I'm due with my first baby in about a month and had my surgery about a 2 yrs ago. I would love to breastfeed but am unsure how likely of a possibility this is, making me unsure of how much breastfeeding supplies I want to purchase lol. I don't want to waste money on things I won't be able to use. Any insight?? My reduction was significant but not extreme- I went from around a DDD to a C and I didn't have a free nipple graft. I'm not sure if I want to buy things like Haka and Silverettes if idk if I can even feed in the first place lol.

I can finally turn my neck with no pain! I’m so thankful. My nipples stop tingling, should I be concerned? I did message my doctor. Waiting to hear from her. If I touch them, I can feel them.

My surgery is booked for the 10th of January and I’m so so excited. I’m travelling from UK to Kaunas for this surgery. I’m looking for recommendations! What’s the best pillow I should get for sleeping/travelling? Scar care recommendations? Nerves recommendations? Anything is welcome! Thank you very much!!

I’ve been considering reduction for years, but I have an ornamental sternum tattoo that features a STRAIGHT 4” line directly between my breasts. I mean, it is perfectly straight, and took forever to get the stencil just right before we started to ensure it was straight when I’m standing and relaxed. Obviously I have a fear of the tattoo being distorted by surgery, which is a big hesitation. Yes I know I could get the tattoo changed/reworked/whatever afterwards but I absolutely love it the way it is and I drew it myself.

Anyway does anyone have experience with a sternum tattoo they already had prior to surgery? Did it change position, pull to one side, become distorted, etc?

I'm getting ready to see the surgeon about reduction. I know he will answer a lot of my questions but I want to hear from people who have done it. What is recovery like? How long were you in pain? How long did you have to wear that special bra and what was that like? What was it like getting used to seeing yourself looking so different so abruptly?

Just wanted to remind anyone dealing with openings and wound dehiscence to stick with the wound care advice you get (from wound care specialists). I’ve been dealing with stubborn wounds since about two weeks post op and my body really doesn’t like the dissolvable sutures. I would get them closed and then a new wound would open up and it’s been so incredibly frustrating. I am finally getting one of my last wounds to close up and it feels like it has been a million years but. Just keep the hope, things will get better ❤️‍🩹

Hi all! My surgery is scheduled for 12/19. I'm starting at a 40I. Nerve damage in both arms and chronic neck/back pain. Hoping to end up a C or so. I also have grooving in the shoulders, and I was wondering if that has gone away for anyone. Also, looking for recs for post surgery bras if anyone has any they loved and can link. This forum has been amazing for information and inspiration, and I'm very grateful for it. I have a recliner, hoodies, a grabber thing, and a mastectomy pillow for recovery. Will get gas-x, laxatives, and stool softener as well. Should I expect to need help in the bathroom? I am hoping not, but I'm not sure with the limited mobility of my arms. My husband will help if needed, but I would prefer to keep some mystery if possible 🤔 Is there anything else that I should have on hand? Anything anyone wished they knew or were surprised by? Thanks so much!

Surgery is tomorrow at 12:15. They just instructed me to take my 5mg of Valium “the night before” I feel like that’s quite up to interpretation. Did know if anyone had experience taking it pre op and how long it lasted in your system. I would call my surgeons office but they’re closed. I would take it now if I could I’m super anxious 😅

I'm almost 2 weeks post op and still dealing with pretty significant bruising. Is this within the realm of normal?

Hi friends,

My surgery is scheduled for Tuesday and i’m so nervous i could puke.

I’m not necessarily nervous about the outcome of my results because I fully trust my surgeon to do a phenomenal job… however, i’m very nervous about going under anesthesia… which seems silly because I work in healthcare. I understand how anesthesia works and i’ve consciously sedated many patients throughout my career… but now it’s me. It’s me and that makes me nervous! The idea of medicinally going to sleep and somehow waking up 2.5 hours later freaks me out. I haven’t been under general anesthesia in >10 years so i don’t even remember how it was.

Was anyone else nervous about this prior to going into surgery? How was your experience?

Thank you ☺️

Hi babes. I've been lurking the sub cause I've just been thinking a lot about how I wish I had waited longer before getting my reduction 😭 I got a reduction at 19 in 2017 and wish I had waited longer because I was at my lowest weight back then (5'1" 120lbs). Life happened and I gained 80lbs over the next 7 years 😪 I've now lost 54lbs of that over the last 2 years (I'm 27 now) and honestly have been lurking the sub about stories for a second reduction 😅

They're still cute, just a little deflated. Pre surgery, I must have been a 32-34DDD at 120lbs, so it wasn't proportional to my body at ALL. One was also significantly larger than the other. I was brought down to a lovely perky 34B-C (😭) At my heaviest weight I got up to I would guess a 42DD? Having lost 54lbs, I'm now down to a 34DDD. The culprit pre-surgery that was the bigger sister is now a little bit bigger now too lol. Also I feel like my nips look WAY off. Like having stretched out, it's like chameleon eyes up in here 🤣

Honestly, I'm not that insecure about them because imagine I didn't do the surgery at all 🤯 and my husband agrees they still look great and perky 🥹 Idk. Thoughts? I would only seriously consider it once I'm at my goal and maintaining for a while. My goal is 130lbs to be on healthy bmi (I'm 150lbs now down from 203lbs at 5"1') and 120lbs if a miracle happens 💀😭😅

This sounds so weird lol but where do you guys find inspiration photos for what you want your breasts to look like after the reduction? I can only think of going on porn subreddits but a lot of them are way too big or too small and I’m not sure where to find normal looking medium boobs 😅 Are there any websites where you can see what cup sizes look like on different frames too? I have a smaller band size than a lot of the people with reduction photos so I’m not sure where to find a reference photo that looks like my before and my desired after

Hello! First off I want to say thank you to all of you. Who are contributing to this community because you are a wealth of information for someone like me. I appreciate the heck out of all of you.

One of my besties is in here who recently got a reduction, and it has sparked me to finally pursue this for myself. I always assumed that I “didn’t have big enough boobs “to deserve a augmentation or reduction, but it wasn’t until my friends surgery and then looking at photos throughout this sub that I realized That this could be exactly what I need.

A little bit of relevant information to help anyone answer some of my general questions: I’m just under 6 feet tall, average/slender build with broad shoulders. I am currently one diagnostic criteria point away from being diagnosed with hypermobile Ehlers Danlos syndrome (if my internal exam and or echocardiogram yield the “desired” result then bingo, baby) so my breast tissue has sagged from the time they started developing when I was in my early teens. It’s a full C (maybe?!) spread out across wide roots and they’re like bell shaped (I realize not having a pic isn’t helpful but idk if I’ll do that yet, I just need a sort of list that I’ll mention shortly…) I have a tremendous amount of daily chronic pain stemming from my neck, shoulders, and upper back because of this. Sometimes I will lift them up as if they have been placed on a shelf, you know? And I quite literally feel a sigh of relief.

1.) What are the least invasive options for reduction? And awake. (I’ve endured local anesthesia procedures before—yes I realize this is a big deal, I’m just wanting preliminary info on lowest recovery time procedures, due to my situation) This could be types of lipo, “breast tite” I think? Things of that nature. I fully understand that perhaps this may not be the route that I need, I’m just wondering about my thin skin recovery and I’m also a caretaker for my partner—which isn’t physically demanding , but still would require assistance for a bit that I am not used to enlisting

2.) nip nops: does having them removed impact recovery at all, meaning if I were to have a radical reduction (yes, asking about both ends of the spectrum here I suppose lol) would opting for no nipples make recovery/ scar healing much easier? Because I’m totally cool with that if so. Don’t want em.

I’m located in Massachusetts and I already have a couple of places/surgeons in mind, if I go the radical reduction route I do have one that does top surgeries also, per the advice of the sub! Thank you so much for taking the time to read one of my first Reddit posts that I probably won’t delete in anxiety within 60 seconds lol. Thank you 🙏🏻

Sorry if this is random, but did anyone have a “free consultation “ with a dr that ended up billing your insurance?? I met with a Dr in my network and it was a brief and unimpressive consultation honestly. All over her yelp, website, etc any place you can click to reach out to contact they say the consultation is free. “Reach out for free consultation!!” I attached some of the several places they display this on yelp, website, instagram etc

Today I got a bill from my insurance that her office charged them over $500 for the consultation and I still owe $40. I have a feeling I will be able to get them to wave this charge, but the fact they stress it is free and I was billed such a high amount PLUS sent out a bill to pay the remaining balance seems like this should not be legal. I went to another consultation (out of network) and they very clearly let it be known that the visit was $150 but it could be used as credit later if I get my breast reduction with him.

Anyway, is this something that should be reported? I dont recall ever seeing anything in her paperwork about billing insurance for the “free” consultation, and the front desk never told me anything like that either.

any scar massage tips or advice?

I’m officially 27 DPO today. I had my second post-op consult on Wednesday. Went pretty well, got my steri strips removed. Was told I’m healing well. I unfortunately had a large blood blister form 7DPO which popped with no pain, but it caused small slough openings on my t junction (not on my incision but right next to it.) so far just applying ointment and looks like everything is drying off.

My concern is my right breast. From the first day my right was more bruised than my left. Bruising has gone down A LOT at the point, but the right bottom has a small little area that is extremely hard/firm. My PA told me it is probably a hematoma but also might just be residual swelling. They want to see me back in 2 weeks.

She said she’s not too concerned as the potential hematoma is not pushing against any incisions, is not cutting blood supply to the nipple, and the breast is not radically swollen compared to the other. Literally just that one small area.

I know getting hematomas aspirated is common and tbh if that needs to happen then I’ve accepted it, but I’ve also been told they can just resolve on their own if they’re really small. Wondering if anyone had this experience and approx. how long it took for it to go down?

i can also post pics if needed

Hi all. Thank you for posting so openly and honestly, it really helped me work up the courage to go through with everything needed to secure a surgery date. It’s not until August next year, but I’m trying to organise myself early hoping for a cancellation. I have a few questions if anyone has the time 🥰

1. I’ve seen people recommend button up pajamas for after surgery, how long until you could put on non button up/zip up clothing? Any other recommendations on what to wear after?

2. What foods did you find best after surgery? Plain, soft etc?

3. Did you wear compression socks once you got home?

4. What did you find best for scar tape? I sometimes have reactions to bandaids/bandages.

5. Any suggestions for my husband who is going to be looking after me? I feel bad that he’s going to be doing everything for me, he obviously thinks that’s silly, but any tips on anything I can do beforehand to support him?

6. What stool softeners did you use? I’ve never needed them before so not sure where to start

7. Are mastectomy pillows worth it?

Thanks everyone!

The bottom pic was taken 1WPO! 1040 grams removed from one breast while 1180 grams was removed from the other! Hope to settle into a C cup, but anything is netter than what I was!

I had to pay out of pocket and I was crying while being rolled into the operating room, but damn... I'd do it a million times over. Apparently they asked what I wanted to listen to while they were prepping me and I said the Wicked Soundtrack. My friend thinks it was a good omen to get my new boobs created while Defying Gravity was playing!

I love them! I always thought I had a short torso... turns out i actually have a waistline/ribs! Check the left boob birth mark for the difference

https://preview.redd.it/rdt1erxwk64e1.png?width=556&format=png&auto=webp&s=a124848c4e8fb1a2d36265d67e5a92b32cbc8368

https://preview.redd.it/31vgxpxwk64e1.png?width=582&format=png&auto=webp&s=2aee41f6a18a56026a10d6546bf7c6146d270679

Hi everyone!!! It’s been a minute but I’m now 7 weeks post op! I had another follow up last week. Doc said everything looks great and I’m healing really well. I got my taped removed and stitches trimmed. All my restrictions have been lifted and I can go back to living normal life.

With that being said I was told I can start scar treatment. My doctor said I can just get some off Amazon, but they gave me a pamphlet for the silagen breast kit. They also told me new gel+ was a good brand, but they’re pretty expensive. For those who have or are starting scar treatment, can you let me know what you used or are using? Or if used the products my doctors recommended, what did you think? Thank you!!! Just wanna explore all my options before pulling the trigger.

Hi all! Surgery is Dec 12th, and I've done almost nothing to prep for recovery lol. Wondering what everybody did and/or recommends? My husband knows my restrictions and has assured me multiple times that he will take care of cooking, cleaning, etc. He's also working from home the first week after my surgery! I've slowly been freezing extra portions of meals I've made so I've got some options, and a couple of my friends are making meals for us too. I've got a mastectomy pillow, a pregnancy pillow and tons of pj's. Anything else I need to or should do?