Tell me all you know about breast reduction surgery.
May 14, 2010 2:44 PM Subscribe
Breast reduction surgery filter: Have you had it done? Do you know someone who has?
I've been seriously considering having it done in the near future but I don't know where to start. I know some health insurance plans will cover it, or at least some of it, but what conditions do they require? I recently got professionally fitted for a bra and I'm at a whopping 32G and my BMI is 22. I don't have any serious back problems yet (I'm 29), but I think that's because I'm extremely careful about posture, lifting and how I sleep at night.
If you've had it done, how much did it change your life? Was it worth it? Also, how long is the recovery time? I get two weeks of paid vacation at my job (I bartend) and I could take more time off after that if I needed, but at my own expense. I only bartend during the day so it's not that physically demanding with the exception of being on my feet all day.
Basically, I just need to know everything you know about the process. Any and all advice, suggestions and knowledge is wholeheartedly welcome.
I've been seriously considering having it done in the near future but I don't know where to start. I know some health insurance plans will cover it, or at least some of it, but what conditions do they require? I recently got professionally fitted for a bra and I'm at a whopping 32G and my BMI is 22. I don't have any serious back problems yet (I'm 29), but I think that's because I'm extremely careful about posture, lifting and how I sleep at night.
If you've had it done, how much did it change your life? Was it worth it? Also, how long is the recovery time? I get two weeks of paid vacation at my job (I bartend) and I could take more time off after that if I needed, but at my own expense. I only bartend during the day so it's not that physically demanding with the exception of being on my feet all day.
Basically, I just need to know everything you know about the process. Any and all advice, suggestions and knowledge is wholeheartedly welcome.
My sister had it done in her late teens or early 20s (sometime around the mid-80s), and was very satisfied with the outcome. The benefits included less back pain, it became easier to exercise and sleep, clothes fit her better, and people started speaking to her face rather than her chest. I remember her once recalling that the psychological and physical benefits were so great, in fact, that she felt she was able to actually stand up straight for the first time since she was about 13.
posted by scody at 3:00 PM on May 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by scody at 3:00 PM on May 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
My best friend did it when we were 19. It completely changed her life for the better. As scody says above, my friend could exercise without great pain or discomfort, shop for off-the-rack clothing, sleep without discomfort, and her neck and shoulder pain virtually disappeared. She was similarly slim and hated that people would literally stare at her chest - especially men. If we were out at a bar and she had even a simple v-neck top on, the leering was visible from across the room. She certainly didn't just do ii for that reason, but it's been an absolutely amazing benefit. Ten years out, her scarring is so minimal and I know she would do it again, or urge others with the same amount of pain and discomfort to do the same.
posted by barnone at 3:05 PM on May 14, 2010
posted by barnone at 3:05 PM on May 14, 2010
I had it done at 40. The difference was immediate and 100% positive. I wish I had done it when I was much younger. Feel free to memail me if you want to know more.
posted by headnsouth at 3:19 PM on May 14, 2010
posted by headnsouth at 3:19 PM on May 14, 2010
My mom did it at 45 and wished she had done it waaaay sooner.
posted by buzzkillington at 3:25 PM on May 14, 2010
posted by buzzkillington at 3:25 PM on May 14, 2010
past and future responders, do you mind sharing what size you started at? As someone who wears a similar bra size to the OP but has never considered reduction, I'm just curious.
posted by peep at 3:25 PM on May 14, 2010
posted by peep at 3:25 PM on May 14, 2010
I'm intrigued by this as I don't have back problems (I have a large frame) or sleep discomfort, but I do have enormous problems getting clothing to fit. Given that that's a relatively small problem, should I worry? Will I get back problems later in life?
I do know that over here many people fly to Croatia to get cosmetic procedures done, as costs are lower and it is difficult to get referral for breast surgery on the NHS. Might be worth looking into.
posted by mippy at 3:26 PM on May 14, 2010
I do know that over here many people fly to Croatia to get cosmetic procedures done, as costs are lower and it is difficult to get referral for breast surgery on the NHS. Might be worth looking into.
posted by mippy at 3:26 PM on May 14, 2010
My mom had a breast reduction when she was in her late 40s or early 50s, and she gloats about it all the time whenever I complain about tops not fitting me properly or whatever. She had some complications with a post-op infection, and her nipples/scarring looked gnarly at first (she made me go to the doctor with her, since I've been considering the surgery for a while), but everything looks pretty normal now with just some minor scarring on the underside of her breasts.
You're pretty young, though. Are you ever planning to have more children? I know my mom always had pretty severe back problems, with deep indentations in her shoulders from bra straps digging in, but her breasts grew a lot with each kid she had. You've probably already thought of this, but I definitely wouldn't consider getting the surgery until after you're done with any potential child-bearing.
One other thought... where did you have your bra fitting done? I have the same BMI and have had bra fittings several places, but I've never felt so confident and properly-fitted until I went to Rigby & Peller. I'd been fitted several places as a 32f, but Rigby & Peller put me in a 30f. Turns out that having the smaller band size really makes a difference in my posture and comfort. My boobs don't even look all that huge in a properly fitting bra (of course, once the bra comes off, they look enormous compared to my small frame, but whatever).
posted by booknerd at 3:41 PM on May 14, 2010
You're pretty young, though. Are you ever planning to have more children? I know my mom always had pretty severe back problems, with deep indentations in her shoulders from bra straps digging in, but her breasts grew a lot with each kid she had. You've probably already thought of this, but I definitely wouldn't consider getting the surgery until after you're done with any potential child-bearing.
One other thought... where did you have your bra fitting done? I have the same BMI and have had bra fittings several places, but I've never felt so confident and properly-fitted until I went to Rigby & Peller. I'd been fitted several places as a 32f, but Rigby & Peller put me in a 30f. Turns out that having the smaller band size really makes a difference in my posture and comfort. My boobs don't even look all that huge in a properly fitting bra (of course, once the bra comes off, they look enormous compared to my small frame, but whatever).
posted by booknerd at 3:41 PM on May 14, 2010
I had it done when I was about 30. Went from a 36G to a 36C. Insurance covered most of it because my back was having trouble. Definitely one of the best decisions I've ever made. That said, the recovery was unpleasant. It was about 3 months before I could raise my arms straight over my head again, just to give an example. If you want more details, send me a message and I'm happy to answer any question.
posted by kbuxton at 4:00 PM on May 14, 2010
posted by kbuxton at 4:00 PM on May 14, 2010
I definitely wouldn't consider getting the surgery until after you're done with any potential child-bearing.
Oh yeah, this may be a consideration. My sister found that the surgery did interfere with her ability to breastfeed her kids (she has 3) -- it wasn't totally impossible, but she did have to supplement with formula each time.
posted by scody at 4:07 PM on May 14, 2010
Oh yeah, this may be a consideration. My sister found that the surgery did interfere with her ability to breastfeed her kids (she has 3) -- it wasn't totally impossible, but she did have to supplement with formula each time.
posted by scody at 4:07 PM on May 14, 2010
I have a friend who did this some years back. She went from super-enormous to medium-large, and couldn't be happier for all the reasons mentioned above -- exercising, clothes, back pain, leering, etc. I haven't seen her naked, but she says that the scarring is really minimal.
posted by Forktine at 4:23 PM on May 14, 2010
posted by Forktine at 4:23 PM on May 14, 2010
Had a friend who did it when we were in college. She was so happy about it that she was bragging and showing off. We weren't that close, so I don't know the background story, but she was clearly very happy after the procedure.
posted by Terriniski at 4:28 PM on May 14, 2010
posted by Terriniski at 4:28 PM on May 14, 2010
I did it at 24 and have no regrets. I was a 38DD (probably bigger- I barely fit into a DD) now a 36C. My insurance covered everything but the deductible. I lost some sensation in one breast, but the fact that there are no dents in my shoulder was well worth it.
I'm almost 40 now, and I'm way perkier than I was at 20, and I still marvel at being able to button a shirt and not have gaps.
I'd be happy to share more over memail if you like.
posted by dogmom at 4:32 PM on May 14, 2010
I'm almost 40 now, and I'm way perkier than I was at 20, and I still marvel at being able to button a shirt and not have gaps.
I'd be happy to share more over memail if you like.
posted by dogmom at 4:32 PM on May 14, 2010
I had a breast reduction 9 years ago when I was 21. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life.
My insurance covered the procedure completely - the only thing I had to pay at the time was the normal hospital co-pay. The cosmetic surgeon that I saw asked me some questions about how it was affecting my life, and they took care of getting approval from my insurance company. I did not have any documented back problems at the time, but I did have lower back and shoulder pain. I also had semi-permanent grooves on my shoulders from bra-straps. My plastic surgeon took pictures of the grooves and I believe he sent them to the insurance company. I went from a 36H-36J depending on the bra to a 36C.
The surgery took about 4 hours with another 6 in the recovery area. I took 2 weeks off of work to heal. In that two weeks I was mostly bedridden. It was a pretty painful two weeks, but that may have been compounded for me since taking opiate pain killers makes me sick. My husband (then boyfriend) took care of me for those 2 weeks and I really needed him. I don’t know if I could have taken care of myself alone, so I would suggest a caretaker. I found movies/TV easier for entertainment than books, because I didn’t have to hold anything up.
I was able to function when I went back to work, but it was pretty uncomfortable. I worked as a bank teller then, so I was on my feet but the job was not too physically demanding. It took about 3 months for me to get back to doing all of the things I did before surgery and another 3 to be comfortable doing it. The scars seemed pretty bad a first, but have faded rather nicely with time and aren’t that noticeable now. Even before the scarring had faded they looked a million times better than before surgery.
I did have a kid 2 years ago. When I had the surgery, I didn‘t think about kids at all. I was able to breastfeed somewhat but had to supplement. BFAR is a good resource if this is a concern. My breasts did get larger with pregnancy and have not gone back to their pre-pregnancy size in the past 2 years. I went from a C to a D. This doesn’t make me regret doing it so early - I can’t imagine going through that 7 years with that extra weight strapped to me. It helped my back pain, posture and confidence. I was able to fit into clothes properly and buy bras that cost less than 75 dollars. If I had planned on having kids earlier though, I may have waited.
I hope this helps, you can memail me if you have any other questions.
posted by Lapin at 4:35 PM on May 14, 2010
My insurance covered the procedure completely - the only thing I had to pay at the time was the normal hospital co-pay. The cosmetic surgeon that I saw asked me some questions about how it was affecting my life, and they took care of getting approval from my insurance company. I did not have any documented back problems at the time, but I did have lower back and shoulder pain. I also had semi-permanent grooves on my shoulders from bra-straps. My plastic surgeon took pictures of the grooves and I believe he sent them to the insurance company. I went from a 36H-36J depending on the bra to a 36C.
The surgery took about 4 hours with another 6 in the recovery area. I took 2 weeks off of work to heal. In that two weeks I was mostly bedridden. It was a pretty painful two weeks, but that may have been compounded for me since taking opiate pain killers makes me sick. My husband (then boyfriend) took care of me for those 2 weeks and I really needed him. I don’t know if I could have taken care of myself alone, so I would suggest a caretaker. I found movies/TV easier for entertainment than books, because I didn’t have to hold anything up.
I was able to function when I went back to work, but it was pretty uncomfortable. I worked as a bank teller then, so I was on my feet but the job was not too physically demanding. It took about 3 months for me to get back to doing all of the things I did before surgery and another 3 to be comfortable doing it. The scars seemed pretty bad a first, but have faded rather nicely with time and aren’t that noticeable now. Even before the scarring had faded they looked a million times better than before surgery.
I did have a kid 2 years ago. When I had the surgery, I didn‘t think about kids at all. I was able to breastfeed somewhat but had to supplement. BFAR is a good resource if this is a concern. My breasts did get larger with pregnancy and have not gone back to their pre-pregnancy size in the past 2 years. I went from a C to a D. This doesn’t make me regret doing it so early - I can’t imagine going through that 7 years with that extra weight strapped to me. It helped my back pain, posture and confidence. I was able to fit into clothes properly and buy bras that cost less than 75 dollars. If I had planned on having kids earlier though, I may have waited.
I hope this helps, you can memail me if you have any other questions.
posted by Lapin at 4:35 PM on May 14, 2010
Ask me next week. Woohoo! :-)
posted by fish tick at 4:47 PM on May 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by fish tick at 4:47 PM on May 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: I'm definitely in the no kids camp so breast feeding won't be an issue. After reading all the responses, I'm much more motivated now to get the ball rolling. For the women who've had the surgery, what size did you go down to and were you happy with it? I'm thinking of maybe a C cup.
posted by MaryDellamorte at 5:03 PM on May 14, 2010
posted by MaryDellamorte at 5:03 PM on May 14, 2010
I had it done in November. I was done breastfeeding and tired of hauling K-cup boobs around. Everyone said I'd be happy with it, but what I didn't expect was that I would wake up with my chronic neck pain gone--GONE!--and it has not come back. I've also experienced a dramatic improvement in a headache I've had for more than 15 years. It's been amazing. I'd have done it years earlier if I'd had any idea what a difference it would make. I'd have done it even if it meant not nursing any of my kids--bottle-fed kids do fine, and how much better would their lives have been with a mom who wasn't in pain all the time? FWIW, though, the surgeon said my milk ducts were unaffected and I probably would be able to breastfeed even after the surgery, though there are certainly no more babies in my future.
At six months in, I still have some tenderness at times in my incisions sites. My scars are fading; visible but white, no longer red. I have one spot on the underside of my right breast that had trouble healing, and I have a little bump of scar tissue there (though feeling it just now, I think it's gotten smaller recently). I now have what feels like full sensation again on my right nipple, and almost full on the my left.
The healing is definitely a long-term process. I don't remember having a lot of trouble right after; I think it was only a couple of weeks until I had full arm mobility. But healing seems to happen in fits and starts; it was only a month or so ago that I had a day or two of shooting needle pains in my nipples, and a few weeks ago, my breasts suddenly got softer.
I'm in the "best thing I ever did" camp. People now often comment on my good posture and improved mobility--"you look like you're moving so much more easily"--even people who don't know about the surgery see that something is different.
posted by not that girl at 6:18 PM on May 14, 2010
At six months in, I still have some tenderness at times in my incisions sites. My scars are fading; visible but white, no longer red. I have one spot on the underside of my right breast that had trouble healing, and I have a little bump of scar tissue there (though feeling it just now, I think it's gotten smaller recently). I now have what feels like full sensation again on my right nipple, and almost full on the my left.
The healing is definitely a long-term process. I don't remember having a lot of trouble right after; I think it was only a couple of weeks until I had full arm mobility. But healing seems to happen in fits and starts; it was only a month or so ago that I had a day or two of shooting needle pains in my nipples, and a few weeks ago, my breasts suddenly got softer.
I'm in the "best thing I ever did" camp. People now often comment on my good posture and improved mobility--"you look like you're moving so much more easily"--even people who don't know about the surgery see that something is different.
posted by not that girl at 6:18 PM on May 14, 2010
I had it done when I was 24 and went from a 34F to a 34D. I actually ended up with bigger breasts that I wanted when it was all over, but I still would definitely do it again. I had a great plastic surgeon and he really took into account my body shape and frame in determining what I should look like post surgery.
My insurance paid for the whole thing, and I healed really fast--I was even in a wedding 10 days after surgery..your results may vary; I tent to be a fast healer. I have a few numb spots, but for the most part I have regular sensation in my breasts and nipples and was able to breastfeed my child (but did not produce enough to sustain her; I had to supplement with formula).
My scars are very faint (I'm very fair skinned, so I guess this wouldn't be the case for everyone).
Hmmm, I'm trying to think what else to tell you...feel free to MeMail me if you have any other questions I can answer.
posted by Mimzy at 6:23 PM on May 14, 2010
My insurance paid for the whole thing, and I healed really fast--I was even in a wedding 10 days after surgery..your results may vary; I tent to be a fast healer. I have a few numb spots, but for the most part I have regular sensation in my breasts and nipples and was able to breastfeed my child (but did not produce enough to sustain her; I had to supplement with formula).
My scars are very faint (I'm very fair skinned, so I guess this wouldn't be the case for everyone).
Hmmm, I'm trying to think what else to tell you...feel free to MeMail me if you have any other questions I can answer.
posted by Mimzy at 6:23 PM on May 14, 2010
I had a coworker do it, and a close friend consider it. The only thing keeping my friend from doing it was that her insurance required that she lose quite a bit of weight.
My coworker was a rather petite gal who developed back issues (I believe there were other issues, but I can't remember what they were) and was also dealing with some pretty serious emotional issues because of her breasts.
She went from really enormous to a still big D. Her only regret was that she didn't go smaller. She did have some scarring, but she said it was easily hidden. Even after the surgery she had to do some physical therapy to deal with the back issues.
posted by TooFewShoes at 7:53 PM on May 14, 2010
My coworker was a rather petite gal who developed back issues (I believe there were other issues, but I can't remember what they were) and was also dealing with some pretty serious emotional issues because of her breasts.
She went from really enormous to a still big D. Her only regret was that she didn't go smaller. She did have some scarring, but she said it was easily hidden. Even after the surgery she had to do some physical therapy to deal with the back issues.
posted by TooFewShoes at 7:53 PM on May 14, 2010
I had it done eight months ago. I went from a 38F to a 36C (although I've lost weight and I think I'm now at a 34C). It's a pretty small C. Every time my surgeon saw them at my follow-ups he said, "Wow, those are some small breasts".
I asked for a small C/large B and got exactly what I wanted. I am still not sure if I want to have a kid or not; I knew they'd get bigger if I did and planned accordingly.
Personally, I don't think they're that small. And if I want them bigger, I put on a padded bra. A PADDED BRA! I've never owned/needed/wanted a padded bra before. They're hilarious! And the best part is, when I'm done wanting larger boobs, I get to take them off!
I was in surgery for 4 hours, and home in my own bed about an hour later. They were putting my pants on when I woke up and then they kicked me out the door. I didn't mind though, it was nice to be home. I was out from work for two weeks, but I probably could have gone back after a week. I was not allowed to sweat for 6 weeks. There was a lifting restriction of 10lbs. Had to wear a sports bra 24/7. But the pain wasn't bad at all. Ice packs helped a lot. The scarring is not nearly as bad as you'd think. Eight months later and the vertical scar is nearly gone, and the scar underneath is flat and pale pink on the outsides, but still raised near the center of my chest. That will go away in another six months or so I'm sure. I'm not really worried. Oh, and I still have total sensation in my nipples. The underside of the breast is still numb, but my surgeon says that will go away in a year or two. Again, I'm not worried.
I have to say, it was the second best thing I ever did for myself (the first being gastric bypass surgery 15 months ago). I love my small boobs. I love wearing sundresses with tiny straps and no bra underneath. I love being able to wear shirts that button up the front. And I love not having to haul the awful things around anymore.
My mom had it done 30 years ago. Her scars are pretty bad, which I think is what put me off from doing it for so long. But she also scars if you look at her funny. She's fond of showing me the place where she skinned her knee when she was six years old - 55 years ago. But even with the scars and the numbness (hers was done back in the day when they cut the nipples off, put them in a tray, and then grafted them back on) she never regretted it for a second. 34G to a 34D. Now she's back up to a DDD, but she's gained and lost and gained and lost and gained and lost a LOT of weight in those 30 years.
And a friend of mine had it done a few years ago. She ended up with a pretty nasty infection, but still never regretted it. She went from something ridiculous like an H to a DD. I personally don't think she went small enough (and they've grown since she's gained some weight) but she's happy.
Anyway, feel free to MeMail me if you have any questions. I think I'm the most recent reductee around these parts. I'll even send you pictures if you want. :P
posted by elsietheeel at 8:21 PM on May 14, 2010
I asked for a small C/large B and got exactly what I wanted. I am still not sure if I want to have a kid or not; I knew they'd get bigger if I did and planned accordingly.
Personally, I don't think they're that small. And if I want them bigger, I put on a padded bra. A PADDED BRA! I've never owned/needed/wanted a padded bra before. They're hilarious! And the best part is, when I'm done wanting larger boobs, I get to take them off!
I was in surgery for 4 hours, and home in my own bed about an hour later. They were putting my pants on when I woke up and then they kicked me out the door. I didn't mind though, it was nice to be home. I was out from work for two weeks, but I probably could have gone back after a week. I was not allowed to sweat for 6 weeks. There was a lifting restriction of 10lbs. Had to wear a sports bra 24/7. But the pain wasn't bad at all. Ice packs helped a lot. The scarring is not nearly as bad as you'd think. Eight months later and the vertical scar is nearly gone, and the scar underneath is flat and pale pink on the outsides, but still raised near the center of my chest. That will go away in another six months or so I'm sure. I'm not really worried. Oh, and I still have total sensation in my nipples. The underside of the breast is still numb, but my surgeon says that will go away in a year or two. Again, I'm not worried.
I have to say, it was the second best thing I ever did for myself (the first being gastric bypass surgery 15 months ago). I love my small boobs. I love wearing sundresses with tiny straps and no bra underneath. I love being able to wear shirts that button up the front. And I love not having to haul the awful things around anymore.
My mom had it done 30 years ago. Her scars are pretty bad, which I think is what put me off from doing it for so long. But she also scars if you look at her funny. She's fond of showing me the place where she skinned her knee when she was six years old - 55 years ago. But even with the scars and the numbness (hers was done back in the day when they cut the nipples off, put them in a tray, and then grafted them back on) she never regretted it for a second. 34G to a 34D. Now she's back up to a DDD, but she's gained and lost and gained and lost and gained and lost a LOT of weight in those 30 years.
And a friend of mine had it done a few years ago. She ended up with a pretty nasty infection, but still never regretted it. She went from something ridiculous like an H to a DD. I personally don't think she went small enough (and they've grown since she's gained some weight) but she's happy.
Anyway, feel free to MeMail me if you have any questions. I think I'm the most recent reductee around these parts. I'll even send you pictures if you want. :P
posted by elsietheeel at 8:21 PM on May 14, 2010
I had the surgery at 17 (which was way too young). I don't know what my pre-surgery bra size was any more (this was the mid-'80s) but my post surgery bra size was a 34C.
I don't regret it exactly, but 20+ years later when I got pregnant I did regret not paying more attention to the "you won't be able to breastfeed" warning. However, I was actually able to nurse my son (a little) so that was all good. (We also supplemented with formula; I was prepared to not be able to nurse him at all, so even nursing some felt like a big, big victory for me).
I'm now 42 and I wear a 44DDD bra. I've gained quite a bit of weight in the intervening years, but even a few years later I was back up a DD size (without the weight gain). Partly I think this is a function of being too young when the surgery was done. I also have basically no sensation at all in one breast and maybe about 10% sensation in the other... this is along the entire underside of the breast, including the nipple - basically anywhere there were incisions. This I've learned to live with, but my breasts are basically now more decorative than useful for my own sexual arousal.
All in all I'd advise you to do it; 20+ years on I don't really regret it.
I was only in the hospital (again, mid-80s) overnight; a couple days recovery at home and then wearing this crazy compression vest (with drainage ports, yipee) for a couple of weeks. If I had the surgery now I doubt I'd be out of work more than a few days tops (unless heavy lifting is an integral part of your job).
posted by anastasiav at 8:22 PM on May 14, 2010
I don't regret it exactly, but 20+ years later when I got pregnant I did regret not paying more attention to the "you won't be able to breastfeed" warning. However, I was actually able to nurse my son (a little) so that was all good. (We also supplemented with formula; I was prepared to not be able to nurse him at all, so even nursing some felt like a big, big victory for me).
I'm now 42 and I wear a 44DDD bra. I've gained quite a bit of weight in the intervening years, but even a few years later I was back up a DD size (without the weight gain). Partly I think this is a function of being too young when the surgery was done. I also have basically no sensation at all in one breast and maybe about 10% sensation in the other... this is along the entire underside of the breast, including the nipple - basically anywhere there were incisions. This I've learned to live with, but my breasts are basically now more decorative than useful for my own sexual arousal.
All in all I'd advise you to do it; 20+ years on I don't really regret it.
I was only in the hospital (again, mid-80s) overnight; a couple days recovery at home and then wearing this crazy compression vest (with drainage ports, yipee) for a couple of weeks. If I had the surgery now I doubt I'd be out of work more than a few days tops (unless heavy lifting is an integral part of your job).
posted by anastasiav at 8:22 PM on May 14, 2010
A word of warning... having large breasts doesn't mean you will have back trouble.
I have several friends with large breasts (some significantly larger than yours), a couple of whom have had breast reductions. The ones who had reductions did so because they had back problems and are very happy with the results. The others still have not had back problems and have no intention of getting breast reductions. The ones that did not have the surgery also tend to take care of themselves better in general and wear proper fitting bras. The ones that had back problems don't and pay/paid less attention to bra fitment.
I see a lot of correlation (I know the situations aren't identical) between women and men who have back trouble. With women it is the basic precautions of wearing a good bra and with men it is being careful when moving heavy things. The men and women that put a decent amount of forethought don't seem to have trouble.
That said, best of luck if you decide to do it.
posted by thekiltedwonder at 8:48 PM on May 14, 2010
I have several friends with large breasts (some significantly larger than yours), a couple of whom have had breast reductions. The ones who had reductions did so because they had back problems and are very happy with the results. The others still have not had back problems and have no intention of getting breast reductions. The ones that did not have the surgery also tend to take care of themselves better in general and wear proper fitting bras. The ones that had back problems don't and pay/paid less attention to bra fitment.
I see a lot of correlation (I know the situations aren't identical) between women and men who have back trouble. With women it is the basic precautions of wearing a good bra and with men it is being careful when moving heavy things. The men and women that put a decent amount of forethought don't seem to have trouble.
That said, best of luck if you decide to do it.
posted by thekiltedwonder at 8:48 PM on May 14, 2010
I believe my sister reduced from a DD to a small C. She has said that she occasionally wishes she'd gone for a larger C (to which my A-cups and I just smile indulgently).
posted by scody at 8:51 PM on May 14, 2010
posted by scody at 8:51 PM on May 14, 2010
The ones that did not have the surgery also tend to take care of themselves better in general and wear proper fitting bras. The ones that had back problems don't and pay/paid less attention to bra fitment.
I bought custom-fitted bras for years. Made no difference.
That said, I might agree that it's not worth having the surgery to avoid problems you haven't started having yet--you might never. On the other hand, when my mother had breast reduction, she just really enjoyed how comfortable she felt and how well her clothes fit. That's not nothing.
posted by not that girl at 8:58 PM on May 14, 2010
I bought custom-fitted bras for years. Made no difference.
That said, I might agree that it's not worth having the surgery to avoid problems you haven't started having yet--you might never. On the other hand, when my mother had breast reduction, she just really enjoyed how comfortable she felt and how well her clothes fit. That's not nothing.
posted by not that girl at 8:58 PM on May 14, 2010
Response by poster: For me it's not just to prevent future health problems. I want to be able to shop for cute dresses and tops. I can only wear stretchy plain tops and I get horribly depressed after a day of clothes shopping. I also hate to be stared at and I'd like to be known for other things than just " the girl with huge boobs." My breasts have been the center of most of my self esteem issues reaching as far back as elementary school and I believe they are the root of a horrible eating disorder I struggled with for over a decade.
posted by MaryDellamorte at 9:28 PM on May 14, 2010
posted by MaryDellamorte at 9:28 PM on May 14, 2010
I have been a 32G+ for 15 or more years and have no back problems at all so it's not a given that you will develop them. If you wear correctly fitted bras with a small enough band so that the band supports the weight and not your shoulders you should be perfectly fine. I run, ski, ride horses and generally play all kinds of sports with no issues. I do buy a lot of European made clothing which has more room for the ladies than US brand clothing for some reason.
Most of the women I know who've had breast reductions for back pain were fairly overweight and not very fit. I'm not saying everyone who has back pain is overweight but that seemed to be a factor in some of my friends having pain even when they had smaller breasts than a lot of people who don't have pain. Having said that most of the 7 or 8 people I know who've had the surgery were very happy with it, even though several had significant scarring and their breasts tended to grow back over time to some extent.
posted by fshgrl at 9:37 PM on May 14, 2010
Most of the women I know who've had breast reductions for back pain were fairly overweight and not very fit. I'm not saying everyone who has back pain is overweight but that seemed to be a factor in some of my friends having pain even when they had smaller breasts than a lot of people who don't have pain. Having said that most of the 7 or 8 people I know who've had the surgery were very happy with it, even though several had significant scarring and their breasts tended to grow back over time to some extent.
posted by fshgrl at 9:37 PM on May 14, 2010
On preview: doing it for self confidence reasons seems totally valid to me but if that's why you're doing it you really need to educate yourself on the possible side effects like scarring and discoloration and decide you can live with a worst case scenario or how you will pay for additional plastic surgery if needed. The scars etc can be quite dramatic, especially the first couple years until it all fades. I was pretty shocked when I saw the scarring one of my friends ended up with and she's self conscious about it (she was self conscious about the boobs too though and everyone could see those, not just her husband, so on balance she's still very glad she did it).
posted by fshgrl at 9:40 PM on May 14, 2010
posted by fshgrl at 9:40 PM on May 14, 2010
Totally worth it, even recovery, even scars -- did it last year. MeMail if you want to ask questions!
posted by theredpen at 7:55 AM on May 15, 2010
posted by theredpen at 7:55 AM on May 15, 2010
I had a breast reduction 13 years ago, when I was 21, after contemplating it for a number of years. I went from a D or DD down to a large B/small C--the shape and size have shifted somewhat with time, weight gain/loss, etc., but I am very much in the "so happy I did this" camp.
I had some back problems, although I'm not sure how related they were to my breast size--mostly I just hated having huge breasts, which I guess is maybe a sort of selfish reason to get surgery, but I'm so much happier and more comfortable, and all the other things that people have said are easier--exercising, sleeping, finding clothes--are indeed so much easier.
As I recall, I had a couple of appointments prior to the surgery, during which a great many people looked at, measured, asked questions about, and drew things on my breasts. They also warned me about possible not being able to breastfeed and possibly losing sensation in my breasts or nipples. The latter has not happened at all; the former I'm unsure about since I don't have kids and am not really planning to. At the time I decided that my well-being outrated the possible inability to breastfeed kids I might or might not have. They also warn you a lot about anesthesia, which is the riskiest part of the whole thing, from what I understand.
I was in surgery for I think somewhere between 4 and 6 hours, and I was released from the hospital the next day. It wasn't particularly painful, although there was some discomfort--mostly I didn't like that I had to sleep on my back for a couple of nights. I took it easy for a week or two, I think, but then I went back to college and started working campus patrol with no difficulties. You get this incredibly ugly yet strangely comfortable bra to wear for a month or so--imagine a sort of very large sports bra that zips up the front--and you have to change your dressings a couple times a day for the first month. But eventually all that ends, and you get to go out and buy pretty bras, and cross the room in your PJs without your arms strapped across your chest, and that is fabulous. You do end up with some scars, but in fourteen years, I've only had one person notice them. Boobs beat scars, apparently. :-)
Feel free to get in touch if you have any other questions!
posted by newrambler at 9:58 AM on May 15, 2010
I had some back problems, although I'm not sure how related they were to my breast size--mostly I just hated having huge breasts, which I guess is maybe a sort of selfish reason to get surgery, but I'm so much happier and more comfortable, and all the other things that people have said are easier--exercising, sleeping, finding clothes--are indeed so much easier.
As I recall, I had a couple of appointments prior to the surgery, during which a great many people looked at, measured, asked questions about, and drew things on my breasts. They also warned me about possible not being able to breastfeed and possibly losing sensation in my breasts or nipples. The latter has not happened at all; the former I'm unsure about since I don't have kids and am not really planning to. At the time I decided that my well-being outrated the possible inability to breastfeed kids I might or might not have. They also warn you a lot about anesthesia, which is the riskiest part of the whole thing, from what I understand.
I was in surgery for I think somewhere between 4 and 6 hours, and I was released from the hospital the next day. It wasn't particularly painful, although there was some discomfort--mostly I didn't like that I had to sleep on my back for a couple of nights. I took it easy for a week or two, I think, but then I went back to college and started working campus patrol with no difficulties. You get this incredibly ugly yet strangely comfortable bra to wear for a month or so--imagine a sort of very large sports bra that zips up the front--and you have to change your dressings a couple times a day for the first month. But eventually all that ends, and you get to go out and buy pretty bras, and cross the room in your PJs without your arms strapped across your chest, and that is fabulous. You do end up with some scars, but in fourteen years, I've only had one person notice them. Boobs beat scars, apparently. :-)
Feel free to get in touch if you have any other questions!
posted by newrambler at 9:58 AM on May 15, 2010
It's one of the hugest regrets of my life. I still have pain from the scar tissue almost 20 years later. Sensation is either missing or misplaced. Things are definitely not pretty-looking. Due to bad healing from the original surgery, recovery from a biopsy a couple of years ago took about six MONTHS. Feel free to MeMail me for more information.
It's kinda like Lasik, IMO - there are lots of happy people and a few very unhappy people. Where does your tolerance for failure lie?
posted by Addlepated at 11:00 AM on May 15, 2010
It's kinda like Lasik, IMO - there are lots of happy people and a few very unhappy people. Where does your tolerance for failure lie?
posted by Addlepated at 11:00 AM on May 15, 2010
I have a friend who had it done, had no complications, and said she only wishes she'd done it sooner (she waited till her late 30s). The benefits, for her, have been endless. There are things she can do now that she could never do before (work out), things she doesn't have to do anymore (wear a bra to bed every night) and the back pain is gone.
posted by FlyByDay at 5:48 PM on May 15, 2010
posted by FlyByDay at 5:48 PM on May 15, 2010
I went looking for a breast reduction and ended up discovering I had in situ breast cancer (doc wanted me to get a mammogram because of family history of breast cancer), so I got a "reduction" by way of mastectomy and reconstruction. I reveal this only to clarify that I don't have a normal reduction -- although my surgeons used the anchor-shaped incisions used in breast reductions, so my scars are in about the same places yours might be.
Pre-surgery I did go about getting proper-fitting bras and appreciated that, yes, that helped some with back soreness. And I went to the gym and lost 20 pounds in the hopes that the boobs would shrink, but no, they didn't. But now? Holy cow, having less boob to carry around sure is nice. My back doesn't hurt at the end of the day anymore. No more jiggles when I giggle. Being able to wear empire-waist tops and dresses? So awesome.
Ask your family doctor for recommendations for plastic surgeons. She will know who is good and who is bad. My insurance required me to get a letter from my doctor saying a reduction was "medically necessary" before they'd approve me to see a plastic surgeon. The easiest way to find out what your insurance requires: call the plastic surgeon's office. Their staff tend to have that sort of thing memorized.
Go to the plastic surgeon, look at the album of before and after photos.
(What I remember noticing: Before surgery, boobs all look different. I had no idea what variety existed. Wow. But after surgery, they kinda all look the same.)
There are different incision patterns that can be used, depending on how much tissue will be removed and how worried you are about loss of nipple sensation and ability to breastfeed. Ask to see examples photos of the different options. Your surgeon should be able to tell you what percent of his patients have noticed decreased nipple sensation after the surgery. If you think you don't care about that, well, ask anyway. Ask about how long recovery usually takes and what kind of painkillers you might be on for how long. Ask how often and for how long you'll come for follow-ups. Your surgeon will tell you about the most common complications and how often they occur. Understand the risks you are taking, make sure you're comfortable with those risks. If you're not, consider a consultation with another surgeon. Ask about what surgery center the procedure will take place at. Oh, and if you happen to have any stretch marks on your boobs, ask whether those might be in areas that will be removed during the surgery. I thought they got all of mine, but later noticed there were a couple small ones left.
As for recovery, I know a friend-of-a-friend who was off work for three days after a reduction and came back feeling fine (the demands of her job are very similar to yours). Others take much longer. My understanding is that this sort of thing goes much more smoothly than it used to a couple decades ago. For the first couple of weeks that you're up and working, you will be given some limits. I'd imagine it's something along the lines of "don't lift your hands above your head and don't lift anything over 10 (or 15, or 20) pounds." LISTEN TO THESE INSTRUCTIONS. If you don't, well, it's bloody and gross and painful and potentially embarrassing. Also, groceries are apparently heavier than you might think. And you'll realize that you need to lift your arms above your head more frequently than you thought. But don't break the rules.
And then enjoy what a relief it is to be able to buy a $15 bra right off the rack at Target. HEAVEN.
(And if anyone wants more info, memail me.)
posted by katieinshoes at 7:12 PM on May 15, 2010
Pre-surgery I did go about getting proper-fitting bras and appreciated that, yes, that helped some with back soreness. And I went to the gym and lost 20 pounds in the hopes that the boobs would shrink, but no, they didn't. But now? Holy cow, having less boob to carry around sure is nice. My back doesn't hurt at the end of the day anymore. No more jiggles when I giggle. Being able to wear empire-waist tops and dresses? So awesome.
Ask your family doctor for recommendations for plastic surgeons. She will know who is good and who is bad. My insurance required me to get a letter from my doctor saying a reduction was "medically necessary" before they'd approve me to see a plastic surgeon. The easiest way to find out what your insurance requires: call the plastic surgeon's office. Their staff tend to have that sort of thing memorized.
Go to the plastic surgeon, look at the album of before and after photos.
(What I remember noticing: Before surgery, boobs all look different. I had no idea what variety existed. Wow. But after surgery, they kinda all look the same.)
There are different incision patterns that can be used, depending on how much tissue will be removed and how worried you are about loss of nipple sensation and ability to breastfeed. Ask to see examples photos of the different options. Your surgeon should be able to tell you what percent of his patients have noticed decreased nipple sensation after the surgery. If you think you don't care about that, well, ask anyway. Ask about how long recovery usually takes and what kind of painkillers you might be on for how long. Ask how often and for how long you'll come for follow-ups. Your surgeon will tell you about the most common complications and how often they occur. Understand the risks you are taking, make sure you're comfortable with those risks. If you're not, consider a consultation with another surgeon. Ask about what surgery center the procedure will take place at. Oh, and if you happen to have any stretch marks on your boobs, ask whether those might be in areas that will be removed during the surgery. I thought they got all of mine, but later noticed there were a couple small ones left.
As for recovery, I know a friend-of-a-friend who was off work for three days after a reduction and came back feeling fine (the demands of her job are very similar to yours). Others take much longer. My understanding is that this sort of thing goes much more smoothly than it used to a couple decades ago. For the first couple of weeks that you're up and working, you will be given some limits. I'd imagine it's something along the lines of "don't lift your hands above your head and don't lift anything over 10 (or 15, or 20) pounds." LISTEN TO THESE INSTRUCTIONS. If you don't, well, it's bloody and gross and painful and potentially embarrassing. Also, groceries are apparently heavier than you might think. And you'll realize that you need to lift your arms above your head more frequently than you thought. But don't break the rules.
And then enjoy what a relief it is to be able to buy a $15 bra right off the rack at Target. HEAVEN.
(And if anyone wants more info, memail me.)
posted by katieinshoes at 7:12 PM on May 15, 2010
Anyone still checking here? I had this done 4 days ago. It was covered by my (Canadian) healthcare, although the two-night stay in a hospital might have dipped a bit out of a work-related health plan; don't know. They drugged me with dilaudid during the hospital stay which was lovely stuporing stuff but it caused vomiting, so they switched to tylenol 2s on day 2. I'm home now and overall there is no pain to speak of; I'm not even bothering with 'ordinary' tylenols anymore. I'm swathed in padding and bandages around the chest ("no peeking!"), which is a bit bulky and goofy looking, but it gets removed next week. And yes, no lifting over 10 pounds and no arms above the head. Sleeping on one's back is getting a bit tiresome, but I'm finding I can manage a slight angle to the side without pain or damage. I must say it feels great to be strapless, at least! I'm looking forward to the next stage of living 24/7 in a sports bra instead of this life preserver. My job consists of computer work, so I will start again after the weekend, but I think I could have managed yesterday, honestly. And I am so looking forward to not being weighed down by those melons (or this padding), and not having an aching neck and shoulders! Best of luck if you go this route, and feel free to memail me anytime.
posted by fish tick at 3:19 PM on May 22, 2010
posted by fish tick at 3:19 PM on May 22, 2010
Response by poster: Ok so here's an update. I have a consultation with a plastic surgeon on June 8th. The lady I talked with on the phone said that they'll take pictures and submit all my information to the insurance company and wait for me to get approved/denied. I ran into a friend two weeks ago who is a nurse and I talked with her about it and she recommended someone she knows personally and who her mother (who is also a nurse) works with. So I feel pretty confident that this is competent and well respected surgeon. I'm thinking that if my insurance somehow denies my claim that I will try to go the financing route since I really, really want this procedure done. I will update again after I have my consultation.
posted by MaryDellamorte at 4:09 PM on May 28, 2010
posted by MaryDellamorte at 4:09 PM on May 28, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by availablelight at 2:54 PM on May 14, 2010