Breast Reduction Recovery

[AMWookey]

Did you have an anchor or lollipop surgery and any side lipo?

I was feeling pretty good the first 5 to 15 days post surgery, but had some days since then that the nerve irritation was a lot. I didn’t allow myself full range of motion until 3 weeks post, and even then restricted it if I felt it pulling on the side lipo.

Unfortunately I had a small opening at my t junction, nothing big and it’s healing well, but I am 4 weeks now, and I suspect it won’t have healed enough by six weeks to go off restrictions. I had been working out again (cardio, and body weight) but I scaled it back while I wait for it to heal.

[AMWookey]

This is my favorite photo, one week post op. So happy!

[one1horse]

I had an anchor incision with approx 675 grams removed from each side. No extended incisions, no lipo. I think the issue with healing at the T juncture is pretty common. I’m being careful about stretching/reaching (using my step stool) and not lifting anything heavier than a gallon of milk. Still doing lots of resting, water drinking, and low impact walking, all of which helps a lot. I went back to work remotely on Monday (I’m a therapist), and am cleared to go back in person next week.

[NaturallyHappy]

You look wonderful! I’m thrilled for you!!!

[AMWookey]

I went back to work the second week in person because I was bored

I did the anchor, with 1000 from one and over 800 from another, and side lipo. Honestly the side lipo is said to be the worst part and it honestly is!

I hope you continue to have a great recovery and minimal “zingers”!

[NaturallyHappy]

Does side lipo mean side liposuction??

[AMWookey]

Yes, you can do a couple different processes. Some people don’t require it, some people get extended incisions and some liposuction. The lipo is considered cosmetic, so I paid out of pocket for it.

[Kyrabee]

@one1horse

My experience so far has been amazing and I just wish I had gotten it done sooner.

This is my only regret…not doing it sooner.

I am glad things went well and you are on the mend .

[AMWookey]

Personal update date - I am three months post and other then the occasional ‘zinger’ I am completely recovered. I had a slight decrease in strength, but I am building back up (I’m talking doing my bench presses at 115 vice 135), but other wise, recovered exceptionally well.

Finished a 5km road race exactly on my planned time and I started half marathon training this week.

[NaturallyHappy]

I was honestly just thinking about you and wondering how you were doing. I go tomorrow w a consultation w a surgeon who uses liposuction for breast reduction. I’m just not in the position to have surgery as I don’t have the support it appears one needs. We’ll see.

[NaturallyHappy]

My appointment was a pleasant experience, but now I have more questions. The doctor was very nice and professional; he is a board certified plastic surgeon. He said I would not qualify for a normal breast reduction w insurance; apparently I’m not large enough. I asked about down time w liposuction - there is very little. There is an inch long incision on the side of each breast where the fat is removed. He said he could remove approximately 200 grams… I think that meant each breast. I showed him where I have pain in the kyphotic part of my spine. He was very honest and said he didn’t know if my pain would improve or not…and I have pain every waking minute. I’ll put together my new list of questions and email him. I don’t know what to do. I was pleasantly surprised by the cost.

[one1horse]

I know everyone is different, but I managed almost completely on my own during my recovery, even with a complication in healing. I had my mom with me for the first two nights, but honestly could have been okay on my own after 24 hours. I did not have any lipo which as I understand it, is more painful than the reduction surgery. If pursuing a reduction versus lipo would change your options, it might still be worth considering, @NaturallyHappy.

I unfortunately experienced an allergic reaction to the adhesives on the steri-strips placed over my incisions which caused my incisions to split open. I’m about 9 weeks post op and still have an opening I am working on closing. It has made a lot of progress in the last two weeks, but I will have a big scar.

I was cleared for full activity at 7 weeks and was back doing tack walks at 6 weeks even with my opening. It has made a huge difference in my riding and balance in particular. I sleep way better (snoring has stopped completely), my upper back pain is gone and I can feel my core getting stronger.

Despite all of my struggles with healing, I would still go back and do it again. My only regret is that I wish I had gone even smaller!

[NaturallyHappy]

Thank you for your post. I just spoke w one of the patients who had the liposuction reduction. She also lives alone. She is thrilled w the results (retired oncology nurse) and asked lots of questions I never thought to ask. I’m leaning toward trying it. I’m very sorry you had an allergic reaction, and am glad you are on the mend. Thank you for the encouragement.

[NaturallyHappy]

Did anyone see an improvement in their posture from this? I have a sway back… and a kyphotic portion to my spine. I’m wondering if my posture might improve. Thank you.

[ThreeHorseNight]

I had a reduction almost 13 years ago, when I turned 50. I should have had it done years before - I think it would have prevented some of the problems I have with my neck, back, and shoulders. So if you are considering the procedure, look into it and don’t delay. I had a great recovery and great results. I did take a lot of down time (I was lucky to be able to). I had waited so long for this and I was not going to mess it up. Everyone’s situation varies - I had horses at home but had someone doing all their care while I recovered. I was riding regularly but not showing or doing anything where taking some time off interrupted a training plan. I had my husband home to take care of our dogs, the house, and drive me around for a while. I cannot remember when I started riding again, but I started out just walking around a bit, carefully, on a quiet horse. I went from wearing 3 bras while riding (when I really wanted good support, because I never found one that really worked for me, but that was a long time ago so there are better options now) to one - a regular every day bra. It was easier to buy clothing, I looked thinner, and felt so much better. It did not solve my neck and back problems but slowed the progression of things. 13 years later, I am still very happy with my results and have never regretted doing it. As my mother aged (she passed away a few years ago at 90) I saw how much worse her large breasts got and how incredibly uncomfortable she was. That doubly convinced me I had done the right thing.

[NaturallyHappy]

Thank you for this post. I canceled my appointment as I just didn’t feel comfortable w this doctor. He’s retiring and it just felt like he rushed through the appointments I had w him to discuss things. I did find another doctor who does both traditional breast reduction and liposuction. I emailed questions to him. His surgery coordinator called me to talk about my questions and he also emailed me back. He’s booked out until October. I made an appointment w him.

[Dr_Doolittle]

I’ll weigh in here.

I had my breast reduction 8 1/2 years ago; I was 59. My parents had died the previous summer (my surgery was in January), and I used some of the inheritance so that I could pay in full - I was/am not overweight and was "only* a D, DD cup - but have had a bad back for years, and the boobies were sagging and constantly “got in my way” - I hated them!

I had wanted a reduction for years but my overbearing mother would say “just starve yourself”! and mock me for considering it. Her death was freeing, and full steam ahead - better late than never!

I was not “large enough” to qualify for insurance coverage of the reduction (alas), but it was worth every penny! I asked the surgeon to go as small as possible but he said “we need to maintain blood flow to the breasts” (OH ALRIGHT) so I wound up with a large A/small B.

Previously, I had to wear underwire bras which would dig into my ribcage and press into my stomach, making it hard to breath - I’m only 5’2-5’3" so the breasts were incompatible with my frame (and I had to repeatedly pull the bottom of the underwire bra up and out to relieve the pressure on my stomach), so the FREEDOM to wear lightweight bras without wires was incredible!

(I did previously try the “push them in” control bras but they were painful and tight and again I felt like my ribcage was being crushed - plus I have fibrocystic breasts so those bras were painful!)

I am SO much more comfortable, and the surgeon did a wonderful job; they are high and perky now and I feel and look so much younger - Hallelujah! - I can and do go braless. It’s such a relief!! I can pull my shirts on and off easily, and my posture is much better.

I really feel like it’s improved my riding and I look more elegant on a horse; I can stretch up and keep my shoulders back so much more easily without the weight of the “fun bags” to support.

I don’t regret having them when I had my daughter at 37 because I breast fed for a year, but had my mother not been alive I would have (SHOULD HAVE) had it done when DD was younger. My biggest regret was not doing it sooner, it was life changing.

My immediate post surgery experience was rough, though.

I have a lot of pain issues and I was in tremendous pain - the opioids were barely touching it. I would just sit in a chair and cry from the pain (and I am NOT a wimp) - I kept calling the office and they were sympathetic though puzzled (most women recover more quickly and don’t have this degree of pain, but my “pain pathways” have grooves in them, I have had chronic pain for a long time), and they finally prescribed Dilaudid. Wouldn’t you know, it didn’t help me! I was miserable.

Finally! about two weeks post surgery I started to feel a little better, and went out to the barn to see my beloved homebred mare; she was surprisingly gentle with me. I had to be super careful because of all the stitches, and since she was only 3 1/2 (and had been lightly backed the previous fall but had had the winter off), I wasn’t back to riding her yet.

Once I recovered I never looked back! It really is one of the few surgeries (other than joint replacement) that the vast majority of women say they were extremely satisfied with - and also: “I should have had it done sooner.”

If you are on the fence about it, DO NOT HESITATE! I now have so much sympathy for women (especially after a certain age) who have to carry around large and pendulous breasts; it really is a form of torture for many.

[NaturallyHappy]

Physically, I think I am very similar to you. October can’t come soon enough. Thank you!

[Dr_Doolittle]

[RMJacobs]

I wish I’d done it when I was younger. Now that I deal with so many medical problems, surgery of any kind usually results in quite a downward trend in my quality of life. So I’ll live with it. Luckily I found wire free bras that support me well enough–I’m a DD. They are Vanity Fair that I get at Kohl’s.

Your comment about your mother really hit home for me. I thought I was the only one who felt free after the death of my mother. She constantly harped on me about my hair (too long), still having horses (too expensive and too dangerous), where I lived (too far away), and a lot of other things that were none of her business. One recurring theme was “Why did you divorce your first husband? I loved him.” She didn’t appreciate my response: “Fine, you marry him.” Her response when my sister divorced her second husband (for very good reasons): “How can you do this to me?” You know, I liked him a lot, too, but he had some demons that he just couldn’t conquer, and at the time my sister had a teenage daughter at home.

People who knew her more superficially say “you must miss her so much.” Nope.

Rebecca