Breast Reduction Recovery

[one1horse]

I went through the past posts on this topic, but there is nothing from the last 18+ months, so figured it was worth revisiting. I have a reduction scheduled for mid-March of this year, will hopefully be going down 5 cup sizes. Was hoping to schedule the surgery for earlier in the winter, but my surgeon was fully booked so here we are. I’m in the Boston area, so March is basically still winter anyway.

I am a hunter/jumper rider riding 4-6 times a week. How quickly can I expect to be back in the saddle at the level I was riding at pre-surgery? I am hopeful I’ll be able to at least sit on something within a month, and will keep the work low-impact. Then be back to regular activity level in two months. Is this a pipe dream? Give me a reality check if necessary!

Also would love to hear about others’ experiences and how it changed your riding. I am at the point in my training that how I am compensating for my altered center of gravity is limiting my ability to progress further as I am constantly fighting my balance. I am sooo hopeful the reduction will help alleviate some of that. And also maybe help my back pain and my sleep, but the riding is obviously the biggest priority

[Lusoluv]

I don’t have personal experience, but one of my students had this surgery last year. She was doing very light riding within 3-4 weeks and totally back (jumping) in 6-8 weeks. She is not a super stoic type person, so she was not fighting through pain to ride, etc. She’s a 3-4x/week type rider if that helps. She still fights round shoulder syndrome, so it wasn’t a miracle cure for her bad posture. However, she did say it helped her back pain and self-consciousness.

[hoopoe]

I would likely ask my surgeon and their support staff. They know your surgeons techniques and have seen many follow ups . We can only given anecdotal info, which may help, but your surgical support group will have more data. Ask them, as well, were to get the best, hands on bra fitting

Good luck on your journey. I have never heard a woman say they have regrets

[Railbird]

I rode lightly 2 weeks later (I think the second my second round of stitches were out) and normal activity 4 weeks later. I think the 2 weeks was too soon since some of my scars healed a little wonky after my horse spooked and I pulled on one and irritated it. It was really not all that painful and after the first week it felt just like having any other cut with stitches except on your boobs, you want to avoid yanking it or bumping anything into it but not ruining your day otherwise.

[CHT]

An older client recently had a breast reduction and reconstruction - she was back riding in 2 weeks. A few days flat work for 10 days (she only rides twice a week), then back jumping (low stuff). She never had breast pain from riding, but getting off was tricky - fortunately she was on a short horse and we have a tall mounting block she could get off onto which helped. The most pain she had while riding was actually her inner thigh where they took fat for the reconstruction.

if your horse is bouncy or strong, it might be different - the horse she rides is very body friendly.

[NaturallyHappy]

This is nice news. I’ve considered it myself but couldn’t/ can’t figure out how to manage so much down time.

[Kyrabee]

I had a reduction in 2009.

My surgeon asked that I limit my horse interactions for 6 weeks. She was less worried about riding than she was if my arms got jerked on (which definitely a possibility with my spicy mare back then, especially with time off). I had my surgery in January which was nice time wise. I was definitely riding by March. A bit tender but that soon resolved.

So I followed instructions I did get my horse time but I just groomed her after about the third week and let someone else handle her. She didn’t really need much…she was out 24/7.

I feel like it was the absolute best thing I have ever done . I even paid for it out of pocket because I didn’t want to battle the insurance company—they probably would have denied anyway and the doctor wouldn’t schedule until they knew how it would be paid for. I had saved the money and the sooner the better. It helped my riding immensely. Not having to balance all that bouncing weight out in front, not having the turtle posture (pulling shoulders to ears) trying to keep them from bouncing, less back pain. The only regret…that I didn’t have it done much sooner.

I would go with what the Dr says. I am sure techniques have evolved since I had mine but you want to have the best chance of a good outcome. 4-6 weeks post op is small penance to pay for something that if screwed up, could bug you for the rest of your life.

Susan

[NaturallyHappy]

Has anyone had neck pain resolved? That’s my big thing… horrific neck and upper back pain. I’m 5’2”, 115 pounds and 32 E. Thx!

[S1969]

@NaturallyHappy

Has anyone had neck pain resolved? That’s my big thing… horrific neck and upper back pain. I’m 5’2”, 115 pounds and 32 E. Thx!

I haven’t had this surgery, but as a similarly sized person I’ve always thought about it. I’ll bet you’ll find that your standing posture puts your head in front of your shoulders, and it could be as a result of trying to not be all boobs in front with an upright posture. I would imagine you will find the difference to be amazing!

If you don’t - I definitely would consider PT because retraining your body to stand differently will take some time and work, and possibly some myofascial release treatment. My PT specifically used people who have the head forward posture as people who often need myofascial release because the fascia is responsive tissue, and strengthens over time to support your head being out of alignment. So, the fascia may actually restrict you being able to resume better posture.

Best of luck to you! I’ll be watching this thread for your update!

[NaturallyHappy]

@S1969

I’ll bet you’ll find that your standing posture puts your head in front of your shoulders, and it could be as a result of trying to not be all boobs in front with an upright posture. I would imagine you will find the difference to be amazing!

I have damage to my neck from radiation from Hodgkin’s disease. I’ve seen several PTs to work on strengthening my neck, but I don’t believe anyone has specialized in myofascial release. I’ll look for a specialist. I have two friends who had it done; both have family support. I don’t have that, so I’m not sure how I’d manage the restrictions.

[one1horse]

Thank you to everyone for your feedback and insight, it is very helpful and appreciated. I have spoken with my surgeon who gave the generic “low activity, no lifting etc for 4 weeks and then see how you feel” response, so it’s very encouraging to hear the timeline is about 2 months for riding. I will make sure to update in the spring, I am SO excited!

[goodhors]

Sending best wishes for the surgery and your recovery! No experience with it myself, just cousin who had it done. Took her a while to recover, so be careful with yourself during that time. Do not compare your experience to other folks recovery. We are all DIFFERENT in how our bodies manage healing.

Trying to live up to the “Super Woman” image promoted in magazines, news articles is dangerous. They never mention problems encountered by famous actresses, women in the public view who are only gone a week to have babies, recover from major surgeries! Then back looking beautiful, thin again.

Take the time needed to allow good healing, be kind to yourself!

[AMWookey]

I’m having mine done at the end of February. It was supposed to be the end of January, which would have been perfect, but my husband is heading on a military career course in California. We are in Ontario, Canada, with 2 horses at home, dogs, I work an hour away, and am already at work from 730 til 400 daily (so gone from 630 til 5pm.) Even with two weeks of sick leave and friends willing to stay and help, I worried that post two weeks trying to take care of the farm in snow and ice would be pushing my recovery too much.

I am trying to convince my husband I can be back on by 4 weeks, but he has pointed out the weather is still iffy and we will be riding two fresh TBs off their winter break. Better for him to ride one and pony one on safe days, and then have me back in the tack after the full 6 weeks.

I am prepping for surgery by creating a solid foundation of fitness though. I’m lifting heavy 4 days a week, with cardio, core, yoga and barre supplementing it. I spoke to my surgeon and he felt the fitter I was, the better and quicker I will be back to full capacity post surgery.

[NaturallyHappy]

Does anyone else have deep grooves in their shoulders? I have some health problems that seem to be difficult to nail down. After much googling, I am beginning to wonder if the reason it’s not getting sorted out is because doctors are looking at the symptoms without searching for the basic cause. Has anyone here been advised to do this to relieve other health problems? Would a plastic surgeon make that type of determination?? Thank you.

[goodhors]

Not sure if it is helpful, but heavy weight on bra straps can cause shoulder grooves. My Mom had them. I believe wearing only regular strap style bras can increase groove development.

My Orthopedic Dr said as you age, you lose fat/muscle across the top of shoulders which can cause grooves and finger numbness. I had been having odd times of finger numbing, which is why I went to see her! I changed to Sport bras with racer back, Y shaped straps, and problem went away. Y shape moved strap up higher towards my neck, away from where strap bras had crossed the shoulder. I still have a lot of muscle there from physical work to cushion the Y straps.

So perhaps a bra style change could lessen the grooving effect. I do wear a regular strap bra now and then, just not very often anymore.

You have to experiment with bra makers and their styles to find models that fit YOU well. I have not found bra fitters that were very expert with Sport bra fitting, but maybe I have just not found the right one yet! You need to be able to move freely, be comfortable all day, which is not the same bra demands as less physical daily jobs. Wider straps help too, spreading weight out on skin.

Not sure how “gifted” you are in sizing, but some less expensive lines are offering bigger sizes in “high impact” models now. And not all “high impact” bras are equal!! You need to try them on, jump up and down a couple times to see if bra holds you firmly in place jumping. I discard bras that allow jiggling, not good for breast tissue, breaking down tissue structure as you bounce. Lets you get saggy. With needing a new bra daily because I get sweaty working, they can’t cost $50 and up, gets too expensive!

So some ideas for you, things to ask the Doc as you try to get things improved. Being bigger busted myself I certainly sympathize with you! Just not brave enough to get reduction surgery, but not in pain or suffering either. My cousin was in pain, going to get worse with age, so she got the surgery done, very happy with her results. The ladies on here that are really large, I don’t know how they manage.

[Jenerationx]

Following this because I’m considering a reduction as well. Aging is a female dog on larger breasts. I’m an E or F cup. I’m 5’6" and not small boned, so hasn’t been a problem as long as I have a good sports bra for activity, but over the past couple years, I’ve realized how uncomfortable it is at times.

[AMWookey]

The grooves were one of the main considerations for my health care provider, that and under breast rashes, to support full coverage as medical not elective. (I am Canadian, and the care is provided through my military health system, so a bit different then in the states).

I am not necessarily huge up top by some standards. I’m a 32E or DDD depending on the bra. I wear compressive sports bras 99.9% of the time. I am a solid frame, with a higher BMI, but even my doctor and surgeon were like "ignore your BMI, you are just a solid human with a large musclular frame " so size wise alone, I likely wouldn’t have qualified for it to be medical. But, I was getting constant painful rashes, bra grooves, migraines, shoulder pain and I have a lower back injury that it didn’t help with. One of my husband’s subordinates got one done through the military which encouraged me to seek it out, as I always just figured they would tell me to lose weight first.

I’m so excited for it. Even at my fittest, with less then 18% body fat, my chest has hampered my athletic performance and my day to day health. We are going as small as we possibly can go.

[NaturallyHappy]

@AMWookey, @goodhors, @Jenerationx, Thank you for your perspectives. I found some information on reductions using liposuction. There is also a procedure called a lollipop reduction. Both of those require less recovery time, which is another complication for me.

[RMJacobs]

Something I’ve always wondered: after reduction, do you retain normal feeling in your nipples?

On the subject of bras causing shoulder grooves, I switched to wide, padded straps many years ago, and it has helped a lot. I’m a 40 DD. Even at my skinniest (size 6), I was a DD.

Rebecca

[Kyrabee]

@RMJacobs

do you retain normal feeling in your nipples?

I have. Lovely little headlights I can see…and feel just fine. Prior to my reduction, they pointed at the ground. Pretty amazing that they can be relocated and retain feeling and reaction.

My surgeon said that doing a lift was just as important as doing the reduction. The weight on my chest is in such a better location so I believe her.