Breast Reduction

Treacle_2-2

My opinion, for what it’s worth, is to think extremely carefully – a good friend of mine had a reduction on the NHS. It went horrifically wrong and she was left with one much smaller than the other, with the added complication of a terrible infection and the loss of both nipples. She has had reconstruction a couple of times and now has tattooed nippes.

The whole experience left her mentally and physically scarred and she wishes she’d never gone through with it!

debecca

Hiya, just to add my 2p...

Get it done on the NHS if you can, it's thousands to go private. I was in a similar situation, being 5'1", a size 6/8 and a 30HH. The doctor initially refused to refer me until I cried on her and took off my bra. She took one look at me and went "OK!"...

I had to wait 3 years but it's worth it to save £3500 or whatever.

Oh and for what it's worth, all the other women having it done over the few days I was in hospital were at least a size 18, so I don't think size is the issue. I think you just have to play on the psychological trauma with your GP and not back down!!

Good luck to all those thinking about it - it really is well worth it xx

kittiwoz

I haven't read all the posts in this thread so sorry if I'm repeating stuff but do make sure you are wearing the right size bra and it is sufficiently supportive. I am also 4'10" and wear a 30G. I used to wear a 36DD because that is what the woman in M&S who measured me said my size was. I had bad back pain and felt fat and unattractive because my boobs looked bulgy and I had to disguise that with loose fitting tops that also hid my waist. I also used to get a sweat rash between and under my breasts where they were pressed together by the badly fitting bas. I got fitted at Bravissimo and now feel good about my figure and the back pain has gone. There are some tips on the bravissimo website to help make sure you are wearing the right size. I even do trampolining but I always wear a leotard for extra support. Trampolining uses a lot of core body strength which improves the muscles that support your back and also helps improve posture. Gymnastics, yoga and pilates would all help with good posture which may help with back problems. I also sleep in a sports bra, partly for comfort and partly to try and prevent the ligaments in my breasts stretching so they don't sag when I'm older.

If you are sure you are wearing the right size bra and you have good posture but still have problems persist with trying to get a reduction on the NHS but if you think your breast are still growing wait til they've stopped. Emphasise the distress and back pain it causes you. I hadn't heard about people being refused because they have a bmi over 25 before and I think it is really stupid. My bmi is over 25 since I weigh about 8 1/2 stone but I have a 26" waist so I don't think I'm over-weight. BMI is pretty meaningless if you are outside the average height range and surely this is precisely who is most affected by this problem.

Js_Other_Half

A colleague is going to have this surgery (on the NHS) once she gets her BMI down to under 30.She's been dieting for months, and has managed to lose 3 stone so far.
She is about an F/FF cup, and have not reduced in size since losing the weight.
Her GP listened to her when she said that she could not imagine starting a new relationship as she would never want him to see her naked...she's been divorced for years.

Good luck with it.

melancholly

i've seriously thought about having an operation... i don't think i'd ever fit the criteria for the NHS though - I'm 'only' a 32FF/G but they never change size, even though i lost a stone and a half last year (which may actually be a blessing because replacing all my bras would have cost a small fortune!).

i feel a lot better now than i did 10 years ago when i was measured and told that the only bra they could offer me was a minimiser! it may have been the most humiliating event i've ever had!! https://www.brastop.com has some really good value bras, and the clothing at bravissimo (although expensive) has been amazing in giving me confidence.

does anyone have suggestions on how to pick someone to do it privately? with all the scare stories about plastic surgery it seems like a minefield!

lolly5648

Suggest you try the breasthealthonline.org site. They have a UK forum which gives details of surgeons used in various parts of the country. (Click on breast reduction and then page down to breast reduction and support - the UK one)