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> - How much can they "reduce" you?
I don't know much about the subject, but a good friend of mine in Arizona
lost weight from 350lbs to 140lbs, but her breasts were still VERY large
(a 38DD I believe, or something like that)
So, she called me one day right after her reduction surgery and said, "Kathy
I've always been SOOOO jealous of your ability to never wear a bra, so I
made them make me an A).
To this day, she loves 'em!!!
kath
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| I am related to someone who has had this surgery, so based on her
experiences I will answer your questions to the best of my knowledge.
>- Does it affect your milk glands, i.e. will I be able to nurse a baby
> in the future?
From what the doctor told her, she will be able to nurse in the
future.
>- Does it affect nipple sensation?
Nipple sensation has not been affected by the surgery. The pedacles
(sp) where not removed (they are the nerves that are connected to
the nipple). They cut around the nipple and then down the center
and underside of the breast. They then removed several pounds of
breast tissue and skin. They then stapled the breast together
replacing the nipple.
>- How much can they "reduce" you?
As far as I know, you can be "reduced" as much as you would like
to be. My relative went from about a 42DD to a 36B.
>- Will it all go to waste if I get pregnant again? Or should I wait
> until we're not going to have any more children?
There is a good possibility of the breast enlarging again after
pregnancy. My relative had this surgery done in her early twenties
before having children, but I would wait until you're done having
children.
>- Can anyone recommend a doctor in Boston?
The doctor she used was a Dr. O'Sullivan. She is located somewhere
in Wellesley, MA I believe.
>- How much does it cost? Will medical insurance cover it?
Her surgery cost about $12,000. Medical insurance did cover it,
but she went through hell getting them to pay for it. She had to
see a chyropractor (sp) for a while before the surgery to determine
that her size was cause of severe back injury and that it was a
health hazzard to be so big.
If you're having the surgery for cosmetic reasons only, I don't
think insurance will cover it.
Hope this helps.
Lori B.
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| OK, folks, here goes...I had the surgery done 6 years ago (I
can't believe that it's been that long already) and it was the best
thing I ever did for myself.
As far as your questions go, I'll tell you what my doctor told me
(BTW - she was a top plastic surgeon, and I went to about 12 doctors
(mostly male) before deciding to use her).
I will not be able to breast feed...ever.....the gland that they
had to cut in order to move the nipple [please note that it says
MOVE, and not REMOVE...alot of doctors remove the nipple, and there
is never any recurrence of feeling after that] was the lactating
gland, and that was a chioce that my doctor gave me before the
surgery....I didn't think it was that big a concern with all the
new formulas out, so I gave my ok.
I was a 36 DD, and was coming out of that size bra...I'm 5 ft. tall,
and weigh 117 lbs.....when I had the surgery, I was up to my all
time high of 187 lbs, and my doctor told me I couldn't lose or gain
more than 10 lbs. after the surgery....well I have anywy, with no
change in my breasts at all....She told me that she could bring
me down to a C, but no more as the only thing that they remove is
the fat surronding the actual breast, not the actual breast
material...she would not make me any smaller, and told me that if
I wanted that, I would have to find another doctor to do it, because
she would not disfigure me in order to have me become a B cup.
I don't know if anything surrounding you becoming pregnant would
be a problem, but please be sure to ask your doctor....
My sensation took about 8 months to come back to me, and I didn't
think that was too high a price to pay for my mental health.
As far as pain goes, I was under anesthesia for about 6 1/2
hours....the day before the surgery I went to her office, and she
drew something akin to a triangle on my chest...measuing from the
middle of the collar bone down to my nipples so that she could place
my nipples correctly when she was done removing the fat content.
I was in the hospital for 5 days, and by the second day, I was
up washing and drying my hair...hands over the head and all....she
couldn't believe that I was already doing this, but no pain....the
worst part is when they took the drains out...it felt like my nipples
were concaving into my breasts...and that lasted all of 5 minutes.
My costs were covered by insurance, but I had medical notes....my
chiropractor (who wrote that my back was sooooo bad from carrying
all that weigth around), my shrink (who was just a friend of the
family wrote that it was my mental health that she was worried about),
and my gynocologist (who wrote that I was cystic). The medical
insurance covered everything except my phone bill and tv while I
was in the hospital...although my surgeon wanted her fee up front...so
I borrowed the money from my grandfather and when the check came
in, I just tured it over to him..
The advice I can give you is simple...If you really want to do it,
go ahead...Ask ALOT of questions, and don't stop asking until you're
satisfied with the answers you are getting....Go to more than one
doctor.,...As I said, I wne to to 10 or 12 before I came to my
surgeon...And, if you want to talk about this off of notes, please
give me a call at DTN: 461-1902, or you can send mail to me at
NYEM1::COHEN.
Good luck in whatever you choose!
Jill
All in all, It was really the
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| Thank you, Jill, for writing that. I've been considering the surgery for
years, although I would wait until after I am sure that I will no longer
be giving birth.
Don't know if I will ever do it, but I'm a GG now, and would love to be
a C cup. I was at least a C cup when I was 12, and (probably due to the
attention I got by men when I was so young) I've never liked my breasts.
Guess this is yet another issue that I will deal with when I start
therapy again, and see if I really am willing to do the surgery.
Carol
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