Why I Got a Breast Reduction

My Story

It all started at about age 9. I was a chubby, cute kid, with an adorable face and cheeks. People were always pinching my cheeks and telling me how cute I was and that the obvious "baby fat" would disappear with maturity. In spite of the many compliments I received, I felt awkward and "different" because I was bigger than most kids in my age group.

I wore a size 34B when I received my first bra. When playing outside with my friends, I was very active but always conscious of my breasts bobbing up and down when I jumped rope and played games of hide and seek. By the time I was 13, I was into a full C cup, and at 18 wore a full D cup and resented the marks the heavy bra straps made into my shoulders. I had also started to experience neck and back pain.

In addition to my obvious negative attitude about my physical appearance I had constant and persistent attention from boys and men who drooled over my breasts like they would a sirloin steak. It was annoying at first, but then I got used to it when I became aware of what being female and feminine was all about. Still, I disliked the fact that my breasts were so heavy and I still felt awkward and top heavy.

After having children, it got worse. By the time I had my third child, I wore a size 44D, had indentations in my shoulders, and had severe back pain. I also had sweat marks and a foul smell underneath my breast that I treated with medicated powder, alcohol and whatever else would give me some measure of relief. I breast fed my children so my breasts began to sag and lose their shape. By the time I had my sixth child, I wore a size 46 DD.

I had resigned to living like this, hating myself, until one day I saw an advertisement on the subway on my way to work that read: "Tired of back and neck pain? Tired of rashes under your breast? You don't have to suffer anymore. Just call this number and speak to our nurse to schedule an appointment - your suffering days will soon be over."

When I arrived at work, I called the telephone number and spoke to the nurse. Of course, I had many questions and this nurse was so professional and caring that before I knew it, I had scheduled an appointment. When I went home that evening, I shared the events of my day with my husband and he was immediately upset.

In retrospect, I can empathize with him and fully understand his feelings, but at the time, I was angry with him for what I thought was an obvious lack of compassion and understanding of my situation. At any rate, I kept the appointment, received an excellent consultation and evaluation and was told that I was a prime candidate for this elective surgery. The doctor showed me photos of other women who had had the reduction done in a before-and-after format, completed a physical exam and thoroughly explained the procedure. He also asked relevant questions, such as, "How is your husband going to feel?" I think the rationale for asking me how my husband was going to feel came from an obvious appreciation for big breasted women, which this doctor was well aware of!

He began to explain how I might lose some sensation in the nipple area, the surgical procedure in and of itself, and the healing time, time off from work, etc. He asked me to go home, discuss it with my husband, think long and hard about it because, as he put it, "once it's done, there is no going back."

I went home, discussed it again with my husband, and he still didn't like the idea. He asked me again, "Why do you have to do that?" I took the time to explain it to him because I knew then that not only was he concerned about his comfort zone (smile), but he was also concerned about my health in general. I mulled over it over and over in my mind for weeks and then made up my mind to have the surgery because I realized that the bottom line was I hated, absolutely hated, my breasts, the way they hang and the discomfort they caused me.

I was tired of taking off my bra and watching my breast roll out and drop down to my waist. I was tired of the rashes under my breast which had an odor and itched and burned when I used lotions, powders, etc. to obtain some relief. I was tired of paying more for my DD bras, the wide straps that dug into my shoulders, the neck pain, the back pain, the feeling of being "top heavy" and, quite frankly, the ogling from men who think that having large breasts entitles them to approach you with sexual innuendos because they find you sexy.

On the day of my surgery, I was nervous, scared and at one tiny moment, I almost said, "Forget it, just go home and live with yourself as you are." That thought must have lasted all of a half a second because when the doctor came in to mark me up for the surgery and to once again explain every detail about what would be taking place, I was giddy and excited.

After the surgery, I was groggy. It took a while for me to get it together, and I cried. I don't know why. Perhaps the anesthesia, perhaps the finality of it all, but when I reached my hand up to my chest, I felt like I had no breasts at all! It was such a huge difference, and I got kind of scared. The doctor later explained that they stitch you up in a way that allows for the "fullness" to return over time and that in time, they would begin to take shape. My breasts looked like they were the size of a small lemon! It took a week for the drainage pumps to be removed and almost three to four weeks for the surgical bras and bandages to come off, but when it was all said and done, I was thrilled. My breasts stood up at attention, did not sag, and made me appear shapelier. Right away I noticed that I had no back or neck pain. What a relief.

The down side, well, I'm sure you will guess what that was. My husband told me one day that I did not look good. He said it aloud, "You don't look right," and to this day, he has accepted it but never adjusted to the change. He does not "play" with me like he used to, but oh, well, that's his problem. Every time I put on a t-shirt without a bra, a halter top without a bra, a backless dress without a bra and never have to wake up in the middle of the night with massive tits in my face, I thank God that I had the courage to do something for me – yes, FOR ME!

If you feel that breast reduction is the right move for you, do what I did. Do some serious soul searching, do the medical research, talk to your mates, and when you have done all of that and still feel inadequate, out-of-shape, awkward, and in pain, then have the procedure done so that you can obtain some relief and live a happier life, FOR YOU. My surgery took place in 1994. It is now 2007, and breast reduction surgery has been improved. Doctors are now able to preserve breast sensation, the hospital stay is shorter, the healing process is faster, and the appearance of scars much better. My prayers and love go out to all women who have suffered because they felt inadequate as women because of the way their bodies are structured. God made us all, but sometimes we have to make some modifications to the original design for obvious reasons.

From: Yahoo Health