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Hey everyone... I keep reading all of these posts on here concerning being left too big after surgery, and this is definitely a big fear about my op. I'm stupidly terrified of needles and such, which means taking this step and offering myself up for a BR has taken me a lot of courage, and quite frankly i'm terrified of the idea of surgery, i've only had surgery once when I was less than a year old and as you would imagine, I can't remember the experience! To get to the point, I don't want to put myself through this, both physically and psychologically, to not be satisfied with the result, and I'd much rather be smaller than larger, because the world is full of all sorts of gel bras to make you look bigger, but making you look smaller is a different matter. I think it's because i'm so young (i'm only 20) but at my consultations i've been told that they won't be able to take me down as small as I like because my breasts aren't really made of much fatty tissue, but are mostly glandular. I've read/heard very mixed info on this topic and i'm really confused about it - can they remove the glandular tissue? And wouldn't it infact be more beneficial to have the glandular tissue removed because it is what is most dense and heavy? I'm currently a 32FF and consultant said they may only be able to take me down to a DD, maybe a D if I was lucky. I really wanted a C, but I could make my peace with a D, although I think I would def not be happy with a DD as I think this would still be too big for my size - i'm only 5"1. Also, on another note, I found out today that my surgery will be taking place at a different hospital to what I had expected - all of my appointments so far have been at Queen Margaret hospital in Dunfermline, but apparently my surgery will be at St. Johns in Livingston. I've never even been there before - anyone who is in Scotland have any experience of it? -- |
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Hi Button - these are questions you MUST ask your PS, and not rely on answers you get here or on other forums. The responses you get here are not medical diagnoses or opinions, they are just people's personal experiences and opinions not always informed by science. When women are left bigger than they wish to be this can be for any of a huge number of reasons: communication between the patient and the PS wasn't clear, the surgeon didn't listen, the patient didn't listen, the woman didn't want to end up too small, they had different ideas about what size a particular letter really is, the woman put on weight, pregnancy. These and many more factors have effects on the whole process. You can request another appointment with your PS. Write down a list of things you want to ask, like whether glandular tissue can be removed, and take it with you otherwise you'll find your mind just goes blank when he/she says "Any more questions?" Everything in life involves some risk, and this kind of surgery is not an exact science. Even the surgeon doesn't know what he/she is going to find until the body is opened. Good luck to you in your BR journey - I can tell you I really wish I'd embarked on mine much younger! Best wishes Lal |
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I am!! Can't help with info on either hospital though. I know St Johns is in Livingstone which is just about half an hour away. Good luck!! -- |
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Hi, Hannah Button!   Just wanted to share my story! My op was in the spring of 2007....and my dense, wide, cystic breasts were able to be reduced down to a very small size! And....almost three years later......I am still very, very pleased with the results! I did start out much smaller than you (I started at almost a "DD"...and went down to a 'barely-"B")--and it's true that the amount of breast tissue that can be removed in just one operation, without an FNG being necessary to ensure that there is no interference with the blood flow, CAN be a factor, if you start out very large in size. But, even tho' I was smaller--nevertheless, my breast tissue was very dense and heavy--and my breast shape was very wide--so--I, too, was very concerned about size--and I wanted to make absolutely certain that I could be taken down to no more than a "B". (I have a narrow frame.....with a rather straight-up-and-down body--long, skinny legs, no hips...and no waist!!   And, even with a height of 5 foot 5 and a half inches--my sprawling, drooping, growing post-menopausal breasts looked so 'wrong' on me!)  Amazing how menopause can 'encourage' one's breasts to drop and grow! In my case, about a size and a half. And all of it dead heavy! Ah, Mother Nature!!  Anyway, I wanted to at least share with you what my surgeon told me re. dense tissue and size. (And, as Lal points out.....these are not medical statements....just my own personal experience with one particular surgeon.) But, having such similar fears to yours about size (I was positively 'neurotic', I'd say!)  ......I just wanted to let you know that dense tissue CAN be significantly removed. What IS affected, however, can be the BR TECHNIQUE that you might be limited to. My doc originally planned to do a Lejour--but that was before I told him that I wanted to be VERY small--no more than a "B". And I hoped not to need a bra.....that I would be light enough....and 'freed' from my always-heavy breasts.  Because of both my density...and breast width.....the incision used with the Lejour would probably have brought me down to no less than a "C". Instead, I needed the Anchor technique, which would allow him to make a much wider incision, and remove as much glandular (dense) tissue as he could. It would also allow him to shape my breasts and make certain there was no 'pancake' look--that flat, wide effect--when a large amount of tissue is removed from wide breasts, without allowing for shape. So, I had the Anchor op--and could not believe what an 'artist' he turned out to be! He did a WONDERFUL job. And he was able to remove one of the cystic sections that my mammogram doctor suggested he try to--as that area was always a 'muddle' in my x-rays! What also amazes me today...is that it is nearly impossible to even see the incision line! They were so thin! And, yes, tho' my breasts are very small...they will always remain wide apart and dense.....but he worked so carefully that their shape is just a 'miniaturized' version of my original breasts. There is no resulting pancake effect at ALL! And, best of all......I am so much more in proportion now!! (And......I rarely need a bra!)  At only 5 foot 1 inch, you sound very petite. So I do hope that your surgeon will discuss all of the options for you to get down to the "C" you're hoping for. In addition to the BR technique variations--there is always the possibility--if it's medically unsafe to go down to that size in one operation--that he can 'finish up' the reduction a year after the healing is complete, with a revision. Before you see a surgeon for a final consultation......you might want to have all these questions in your head written down. And, not only did I bring in 'after' photos I liked....but I even gave my doc a size "B" BRA!! He had a big laugh.....and took the bra out just before my surgery--just to say that he knew that the word of the day was SMALL!!! I know that you are young....and that the prospect of surgery is terrifying (I'm not young--but felt the same!)   But--the whole surgery turned out to be a very 'pleasant' experience for me! I had little pain...and healed very well. And, because I went privately (I live in New York), he had private surgical suites with top certified anestheologists there throughout the op. And he was located just a minute away from the hospital he was affiliated with. So, I had none of the worries of the dreaded 'germs' in our hospital wards (I had a choice where I wanted the surgery)......and his staff were so sweet and kind. (Within half an hour after waking up from the op, my doc was standing around with me, chatting, joking, making sure I felt okay, etc.) I so hope that you have a wonderful experience as well. I've never had a surgery that made me happier! So--I just wanted to share my experience.....and some of the information I learned about BRs. Each of us will have her own totally different story to tell--but many of them ARE very happy stories. And the most important thing for you to do is to be as clear as possible to the surgeon about just what you are hoping for. Come prepared with all your questions--and any 'documentation' (like a "C" bra!!) Or photos of the size you'd like to be....etc, etc.If you have anything I can help you with, please just ask. I loved the opportunity this Board offered me to read all the different stories the women wrote. Even if they didn't specifically pertain to me---they just familiarized me with the surgery experience, itself. And this, alone, was very, very helpful! Have a wonderful surgery!! And take care! healing hugs for your special day....and thru' all your recovery!!! Lynn 
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Hi Button, ( I am a newbie and scared at the mo.) Like you, my consultations have been in the Queen Margaret, until this week when i had to see another consultant in St. Andrews. Seemingly Fife have outsourced all their BR to Stracarthro Hospital in Brechin, where the procedures are going to be carried out asap. I was advised by the consultant that i would expect my BR to take place in April or May. My current size is a 34k, the PS told me I would be a d cup!!! I am totally over the moon, excited but terrified! Have you had a date yet button? With regards to St Johns in Livingston, one of my students had a BR there and was delighted with it (2 years ago) Kind regards, Lyndi |
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