to all you ladies worried about your scarring after surgery: i wound up using mederma (i have used it for ONE week) and already my scars have faded really rapidly. it’s kind of pricy, but the nice thing is you only have to apply it once a day. just something to think about, since i know there’s a lot of scar-fading products out there. bio oil was okay, but nothing compared to mederma.

i think you just have to go into it not hating your scars. i mean, i definitely don’t. mine were also pretty minimal. i had no real expectations from mederma so when i noticed how well it worked with VERY few side effects, i was pleasantly surprised. but i also think just letting time take its course would have worked—and likely been a healthier alternative.

okay that’s it. best of luck with your surgeries/recoveries.

haven’t been in the breast reduction tag in a while, but i noticed a lot of you that have been posting have upcoming surgeries. wishing you all the best. don’t hesitate to message me if you have any questions or just want to chat about the whole procedure. i know it helped me a lot!

i’ll be at the five month mark of recovery on the 19th. i’ve started to kind of casually pursue scar treatment. mine aren’t really that bad, just underneath my tits (and how often are you really looking there?) but i’ve been applying bio oil once a day, and i have noticed some decreased redness… otherwise i have almost all of the feeling back in my nipples (YAY!!!) and they look nice, which is obviously a good thing.

basically still jazzed. the only complication that could possibly arise at this point is that i won’t be able to breast feed, but i don’t give a shit about that because fuck babies and all

Oh thank you for your lovely message dear! I totally empathize with your struggle and i wish you the best—whatever you decide—about a reduction. if you ever want to know more about the process, the procedure, and the recovery, feel free to message me (even on anon, if that makes you comfortable). i’d be happy to talk to you. thank you for your words of support. xoxo

halewolves:

Okay. I’m going to tackle this point by point and try not to lose my temper here, which you should know is incredibly difficult when someone says something so fucking ignorant and hurtful that I honestly feel like puking while reading it.

For many people who get a breast reduction, it is a medical necessity. In fact, I would argue that for most people it is. I haven’t been measured in a while and I’m spilling out of a DDD bra, so we’ll just call me an F. That’s pretty big. Have you read the breast reduction tag? People much bigger than I are posting there, detailing their struggle with heavy breasts that cause insane back pain, and unbelievably painful shoulder grooves from bra straps. My own symptoms include the way my breasts affect my neck, which in turn gives me headaches that make me feel like I’m dying. So yes, it is most times a medical necessity… or would you have us all live in pain to satisfy your ignorant opinion? And even if it isn’t a medical necessity, who are you to dictate the breast size of other people, whether they wish to be bigger or smaller?

Furthermore, not only girls get breast reductions, and I personally would appreciate if everyone would include men and trans* people who get them as well. Also, not everyone likes men. Queer people do exist, you know.

If you think I give one tiny fuck what any man thinks of how big my breasts are now or how small they will become, you are wrong. There isn’t any man in this world that I am getting this surgery for and I don’t care if “men will like me more with bigger breasts.” I don’t exist for the pleasure of any man and neither do my breasts. They are mine and mine alone. I am getting this surgery for me.

Finally, most people would kill for this size (which is bullshit anyway) until they understood what it actually felt like. And if they still would kill for this size and can handle it, then let them get breast implants and more power to them. But I know what my body can handle, and it can’t handle the feeling of being run through with a sword everyday through the back. My surgery is an insult to other people who want breasts this size? How fucking dare you?

Let me repeat myself: this is for me. This is not for anybody else. I have been objectified and made fun of and in pain long enough. This is not an insult to anyone and if you think that, then here’s an insult for you: your brain is tiny and you likely can’t understand every fifth word I’ve just typed here. But let’s see if you can grasp this concept: FUCK YOU.

i just can’t with this. i’ve been really emotional lately, and i’m a little drunk, but this just made me so sad that i cried. the good thing is, most of my female friends (even with very small breasts) completely understood and supported my decision! it seems like anon really is an anomaly, but it still hurts to see this kind of sentiment.

a few people—usually not anyone i knew well—thought that it was ridiculous or something that i was having surgery, and i just could NOT figure out why! i’m a size 6; i had G cup breasts. for fuck’s sake, my surgeon removed FIVE POUNDS of tissue from my breasts.

“guys will like you so much better with larger breasts.” i just don’t even know where to start with this. actually, it was becoming increasingly uncomfortable to be intimate with someone when my breasts were so large because i felt like a fucking freak. it was impossible to fully relax and enjoy myself. i’ve only slept with one person since surgery, and while it wasn’t exactly easy to show him my fresh scars, i was much more comfortable being naked now than i was a year ago.

i was convinced that the people who liked me, or wanted me, only wanted me for my tits—not anything else. who the fuck wants that? and beyond that, who cares what the romantic or sexual partners in your life like if you don’t even like yourself?

ughhhh

boob pains are still nuts… it’s possibly related to the amount of lifting/dragging my belongings i did yesterday when i came back to athens.

i’m really wishing i still had my painkillers at this point, but OH NO, i just had to party with them (by party with them i mean i’d just get really weird by myself and watch twin peaks). anyway. the moral of the story is: SAVE A FEW OF YOUR GODDAMN PILLS.

maybe these are phantom pains for the flesh of my old giant titties…

haven’t made any posts on breast reduction in ages… but that’s because things are great and my life is almost entirely back to normal! minus the creepers in the street, impossible-to-find-clothes, and crippling back pain.

my new tits turn 3 months old next week, which is a pretty exciting milestone. however, today i have had CRAZY shooting pains… sudden and sharp. every so often this happens, so i can only assume this is still a  matter of nerve endings reattaching, as lately i’ve noticed my nipples are starting to get hard, and i’ve had way more feeling in my breasts.

i’ve read some other posts that the shooting pains will happen off/on in the first year, so i know this is normal, but man was it painful and unexpected!

i wrote in a post i deleted (because i ranted about something unrelated to breast reduction that i’m over now) that i was properly measured for a bra over the weekend. I’m a 38C right now, down from a 36G. I was able to buy two bras at Victoria’s Secret for $100.00, which would have just barely paid for one bra in my former size. The amount of styles, shapes, colors, and materials I could pick from was really exciting, though I opted for practical (though not unpretty) bras. A lot of the bras in a C cup feature padding or have a push-up effect, and I’m still not ready for that right now, though I’m sure I will be soon.

Today at Target, I perused the lingerie section and also found a lot of pretty bras in my size, for very low prices. A bra for under 10 dollars? I’m not sure i have EVER bought a bra for that cheap before! All told I have 5 new bras for less than $150.00. and they’re PRETTY.

i do notice that i feel a bit uncomfortable in these bras at the moment. i think it’s because i was used to a bra with a huge band (three rows of hooks and eyes), so much wire that the cup extended to my ribcage just to support the weight of my breasts, with a high-rise to keep my breasts from pouring out. Being able to wear bras that offer much gentler support is definitely strange and will just have to be something I’ll get used to. I’m looking forward to it. 

my breasts are really soft now, like, about as soft as they were before i had surgery. i’m sure that if someone else touched them (without seeing the marks from my incisions under my breasts), they’d never know I had surgery, so that’s very encouraging.

In the meantime, I really want this bra: http://www.whatkatiedid.us.com/product/60/bullet-bra

I’m going to post this publicly, and I hope you don’t mind. I think others could potentially benefit from tips.

I’m not sure of the differences between US and European sizes, but I was a 36 G, so I think we’re both on the much, much larger side of things, and I really feel like when one’s breasts are that large, there shouldn’t be many doubts about whether a reduction is right (although, of course, many people have their reasons for not wanting one). I’m glad you liked my post.

As far as tips, I think you should really try to take care of yourself over the next three months. If you smoke, it’s very important that you stop as soon as possible, though I’m sure you know that. If there are any burning questions you have, you should vocalize them. Don’t be afraid of annoying your surgeon. Surgery is a BIG deal, and if there’s something you’re concerned about or don’t understand, it’s important that you ask. Try to really relax in the days leading up to surgery, as stress is just about the worst thing for the body! Your surgeon might prescribe some anti-anxiety meds in advance (though mine did not), and if you’re really nervous, you should take them. I was lucky that I had a month of winter break with no real obligations, so I was able to really focus on recovery. If it’s possible for you take time off from work or school, I’d recommend asking for two weeks. Spend time on the couch. Take your pain medication. Do nothing. Try to enlist your parents, or a best friend, or a partner to help you if you need something, as I found the first three days were impossible to navigate without lots of help.

Once you feel mostly back to normal, the swelling has gone down, and you’re not taking your pain meds around the clock, it’s important to remember that your body is still healing itself, and there are likely still traces of anesthesia (and maybe even morphine) in your system that could make you feel weak. I made the mistake of over-extending myself once or twice, which led to my being stuck on the couch the following day, buckled by fatigue. So I guess it’s important for you to know your limits and listen to your body. It’s okay to say no to people and plans. 

OH, the one thing I wish I’d been warned about was that at the 2 week post surgery mark, although I mostly felt alright, I had a series of a few bad days when my nerve endings were reattaching and I had constant shooting pains. 

Hope that helps! Let me know if I can be any more help xo

MY ASK WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO RESPOND TO THIS MESSAGE.

—-

Halewolves asked you: I just wanted to say that I LOVE that post you made. I feel so much the same way. Yes, back pain is a huge reason I not only want but need this surgery, but I am sick of being objectified. So completely sick of it. I’m glad there are other people who can relate to that depth and I just wanted to thank you for making that post.

My response: Thank you for your kind words. There’s such a great community in the BR tag, whether women facing upcoming surgery, or those who are celebrating the anniversaries of their own. This is a situation that is hard to wholly understand unless you’ve gone through it, so having this group to turn to has been so important to me. As always, if you or anyone else reading this, need someone to vent to or have questions, I’ll be happy to talk to you! xo

i’m fully aware that that’s a very dramatic title, but the more i reflect on the past year in planning, enduring, recovering from, and moving on from breast reduction surgery, the more i see my decision to pursue reduction as an aggressive reclamation of my own body.

Whenever I mention that I had a reduction to people, the first thing people say is: “oh, you must have had horrible back pain.” and i hesitate, and then say, “well… yes. but do you understand how much harassment i endured? in the middle of the day? when i’d be wearing a simple, unrevealing t-shirt? when i’d be walking with my mother?” and usually after i say this, it makes sense to people, but it bothers me that that’s not the first place their minds take them, because this particular reason for choosing breast reduction is neither openly discussed, nor accepted as a main determining factor in one’s decision to have surgery. I openly admit that my choice was informed by a mix of the emotional/psychological, physical, and aesthetic, but it seems, for whatever reason, that only the physical facet is taken seriously and widely recognized.

Since I first began growing breasts, I have not been able to control my body—or how it has been perceived (in some instances, examined) by others. I wore loose clothing in the past year, bought expensive minimizers, and slouched in public: anything to draw attention away from my breasts, although that was always an ultimately ineffective exercise. Breast reduction marks the first time in years I have felt I’ve been able to grasp my own body, control it, reclaim it as my own. 

And that’s why, to an extent, I feel that my breast reduction was very much entwined with personal, political action. I feel now that I am more capable of controlling when and how my body is sexualized by others. I feel that my body is more private now. I’m not a stupid woman; I know that just because I had 5 lbs. of flesh removed from my breasts doesn’t mean no one will ever sexually harass me, touch me inappropriately, or make me feel sexually threatened.

I think it’s fucked up that my problem had to be solved, not by the simple action of men choosing to be respectful rather than imposing, but only by my undergoing serious surgery. It’s a painful reminder that no matter how optimistic I might be, there is simply no way that I can restructure others’ minds, especially when myriad signifiers in society reinforce and reward bad behavior. And rather than wait for others to change (which of course would never happen!), I decided to be resistant.

It’s a choice that is not for everyone, but it is my choice, and it’s the first choice I’ve had about my breasts in nearly a decade. And that new control  has proven to be very empowering.

you know those tank tops with the built in bras?

let’s just slow clap together, because i have been LIVING in those since my surgery (can’t wear underwire for another couple of weeks still, not that i’ve missed or needed it!) 

i haven’t been able to wear those shirts since i was fucking thirteen.

reason #34324 this was the best thing i’ve EVER done.

lately i have been wondering who will get to see my new tits first in a sexual context. i should probably be pretty picky about it right? i mean, it’s like i’m practically a virgin again.

i should probably get on the case.

someone took this photo of me last night, and i couldn’t believe it when i saw it. after almost 2 weeks past surgery, i’m getting really used to how my breasts look, so in some ways, i don’t notice how different i look very much. but seeing this definitely made me see the incredible change, and i’m just so, so happy.

i don’t have much to report at this point. i did go shopping two days ago with mixed results. it’s definitely still too early to buy a lot of new clothes, but i am down to one pair of jeans and needed some new ones desperately! i was also hoping for a great new year’s eve dress (which i found). it was a very long day, and after dressing and undressing so many times, i was really sore and swollen.

so yesterday i did absolutely nothing and rested up. i have a party to go to tomorrow, but it’s important that i not get too wild. i was thinking about rolling, but i’m pretty sure that’s a risky, bad decision since my surgery (and countless drugs associated with that surgery could still be in my system) was so recent. 

my follow up with my doctor lasted literally 5 minutes. he just looked at my breasts briefly to make sure they’re healing well. i go back again in two more weeks.

one important thing i wanted to mention to you all that your surgeons might not have told you: since a lot of us are students, many of us have lots of doctor appointments before heading back to school. i had plans to go to the dentist on the 2nd to get a cleaning in before moving back to athens. however, my doctor mentioned as he was leaving the room: “oh by the way, don’t go to the dentist if you can help it.” and i was all WHATTTTT. and it makes total sense now, but it was something i never thought of. basically, a teeth cleaning knocks a bunch of bacteria loose and into your bloodstream, which can cause an infection, sometimes a serious one. my dr said he had a patient who went to a teeth cleaning a week or so after her surgery, and her incisions filled with puss and she was in the hospital for a week. pretty nasty stuff.now he warns everyone to wait two months post-surgery to go to the dentist.

so that appointment is cancelled and i’m likely waiting until spring break to reschedule. if you happen to have a teeth cleaning coming up, you might want to call your surgeon to see what he/she suggests you do.

I hope that all of you girls (some anon, some not) who have had surgery in the past weeks are having a smooth recovery. I hope that your Christmases were great.

My ‘big’ Christmas gift was my reduction, which my insurance refused to cover. Rather than waste years ‘establishing a need’ (don’t even get me started), my parents wanted to pay for me to have my surgery. Isn’t it funny that a lot of girls are graduating from college this year (like me) and their presents are going to be IMPLANTS? and here I am doing a complete reversal of this… I’m so grateful to have parents that were emotionally and physically supportive in every way, but the financial assistance is also something I’m immensely thankful for, especially because  I realize not everyone is able to afford the surgery.

I believe most insurance companies require that 1 pound of breast tissue be removed during surgery, which is often a hardship, particularly for obese women (because fat and hard tissue are not viewed as the same by insurance companies). My surgeon removed FIVE FUCKING POUNDS of tissue. (And my tits are still pretty big, but more in proportion to my 28 inch waist) There is no doubt in my mind that even though I was blessed and privileged to have this surgery… I desperately needed it. I wish my insurance company agreed!

Moving on… As I mentioned in a question from an anon, pain has not been an issue for me beyond the first two days after surgery. Unlike many of you, I did not have draining tubes post-surgery, which I am grateful for. Tomorrow I return to my doctor for a follow-up, and I definitely have a few questions for him. 

My breasts are definitely starting to feel more… boob-like. I know you know what I mean. They’re hardly jiggly (they’re still bearing yellow bruises), but they’ve softened up A LOT, which is a good thing. I’m hoping that tomorrow he removes my tape, or at the very least, replaces it, as it’s looking pretty gross right now.

Until today, I was very happy with the aesthetic results of my surgery. However, this evening, I noticed that my right breast is considerably larger than my left. While I do believe this is due to swelling in the right breast, I am concerned that my breasts might wind up being asymmetrical. If that is the case, I’m curious to know what the next step might be. As I said, I’m sure this is swelling and is nothing to worry about, but it’s still something I’m interested in asking about. I had been toying with posting photos of my breasts (for informative, not erotic purposes), but I was really unhappy with how they were photographing because there’s so much asymmetry going on right now.

OH! I was just about to publish this post when I realized that last night, I mostly slept on my side. The side I sleep on would have my right breast mashed against the mattress. Even though I didn’t experience any pain in this position, I’m sure it would account for the swelling! I guess tonight I need to sleep on my back, even though that feels rather unnatural and uncomfortable.

Hopefully that will ease the problem! If you have time to offer advice on the subject, I’d really appreciate it. And as always, I’m happy to answer any of your questions about the procedure/recovery/my reasons for having the surgery/etc.

oh, and all i can think about is SHOPPING for pretty dresses and naughty lingerie.