I Got a Breast Reduction

The first time I became aware of how large my breasts were was during the height of the COVID pandemic in 2020. Like many others, I shifted to working from home and found myself wearing a lot of lounge clothes with elastic waistbands. When I began seeing an influx of articles and posts about weight gain associated with working from home and most places in some form of quarantine, I would find myself trying on my jeans from time to time and not noticing any difference in how my clothes fit. But, when I finally put on a bra it was a completely different story.

When I began blogging in 2021, my bra size was 36I. It wasn't until I started seeing myself in less clothes more often and learning more about fabrics, structures, and other factors that contribute to a good garment, that I became aware of how large my breast were in proportion to the rest of my body.

I also began to notice the size of my breast impacting my posture when I drove and I was no longer able to comfortably sleep on my stomach. Having larger breasts also impacted my shopping experience, as it became increasingly harder to buy dresses and bodysuits because my bust was approximately two sizes larger than my waist. In September 2022, I consulted with my Primary Care Physician (PCP) about the possibility of a breast reduction.

Pre-Operation

At the recommendation of my PCP, I began physical therapy in October 2022. My PCP recommended that I attend physical therapy twice a week, for 12 weeks. After about two weeks of therapy, the physical therapists I worked with at Benchmark Therapy advised six weeks of physical therapy, twice a week, was sufficient to proceed with the surgery.

After completing six weeks of physical therapy, I contacted both my health insurance provider and my PCP for recommendations on a surgeon. Searching for a surgeon was beginning to give me anxiety because there is so much to consider. I ended up taking the recommendation of an acquaintance who had a breast reduction in 2022, and chose Dr. John Hulsen at Chesterfield Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Chesterfield, Missouri, to perform the operation.

I had a consultation with Dr. Hulsen on February 16, 2023. During the consultation, he asked why I was looking to have the surgery. I shared the reasons I previously mentioned with him because he wanted to know both health and non-health related reasons. He explained that I was unable to pick the size I was looking to be reduced to; however, he would reduce my breasts to be proportioned to my body. There were pictures taken to send to my health insurance provider and I was advised either his office staff or my health insurance provider would reach out to let me know if the operation was approved. I received the approval on March 20, 2023, while I was visiting Chicago, Illinois. The approval gave me a reason to celebrate.

In April 2023, about two months prior to the operation, I decided to change my diet and start going to the gym. The change was prompted by Dr. Hulsen advising he would reduce my breast to be proportioned to my body. When approved for the operation, I weighed 202 pounds. By the time the operation was performed on May 26, 2023, I weighed 188 pounds.

Operation

The appointment for the operation was scheduled at 7:00 AM with check-in at 6:00 AM. During the check-in process, my vitals were taken, a pregnancy test was administered to confirm I was not pregnant, and co-insurance/co-payment was processed. After my health insurance was applied, I paid $2,010.00 out-of-pocket for the operation. The operation is approximately $13,000.00 without health insurance, but financing options are available.

The operation requires anesthesia and took about four hours to complete. Drains were not required with my operation because there was not much fluid left in my breasts. In some cases, drains are necessary and I highly recommend looking into that information if you are considering undergoing the operation (because I did not and, luckily, did not need to).

Post-Operation & Recovery

The day of surgery, I was sent home with surgical tape on my incisions. I was advised to let the tape come off on its own. I was also advised that the stitches were sewn beneath the skin and being held together by skin glue, which fuses the skin back together. I was given oxycodone for post-operation pain and was advised to take as needed. I was able to stop the pain medication after approximately four days.

The first 30 days post-operation were the most aggravating because it is recommended to wear an unlined bra that hooks in the front to keep your breast compressed while recovering. It is also recommended to sleep on your back, which was extremely uncomfortable. There were also restrictions placed on the weight of items I lifted, advising a gallon of water as being too heavy to lift in the first 30 days. It was also recommended to not move your arms back and forth, how one’s arms would do when vacuuming, or in a circular motion, how one’s arms would move while cleaning a counter. If you live alone and are considering undergoing the surgery, I would strongly suggest staying with a friend or family member to ensure movement that can impact recovery is minimal. After 30 days, Dr. Hulsen approved me to return to normal activity; including working out.

During the reconstruction of my breasts, my nipple was completely removed and re-attached in a new position. I assume this was the reason I experienced extreme sensitivity to touch early on post-operation; however, the sensitivity has decreased over time. I previously had my nipples pierced twice, so I assume this is also a cause of the sensitivity I experienced. Dr. Hulsen advised that sensitivity post-operation is normal and common, but the severity of the sensitivity varies.

At five months post operation, I am measuring between a 34DDD or 36DD, depending on the brand I am shopping. While this doesn’t seem like a huge difference in terms of bra size, I definitely notice a huge difference in the way my clothes fit and the sizes I am able to buy when shopping. Prior to the operation, I wore size Large or X-Large tops. I am currently able to fit a Medium or Large top on most sites/stores I frequently shop. I previously wore a size 14 dress to accommodate the size of my breasts, but now, a size 10 dress fits perfectly.

I have a six month post-operation appointment scheduled with Dr. Hulsen in early December to ensure the recovery is still going smooth and to check on how the incisions are healing. I am unsure if this will be the last post-operation appointment.

Overall, undergoing a breast reduction is very high on the list of things I am happy I followed through with. There were points in time where I found myself doubting if the surgery was necessary and trying to accept what had become of my adult body, but I am so glad I went forward with the process. The impact on my confidence and day-to-day activities has been even better than I anticipated. I am able to try different workout activities without worrying about back pain. I have less anxiety when shopping because my body is better proportioned. I am able to be more creative with my style and I am more comfortable wearing different styles of tops without worrying about my cleavage being overbearing. And, I can comfortably sleep on my stomach. I have been getting some of the best sleep I’ve had in years.

I am very happy with the results. I would recommend the procedure, and Dr. Hulsen, to anyone looking to undergo the operation. Everyone deserves to experience the feeling of finding body positivity within one’s self, whether it be achieved through a breast reduction or some other form of plastic or reconstructive surgery.