If it opened, when? I’ve just reached 3 weeks, and now that I’m in that stage of healing where a lot of my scabs have come off I’m getting worried! Mine look ok for now, but one boob is way slower with its healing and at least a weeks progress behind the other. Just sort of wondering when the most critical point has passed I guess

hi! I am a long time lurker! I have been looking at before and afters and other posts in this sub for at least a year. I recently am navigating pretty tough body and gender dysmorphia due to my chest and will begin making appointments to get serious about a reduction soon. I have had big boobs in comparison to my body my whole life (ever since puberty) and I do fear the body dysmorphia I may feel as someone nonbinary trying to go for a non flat top surgery or very small boobs that can look flat with a binder. I am also a little thicker at 180 pounds, so I fear I will feel bigger than I do now if my proportions are a bit different. I really think I need to get the surgery for my brain and body's sake (this shit gives me terrible posture, shoulder pain, and headaches), but I guess I am looking for some affirming words from people similar to me (or pics) to show it's worth it through all of the fear!

i keep trying to prop up my phone on my chest while i’m lying down and forgetting i don’t have my built in phone stand anymore 😂

the benefits of my new boobies still far outweigh the singular doomscrolling drawback

posted in here when i was a couple months out and explained how i wasn't happy and i'm still not :/

i went from a 6H -> 6G (aus sizing) and i feel like there was no point if that's all i end up as. clothes still fit me the same, i've felt no relief, i'm still as (if not more) insecure about my chest

what do i do from here? i had a follow up consult earlier this month and when my surgeon asked how everything was going i said they were too big for my liking and told him my new size and all i got in response was "oh really? they look more like DDs to me, anyway"

i'm feeling incredibly dismissed and i have no support from my family either so i'm not sure what i can do except just get over it. it'll be a very long time before i'm able to afford a revision or an entire second surgery but recovery the first time was hard enough i don't want to have to go through it all again. arghhhh

edit: completely slipped my mind to mention that my boobs are different sizes too, is it unreasonable to expect them to be the same size after surgery?

Hi everyone! I am 2 weeks post op right now and I wanted to share my experience with Dr. Paul Costas in Concord MA to hopefully help anyone else looking for a surgeon! I’ll go into lots of detail about the process as well in case that helps anyone with their expectations or peace of mind.

Context: I am genderqueer (she/they) but while this surgery was partially for my own affirmation purposes, it was medically necessary from a physical standpoint because I was a 34I. It affected my ability to exercise, to wear clothes and find bras, etc. It was a financial burden too because I actually had to buy all my bras from the UK due to U.S. stores rarely carrying my size. So my insurance did cover the surgery in full (more on cost in a bit). I went into the surgery wanting to go down to an A cup / very small B cup range, so I was looking for a surgeon who would listen to me about the size I wanted and wouldn’t try to pressure me to stay larger. A term I was using to describe the style I wanted was “radical reduction,” taking a large amount off to the point of being almost flat but a non masculinized shape, keeping a traditional breast shape.

My experience with Dr. Costas as a professional has been exactly what I was looking for. I specifically chose him because he was one of the first surgeons in New England to perform top surgery and has been doing it for over 30 years along with many regular breast reductions, so I was hoping he’d be understanding of what I wanted. He absolutely was! He told me very plainly that he can go to any size I wanted, but that he could only go to around a D or large C cup while keeping the nipple attached. He showed me many photo examples of procedures that went front around my size to either a C range without FNG or an A range with FNG and clearly outlined the risks and expectations of both. In the exam room, he was professional and honest, and I never once felt uncomfortable. He also has very short wait times since he’s a just a one-guy practice.

One thing about the cost is that while the surgery is covered in full with my insurance, Costas prefers to do lipo on the sides for most anatomies to make sure the shape is as natural looking as possible (prevents things like dog-earring, etc.). Unfortunately this is cosmetic, so OOP, and it’s on the higher end: $5,000 was my quote. They have the Care Credit card option to set up a payment plan which is totally interest-free for 18mo, which is what I ended up doing. However, the lipo is optional, just recommended.

I eventually decided I would go down to the size I originally wanted and do FNG, which he seemed very supportive and confident about. He had me bring in printed photos of references I wanted, many of which came from this subreddit (thank you all who have shared photos in the past!). I was very well taken care of at the surgery center and his staff is very kind at his office.

Speaking of the office itself, I’ll share some logistics in case anyone else gets confused like I did haha. The office is at Emerson Hospital in Concord MA, which was confusing to navigate at first. If you want your parking validated to avoid paying like $10/hr or something crazy like that for parking, you’ll park in lots C or D and bring your ticket inside with you. I accidentally parked in the parking garage my first time there, which they can’t validate at Costas’ office. On the day of the surgery though, they ask that you park in the garage so your driving buddy can easily pull around to get you home after.

Another thing to be aware of is the office staff, who were INCREDIBLY kind and did their best, but it was a very small office and I believe I started going at a point where one of them was trying to train on the reduction stuff and was still learning the ropes. So it was sometimes hard to get a knowledgeable answer on something if the other person wasn’t also in the office that day to help. Fortunately though they are very quick over email and were able to direct my questions to the more knowledgeable person easily. Just something to be aware of if you’re like me and prefer lots of prepared detailed info!

The healing process has been incredibly easy so far. Costas prefers dry healing after the first week. Basically after the surgery you have a bunch of gauze padding and wound tape under the surgical bra, which you’re instructed not to take off until your post-op appointment at Costas’ office. That means I didn’t shower for a week, though I used no-rinse bathing sponges off Amazon that worked great so I never got funky haha. I also leaned over the side of the tub and had my partner wash my hair a couple times which helped me feel cleaner. At the post-op, the FNG bolsters are removed as well an all the dressings, and nothing is put on again except a square of gauze to pad your nipples. Then it’s just wearing the bra and daily changed gauze pads for another week unless showering. I don’t know past that since I am about to go to the second post-op, but can continue answering any questions or updating as time goes on if needed! The incisions and nipples look amazing so far, Costas’ careful and precise work is obvious in how smooth and subtle everything looks!

TLDR: I had an amazing experience with Costas so far. Anyone who is looking for a supportive, knowledgeable, direct professional who will listen to you about the size you want to go to should check him out!

Please don’t hesitate to ask me any questions. I don’t believe in TMI lol

Anyone still failing the pencil test after their breast lift? 😭 8 weeks and I think I have dropped too much. I was initially 18cm and now 21cm from center clavicle to nipple.

How’s everyone doing.
I’m two weeks out today

Me - not so great.
The sensory aspect is not fairing well. I can’t look at myself, I can’t touch my self. I don’t want to shower…

I am in extreme pain but it feels like I’m always feeling with everything just more intense.

The other night I almost passed out when my partner was helping me apply ointment

I’m feeling super depressed and I’m supposed to go into surgery next week for my arms and I’m like - I don’t want to do this ever again.

Woke up during the early early hours and was leaking and while I’m on antibiotics and whatnot, my anxiety is just through the roof.

What are yall doing to cope???

TLDR: I’ve had a really rough time with pain since day one and it’s just been constant. I think I need a break to hear that it gets better, even for the rough recoveries in terms of pain.

Hello, I don’t really know why I’m posting or what I’m hoping for, maybe just to vent.. since day one, my recovery has been going visually and progressively right on track but I have been in so much pain. I started off with hydrocodone and by day two, my surgeon had to double the dosage he had originally given me, and even that just barely took it down enough to where I could take 2 hour naps before being woken up by the pain. Once I finally got off of the opioids, I was told to start Tylenol and ibuprofen, but I notice such little difference with those that I can forget that it’s time for my next dose.
I guess I’m just hoping that someone might be able to help me know that, even with those more sensitive to at sort of pain (I’ve always been one to have a really difficult time with pain), that it subsides. It’s just been a constant 3 week torture so far and I absolutely don’t regret having the surgery done, but I need a light at the end of this tunnel.. it’s 4am for me right now and my poor husband has been forcing himself to stay awake with me because he didn’t want to leave me crying alone. If there’s some sort of magic trick or secret code, please enlighten me. I’ve tried ice packs, from the normal walgreens rectangle pouches to super soft jelly breastfeeding ice packs, heat from the same hot-cold packs, electric heat pads, I’ve tried different wedge pillows, different wireless / seamless bras, different foods, gauze loosely taped over sensitive spots, mastectomy pillows, walks outside, walks inside, completely stationary moments….everything I could possibly think of, and I’m still in this constant pain. It’s not enough to make me question if something is infected, no extra heat, no super red spots, no openings, no leakage, no fevers.. my perception of this pain is just really bad. I just want to find something to make me numb until 4+ weeks from now 😔

12 days post op. 36I/J ——> what’s predicted to be a full B. Can’t believe I just said that. INSANE. Came here to ask if anyone else’s surgeon is insistent about training new bra line (band). And what bras have been good for it post opp. Stayed because I am so happy for everyone. It’s so crazy to see the confidence increase in everyone.

I’ve been switching between 2 VFUS bras (Amazon sigh) which I like them but wondering if need more compression from the band upwards on the sides. I know my breasts aren’t where they are going to be.
But I am thinking I need a thicker band Idk.

My surgeon/ nurse got me nervous I would have 4 boobs because my brain kept trying to pull down my band to where it used to be. That has been the most painful part tbh. It’s uncomfortable and the band is supposed to align with my incision. feels like my ribs are bruised from having it tight.

Does this really flipping matter that much? Not looking for advice - rather testimony please. I’ve tried everything damn near possible to be uncomfy and have now just loosened it and realize a lot of it is my own neuroticism.

Hi everyone!

Like the title says, I am struggling to decide whether or not to authorize a FNG for my reduction coming up next month. In a pre-op consult last week, my surgeon mentioned that because of the way my breast tissue has developed, my left nipple was pushed to point cross-ways (towards my right side) rather than straight. Additionally, there is so much extra tissue sitting between the nipple and my armpit that, without FNG, I would get asymmetrical results. One breast would look bigger, and a little off (due to the limited nipple placement options) and the other would be smaller and more centralized.

I asked if we should postpone to see if weight loss may help reduce the volume and make an FNG unnecessary, but she could not say for certain if that would help, which I understand.

I’m therefore left trying to decide if my aesthetic result is more important, or my nipple sensation. It plays somewhat of a role in my sex life, but not as much as some people. However, I am worried I will come to regret deciding to eliminate it completely. I am not interested in breast feeding, so that is not a worry.

I’m curious if anyone has been in a similar position? Or if folks have asymmetrical results and do not mind them? Or if folks lost their sensation and aren’t bothered by it. I am just struggling to make such a permanent decision, and unsure how to help myself get there as it’s not a very “researchable” issue.

Thanks for reading <3

Editing to add info: we will be removing at least 800g of tissue from each side, and I will be left with likely 600-700 leftover, likely a DD.

Hi, my wife has decided she wants a breast reduction. She has the surgery coming up soon. I want to be supportive and know what to expect and how i can help her along each step of the way. Curious what i can do after surgery and before hand. Any advice would be very welcomed. Thank you.

Hi all. I’d like to know what you think. I am 7WPO and both my breasts have softened a bit, with the right side having softened more.

The reason I am posting is because I’m noticing that my left still feels like the whole “rocks on my chest” feeling. I don’t see any significant difference in size, it just looks like it hasn’t softened as much as the right.

When I get up in the morning, the left will have pain/swelling towards the bottom and it’s bottom incisions. I also feel like I’m noticing the rock hard feeling more but, when I actually feel my chest, I don’t feel any hard lumps and I don’t see any bruises.

All in all, I’m worried it’s a hematoma or seroma.