Hey everyone,
I am 22 years old and for the past four years I have been contemplating a breast reduction. I am now definitely ready to go through with it. I am a large D cup and am planning on going to an AA. (If I knew that I didn't want kids then I may consider having top surgery, but I can't make that decision right now.) I basically want to have the smallest breasts possible allowing me to breastfeed in the future. I have been looking into surgeons all over the US (would consider internationally as well) and was wondering if anyone could refer me to a particular surgeon that they had or that they feel mostly focuses on breast reduction. Lets see, more questions... Does anyone have any input as to the surgical methods that would be used for such a drastic change in cup size? Do you think it would be possible to go from a D to an AA while holding the possibility to breastfeed in the future? Any thought/suggestions on having insurance covering it? Hmm, I think thats all for now. Thanks for reading and being apart of this forum/website. its awesome that its here.

-rotlet

Wow! I cannot understand desiring a breast reduction w/ a D cup. That is hardly out of the ordinary. I had a breast reduction. I was DDD, w/ abnormal breasts at 15 that hung to my belly button. I am now 34 and have had 8 children, gained weight. My breasts are C/D. For the majority of breast reduction women, breast reduction affects their milk supply negatively. You can certainly breastfeed after a breast reduction. I have w/ a greatly dimished supply.

I also am surprised you would want surgery when you aren't all that big. I was a large DDD in high school, but didn't have my surgery until after my first pregnancy when I grew to a K. Do you have pain issues (back/neck/shoulder)? Family history of breast cancer? Multiple cysts? Insurance generally won't cover it unless 1) you have a significant health reason AND 2) the surgeon removes at least a certain amount--I can't remember what the minimum is, maybe 2 pounds?

You can't pick your end size. Surgeons must leave enough tissue for the breasts to survive. AA cups are probably not realistic. At the most you might go down to a B, which may not be enough tissue to reach the minimum requirements for insurance.

Honestly, if you really want to BF (and you won't realize how much you want it until you have your first baby) I'd recommend waiting until you are done having children. My surgery was a blessing, but I was a K cup and in significant pain. I wouldn't recommend the surgery to anyone smaller than a DDD, and even those bigger than that I'd only recommend it if they were having significant problems. The decision is yours, of course, but I really think you'll regret it someday.

Don't know your situation exactly, but please don't think that a BR will solve all problems. I was a DD and had back and neck problems and perhaps mostly self-esteem problems. I was a C cup post-surgery. The surgery created new problems for me such as scars. As a young woman at the time, new relationships were always daunting as I had to explain myself all the time. I often felt incomplete and basically scarred. I was in a beautiful outdoor sauna in Estonia, where everyone was naked except for me, because I was embarassed about my scars. I was 24 at the time and thought "Gee, this would have been easier, just having big boobs". Really, really give this decision some thought. I wish I had had my kids first. At the time (I was 18) I didn't really care about breastfeeding - but what I wouldn't give now to have the DDs back and nurse "normally". I often dream about what it must be like.

I would CAREFULLY weigh your options before you jump in and have the surgery. The emotional roller coaster can be the same or worse AFTER you have that little baby and WISH that maybe you should have waited (unless there is significant pain issues that can't be resolved without surgery). I was terribly naive and trusting in thinking that my surgeon could have made my breasts smaller without affecting my ability to exclusively breastfeed, however, I COULD breastfeed, but not exclusively. But this was still a VERY difficult pill to swallow. The grass is always greener...not to sound too cliche...

For me having a BR was one of the best things that I ever had done. I however was at least a DDD (too embarassed to be properly measured and I am SURE I was bigger) and getting bigger! Having the BR helped my self esteem, my ability to lead the active life I was used to be before my boobs got so big and also did ease some constant back pain.

That being said, the BEST BEST thing that EVER happened to me was my daughter. When she came along I just knew I wanted to give her the best start possible. That best start is mothers milk. Because of my surgery I HAD to use formula. I did exclusively BF for 8 weeks, but thats all I could manage. The first months of my daughters life were frustrating and VERY emotional. I am still dealing with the fact that most people (including my husband) tell me Emmy isnt breastfed. Breaks my heart.

I was just 18 when I had my surgery. I knew I wanted to have kids but didnt know when that would be. It was less than 6 years later when my daughter was born. You never know whats around the corner, so please do think it through.

Again, we dont know your situation, but if theres anything you can do to reduce your breast size by diet and exercise I would try that first. Surgery should always be the last option.

HTH!

My surgery was one of the best things that happened to me and I have no regrets. That being said, I was also at least a DDD cup and too embarrassed to get a proper size. I had a lot of neck and shoulder pain and that's what eventually did me in. I waited for about 10 years to make that decision and it was worth the wait.

When it comes to reduction and breastfeeding, there are two things. First of all, you can breastfeed no matter what, even if you don't have full supply. But secondly, there are no guarantees. There is not a surgeon out there who can guarantee to fully preserve your lactation capacity because it is just not possible. Maybe with time and advances in technology in the future, but not now. It's a gamble and many women who have the surgery take a hit with supply. It can create a number of breastfeeding problems and/or compound the ones not directly related to reduction.

So the bottom line is please think it through and make your decision carefully. Good luck!

Thanks everyone for your help and input. I do have multiple reasons as to why I am getting the surgery done. At this point I am wondering if anyone can recommend a surgeon specifically on the east coast however if you had a great experience with one anywhere else then I'd be glad to know.
-Thanks

Did you use the search tool on the BFAR main page to try to locate a surgeon? Where exactly are you? I live in WA now but had my surgery when I lived in RI. My surgeon was great although clueless about Bf'ing afterwards. Most are as I've come to realize in talking with others who had it done. As it was explained to me, it wasn't the insurance that was an issue but as a surgeon he wasn't allowed to do the surgery unless removing a certain amount but that may have just been how he explained it to me. I qualified easily going down to about a C/D. I contemplated my surgery for probably a decade before having it at age 30 and had my surgery after having one child and before having another (and am pregnant with #3). In general I had a much better experience BF'ing after my surgery due mostly to the fact that I was so enormous and "pendulous" before that it was just very difficult to manage (not to mention the pain). At the same time I was extremely large and even having had a lot of tissue removed it still left a lot for me to work with. With starting only at a D and going to AA, I would expect that it would be very difficult for a surgeon to preserve enough milk duct to allow for BF'ing. Only you can decide if it is worth the risk of not being able to BF at all. If the surgeon I had in RI would work for you, let me know via PM and I'll give you his name.