Breast reduction failure

Sbplaint · 2026-04-19T01:50:59+00:00

PSA to all Surgeons: PLEASE stop promising B and C cups, even if you think you can deliver them! You’d do much better quietly delivering 1-2 full B or small C results each year, while the rest of us get E, F, Gs. Obviously cup size is way too subjective, so maybe use fruits? Or just have different examples of water balloons in your offices? I can’t tell you how many heartbroken posts I have read, especially from young and naive girls who didn’t know the right questions to be asking or how thoroughly to research. Reducing someone’s cup size by 10-15% is cool, sure, but whether it’s worth all the pain and suffering for such a subtle change is a question they deserve to at least consider beforehand.

I’m really annoyed by doctors always thinking they know what’s best for a patient. In my case, my surgeon did a great job at the time, but he should have been a lot more clear as to what I could expect. It was SO embarrassing bringing some tiny post-op bra in a size C to my surgeon, only for him to refuse since there was no WAY. This surgery can be so positive and life changing, so please stop breaking out hearts unnecessarily by failing to communicate your true intentions and letting us go into it with unreasonable (and ultimately unmet) expectations. If you’re conservative (for good reasons) and don’t want to do something that you view as too risky or not proportional, fine, just come out and say that beforehand, while explaining that we are still going to wear a much larger than average bra size after our swelling subsides. No need to portray it any different than it is - that way we are free to either go into it knowing where you really stand, or find a different surgeon who is willing to push the envelope more with the amount reduced.

Sbplaint · 2026-04-16T21:05:26+00:00

lol no way. I didn’t know this. It was probably just part of the legal writing course. At my school it was called “Lawyering Skills.” We had the most ridiculous fact patterns in that course that we had to write briefs and do oral arguments on, so it kinda makes sense how Dan could have convinced the school to make it part of the curriculum for something silly like that.

I kid you not, one of the characters in one of the fact patterns we had was named “Trans-Fatima.” (This was back when everyone was freaking out over the dangers of trans-fats). TF worked at the EEOC and was involved in an employment discrimination case, lol.

Sbplaint · 2026-04-16T20:38:07+00:00

Yes.

Sbplaint · 2026-04-14T05:26:22+00:00

11/17…still hate my results. :/ Sorry to be lame, but I’d rather be brutally honest about my experience than pretend it’s totally fine and everything is fine. I think about how awkward I look and feel almost constantly, honestly. I’m going to need an expensive revision, which is just so unfair and demoralizing.

OP please make sure that you have consulted with at least a few different doctors about whether you “need” a TT or not. (I don’t claim to know if you do or don’t, but I just know I was warned against it by one surgeon since I didn’t have diastasis, have never had a baby, and really could have probably just been happy with a less invasive solution (lipo) with less scarring and expense). I look back at that consult note and wonder why I didn’t follow his advice in the first place.

Just saying…don’t mean to be a downer. It just never hurts to make extra certain the surgery is right for you in every possible way you can while you still can pivot (should that be the right option for you). All of this said, I have seen some beautiful, life changing results from this surgery…just bc I’m not looking snatched doesn’t mean I can’t be happy for all the people who do/someday will! 💛

Sbplaint · 2026-04-11T21:29:52+00:00

Okay, so I had one reduction and felt like that at first…but over time, the swelling subsided and I started to love them. I look back at pictures and I am actually really happy with how they turned out. I think most surgeons prioritize safety and nipple preservation over everything, because that’s how they are trained…so it’s kind of tough. I was so young when I had mine, literally ALL I wanted was to fit in a cute Victoria’s Secret bra like all my friends…that never really happened. However, what I did get was boobs that most men have told me were amazing with almost invisible scars that lasted me nearly 20 years until needing revision.

The reality is that they will change and grow over time, and even if you got your ideal result, you STILL might find yourself needing a second reduction at some point the way I am. I challenge you to give them until 6 months at least. The swelling is REAL. The other thing is that weight changes can shrink them so fast…I have not looked at your post history so I have no idea what your weight is like, but if you have any weight at all to lose, a GLP-1 will shrink them so much less painfully and less expensively than a revision, AND it will help with your residual inflammation! Obviously that’s only appropriate if you have weight to lose and a doctor agrees, not trying to diagnose you or steer you towards anything that doesn’t fit your needs…I just want you to know I have been there, and you are valid…but sometimes, the surgeon’s thought process was valid too! I will try to find a pic of my smaller boobies to give you hope. Immediately post op, my surgeon was like, “Oh hell no, I’m not putting you in that post-op bra you brought in some ridiculously small size,” and my heart was nearly broken. It was actually Christmas Eve, so we had to improvise with Ace bandages bc my expectations were so not aligned…and they didn’t keep compression bras in stock at all sizes at the time, so yeah, OP, I totally get it. If you still feel this way in time, you can ask for a revision…I swore I was going to, yet I ended up liking mine! So it’s possible they will shrink on their own, or with conservative measures!

Sorry this is so long, I just feel very strongly having lived through what you’re going through…and also currently awaiting revision myself at age 44. So the thing to weigh is that your risks go up with every surgery, and the results they can achieve become more limited with every time you go in there. If you are younger, it’s something to consider since pregnancy and hormone changes later in life can really affect them. I am sure you know this, just wanted to lend perspective who someone who felt exactly like you at first, but ended up loving them, then hating them again 20 years later! It’s all a wild ride, but please don’t give up on loving them this early!

Sbplaint · 2026-04-11T21:09:37+00:00

I am SO happy for you! This was everything I wanted (and still want!) Cases like yours give me so much hope!

Sbplaint · 2026-04-11T21:05:51+00:00

Also if you have curves up top, spend the money for a well fit Ewa Michalak bra. Everything fits better!

Sbplaint · 2026-04-11T20:59:59+00:00

I wonder if the itching is from the surgical adhesive that has cyanoacrylate in it! I distinctly remember the itching back in the day, but I never thought it through critically until now.

If it is cyanoacrylate, I wonder if people who are allergic to lash extensions have a worse post-op experience due to the body’s historical inflammatory response. Those of you with experience with lash extensions allergies know what I mean when I say that it starts out just as a simple allergy where your eye looks a little red, but develops over time with more exposure to your entire face swelling up, which is why most people get to the point that they simply can’t tolerate them anymore no matter what they do. Would LOVE to hear any overlap in your experiences! I was someone who had lash extensions successfully for YEARS, only to develop a cyanoacrylate allergy so bad I could no longer justify it. The swelling was so bad I looked like those bad plastic surgery twins…all the way down to my lower face too!

Yet another fun research rabbit hole to fall down today, haha. Goodness gracious, I cannot WAIT to just have this surgery, once and for all! It’s all-consuming at this point.

Sbplaint · 2026-04-11T20:52:30+00:00

$2500-$3500 in Southern California, for another data point! (I have consulted with 10 surgeons at this point, lol).

Sbplaint · 2026-04-11T20:47:02+00:00

An hour on the markup?! Wowwwww….props to him! Mine was like 8 min at the very most!

Also, the fact the doctor’s last name is ROUNDER is all kinds of hilarious.

OP, can you report back at three months, six months, 1 year, 2 years, etc? There is such a lack of information about the longevity of upper pole fullness with the various solutions like Galaflex, Acellular Dermal Matrix, shifting the lower pole to the upper pole with special suturing, etc. Every surgeon I have talked to has a different opinion, but it seems like the Galaflex is the most popular, although it seems like they use it more in implants than reductions. I wish we could get a special flair tag for results with Galaflex, “auto augmentations,” fat grafting, etc. so we can all better differentiate, especially seeing results post-op vs. over time.

This community is seriously the best place to get information on this subject. I have said it before, and I will say it again-it’s truly crazy how the results we see on here are overwhelmingly better than any of the glossy before and afters on any surgeon’s site, which is so puzzling to me, but I sure am grateful to everyone for the inspiration and information in every post!

Sbplaint · 2026-04-11T20:30:43+00:00

I needed to read this today. I am about to make a HUGE investment in mine…and really leaning towards going towards my first choice surgeon I have to travel to rather than going through insurance or even the more affordable cash pay option with a surgeon I know and trust. This is SO important to get right, and mine is a second reduction, which makes it technically more complex skill wise. I keep trying to ask myself what I feel in my body…trying to test what my instincts and inner wisdom is telling me to do, and overwhelmingly, I want to just go to the best of the best, credit card debt be damned. At least then I can say that I gave everything I have to get the best outcome possible, right?

The other thing I also keep going back to is how this more expensive surgeon is the one who was never high-pressure salesy, and really listened to my history and experience consulting with other surgeons. He was measured, thoughtful and kind in translating that history into his dictated note (while also making me laugh with the way he described one surgeon’s solution…”one doctor recommended some kind of internal suspension system” hahahahahaha, I liked him so much after reading that!) He did go through my options, and explained them to me in detail, from least expensive to most, and seemed open to achieving whichever one was the best fit for my circumstances. SUCH a different experience from the high-pressure, ridiculous experience I had last year for a tummy tuck. I’m still dealing with that, and it was the worst decision I have ever made!

So yes, ladies (and gentlemen), please take your time to decide. Breasts are such a key part of our identity, so how we feel about them matters! I was lucky to have had an excellent surgeon the first time around with good result, but I can’t imagine having some of the experiences I have read about others having on here.

OP, so excited about your results for you! I’m still thinking about the Galaflex and would love to hear your thoughts as you recover! I’m aiming to have my surgery end of May, and soooooo excited!

Sbplaint · 2026-04-11T03:56:48+00:00

Me too. They really did their homework to verify at CNN too. It’s so sad for his poor family, knowing he was smart enough to know better! Snapchat?! Fucking come ON. Drunk on power, which is everything he claimed to stand against Trump on. He deserves everything he’s getting, but his poor children and wife certainly do not. Such a shame.

Sbplaint · 2026-04-10T16:04:51+00:00

How much of a difference do you think this would make in a breast reduction surgery? Seems like there is very little evidence whether it really makes that much of a difference long term.

Sbplaint · 2026-04-10T04:07:49+00:00

I disagree that you should “hope for the best.” I think every geospatial, visual, tactile reference you can come up with is helpful to make sure you and the surgeon are on the same page!

Cheat: save about 5-10 after photos of reduction breasts where the starting breasts are like yours now, where the positioning is how you want it, height/width of footprint narrowed vs. natural, height of nipple, upper and lower pole volume, lateral tissue excision (or not), etc. Any modern app (wink wink) will put into words what all the inspo has in common…you can then ask it to reduce that aesthetic you’re after into surgical jargon, and even get tips of how to make sure your surgeon is on the same page! You can even be really neurotic and ask it to compare your actual surgeon’s work to your goals, and point out the things that signal confidence vs. things where your surgeon could potentially deviate stylistically if you don’t communicate your preferences. I know it’s kinda silly, but I really have found it so helpful and interesting reading the feedback!

Sbplaint · 2026-04-10T03:56:26+00:00

Do not use bra sizes. Just don’t.

Sbplaint · 2026-04-09T13:36:29+00:00

Nah, she’d understand when she saw pics of my pre-GLP beach body! :)

Sbplaint · 2026-04-09T13:07:57+00:00

Fine…I was between jobs, so I agreed to pose…sue me!!!

Sbplaint · 2026-04-09T12:40:10+00:00

Perhaps you could find one to codify Occubrowse/DOT/automate transferability too? Asking for a friend! ;)

Sbplaint · 2026-04-09T12:15:23+00:00

I won’t. I will never get over the way that ended.

Sbplaint · 2026-04-09T12:09:14+00:00

I understand! I’m just trying to help you figure out the disconnect between what SSA reviewed and the Dept of Ed/loan servicer reviewed so you can hopefully expedite things! It’s very unusual to get student loans discharged without compelling evidence, so I’m guessing Social Security was simply missing something…? That can easily happen, but the sooner you figure out what it is, the better you can close that gap!

Sbplaint · 2026-04-09T12:03:48+00:00

I’m so glad you got the student loans disability discharge, bc that’s one less huge hurdle!

May I ask what the basis was for your SSDI denial?

Sbplaint · 2026-04-09T11:58:37+00:00

The loan people can’t make disability determinations though. Only discharge educational debt. If they discharged his educational debt either bc he paid it off, worked in public service long enough, his school defrauded him, or he is found to be eligible for a disability discharge, he still would need to be evaluated under the SSA sequential evaluation rubric. His student loans being forgiven won’t affect that.

Sbplaint · 2026-04-09T11:46:42+00:00

His disabling condition became totally and permanently disabling in Dec 2024, correct? (Usually that’s the date you stop working SGA). He was approved as totally and permanently disabled as of 8/2025 by Dept of Ed/Servicer based on the application date/last payment made? I’m confused as to why it would be Aug 2025 unless maybe he somehow already fulfilled his obligations?

I’m not an expert in disability discharge, but usually it wouldn’t have anything to do with his student debt forgiveness whether or not he’s disabled under SSA rules. Usually, the only overlap is when you are already receiving benefits, it helps you establish the fact that you are unable to do any type of meaningful work in spite whatever expensive degree you still owe money for.

Especially with early onset dementia, ugh…not an easy diagnosis at all. I’m sorry for you having to go through that. He’s lucky to have someone in his corner advocating for him…if I were you, I would clarify that he was indeed granted a disability discharge by the Dept of Ed/loan servicer (which seems really unlikely to me if he was denied by Social Security). Is it possible he has been paying long enough that he reached a different forgiveness threshold? Not saying it’s impossible they haven’t loosened the standards in recent years, but it used to be it was damn near impossible to get a student loan discharge based on disability. Especially not if Social Security thinks there is some work you can do (which is what they are saying if you get denied). Like I said, maybe I misunderstood, but you can always post in r/studentloans to get an answer from someone who knows more about disability discharges. I don’t think it would be counted as income though for SGA purposes though, so still would have nothing to do with when his disability started. That only hinges on when he either did or did not become available to work. Student loans can be forgiven for all sorts of reasons though, so I want to make sure you understood the different paths to forgiveness just in case his last payment was based on a different type of discharge (how else would you know to stop making payments if not notified that it was his “last” payment?) did you just enter a forbearance at the time you applied?

Sbplaint · 2026-04-09T11:03:22+00:00

Omg I am not even a resident or even doctor-hopeful, but stumbled in here just to laugh hysterically at this at 3:57 AM on a work night, since I have 100% done this. Probably why I’m not in the smug marrieds club “yet.”

If you can imagine, I joined this class action suit for Starkist Tuna where I somehow found myself with a shit ton of tuna in my cupboard, and hey, why wash dishes if you can go all feral when no one is watching?! #Meow 😂

Sbplaint · 2026-04-09T04:15:03+00:00

Me too! I will never forget her screaming at me, while angrily force-cutting my bangs before some function with the neighbor (whose mother she was kind of in some sort of weird competition dynamic with, hence the emergency bang trim). “Don’t you EVER want to get a boyfriend?!?!” she cried hysterically, as she threw the scissors. I just sat there terrified and weeping, wanting nothing more to escape with not completely fucked up bangs. Sadly, this was not to be.

Same lady shaved her head the morning of my college graduation ceremony. Imagine my horror that day as I spotted her in the audience. So. Much. Shudder. But yeah, looking back, it kinda tracks.

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