I had an appt with the plastic surgeons yesterday to discuss the removal of the lump in my left breast and my bilateral breast reduction. I have very large breast 36kk and have been advised to have both reduced during my lumpectomy surgery. It does mean my recovery will be longer, but in the long run hopefully I won’t need to have several operations. Has anyone else undergone a similar operation? Very frightened, but understand why they feel its necessary. Any thoughts, advice would be most welcome. Many thanks. Donna x
Hi Donna,
I had a therapeutic mammoplasty in February… in effect a WLE and reduction.
Like you, I was very large breasted (38DD/E).
This was an ideal surgery for me, all the cancer gone and left with smaller, perky and equal breasts.
Recovery was fast with no real complications.
The only real outstanding issue for me is that because my breasts were so large I have ‘dog ears’… excess skin at the end on the scars. But this is normal and should be corrected under local anaesthetic. My lump was under my nipple, so need to have a new one also…
Even with that, it is a procedure I would absolutely recommend, I never thought that I would be able to go bra less and wear little strappy tops again…
I wish you the very best, if you have any specific questions, please feel free to PM me
Marguerite
I had one too…was a 36c and now a 36b very easy recovery and no problems. looks weird to start with but given 10 weeks on now looks amazing
Yup me too. 32FF. Now about a D. Left mx and recon, right reduction and uplift. Yay! Took a while to settle down. Be sure your surgeon knows their stuff. xx
And me as well - but I had the mammoplasty on the BC side first, then the other one to match 3 months later. Only wish I had had both done at the same time to save having to go through surgery and recovery twice. I’ve gone from a 40D/DD to A/B (I think - not been measure properly yet), and as the others have said, a good result. Of course I would have preferred to keep my original boobs, but considering I have had surgery for BC my boobs look good, and they’re now pert enough to last better into old age.
Sarah x
Thanks so much for your responses, you have put my mind at rest. I guess the surgeon was doing his job, telling me all the things that could go wrong and the possible complications. I came away from that appt very anxious and nervous about the whole procedure.
I must admit a few years ago, I did consider a reduction due to shoulder and back pain, but very quickly decided against it, when the operation was explained to me (I’m such a wimp!!) However, this is quite different and is medically in my best interests to agree to it.
Thanks again for taking the time to reply and making me feel much more relaxed about the procedure. Donna x
*Update*
Going into hospital on Monday (13th) and my operation is scheduled for the next day. Relieved that it’s all happening before christmas and new year. However, fairly anxious about the operation! It’s strange how we fixate on the daft things, but I’m not sure what I’m going to do for a bra when I leave the hospital. Can anyone offer any suggestions? Thanks Donna x
Hi Donna,
Sending best wishes and kind thoughts to you.
Just wanted to say I will be thinking of you Monday, and Tuesday. You will be fine, I can understand you being anxious,it’s natural, but it’s a great Hospital and they know what they’re doing.x
Sorry I can’t help you on the best bra for you afterwards, but I am sure someone will know.
Tomorrow I will be at the same hospital having a grommet put in my right ear, not exactly looking forward to the procedure, but if it means I can hear properly again it will be worth the anxiety!
Keep in touch,
Heather.xx
i had a reduction prvately dec 2008 before i even new about my bc.
i was a 30j, and went to a 30gg, recovery is ok, i was 100% sure i wanted the op and was prepared to suffer for a bit,
i had one part of the wound not heal very well and they packed it with steriod tissue and it was fine.
nipples did look bit scary to start with as they are removed and replaced. i didnt like that bit.
but in time i looked and coudnt belive how i coped with them being so big for so long. i have a waist!!
now i have a lovely 3 inch scar and bit of mishape after my lumpectomy!!
hey hox
is a lady that does post op bras, with front fas
i was advised to have these and they were excellent,
the surgeon should give u an idea of what size bra you should get. as you wake up in the bra… its called the Z-Bra
i also wore a shock absorber one from a debbnehams. but the front one was so much easier in the early days
Asda do very good non wired sports bras. The hospital strap you up in a post op bra, and you may have to keep that on for a few days. Best wishes for Monday, you will be in my thoughts.
My hosp didnt strap me up in anything…not even a dressing…just lots of supa glue!!! I used the M & S post op bra…v comfy!
Posted for new user Julie
Jo, Facilitator
Hi Donna - these comments have been really useful for me too - I had then same op 1 week ago today, I am currently at home recovering. I was a 36FF, now a C cup. I was surprised how well I felt afterwards, and I am really pleased with the results. Good luck for the 13th, I am sure you’ll be fine. Julie
Posted for new user Julie
Jo, Facilitator
I got a couple of sports bra’s from JD Sports which have been great, and my breast care nurse gave me some expanders for the back so they weren’t too tight - Julie
I used Bravadol nursing bras for the first few months after surgery, recommended by the bra fitters at John Lewis. These bras are soft, have a deep band under the boobs, so less pressure, and have soft foam cups that you can slot in to the bra or not, as you choose. I have recently been fitted for new bras to suit my new shape, but since I’m only 6 weeks post-surgery on one side I’m finding that these are making me a bit sore where the wounds have only just healed over, so I’m tending to revert back to the soft nursing bras because they’re so comfortable.
Sarah x
A long P.S.!
My breast surgeon told me to wear a bra night and day for the first six weeks after surgery, to help the shape of the breast to form correctly. Having had a mastopexy (reduction and lift) type of surgery you end up with an anchor shaped set of wounds, with a line down from the nipple to the underside of the breast and a line following round under the fold line of the breast. It’s the line underneath that makes firmer bras uncomfortable for a while afterwards. Underwires are particularly bad news, so forget those for quite some time.
On the plus side, it’s a great feeling to finally be able to go and get measured up for bras to suit your new shape! I drove home wearing a lacy bra that would never have been strong enough to support my original boobs. OK it made me sore after a couple of hours but psychologically it was a huge boost!
Sarah x
yeh, no underwires. till fully healed.i slept in mine for about 8 weeks as heeling on one side took longer. its the t junction u need to be careful with. no lifting. xxx
Hi Heather
Hope your ear operation went well and your hearing has improved. I know we are very fortunate with our local hospital, but I’ve never been in hospital before, with the exception of childbirth, which doesn’t really count
Hope your feeling well now that you have finished your radiotherapy treatments and are ready for a great Christmas and New Year?
Keep in touch, take care Donna xx
Hi ladies thanks for all your comments and advice!!
I went into town today (as the snow had melted) and looked at a few different types of bra’s. My main problem was every one looked tiny, my cup size at the moment is huge, and I just can’t imagine how ‘small’ my boobs will be. Ended up leaving town without buying a new ‘soft’ bra. Was a little emotional, so came home and phone my breast care nurse, who told me just to take the bones out of my own bra’s until I have a better idea what size I’m going to be. So panic over… for now
Lost in France, they used super glue on you? no tape or stiches? weren’t you frightened that your wound would open??
Sarah, I’m looking forward to buying new lacy bra’s with only two hooks at the back and straps that are not an inch thick (also not having to pay £30 a bra will be a bonus).
Thanks again for all your support, Donna x
Hi Donna,
Well, my ear Op went OK, thank you, not very nice as it was under local anaesthetic, and it was uncomfortable, to say the least, having my ear filled with anaesthetic cream right down to my ear drum, then 40 minutes later having my ear attacked with instuments, including a little hoover thing, I wanted to shrink away from what he was doing, but instead a lovely nurse gave me her hand to squeeze! It seemed to take ages, but I know it was just minutes, and after he’s pushed the painful grommet in I could hear a lot better! I said to the Surgeon, “I can see why you give children general anaestetic for this, they’d never lay still!”.I thanked him, anyway, and hope that’s the end of it, but he did say that if the dull hearing had been caused by repeated sinusitis or rhinitis I could need a bigger, permanent tube put in…aarrgghh!
I, too, have happily been quite a stranger to Hospitals, apart from nursing, and being a patient certainly is more scary!!
However, I am feeling good, thank you, and am ready for a fairly quiet Christmas, and loads less appointments in 2011.
I’ll be thinking of you, especially as I will be at the ARI for my follow up appt with my Surgeon on Tuesday.Best wishes to you,
Take care,
Keep in touch,
Heather.xx