I edited my post. I had mine done years ago and can't remember how long I was off. I remember after having my bunyons off (both feet, same surgery) I was completely off my feet for 4 weeks. Maybe I went back to work at 2 weeks for the breast surgery.
I think you should get a consult with a doctor, ask them the current practices for time off, etc and about having kids etc.
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
Well shit, that looks like the timeline is closer to what I originally thought.
My full workouts include pullups and inversions/arm balancing yoga classes with long holds.
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
Well shit, that looks like the timeline is closer to what I originally thought.
My full workouts include pullups and inversions/arm balancing yoga classes with long holds.
Obviously you'll have to play it how you feel. I was up & walking around the night of the surgery (Halloween so my niece was over showing off her costume). That was a Thursday and my mom and I went shopping at the mall that Saturday, 2 days later. I'm not big on weights, although I REALLY need to be so a 10lb restriction was fine by me! :-) Warning - you're going to have to buy all new tops so start saving for that!!
nk - So when you were recovering, did you wear a regular bra? Did you buy bras based on what you thought you'd be post surgery? Explain those logistics to me.
2 other things - If anyone is near Philly I can recommend my Dr.
My mom & sisters weren't against it but I think they thought I was a little nuts for doing it. Post-surgery they keep telling me how great I look. Seriously the best decision ever.
I just bought a bandeau bikini top. I teared up a little when I put it on b/c I never thought I'd be able to wear something like that.
I had one in nov 2011. Best decision I ever made! I always hated my boobs and they are so cute and perky now! I only went from about a dd to a c but insurance paid because of my migraines.
nk - So when you were recovering, did you wear a regular bra? Did you buy bras based on what you thought you'd be post surgery? Explain those logistics to me.
They send you home a front closure sports bra type thing. I wore that for 2-3 days (took it off to wash). I also went to Walmart (i think) and bought front closure sports bras. For the first month you wear those 24/7. They're snug and can get grimey from the incisions healing.
After that you can wear whatever bra you want or go braless LOL! I bought a cheap 36C & 36D b/c I knew I'd be around that size but honestly it was way more comfortable to wear the front closure sports bra for a month or so. Your boobs will be small & hard at first. The tissue starts to settle & soften and then you'll know your real size.
I still wear the front closure bras when I'm hanging around the house and sometimes to sleep. I want to make sure mine are perky forever ;-)
For working out - compression bras all the way. I'll never wear anything else.
nk - So when you were recovering, did you wear a regular bra? Did you buy bras based on what you thought you'd be post surgery? Explain those logistics to me.
They send you home a front closure sports bra type thing. I wore that for 2-3 days (took it off to wash). I also went to Walmart (i think) and bought front closure sports bras. For the first month you wear those 24/7. They're snug and can get grimey from the incisions healing.
After that you can wear whatever bra you want or go braless LOL! I bought a cheap 36C & 36D b/c I knew I'd be around that size but honestly it was way more comfortable to wear the front closure sports bra for a month or so. Your boobs will be small & hard at first. The tissue starts to settle & soften and then you'll know your real size.
I still wear the front closure bras when I'm hanging around the house and sometimes to sleep. I want to make sure mine are perky forever ;-)
For working out - compression bras all the way. I'll never wear anything else.
Okay, that makes sense. Thanks for answering my questions!
H got home and gave me the insurance digits. My consult is next Thursday morning
Post by donthasslethehoff on Dec 31, 2013 14:22:40 GMT -5
I had one prior to having kids. I had in 2007 and had a baby at the end of 2012. It affected my ability to nurse, but I still managed to nurse about 80% of what she needed. I went through hell though trying to get my supply up, but it was worth it.
It was the best decision at the time, and even though my breasts grew after having a child and some weight gain, they're still smaller than they were and they're still relatively perky in comparison.
If I remember correctly I was out of work for 2 weeks. If you have short term disability and it's deemed medically necessary, STD should cover you. I think I had to exhaust 40 hrs of PTO first, then the second week my STD kicked in.
I had a really easy recovery. I spent the night in the hospital with drains, got them pulled out the next morning and went home. I think I hung out on the couch for the first 2 days, but after that I was good to go. They tell you not to lift anything over your head for a week or so, and nothing more than a gallon of milk for 2 weeks (I think). Let me know if you have any questions, I am more than happy to answer.
I had it done when I was 17 - so almost 20 years ago. I'm sure things have changed since then, but my boobs are still super perky and getting pregnant didn't make a difference at all. Depending on my weight and the band size I choose, they flex between a B (SUPER skinny, larger band size) and a DD - chub, tiny band size). My surgeon picked the size based on my frame. I don't remember how long I was out of school - maybe two weeks? I was unable to breast feed.
ETA: After reading Auntie's post - my nipples were removed and um, reset, FWIW on the breastfeeding front.
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?
After is better. They lose a little starch with each pregnancy and many women find they're smaller or larger after they wean.
The surgery can impact the ability to breastfeed. My BFF's breasts didn't respond to the hormones of pregnancy which was a pretty good indication she wouldn't succeed. She had old school surgery where her nipples were removed, trimmed down and reset which is associated with a great aesthetic result. If the use newer techniques and keep the nipples attached the cosmetic result might not be as good, but there is a greater chance of function. Even so, a woman who has had a lot of breast tissue removed she will probably need to supplement. I used to be a peer counselor for BFing moms, I don't think any of my reduction moms were able to EBF, but most made it work for them.
Most of the people I know who had reduction surgery talked with the surgeon about what would be an appropriate size post surgery. My BFF's doc used saline implants to give her an idea of the volume she'd aim for. She went from a 34 G to a 34 almost a C and was very happy with the result. They did sort of come back in the last 30 years even though BFF weighs about the same as she did. She was bitching about being a 34 DDD the other day.
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?
After is better. They lose a little starch with each pregnancy and many women find they're smaller or larger after they wean.
The surgery can impact the ability to breastfeed. My BFF's breasts didn't respond to the hormones of pregnancy which was a pretty good indication she wouldn't succeed. She had old school surgery where her nipples were removed, trimmed down and reset which is associated with a great aesthetic result. If the use newer techniques and keep the nipples attached the cosmetic result might not be as good, but there is a greater chance of function. Even so, a woman who has had a lot of breast tissue removed she will probably need to supplement. I used to be a peer counselor for BFing moms, I don't think any of my reduction moms were able to EBF, but most made it work for them.
Most of the people I know who had reduction surgery talked with the surgeon about what would be an appropriate size post surgery. My BFF's doc used saline implants to give her an idea of the volume she'd aim for. She went from a 34 G to a 34 almost a C and was very happy with the result. They did sort of come back in the last 30 years even though BFF weighs about the same as she did. She was bitching about being a 34 DDD the other day.
This was super helpful! Thank you!
My cousin (she's 18) just had a reduction. I've been wanting to ask her about it, but she's a bit of a private person and young so I didn't want to step on her toes or make her uncomfortable. Obviously, I wasn't going to ask her about the BFing part. She has no kids and I'm betting it's not a question she asked her doctor!
bornbaker- I was told it can definitely impair your ability to nurse. And since your boobs typically grow during pregnancy, I wouldn't want to take the chance that I would get them reduced and then they'd grow back.
This happened to my cousin. She had her first reduction the second she turned 21 as medical insurance coverage would only cover it after she was 'fully grown'. She had major back issues all through high school and is really petite otherwise, poor girl.
After her first kid they came back! She had another reduction after her second child since she thought that would be her last.
She's now divorced and is engaged and her future H would like to have one more kid. She's got her fingers crossed that she won't have to do another reduction, but will absolutely do it if she needs to.
My doctor(s) (I saw two very good surgeons for consults) explained that while obviously, the goal was for me to be as happy as possible, no good surgeon would be able to guarantee a specific size. Both said that once you're on the table, you breast tissue determines some of the size and it's always a bit of a toss up as to how you'll fit into a bra after.
So, I said to just go as small as possible. I went from a 34HH to a 34D-DD. It's awesome.
Worth all of it.
However, my recovery was not nearly as quick as some of the above! Holy lick. Granted, I had a pretty major reconstruction going, but at a week out, I was still in incredible pain. No way could I have exercised at two weeks. I'm hugging my poor boobs just thinking about it. I remember specifically because at one week, two days out, I thought I was doing okay, went to the lake house for the weekend where I did nothing, but even the general activity of doing more than laying all day caused my wounds to open and lots of pain. And I had a flawless recovery technically - no drains, no complications, I even cancelled my six week follow up. And my scars are impressively good/thin.
So, I think recovery varies.
In contrast, I had an employee who was not only back at work within a week, but hauling 25 lb wedding dresses around without an ounce of trouble.
Regardless, worth it completely. The novelty of not wearing a bra, or even better, wearing those previously silly and useless tank tops with built in "bras" is still awesome. And buying bras - they're so cheap with wee boobs! And you can buys bras anywhere. It's all totally worth it.
Post by yourmother on Dec 31, 2013 15:27:29 GMT -5
I had a reduction/lift 9 years ago. I was down for 1 week from work, but was able to drive myself to the Sonic drive through the same day I had the surgery, lol.
Here's my piece of advice: if your weight fluctuates, be sure you're at you're heaviest. My doctor recommended I lose weight prior to the surgery and I did. I was normally a size 10 and went down to a 6. Unfortunately, as time went on and I got closer to a 10 (and then some for a few years), my boobs grew. I'm pretty much back to where I was, although I like them better now than pre-reduction.
I would do the reduction again in a heartbeat, even with gaining them back. As a matter of fact, I'd like to have it done again after having children.
"Why would you ruin perfectly good peanuts by adding candy corn? That's like saying hey, I have these awesome nachos, guess I better add some dryer lint." - Nonny
Try breasthealthonline for more information. The only thing I will say about jumping back into working out (or any type of physical activity) is you only have ONE chance to heal. Take advantage of it.
Try breasthealthonline for more information. The only thing I will say about jumping back into working out (or any type of physical activity) is you only have ONE chance to heal. Take advantage of it.
This bears repeating.
Two fantastic surgeons that I saw had all sorts of great information, some of it overlapped, some was new.
But both repeated this almost verbatim. Both said that the vast, vast majority of post-op complications they see are a result of pushing too hard, too fast.
I tried really hard to remember that and not fall into that trap where you feel a little better, but a little better feels SO MUCH BETTER that suddenly you want to do all the things! I had no complications and healed beautifully and in hindsight, it was well worth listening to my body and taking those few weeks.