 38DD and probably bigger but I haven't been measured but I am falling out of my bras.
I would like to go down to a large B small C.

I was just wondering if anyone had any stories to share about this surgery.

Thanks
:Terri: :wave:

I had BR surgery in June of '02. If you look at older posts, you will find them. Good luck! :bouncing:

I had one two years ago I was like you really sore back sholders etc. It was the best thing I have ever done, I look better I feel better I can exercise and not have to worry about them bouncing and hurting. When I was considering my surgery I researched it and everyone said there was severe pain but to tell the truth I did not have that much pain, I was back to work within a week and I was in the Canadian military at the time. I would recommend it to anyone who has large breasts good luck but just make sure you research the Dr you are using some are bette than others.

Best thing I ever did!!! Mine was last May. I was driving a few days later and the pain was minimal. I was a 36 DDD and went down to a full C/small D. I can't believe I waited so long!

I am almost a year post-op. I was a 46DDD+, and I'm now a 44C/D. 99% of those who've had it done are thrilled they did it, me included. It will be the best thing you could do for yourself. I was driving after 3 days and back at work after 2 weeks. It took ~3 weeks to get insurance approval, and 3 weeks later I had the surgery. I recommend you go for it!

Okay I was wondering if any one had some advice on breast reduction surgery. I am 25 years old soon to be 26 and am looking to get a breast reduction. I am a 40 G and am in need of a reduction. I have a appointment with the plastic Surgeon next week and was wondering what kind of things I should ask when I go for my consultation as well as what to expect at my consultation. I am just asking as I am very nervous about going through with this. Well any advice that you can give will be greatly appreciated.

I had my reduction 2 years ago in Jan and it was the best thingI could have ever done for myself. The surgery its self was not very painful I was back to work after about a week and I was in the Canadian Military at the time. I never had to really take any pain medication it only hurt when I leaned against something. I would do it again if I had to and the results were fantastic everything I expected I went from a D to a small B and I am soooo pleased. The pain in my neck was gone immediately I could feel the difference when I woke up and my back has not gone out on me as much since I got the reduction. When you first wake up you will feel a burning in your chest but no real pain. I say go for it you won't regret it and please let me know what you decide and how the appt goes

caper~ thanks for telling me about ur experience it helps reassure me that I am doing the right thing by having it done. I was also glad to hear that u were back to work in a week because most people I talked to were out for a month to a month and a half. Well hopefully my experience will be as pleasant as ur's was. Well I go the plastic surgeon a week from today............I think I am gonna do it now lets just see if we can get the insurance to cover it!

Another good report for you.... I was feeling almost no pain. Had a tummy tuck at the same time -- my pain was mostly from that. I was driving only a few days later. I really only felt pain if I tried to lift my arms over my head (takes a while for the skin to stretch out some). Ask your doctor about anti-bruising and anti-swelling meds and other vitamins. I took them for a week prior to my surgery and had no bruising and little (if any) swelling!! Makes recovery much easier and quicker! Good luck!

Good luck MinMin24 I am sure you will be very happy with the results. I am glad I could help east the anxiety a little let us know how thing go

I had my consultation a week ago and it looks like it's gonna be a go provided that my insurance covers. He wrote the letter to my insurance and said to give him 3 to 4 weeks to hear back from them once we get permission from the insurance I can come back ask him any questions I have then he will send me for a mammo and once that comes back Ok I can set a date. However he asked me a question that I thought I was prepared to answer but now that I thought about I am unsure. He asked my age and I told him that I was 25 then he asked me if I had any children.....I answered no and then he asked if wanted any kids? He said that I should give some thought to the fact that If I become pregnant after the surgery I take the risk of my breast returning to there normal size. So my question is has anyone had a breast reduction then became pregnant? If yes did ur breast return to the size the dr made u? I am just worried that I get this done and everythings all good then wham I get pregnant and my breast return to there larger size and stay there and I am back where I started. I really need this done now but also want to have children and not worry about the surgery reversing itself. If any one can give me advice that would be greatly appreciated!

I had one over 20 yrs agao. i have 3 children and no they did not go back to the size I was originally. They did however get bigger when I gained weight. As with every other part of my body!!! LOL When I lost weight they to lost weight as well. I don't think I have ever heard of the your breast returning back to their pre-op state from having kids! I mean your breast will grow during pregnancy like every womens does. But after they should go back down to their orginal size for the most part. Some ladys smaller some alittle bigger. My experieince is they have just done what they most likely would have done with or with having had the surgery done. I would guess though it may depend on how big of a reduciton your having as well. Hope my post helped!!! Good Luck!!!

Lauralu2000- Thanks for your post It was very helpful that is what I had thought....I knew during my pregnancy they may get slightly larger but would shortly after pregnancy return down to there normal size. Well with all that new info I think I am gonna go ahead with the surgery. I finally got my insurance to approve the claim so now all I am waiting for is the doctor to set up another consultation to address any questions I may have and discuss the size and then wait for him to send me for a mammo then when all that is finished I will set my date....thanks to everyone for all your kind words!

Okay my date has been officially set......I go for my Surgery on Tuesday July 25th 2006. However I am only takin off 2 weeks of work.....has any one took off only 2 weeks of work after having one. I am a lil curious thats all!

Hello,

I was a 42j and went down to a 42b/c. I am extremely happy and have no more pain. I had the surgery 3 years ago. after the surgery and the morphine they give you in the hospital, i took no pain pills because of the instant relief off the back. i felt like a new woman. i was back to work and school in one week. i just had a good sports bra and listened to my body. don't pick up heavy things and use common sense/listen to your body. if you have no complications then i think you should be okay (i'm not a doctor). make sure you go to your post-op visits, so that your doctor can make sure you are healing okay. I recommend for the drive home after the surgery, take a pillow to prop under your breasts this will help with any bumps from the trip home. One more thing, if they bring you a tray of food after surgery do not eat it because your only going to bring it back up. wait several hours after your awake. if they bring it with a roll, save the roll for later. bread helps absorb and you will tolerate that. sip on warm ginger ale. don't worry because complications with this surgery are rare. i recommend that you do not shower until after the steri strips have come off, because they can hold water if you are not carefull which can lead to infection (even if the doctor says it is okay). Just give yourself a sponge bath and if you have someone to help then they can wash your hair for you. good luck, don't worry, it is worth it. :wave:

Okay my date has been officially set......I go for my Surgery on Tuesday July 25th 2006. However I am only takin off 2 weeks of work.....has any one took off only 2 weeks of work after having one. I am a lil curious thats all!
I can tell you each person is different in recovery time. Also the procedure that is being done make a difference. Both my daughters and my self had it done. My daughters in their late 20's. Each one's recovery was longer because of their size. 1 daughter took about 10 days, the other was 18 days. Now myself because I waited WAY to long (50) and I had nipple skin grafts mine was 4 weeks. Find out if you are having skin grafting done to your nipples or just a realigment.

popples thanks for that advice...it was real reassuring. Also thanks countrykid I think my doctor said nipple realignment...... so hopefully after 14 days off work I will be ok.....plus I am young and a good healer.
Thanks again guys!

I have worked with several women that have had breast reduction. One of them has since had a baby, and they still look the same size now. One thing I might mention is one of the girls I know had one of her nipples reject, meaning the doctor had to remove the nipple completely a few weeks after surgery. I guess this can happen sometimes. She had some problems with her doctor rebuilding a new nipple (guess where the doctor gets the new skin from :eek: ) , and who was responsible for the extra fee. This may be something you want to ask your doctor about in the event of a complication. I don't think this complication happens often, but I guess it is a possiblity.