Breast Reduction Surgery - Morris,AL

As the other posters have said, the surgery is very invasive and you will be sore. Each person reacts differently to pain though. While it took me a long time to feel "normal" and I was out of work for a week, I did not need any pain killers after leaving the hospital. The sorest areas will be the ones they do lipo on (the center of your breastbone and under your armpits). I had my surgery 10 years and am still in love with my "new" boobs. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi K.,

I had breast reduction surgery in December, 2005. It is a very very long recovery process. I do urge you that this is not a decision to be made lightly. I would suggest thinking long and hard about it. It's a permanant change, but not only that it's painful and the recovery process can take up to a year. You will not begin to feel better for about 8 weeks after surgery. My sister has also had the surgery. I do still have some permanant nerve damage from the surgery and pain every now and again through my breasts.
My hospital stay was overnight. There are drains that are inserted into your breasts that are removed the next day after surgery. They are to collect any residual blood and fluid left after surgery. They are removed just by the physician pulling them out, however they are about a foot and a half long into your chest area and it's not a very comfortable feeling then they are removed. Once they are out, it's okay. The next phase is the binder bra which you will have to wear 24/7 for at least 2-3 months. You will have dressing changes that you must do approx 2x a day religiously. Please follow your surgeons instructions exactly and do it all the time. The incision can be closed 2 ways. Either by glue or stitches with steri strips. Steri strips are designed to give the sutures support until the area is healed. They are not removed, they are left on until they fall off naturally. You may have some oozing of thick yellowish drainage. Sometimes tinged with blood. That is normal as the site is healing. Keep an eye on things because there is a change the wound may separate and it may need to be closed again surgically. That is why dressing changes and keeping your binder bra on at all times is important. You will be in pain for about the first 2 weeks. Most likely the doctor will send you home on Percocet. I was on 2 of them at one does to get rid of the pain for about the first week. The second week, I could use something not as strong like 800mg of Motrin for pain and swelling. You will have numbness and no feeling in your breasts and armpit area for quite a while. For me it lasted up to 3-4 months before some feeling came back. I have completely lost all feeling in my nipples that is permanant. Overall, I do like the way they look and it has relieved some of the tension on my back. I have gone down 2 sizes and no longer had the intense indentations in my shoulders from my old bras. It was nice to look forward to wearing clothes that didn't need me to wear a bra. On the down side, I was allergic to the steri strips and they had to be removed prematurely which resulted in wound separation so I had a huge gaping hole under one breast and a smaller one under the other breasts for about 2 months. Not until I was about 4 months after surgery was I able to wear normal bras.
I've been a nurse for 11 years and nothing could prepare me for the pain, recovery and feelings I would have after this surgery. I can't say for sure that I would do it all over again. It's very consuming. I hope you have a patient family because you will need their support for quite some time. Even though it's 10 months later for me. I was able to return to my normal duties months ago, I do still have some pain here and there through my breasts which the doctor has told me some people will have. I do have horrible scarring from the wounds that separated. I have been trying to find some way to minimize the look of it. So far, no luck. There was just no way for anyone to know I'd be allergic to Steri strips. I had bleeding, leakage and blisters on top of my sutures. I had no choice but to remove the strips, but when I did it tore my skin off and caused more trama to the skin. Not everyone will go through that, but it's just one of those things that may happen. As far as the pain, numbness and other recovery symptoms....there's just no getting around that. I wish you the best and a speedy recovery. If you want to talk more about it you can email me at ____@____.com.

~L.

My advice to you is to take it easy. It is not as bad as you think but please do not danger yourself by trying to pick up your child(ren). I know that will be a hard thing for you to do but you will have the love and support of your family. The first day you will be on some heavy medication but you should be back to normal within a week or so. Try to do without the pain medication if at all possible or use it to sleep at night. Good luck with the surgery. I know that you will be happy with the results b/c I am.

K. have you truely considered all the nerves that go to that area that will be damaged with a major surgery like this. I know that all the responses are positive and I do pray that you make a decision that you are comfortable with. But my husband is a Chiropractor and I see so many people that he has been able to help eleviate "back problems" without major surgery. Just something to consider. I send blessings your way.

Hey. I am a size 42ddd. I want to get the surgery done because i have 3 buldging disc and arthratic deteration of the lower joints in my back. I have a three year old little boy. Let me know how it goes and how you feel about it. I am only 22 but if i don't look into doing something about my back now, I may not have one left when I really need it.
A.

I had this surgery six years ago and I don't regret a minute of it. When I had the surgery I had a 3 yr old daughter and my son had just turned 1 yrs old. I had been approved to have the surgery when I was 18 but was told to wait till I had kids.

It is a painful surgery and was worse than giving birth and I had two long labors. But it was worth every bit of the pain and soreness. After surgery in the room I could feel instant relief from my back.

I had to wear a bra contraption for two weeks and could not take a shower and had to take spit baths. My mom had to wash my hair over the kitchen sink since you can not get that area wet. You have to wear the bra wrap for two weeks without taking it off. After the two weeks I went back to the doctor and they took the stiches out and had to wear a special bra for two months.

You will be very sore and at first they will not be the size that they will eventual be. At first they will be really small and over time about a year they will come back. I loved it! I could go without a bra and no one noticed. Mine have stayed the same shape and size over the past five years.

Who is your doctor? I had two plastic surgeons. My main surgeon was Dr. Sharon Cowen at Montclair and the other surgeon was from St. Vincent's and I can't remember his name.

Let me know if you have any other questions! The surgeon is worth all of the pain and soreness. I can actual run now! Oh, my son was fine. We told him that I was hurt and that he could not sit with me. You will be in the hospital for a couple of days and then when you come home you will be in bed recovering. My mom was a huge help with the kids.

It will take about 2 weeks before the swelling will be reduced and you can really see what your new breasts will look like. I know people who have had breast enlargements and it was rather painful for about 3 weeks and then greatly diminished after that point. just listen to your doctor and follow his advise. you will be sore so make sure to talk to your children and let them know that mommy will be really sore and they have to be gentle with her, hopefully if you start now that will be ready for it when the 18th comes along. I wish you the best and pray your surgery goes well.

Hi K.,
I quite a bit older than you (44), but I had reduction surgery years ago and am so glad I did. It is quite painful, I have to tell you that. No raising your arms over your head is harder than it sounds. Drying my hair was even a pain. You will get thru it and be happy in the end, but it was very uncomfortable. I slept in my recliner for weeks, so you might want to do that. It helped alot!! As for not picking up your little one, you're right, that's a no-no. My son was very small when I had my surgery and I just had him climb up to me. That will keep your closeness with your baby. I'll bet your 5 yr. old will be excited to help mommy too. If she or he is capable, let them help with your 11 month old. Can they carry your baby for you? just small distances maybe?
I wish you well!! I felt so much better after all the healing was done and you will too! Just hang in there!!! I'm here if you wanna chat.
S.

I have but one question for you: IF YOU DON'T WANT YOUR BOOBS MAY I HAVE THEM? :)

Seriously -- best of luck. I'm sure if you follow instructions and your family helps like they've promised, you'll get thru it in no time and be thrilled! :)

i am not gonna sugarcoat things after the surgery is painful my son was 3 years old at the time and i could not pick him up for 2 weeks i did go back to work after 2 weeks though but i could not do any lifting at all your chest muscles are gonna feel as though you have been punched in the chest they may give you a breathing exercise to use at home so that ur lungs will not clot with blood i was a size 46dd before surgery weighing 170 lbs and 5'9 they reduced me to a size 44d they took 2 1/2 lbs of breast tissue ur breasts will be hard and tight but they will soften over time they may swell a little but you'll be pleased with the results don't be nervous because it was my first surgery too but you will feel a whole lot better about yourself afterwards you won't feel a thing b/c you will be asleep but once you awake your chest is going to hurt b/c of the skin they have to pull and the lipo they do to remove extra tissue like flanks which is the extra breast tissue that hangs from the sides of your bra u can call me if you want to know more about the surgery at ###-###-####

You will be a little sore for a few weeks. I wasn't in much pain at all. I stopped using my pain meds 2 days after surgery! It'll be hard for your baby to understand, but it's temporary! It's the best thing you ever will do though! I totally don't regret having mine, and I was still able to breastfeed afterwards!!! Feel free to contact me if you have anymore questions. Do take with you to the hospital (for your ride home) a pillow to hold against you for bumps! Also, stock up on sports bras, ones that zip in the front are better for removing and adding gauze.

~B.

I personally have had the surgery and it was the best thing I ever did. Everyones pain tolerance level is different, but i truly only felt sore, not a whole lot of intense pain. I think you'll rebound faster than you think and will be able to do more also.