So you’re thinking about having a breast reduction…
Here’s a little Q&A about my experience with a breast reduction you might find helpful, and the whole story is here.
What made you decide to get a breast reduction?
I have hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) which causes, among other things, chronic joint pain, joint instability, dislocations, and early-onset osteoarthritis. My large breasts were contributing to a huge amount of back pain and while a breast reduction wasn't a magic bullet, I can say that my back, shoulder, and neck pain has already been significantly reduced. Also, I just wanted to be able to move around in the world more easily. I wanted to be able to buy a bra in a normal store and not have it cost me $85 special-ordered off the internet. I'm now able to buy bras (and bralettes!) off the rack at target, even as a plus size babe, for like $10 or $15 and it's amazing. Exercising is so much easier, and frankly everything is easier with smaller boobs. I'm so happy with my decision.
What were you most worried about prior to surgery?
I was scared of lots of things. I've always been the girl with the big boobs, and I was worried I would look disproportionate with smaller ones (I'm a little more pear-shaped but I love it). I was worried the surgery recovery would be really difficult (and it was honestly, though not as bad as I thought). I was worried about more serious complications like losing a nipple (thankfully that's fairly uncommon, and I didn't have anything like that occur). I was worried that I'd be very self-conscious about my scars (they're certainly noticeable but I think they'll fade and they don't bother me). I was worried my husband would be less attracted to me (he loves the new girls, so this was an unfounded fear). I was worried I'd regret it for some other reason I couldn't even think of at the time (but I have literally no regrets).
How did you talk with your partner about the breast reduction before surgery?
This was easier in my case because he brought it up first, but it was still hard nonetheless. I was honest with him that I was concerned about whether he would find me as attractive, and that was very vulnerable to say, but it gave him plenty of opportunities to reassure me prior to surgery. If you have a partner who doesn't always know the "right" thing to say in those situations, it's okay to ask for the type of reassurance you need. I also set some boundaries around grieving my old boobs. I asked him to remember that if he ever missed my old boobs post-surgery, that this was perfectly normal and valid, but that it was really important that he not share those thoughts with me. He could talk about them with a close friend, write about them in a journal, whatever he needed to do, but it was important that I not hear something like that after surgery when I had no way of changing the fact that I had surgery. Luckily he loves my new boobs, as I hoped he would, but I think that was an important boundary to set ahead of time for my own mental well-being. I was also up front about the amount of help I would need during my recovery, so he could take some time off work and be prepared for taking on the bulk of the house duties during that time period.
Did you do anything to prepare for surgery that you would recommend for others going through this process?
Because of who I am as a person, I did a TON of research on my own, and as a part of an amazingly supportive Facebook group called Breast Reduction Surgery (Answer questions to join). It was so helpful to read people's stories and see over and over again how even people who had some serious complications (serious ones are rare) still did not regret the surgery, and were happier for having had it. This helped me feel more confident that I could get through the bad parts in order to be able to enjoy life more with smaller boobs. In my case, it was also helpful to use the Facebook group search function in my EDS groups to read about the breast reduction experiences of others with hEDS. This helped me get over my fear of major surgical complications (which are certainly more common in people with EDS/hEDS, but as one very wise woman wrote, "It may take us longer, but we do heal"). This next part sounds like a little thing, but it's really helpful. I took a lot of "before" photos (both with a bra and without a bra as well as in a few of my favorite outfits) so that I would have some comparisons during healing. It's easy to forget just how large your breasts were, and I wanted to be able to see the difference on days when maybe healing was going slower than I'd like, etc. It was very helpful to have these! I also started drinking a protein shake the week prior to surgery and continued supplementing protein through week 3 post-surgery, to aid in healing.
What items did you get ahead of time to prepare for recovery?
A pregnancy pillow and/or a wedge pillow (I used both) to help me sleep elevated and reduce swelling
Button up shirts (so I didn't have to lift my arms over my head)
A flexible shower head and a shower head holder that could be put at torso height
A shower stool (a lot of folks get dizzy the first few times they shower after surgery - I didn't end up feeling that way, but it was good to be prepared)
Tylenol & Advil
Stool Softener (pain meds and anesthesia can wreak havoc on a person's GI stuff, so best to have this on hand I thought)
Bacitracin (not Neosporin - most surgeons don't recommend using Neosporin apparently)
MediHoney (for wound openings)
Aquaphor (also for wound openings)
Impact Advanced Recovery Shakes (recommended by my surgeon) which are super gross but aid in post-surgery healing
Core Power Chocolate Protein Shakes (much better tasting and cheaper than the Impact Advanced Recovery shakes, so I used them after the first week to keep my protein intake up without making myself gag)
Medical gauze
8x11 ABD pads
Soft tank tops to wear under the post-surgical bra (most people are sent home with a post-surgical compression bra following surgery, but the fabric isn't super soft)
Dry shampoo (which I didn't need as much as I thought I would, but everyone is different, and I was glad I had it on hand just in case)
BioOil and Biocorneum (for moisturization and scar treatment after all my incisions were fully closed)
Cheap, comfy sports bras and supportive bralettes (for after I was cleared to stop wearing my post-surgical bra)
What was your starting bra size and what size are you now?
I started off at a 38H (though was likely a little bigger) and I'm currently measuring at a 38DD or 40D. I still have swelling though, so once I'm closer to six months out, I'll likely be closer to a 38D or 40C, which was exactly what I was hoping for.
How much did they remove during surgery?
I had 1000g removed on one side, and 1001g removed from the other, as well as 300ml on each side removed via lipo (which was included in the breast reduction procedure, targeted towards that "side boob" area). Right around 5lbs total was removed altogether.
Did you have a free nipple graft?
No. I was able to have a fairly large reduction without needing a free nipple graft. A free nipple graft is when they have to detach the nipple and areola entirely (severing the blood flow) and then graft it onto the re-formed breast after surgery. This is usually needed when breasts are not only large but very pendulous. It means that breast-feeding and nipple sensation would no longer be possible. The majority of breast reductions can be accomplished without a free nipple graft. If your surgeon insists that you need one, I would recommend getting a second opinion.
Did you lose any sensation after surgery?
For the most part, no. I have fully sensation in my right breast and nipple, and nearly full sensation in my left breast, with part of the nipple still numb (but responsive to temperature). It's likely that I'll regain full sensation by the time I'm six months post-op. Even if I don't, I'm still very happy with my results and have no regrets.
What were the hardest parts about post-surgical recovery?
There's the obvious stuff like being in pain, or not being able to get comfortable, having to sleep on my back (elevated) when I'm not a back sleeper (it was torture), and being exhausted all the time because my body was using a lot of energy to heal. The area where they did the side lipo was by far the most swollen and the most uncomfortable, and the most tender for the longest amount of time. But then there's the not so obvious stuff like not being able to hug my family, not being able to connect physicially with my partner, needing to sleep in a different room (in my case) to accommodate all the extra pillows I needed to get any good rest, and the emotional weight of healing lasting longer than I wanted it to. These are things I wasn't as prepared for (the hugging and physical connection especially). They're not insurmountable and again, I have no regrest about having the surgery, but there are some down sides at first that it's good to know about ahead of time. The other thing is how hard it is not to do too much too soon. Make sure you take it easy, and build in plenty of help for yourself if you can, especially if you're a parent, or have a very physical job to return to.
Does a breast reduction surgery make your stomach look bigger?
I mean... yeah, kind of. But here's the deal. Your tum was there the whole time, and there is nothing wrong with your tum. All tums are good tums. So will you see your stomach a bit more without giant breasts covering it up? Yes. But I'd gently encourage anyone holding off on surgery for this reason alone to think about their overall quality of life, and if seeing a bit more of a their tum is really more important than gaining some pain-free days back. I am personally embracing being a bit more pear-shaped now, and while I was worried about working through my emotions on this topic, it hasn't been as hard as I thought it might be, and when it does come up, I remind myself that my tum is awesome, and all my tops fit better, and that helps.
What's one thing you know how that you wish you'd know before surgery?
One thing I didn't know before surgery is that small openings are very common. So while I was more likely to have openings and wound healing complications/delays in general because of hEDS, it's not as though no one else ever has openings. They're super common, and it takes quite a while (5-6 weeks for most people, 8-10 weeks for me) to be "out of the woods" for openings. It can feel demoralizing to have an opening, but they're very common, and most heal on their own without major intervention. It's just part of the process. Healing from a breast reduction is a marathon, not a sprint.
What are some benefits you've noticed since surgery?
I have not had my back go out once since surgery (almost 2 months ago) when it used to go out about once a week
I can breathe so much easier
All of my tops fit better (graphic t-shirts look MUCH better on me now)
I can now buy $10 and $15 bras and bralettes off the rack at Target, which is a thing I could never dream of doing before
It is so much easier to exercise, and so much more comfortable (TMI: less underboob sweat!)
I can go braless if I want (again, a thing I never thought I'd be able to do)
I have more confidence in general about how I look in clothing, and because my boobs aren't the first thing people notice about me now
What's the number one piece of advice you'd give someone considering a breast reduction?
Join a group where you can ask questions of people who have been there. Do your research and don't just focus on all the bad things that can happen, focus on how happy the vast majority of people are following their reductions. How it's changed their lives for the better. Talk with your doctor and see what the process might look like for you, and even if it's scary, remember that breast reductions have the highest patient satisfaction rate of just about any surgery performed by a plastic surgeon. Truly, this is a life-changing surgery, and if it's something you end up doing, I'm so happy for you, and you're going to do great!
-Sam
