Breast Reduction Information

As most of you know, I had a breast reduction January 11, 2013. It was needed because my breast were large and they were causing me to have back, neck and shoulder pain. My recovery process went smooth and I've healed up well.

I received some useful information from Dr. Elizabeth Harris & The Center for Cosmetic Surgery. If you are thinking about having surgery but have not done any research then here's some great information for you!

Less Is More: The Benefits of Breast Reduction

 

Most people are familiar with the concept and motivations behind breast augmentation surgery. However, another fairly common request made in plastic surgery of which many people are not aware.  Successful breast reduction surgery demonstrates that sometimes less really is more.

 

While many women want to augment the size of their breasts to create a more pleasing contour, others have found that their breasts are too large or have acquired an unpleasing shape. A special procedure in cosmetic surgery allows surgeons to remove varying amounts of breast tissue. The results leave women with breasts that are still generously proportioned but attractive as well.

 

Women's breasts sometimes cause pain due to natural development or age. Other times, childbirth and breastfeeding can lead to breasts that hang pendulously and discomfort women with their burdens. Fortunately, this issue can be solved through breast reduction.

 

How Do Breast Reductions Work?

 

The standard and most popular form of incision used to perform breast reduction is known as the lollipop. This creates less scarring than any other approach.  Surgeons cut around the border of the nipple and also make an incision straight down from the nipple to the inframammary crease. Excess breast tissue is removed through this incision.

 

Sometimes, women with very large breasts must undergo an anchor incision. This includes the lollipop with an added horizontal incision that runs along the inframammary crease. With either approach, breastfeeding may be difficult in the future due to the damage to tissue surrounding the nipple.

 

Benefits of Breast Reduction

 

·         Appearance

Breast reductions do not simply remove breast tissue. The removal allows the breasts to regain a certain contour that lifts the nipples higher. The results are breasts which look much more attractive.

 

·         Comfort

Very large breasts are burdensome. Their weight can cause significant back pain, which breast reduction can help alleviate.

 

·         Freedom

After breast reductions, many women report happiness at being able to do many things without their oversized breasts getting in the way.

 

For more information about breast reduction, contact a cosmetic surgeon's office. You can learn about all the options and further benefits of this useful procedure.

Click HERE to be directed to The Center for Cosmetic Surgery

Breast Reduction - 9 Month Update

My breast are completely healed up and I do not have any problems or pain from them. It has been over 9 months since I've had surgery.

I'm currently 7 months pregnant and I'm due January 25, 2014. My breast are still the same size as they were before pregnancy. They have no gotten any bigger at all. They feel tender due to me being pregnant. Both breast leak colostrum but the right breast leaks a lot more then the left breast.

After I had surgery my left nipple lost feeling in it. I'm not sure if that has anything to do with the low leakage that I have in that breast.

I'm planning to breast feed when my son gets here. As of right now, I'm pretty confidant that I will be able to breast feed. If not, then that will be okay with me too. I knew before I had surgery that there was a change that I would not be able to breast feed.

Be sure to check out my YouTube channel to see the updated videos. It's my video diary. Click HERE

If you would like to see before and after pictures please email me by clicking HERE

 

Breast Reduction Surgery Day 119

UPDATE: I have no feeling in my left nipple. I'm right handed(not like that matters) and I have feeling in my right nipple. I also have feeling in both breast. So the left breast if i was to bump up against something I would feel it. If I was to pinch my nipple or poke it I would feel nothing.

Tomorrow marks 4 months since I've had surgery. This is weird that I'm just now noticing this. I do not know how long it has been this way. I haven't felt any pain or discomfort lately. I have resumed all my normal activities.

Be sure to check out my YouTube channel to see the updated videos. It's my video diary. Click HERE

If you would like to see before and after pictures please email me by clicking HERE

Breast Reduction Surgery Day 89

Today I had some pains in my left breast. Felt like sharp piercing pains. I'm sure that's just the nerves still reattaching. The doctor said this can happen at any time. I've also spoken to some other women that have had a reduction and sometimes they feel little pains in their breast also. Some people refer to them as "ghost pains".

Another issue that I've been having is with my sports bra. I need to find one that looks similar to a real bra. All of my straps are the cross like straps, you know like a sports bra. So I can't wear cute tops without my bra straps showing.

My birthday was Tuesday and I tried to wear a tube like bra/stretchy thing. I dont even know what to call it. It didnt turn out right. I've attached some pictures where you can see the bra like thingy on me. lol

Be sure to check out my YouTube channel to see the updated videos. It's my video diary. Click HERE

If you would like to see before and after pictures please email me by clicking HERE

Breast Reduction Surgery Day 80

Be sure to check out my YouTube channel to see the updated videos. It's my video diary. Click HERE

If you would like to see before and after pictures please email me by clicking HERE

Breast Reduction Surgery Day 42

I haven't had any problems or discomfort these last few weeks. I wear a sport bra on a daily basis until my breast are done swelling. The doctor said it would take a few months.

I put lotion on my breast daily. They still tend to be dry. It's as if they are soaking the lotion up asap. The lotion helps the scars heal better. Right now they are soft scars, they are not looking like keloids or anything like that. They are getting brighter as time progresses. Eventually they will not be there at all. 

I'm glad that my healing process has been going so well. I need to take more pictures of me in shirts and post them!

This picture is from Valentine's Day. You can actually see my belt! Before surgery my breast would hang out and cover that area up completely. 

Be sure to check out my YouTube channel to see the updated videos. I post one video each day. It's my video diary. Click HERE

Breast Reduction Surgery Day 29

I wore a sports bra today. I still have that sticky stuff from the tape around my nipples. I had no issues at all today with my sports bra. Since it was my first time without the compression bra I decided to wear a shirt under the bra just to be safe. I want to make sure all my stitches and stuff have as much time as they need to completely heal.

I tried to use the liquid stuff that the doctor gave me for my nipples. Its suppose to help take the adhesive residue off of my nipples. It took a while for me to get the thing opened. After I got it out of the package it was in a glass tube.

The tube broke in my hand and cut my finger. It's a small cut. All the liquid dripped out. I don't know if it was oily or sticky. I went straight to the sink to wash it off. I had two packages. At this point I don't even want to try the other package. I will just keep using soap and water every day and moisturizing my skin with lotion twice a day and hopefully the adhesive will come off completely within a few days.

Be sure to check out my YouTube channel to see the updated videos. I post one video each day. It's my video diary. Click HERE

Breast Reduction Surgery Day 28

February 7, 2013 Thursday

Today I had my one month follow up appointment with my plastic surgeon. He said that I'm healing very good and everything looks well. He took the tape off of around my nipples. It hurt when he peeled it off. It took of some skin with it. He assured me that it's normal and that it's just a thin top layer of skin that will heal fast. It felt as if you were peeling a band aide off. Not too bad. My nipples did feel sore for the rest of the day.

They gave me some type of liquid stuff to put on my nipples so that it can loosen that sticky stuff from the tape. I will try it tomorrow and see if it works.

I posted a video of my one month follow up visit with the doctor. Click on my link for my youtube channel below.

Be sure to check out my YouTube channel to see the updated videos. I post one video each day. It's my video diary. Click HERE

Breast Reduction Surgery Day 21

1/31/13 Thursday
Today my breast are looking really good. They are healing at a different pace. The left breast is healing faster. The cut that is going from the nipple on down on the left breast has healed up almost completely. When I touch it, it feels soft and not hard. There's only a little bit of stitches left in that cut.

On the right breast I still feel all the stitches on that cut line going from the nipple. I can also see the stitches. The cut line is very visible, unlike the left breast were you can barely see it.

I put lotion on my breast twice a day. The helps keep the skin soft and helps it heal nicely. Which is what I want.  About a week after surgery my cuts were starting to look bruised and redish/pinkish. Which of course meant that it was healing up. I'm past that phase now. I'm just waiting for the healing to complete now.

Be sure to check out my YouTube channel to see the updated videos. I post one video each day. It's my video diary. Click HERE

Breast Reduction Surgery Day 18

My nipples have been really sore and painful. They are starting to peel and it's hurting me really bad. When I take my shirt off I can see a little bit of dead dried skin on my shirt. Which is coming off of my nipples. I have been trying to use lotion on my nipples daily to keep them moisturized.

I think that they are peeling because of the tank tops that i'm wearing under my bras. I have to wear the tank tops so that they protect the bra from cutting me on my stitches area. The bra is tight so it could hurt my stitches area if I don't wear a shirt underneath. This is what the doctor told me to do.

I have decided to try to wear a regular cotton shirt underneath the bra. To see if that will or will not irritate my nipples. Lets see how this works!

Be sure to check out my YouTube channel to see the updated videos. I post one video each day. It's my video diary. Click HERE

Breast Reduction Surgery Day 10

Today has been a good day for me. My stitches are healing well. I have been applying lotion to them twice a day to make sure that the skin stays moisturized. The stitches feel sort of hard so the lotion helps soften the skin. My Doctor told me to do this.

My bra has been irritating me today. I keep having to pull it down because it rises a little. I don't want it to be on my stitches area. Even though I wear a tank top underneath the bra. I'm still cautious as to where the bra is positioned when it comes to my stitches.

Be sure to check out my YouTube channel to see the updated videos. I post one video each day. It's my video diary. Click HERE

Breast Reduction Surgery Day 5

Click HERE for the Youtube Channel for my breast reduction information.

Well I guess I should title this "trying to get back to my normal routine".

 I decided to get dress today and go to the mall with my friend for an hour or two just to get out the house. I've been in the house since Friday. I was ready to venture out because I have been feeling better.

My outing did not go as planned. I've been in bed for almost a week now. My body is use to relaxing. As soon as I started walking around the mall I started to feel tired and I felt pain in my side and my breast area and under the breast. My body felt sort of beat up.

I think this is because I haven't had any activity lately. I should of started off easy and just went out to lunch. Now I will know better the next time. I will stay home tomorrow and go to my doctors appointment on Friday. I'm going to see how my appointment goes and see how I feel afterwards.

I have to take everything one step at a time. I had been feeling so good lately that I felt like I was ready to try to do things again. Now I know that I'm definitely not ready. I'm still taking my pain meds and my antibiotics. I will be done with all my medicine on Friday. I'm not looking forward to Friday because I do not know how I'm going to feel when I'm not taking medicine anymore. I hope all the pain will be over and done with. I'm ready for this road to recovery!

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Breast Reduction Surgery Day 4

I had a pretty chill weekend. My friend came over on Sunday so we can watch movies. It was super relaxing. Both of us pretty much slept the whole day together. Im taking my meds which makes me tired and my friend just needed some rest. It worked out perfect. I thought I would fall asleep on her and be a party pooper. Nope! We both fell asleep and enjoyed the sleep. lol

Today is starting off pretty good. I got a ton of rest and woke up really early this morning. Right before my husband left for work. He has duty today so I won't get to see him again until tomorrow afternoon. Im not looking forward to him having duty today because I'm pretty much stuck in the bed all day and im by myself. Im not able to drive because of the medication that im taking.

My body does not feel as weak as I had been feeling these past few days. Today makes 5 days since I've had my breast reduction. Im still pretty sore but not really feeling any pain right now. Im suppose to rest and I've been following those directions. I would like to get out of the house today just for a little bit.

Im going to see if one of my friends would like to have lunch and I also need to stop by the store and pick up a few grocery items. Being out of the house for about an hour or two might do me some good. I've been cooped up in doors for the past 5 days so im in need of some outdoors time. I know I still need to rest and take things slow for the next few weeks.

I have a doctors appointment with my surgeon on friday for a follow up. Im healing up pretty good but im looking forward to seeing him just to make sure im on the right path when it comes to taking care of my body after surgery.
Click HERE to view my new YouTube channel that is dedicated to my breast reduction! (MrzMills3 is my user name)

Be sure to follow my blog so you can stay updated and informed!
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Breast Reduction Surgery Day 2

Click HERE to view my new YouTube channel that is dedicated to my breast reduction! (MrzMills3 is my user name)

I went to the Doctor today for my next day follow up appointment. I filmed the appointment, so click on my link above to watch the video.

Today I've been a little sore. My pain level is still about a 2 on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the highest. I don't really have any pain. It's all soreness. The doctor had to do a little bit of Lipo on the side of my breast as part of the procedure yesterday, so that area has a lot of tenderness.

Around 4:30 pm I took a two hour nap. That is the most sleep that I have had since surgery.  I don't know why I can't sleep. The medicine makes me drowsy but I don't fall sleep. It's so weird. It's like I feel tired and exhausted but I can't sleep.

I don't have much of an appetite at all. I only ate once today and it's already 10 pm. I plan to have something small and light if I get hungry later. I have been drinking a lot of water. I have to stay hydrated. Here's some before and after pictures. The after pictures I have on my surgical wrap. This will stay on for a week then I will receive a surgical bra that I will wear for 4-6 weeks.

Before

AFTER

I'm not sure if you can really see a difference in the pictures. In person there's a huge difference. My breast are swollen plus they are wrapped tight inside of the surgical wrap that I'm wearing. 

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Breast Reduction Surgery Day 1

Picture of me on my way to my appointment

Today I had my breast reduction surgery. My appointment was for 8:30 am. I got there around 6 am so that they can prep me and get me ready. It was all over at 10:30 am. I was so tired from lack of rest that once they put me out, I was out for good! I didn't wake up till about 12:30 pm. I left the hospital around 1:30 pm, after my ride came to get me.

My husbands duty schedule changed and today he has duty. The appointment was set about a month and half ago so we always knew that was a chance that his schedule would change. He was able to drop me off at the hospital this morning and that meant the world to me.

I was scared, nervous and excited all at the same time. Scared because I was by myself, nervous because I didn't know what to expect and excited to see the results!

My friend Stephanie picked me up and took me to her house for a few hours. My pain level has been at about a 2 since surgery. I've been taken my Oxycodon pills and my antibiotic pill once every 4 hours. This has been keeping my pain level low and I have been laying in bed resting. I've only gotten less then an hour of sleep. I feel tired but my body will not let me pass out. Maybe I slept too much after surgery initially.

I'm not physically restricted from doing too much. I can do light activities starting tomorrow. Right now I've been laying down the whole day unless I need to get up to use the restroom. When I'm standing I tend to feel a little dizzy. I'm sure that will go away tomorrow. I have a follow up with my surgeon tomorrow at 9 am. He has me schedule to see him, one day after surgery, one week, one month and at three months. I will no longer be in Washington State in three months, so my final visit will be with a new surgeon in San Diego.

I took filmed some video clips of myself before and after surgery. I'm going to post the videos on my YouTube Channel that I've dedicated to my Breast Surgery Journey. I probably will not show a full body update until I get to the doctors office tomorrow. It's 8:00 pm and I'm hoping to get more rest and just relax and go see my doctor tomorrow morning. But you can click HERE to view my new YouTube channel! (MrzMills3 is my user name)

Be sure to follow my blog so you can stay updated and informed!
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Breast Reduction Journey

I've decided to create a blog that is just for my breast reduction. This way I can keep my personal blog as is and I wont have to continue to share my information everywhere. This makes it a lot easier.

I already have a YOUTUBE channel that is dedicated to my breast reduction journey. I'm currently on day 5. Which means it has been 5 days since I've had surgery. Since I'm already on day 5 I'm going to play catch up today and add the previous days information and links to the videos that I've created.

I like to share how i feel and what I'm going through on a daily basis. It's easier for me to film myself at the end of the day. I still want to be able to create a post also because that way I'm able to be express myself and explain how I feel. The videos are more so to show how my breast are looking.

Click HERE so that you can subscribe to my YouTube Channel

YouTube Channel

Just wanted to remind my readers that I have a YouTube Channel that Is exclusively for my Breast Reduction. It's my daily video dairy. If this page does not receive a daily update then my YouTube Page will regardless. Plus they do not always have the same information. Be sure to subscribe to both so that you can keep up with my progress.

Click HERE for my YouTube Channel