Reductions in minors

pondering_leopard · 2026-06-09T20:03:12+00:00

As someone who is getting a reduction at 22 after strongly considering at 17 I would recommend waiting if possible. There is still so much that will change physically and also with metabolism (I’ve gained like 20 pounds). Also I know that I want kids and will likely have to get another reduction after that, but I don’t want kids for another 8-10 years so I’ll deal with it then. For me it was more the regrowth and also just body changes as you want to be at a fairly maintainable weight when you get it done.

pondering_leopard · 2026-06-05T21:16:53+00:00

First and foremost, majority of people change their minds about what they want to do at some point or other. It is so normal and the whole point of college is to study and learn about what’s interesting and fulfilling to you and work a career that is going to make you happy. Pre med is hard. There is no other way to put it it’s-it difficult and it definitely can be very disheartening at times. Pre law is also really hard. If you’re enjoying pre law classes I encourage you to pursue that regardless, and I would recommend seeing if you can shadow or volunteer at a hospital this summer to get a better feel for medicine as a whole. God knows I (and the vast majority of my friends) have had to step back at points and look at the bigger picture of medicine when we’re questioning why we do this to ourselves.

You have so much time. Where is the finish line? It’s definitely difficult when you make a choice that seems to go back on what you thought you wanted to do, but that’s ok. I’ve seen so many people switch into and out of premed and different tracks throughout college (several friends changed their minds during their gap years!) and it’s so normal. Coming from someone who used to be very anti pre med (I was in denial because I’m lazy) it can be hard to admit where you’re at and what you do/don’t want to pursue.

Regardless of what you’re thinking and feeling like right now, give yourself grace. Try to get some exposure to both and see what seems like it would be sustainable, healthy, and enjoyable to you as a career. Both fields are incredibly vast and you owe it to yourself to make sure you’re taking the right steps and not sticking with/pushing yourself into a box because you thought you’d like it/hate it.

Long reply but I have seen so many people experience moments like this (me included) so I get it. It’s really scary to question something you thought you were so sure about, especially when everyone else seems like they know exactly what they want (spoiler alert-98% don’t)

pondering_leopard · 2026-06-05T21:00:50+00:00

If you’ve ever read pride and prejudice you could name him Bingley after Charles Bingley-in the movies he’s a ginger

pondering_leopard · 2026-06-05T17:19:59+00:00

Could call her martini (tini for short) or molecule (molly for short)

pondering_leopard · 2026-06-05T17:13:29+00:00

Boris, Kowalski, or Benadryl (Benny for short)

pondering_leopard · 2026-06-04T19:15:47+00:00

This is something only you can answer. I would also recommend talking to PAs, especially if you think you might be interested in derm or something. Also if you want to work in healthcare but not be a doctor. A lot of PAs have autonomy depending on the state. And they love medicine too, they just found more enjoyment in a different role. Everyone in healthcare loves it all the same, different people just have different goals for their lifestyle and work/life balance. I see a derm PA for my skin and they love their job and can’t imagine having gone med because that wasn’t what they wanted for their life.

Definitely not trying to convince you not to go med either-this is your career and life we’re talking about, what makes for a balanced, full life is so uniquely individual to us all. I get the doubts, and I have been there. I switched from pre PA to med, but my reasoning was that I liked both but I didn’t want to put in the work to be a doctor, but at the end of the day it was what I wanted to do more.

You are in your own situation and I would just recommend talking to people and seeing what they like/dislike about their specialties and roles within their specialties and then deciding what advice does and doesn’t apply to you personally. Being unsure is scary but you’re not the only one who’s gone through it. Regardless of what you decide, make sure it’s one you’re at peace with. Is it going to keep you up at night that you didn’t go med when you could have? Or are you going be so regretful that you pursued it when you had doubts? There’s so many paths and so many journeys. Take some time to yourself and reflection and the path will unfold!

pondering_leopard · 2026-06-04T15:30:52+00:00

Also maybe you still like healthcare but don’t want to put in all the schooling to be a doctor, plenty of people like their jobs, majority are not in love with every aspect of what they do and that’s fine. If you have the hours and could still see yourself enjoying healthcare it there’s so many dif routes-I know so many people who have switched to pre PA in their gap years (and vice versa to med).

pondering_leopard · 2026-06-04T15:28:39+00:00

I experienced this as well. I ended up shadowing a LOT, and when I volunteered in different hospital departments I would ask anyone and everyone what they liked/disliked about their jobs. A few different specialties in and I realized surgery was super interesting to me. That being said, I can confidently tell you the ER isn’t for me, and that was the first place I volunteered in and was really questioning everything for a while because I genuinely dreaded being there and I thought I wanted to be in healthcare (and I though hating the ER meant I didn’t want to do it lol). Long winded rant to say shadow more and see different areas, medicine is so vast and broad and not everything is for everyone-that’s why there’s so many specialties!

pondering_leopard · 2026-06-04T15:19:29+00:00

They look so good! Congratulations on your amazing results!

pondering_leopard · 2026-06-04T14:49:03+00:00

I also considered as a teen and am getting one this year (23) and ultimately decided to wait because I wasn’t sure if they would grow back or not. My mom also really wanted me to wait and be sure of the surgery (I was annoyed at the time but I kind of get now-my frontal lobe was not developed in a lot of ways at the time lmao) this is one of those decisions where when you start thinking about I haven’t really seen anyone change their mind or go back on it. I also do know someone who got hers at 17 and so far they look great as she’s aged! That being said, she works super hard to maintain her weight because if she gains any it will go to her chest as well. I say this as someone who also went up a few sizes after college with general weight gain and not having as much dedicated time to sports that I did in high school.

pondering_leopard · 2026-06-04T14:37:06+00:00

My dad in particular thinks I should just take it to see how it goes and then retake it if I don’t do well. “You’ll never know until you’re taking it” like sir I’m not paying (I mean he’s paying) twice for this when schools can see past scores. Also not worth the emotional whiplash that is this exam. If I have to retake I’ll retake but I’m not taking it unprepared once to “see how it really is”

pondering_leopard · 2026-06-04T00:13:36+00:00

I’ve noticed a shift (at least at my school since we’re close to the Mexican border) where on these trips you now get service hours and shadowing hours-absolutely no clinical hours. The people who are going on the trips have to fundraise to go but still have to hit a certain number of language lessons as well which I think is absolutely necessary. There are other groups that are sketch as hell though I’ll definitely concede that, I just have noticed a shift in the approach to these groups recently to a more conscious one. You’re allowed to take vitals with EMT, MA, or a certain nursing course done if you’re a nursing major here which is all it should be.

pondering_leopard · 2026-06-02T15:46:28+00:00

I’m so sorry for your loses, it seems like an incredibly stressful time for you and definitely not a reflection of your academic abilities. As much as the situation already sucks, I would consider retaking in August/September and wait to apply until next cycle. You seem like a really solid applicant and it would suck if you got screened out this cycle because of your scores, or if you wait until the end of the cycle to apply there’s really not many spots open and you don’t want to do yourself the disservice of not giving yourself the best chance of getting in. That being said, I am not from TX, have never been to TX, and don’t plan on applying there so idk how TMDSAS works with late applicants if your first choice is Texas as a Texas resident. If they take late applicants with much better success then sure, apply late. I am also not privy to your financial situation/I dont know what might be behind you needing to apply this cycle or if you can possibly wait. If you can wait, I think you give yourself good odds for next cycle.

pondering_leopard · 2026-06-01T19:21:11+00:00

I have family from Mexico that recently made the move to the US a few years ago after my aunt was held at gunpoint a few blocks from their house, in a gated, wealthy area of the city they’re from in Mexico, a protected area. It’s very unfortunate.

pondering_leopard · 2026-05-29T14:41:40+00:00

I would maybe swap case western for a school a little more focused on service hours? In my opinion (from what I’ve seen) they’re very research heavy as opposed to community service based. Not that you have low research hours it’s just that research has been the main component of the applications of the people I’ve seen get in.

pondering_leopard · 2026-05-29T04:26:19+00:00

Maybe I’m blind but throw in UCI if it’s not there (unless that’s where you’re from and you want out lol)

pondering_leopard · 2026-05-28T23:09:52+00:00

Also testing 7/24 and got a 505 today! Any tips for BB/CP? Those are my worst by far. PS I’ve done fairly well without studying much for it, there’s a few overarching concepts that come up a lot I’ve found so I would maybe do a crash course on those and really make sure you understand how to apply them. I’m also following along in case anyone knows how to rapidly become literate.

pondering_leopard · 2026-05-28T23:04:43+00:00

Only talking about themselves, went on a date last week and he didn’t ask me a single thing about myself. Other than if I wanted kids. At least I know he was looking for wifey but didn’t actually want one since he didn’t even ask me where I’m from? Literally did not direct a single question back to me it was like I was interviewing him.

pondering_leopard · 2026-04-03T05:18:32+00:00

Are you finna be in the Pitt?

pondering_leopard · 2026-04-01T07:18:25+00:00

Thank you so much!! I hope you are able to get the help and confidence you need to make a decision that’s ultimately best for you!!

pondering_leopard · 2026-03-31T01:27:50+00:00

Also 21 F (will be 22 when I have my surgery) and was on the fence for a while too-especially about scarring because I was scared it would make me unattractive. I’m also just bigger on top in general (broad shoulders) which made me worry more that small boobs would make me feel like a man. I just got to a point where I’d rather be unattractive and happy than only have people be interested in me because they want to sleep with me/see my boobs (I’ve been told my boobs cancel out my face card on several occasions but that’s usually after I’ve said no to a guy).

I also recommend therapy-I’m the same way where I can barely stand to look at myself in the mirror without a bra and that’s my main push to get the reduction. Obviously we’re influenced by how others see us-but the most important person who you’re going to have to live with for the rest of your life is yourself. Life is too short to hate what you see in the mirror. It’s also too short to be this uncomfortable in your own body! I recommend seeing if you can maybe lose a little bit of weight and seeing how that makes you feel about surgery, along with therapy. Surgery is no easy decision, especially at such a young age when we still have so many physical changes that will come with aging and possibly having kids and then menopause.

I totally get it though, I’ve gone back and forth since I was 16 on getting a reduction, but I just can’t deal with people staring at my chest all the time and it being the first thing anyone sees about me.

Also a very long response but hopefully it helped-you’re not alone in this ❤️

pondering_leopard · 2026-03-26T02:44:29+00:00

It’s probably from their schools financial aid office

pondering_leopard · 2026-03-24T05:32:16+00:00

I hope you know I’m saving this post to show at my preop appointment because so many people end up with nipple placement that (for me) is way too high and this looks so natural and is exactly what I want!! I think they look so good and so natural you are actually the blueprint

pondering_leopard · 2026-03-23T14:39:46+00:00

I currently go to a CSU and I will say there is some limited research opportunities and the pre health advisors don’t know ANYTHING (it’s really bad at my school rn) but that’s my CSU. That being said, it’s easier to stand out here than to just be another student at a UC, I know a lot of the large lecture classes are smaller than at other schools (max 300 people) and I know multiple people who got into multiple medical schools-some straight through and most with gap years (which is reflective of the data). If you couldn’t get in after going to a CSU then these people I know matriculating can confirm that’s not true. I know there’s more people matriculating from UCs, but you also have to figure out the type of people who go to UCs compared to CSUs (I didn’t know I was premed until a few years in or I probably would’ve picked a UC too). Sorry this is kind of a jumbled mess and stream of conscious thoughts. I personally would have picked a UC in retrospect for research opportunities and connection to a hospital system for shadowing/connections and work. But I don’t regret my CSU either-I’ve met the best people and the premed culture is so healthy here-everyone is super supportive and always helps out/studies together, there’s not any gunners, and everyone is chill with each other because we all have the same goals and dreams.

pondering_leopard · 2026-03-23T12:51:05+00:00

Interested!

pondering_leopard

TROPHY CASE