Breast reduction question *consult update*

[wambam]

I decided that I am going to have a breast reduction in 2014.

Does anyone know if you get to choose the size you get reduced to? Is there a limit on how small you can go?

UPDATE: I had my consult today. The surgeon thinks that I am an excellent candidate for reduction surgery. He said he feels confident that I will be pleased with the results. He took measurements and pictures to submit to my insurance. I will have an answer from them in 2-3 weeks and will schedule the surgery from there.

He said one week off work would be more than enough and that I could resume my training within 4 weeks. This is great news!

[mrs.jacinthe]

I'm not certain, but I know emoflamingo has had one ... perhaps she can help?

[Ramz-ee]

Yes, you get to choose the size you want to go down to.

I'm not sure if there is a limit as to how small you can go, but I do know my doctor was hesitant to go to small on someone I worked with. She was a DD and wanted to be a B. He agreed, but then only took her to a C, because he thought she didn't know what she wanted. He then did a second surgery for free to get her to a B.

And it is one of the best things I've ever done! Do eeeeet!

[duff]

You have say over how small, but it's rely hard to just say "I want to be a C cup." They work more in the mass that will be removed.

Definitely do some research and go for a consult (or four!)... I had mine about 7 years ago and it was the absolute best thing I've ever done for myself!

[bornbaker]

So I"m going to hijack this thread a little

Does a breast reduction affect your ability to nurse? I've been thinking of getting one, too, but if we have another baby I would want to try to nurse (again, I didn't do well the first time!).

Basically, would you get one before or after having another baby?

[Ramz-ee]

It could impact being able to nurse.

[nk]

I just got a lift/reduction on Halloween. BEST DECISION EVER.

I had lost almost 50lbs this year and at my biggest was a 40DD-ish. Going into surgery I was a 36DDD with A LOT of extra skin. They were seriously saggy. I'm now a perky 36C/D (depending on the brand). They are so damn perky. My back doesn't hurt...I don't even have to wear a bra.

At my initial appt the Dr asked what size I wanted to be. I said 36C, he agreed that that size would look good but also said he'd make a judgement call in surgery on if they'd look too small. He ended up taking out less tissue than he planned so I'm a C/D. I'm very happy he did take out less - they're perfect and I would not want to be any smaller than I am now.

If you have any questions - please feel free to ask. I have before & after pics if you'd like to see (some ppl don't want to but I was very curious before surgery).

[wambam]

Dec 31, 2013 12:57:41 GMT -5 Ramz-ee said:

Yes, you get to choose the size you want to go down to.

I'm not sure if there is a limit as to how small you can go, but I do know my doctor was hesitant to go to small on someone I worked with. She was a DD and wanted to be a B. He agreed, but then only took her to a C, because he thought she didn't know what she wanted. He then did a second surgery for free to get her to a B.

And it is one of the best things I've ever done! Do eeeeet!

Okay, this is interesting. I am currently an H and I was thinking B, but it sounds like a LOT of reduction. 

[wambam]

Dec 31, 2013 13:02:12 GMT -5 duff said:

You have say over how small, but it's rely hard to just say "I want to be a C cup." They work more in the mass that will be removed.

Definitely do some research and go for a consult (or four!)... I had mine about 7 years ago and it was the absolute best thing I've ever done for myself!

Yes, I already put in a phone call with the plastic surgeon whose done some mole removal for me. I am going to get a consult with him and then with one of the "high profile" surgeons in my area.

[SusanBAnthony]

It can affect your ability to nurse (often women have low but not no supply).

My bigger concern would be getting them all perked up, only to have them get saggy again with pg and nursing.

[nk]

My Dr said that he could not guarantee that I'd be able to breast feed in the future. But he also pointed out that there's no guarantee before surgery that I'd be able to breast feed either since every woman/baby is different.
I am ok knowing that I may not be able to BF. A reduction is something that I really wanted.

[wambam]

Dec 31, 2013 13:04:25 GMT -5 bornbaker said:

So I"m going to hijack this thread a little

Does a breast reduction affect your ability to nurse? I've been thinking of getting one, too, but if we have another baby I would want to try to nurse (again, I didn't do well the first time!).

Basically, would you get one before or after having another baby?

I always said I wanted to wait until after I had a baby, but the last 6 months I've had increasing problems with my upper back and neck. I know there's at least a chance of affecting your ability to breastfeed, but I'll have to talk to the surgeon about what kind of risk that really is.

[nk]

Dec 31, 2013 13:09:15 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

It was the best decision ever. I went to about a c cup. I initially said I wanted to be as small as possible, but he talked me into a moderate c cup. I'm glad I didn't go as small as possible. That was just me being sick of boobs at that point. I was a J cup, so going to a C was still quite drastic.

Re: nursing. I had mine between my first two kids (that were nursed successfully) and my third (unsuccessful).

So it definitely can affect your ability to nurse. And you won't really know how much ability to nurse was preserved until you have your baby.

I'd do it again in a heartbeat, even with the inability to nurse.

The bolded part was me too. I was thinking small and that was all I cared about. But realistically a B would not look good on me. 

Also - when you take off the bandages for the first time your boobs look SO small. Then they settle, soften and look amazing. I was freaked out the first time I saw mine and thought I went too small. 

[moolarkey]

My doctor told me to wait until I was done having kids and I did. I wanted to go a size smaller than I woke up. I wanted to go down to a B but the doctor told me C fit my frame better.

My doctor told me my breasts were so dense that it was the equivalent of having 2 66lb bags of flour strung around my neck 24 hours a day. I went for initial visit, he took pictures and submitted to insurance. He told me to wait 2 weeks, call insurance and get status and claim number and to then call insurance every week until they approved it. I called in 2 weeks and asked the status, they told me they'd already approved it and sent it back.

I don't know how to explain to this to anyone who hasn't gone through it - I didn't know breasts don't "weigh" anything. After all that weight, after the surgery it is like there is just nothing there. I can't imagine how much pain I'd be in if I hadn't had this done.

[wambam]

Dec 31, 2013 13:06:38 GMT -5 nk said:

If you have any questions - please feel free to ask. I have before & after pics if you'd like to see (some ppl don't want to but I was very curious before surgery).

How long were you off work? How long was it before you could resume normal activities? Admittedly, I'm most concerned about how long I'll be out of the gym. 

[wambam]

Dec 31, 2013 13:14:14 GMT -5 moolarkey said:

My doctor told me to wait until I was done having kids and I did. 

I'm really hoping I don't get told this. I don't plan on having kids for another 5 years and I don't think I can tolerate 5 years of pain

[moolarkey]

Whether it will affect your ability to nurse will depend on how much they take off. If it's not much then you probably will be able to. If they have to take the nipple completely off (and then put it back on), and do an anchor shaped incision then you probably won't. By anchor I mean they cut a semi-circle under the breast and then a straight line from the center of that incision up to the nipple. I had this done because they removed so much.

[lime]

Dec 31, 2013 13:06:38 GMT -5 nk said:

They are so damn perky. ...I don't even have to wear a bra.

This is really what I am hoping for, so thanks for posting this. 

I am between a 32 D/DD and I would like to be a C or a B+.  I want to get this done next year but don't yet want to deal with all the downtime from working out. 

The recovery/downtime from workouts is 12+ weeks, right? Anyone have it go by faster? 

[wambam]

Dec 31, 2013 13:18:28 GMT -5 lime said:

Dec 31, 2013 13:06:38 GMT -5 nk said:

They are so damn perky. ...I don't even have to wear a bra.

This is really what I am hoping for, so thanks for posting this. 

I am between a 32 D/DD and I would like to be a C or a B+.  I want to get this done next year but don't yet want to deal with all the downtime from working out. 

The recovery/downtime from workouts is 12+ weeks, right? Anyone have it go by faster? 

Woah. I was thinking 4-6.

[Captain Serious]

I had one. My doctor had me write down what size I wanted, and he wrote down what size he thought I should go down to; we picked the same, which he said we'd unusual (often women getting a reduction wasn't too go smaller than he thinks is fitting their stature, and than they talk about it/compromise).

[nk]

Dec 31, 2013 13:15:08 GMT -5 wambam said:

Dec 31, 2013 13:06:38 GMT -5 nk said:

If you have any questions - please feel free to ask. I have before & after pics if you'd like to see (some ppl don't want to but I was very curious before surgery).

How long were you off work? How long was it before you could resume normal activities? Admittedly, I'm most concerned about how long I'll be out of the gym. 

I was out of work for 1 week. Had drains in for 4 days.

LOL - the gym was my main concern too. I went back in 2 weeks to full workouts (although 3 days post-surgery I was doing 2-3 mile walks). My nipples were super sensitive so that bothered me the first couple times I worked out. The Dr said no matter what I was to wear a compression bra during working out. I had always had to wear 2 sports bras. Now I wear 1 good compression bra. Its amazing. seriously amazing.

[flex]

My doctor asked me right before my surgery what cup size I wanted to be and I told her between a C and D, so she made the appropriate marks on my girls and out I went on the operating table. : )

[emoflamingo]

I just had one in October. I am 5'1 and wore a 32 I, but am down to a 32D/DD depending on brand. To get it covered by insurance, I had to have a certain amount removed and that determined my size. Your best bet is to find a surgeon your insurance will cover and schedule a consult. They'll know best how to determine size, if it'll be covered by insurance, etc.

It was the best decision ever for me. I was off my feet for 3 days, off work for 2, released for normal activities at 2 months. It's a shock when you try to adjust to how the new you looks, but it was a no brainer for me.

Good luck!

[wambam]

Dec 31, 2013 13:22:46 GMT -5 nk said:

Dec 31, 2013 13:15:08 GMT -5 wambam said:

How long were you off work? How long was it before you could resume normal activities? Admittedly, I'm most concerned about how long I'll be out of the gym. 

I was out of work for 1 week. Had drains in for 4 days.

LOL - the gym was my main concern too. I went back in 2 weeks to full workouts (although 3 days post-surgery I was doing 2-3 mile walks). My nipples were super sensitive so that bothered me the first couple times I worked out. The Dr said no matter what I was to wear a compression bra during working out. I had always had to wear 2 sports bras. Now I wear 1 good compression bra. Its amazing. seriously amazing.

I could deal with 2 weeks out! Particularly if I scheduled it around a deload week.

I wear an underwire sports bra and an elastic one so going to one would be amazing!

[moolarkey]

The reason for waiting until after having kids is for 2 reasons, one is for nursing and the other is because most women's breasts grow while they are pregnant but if you are in serious pain you may need to go ahead and have it done. I know a woman that had it done at 15 because she was beyond enormous. She has kids, everything is fine.

I'm trying to remember how long I was off work, I think it was 6-8 weeks? Initially, and it makes sense, you'll wear a bra 24 hours a day. I think how long you are out of commission just depends on you, how much they remove, etc. I would think you won't be able to do any upperbody work for a few weeks.

Maybe I wasn't off as long as I think? Ok I had bunyons removed from both feet at the same time and was on completely off my feet for 4 week s- seriously the best thing I've EVER done for myself.

But I just can't remember how long I was off with the breast reduction. I was in the hospital for 2 days, some go home the next day.  I had drains at home for about 4 days.  I think I was off a minimum of 2 weeks but that it was longer, like 4 weeks? 

I had mine years ago so what they let you/encourage you to do now may be completely different. I'd go see a doctor for a consultation and find out.

[nk]

Dec 31, 2013 13:16:12 GMT -5 wambam said:

Dec 31, 2013 13:14:14 GMT -5 moolarkey said:

My doctor told me to wait until I was done having kids and I did. 

I'm really hoping I don't get told this. I don't plan on having kids for another 5 years and I don't think I can tolerate 5 years of pain

I had a Dr tell me 5 years ago to wait till after I had kids. Then I got a divorce this year and decided that I wasn't willing to wait any longer. Worse case they're not super perky post-kids - but even the past 3 months of having amazing boobs is worth it for me. I look better, I feel better and could not be happier.

[lime]

Ok, I can handle 2 weeks for full workouts. Maybe I need to start looking into this in order to make it happen.

[wambam]

Dec 31, 2013 13:24:56 GMT -5 moolarkey said:

The reason for waiting until after having kids is for 2 reasons, one is for nursing and the other is because most women's breasts grow while they are pregnant but if you are in serious pain you may need to go ahead and have it done. I know a woman that had it done at 15 because she was beyond enormous. She has kids, everything is fine.

I'm trying to remember how long I was off work, I think it was 6-8 weeks? Initially, and it makes sense, you'll wear a bra 24 hours a day. I think how long you are out of commission just depends on you, how much they remove, etc. I would think you won't be able to do any upperbody work for a few weeks.

If that's the case, I can't do it...ever.

I only have 2 weeks of PTO.

[nk]

Dec 31, 2013 13:24:27 GMT -5 wambam said:

Dec 31, 2013 13:22:46 GMT -5 nk said:

I was out of work for 1 week. Had drains in for 4 days.

LOL - the gym was my main concern too. I went back in 2 weeks to full workouts (although 3 days post-surgery I was doing 2-3 mile walks). My nipples were super sensitive so that bothered me the first couple times I worked out. The Dr said no matter what I was to wear a compression bra during working out. I had always had to wear 2 sports bras. Now I wear 1 good compression bra. Its amazing. seriously amazing.

I could deal with 2 weeks out! Particularly if I scheduled it around a deload week.

I wear an underwire sports bra and an elastic one so going to one would be amazing!

I'm surprised at how long some people were out of work. I have a desk job and he was fine with me going back in a week. Still had a 10lb lift restriction for a month?

I did lie - I went back to treadmill & elliptical at 2 weeks, then Insanity and full running at 3 wks. I kept to a strict diet during that time so I wouldn't gain any weight back & did a lot of squats lol

[wambam]

Dec 31, 2013 13:30:07 GMT -5 nk said:

Dec 31, 2013 13:24:27 GMT -5 wambam said:

I could deal with 2 weeks out! Particularly if I scheduled it around a deload week.

I wear an underwire sports bra and an elastic one so going to one would be amazing!

I'm surprised at how long some people were out of work. I have a desk job and he was fine with me going back in a week. Still had a 10lb lift restriction for a month?

I did lie - I went back to treadmill & elliptical at 2 weeks, then Insanity and full running at 3 wks. I kept to a strict diet during that time so I wouldn't gain any weight back & did a lot of squats lol

So throwing 150# on my back and squatting is probably out? lol