Breast reductions

[milo1978]

Im a 34ff (5'2, size 12) and im due to have a breast reduction on the nhs in 2 months.

In an ideal world i'd love to be a big C/small D cup however because its on the nhs i dont get a choice and i've been offerred a B/C.

I've been on the list for just over a yr and im due to have surgery in 2 months, however i am annoyed at my surgeons lack of compromise-he refuses to say C Instead says could be B could be C.

I really dont know what to do-has anyone had this done before? any regrets/sories to share?

[Wee Kaz]

Milo, I have not had it done but I am not brave enough to go through with the procedure. I tried to get it done on the NHS but they said that I needed to prove that it phycologically affected me and I had to speak to various folk to see if I was 'eligable'. I am 5ft 0, a size 12 and a 32FF so we are pretty similar. I went for a private conciltation and wanted to go to a 'C' cup too but chickened out and didn't go through with it. I think there's a big difference between a B and a C and whilst you want them smaller you don't want them small, simply big enough to not look out of proportion. It's something to do with the NHS taking 5 cup sizes off you but it makes no difference to them, in my opinion it's your body and you have to live with it so it should be your call within reason and from a FF to a C IS within reason. I'd still go ahead with it anyway even if they went to a B as you could go out without a bra and even wear decent underwear with subtle padding. Good Luck, I really admire you and wish I had your guts!

[Loopylou22]

a friend of mine had her's reduced from a 34 ff to a 34 c and they looked great! i think its highly unlikely they would reduce them to a b because that is a very drastic drop in size? but if they do you can get a slightly padded bra?

[caz21]

Just wanted to say milo, that being a 32B I am quite small up top! I know we have different back sizes but i doubt it would make too much difference to the overall size of the breasts as a 34B.

I think going from a FF to a B is drastic and you would notice a change dramatically, and i'm just stating not neccesarily for the better!

A C/D would be perfect for you i'm sure, if i were you i would tell them you are not happy with what they are offering, maybe go to your GP! at the end of the day its your body and just because it is on the NHS doesnt mean they can make you do something thats not right for you!

Tell them you'll be back for a NHS increase if they make you a B! ;o)

[Hellion]

I suspect they are vague because the surgery is not an exact science. They may aim for a C but when swelling reduces you may have B and vice versa. tell surgeon your concerns that you don't want to be too small.

[xx cutie xx]

i also wish i had your guts! im 5'2 size 8/10 and a 32f . im so glad there are others out there like me. i hate being this size i look top heavy. im starting to worry less about them though and make the best of them.

[milo1978]

Thanks everyone for your stories and advice much appreciated and for those who think im gutsy-Im absolutely pertrified, trying not to think about it!!

[atolhurst]

I had a reduction done on the NHS about 3 years ago. They couldn't say what size I'd be. But the reason why they can't or won't guarentee a size is quite simple (or so I was told)...

When you have an enlargement, the silicon they put in is a certain size. Therefore, you will increase to that exact size. V simple. When you have a reduction it's a bit more complicated because they are dealing with fat which is more floppy than silicon. They also perform the surgery when you are lying down (asleep) and when you lie down, gravity plays a part and your boobs sort of fall to the sides changing shape and probably looking a little less protruding then they do when you stand up.

So when they take the fat out, they do their best to make them even (taking enough out of each breast - the measure it in grammes) but they can't actually tell what size you'll be until you're sewn up and stand up again. And as hellion said, swelling too plays a part. They can guesstimate though, which is why your surgeon is saying b/c. I think there's a maximum as to how much they can take out so that may also play a part.

As to the op itself, I went into surgery on a Monday afternoon. Woke up late Monday evening - everything ached. Found it quite difficult to move around - you'd be suprised what muscles you use to do the simplest of things like getting out of bed to go to the toilet - agony.

Tuesday I stayed in hospital. I went home on Wednesday. Went back to work the following Monday.

They took a while to heal - you may be given iodine patches which help dry out the wounds but it took about 2 months for them to heal properly. Because they made an anchor cut across the underside of the breast and then up to the nipple (they will have to reposition your nipple), the area where the three cuts meet at the bottom of the vertical cut and in the middle of the two horizontal cuts takes the longest to heal up.

09:45 Fri 21st Jul 2006

[atolhurst]

(cont'd)

Bruising went down in about 2 to 3 weeks; arnica ( a herbal rememdy) helps with that; you can take it orally or through a cream.

Sensitivity is affected; some people loose the ability to breastfeed as they cut the milk ducts from the nipple. Some people loose feeling; I can't feel the undersides of my actual breast though the nipple areas was unaffected - I guess everyone is different.

Scar wise, where they repositoned the nipple, one of the pink circles round the nipple (I forget what they call that) is noticably bigger than the other but page three modelling was never one of my life long ambitions so thats not really a problem for me. And the scars from where they made the cuts are noticable but not intrusive - you can't see them when you wear clothes (or at least, not when you wear the kind of clothes I do!!) . A faint slightly-raised, shiny surface above the rest of the skin.

Overall, for me it was the best thing I ever did though I know it isn't for everyone and you do have to mindful that there are risks.

It isn't quite the walk in the park I first imagined though and the healing gets a bit frustrating. So many times I woke up with a little bit of gunk on my bed sheets. Which isn't nice. But worth it in the end. But good luck with it!

[milo1978]

Thanks atohurst thats probably the most accurate description I have heard so far.

Can I ask what size you were and what you went down to? (sorry if thats too personal)

But I can tell that despite the fustration you were happy with it.

My surgeon always tells me so many horror stories, I feel that this whole time they have tried to get me to change my mind by saying the most horrific things.

For eg. im 23 and no, i dont wear exceptionally revealing clothes, just normal topshop vests/tops-the usual. My surgeon told me that the anchor scars could be so thick and raised that they would show through my clothes, not on the sides but THROUGH, Im kind of thinking that unless i wanted to wear a nylon top (i dont!) that would surely be impossible?! no?

[atolhurst]

I'm 5ft 4 ish. I'm a size 12 and I was a 36F. I got reduced and am now a big C.

I am much happier than I was though in my heart of hearts, I wish I could be a little bit smaller as I don't think my height and my chest size are still quite in the right proportion (although my bf thinks differently!)

That said, I am on the contraceptive injection which has definately added weight so if/when I come off that, I'll probably get a bit smaller in the breast area. also, I could probably do a bit more exercise than I do which wouldn't hurt either.

Re the scars, showing though tops, I guess anything is possible though mine definately don't. I also wear a bra, the underwire of which sits on top of the scar which would stop that, even if the scar was raised.

I think doctors probably do try and 'scare' you a bit, because some people go in to cosmetic surgery thinking it's a small inconvenience - like when people go on cosmentic holidays thimking they'll be right as rain after the 2 week break. It can take months and months before you're functioning normally again - for me, it was at least 8 before pressure could be applied as before, before doing exercise was as comfortable as it had been and even then, the scars were still apparent. They fade a bit over time but never go completely.

BTW, after you've first had it done, I'd suggest investing in a few sports bra's to wear instead of normal ones as the underwire rub against the scars and itches like crazy!