Why I chose to have a breast reduction

Dear Reader,

I’m getting a breast reduction! I hope that this blog can be something that appears on the internet when people are looking for more information regarding the procedure. I want to include as much personal info as possible so people can get a more detailed account of what the process could be like. There are many variables to look at when deciding about the surgery: age, weight, breastfeeding desires, insurance coverage, etc. I want to cover as much of that as I can. At this point, I am very excited to get the surgery…I’m sure there will be moments of “what the hell did I do” but hopefully those will be pushed aside by “I love them!” At any rate, I am definitely willing to take those risks to achieve more comfortable “girls”.

I am twentysomething, about 5′8″ and 135 pounds. I am a 36 DDD. At least that is what Nordstrom measured me at the last time I went to buy a bra (an experience I’m sure everyone woman can honestly say just plain sucks) but I believe they are bigger than that seeing as the bra no longer really fits. I have always been athletic and it’s fair to say that my chest looks completely out of place on my body. I feel like I SHOULD be around a large B small C…all the women in my family are either that or smaller. I probably brought the whole large chested thing upon myself when, at 15 with the body of a 10 year old, asked the high heavens for boobs. See, it seems I was what people call a “late bloomer” and I went from a training bra to a C cup basically overnight (at least that’s how it seemed to me)

In the last 5 years, they have grown slowly and become way not fun. They are cumbersome, uncomfortable, irritating and a drag. I can’t even really appreciate them. Friends close to me that I love (but get ticked at) make comments after not seeing me for a while like, “Wow! I forgot how big they are!” or “Oh my god they are HUGE” and it bothers me. Running is uncomfortable with two sports bras and I can barely find clothes that don’t draw all the attention to them. So I made the decision (with the help of my insurance co. and my plastic surgeon) to go under the knife.

My first step in this process was talking to my doctor about how to make my breasts more comfortable. I recommend going to a doctor that is a woman simply because for me it was the relatability factor. She told me about various bras I should try and also referred me to a physical therapist for upper back pain I had been having. I do everything to make my breasts less…I wear a normal/heavier duty bra and a built in bra tank top everyday but the strain of them is significant. I have lines from the straps and the underwire and my posture isn’t great. After doing the recommended things from the doctor, I realized that I was never going to be happy ”just living with them” and something more drastic needed to happen in order for me to live an athletic, happy lifestyle. So she referred me to a plastic surgeon (a woman) and after my consult with her, everything went fairly easily. The appointment was informative and the insurance stuff was taken care of for me. It was nice.

Now I am at the stage where my surgery date has been set and I have told my close friends and family. There are risks I am scared of: pain, scarring and loss of sensation but I have to just think positively about the positives outweighing the negatives. And I’m ok with the negatives. I am young and ready to make the best out of the situation.  I’ll write back to update and give some more pointers or relay info that I have read/heard about reductions!

Thanks for reading,

 Boobless in Seattle