I've been researching breast reduction surgery for years. When I met my husband I told Him one day I would have one. The last few years I've contacted a few doctors but never went to a consultation. I chickened out, I thought they'd make me lose a bunch of weight first and laugh me out. I was talking to my chiropractors assistant, whom I've known since 2006. She saw me at a healthy weight and now that I am overweight. She told me there was a really good Dr. That helps get women approved through insurance and her friend had used. I got the info and thought about it for a while. Still nervous to go in and show a stranger what I'm working, that is scary!! But after talking to my husband he encouraged me that I just go see what they have to say. He sees me day in and out and my struggle with my weight and my back/ neck pain. So, I listened and scheduled my appointment.
I went in the afternoon after work, when I was still working full time. They had me put on a gown backwards so it opens in front and I waited for the Dr. She came in and we talked a little about why I wanted this surgery and how I thought it would improve my life. I told her it would improve a lot of things. She explained what they would be measuring and then waited for another lady to join us. I was so nervous. They tape measured the distance from my shoulder or like my neck area to my nipple and then from chest wall under the boob to the nipple. She then just explained what she would do by smooshing my boob up with her hand. So awkward. But, informative. She remarked these are heavy, I don't know how you do anything. We talked about losing weight before vs. after. She said I'm at an age that it's hard to tell if losing weight would make much difference in my breast size. I shared that they have always been large for my frame. She said I would definitely feel relief and be able to lose weight through exercise easier after they are reduced. I mentioned my prolactinoma which causes milk to sometimes be expressed from the nipples. She said it could increase risk for infection if they open me up and there's milk but, said it's happened before so we would play it by ear. She ultimately left the choice up to me but, said I could do either with regards to waiting to lose weight or not.
They took headless photos of my torso from the front and the side. I closed my eyes. Again, embarrassed. They told me to get dressed and another woman would come in to show me some pictures of other headless torsos. She answered all my questions and said she would call me once my insurance responded. I left feeling glad I had gone and hopeful they would approve me.
I did ask the Dr what size I would be afterwards. I said id like to be a C..not kidding, just want them gone. She said she'd like to get me to a D but I might be a DD. I'm okay with that. The nurse said they like to guess how much they will have to take out between themselves and for me the Dr told her 1000 grams per side. Which equals to 2.2 lbs off each side. The nurse said that every lb of tissue equals 13 lbs of strain on your neck and back. She said I am walking around with a very heavy backpack on. They of course won't know until the surgery how much they can safely take out.
Also, not sure if I need a free nipple graft which is where they completely detach the nipple and then sew it back higher. Or if they will just keep it bundled up and sew it higher. I need to find that out. The nurse told me to go order some cheap front closure sports bras. Just take my rib cage measurement and order based off that. I just got them in the mail yesterday! They still look big but when I held it up to me it definitely won't fit me right now. I'm gonna wrap this post up and start on my next one.
I went in the afternoon after work, when I was still working full time. They had me put on a gown backwards so it opens in front and I waited for the Dr. She came in and we talked a little about why I wanted this surgery and how I thought it would improve my life. I told her it would improve a lot of things. She explained what they would be measuring and then waited for another lady to join us. I was so nervous. They tape measured the distance from my shoulder or like my neck area to my nipple and then from chest wall under the boob to the nipple. She then just explained what she would do by smooshing my boob up with her hand. So awkward. But, informative. She remarked these are heavy, I don't know how you do anything. We talked about losing weight before vs. after. She said I'm at an age that it's hard to tell if losing weight would make much difference in my breast size. I shared that they have always been large for my frame. She said I would definitely feel relief and be able to lose weight through exercise easier after they are reduced. I mentioned my prolactinoma which causes milk to sometimes be expressed from the nipples. She said it could increase risk for infection if they open me up and there's milk but, said it's happened before so we would play it by ear. She ultimately left the choice up to me but, said I could do either with regards to waiting to lose weight or not.
They took headless photos of my torso from the front and the side. I closed my eyes. Again, embarrassed. They told me to get dressed and another woman would come in to show me some pictures of other headless torsos. She answered all my questions and said she would call me once my insurance responded. I left feeling glad I had gone and hopeful they would approve me.
I did ask the Dr what size I would be afterwards. I said id like to be a C..not kidding, just want them gone. She said she'd like to get me to a D but I might be a DD. I'm okay with that. The nurse said they like to guess how much they will have to take out between themselves and for me the Dr told her 1000 grams per side. Which equals to 2.2 lbs off each side. The nurse said that every lb of tissue equals 13 lbs of strain on your neck and back. She said I am walking around with a very heavy backpack on. They of course won't know until the surgery how much they can safely take out.
Also, not sure if I need a free nipple graft which is where they completely detach the nipple and then sew it back higher. Or if they will just keep it bundled up and sew it higher. I need to find that out. The nurse told me to go order some cheap front closure sports bras. Just take my rib cage measurement and order based off that. I just got them in the mail yesterday! They still look big but when I held it up to me it definitely won't fit me right now. I'm gonna wrap this post up and start on my next one.
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