Benign lumps, cosmetic breast reduction/ image problems

blue_bird_3

I'm curious if anyone with benign conditions has gone through a cosmetic reduction for their breasts? Before I was diagnosed with a benign lump with biopsy I always wanted my breasts to be smaller. I have DD breasts and they look out of proportion because I'm 4 feet, 10 inches, and weigh about 100 pounds. They also seem to be getting bigger with age, even though I will be 38 this year.I don't know if I have a psychological problem, but I want them at B cup. I want it more than ever after finding out my breasts are heterogenously dense.

MelissaDallas

I think it is entirely reasonable to want breasts that are proportionate to your height and weight and almost every friend I have who is extremely big busted has mentioned doing possibly doing a reduction at some point or wishing the could.

I wouldn’t base the decision on having had a benign biopsy, or certainly not on having heterogeneously dense breasts-almost all of us who are not very young or very elderly do.

Anonymous

You definitely don't have a psychological problem! I had a reduction at 22 and it was the best thing I ever did. Im almost 5'9 and I was a DD, but they were large breasts from the start and I didn't like being stared at in school or my shirts pulling/not looking right. Insurance paid for it due to the weight and impact on my shoulders and back. Surgeon took me down to a C and removed about 3lbs of tissue. Its an "easy" surgery but recovery will take similar to what a mastectomy seems to take - it was 4 or 5 hours under general (very dense tissue) and then probably six months to feel back to normal and no fatigue.

I had such success with mine that my mother then had hers done in her early 60s and my aunt and a work colleague had theirs done in their mid 50s. All of them were happy they had it done.

MelissaDallas

I read something once that if you wanted to know what having really large breasts was like, picture walking around with a very large hot sweaty dachshund strapped to your chest at all times. I know my friends also just despaired over finding bras that fit, or having topay $60 or $75 for one. Still, a reduction won’t prevent you from having new benign lumps and bumps, or having to go through the diagnostics or biopsy process again. A reduction may give you new lumps and bumps from scar tissue or fat necrosis, and the scar tissue can make reading mammograms, etc. harder.

DiveCat

A “DD” does not mean much as it’s all relative to band size. I am a 30E/32DD (was so before my mastectomies and reconstruction and remain one now) but that is equivalent to, say, a 34D or 36C. I feel proportionate despite being a slim/athletic build though.

Having benign issues (related to hormonal changes etc) and heterogeneously dense tissue is very common for pre-menopausal women. A reduction will remove tissue but it won’t change the density of your breasts or remove benign issues. It also comes with its own risks (infection, nerve damage, scar tissue causing concerns, fat necrosis) as well as surgery risks in general. While most go okay, there are risks to be aware of. A friend of mine did get necrosis after her breast reduction and ultimately ended up needing reconstruction and has some permanent scarring/damage as a result.

You may have difficulty getting covered for a reduction (if in US, or even in Canada) on this basis (of benign issues and HG tissue but that does not mean you can’t consult about your options (including to pay OOP).

blue_bird_3

Thank you all for your replies! Has definitely given me more thoughts about the surgery.