Chapter 55: Breast Reduction Update Part 3

It’s been 100 days since my breast reduction, which is just crazy to me. It feels like so long ago and also somehow yesterday.

I saw my plastic surgeon 2 weeks ago and he said that everything is healing well. I picked up a bottle of Silagen with sunscreen. It’s about $90 a bottle and you can only get it at a doctor’s office, but he claims that it’s the best for scars. And considering the scars are long (across my entire chest- see image below), I’m willing to try anything. I knew that the scars were going to happen and I didn’t think I’d be that bothered by them. The thought of anyone seeing them in a non clinical setting is a little anxiety inducing, so I am hoping this scar cream helps. The knots of the sutures are in between both breasts and they aren’t dissolving. If they don’t dissolve by my next appointment in July, he will have to do an in office procedure to cut them out. Fingers crossed that they dissolve by then because I have no idea how I will react to him cutting my breasts while I’m awake. Obviously the area will be numb, but my brain will be wide awake and that’s the problem.

I’m cleared to do anything, and I feel mostly back to normal. I’m not tired anymore, and generally speaking, nothing hurts. I was helping move a pretty large grill over the weekend and there was some pain, but it went away pretty quickly.

This will probably be my last breast reduction update unless I need to get that procedure in July. I thought I’d share a few things that have surprised me and things to keep in mind if you choose to get a breast reduction.

1. Your back and neck feel better almost immediately, but it’s not perfect without work. It’s hard to relearn proper posture when your chest weighs less than it used to. It’s taken a few acupuncture and massage sessions to feel completely better, but now I feel better than I have in years. But at least for me, it's taken work to get here.

2. You will doubt the size. My insurance decided the amount that had to be removed in order for them to cover it. I told the surgeon that other than that, I am good with whatever he thinks is best. I got sized at VS a few weeks ago and it looks like I'm down to a 38DDD from a 40H (I question how accurate that is so I am going to get sized at a few places this weekend). On the same day I've thought that they were too big, too small and just right... all within hours of each other. A previous plastic surgeon that I saw for a consult years ago told me that the smaller my breasts were, the bigger that my stomach would look. He was a jackass but he was not wrong. That thought has definitely entered my mind and I am trying to be better at developing an exercise routine now that I'm not so exhausted anymore.

3. People will have no idea what to say to you. I get this. Telling someone their rack looks nice is not exactly welcomed, generally speaking. I want to stress this part- everyone is different. For me, I like the complements. I went through a ton of pain to get here. Complements are nice. This is not the case for everyone. Additionally, have good friends you can send pictures to who can talk you off your emotional ledge that you've mutilated your body beyond repair. I have great friends. I'm very lucky. Thanks ladies!

4. It hurts, a lot. The first two weeks post op hurt like I didn't think was possible. Stay up on your meds. They were given to you for a reason. I also have been dealing with a little bit of nerve pain since about 3 weeks post op. The nerve pain was more frequent after both doses of my Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. I don't know if it was a weird fluke or what, but both the shot and the surgery were still very much worth it. Get vaccinated, please.

5. Healing is an emotional process. Be kind and gentle with yourself. The pain and the doubt won't last forever.

It was 100% worth it and I wish I had done this years ago.