[zande]

I am determined that this is the year I rid myself of my burdens (I'm a 14-16H ). I turn 40 this year and I am about to make an appointment with a surgeon who has been recommended to me. I cannot tell you all how I physically long to be rid of such huge breasts, they impact on my life in almost every way every day. I dream of a life with "normal" boobs.

I am scared tho. I know it's major surgery and I have 2 young daughters at home. I don't know how I'll tell them what I'm doing! I am prepared for major scarring, as I have a tendency for hypertrophic scarring, but anything will be better than living with my boobs.

So has anyone here done it? What do I need to know? Tell me your stories, the good & the bad! Specifically I want to know too, how long recovery is? How much time will DH need to take off work? When I will be able to resume activities of daily living? We are going to Bali in late August, will I be able to get it done in say April and still be able to go to Bali? I am also overweight atm, but have been going to the gym etc. The reality is that I will not be able to lose a substantial amount of weight until the surgery as my breasts really do limit the type of exercise I can do. That is part of the reason I want them gone, I want to get fit & enjoy exercise, and I can't do it with them.

This post has been edited by zande: 03/02/2011, 01:24 PM

[Tiny Stitches]

I am determined that this is the year I rid myself of my burdens (I'm a 14-16H ). I turn 40 this year and I am about to make an appointment with a surgeon who has been recommended to me. I cannot tell you all how I physically long to be rid of such huge breasts, they impact on my life in almost every way every day. I dream of a life with "normal" boobs.

I am scared tho. I know it's major surgery and I have 2 young daughters at home. I don't know how I'll tell them what I'm doing! I am prepared for major scarring, as I have a tendency for hypertrophic scarring, but anything will be better than living with my boobs.

So has anyone here done it? What do I need to know? Tell me your stories, the good & the bad! Specifically I want to know too, how long recovery is? How much time will DH need to take off work? When I will be able to resume activities of daily living? We are going to Bali in late August, will I be able to get it done in say April and still be able to go to Bali? I am also overweight atm, but have been going to the gym etc. The reality is that I will not be able to lose a substantial amount of weight until the surgery as my breasts really do limit the type of exercise I can do. That is part of the reason I want them gone, I want to get fit & enjoy exercise, and I can't do it with them.

Hello!

I might be able to shed a little light - I had mine done quite a few years ago now - 18E down to D now hovering between a D and DD depending on brand!

Mine was all done through the public system, a little over a year on the waiting list but I didn't have a problem with that, just wanted them manageable. The referral my Dr wrote to the surgeon said I was having back, neck and shoulder trouble - which I was to a point. Went to my initial consult with my surgeon, she got me to take my shirt off and said that yes, they are quite large aren't they! (well why do you think I'm here - duh!).

Anyway, she said she'd take them down to about a D - your surgeon will discuss that with you - wanted to try and keep my body in proportion so it didn't look odd to be a larger person with no chest after having a shelf for so long!! And that was a size I was more than happy to go back to.

The op all went to plan, nearly 2kg off each side! There is a possability that it can grow back - but hasn't yet and as I said, I'm a bigger girl and have put on weight since I had it done. Coming out of the anasthetic for me was hard, felt sick as a dog but that may have just been which one they used or how long I was under for - not sure.

I think I had 3 weeks off work and then needed someone to drive me in for a week or two after that - and that wasn't from pain it was from not being allowed to wear a seatbelt and that sort of thing. I had Mum change my dressings once after I got home - was only in hospital for 3 days I think so not bad at all there. Other than that I did it all at home by myself - was living alone..

Pain, surprisingly little and they give you panadiene forte or something to take home and a follow up script but I didn't end up using most of it. The worst part I found was ripping the sticky dressing and tape off from aroud the wound rather than the wound itself. Sleeping was tricky the first couple of nights but if you have a fully stuffed bean bag or a heap of pillows - you'll be OK.

Your trip in August shouldn't be a problem, you'll be back in a normal bra by then - they do suggest to try and stick to ones without an underwire - but that's all I've ever worn anyway so wasn't a problem. You will need a couple of those sports crop tops instead of bras for the first little while though.

Toooo much to go into here but do please feel free to email me if you want all the nitty gritty - only to happy to help! Like you I wanted to have better movement, less hinderance.. I also wanted to be able to lose weight and find a partner... If I carried on the way I was it would never have happened. Now my only worry is whether I'll be able to breast feed or not but that's a 50/50 thing so I'm not too fussed!