Breast Reduction Surgery - Have you had it done?

HI Jilly. I had reduction surgery almost 14 years ago. I had ~3 lbs removed from each breast. Yes, my insurance covered it, but I was having severe back pain, and nerve issues from the straps cutting into my shoulders. I have scars underneath my breast from mid-line approaching my armpits. I can wear a bikini top, as long as it is not a string bikini. However, I also scar excessively and the surgeon offered to go back and reduce the scars, but I wasn't interested. The shape is ok, not great, but I was more interested in wellness than cosmetics at the time. I am extremely happy with the outcome, especially with how much more I can do physically, without pain, or wearing 2 bras to keep the girls contained. Best of luck with your decision making. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

*Pouring out a 40...of milk*

I had a reduction last year. My insurance didn't cover it because I didn't want to go below a D cup (I was a G). I found an amazing surgeon who was willing to do the procedure for a flat fee including everything so I could budget ahead and pay for it myself. Mosy breast reductions involve an anchor cut which is a cut down the center below the nipple and then across the underside of the breast. Usually you will be fine in a bikini if the doctor is good and doesn't cut too far across. My surgeon uses a new technique where he only cut down the center below the nipple and then did all the "tucking" on the inside with dissolving stitches. It was a more involved surgery but I'm so happy I paid the money for the best. My scars are only about an inch long and as they're fading, they're almost impossible to see.

Definitely do your research. All doctors have books of pictures to show you the results of procedures they've already done. Make sure you're comfortable with the doctor and his/her skills. Don't settle just because of insurance. I could have had them pay for it, but I know I would have had more scarring and smaller breasts afterwards. I'm so happy I saved up and paid for it so I could have the final result I wanted. You can private message me if you want more information or if you would like to see pictures of the scars.

I am seriously considering breast reduction surgery. I have lost about 18 lbs. and have another 25 or so to go to reach my goal. So far I haven't lost weight in my breasts and I am thinking I might have them reduced when I reach my weight loss goal. I have seen pictures at various doctor sites that show the outcome of the surgery. My main concern is the scars. If you have had this surgery, are you ok with the scars? Can you wear a bikini top without them showing? Did you get a breast lift in addition to the reduction and does that automatically come with the surgery? If you had insurance cover this surgery...how did you do that? Are you happy with the outcome?

Thank you so much for your input. I am trying to do as much research as possible before I make this decision.

Yes! I had my surgery in 2008. My scars have completely turned white and cannot be seen while wearing a swimsuit. I did not get a breast lift but I am 27 and that may contribute to how well they "bounced back." It does not automatically come with the surgery or at least it didn't with mine because insurance did cover it. My insurance rejected my request the first time and I made an appeal. I went to their website and researched what the requirements were in order for them to cover it and provided proof that I met all of those requirements and they approved it. I am very happy with the outcome and I would do it all over again if I had to go back in time.

Hope this helps!

Marking ! I am also very interested about this. I have been toying with the idea over a decade, but wanted to wait until done with kids and breastfeeding. .We done having kids and my last baby turns 1 yr old on the weekend and started weaning. Right now I still have J cups breastfeeding boobs, but last time I was able to go down to H cup after finished nursing and lost 50 lb baby weight. Even if I able to lose all the baby weight for good , I probably never go below G cup without the knife.
I think I would want to go don to a DD cup, but my husband very much against the whole surgery because of the risk.

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It's been about 12yrs since I had mine done...one of the best things I've done! I was 25 at the time, and about a 36F...horrible back pain and digging in shoulders. The issues I was having had to be documented w/the doctor in order for insurance to cover, but not a big deal. Had anchor incisions straight down from below nipple, they were able to complete w/out removing the nipple. After surgery initially I was about a B/C, loved it!! They just stood up on their own, super perky & cute, didn't need a bra...it was great!! I believe they took out almost 2lbs between them.

I would say it took about a year for them to completely heal and settle which ended up about a full C, sometimes D depending on bra. They filled out a bit and softened...as for the scarring it has never bothered me. I probably worsened the side scars from going back to underwire, but no big deal for me.

When I got pregnant, they barely increased...maybe only a cup size. They were able to perform surgery without removing nipple, and thought I would still be able to breastfeed...but that wasn't the case for me. I can't say if due to the surgery or not, I just didn't produce enough for my daughter, and ultimately went to formula. I've also never regained full sensitivity in the nipple either.

Still happy with them 12yrs later...a bit fuller over time and weight fluctuations...but still sitting at a nice spot. No drooping.

For me, very happy I did it. Good luck to you either way you go.

With 25 pounds to go you might want to wait until you've been in maintenance for 6 months. They will get smaller and things adjust physiologically even while maintaining. You will then be able to make an informed decision.

This.

I have had the surgery. I lost weight prior to having it, and I gained weight a couple of years afterwards. They got huge again, but after getting the weight back off, they are only slightly larger than the original outcome of the surgery. So be aware that if you gain weight, they will end up bigger again.

I'm fine with the scars. At this point (about 4.5 years out), they have faded to match my skin tone. They are somewhat noticeable up close, but only me and the boyfriend see them up close, so it's whatever. The scars were very red for a year or two after, but not anymore. The outside edges of the scar underneath the breast is visible in a bikini, but again, I don't really care. I doubt anyone notices them.

I lost sensation in one of my nipples, but at least I have one! This is very common, so be aware of that going into surgery. If you are planning to have children and breast feed, be aware that your ability to do so may be decreased or eliminated entirely. My mom had the surgery and breastfed my brother and I as much as possible, but had to supplement with formula. I myself am not planning on having children, so I wasn't worried about it.

Overall, it was 110% worth it. I had extremely large breasts, to the point where the surgery was deemed medically necessary due to the strain it was putting on my spine. Before the surgery I was a 34I. Now, after weight regain and re-loss, I'm sitting at a comfortable 32F. Still big, but not ridiculous.

My 15 year old daughter had this done, only and because she was extremely grossly huge for her shape. She is now 18 and looks beautiful. Her scars are not as noticeable but yes you have scares. Her nipples where removed and replaced. We both know that this was the best decision for her health, back pains and future self esteem issues. The insurance company paid, but took a while because of her age. But after review of her situation, it was approved. Two years of no sun exposure or underwire. But it has all been worth it. Also, she did not need a lift, he made her perky and beautiful.

My wife was considering it. She would have had it done last year, perhaps, but instead a more important issue came up causing another surgery for her.

Anyway...the weird thing we didn't like was that the surgeon told us that the insurance company makes the final decision on how much comes off. He recommends, but the insurance company makes the final decision. It might be something to consider.

If we are able to meet our full medical deductible again this year, as we did last year, she may consider it again.

I had lost about 50 pounds and nothing in the boob area. I was a size 12 wearing a 36H bra. I had the surgery, and it was covered by my insurance. I called the insurance company and asked what I needed to do to get the surgery approved and followed their guidelines. That included me seeing a physical therapist and getting her recommendation, seeing my doc, gynocologist, and a plastic surgeon and getting recos from all of them. I saw all female doctors as I thought they would be able to identify better with my issue.
Yes, it was a reduction and a lift combined. I have minimal scaring and I get a lot of compliments on the results of my surgery (new doctors, when I go in for a mammogram). I asked the plastic surgeon for pictures and testimonials. She didn't have great bedside manner but that didn't matter to me, I wanted someone who knew what they were doing and had a good reputation.
Had the surgery about 7 years ago - I would do it again in a heart beat. I feel so much better, the weight is off my back and shoulders. I can run and do so many other things that were painful before the surgery.

Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions.

I've had a breast lift. My scars are minimal and I can wear a bikini without them showing. Find a surgeon who knows what he/she is doing. It makes all the difference. I love my surgeon. I would do it again in a heartbeat!!

Her nipples where removed and replaced. We both know that this was the best decision for her health, back pains and future self esteem issues. The insurance company paid, but took a while because of her age. But after review of her situation, it was approved. Two years of no sun exposure or underwire. But it has all been worth it. Also, she did not need a lift, he made her perky and beautiful.

Nipples are never removed. The skin around them is just reshaped. There will be a scar around the nipples.

My aereola was taken off and cut smaller to fit my smaller chest.

If you plan on having children you should wait until you are done with that.

First, breasts can change before and after pregnancy. After two kids, each of whom I breastfed for over 3 years (they are both tweens now), my breasts ended up bigger than before I had kids. Other women have had theirs end up smaller. You really never know until you've done it.

But the biggest reason to wait is so you can breastfeed your babies. I've been a breastfeeding counsellor for five years and I have yet to meet a Mum who has had reduction surgery and was able to exclusively breastfeed her children, and even then they struggled with issues.

Breastfeeding may be the last thing on your mind right now, but having a baby changes EVERYTHING. Don't rob yourself of the opportunity to give your children the healthiest start in life, not to mention the numerous health and emotional benefits it brings to mothers.

Having babies and feeding them from my body turned me from a typical "I hate my [name body part here]" North American female to LOVING my body and all its imperfections, because bringing LIFE into the world and nourishing it with your body is hands down a bigger, more amazing accomplishment than looking "perfect" in a bikini.

Hi, I'm now 21 years old and I had this surgery done about a year ago in August. Mine was medically needed, and it still was a very hard struggle that took almost a year and a half of waiting, asking, and appointments to get the cost to be covered by insurance. I didn't have a choice in how they would come out exactly, or what size I was going down to. I went from a DDD to a C.

It was a VERY painful and scary experience. The pain was brutal and i had to take pain medication that made me nauseous and sleepy. It was hard to sleep because I couldn't lay on my side for over a month. When i finally could it was awesome. For the first few weeks it hurt to walk, I wore a special bra that hooked in the front and needed to apply guaze of the scars in case of bleeding or leaking. Gross. I also was supposed to keep my hands below my head for as long as possible as to not stretch the stitches. I had my mom help with my showering at first and I needed help at work and home reaching for things. Lifting for awhile was also not an option. Because I was so careful with the healing process my scars look great. I remember even months later it hurt to walk so I formed a habit of walking with both arms over my chest to hold them still. I probably looked like a fool. The healing process was also an emotional journey because it wasn't a nice site for a very long time and even now I have to remind myself that I did the right thing. I've grown to love them though.

Since this wasn't done for any reason but for medical reasons it didn't come with a breast life. My boobs are still very natural and mine. All that was done was removing tissue and moving up the skin. The reasons I needed this surgery were not all about looks but definitely some. My shoulders and back were killing me and my boobs hung towards the floor. It was gross. My bra straps dug into my shoulders. I now have less back pain and almost no shoulder pain. My boobs are a lot less saggy of course due to less weight but that just is natural, not from a lift.

I have no idea if I'll be able to breastfeed but I'll find out sooner or later.

Another point is that I had so many struggles throughout this process. I had stitches fall out, holes were created, lots of gross things were going on, my nipples and the sides of my breasts were completely numb for months and months and I wasn't promised I'd ever get feeling back. I did though, which I'm thankful for.

If you are going to go through with this make sure it is something you really want. It is the best decision I ever made, but it was almost a year long journey before i felt completely normal again. If you are honestly willing to give up a full year of your life then go for it (no roller coasters for me for awhile!). But do your research, talk to many doctors, and make sure its what you really want and need.