Following the thread about 'ladies with extra boobage'..

Bettie

margaretclare wrote: »

No one added anything on to mine. I measure 36" around the rib-cage.

I measure 29"- 30" around my rib cage.
I take a 32 or 34 underband.
I just measured some bras
The underband on Panache, Asda, a John Lewis swimsuit and a marlon bra are all 29" yet the label says they fit a 34. so all those bras have roughly 5 inches added to the rib size. ???

redbooties

I had my breasts reduced about 9 years ago on the NHS. I was a 34H with a size 10/12 waist, so totally out of proportion. The NHS refused to do the operation at first and just suggested buying my bras from M&S (even though M&S didn't sell my size at the time). My doctor then wrote the health board a lovely letter basically telling them that I really needed the op for health reasons and I was booked to have the operation done in about 3 months.

I went from a 34H to a 34 C and they removed 4.5lb of flesh all together. I stayed in hospital for about 3-4 days, for about 2 weeks it was very painful, I couldn't lift anything or stretch to reach into a cupboard and driving was very painful, anyone who has this op I suggest you keep a pillow in the car to hold against your chest otherwise you feel every tiny bump in the road. I did get an infection underneath my breasts which was quite sore and they used disolveable stitches which I could feel poking out of my breast for months after (was told by the nurse to pull them gently out with tweezers)

My breasts have grown back to a 34 F but that is because I've put on a lot of weight over the years. if anyone has any questions about this operation I will be happy to try and answer them for you.

sammyjammy

margaretclare wrote: »

Have just found out the price: £5,265. An answer to all those who know I'm still saving and ask me 'what are you saving FOR?' People talk about 'going on a cruise' - well, I'd rather have this than any cruise.

There is 0% finance but, while there doesn't appear to be an upper age-limit on the surgery, there is on the 0% loan.

All these scraps of information are valuable and make up the full picture. I now await meeting the surgeon for the 10-minute free consultation on 8th December and will see what he says, will take it from there. I've found out just about as much as I possibly can at the moment.

I can't stop now as its my lunch hour but thats around the same price i paid 5 and a half years ago. There is an amazing voluntarily run website called Breast Health online I would recommend registering, it has a sepcific UK section. You can get picture access only if your surgeon (or potential surgeon) sings a form for you to fax through to them, its invaluable and will enable you to see the good and the bad.

There was a thread I posted on a few months back about reductions, a search on my username should find it. Feel free to PM me. I'll pop back later and see if I can answer some of your questions from my POV.

Bettie

margaretclare wrote: »

PS: Have looked at the M&S Total Support, but am not convinced that it would be any better. I really have looked at various options! Over the last few years I've tried lots of different bras, last week was the first time I'd ever been for a proper fitting, but it still is not at all comfortable.

http://www.marksandspencer.com/Support-Non-Wired-Floral-Embroidered-Crossover/dp/B000IZNIEM

Just wanted to add that I went to Marks&Spencer yesterday to try the Total support bra. No good for me. my usual size was too big in the band so I would have to go down one and up in the cup and they didn't have my size.
Also I found the seams on the front were showing through my top so unless wearing a cardi or thicker jumper it would look unsightly. The assistant said they had a seamless one but not in my size.
I thought it was very similar to Doreen ( didn't have my size) and also to the Triumph sports bra I have. The triumph is good except the very tight band cuts into the top of my stomach making me feel sick. if I loosen the band with an extender then the support is gone.
Has your new one "bedded" in yet? :rotfl:

Bettie

margaretclare wrote: »

I'm seeing the anaesthetist on Thursday evening and then the surgeon on Friday evening, so we'll know by then if it's possible or not i.e. whether the surgeon will agree to do it, and that will depend on what the anaesthetist's verdict is as to whether I'm fit enough. Here's where I'm hoping they'll do it: https://www.cosmeticsurgeryessex.com

I don't want to buy any more bras until I know for certain. If I get it done - hopefully end of January - I'll need to wear a 'surgical bra' for a while, the kind that fastens at the front. I hope after that to be able to wear one as small as possible.

good luck ! keep us informed

sammyjammy

margaretclare wrote: »

Well, I've just jumped the first hurdle. Went for the 10-minute free consultation, age no barrier, the surgeon explained what he could do for me - reduce as much as possible (no point in messing about with less), anchor-shaped scar below the replaced nipple, one hour surgery, one night in hospital. Next hurdle to jump: he wants me to see the anaesthetist and it will be down to what he or she says whether he's prepared to take it any further. It's the anaesthetic risk which is the main worry at the moment. If it happens, it will be late January which is fine for me. So I am a little bit further forward, age isn't the problem, just the anaesthetist's say-so. He did say that this problem can only get worse with advancing age and I could be in a lot more discomfort.

So there we are!

Fabulous, I knew age per se wouldn't be an issue and its very sensible to meet with the anaesthetist in advance, hope that's gone well. I'm pleased they've booked you in quickly, less time to worry and more time to enjoy the new you. I'm so excited for you, I agree with the bigger reduction the better, I wish I had gone smaller, I think they worry that you're not being realistic about what a size is IRL if you know what I mean. My surgeon was a man and I guess they can never know that feeling of big boobs personally. I had my consult on the Wednesday and my surgery on the Friday as there was a cancellation, I saw no reason to let myself spend more time stressing about it.

As I said before you've got a brilliant price, similar to what I paid nearly six years ago.

Did you register on BHO? Can't recommend it enough for post surgery to get an idea of what's normal and what's not, saved me a lot of worrying.

moneylover

Oh, just jumped in on this thread and am full of sympathy - I am 66 and am interested to see that Margaret Clare lives near me so I might be next on the list!
Last year, due to illness I was down to 7 stones and I was still 34DD. I am now 8 stone and my breasts still the same! I started life as 34A and never shifted till my 50s. Then I had about 6 years of oestrogen replacement (it was the bees knees then) and that is perhaps what caused my breasts to get bigger. Of course I am nowhere near the size of some of the people who have posted but I am so 'dropped' as well. I would like to have the surgery and also a tummy tidy up. after 3 C sections in 4 years I had a little apron of fat over a big scar and again that never really goes.
For me its cosmetic - but so what - provided my health is up to it
Margaret Clare good luck tomorrow night I am tempted if you have a good result to get both done , I guess there is a package price.
One thing I would say to people who go to Debenhams etc - forget it - go to Rigby and Peller, preferably the London shop, it will cost you about £60 for a good bra but I just have two, one on one off. There bras are not ugly in any way.
Btw, I have been posting a diary on teeth whitening I have just had it done, such a good result, about 14 shades!

sammyjammy

The aqua aerobics will have to take a back seat for a good few months after your op. The risk of infection is way too big, even after your scars have seemingly healed you'll need to be really careful.

A good tip would be to get some soft cup/sports bras in the sales. Hopefully today the surgeon will be able to give you a rough idea of how much tissue he'll remove and what size he would expect you to be. You don't necessarily need a post surgery bra although they do have pockets in them which might help if you suffered "leakage" from your wounds. Sorry if TMI!! I have lots of them as my surgeon recommended wearing a soft bra at night for ongoing care and it really works.

I'm so excited for you.

lindens

Bettie wrote: »

but I have never got used to it and yesterday after eating at work I was in so much discomfort I felt sick. it may be I bloat then the bra digs in unbearably. I had wires on but as said before, even a sport bra the band will cut in and make me sick.

I get this but maybe not quite as badly as you describe. I put it down to be short (5foot 1) so the gap between the bottom of my bosom where the bra band goes, to my waist is also short so everything is being squished together. hence feeling bloated and squashed after eating,. if i'm at home after a meal i've often had to take my bra off.

sammyjammy

I see what you mean about size, my surgeon agreed a size with me he would aim for, I got a couple of sports bras in that size and one in a band size bigger to allow for swelling. Places like Primark and Asda are great for basic sports bras just for those first few weeks, they are so cheap anyway.