i have been thinking recently of gettin a breast reduction as they are making my life murder i can never find tops that fit well and have to buy them to fit my bust and then they are to big round my waist and i feel really depressed when i cant find delicate pretty bras cos i have not seen many shops that do my size in that design i am talkin to my family about this but they all say dont do it your fine as you are so im askin for your unbyist opinions i am aware that some people want bigger ones and i should be gratefull for what ive got mine are 36 e at the momment my back is constantly sore and they get very uncomfortable please help i need a little advice

Well only you can answer this one Katy. It's ok people saying you're fine as you are, but they don't have to live with the back pain do they?

Think long and hard before making your mind up. I can't really tell you what to do either way. What's your gut instinct?

Good luck matey x

You can get pretty lingerie in all sizes from shops like perfect fit at woodseats, but that's hardly the point, I suppose :).

Overlarge breasts that are actually real are very heavy and can be painful. As you say, it leads to back and shoulder pain and straps cutting into the flesh of the shoulders doesn't look or feel pleasant.

The best people to get information and advice from are people who have had similar problems and maybe had the op already. No-one but yourself knows how you feel and if you get proper information and you still want to have it done - go for it!

best of luck ...

Katy, me again!

Just remembered a friend at college had a breast reduction from an F to a C and all went well & she was over the moon with the result. I'm not in contact with her anymore so can't pass on details.

Maybe someone who as had one will stumble across this thread & will be able to help you more?

OK I'm not a woman but here goes anyway! I've a friend who (fairly) recently had a reduction done on the NHS (she was an H cup and was in constant pain from the weight) and apparently these are the negative points to consider:

1. There will be some scarring - it's an operation so you have to expect it. This is a pretty much cosmetic consideration but it hits some people quite hard.

2. You will probably loose some sensitivity - the operation typically involves the removal of the nipple, reshaping then re-attatchment so in addition to loosing some sensitivity in the whole breast area it is possible you will loose all sensitivity in and around the nipple.

3. It is very unlikely you will be able to breastfeed - the nipple is separated from the milk ducts during the operation.

The other thing to consider is that the op may not be performed if you are overweight or your weight is fluctuating significantly. The size of your breast will fluctuate with the amount of bodyfat you are carrying so most docs will wan't you to get to an optimum weight so they can assess the need for surgery.

(N.B. before you get offended I'm not saying you are overweight just that its a point to consider if you are!)

A friend of mine had a breast reduction. She said that it was the best thing she ever did. She did say, however, that they actually grew a bit afterwards and increased a cup size after the surgery which took her by surprise (she went to a C cup but after X months it increased to a D) but I have never heard of this happen before and neither has she. She did say that the recovery period was quite a sore time but she can not believe the difference it has made to her confidence.

its not just yourself you have to take in to account, you have a boyfriend, think how he would feel if you had a reduction.

i think you owe it to him and mankind to keep the breasts

now shut up and get back in the kitchen, im starving

A friend of mine had a breast reduction. She said it was the best thing she ever did and gave her increased confidence and no back ache. However, her breasts grew back a little after the surgery from a C cup to a D cup which she had not heard of before but she is okay with that now. She did say that recovering from the surgery was a bit sore but she said that the whole thing was worth it. Don't listen to what other people who DONT have the same worries as you say. It is up to you. If it is making you unhappy then go for it!

Originally posted by Robbie_Lovin
its not just yourself you have to take in to account, you have a boyfriend, think how he would feel if you had a reduction.

i think you owe it to him and mankind to keep the breasts

now shut up and get back in the kitchen, im starving

Another beautiful & classic lovin moment .....

Maybe some men get turned on seeing hunched over women with their knockers trailing on the floor and pained expressions on their faces!! Sounds like Robbie is one of them.

Breast..... reduction.....??

You want to make them..... smaller....?? :o

Such things should be ILLEGAL!! :hihi:

Seriously though, it's something that only you can decide as only you can know how much it bothers you, although this kind of thing is obviously something that should be talked through with those close to you - your boyfriend, family, close friends etc.

PS: Personally I thought they were quite nice :heyhey:

Originally posted by Fragonard
Maybe some men get turned on seeing hunched over women with their knockers trailing on the floor and pained expressions on their faces!! Sounds like Robbie is one of them.

your point being what?

ermmm...exactly as it reads...no under-lying message.

Originally posted by Fragonard
Maybe some men get turned on seeing hunched over women with their knockers trailing on the floor and pained expressions on their faces!! Sounds like Robbie is one of them.

It's more the fact that the heavy weight of them makes the woman automatically bend over! :hihi:

But seriously you do what is best for you, i think evildrneil offers some good advice.

not sure if this would work but maybe chest exercise? i know a friend told me to do it to go up a size so not sure if it would work to go down one? after a few months of doing them i got to throw my learner bra in the bin, age 24.
and it also stopped my sister from laughing at me saying my boobs were like spaniels ears, or envelope flaps.
now im quite proud of my girls, even though there are 12 year olds bigger then me.
you have to do it for you, if your un happy then change.
good luck x

My sister is a FF cup and had the symptoms you describe.

She has been much happier since going to a proper lingerie shop to be fitted with bras that are both feminine and designed to support well.

She had been buying in M&S, but they just don't provide the support she needs really.

Before you do anything really drastic, try a couple of new bras that have been fitted correctly. The place I went to took an inch out of the back of mine because I was between sizes (so the wires of the smaller were too tight).

Expect to pay £30-40 for a decent bra - maybe a little more, but if this is a viable alternative to surgery, I know which I'd take ;)

I have had this probem all my life, and I have come to the conclusion it's not just fat it's the shape that you are.
When I got married I weighed 7 and a half stone but my bust was still large in comparison with the rest of me. 34 --22 --34.
dresses were made 32 22 34 always 2" less on the bust no matter how I increased in size my basic shape remained

So this has dogged me all my life so no matter what weight I have been the proportions have remained the same. Ok when slim but not good when heavier.

I don't knowabout the medical side of this which sounds something to seriously consider but I know a lifetime of being large breasted had made me wish I'd done something about it.

hazel

Hi Katy,
A friend of mine had a breast reduction a few years ago and hasn't looked back, her confidence has boomed and she feels more comfortable in certain clothes. Most people do want bigger breasts, but if you have them and they are causing you problems, bigger breasts aren't that great.
My advice is have a long think before doing anything, way up the pros and cons and if you do decide to go ahead, make sure you go to a reputable surgeon.
Jess X

Originally posted by Strix
My sister is a FF cup and had the symptoms you describe.

She has been much happier since going to a proper lingerie shop to be fitted with bras that are both feminine and designed to support well.

She had been buying in M&S, but they just don't provide the support she needs really.

Before you do anything really drastic, try a couple of new bras that have been fitted correctly. The place I went to took an inch out of the back of mine because I was between sizes (so the wires of the smaller were too tight).

Expect to pay £30-40 for a decent bra - maybe a little more, but if this is a viable alternative to surgery, I know which I'd take ;)

I agree completely with Strix on this occasion!

Having surgery is quite a drastic step, and you may well find that all you really need is a properly-fitting bra. Wearing the correct size will give you extra support and can make a tremendous difference in how you look. You should feel a lot more comfortable, and clothes will hang much better on you.

I'd suggest you visit Bravissimo in Leeds - they will take time to fit you properly and have a great selection of bras to choose from. They also make their own line of shirts, summer tops, etc specially cut to cater for the more voluptuous chest!

Could just make the difference for you.

StarSparkle :)

Thanks for that info Starsparkle :thumbsup:

I'll tell my sister about the shirts - I thought they were just lingerie.

do they have a website?

Originally posted by Strix
Thanks for that info Starsparkle :thumbsup:

I'll tell my sister about the shirts - I thought they were just lingerie.

do they have a website?

http://www.bravissimo.com

They also do mail order: 01926 459 859

They've really increased their range recently, and offer a variety of different tops, including strappy tops, shirts for the office, even fitted jackets!

And no, I'm not a share-holder! :P

Always happy to be of help, Strix! :thumbsup:

StarSparkle

Id go for it ! Go to you GP and try and get it done on the health service,if not check out the surgeons,if you have it done privately,as there are some sharks out there.Tell your GP you are getting backache,Im sure he will refer you.

Originally posted by StarSparkle
http://www.bravissimo.com

They also do mail order: 01926 459 859

They've really increased their range recently, and offer a variety of different tops, including strappy tops, shirts for the office, even fitted jackets!

And no, I'm not a share-holder! :P

Always happy to be of help, Strix! :thumbsup:

StarSparkle
Cheers SS.

Looks like they have quite a few branches - Cambridge and Nottingham are easy for us to get to too :thumbsup:

Originally posted by pattricia
Id go for it ! Go to you GP and try and get it done on the health service,if not check out the surgeons,if you have it done privately,as there are some sharks out there.Tell your GP you are getting backache,Im sure he will refer you.
there was a programme on telly following one of thse operations through. They cut around the nipple and slice from the nipple down to the ribs.

I was physically sick and had to give up watching there.

I really don't fancy being peeled like an orange.

It's only too easy to egg somebody on when you're not taking part yourelf :(

strix, no surgical procedure is "pretty". sometimes it's a necessity, though.

My nephew had drastic surgery on his skull because of a severe, and deadly deformity that was threatening to crush his little brain, and I saw a documentary not long after about the samae eprocedure as he had, done on a littel girl. I was very upset about it, I suspect it might have been a shade too close to home, for comfort.

I had to telephone my sister, and warn her, in advance that the programme she had taped, to watch later, had such potentially "disturbing" scenes in it, so she could make the choice to see it, or not.

it was life or death for my nephew, bless him, and it was definitely necessary. there was nothing vanity about what that poor little mite had to endure.

back on topic, now...

My cousin, literally, had breasts like melons, and was in constant pain from the weight of them; and those grooves on her shoulders... so appealing, ... not! (she was over a double J cup, she was so large)

She had a reduction done and was tremendously happy with it.

she is so much happier, and she is in proportion, now.

I don't normally advocate plastic surgery, on the grounds that most of it is, a) vanity, and b) unnecessary....

however, on the matter of reductions, I would say, yes, if it is causing an impairment, and pain, as larger breasts can do, then yeah, go for it, cos it's not vanity, it's not for aesthetics, it's a functional thing.

I dont see the point of having augmentations (except in the case of mastectomy etc) after all, why OP for the problems that my cousin experienced with a large chest, if you don't have to go through with it.

PT

that's a sensible and well-reasoned answer PT, and I quite agree - a J cup is probably difficult to live with.

I was rather concerned at the more flippant response posted above though ;)

I'am a 40E.....I know what you mean. I only get backache when I wear a push up bra though. Have you tried all types of bra's? Maybe its the design of your current bra's which are not supporting you, and causing some of your backache.

I would'nt have a reduction personally - but I would have a uplift
:P

WM

Originally posted by Robbie_Lovin
its not just yourself you have to take in to account, you have a boyfriend, think how he would feel if you had a reduction.

i think you owe it to him and mankind to keep the breasts

now shut up and get back in the kitchen, im starving

robbie your a pig and thats all

Originally posted by craigb
Breast..... reduction.....??

You want to make them..... smaller....?? :o

Such things should be ILLEGAL!! :hihi:

Seriously though, it's something that only you can decide as only you can know how much it bothers you, although this kind of thing is obviously something that should be talked through with those close to you - your boyfriend, family, close friends etc.

PS: Personally I thought they were quite nice :heyhey:

craig!!!!!!!!!! u shouldnt be lookin ill be msnin you tommorow

but thnx for the advice

First of all, have you been to your GP about it? Has it been narrowed down that this is the cause of your back pain? I know it is all down to the individual woman, and although 36E is quite large, I’m not sure it would usually be large enough to cause back problems all on their own.

However if you do think it is down to your breast size then I agree with Strix and Starsparkle – go to a shop that specialises in larger bra sizes and get them to fit a bra for you – you’ll be amazed at the difference. I’m a 38E, so I can fully sympathise with you thinking that they are too big (yes guys, there is such a thing!) – but I always get measured for a bra every time I buy one and have never had problems with back pain. As mentioned Bravissimo is fantastic. I used to shop there all the time when I lived in Cambridge. They’re not cheap, but the bras are beautiful and the fitting service is excellent (I’ll never forget when I went for a sports bra and was in the changing room being told to jump up and down while the assistant checked for excess jiggling!). (BTW – they are excellent for sports bras.)

Ooh well I'm a right awkward size - officially a 30DD but have to wear 32 for convenience (and it's not all that convenient - Debenhams never have them in stock as it is) but that Bravissimmo website has 30s!!!

Unfortunately it's Christmas and I am too poor to buy any (more) new underwear...

But thanks for the link!

3. It is very unlikely you will be able to breastfeed - the nipple is separated from the milk ducts during the operation.

Agreed that possible, but not guaranteed. A close friend had surgery in 2000 and happily breastfed her little Zoe, born in January and also said that the breast in question was more sensitive than the other as a result of the op. Essential to point out though DrNeil.

Also Katy, if you do go ahead, be sure to take some arnica tablets with you to hospital/clinic as they reduce the pain and recovery time along with less bruising. A friend took it for a notoriously painful rear-end operation and both he and Drs were amazed at the result. Also, took it prior to my c/section in 2002 and the nurses thought I was being brave re pain. I don't do brave when it comes to pain, and I had NO BRUISE at all.

Re scarring, not easy to obtain but very effective, emu oil is amazing at helping scar tissue heal.

Let us know won't you!

As someone who also has quite big boobs I know just how you feel.

I've thought about a reduction in the past but I don't really have any back problems so after considering it - and seeing some of the op's on television, I decided against it.

A friend of mine (whose boobs incidentally were about your size - smaller than mine) had a reduction on the NHS. She's pleased with the result. She had a couple of problems though. She slipped whilst carrying something quite light (no carrying or driving for a while after the op) and felt something 'tear' in one of them. She had to go to casualty and then back to the hospital and that one boob has subsequently taken longer to heal than the other one.

It's all about how you feel though, but you do need to consider the implications of surgery. Any surgery carries a risk, even the simplest operation - due to the anaesthetic. Also, a breast reduction is a major operation and much more so than a breast enlargement.

As people have already said, a really good well fitting bra will be helpful until you decide what you want to do. The very best place is Rigby and Peller. They only have two strores I think - One in the centre of London and one at Heathrow airport. Their bra's are expensive but they are the experts at fitting and supportive but attractive styles. Bravisimo are brilliant too and their staff in the shops are very helpful (I went to the one in Manchester). Getting clothes to fit is a real pain in the a*s and a constant struggle.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Hello Katy,

I also have size 36E breasts and i have wanted an uplift/reduction since i can remember!

I seem to change my mind from one year to the next, going through stages of depression on how saggy and unattractive they are.

All of my boyfriends i've had have gone on about how fantastic they are, but they certainly haven't a clue on how heavy and uncomfortable they can be, especially running up to and during my monthly cycle.

Finding sexy and comfortable underwear is a pain - but there is plenty to choose from. There are other and far sexier brands of underwear than pretty polly that are suitable for the support you need.

I have promised myself so many times that i would have surgery to alter my size but have always known deep down i can do with out. I have read articles about surgery going wrong and viewed pictures of before and after, and although most have good results - they don't always look that much better.

Medically - if your breast size is causing you extreme discomfort, talk to your GP. They should be able to advise you on surgery on the NHS but this would only be for medical reasons such as bad back or sore shoulders from where your bra straps dig in from the weight of your chest. Sadly they don't take scaring in to consideration as much as private surgery.

Debenhams, and Marks and Spencers have a fab range on sexy bra's/underwear which should be able to support you as well as looking sexy. Not all big breasted women have to be doomed to wear granny bra's.

If you're shy of going to be fitted, don't be. I went to a Debenhams store and the lady was so lovely. I, as most other women have one boob larger than the other which is quite noticable at times, and although one boob fits perfectly in the cup of my bra, the other bulges.... its natural and its more common than people think.

I hope this helps, and surgery is the last resort if you are deeply unhappy. What ever decision you make - make sure its your decision and not any one elses and that you're 110% sure you want surgery as there is no going back.

Steph XX

A good friend of mine had a reduction and not only has her appearence chaged, but her whole life. Shes gone from been constantly miserable, crying, taking pills for the pain, wearing frumpy clothes to cover her whole body to a beautiful, happier person! She now wears figgure hugging clothes and has much better prosture and looks and feels fabulous! Iv seen them and cant tell where they did the work, the scarring has faded and cant be seen at all!

I think that if they really hurt and make you a bit miserable then you should go ahead and get them done!

Good luck! x x x:thumbsup:

Katy1981:

I had breast-reduction surgery in October 2001 and it was one of the best things I ever did for myself. It was truly life-changing and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

It's not a decision a woman should make lightly, though. Do just what you're doing... do some internet research, ask lots of questions and talk to people who've had the surgery and to some plastic surgeons.

I would be happy to answer any questions about my experiences either on the forum or by personal message, if you prefer. At my surgeon's request, I have talked to groups of women contemplating the surgery. Also, I wrote a first-person article for my newspaper about it. If you'd like me to e-mail it to you, just let me know.

Good luck!

Not ever met you I don't know how long you have had the back pain.
Considering thats the reason for reduction you have just started a new job and you may be sat in the wrong position.
Try adjusting your chair to see if that helps.
Your new job requires you to sit for long hours unlike your old one.

Maybe thats all it needs.