Breast Reduction was approved!!

I got the letter from TriCare in the mail today ! My breast reduction will be on 8-20 ! I am so excited and scared!

Can anyone give me the 411 of what to expect with a breast reduction? Pain/recovery time/anything helpful??

Congratulations on the approval.

Post-op, you will likely have increased breast sensitivity.  I wasn't expected that and it would have been helpful to know.  Apparently, with augmentation, you initially have decreased sensitivity and with reduction, increased.

Your surgeon will likely recommend wearing a compression garment around the clock initially but be aware that many of us choose to wear the compression garment for a longer period.  A couple ladies I know of wore it for six months.  I chose to wear one pretty much around the clock for three months.

Except for the unexpected increased sensitivity, recovery wasn't bad.  Not quite as easy peasy as the panneculectomy/tummy tuck, but not bad at all.  I personally did not need any meds to kill pain.

Do get at least one spare compression garment prior to surgery because it may be difficult to try on multiple garments after surgery.  Regular heavy compression garments will be fine, you can go to most good department stores to get some fitting help.  I recommend Nordstrom's, if there is one in your area.  If they identify you as a regular customer, they will invite you to special events and give you extra stuff and discounts.  I went to one event and, since I bought something, they gave me a Yummy Tummy upper compression garment work about $85.  Even if you didn't buy anything, they had some pretty costume jewelry and scarves as gifts, along with refreshments.  Plus, their customer service is excellent and they do not carry merchandise that they feel they cannot offer the best retail prices in town.

Congrats.

Thanks for the 411.. I have some compression garments and plenty of sports bras, but I will check out the Yummy Tummy things.

Congrats!

thanks =0)

Exciting stuff! I'm 6 weeks out from my BR/BL. I also had a tt. I can say I hardly noticed any pain with my BR other than were he lipoed my side boob. Really sore to the touch. My surgeon said that most people who have both procedures rarely complain about breast pain. But the gals that have the single surgery notice the pain more.

My surgeon wasn't very strict with the compression garment. He took off my bindings two days after surgery and gave me a soft cotton, front closure bra to wear. I bought a couple more from walmart. He okayed going back to regular bras a few weeks ago, but underwire isn't comfortable yet.

I bought a lot of strapless sundresses with the elastic bandau tops. I got a size smaller so that they are tight on my boobs and that is the most comfortable for me.

My cotton jogging bra is also very comfortable yet supportive.
 
I still can't reach high without feeling like I'm going to tear something...so I don't :-)

Also, I second the increased sensitivity. But for me that was a relief as my suregeon gave me a 50/50 chance of losing sensitivity.

Thanks... Good to know about the sensitivity thing..My hubby was/is concerned more about it than I am..lol go figure!

I had my reduction back in May.  For me, I think the hardest thing to get used to that I wasn't quite expecting was the soreness on my sides.  If it wasn't for the sides, I wouldn't have had much pain at all!  That, and I wasn't able to resume sleeping in my bed "normally" for about 5 weeks after surgery!  The drs told me 3 weeks, I tried then, and ended waiting another total of about 2 more weeks after that!  It is only in the last couple of weeks that I am finally able to sleep with only my nightgown.  I am still a little "tender" when sleeping!  I "just" yesterday graduated to a regular bra.  I had been using a sports bra since about 8 weeks out.  I had my reduction/lift on May 6th. 

Debbie