# Experience with breast reduction surgery? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 3, 2018, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experience-with-breast-reduction-surgery/817247 "2018-07-03T19:39:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experience-with-breast-reduction-surgery/817247/1 "2018-07-03T19:39:29Z")
I’m going to my PC doc soon to get a referral to a plastic surgeon to get some boobage shrink done. I’m very confident that my insurance will cover it, I’ve done my research and have very compelling medical/personal reasons (ruptured cervical discs, pain, stenosis, underboob ulcerations, and more). I’ve lost 30lbs over last 18 months, the DD+s haven’t shrunk a bit, and I’m ducking done being uncomfortable 24/7! Anyone have experience to share? I’m not very attached to these things (except for the obvious) and have zero psychological misgivings about reduction; the wife is totally onboard for whatever makes me happy. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experience-with-breast-reduction-surgery/817247/2 "2018-07-03T19:47:42Z")
I agree, do it. And it’s great if you can get Insurance to pay. You shouldn’t have to suffer. I don’t have much boobage but there is so much breast cancer in my family that me and my sisters are getting tested for the gene and thinking of prophylactic mastectomies. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experience-with-breast-reduction-surgery/817247/3 "2018-07-03T20:46:40Z")
The two people (my mom and a friend) I know who have had breast reduction were both super pleased with the results. Neither one has had a single day of regret. ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experience-with-breast-reduction-surgery/817247/4 "2018-07-03T21:36:15Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > The two people (my mom and a friend) I know who have had breast reduction were both super pleased with the results. Neither one has had a single day of regret. Do you know how long their recoveries were? ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experience-with-breast-reduction-surgery/817247/5 "2018-07-04T03:54:55Z")
A former co-worker was reduced from (I believe) FF down to C maybe? I know she told me but being three times her age and married I didn’t pay all that much attention. Before she looked OK if a little too damn large on the top. Afterwards she looked tons better, to the point that I really noticed, and her health and pain levels were way down. As were her clothing costs; she had some real issues off-the-rack for anything. We do physical warehouse work with a lot of arm and chest motion; think USPS package sorting and moving. She was off work totally for 2 weeks, under a five pound weight restriction for another two or three and fully recovered at say 8 weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experience-with-breast-reduction-surgery/817247/6 "2018-07-04T04:14:53Z")
My sister just had this done in May. The week after surgery was the most painful but they gave her drugs that killed the pain. Biggest challenge for her was that she couldn’t drive for the first week & she has 4 young kids. They also told her not to lift anything heavier than 20 lbs for 6 weeks. But she looks fantastic–like she lost 25 lbs & has no regrets at all. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experience-with-breast-reduction-surgery/817247/7 "2018-07-04T04:35:56Z")
If a plastic surgeon determines that you will have more than a certain amount removed from each side - IIRC 1 pound or thereabouts - insurance should pay. I’ve never heard of a person who needed it not having it covered by insurance, if they had it, nor of anyone who regretted it. Most women leave the hospital the next day; it’s usually an outpatient procedure when men have it. Whether a woman can breastfeed afterwards depends on multiple factors. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experience-with-breast-reduction-surgery/817247/8 "2018-07-04T05:26:01Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > If a plastic surgeon determines that you will have more than a certain amount removed from each side - IIRC 1 pound or thereabouts - insurance should pay. I’ve never heard of a person who needed it not having it covered by insurance, if they had it, nor of anyone who regretted it. > > Most women leave the hospital the next day; it’s usually an outpatient procedure when men have it. Whether a woman can breastfeed afterwards depends on multiple factors. > > Good luck! My sister had her reduction in May in California & it was outpatient -done at a surgery center (and insurance covered it). But it is a pretty involved procedure because they not only remove the extra breast tissue, but also the extra skin & they reposition the nipples. Her scarring is pretty significant (although she only 6-7 weeks out), but in clothes she looks amazing & has no regrets. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experience-with-breast-reduction-surgery/817247/9 "2018-07-04T11:54:46Z")
I heard a plastic surgeon say this is her favorite regular procedure because of the huge quality of life boost. Obviously not as much as, say, fixing up burn victims, but that isn’t a regular procedure for her. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experience-with-breast-reduction-surgery/817247/10 "2018-07-04T12:33:56Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > A former co-worker was reduced from (I believe) FF down to C maybe? I know she told me but being three times her age and married I didn’t pay all that much attention. Before she looked OK if a little too damn large on the top. Afterwards she looked tons better, to the point that I really noticed, and her health and pain levels were way down. As were her clothing costs; **she had some real issues off-the-rack for anything.** > > We do physical warehouse work with a lot of arm and chest motion; think USPS package sorting and moving. She was off work totally for 2 weeks, under a five pound weight restriction for another two or three and fully recovered at say 8 weeks. Phrasing noted. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experience-with-breast-reduction-surgery/817247/11 "2018-07-04T12:43:57Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Phrasing noted. Ok, let’s not drift into making “rack” and boob jokes in this medical thread. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experience-with-breast-reduction-surgery/817247/12 "2018-07-04T14:27:36Z")
> [@Jennshark](#): > > Do you know how long their recoveries were? I’m not sure with my friend as I didn’t know her when she had it done. My mom’s was about 4 weeks, I think. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experience-with-breast-reduction-surgery/817247/13 "2018-07-04T18:02:00Z")
One of my Facebook friends, a former neighbor, said, “No more back pain, no more neck pain, no more $125 custom-made H-cup bras, no more 2XL shirts when I wear size 12-14 pants, etc.!” She was reduced to a C or D cup, and is very happy with the results. And the scars will fade. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experience-with-breast-reduction-surgery/817247/14 "2018-07-04T18:40:34Z")
Everyone I know that has had this procedure has LOVED the results. The scarring is usually the “lollipop” scar, but considering everything else, no one seems to mind it much. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experience-with-breast-reduction-surgery/817247/15 "2018-07-04T18:44:46Z")
When my son’s SIL had it done, she was happy with the result. When she got pregnant, she announced that she was not going to breastfeed. I assume from that that she was capable of it, just decided not to. Unfortunately, in her third or fourth month, she was diagnosed with melanomia, was delivered at 8 months so they could start chemo and died about 3 months later. ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experience-with-breast-reduction-surgery/817247/16 "2018-07-05T03:28:02Z")
My wife went from double ludicrous to a D. She had all the same back problems as the OP. We were warned that for the first couple of weeks her chest would look like frankenboobs. They weren’t kidding, it wasn’t pretty. It took a good month before the shape started returning. It’s been almost 15 years, she doesn’t regret anything, or miss the old monstrosities. Sent from my HTC U11 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experience-with-breast-reduction-surgery/817247/17 "2018-07-05T06:37:49Z")
My cousin had her really huge ones reduced down to either a C or D. Recovery was fine and she’s really happy with it. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experience-with-breast-reduction-surgery/817247/18 "2018-07-05T12:11:53Z")
Curious, anyone know why this procedure includes a post-surgical restriction on driving and/or lifting heavy weights? AIUI, the cutting is restricted to skin and breast tissue. I can imagine these tissues being stretched when moving one’s arms through their full range of motion, but I wouldn’t have thought they bear a lot of strain simply from the underlying pectoral muscles straining to lift heavy weights. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experience-with-breast-reduction-surgery/817247/19 "2018-07-05T12:26:14Z")
Simona Halep who, for those of you who don’t follow tennis at all, is a poster child for successful breast reduction surgery. She was a virtual unknown ranked somewhere down in the hundreds because her boobage was seriously impeding her athletic ability. She had the procedure done and, within a period of about 3 years, has become the number one player in the world. She looks great and has obviously had no side effects from it. If you feel those DD’s are preventing you from being the person you want to be, then they are, and you should go ahead and get it done. I have a feeling that it’s one of those things that, a year from now, will have you asking, “Why in the world didn’t I have this done sooner?” ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experience-with-breast-reduction-surgery/817247/20 "2018-07-05T12:34:46Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Curious, anyone know why this procedure includes a post-surgical restriction on driving and/or lifting heavy weights? AIUI, the cutting is restricted to skin and breast tissue. I can imagine these tissues being stretched when moving one’s arms through their full range of motion, but I wouldn’t have thought they bear a lot of strain simply from the underlying pectoral muscles straining to lift heavy weights. It’s actually major surgery - you don’t want even minor stretching and effort to risk disrupting the healing process. The external scars don’t really convey how much cutting and rearranging of tissue takes place beneath the surface. Also, when lifting or otherwise exerting effort I think blood pressure within muscles increases, and may increase overall - you don’t want to risk a blow-out in small blood vessels that are healing. Fluid accumulations, blood accumulations, and the wound breaking open along incision lines are some of the more common complications of the surgery - it’s only prudent to do everything possible to minimize the chances of those happening to a particular woman. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experience-with-breast-reduction-surgery/817247.md?page=2)