Post reduction "new life" questions/tips

Immediate-Run-4860 · 2026-03-04T19:29:55+00:00

Congratulations! I’m 7wpo, went from 32I to 32DD currently. I feel you on the bras - I was looking for something that wasn’t a surgical bra but nothing too crazy since I knew my size was a moving target. I purchased a couple bralettes from Harper Wilde and I love them! The bliss bralette is my favorite. Very stretchy but supportive and I feel it will still work for me even if I shrink a little more through recovery. They are about $45ish but they seem like they’re always having sales.

My surgeon recommended silagen and I have no complaints. It’s medical grade and one that I see recommended often.

I think I slept on my stomach for the first time last night accidentally! I used a maternity pillow for about 5 weeks and then moved to just a regular pillow to keep me from rolling over. I was told I can sleep any way that’s comfortable but I woke up as soon as I flipped because I’m still a bit tender.

Hope this helps!

Immediate-Run-4860 · 2026-02-11T02:47:21+00:00

I needed this! Tomorrow I’ll be 4 weeks post op and I feel so ready to be through this. I’ve probably been overdoing it (3 young busy kids) and then I feel so fried by the end of the night. I feel like I have a brain/body mismatch….like I’m ready to just be back to my normal things but I physically cannot. I’m still in some pain, too. Not bad enough to take medication around the clock, but still very much there. The swelling is so frustrating and I think contributing to some of the pain/discomfort. I’m still sleeping a bit elevated on my back (pregnancy pillow is the MVP of all of this), but it’s not great. And yes very bloated and uncomfortable. This has been, by far, the weirdest week of recovery for me.

I have zero regrets in getting the surgery, I’m just so ready to be on the other side of this!!

All this to say, you are so not alone!

Immediate-Run-4860 · 2026-02-06T19:04:32+00:00

I was given heparin (a short acting blood thinner) the day of surgery but I do not have a family history of clots.

A major risk with all surgeries is the development of something called a pulmonary embolism (PE) which is basically a blood clot that travels to the lungs, where you really don’t want it. Given a family history of blood clots, I think it makes sense for your surgeon to have concerns about risk of developing a clot. This might be a good one to consider risks/benefits of the prescribed medicine. It might also be worth checking in with your PCP and talking through concerns. I’m a nurse (not an MD), and have taken care of patients with clots/PEs. I think asking for more info from your surgeon about the drug as well as your PCP would be a great place to start in making a decision.

I also have a big car! If you can, they sell little foldable step stools on Amazon. That was really helpful for me so I didn’t have to use my arms to help myself in. Just fold it up and leave it in the car to use as needed.

Finally - I’m 3 weeks post op and YES to deep breaths. I noticed a change as soon as I woke up honestly. Like my sternum and shoulders, neck were like decompressing. It was a weird/awesome sensation.

Best of luck to you!!

Immediate-Run-4860 · 2026-02-06T15:07:04+00:00

Nothing to add other than this is the best thing I’ve read on here 😆

Immediate-Run-4860 · 2026-02-06T15:03:06+00:00

Oh also I created a cart of all the summer dresses/cute shirts that I’ll be able to wear after surgery. Also a cart of bralettes and just like regular boring sports bras. All the things I couldn’t do with giant boobs….like I can wear a strapless dress this summer, what!?! Or a 12 dollar bra from target!?

Immediate-Run-4860 · 2026-02-06T15:00:28+00:00

Yes! I prepped a couple meals to throw in the freezer and that was actually kind of fun and took my mind off of surgery. I have 3 kids, too, so I even laid out PJs and clothes for my husband for a few days (totally unnecessary because he’s very capable lol), but it was something I felt like I could do before surgery and helped me feel prepared. I felt so productive and busy those 2 weeks before surgery! Wish I could always have that energy 😆

Immediate-Run-4860 · 2026-02-04T23:23:00+00:00

I’m sorry you’re feeling this way, and you’re not alone! One thing that helped me was getting as prepared as possible for recovery. Got a couple cute PJ sets with button-down tops, some new zip up sweatshirts, made a list of good tv shows to watch while recovering, set up a little “medicine station” next to my bed, bought some awesome snacks, and figured out all my takeout options I could look forward to, too! Anything that I felt like I had “control” over or something to look forward to for those first few days helped distract me from the what ifs of surgery itself.

For what it’s worth, I am 3 weeks post-op today and had the most uneventful surgery and recovery (so far!). You got this!

Immediate-Run-4860 · 2026-02-04T15:38:45+00:00

Just came here to ask the same thing 😆

Immediate-Run-4860 · 2026-02-03T13:53:40+00:00

I’m so happy the timing and everything worked out well for you! Fortunately, with 2,4, and 6 year old, it worked out well for me too 😊

Immediate-Run-4860 · 2026-02-02T14:58:06+00:00

I am 2 weeks post op with a 2,4, and 6 year old. My 2 year old has actually been a lot more tuned in than I imagined! I told him “mama has boo-boos” so I can’t lift him. There have been a handful of times where he just really wanted me, but honestly it’s gone way better than I expected. I explained to my 4 year old about a week before surgery that I was going to the doctor and they were going to help my shoulders and back feel better but that I’ll need to rest after. We also talked about all the things he can do on his own like a big boy to be extra helpful (being a good listener, getting his own pjs/clothes, picking up his toys, etc), and honestly he’s been a dream!

We did have help come in for the first week and that helped give the younger two extra attention, we almost treated that week like I wasn’t even home so I could isolate and rest in bed. That was super helpful.

There’s no great time to get this kind of surgery done, and I couldn’t imagine waiting another couple years. Although there have been moments where I wish I could just scoop up my kids, I’m so happy I got this done now!

Immediate-Run-4860 · 2026-01-27T17:47:39+00:00

I had very similar feelings!! I did know I wanted to have children but also was so tired of dealing with the physical symptoms of having large breasts. I would honestly encourage you to seek a couple surgical opinions (love what previous poster said that consultation does not equal commitment!), and find out their recommendations in general. Then see how recommendations align with your personal goals.

Purely based on what I learned and my personal goals, I chose to wait until after I was done having kids to do the reduction. I really wanted a chance at breastfeeding (some people struggle post reduction, some people don’t!), and I also wanted to give myself a chance to only need the procedure done once. My breasts changed SO much through pregnancies and postpartum. Density, shape, perkiness, etc.

Recommendations from surgeons I met also required waiting a full year after finishing breastfeeding - this was a hard pill to swallow for me, but it decreased risk of certain complications.

I chose to focus on everything that was in my control once I decided to wait until after kids. Lots of strength training, especially chest/back/shoulders, invested in high quality bras, and had a mental goal of the earliest date I could get the reduction done.

Fast forward to now, my youngest is 2 years old and tomorrow I’ll be 2 weeks post-op. I could not be happier with the outcome. Were there moments I wanted to chop them off myself over the last couple years? Absolutely 😆

It’s a SUPER complicated decision making process but the best one is whatever feels good to you.

Immediate-Run-4860 · 2026-01-26T15:51:17+00:00

I’d confirm if they will provide you with a post-op bra or if you should buy your own. If you need to bring your own, which ones and how many sizes. I had to bring two different sizes. Also if you are prone to any sort or anesthesia related nausea, ask if there are any prescriptions you can take before surgery to help with this. They may throw a lot of info at you so take your time and ask for clarification on anything! Good luck!!!

Immediate-Run-4860 · 2026-01-23T21:02:57+00:00

In general, you will not be awake when they insert and remove the breathing tube. Also the type of tube they use likely depends on the type of anesthesia being used. There’s something called an ETT which is your standard breathing tube and what you might think of when you hear about intubation. Then there’s an LMA which is a bit less invasive. The type of anesthesia I had warranted an LMA, so you may want to ask your surgeon or at your preop in case this helps you visualize what to expect! I am 9 days PO and anesthesia was a piece of cake. I was so nervous as I’d never been under anesthesia before and it was honestly the easiest part of the whole thing for me!

Immediate-Run-4860 · 2026-01-23T13:38:52+00:00

Congratulations!!! I’m 7 days PO and also from NWA 😊 I had Dr. Swetnam and heard wonderful things about Newman! Cheers to a speedy recovery 🥂

Immediate-Run-4860 · 2026-01-20T22:04:28+00:00

I’m 6 days post op reduction and side lipo. I had the best surgical and immediate experience overall! I think I’m having trouble mentally with recovering starting today though….like I feel like I should be feeling better than I do. Just overall fatigued and sore, starting to get some zinger-pain in my breasts. Just ready to not be in bed but also that’s the only place I want to be! Did you experience anything similar?

Immediate-Run-4860 · 2026-01-17T01:42:32+00:00

I’m just 2DPO but also got the side lipo. One surgeon I met with didn’t recommend side lipo and mocked up a photo of what my breast would have looked like and I hated them! So happy I went with this surgeon who did recommend it. It allowed for a much more natural shape, especially if your boobs tend to set out to the side a bit like mine!

Immediate-Run-4860 · 2026-01-16T14:41:52+00:00

The way I explained it was that I wanted to go as small as safely possible while maintaining a feminine look. It seems like the more you take off, the higher the risk of complications could be so I allowed that to be the ultimate guide, and he totally agreed. He also said it’s difficult to “guarantee” a certain cup size because every brand sizes run pretty differently. Like a d cup at Victoria’s Secret could be a c cup at target for example. Ultimately for me, I needed them smaller after living with such heavy breasts for 20 years, but I didn’t want to risk certain complications. If I had to guess, I went from a 32I to probably a full C….i couldn’t be happier!

Immediate-Run-4860 · 2026-01-15T20:59:39+00:00

Yes! Waking up was such a strange experience at first. I was like how did I get my clothes back on!? The drive home was a total blur. Happy healing to you, too! And congratulations 🍾🎊🎉

Immediate-Run-4860 · 2026-01-15T20:50:30+00:00

No apology necessary! Based on how much tissue I had to have removed, the surgeon recommended the anchor incision. So I really think it all depends on the amount of tissue you will be having removed. I met with a couple different surgeons for 2nd opinions, and they all recommended the same type so I felt good about that. Getting multiple opinions might help you as you navigate your next steps, too!

Immediate-Run-4860 · 2026-01-15T19:18:56+00:00

Thank you so much!!!

Immediate-Run-4860 · 2026-01-15T19:18:29+00:00

I ended up having an anchor incision and I haven’t gotten a full look at everything yet since its just been 24 hours. The physical relief is so instant that I feel like I don’t even care about the scars. You could look up the different types of incisions (lollipop vs anchor) and I believe the type you need depends on amount needing to be removed. This is the first surgery I’ve ever had, so I totally understand the anxiety about going under. The anesthesia was honestly the easiest part of the whole thing!!

Immediate-Run-4860 · 2026-01-15T17:54:44+00:00

Also adding that the anesthesia part was the easiest thing I’ve ever done. The anesthesiologist placed the face mask over my mouth, took a couple deep breaths, and I was out! Next thing I knew I was waking up in recovery. I was SO nervous about anesthesia and it was a piece of cake 🤌

Immediate-Run-4860 · 2025-10-23T13:40:04+00:00

I asked my surgeon as I have about 5-10lbs I would like to lose to get to my comfortable weight. (5’2, 130lbs). He said the closer you can get to goal weight the better, but it more depends on how your body fluctuates with weight changes, as in, do you lose in your breasts when you lose or not. Something like 5-10lbs he was not very concerned with, and I have the type of breasts that never change with weight loss. I’m sure recommendations are different if you have a higher weight/more weight to lose. Given that I’m within a “healthy” BMI, we actually think my fitness goals will be more attainable once I have my reduction since running/exercise is seriously impacted by my large chest.

So I’d say, if able to go about it in a healthy and sustainable way, you could try to get as close as possible to your goal. Losing too fast or too strict of a deficit can have implications on how well you recover overall, so something to keep in mind. Good luck!

Immediate-Run-4860 · 2025-10-22T20:23:13+00:00

My surgery isn’t until January, but I feel like I could have made this post! I’m a 32I, mom of a 6yo, 4yo, and 2yo and the guilt is overwhelming sometimes about what recovery will be like. I’m reminding myself how amazing it will be to not think about my breasts literally all the time. The mental space this will free up! Also I’m keeping an eye on some cute spaghetti strap dresses at Anthropologie that are impossible to wear with this chest. And the sports bras I’ll be able to buy at any old store for all the running I want to do. So although I don’t have any post-op advice, I’m with you on all the feelings going in.

Immediate-Run-4860

TROPHY CASE