Patient Stories

Amanda

• Student
• 16
• Female
• Breast Reduction

I am sixteen years old and I wore a size 36G bra. I weight 122 pounds, so you could only imagine how much pain the size of my breasts caused me. I had neck, back, shoulder and even head problems. I was unsure at first about getting a breast reduction, but I sat down with my doctor to talk about it and we decided that since I am so involved in sports it would be best for me, and even my coaches suported my decision. I mainly want to say, to all the young girls and young women, that it was the best move I ever made. I want to tell them to go ahead and get it done, if you feel like you need it. You don't have to take the pain any longer. You can change your life.

Corrine

• Court Officer
• 37
• Female
• Breast Reduction

My ASPS Member SUrgeon came recommended by a family member. I had breast reduction surgery because I am 4'11" and had size 36DD breasts. My shoulders always hurt, along with my back, and the dents in my shoulders (from bra straps) were very deep and didn't look good. I am post op two weeks and I feel great. I had tried to get this done for almost seven years, but my insurance denied me.I tried again, and the day of my first appointment with the doctor he told me he saw no problem with my insurance approving me, and he was right. Ten days after that first meeting I got a call from the doctor's office to tell me I was approved by my insuance. I am very happy with the way I am healing and the way I look.

Cindy

• Inside Sales Representative
• 28
• Female
• Breast Reduction

I had such an amazing experience with my ASPS Member Surgeon and her office staff; it really was life changing, for the better. I went in for a breast reduction and got exactly what I wanted. I had very little discomfort, and I needed almost no downtime at all, which was good since I had a 7 month old baby that needed to be cared for. I went home the next day after surgery without any complications, and I have been doing great since. I love the outcome, and it was a relief to have an alternative to such a problem. My doctor and her staff always made me feel very comfortable, even during the awkward times when I was required to be nude. I am modest and was very nervous about the naked part of it, but I felt so assured by my surgeon and the nurses. I would just like to thank them for all that they have done for me.

Heather

• Teacher
• 31
• Female
• Breast Reduction

I had always hated being the girl with the biggest chest. People never talked to me, but rather to my chest. They were the focus of everything.

I had considered having a reduction after a sorority sister had one in college, but I never thought I'd be able to afford the procedure or that my insurance would cover it. I figured I would spend my whole life with huge, sagging, asymmetrical breasts.

In 2005, I went to teach at a new school and one of the parents was a highly respected and regarded plastic surgeon. I had seen her work on several parents and after researching her website and her credentials, I was certain I wanted to see her for a consultation.

I finally got the courage to make my appointment and I was very nervous about letting anyone see my breasts because they were so big (42 DDD) and asymmetrical. I was almost a whole cup size larger on one side than I was on the other. I think the reason I made the appointment was because it was impossible to find a strapless bra or a bathing suit that fit. I was also tired of wearing three bras when I exercised and having lots of back trouble not to mention the fact that one of my shoulders was being pulled down by the weight of my breast.

Once I got over my initial modesty, I was very comfortable knowing that the doctor knew me and came highly recommended. She explained what the surgery would involve and what I could expect after the surgery. We discussed final size and the amount of time I might have to take off from school.

The doctor felt I was a very good candidate for the surgery, and she felt we had a good case to present to the insurance company in hopes that they would pay for the procedure. She told me she would probably remove 300 to 600 grams of tissue on one side and 600 to 900 grams of tissue on the other side. I left the appointment feeling very confident and informed.

Eight days after my initial consultation, I received a call from the doctor's office telling me I had approval for the procedure! I was elated! I was finally going to have the chest I had always wanted.

I spent the next two months exercising and getting in shape for surgery by working on my body. I wanted to go into surgery in the best shape possible, so I could heal quickly. It also helped me to work through a lot of the stress of waiting for the surgery date to arrive.

The day of surgery, I discovered I had lost 35 pounds! When I saw the doctor before surgery so she could make her final markings, she was astounded! I didn't realize how much my body had changed and just how saggy my breasts had become. I remember looking at my chest before they took me into surgery and thinking this is the last time I will ever have to wear three bras when I run, be embarrassed about the way I looked in a swimsuit or have trouble finding a bra that actually fits me.

Once I woke up from surgery, I had to rate the pain for the nurses and I told them it was a 4 on a scale of 10. It was not bad at all. I would say that having my tonsils out was 100 times worse than having the breast reduction. I was more sore than in pain. I actually left the hospital 2 hours and 20 minutes after surgery. I walked out of the hospital without any assistance, and I felt like it was the first day of my new life. I could actually stand up straight and not feel like I was going to fall over from the weight of my chest.

I slept most of the day once I arrived home from the hospital. I had to rely on other people to help me---getting in and out of bed was probably one of the hardest things to do---and remembering that I couldn't lift anything over a few pounds. I think just resting and taking the pain medicine, I was prescribed, was the best thing I did for myself.

The day after surgery, I went back to the doctor to have my drains removed. The physician’s assistant took them out, and she was able to tell me approximately how much tissue the doctor had removed during surgery. The doctor ended up only needing to take 483 grams on one side and 432 grams on the other side.

But, the biggest shock came when I actually got to see my breasts for the first time. I had been too afraid to remove the surgical bra the first night, for fear of making the drains come out or making the steri-strips fall off. Once I saw my new breasts I was so thrilled! Even with the bruising and swelling, they were perfect! They were symmetrical and perky. My areolas were in proportion to my breast size and I finally felt like I had the chest I was supposed to have.

I only took pain medicine the day I came home from the hospital and the night after surgery just to help me get to sleep and relax a bit. I became a little more sore because I was starting to move more. The pain wasn't awful, more like being sore from too much exercising. I took some over the counter pain medicine on the third day after surgery, but that was because I had overdone it. As long as I did what the doctor had told me, I didn't have any trouble. It was more an issue of being uncomfortable and itchy, once I started to heal.

I saw the doctor five days after my operation, and she was amazed by my healing to that point. I told her about being off the pain meds and that I was going to go back to school in two days. She reminded me to stick to the lifting restrictions and to remember my limits.

I was not able to exercise until two weeks after surgery. Once I did go back I was so excited to not have to wear three bras! I still wear a very supportive exercise bra and usually a jog bra as well. But, I was so happy when I started to run and I didn't bounce up and down. I actually could tell a difference immediately once I started running. It was like I had lost so much weight and it was really only about 3 pounds, but those three pounds made a world of difference.

Most people who didn't know that I was having the surgery think I have lost a lot of weight. I love that my clothes fit better and I have a waist now! Actually, I had to give away most of my clothes not only from the breast reduction but also from the weight loss.

I am extremely satisfied with the results of my surgery. I went from a 42 DDD to a 38/40 C. I have now lost 50 pounds and my new breasts look great on my slimmed down body. If I chose to have any more procedures done, I will return to my ASPS Member Surgeon because I know I will get the results I expect.

I have noticed my one shoulder which was being pulled down with the weight of my one larger breast has started to even up with my other shoulder.

Recovery time: one week (I took off three days from my teaching job)

I would recommend the surgery to any person who is having trouble with back and neck pain. I never thought having my breast reduction would change my life so much, but it has done so much for me physically, mentally and emotionally. Even if I had to pay for the surgery out of my own pocket, I would do it again!

Anashunderia

• Advertising Sales
• 32
• Female
• Breast Reduction

I had breast reduction surgery about 3 years ago. It was the best thing that I could ever do. I was hesitant at first, it would be my first time having any kind of surgery, but I had to do something. I weighed 105 pounds and wore a size 34DDD. It was horrible. I hid it very well by never wearing anything tight or revealing of my chest. I never wore bikinis or anything that was too revealing. I was ashamed of my breasts and, to top it off, they killed my back. I had bruises on my shoulders from my bras. I had back problems for years. I had to do something. I was told that my insurance probably wouldn't cover it, but surprisingly they did. They saw it was medically necessary due to my small frame and my enormous bust size. I am free of an enormous chest; I have no back problems and hardly have any visible scars. I can wear bikinis, halters and even strapless gowns now, thanks to my breast reduction surgery.

Sally

• Laboratory Manager
• 54
• Female
• Eyelid Surgery and Breast Reduction

I work at the Mass. General Hospital in Boston, and found my plastic surgeon here. He was highly recommended by everyone I talked to. I always had bags under my eyes, not just because of growing older. I had the surgery done when I was 37. As far as I'm concerned, the results are great! I feel so much better that I don't look tired all the time, and in fact, it also helped wrinkles around my eyes. I think this has made me look younger, as well. My recovery was one week, when the bruises healed and the pain was gone. There was very little pain through the whole experience, as a matter of fact. Very, very satisfied.

My plastic surgeon also reduced my left breast when I had cancer on the right, and had two lumpectomies there. It was a "major" surgery, so to speak, for me. I stayed in the hospital overnight because of the drainage. There was some pain, and I think I was home for 2 weeks. The only problem later on was some more drainage, and I had to wear some cotton underneath the breast. But, overall, the breast looks great. It's very hard to put the nipple in the right place, so it's slightly, slightly different than the other side, but nothing anyone would notice. I was very satisfied with both surgeries!

Jeannette

• Teacher
• 42
• Female
• Breast Reduction and Breast Lift

My plastic surgeon was recommended by a coworker who had breast reduction surgery and was totally satisfied. I was having a lot of neck and back problems due to an accident which was also being affected by the weight of my breasts. This was the first time that I had surgery and had such great results. By 9pm I was already eating and the pain was tolerable. I am extremely satisfied with my plastic surgeon and trust him totally. He is a great doctor, and I would highly recommend him to anyone interested in having any procedure. I'm so satisfied that I'm already planning my next procedure.

Carol

• Retired
• 55
• Female
• Breast Reduction
  

My reason for surgery was I'm 5 feet tall and wore a 36DDD bra. I was in a car accident, and had two neck surgeries to correct the problems I had with neck pain and could have been crippled from the neck down if I hadn't had the surgeries per my neurosurgeon. My neurosurgeon suggested breast reduction because I was so large for my body frame and the problems with my neck. Having the breast reduction surgery is the best thing I've ever done. Removing all the weight did help with the neck and back pain I had

I'm truly thinking about a tummy tuck. I had a lot of problems when I had my daughter; she was a twin and the other baby didn't form, but I carried two sacks of water. I went from 108lbs to 168lbs when I delivered. I feel I truly need this tummy tuck bad because I can't buy clothes to fit because of my big belly from all the surgeries and twins. My stomach was so stretched out that no matter how many sit-ups I'd do or any amount of weight I dropped, it's still here. Also, I could show you pictures before I got pregnant; I had a 21.5 inch waist. I have never had a waist since I delivered the twins. So this is why it's so hard for me being so short and not having a waist at all. I can't find clothes. I just would like one of these days to see a little waist and flat tummy. I would love for my husband to see what I use to look like, not the person I am today. This is my biggest dream to have a flat stomach, a real waistline, be able to wear a belt, and No double chin. This is my story. Thank you for listening.

Crystal

• House wife
• 26
• Female
• Breast Reduction

I found my surgeon through my health insurance company's website. They listed ASPS surgeons first. I had my breast reduction due to head and backaches. My health insurance covered most of the cost due to medical necessity. I am only 5 ft tall and had 36 DD breasts. I am now a 36 C and am totally satisfied. My recovery was very quick. As a matter of fact, my doctor told me when he saw me the day after my surgery that he had never seen anyone look that good the day after this procedure. He made sure that both my husband and I were comfortable with the results. His office staff was also very nice.

Morgan

• Student
• 23
• Female
• Breast Reduction

I was referred to my surgeon by two other girls who had undergone the same procedure. I was told that he was the best in the area, so there was no question as to who I wanted to see.

I had always been unhappy with the size of my chest, ever since my breasts started to develop. I didn't want them, simple as that. However, I got used to the idea of having breasts, but they just kept growing and growing, and I got more and more depressed. I never did anything without a bra, except shower. I didn't even like sleeping without a sports bra. Eventually, I reached the mind boggling size of 32G, yet I was squeezing myself into 36D's. I always wore a full support bra and a sports bra overtop. I thought that this made me look smaller, but when you're that big, there's no hiding it.

Having a breast reduction was the best decision I have ever made. I don't know of anyone who has had this procedure and is disappointed with it. I should warn you, however, that if you don't specify extremely clearly with your surgeon what size you want to come out as, he/she may not give it to you. I told mine from the start that I wanted to be a "B", but I ended up as a "D". I was happy, but still uncomfortable. People even said that they were still big, and that broke my heart. That's not something you tell someone who just had surgery to correct it. So, I went back to my doctor after 3 months. He thought I was crazy, but said that he would perform the surgery again, if I was absolutely sure. So, I did. About 6 and a half months after my first surgery, I had a second, and am happy. It's been 7 months now since my second surgery and I'm a "C" in most bras. I know I'm not at my "ideal", but if I lose weight, I know that I can lose a size, even two if I take it that far!

The first procedure left me in pain for less than a week. It was a burning sensation on the insides of my breasts. I also had liposuction under my armpits, and that was far more painful than what was happening in my breasts, and it lasted longer. The second surgery wasn't nearly as bad. I was back at school 2 days later, whether I should have been or not. Even now, though, I sometimes have shooting pains in my breasts, mostly when I approach my period. It's a bit of an inconvenience when you want to all of a sudden grab your breast, no matter where you are, however, it's not big... you'll get over it.

I'm happy. So happy. I can look at myself now and not cringe. Not think that I'm hideous. And I know now that guys aren't looking at my chest because it's huge, they're looking at it because it's kinda nice. I don't feel like I'm abnormal.

I would recommend this surgery to anyone. Everyone, really! It's not nearly as painful as you might expect, and your life quality goes way up. Even my second surgery was covered. You'll get flowers. You can veg in front of the TV for the better part of a week! It's really a great thing! And I'm happier than I have ever been. Just do it... you'll thank yourself later!

Sherry

• Homemaker
• 45
• Female
• Breast Reduction

I suffer from Fibromyalgia, middle back pain, shoulder pain etc... The procedure lessened the strain on my back and healed the bra strap digs in my shoulders (which were substantial). However, the scarring that I now have is also substantial. I lost 135lbs (1/2 of me) 1.5 years after my 2002 procedure and now I have no breast left. I was advised about the issue of weight loss-gain on my breast reduction consultation so I can not complain. I am overall satisfied with the procedure because I can wear clothes that fit, move my arms in full range of motion and even with the bad scarring; I am not self conscious about my breast size.