Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with breast

Breast Lift post-op advice

ConnieL — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 11:10:54 -0800

Breast lift surgery complications... what should I do? I had breast lift surgery last April, and I'm still experiencing pain and discomfort in my breasts. On one side the scar under the breast is 2 inches wide. I don't think that's typical, but my surgeon won't give me a straight answer.
I was under anethesia for 6 hours during the surgery (had liposuction to the upper arms as well).. and woke up vomiting severely for about 20 minutes. I think the sutures tore during that episode and that's why the scars are so wide and healing really slowly (one side still has a small weak spot that scabs over). They must have given me something to bring me out of anithesia because I could not sleep at all the night of the surgery and had some bleeding onto the pillows, even tho I was taking strong pain meds. Does this all sound typical to anyone?
I know I will have to live with the atypical scars, but I wonder how long the soreness and nipple sensitivity will last..... I cannot sleep without breast support, and still have small lesions (like small subcutaniuos boils) appearing occasionally at the incision line around the nipples. Not as bad as at first. I think they were originally related to the Kelocoat ointment that the surgeon recommended to reduce the scars (stopping the Kelocoat reduced the frequency of these eruptions). Seems to have made the scarring worse because of the eruptions.
I've looked for information on similiar outcomes on the web but found nothing. Fortunately the breast tissue is pink and healthy, and there is no numbness.

finding a surgeon for gynecomasti

Anonymous — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:35:42 -0800

I'm a male in my late 20s - I am about 5'7" and weigh 170 lbs. I have gynecomastia, or enlarged male breasts. I want to have them shrunk. Even when I was thinner, I still have always had enlarged breasts (fat tends to concentrate on my stomach and chest). They are far larger than they should be for my slightly overweight body.

My father had gynecomastia as well, and had surgery to shrink them.

I live in the DC area, and I'd really like to figure out how to best find a specialist/surgeon in the area that will be able to (affordably) and safely remove the stubborn, excess fat with a minimum of time off of work.

I've never had comestic surgery before and I know that my insurer (Blue Cross) won't cover it, so this is new territory for me. Any suggestions from Mefites who have had gynecomastia, or simply have had plastic surgery?

What Medically, Anatomically Is Happening In This NSFW Skydiving Photograph?

WCityMike — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:59:26 -0800

Something that's always had me a bit curious: how is what's happening to the breasts of the female skydivers in this image that's circulated around the 'Net (NSFW) even anatomically possible? I obviously know what's causing this – the force of the air from their freefall – but I suppose I'm just a little stumped on why the physiological result is that.

And why, if there's such a wind force, does there remain extruding "sides" of the breasts? If you were to flip the picture upside down, the effect on their breasts is sort of like a cup – a cylindrical "side" of the cup with a depression formed in the middle. If there's such a wind force as to push a female breast into the shape of that depression in the middle, why do those "sides" still stay up? Wouldn't the whole thing be a depression pushed inward?

(And, as a side note, speaking as a guy, how can that be happening to the female skydivers' breasts without his own, ahem, extrusion suffering from a similar condition?)

I'm not sure if this was originally put on the 'Net to be arousing, but I didn't find it the least bit so – my main reaction to it was a curious "How the hell does that happen to the human body?"

So, those with medical knowhow, mind enlightening me?

Help ease the boob pain

hollyanderbody — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 04:47:45 -0800

I woke up in the night with terrible pain in my breast, and it was full and firm, so I nursed on that side, (twice now during the night), with no relief. The pain seems to be more on one side. Nursing was painful, but I though it could be a clogged duct, so I grinned and bore it, but it hasn't helped. What do I do? It REALLY hurts!

Unexplained breast pain

Evangeline — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:30:49 -0800

I had a particularly painful mammogram in January. There were no problems with the results, but after a few days I started having pain under my right breast. I thought it was a soft tissue injury, but it won't go away. Any ideas? It's a dull pain when I exhale. It doesn't feel like it's in my breast, but rather under it. I was about to make an appointment with my GP a month or so ago, but then I went on a beach vacation, and the pain seemed to go away. So I figured it might be stress related, but now it's back. I'm going to make an appointment with my doctor next week, but has anybody experienced anything like this?

How can I tell someone they're dressed inappropriately at work?

Anonymous — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 14:35:13 -0800

An intern at work is dressing very inappropriately. Is there any way I can tell her nicely to tone it down? I'm a male attorney at a law firm. We have a law clerk who's been with us since January and is a 2nd year law student. Since the beginning, she wears tops that plung down her neckline and put her breasts on display. I'm not a prude and I think a little cleavage is fun for everyone. But, this girl is taking it a bit far.

Since she's started working with us, she's always wortn tops that show a lot more cleavage than is work appropriate. It's gotten to where when I have a research assignment for her, I have to concentrate on her face rather than her breasts. The other associates (especially the females) have been making very disparaging comments about her lately, and I feel bad for her.

I wish I could go to the managing partner, but he's a perv and would probably prefer it if the clerk came in topless every day.

Is there a diplomatic way I can speak to this clerk and let her know that her attire isn't work appropriate?

Experience with Natural Breast Reduction?

Anonymous — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 13:23:02 -0800

I am sick of the discomfort, soreness, heaviness, and occasional back pain that comes with my breasts. I really, truly hate them. I'm 20 and not about to get surgery, and I've been trying to research a product like Alexia. Anyone have experiences with this? I can't find anything online that doesn't sound like an advertising plant. (alexiabreast.com careful, there are semi nsfw pictures.)

The ingredients listed are chromium (as picolinate), "proprietary alexia blend," guggulsterones, theobromine cacao, green tea extract, caffeine, and sclareolides.
An "herbal" remedy, it claims to work in the first couple weeks, with zero side effects. I have read only in one place on the internet a girl disliking it, and her complaint was minor aching and soreness, which I already have. Everyone else seemed to really like it, but everyone else also sounded like they could have been advertisements stuck in by the company.

Concerns:
They want me to take the pill 3 times a day. That is a lot of stuff to put inside me, and I'm worried about side effects.
A bottle is filled with a one month supply, and is 70$. Yowzah! I would like for something I'm digging deep to pay for to work.
"Proprietary Alexia Blend" sounds suspicious. Like "Natural Flavors," or something.

Currently:
I am in shape. I am not going to lose any weight doing this, as I am pretty small everywhere but my chest. I work out, I eat well. I am working on my pectorals but it isn't really helping me.

And:
I know the first answer to this will probably go something like "Don't alter your body, don't do anything, your boobs are fine, get used to it. And shame on you." But this isn't about vanity or body image. I have already discussed this with my boyfriend, and aside from being concerned with my safety, he's fine with it. He understands that its about pain, discomfort, and feeling out of place in my own skin. Please understand that before you scold me for trying to change myself.

Yes, I will call my doctor and ask them about it on Monday. They probably wont be able to provide me with firsthand accounts, though. Has anyone tried Alexia (or something similar)? Has it worked, has it gone awfully? Would you recommend it?

Goldilocks: THIS breast is too lumpy... THIS breast is too pebbly...

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:43:10 -0800

How worried should I be? (You are not my doctor.) Essentially, I have a small (1 cm) lump in one of my breasts. I saw an NP who examined me and referred me to a radiologist for ultrasound and maybe biopsy. She also told me my breasts are "pebbly." I'm 24, some family history of cancers (including breast cancer), no previous weird pap smears or anything like that.

What I am having trouble with is this: I realize that it's probably nothing (a hard cyst? a fibroid? whatever that is?) but I am still somewhat upset about it. Part of what I am having trouble with is that when I think about it and get upset, I tell myself, "don't be stupid! It's nothing!" and then I still feel upset, but also stupid. Similarly, when I think about it optimistically, I feel like I don't have enough worry, and I'm tempting fate or something.

I think I would feel better if I just had some sense of how worried a reasonably well-informed person would actually feel. Either I should be very worried, which will mean that I have "permission" to feel that way, or I shouldn't be, which will mean that I have "permission" to feel optimistic.

I hope this is not too badly phrased. I have tried googling around, but it's not all coming together into something that makes sense. What is the scientific, statistical, common-sense level of worry that would be reasonable to feel in this situation?

Do I need to replace parts of a breast pump after long disuse?

leahwrenn — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:25:16 -0800

What, if anything, do I need to replace on my Ameda Purely Yours breast pump, after 2 years' hiatus? I haven't used the Ameda Purely Yours breast pump in a couple of years. It seems like I might need to replace some of the tubing or silicone thingies or the other parts of the "HygeniKit"---maybe they got grotty (or didn't get adequately cleaned when I stopped using the pump). On the other hand, some part of the company's website seems to indicate that maybe I could just get away with boiling the parts that come in contact with milk.

Does anyone know either way? (Boiling would be easier, as there doesn't appear to be any place super-local that carries the Ameda parts, but I can always order online.)

Growing pain in breasts?

Anonymous — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:01:49 -0800

Can you get growing pains in your breasts; or, has anyone else experienced this stabbing pain? I'm a young (college-aged) girl. I went to my doctor a while back about stabbing pains in the breast, which started before I went on the pill (and still pop up sometimes). The pain goes from the side of my breast, at the back, and then the pain moves towards the center of my breast. It happens in both breasts, and is not tied to my notoriously irregular, rare, and outright weird, menstrual cycle. It is not caused by wearing bras, not wearing bras, moving too much, or staying still. The pain is not awful, just an occasional annoyance.

Neither he nor I found any lumps, and he suggested that it was growing pain, given that they've been growing a lot more than one would expect given my moderate weight gain.

Recently, I looked up growing pains and found they're mostly in the legs. No one in my family had growing pains, so I honestly didn't know that.

I'm not particularly worried about it being anything serious--I trust my doctor, told him all the information given above and more, and I trust his ability to give a simple breast exam, and I haven't found any lumps myself--but I'm more curious. Has anyone else heard of this type of stabbing pain before?

My Mom wants a skin bra. Am I right to be concerned?

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 09:43:15 -0800

My Mom has announced she is getting surgery for a 'skin bra'. I'm concerned but cannot find much information about the procedure, potential complications, or whether I should attempt to dissuade her. My Mom is a very fit woman in her late fifties. She and my Dad exercise regularly and participate in marathons- she is very toned and has focused on core strengthening for the last five years. She is in tip top condition, but recently she's become more and more dissatisfied with how her breasts hang on her chest. She is a modest B cup but her breasts have become flabby even though she is at the low end of her ideal weight range.

She told me today that she is planning to get plastic surgery for what she calls a 'skin bra' and is planning to go with the plastic surgeon that her internist knows in Los Angeles. I can't find much information on this technique and am not sure if I should be concerned.

Beyond telling her that any surgery in which general anesthesia is used is dangerous and should be avoided, is there anything medically relevant I should know about this procedure? What risks is she opening herself up to?

To clarify, I'm not interested in arguments such as helping her find better bras, bras that lift, doing more weight lifting on her chest, telling her to being happy with the body she's in- she's a scientist and the only way to dissuade her from this course (if indeed I should dissuade her) is through facts. Also, she has no problem with cosmetic surgery- she had a face lift ten years ago and thought it was a great experience. Right now the only thing I've got is the fact that so little information on the procedure seems to be available, which sets off warning flags for me.

Any help, personal experiences, or anecdotes (such as 'my wife got this years ago, don't worry' or the reverse) would be vastly appreciated. I set up a throwaway email address if you'd prefer to reply anonymously or have any questions: skinbraformom@yahoo.com

Can we make breastfeeding work under these circumstances?

Anonymous — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 05:11:45 -0800

Breastfeeding, daycare, and erratic schedule: please help us figure out a plan. Pregnant, busy doctoral student here. We'll have 2 months at home with baby before I have to get back to grad student life and I plan to breastfeed for that time.

But after that I will need to be on campus for: 1.5 hours TAing twice a week, 2 hours of office hours each week, 1.5 hours of sitting in on an undergrad class twice a week, and various meetings (plus trying to do work!). Campus is a 15 minute drive (but gotta pay for parking) or, optimally, a 30 minute bus ride. It is very likely that all these times that I have to be on campus will spread out through 4 days of the week.

Husband will have flexible paternity leave and is happy to stay home with baby as much as he needs to. We also have childcare at his workplace, starting at 8 weeks, but they and we'd prefer that baby doesn't go til 3 months if possible.

What can we do with this? We see these options:

1. Husband comes to school with me and works in my office so I can breastfeed baby during breaks? (Not fun for him or officemates).
2. Pump all the time (at home, at school) and have a storage of breastmilk in the fridge at home and try to drive home as often as possible between classes. (But what about if I HAVE to be somewhere (proctoring an exam or something) for 3-4 hours in a row? Will I start leaking? And the logistics of pumping and kicking my officemates out of our office for 30 minutes at a time multiple times a day...)
3. Switch to formula after month 2. (Perk of this - I can get back onto meds sooner that help me be a better/more productive grad student.)

I'm leaning toward option 3, but there is a lot of guilt and cost associated with formula. Am I being selfish, putting baby on formula so that (1) my life/schedule is easier and (2) I can be on meds again?

Example of how people made feeding the baby work would be really helpful. Opinions about the feasibility of options 1 and 2 would be great too.

How can I stop thinking about the nasty?

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:20:46 -0800

I'm obsessed with sex. I think about it constantly. How can I make it stop? I'm 29 and still a technical virgin. I want to have sex, but can't seem to find a partner. I have had two past girlfriends, both of whom wanted to wait until marriage to have sex.

I find myself obsessed about sex. I think about it all the time. I watch porn when I get home from work. I'll stare at women's breasts and cleavage while I walk around. I hate that I do it. I've often thought about flying to Vegas and hiring a hooker, but can't bring myself to do it. I already masturbate daily, and two or three times each day on the weekend. It isn't enough.

Have any of you had success in stopping such pervasive thoughts? I'd like to stop thinking about sex, because I likely won't be getting any for a while

Breast biopsy - what to tell the kids?

Anonymous — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 08:11:09 -0800

Breast biopsy. What should we tell the kids? My SO needs to have an excisional biopsy performed. The results will take 3-4 days to return. The majority of breast lesions excised prove to be benign, and we are assuming that this will be the case with hers (albeit nervously)

We're trying to decide what to tell the children when she goes for the surgery. One in particular (13 yo) will worry herself sick, which could trigger a relapse in her Crohn's. We don't discuss everything with them, but what we do is always the truth. "Why is Mom going to the hospital?" will certainly have to be discussed.

Is some obfuscation or a "white lie" appropriate?

Have you ever tasted your wife/girlfriend's breast milk when she was lactating?

MrTangent — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 01:36:58 -0800

Have you ever tasted your wife/girlfriend's breast milk when she was lactating? 1. Guys, have you ever tasted your wife/girlfriend's breast milk when she was lactating? (if so, how and why)

2. Girls, have you ever had a boyfriend/husband taste yours? (if so, what did it make you feel)

I think it's more common than most people would like to admit, and it's a potentially embarrassing question but this is virtually anonymous so why not. I've never done it (besides when I was an infant), but for some reason I'd like to try it (not sexually though, honestly). Call me weird. There is no shame though. I don't think it's that unusual and most couples probably have tried it (I bet most expectant/new mothers have tried their own, for instance... curiosity is a strong thing, after all).

I asked a friend who has had children if he had, and he said he had. He mentioned that it's a bit more bitter (and obviously warm) than the milk you get at the store.

I have a morbid curiosity, but I am honestly wanting feedback on this issue.

Topless in Paris

jadepearl — Thu, 17 May 2007 01:27:29 -0800

Parisfilter: breast feeding and colicky baby etiquette plus, housing choice I am traveling in June to Paris (yay!) First, need to know if there are etiquette issues with breastfeeding in public e.g., in a bistro. I cover myself and the baby so there is nothing bare; second, should I go with a hotel or try to rent an apartment for three days? We are two adults, one very active toddler and a 3 month old infant who has colic like clockwork at 7PM (what is the etiquette on that one? Take baby outside or what?). Yes, I have looked at the previous threads marked breastfeeding and Paris. But any more fresh information or insight is welcome. Oh yeah, we are cheap to boot let's say ~100-150 US is my limit per night. Thanks all.

Hiding saggy breasts

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 21:55:07 -0800

Should I blindfold my partner or never take my clothes off? I’ve lost a lot of weight, and I want to have sex again. But the years of decadence and gravity have taken their toll. When I was younger, and firmer, a little poochy tum and cellulite on the thighs never bothered me. I was all for energy and experimenting and just have a damn good sexy time with my partner(s). Now, however, my breasts are wrinkly sacks (at some angles similar to scrotum skin), they’ve deflated enormously and the nipples point down and no amount of exercise can fix that. Surgery might, if I had the money. I don’t. I look mostly fine - with my clothes on. With a new partner, would it be bizarre if I keep my bra on, or is there something else I can do to avoid the inevitable horror of my naked body?

Other info: I'm intelligent, independent, kind, 40+, with a friendly (but not pretty) face and a keen sense of the ridiculous.

vibrating, and not in a good way.

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 16:16:03 -0800

Recently, I've noticed a slight buzzing/vibration sensation inside my right breast. It's brief (about a second) and comes irregularly. I have slightly large breasts (D-sized) and I wear an underwire bra. The sensation is near the nipple/top of the breast. It's a very weird sensation - not pleasurable and not uncomfortable. I'm at a loss for an explanation. I don't have anything medically wrong with me (that I know of). I'm 24. Does anyone have any idea?

Lost pigment in areolas?

rosemere — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 13:09:17 -0800

BreastFilter: Why am I losing pigment in the lower portion of each of my areolas? I'm a fair-skinned natural blonde (who gradually darkened to brunette in my 30s) with natural brownish-coral nipples and areolas. I'm in my mid-40s now and have never been pregnant, so my nipples and areolas have been the same colour since puberty. But in the last ten years, the lower section of both of my areolas (the area from 5 to 7 o'clock) look as if most of the colour has disappeared in in an area about a centimeter square. Each spot is a pale beige-pink, slightly darker than the my skin.

No need to scare me with suggestions that it could be Paget's disease of the breast because Paget's presents as an eczema-like rash, which is not what I have. Plus, I'm still alive after 10 years of noticing this change, so I doubt it's anything lethal.

Is this just one of those odd things that happen as you age?

Saline vs. silicone vs. gummi

Humpable Prose — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 20:53:34 -0800

NaNoWriMo-filter (okay, and I'm just plain curious): What do saline vs. silicone vs. cohensive gel ("gummi bear") implants feel like? Does it feel like flesh on top with a discernable lump beneath, or do the two intermingle subtly? I'm most curious about the cohesive gel, as these are touted as being realistic but they're new enough (still in clinical trials in the U.S.) that personal accounts are rare. I realize there is a built-in bias from the guy's POV: the obvious ones are obvious, but if a certain percentage are natural enough they may fly under one's radar and be classified as "real." So I'm most interested in people who knew the breast had been pimped afore they groped it (this would include recipients of said enhancements).

I read this thread, but the gummis are left out of the discussion. And yes, I suppose I should find some friends who will let me find out for myself.

BreastPumpFilter

Eiwalker — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 07:11:38 -0800

What's the best breast pump? Hopefully I can get a nice, two-boobs-at-a-time set-up for about $150. But if it costs more, it costs more.

Help find low-cost health care in Southern California

kamikazegopher — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 19:31:14 -0800

Please help my Mother-in-law get low-cost medical care in southern California. I just found out the my MIL has a lump in her breast. She's known about it for a while. She and her husband are poor and she doesn't have insurance. I believe she is under 65 (I know that she lies about her age so I'm not absolutely sure), so I can't depend on Medicare, but probably MedicAid. Also, I don't know how to tell her to go about getting diagnosis and treatment. Some kind of clinic? Emergency room? She is in Murrieta, which is between Los Angeles and San Diego. Anyone know the best way to get her the help she needs?

where to get breast/milk cup?

judybxxx — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 10:27:33 -0800

Breast Feeding Filter: 32 years ago, (1974),when I was pregnant, I discovered, in the Whole Earth Catalog, a wonderful device called a 'breast cup' or 'milk cup'. It was plastic, shaped like a hollow ball wth a circular hole on side, with that side pressed in so the space was fairly narrow. I wore it on one side while nursing on the other, especially early on, - I caught the leaked milk, and I could freeze the milk for night time feedings done by my husband, which saved my sanity. Later I expressed, but this was great for early on. Can't find a source, or even the name.

I think La Leche League carried them in those days, but I can't find it on their site. All I found with Google and searching Mefi were cups for breast pumps. This was wonderful for me, and I want to find one for my daughter-in-law. Any information, ideas?

is it possible to reverse breast shrinkage after going off the pill?

Anonymous — Sun, 21 May 2006 19:55:24 -0800

after being on birth control pills for many (8+) years, i had to go off them (permanently) for medical reasons. six months later, my breasts have noticeably shrunk almost a full cup size. i wasn't busty to begin with - when i first started on the pill, i was between a large A and small B cup; on the pill, i went up to a full B cup. off the pill, i've shrunk to a small A - in fact, almost a double-A. none of my bras, camisoles or swimsuits fit any more, and nearly all my shirts, dresses and blouses gape open or look baggy. i haven't had any weight loss that would otherwise explain the size decrease.

sure, i could buy a bunch of padded bras in order to wear my clothes again (or go broke and buy a whole new wardrobe) but understandably, i'd rather not! (my husband has been very cool about the whole thing - he's indicated no disappointment in having less boobage to play with - but he also understands why this is upsetting for me.)

i have NO interest in breast implants - i would just like to return to my previous size (or at least get a back in the neighborhood). so are there any non-surgical ways (supplements, exercise, etc) to enhance breast size that work - ie., aren't total scams?

(and please, no suggestions of going back on the pill, or trying the ring/patch/different brands/etc. it's a medical thing - i can't be on any form of hormonal birth control ever again, full stop. and please don't tell me to get pregnant, either.)

my breasts are growing!

talitha_kumi — Tue, 02 May 2006 03:28:23 -0800

Should I be worried about my breasts? I've noticed a change in my breasts in the last two days. I've always had large breasts (32J), and last week I got properly fitted for my first underwired bra (I've always worn nonwired ones before). When getting undressed for the bath on Sunday night, I found my breasts to be slightly painful and tender when 'hanging free'. They also seemed bigger than normal. There seems to be the same amount of skin there, but somehow there's more flesh underneath it. My breasts are still tender when I prod them, but only seem painful when I take the bra off. I can't feel any obvious lumps - just the overall size increase. The tender feelings are confined mostly to the upper part of my breasts, where the strain on the skin is greatest from the weight of them hanging. My new bra still fits, but it feels like it's fitting a lot more snugly than it fit in the shop last week.

As a bit of history, I've lost a significant amount of weight over the past two years, but in the last three months I've put a quarter of it back on. During the time I was losing weight, my periods stopped entirely. A month ago I had a bit of brown spotting for the first time all year, and last week I had a gusher of a period that lasted three days. (My normal cycle used to last five) I've been on the progesterone-only contraceptive pill for a year.

If this goes on, I will see my doctor, but I was wondering if the collective knowledge of MeFi could give me some ideas of the kind of thing I might be experiencing, and whether I ought to be very worried or just a little concerned?