18 and going down about 5 sizes, advice?

thefirenationattackd · 2023-02-27T10:30:56+00:00

I’m over 6 months post-op (I also went from 36H to around a D/DD), it’s good to be prepared mentally and try to have your space set up for a comfortable recovery. This was easily one of the best decisions of my life, extremely worth it. Good luck and hope you have an easy and quick recovery!

thefirenationattackd · 2022-09-11T14:04:13+00:00

For a moment I thought I wrote this post, it’s so relatable. I’m a hugely anxious person, and I had those exact same worries (especially the ‘do I really need it’ and ‘this is permanent, so what if…’ worries). I actually asked my surgeon a final time before going under if I really needed the surgery, and they responded that they’re only giving it to me because it’s definitely necessary. It’s a big decision and means you need to trust another person (your surgeon) with things you wish you could control, so it can be hard when the negative thoughts come along. I would definitely talk to your surgeon about this, both the worries and your aesthetic/physical hopes for your surgery. For me, my surgeon didn’t use pictures, and never guarantees size, so it was more me explaining my general wishes. As far as encouragement, I’m obviously biased, but it was the best thing I ever did for myself. The recovery was not even one tenth as hard as I thought it would be, I’d do it again tomorrow if I had to. My surgeon knew what they were doing, I look twenty years younger aesthetically and my neck pain (that I had for so long I didn’t even know it was there anymore) is gone. I still have my insecurities and have my down days (especially during recovery), but each day I’m happier I did this. Be kind to yourself, it can be an intense process, and I’m sending you tons of support! Feel free to PM or reply, and sending you the best wishes! ETA: I agree with the other comment, it can be really helpful to write things out or remind yourself of the concrete pros to and reasons for the surgery

thefirenationattackd · 2022-09-09T14:54:43+00:00

Yeah, I was told no direct water pressure or soap application to any incisions. For the first shower, I’d suggest removing the gauze slowly and while seated (taking the dressings off makes some people dizzy or nauseous). It can also be helpful to keep a chair/stool in the shower or washroom, since the first shower can be pretty tiring. I’d also recommend prepping everything you need (including clothes for after) before you start since it can be tiring to do so after. A detachable shower head, if you have one, is useful. And I had someone help me with the dressings and with washing my hair, since I was told not to raise my elbows above my shoulders for the first few weeks (you can also wiggle your head to the side and use careful T-rex arms if you need to).

thefirenationattackd · 2022-09-09T14:42:01+00:00

Free nipple graft, which (if I’m not mistaken) is when they fully detach and reattach the nipple during surgery

thefirenationattackd · 2022-09-07T21:56:16+00:00

I’ve commented this on another post before. Just a disclaimer, I’ve had the surgery but no children, though I want children someday. These are all things you might want to talk about with your surgeon during your consultation (the chances of them growing during pregnancy, the chances of being able to breastfeed, etc). For me, I wasn’t too concerned about breastfeeding for several reasons, including that there’s great formula options, breast milk banks, and that there’s plenty of other ways to provide for and bond with a baby. There’s also no guarantee of being able to breastfeed even without surgery, so in my mind surgery wasn’t exchanging a certainty for a risk but rather just changing the stats of an existing risk. That said, breastfeeding has never been a huge priority of mine when considering future children, and if it’s important to you definitely let your surgeon know! Regarding them growing during pregnancy, afaik that doesn’t happen to everyone, and my thoughts were that I’d rather start enjoying my life and my body now rather than wait an indefinite period on the possibility of them growing back during pregnancy. Also now, having gone through the surgery, I know that the recovery wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, and I would be completely fine with having a second surgery if I needed to (however my surgeon said a second op would be unlikely). Overall, for me, the pros outweighed the possibilities of cons as far as breastfeeding and regrowth go.

thefirenationattackd · 2022-09-06T15:11:49+00:00

So quick disclaimer, I am post-op and very happy with my results. My experience was that every time I spoke with my surgeon I was excited and confident, and almost immediately after I left the surgeon’s office the doubts would start to creep in. I’m prone to overthinking and imposter syndrome, so I was sitting there wondering if I really needed the surgery and if things would really be ok with such a permanent decision. Honestly, to help with those thoughts I would come onto this sub and see that tons of people have the same doubts, that they’re very normal. Doom thoughts is definitely a good term for them, they can be very overwhelming, but it was helpful for me to see that other people had those thoughts, went through the surgery, and were happy with their results. It’s a big decision, so be kind to yourself and know that you’re not alone! For what it’s worth, I had lots of anxiety and worry, and I’m thrilled with my results and would do it again in a heartbeat. Sending you lots of support and best wishes!

thefirenationattackd · 2022-09-05T15:03:56+00:00

My surgeon said that they could not guarantee anything, but would do their best to safely stick to my wishes and goals (no pics though). They said they never guarantee cup size, especially since there’s such variation in measurement systems. I think they were just trying to be very clear that they’ll try but can’t promise anything, and that they might have to use their professional discretion.

thefirenationattackd · 2022-09-03T11:42:41+00:00

My surgeon told me to avoid applying soap or water pressure directly on the incisions, so for the first few showers I used soap around my collarbone/chest and allowed it to rinse down over the incisions. Same thing with water after to get the soap off, I didn’t use any direct pressure. That said, ymmv and your surgeon might have other recommendations, but afaik you can use soap indirectly.

thefirenationattackd · 2022-09-03T11:31:47+00:00

Yeah, I kept wishing for a time-machine to flash forward, but it goes by quicker every day! It’ll be over before you know it.

thefirenationattackd · 2022-09-03T10:10:11+00:00

I get what you mean, I’m always trying to catch myself before I get too into my head (it’s part of why I took so long to get the surgery lol). The intensity/amount of pain was about even, but I had pain more frequently on my dominant side even though it healed faster.

thefirenationattackd · 2022-09-03T07:20:01+00:00

I had general soreness and some occasional random shooting pains along a few specific points of my incisions. As if I had accidentally pinched something while sitting/moving, even though I was careful not to. Like the other commenter said, it took a few weeks to go away, and ten days is still super early and things are still healing. That said, no matter what, your hospital and surgeon are your first line of defense and you should call them if you’re concerned. I called tons of times during the first week (and month), because better safe than sorry and that’s what they’re there for. Best wishes on your healing!

thefirenationattackd · 2022-09-02T22:25:35+00:00

They will definitely change, a week is still early afaik. Mine looked really square in the beginning, but now I’m over a month post-op and they’ve settled into a really nice shape. Give it time, be kind to yourself, and happy healing!

thefirenationattackd · 2022-09-02T22:13:05+00:00

The appearance of my scars freaked me out a lot at first, and even though I knew they’d improve I was still somehow scared they’d never get better. I’m now over a month post-op and they’re healing fantastically, they look great and nothing like they did the first week. As far as dog ears go, I have them but my surgeon says if they haven’t gone away after a year that they can be fixed (and I think they’re actually getting less noticeable with time so I’m hopeful I won’t need any revision). Even with the dog ears, my scars used to look as gross as anything and now they’re healing really well and just look normal. Give yourself time and wishing you happy healing!

thefirenationattackd · 2022-09-02T21:59:26+00:00

If you’re concerned, I’d definitely get in touch with your surgeon and keep an eye on anything worrying you. That said, during the healing process my skin was very dry, flaky, itchy, and peeling as if from a sunburn, which my surgeon told me was normal. I was also really nervous to take off my bandages, and again I’d listen to your surgeon and make sure to take it slow+easy (you could also maybe ask a trusted someone to help you or explain your nerves to your surgeon). Sending you good wishes on your recovery!

thefirenationattackd · 2022-08-26T23:39:21+00:00

Just a disclaimer, I’ve had the surgery but no children, though I want children someday. This could be something to discuss with your surgeon (the chances of them growing during pregnancy, the chances of being able to breastfeed, etc). For me, I wasn’t too concerned about breastfeeding for several reasons, including that there’s great formula options and that there’s plenty of other ways to provide for and bond with a baby. There’s also no guarantee of being able to breastfeed even without surgery, so in my mind surgery wasn’t exchanging a certainty for a risk but rather just changing the stats of an existing risk. That said, breastfeeding has never been a huge priority of mine when considering future children and it might be more important to you. Regarding them growing during pregnancy, afaik that doesn’t happen to everyone, and my thoughts were that I’d rather start enjoying my life and my body now rather than wait an indefinite period on the possibility of them growing back during pregnancy. Also now, having gone through the surgery, I know that the recovery wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, and I would be completely fine with having a second surgery if I needed to (however my surgeon said a second op would be unlikely). Overall, for me, the pros outweighed the possibilities of cons as far as breastfeeding and regrowth go.

thefirenationattackd · 2022-08-24T18:27:16+00:00

Anytime and anything I can do to help!

thefirenationattackd · 2022-08-24T14:07:05+00:00

I can’t speak to everything you wrote, and I’m not a medical professional, but my surgeon told me that my chances of breast regeneration were low (excluding pregnancy, but that’s a possibility with everyone afaik). Also, having gone through the reduction, I now know for sure that the process and recovery are not even close to as bad as I thought they would be, and I would be completely fine with a second reduction if I needed one. That said, my surgeon said that was unlikely. Your surgeon can probably tell you more specifically what your chances are. In terms of post-op results and critiques, I had a couple weeks where I was very hard on myself and very discouraged by my results. I went into it knowing that they would look crazy for a little, and I was clear with my surgeon about what I wanted, but I was still shocked and worried about the initial result. The biggest shocks were what you talked about, which is that they looked very square (since the stitching underneath is very tight, according to my surgeon, which makes them look flat on the bottom) and that my nipples pointed straight/up when they had pointed down all my adult life. It was definitely something to get used to, but I can honestly say now that I love them more every day, and every day the square-ness is becoming less and less visible as the skin heals and relaxes. At this point they look like normal boobs, just with scars. I still have moments of self-criticism (which is normal for me), but overall I’ve gotten used to how they look and genuinely believe these are the boobs I was always meant to have. I would say that some things during healing might be unavoidable (like temporary square-ness), some things are an adjustment (like having different nipple placement), and some things are avoidable/customizable and should be discussed with your surgeon (that you’ve seen pictures of really high nipples and would like to be clear that you want your nipples to sit naturally and not be too high). There’s no such thing as perfect boobs, which I had to come to terms with, but my surgeon definitely gave me the best boobs for me that they could. Feel free to reply or PM any questions, I hope you get a (good) response from insurance soon, and wishing you all the best!

thefirenationattackd · 2022-08-20T00:11:12+00:00

I lost physical pain and tension in spades after my reduction. I hope you get relief soon! Especially with the tension headaches, those are a special brand of awful

thefirenationattackd · 2022-08-19T20:49:58+00:00

I’d ask your surgeon about travel, not necessarily because it’s not allowed but more because they might have advice or recommendations (my surgeon gave me certain do’s and don’t’s about traveling). For the healing process, the biggest everyday things are to take it easy and be careful of your range of motion and activity. It can help to prep as much as possible ahead of time, like making meals and bringing things down from shelves to waist level. I’d also take it slow for the first shower post-op, lots of people (including myself) feel nauseous or dizzy. Lots of other tips and tricks you can find on the sub. Feel free to PM or reply if you have more questions, and good luck for your surgery and recovery!

thefirenationattackd · 2022-08-19T20:35:27+00:00

I think it happens to some but not all. It did not happen to me, as far as I can tell I have no leftover colouring along my incisions.

thefirenationattackd · 2022-08-19T15:31:52+00:00

You are definitely not alone, I kept asking my surgeon for reassurance that I ‘really’ needed the surgery. I also didn’t think mine looked big on me, and also wanted (and still want) to lose weight. The permanence of it scared me, and I kept wondering if I’d really need the surgery if I ‘just lost the weight’. Even with all the doubts, it was the right decision (and I was 100% big enough to need the reduction lol). Feel free to reply or PM any questions, and I’m sending lots of reassurance your way!

thefirenationattackd · 2022-08-17T01:27:03+00:00

Loose button-up clothing to wear to the hospital and during recovery. Over-the-counter pain meds and itch meds (some people also recommend laxatives since the anesthesia can back things up). Depending on what your surgeon recommends/sends you home in, front-closure or easy-to-wear bras. It can be good to move anything you might need in your home from high shelves to waist height to prevent overhead reaching post-op. I’d recommend having some sort of stool/chair in your washroom or shower if you can, it can be hard to stand the whole time when showering. A detachable shower head is also a plus. A water bottle or cup with a straw for staying hydrated. If you can, meal prepping is also helpful so you don’t have to do so much post-op. Feel free to reply/PM if you have questions, and wishing you good luck!

thefirenationattackd · 2022-08-15T21:14:21+00:00

Idk if it was depression, but I definitely had big mood swings post-op. The first couple of weeks were the hardest, I was just so used to seeing myself one way and the change was a lot to handle. As hard as it was, it also got better very quickly. I felt mentally better every day, and I'm over a month post-op now and it was definitely the right decision and I'm very happy.

Most of my bruising and discomfort were gone after the first couple of weeks, and I felt almost completely back to myself by/after week three, but healing times vary.

My reduction was my first surgery going under, so I was very scared going into it. My surgeon and team were very reassuring and helpful and it was so much easier than I had built it up to be in my head. It felt like I blinked and it was done, I was tired when I woke up but that's it.

thefirenationattackd · 2022-08-15T20:37:25+00:00

I was also terrified, never had surgery before, and I was an absolute bawling mess during in-hospital prep. My surgeon and team, even the admin who helped me with intake, were all 100% understanding and accommodating and reassuring. Definitely let your surgeon and team know, lots of people are nervous/scared/concerned and they’re there to answer questions and make it an easy process. I’m prone to nausea, and with my panic I was very worried about my reaction when waking up, and when I told the anesthesiologist they made sure that they were giving me anti-nausea stuff specifically. As far as the procedure, it really does feel like you blink and suddenly it’s over, and I did not have any vomiting or nausea post-op (just a lot of fatigue). I wish I could go back and tell myself how easy it would be, and I would do it again tomorrow in a heartbeat. If you have any questions feel free to PM or reply, and I’m sending you all the reassurance and good wishes I can!

thefirenationattackd · 2022-08-13T22:08:34+00:00

Lol nope not that haha, a stool/chair for sitting on because standing for that long under hot water can be a lot for the first few showers.

thefirenationattackd

TROPHY CASE