Consumer's Guide to Breast Reduction

Breast Reduction Assessment of Value and Outcomes (BRAVO) Study

Patient Experience 3

Before
After

I suffered the burden of disproportionately large breasts for so long that I didn't even realize that I was suffering. I had bad posture, my shoulders were cruelly grooved, my back and neck hurt a lot of the time, and my self-image was very unhappy. In my mid-50’s, a couple of much younger acquaintances had breast reductions, and I also saw the operation done on TV. My doctor reassured me that I was a good candidate, and I decided to have breast reduction.

My surgical experience ran smoothly and the recovery was swift. The adjustments in balance took no time at all, and any discomfort was quickly forgotten. The rewards were almost immediate and the relief was enormous, knowing that all the years of suffering were behind me. I wondered why I'd waited so long, but felt that it was better late than never at all.

Presently, I am strong and fit and happy. I do things now that I never thought I'd do. My sense of my body is completely different: relaxed, confident, low maintenance. I feel more free and flexible and comfortable. It is hard to even remember the bad old days any more. This surgery has added immeasurably to my life and [to] my enjoyment of it.