*Note: If the topic of the female body and certain imagery pertaining to surgery and it’s effects bothers, upsets, or offends you, please do not read further.
When I was 16, I had a breast reduction, and here I will document my experience as I reflect on it two years after. Around age 15, I began to have really terrible back pain that restricted a lot of my daily activities as well as playing softball and performing in marching band. I made a friends with an upperclassman in my gym class who just recently had a reduction through a local plastic surgeon. I, with aid and support of my parents, contacted the doctor. Shortly after, I went in to have a preliminary examination to help in determining how much insurance would cover. I was so lucky to have my insurance cover the procedure without any restrictions. (Such as attempting to reduce pain with physical therapy or different bras.) The doctor determined that I was around a size E/F at age 15 ½. As a teenager, I was two cup sizes larger than the average American woman. We finally determined that I could have the surgery and it would be almost completely paid for by our insurance.
The surgery (At the surgery center, not a hospital):
I was prepped by being drawn on like a white board to determine where the doctor would make her incisions, and we met the anesthesiologist, and insert my IV. I tried to laugh with my parents and keep my mind off the coming day ahead of me. Finally, the nurses led me back to the operating room, and while lucid, I had to get up on the table myself and lie down under the large light that aids in the surgery. It felt very overwhelming to put myself on the operating table. The anesthesiologist came in and told me that the medicine would be put through the IV. I was not told to count down from ten or anything, I just instantly felt a burning in my arm that I assumed to be the drugs entering the IV. I do not remember anything of the surgery after that. The next thing I know, I’m waking up in a different room and am feeling extremely drowsy. I couldn’t seem to keep my eyes open, the nurses gave me some water, and I suddenly threw up . . . on myself. It was extremely embarrassing as my parents were standing there watching this happen and I’m sure they felt helpless. Vomiting on myself actually benefitted me as I received a second surgical bra for free. (Typically extra ones cost around $50.) Getting home was the next step.
The Aftermath:
Once home, I lounged in my basement and my mom brought me water and a cheesestick. Fortunately, I was still pretty lethargic so I didn’t have much of a problem sleeping that evening. The care of the surgical wounds was the next obstacle. Luckily, I was blessed with such a caring mother who helped me in cleaning and bandaging of my incisions. The incisions are under each breast up the middle to the nipple and around the nipple. (As the nipple must be resized to match the new size of each breast.) The incisions themselves were purple, green, and overall pretty ugly. But with the great help of my mother, my incisions healed. It was a pain-free recovery. The only pain after the surgery was the removal of the drains near my armpits. There were drains that collected some blood and other fluids into small silicone containers that had to be measured, recorded, and emptied daily. Of course these drains were removed in the doctor’s office after about a week post-op, but the removal of the drain tube was probably the most painful part of the entire process of the breast reduction as a whole.
Overall, I would do this procedure again in a heartbeat if it meant the same results of less back pain, clothing fitting better, and just better quality of my life! I would also recommend my plastic surgeon, she was very professional, and helpful. I’m also so very thankful for such wonderful parents who supported me through every step of the way, and took care of me 24/7. I love you both and thank you for all you did and have done.
