Question:
Final size after lift

Two weeks ago, I had a breast lift (along with a TT and my arms). I know to expect swelling in my tummy and arms, so I'm not even concerned about how they look now. I am oncerned about my breast size, though. Before surgery, I was a 40C, a full C, but a loose 40. My PS told me I wouldn't lose much in volume. Yesterday, however, I went to buy some bras so I can return to work (PS gave the okay as long as no underwire). I was shocked to find I needed a 40B. I barely fill the B and there's no way I could have gone lower than a 40. How much swelling is involved in a breast lift? And is the swelling in the breast only, or surrounding area also? Am I now going to remain a 40B (talk about a tough bra size to find)? For those of you who had a breast lift, was was your beginning and ending bra size?    — Cyndie K. (posted on October 10, 2003)

October 10, 2003
Cyndie: I won't be able to answer some of your questions because before my reduction and lift I never really wore anything but a sports bra so I don't know what size I started off as. I guess the bra burnings on the 60s left a definite impression on me because I just hate bras. LOL Anyway, I think it's very likely you could have swelling around and not need a 40 if you had any lipo under your arms. My surgeon was supposed to do that for me as an added favor but instead he opted to cut the excess fat out and it has left a nasty scar I'm very unhappy with. But back to your question. Did you have any reduction involved in your lift? I would think if anything you would have gotten temporarily larger than a C and then dropped back to a C if you just had a lift. I did have breast swelling with my reduction and lift. When I first saw the new girls after the bandages were removed I was a little disappointed he'd reduced as much as he had, but I thought they were ok. After the swelling went down I was far less than thrilled with the size. I was a small A and weighed over 200 pounds. Tell me that didn't look a bit off? But I don't really care that much because at least now I can go braless and not be catching everyone's attention. :o) Now after RNY my breast are even smaller, so hopefully if you want to be at least a B you've completed your weight loss. It's possible the bra you picked was just a weird size and you're normally a C in other brands? I hope after getting surgery you end up happy with it. If you want to talk more feel free to email me anytime. Good luck. S
   — sherry hedgecock

October 10, 2003
Don't know anything about the lift, but I did want to agree with you on 40B being a hard size to find. Especially in a push up type style. I had found some at Lane Bryant that I liked, but very expensive and now they discontinued them. Good Luck.
   — Mini Gadget

October 10, 2003
Before my lift, I was a 38C. I'm now a 38B so it was just the cup size that went down. I also had my TT and arms done at the same time so I got that extra skin taken off under the arms. Maybe you should be professionally fitted to make sure you are getting a proper fit (since you were a 'loose' 40 you might be able to do some 38's). I did that at Victorias Secret.
   — Kris T.

October 10, 2003
I used to wear a 42 b and never had problems finding bras. I had a breast lift, but also got implants, so things may be different then just with the breast lift. After my surgery, I could have easily fit into a 36 D, but after the swelling went down I'm more of a 36 c.
   — Lisa N M.

October 10, 2003
I had my breast reduction in July. After surgery I work a 38C. Now I wear a 36B. My PS said it can take up to 6 months for all the swelling to go down. Hope that helps some. Hugs.
   — Kimberly V.

October 13, 2003
Cyndie, I can't really answer your question about the lift because I had a reduction 4 yrs prior to WLS. (I went from a 38H-I to a 38C.) But in regards to what size you should be.....I have read that close to 90% of all women wear the wrong size bra. Have you been measured for bra size since your lift? I had a clerk in a department store help me and now my bras fit great. I was 40C prior to WLS but now since I have lost 55 lbs, my width around my rib cage has gone down and I dropped to a 38. However, my cup size remained a C. Just a thought and something you might want to check out. You may be a 38C rather than a 40B.
   — Michelle_S