I’m more of a speed-bump man myself. But more seriously, I think physical considerations are paramount. If this situation has a definite effect on your health, I wouldn’t hesitate. And it would most probably have a net positive effect on your self-esteem.
Stating the obvious, review the situation with your physician and the members of yous family to get to know what they think about it, on different levels. In the end, the decision belongs to you. You’ll live with it for the rest of your life.
I don’t think I can add anything that hasn’t been well-said here, but good luck with whatever you choose.
Oh, on second thought, I do have something to add: When checking out a potential surgeon, ask to see pictures of reduction surgeries (s)he’s done. Most surgeons would have something like that and it is totally within your rights to ask to see it. That way you can see his/her work- the scars, the overall change, etc.
tubagirl, at the risk of really grossing out the guys now, I must point out your last statement isn’t necessarily true. I’m 40 now, and though some of it is no doubt due to the fact that I have put on some weight and have gotten much bigger again up there <42F if you must know>; sagging is definitely possible. After all, they cut completely through your pectoral muscles, for one thing. You will never again have quite the muscle control you once did because of that fact. And, yes, that is true for almost any muscle. You can pretty well spot anyone who has had some type of serious abdominal surgery for just one example, they have pouchy tummies. No matter how many crunches or situps you may do, you will still have a bit of a belly. The muscles just can’t get as firm as before.
You’re very welcome, sweetcan. Again, if you want to talk farther, just ask. I would also offer to show you pictures of me, if that would help, but I think it would be better for you to get pictures from the doctor who will do the surgery. You need to see what kind of work he/she does before deciding.
BTW, no one tell Mr Bear about this thread, please. He would faint from shock if he knew I’ve told the TM’s this intensely personal info about myself. :eek: 
…the usual caveat - I am a little weird, but if we were all plain vanilla, the world would be a boring place…
Yes, guys are going to notice a chest like yours first. That's gonna be true for the large majority of men, even if they don't fixate on it. It is unusual in its size. Unusual things get noticed. Same as if you were, say, 6'3" and gorgeous, like that VB player, Reece. I ahve to admit they'd catch my eye too. I don't know how to put this without it sounding like a pun, but if the guy can't see beyond your breasts, you don't need him. You're not going to be small breasted by any standard even after the op, should you have it, so don't worry about the guys. It's your body. If your doc thinks the backaches are caused by the breasts and you think you will be less self-conscious if you have a reduction, consider it, but only if <B> YOU </b> want it. As someone said, most of the jerks are the outgoing types, and they're the ones you hear. Please don't judge all men by them. No really nice guy is going to want you to suffer so he can brag to his fellow morons about how big his GF/wife's breasts are. Who knows, you may know some nice guy who's intimidated right now, but may show support when you have it done.I have an uneasy feeling that this is none of my business, but you did solicit opinions.
If you are having medical difficulties such as a bad back, then it might be a prudent thing to do. But I certainly would not surgically modify my body because of other people’s opinions about my appearance. The hell with them.
I really have nothing constructive to add but support. Good luck, let us know when you set a date for surgery so we can all root for a rapid recovery!
One of my cousins had a breast reduction done when she was 19 (about 4 years ago). There was a great improvement her self esteem. She had always been a little withdrawn, wearing big clothes, etcetera. After this was done (and I didn’t hear her complain about the pain or discomfort) she was finally able to wear the clothes she wanted. She was thrilled with the outcome.
StG
I should have read this thread earlier…
I’ve also been considering a reduction. Everytime I have a baby (mom of four now) my breasts get a bigger, and they don’t go down once I quit breastfeeding and lose the pregnancy weight. I look less and less proportional all the time.
I’m only a DDD right now, but the department stores around here don’t even carry anything bigger than a DD. I’d love to go down just to a D, but wonder if such a “slight” difference is even worth the surgery. For the record, I was a C before I had kids, and I have a small build (fine boned, etc).
I got my first bra in grade 2, so I was an early developer, and have spent YEARS with men talking to my chest.
I do have a really stupid question about anyone who’s consulted a surgeon about the surgery, or had the surgery. I have had two well-endowed friends that have looked into surgery. Both of them smokers. They were told that there was a chance of losing the nipple because of reduced circulation (due to smoking). Part of me screams BS because it sounds like an anti-smoking scare tactic. The other part says that this info is coming from a well respected Dr. and I admit that smokers do have poorer circulation. Has anyone else heard of this??? Doesn’t it sound like BS?
Sweetcan, if you are uncomfortable the way you are, I applaud your bravery in going through surgery to correct this. Best of luck to you!
Okay, speaking as one of those offensive, chauvinistic, asshole men who actually likes women with huge breasts not in proportion to the rest of the body:
Get the surgery done. Don’t delay. Your back problems will only get worse as you get older. The one woman I know who has had surgery has never regretted it.
But don’t expect the surgery to change everything. Jerks will still be jerks, and there will still be plenty of men who only talk to you through your breasts (any breasts are good breasts, in many mens’ opinions). And there will still be women who despise you for the way you look; ‘large-breast’ hatred will only be transferred to ‘blonde’ hatred or whatnot.
In other words- get the surgery, but don’t expect it to be a panacea. The world is full of jerks, whatever your build.
(And before and after pictures, sent to johncorrado@hotmail.com, are always appreciated.)
What John said.
On the whole, I’m one of those guys who enjoys women as friends, and can restrain himself from drooling over their physical attributes in inappropriate situtions, no matter how delicious those attributes look. But breasts of the size you describe might have a semi-enlightened type like me talking to them more than to you…sorry, but sometimes we guys can’t help it.
So, between that and the back pain, breast reduction sounds like a desirable thing for you. If you’re satisfied that the surgery is manageable for you, do it. It won’t solve all your problems, but it will make a difference in how people treat you. Go for it.
I know 2 women that had it done. The 1st had about 44DD+, and was my fiance 4+ years before she had the operation. She had really nice, pointy breasts before, but after it was horrible- large scars, uneven in size, and one nipple was off in location. The other woman had considerable liposuction, and went in for 4-5 treatments. One reduced her breasts a bit (made somewhat less “floppy”, so to speak). No real problems.
Yes, if you have a feature like that, men will notice it 1st, but the same with real long hair or being 6’3", or anything else like that. Before you do this, try some exercises to build up your muscles so you can carry them better. You might try a (low carbo high protein works of rme, but whatever) diet, assuming you are healthly, and they will reduce also. Notice that women bobybuilders have no boobs, unless they are “bought”, as they have reduced the fat % of their body.
So men notice you for your boobs. I would too, and I am a pretty nice guy. Actually, you have an asset. Don’t worry much about the guy who seems that your boobs are the “1st impression”; all normal males will act like that. But if they can’t get their pointy litle brains back onto focusing on the REAL you (boobs+, brains, personality, etc), then they are a loser. So you have both a “man magnet” and a “Loser detector”- not bad, and a lot of women would kill for that.
Well said, guys. Very true.
Lolagranola, I hate to tell you, but I heard the same thing. It can and will make a difference in that, and those smokers will have a harder and longer recovery time. I have never smoked in my life, so was safe from those complications. But, there is risk and chance for complications with any surgery.
Do it as soon as you can. I am sure that you will be attractive no matter what size your breasts are. If you can get down to a full C, then do it. If you want to go smaller, then that’s fine too.
I have some experience with this, as my girlfriend is stacked like a cord of word. She is finishing up school right now and is sans benefits. She is counting the days until she has no more upper back pain and a more shapely figure that is in proportion. These are all her words, I think she is beautiful just the way she is, but also support her fully in getting the procedure done. Her health and comfort are the bottom line, and so too should your health and wellnes be the bottom line in your decision.
I can assure you that since you will feel healthier, you will feel much better, more confident, and less “overshadowed” by your chest. And this will only serve to enhance your attractiveness. You will be healthy.
So do it, and god bless you. You’re only hurting yourself if you don’t
Best of luck to you! The medical complications are deffinately a reasion to have the reduction done. I somewhat know your feelings, my girlfriend is, to quote lexi, stacked like a cord of wood, and she frequently states she would like to have a reduction. Of course I think that she will be perfectly beautiful no matter what size her chest is. She often complains of back pain, and clothes do not cover her chest. To add into the situation that she is a very conservitive girl, and shes all for surgery.
But – shes a student and cannot afford the surgery
I said this in an earlier thread on the same topic but in case anyone missed it: breast reduction surgery is very frequently covered by insurance. Where I live, all university students are required to be insured - either under their parents’ plan, through their own employment, or through the school’s group plan. If you are a student you might not remember that you have the school’s insurance because they usually just lump the cost in on the overall bill, so you might miss seeing it. Definitely pursue this avenue if you are at all interested in the surgery; even crappy student policies will pay if approved by a doctor as a medical (not cosmetic) procedure. (You should obviously get an okay from your plan before you go out and do it.) Even if you are on an 80/20 plan, some hospitals have a way of billing so that you don’t end up actually paying the whole 20%, either all at once or at all.
A word on backaches due to large breasts: around 70% of women (seen sites that say 80, but the bramakers I’ve talked to say more like 70) wear the WRONG SIZE BRA! This can cause severe backaches and true health problems, leading one to believe it is the weight and not the bra that is the problem. The biggest wrong-size? The bust is TOO BIG (ie, you ARE a 34 but are WEARING a 36 or 38), and the cup is TOO SMALL (you are a D but are wearing a B or C). Women want to be the ‘normal’ size, and don’t take reality into account - and the people who are in stores to measure you are usually paid to SELL, on commission, so they won’t sell you a size they don’t have. I had severe back problems for a long time, wearing a 36 DDD or so. It turns out I’m a 34I, in UK sizes a 34G (don’t ask me why the diff, I dunno). I buy my bras from a place in the UK, where I can get lace and pretty things in my size. The one I’m wearing right now is black lace and satin - and I’m not experiencing any sagging, or any back pain.
Before going through major surgery, I would try checking the bra size - at least the physical part may be caused by that.
On the other side, however, there is the male attitude to deal with. And the female attitude. If you are really miserable and wearing the right size bra doesn’t help, you might want to go through with it - but don’t do it because of other people’s attitudes toward you. It doesn’t help. If men stared at you and constantly fondled your waist, would you put on 50 or 100 pounds to make them stop? If they judge you by your breasts, you have a clear sign that they are not the people you want to be hanging around with. When your breasts are smaller, you will have to watch more carefully - the bullshit meter is used to having that sign, when it isn’t clear-and-present, you may get some confusing signals.
And try counselling or friendship for the self-esteem bit, work on it actively. Having smaller breasts will NOT - repeat NOT - solve that problem. It’s a mental thing. You may get a temporary fix, but it won’t solve it.
Not that I’m biased or anything, but I almost did it myself. Getting the right size bras fixed the physical for me - and they also fit much better into shirts with proper bras on, especially since I know how to alter and make my own clothing. I can wear a tank top without embarassment, and if men talk to them, the best thing to say is “that one’s Jill, the other’s Mary, they don’t talk so don’t bother”. I’ve done it. Turns em bright red, and they either run away fast or quit talking to the breasts and apologize profusely.
wicked grin I’m a Heartless Bitch though.
-Elthia
In my late teens I knew a girl who had gone through a remarkably similar experience as you. We were a small but close cirle of friends (guys and girls) and I saw the effect here very large breast had on her every day life despite the fact that she was very fit in most other ways. Her back was sore and often her neck and shoulders would hurt. She wore big heavy t-shirts even on hot summer days. She never dared to even take them off at the beach. She never learned to swim very well because she was always self concious about being in a bathing suit without a cover-up. She often talked to us about getting the surgery done. Unfortunately we all grew apart over time and I don’t really know if she ever went through with it or not. (So much for memory lane…)
Sounds like you’ve already given this issue plenty of thought. You’ve weighed the surgical risks against the potential benefits of the reduction (both physical and psychological). Good for you. You’ve done your homework very thoroughly.
I’ll echo some of the very good advice you’ve already received in this thread…
Go with what your gut tells you is right and chances are you will not regret it. Forget all the insensitive jerks that have made lude and cruel comments and know that you are doing it for all the right reasons. But you already know that…
My sincerest wishes for a complete and speedy recovery.
A good friend in college, Michaela, had her breasts reduced from something like a 36 EE to a B. (She was small framed, though muscular) She worked out almost 8 hours every day and was still having back problems. She couldn’t jog or run easily (she had to hold them) which she liked doing because her boobs would make it hell.
Anyway, she had all the same problems you gals were having with the guys, the back, etc. She had it done and everything was great. She had a minor problem with the breast discharging along the surgical line but that went away with antibiotics. Even her scars were small and mostly unnoticeable. The surgery now seems to be pretty good judging by her outcome. She was very sore for about a month or so. Now her boobies swelled back up to a C cup and she had started working out again. Everything is good. 
All that happened about three years ago while she was in the middle of her graduate degree and she didn’t even miss any school.
Do it if you feel ready for it and do it for yourself not because of a set of some jerks who don’t have the common decency to treat you as a person rather than a boobie farm.
HUGS!
Sqrl
PS Eventhough I am a guy, I never look at girls boobies. You are relatively new so that might not make too much sense, yet.
SqrlCub
Gee, I don’t look at girls boobies either. Maybe if the newbies looked at your sig and clicked on the link they might figure it out. 
That might work, DrM. heheheh
HUGS!
Sqrl