[#tootired]

I'm considering having breast reduction surgery. I'm currently a 14HH. I have never ending shoulder and neck trouble. I like to exercise, but it's so damn difficult lugging these things around!

With the surgery...where do I start?

Do you have to be an ideal weight before they will consider surgery?

Do I just go to the GP and ask for a referal?

How do you pick a good surgeon from a dodgy one?

Is there any benefit in having PHI?

If there is anyone reading this from Vic, I'd be grateful to be hear of any recommended surgeons by PM.

Thanks

[*Enigma*]

No advice, but I sympathise - I'm a 12JJ.

I did seek out a private surgeon a few years ago and it was going to be $12000 with medicare only covering $900

PHI I think would be an advantage otherwise public wait lists are quite long.

[Blossom11]

I have also been considering one for years but haven't had the opportunity...

If you get a referral from your GP, your PHI will cover some costs if its for medical reasons, then you get some back from medicare and tax.

Get a plastic surgeon not a cosmetic surgeon. Plastic surgeons have much more experience. I went and saw three surgeons, looked at photos and spoke to people who had one previously.

I don't think their is an ideal weight but the healthier you are, the better the recovery. Also if your breasts are fat, losing weight will make them smaller so the surgery isn't so bad. Mine are just tissue though no amount of weight loss changes the size...

[SMOKER]

I had one 13 years ago and it cost me $1000 and that was mostly for the hospital room from memory. I am not really sure how I got it so cheap but medicare paid for almost all of it.

I first picked a surgeon then I got a referral from my GP. I am not in VIC though.

I think if it is for medical reasons and you wait on public system it can be more affordable.

It is one of the best things I have ever done. It is not supposed to affect it but I was a breastfeeding failure which I partially put down to the breast reduction.

I was told it was best if I had a healthy BMI but had no restrictions. hth

[Bart.]

I had one in 2007 and it was the best thing I've ever done for myself. I'm now a perky D that has been through breastfeeding two children and still looks nice. I'm sitting here typing this wearing no bra and they're sitting like breasts are supposed to.

- You need a GP referral. The GP will most likely send you to a surgeon they know so ask for an 'open ended' referral if you can get one.

- Shop around for a surgeon. It will cost you more in initial appointments but it's worth it. My only regret is that I should have looked around more. My surgeon was fantastic but he only did the anchor surgery when I should have gone the lollipop (see below).

- There are two types of surgery; the 'anchor' and the 'lollipop'. The 'anchor' is the original form and consists of the surgeon cutting under the breast, up the middle and around the nipple. It leaves larger scaring but gives you a lovely, natural breast shape. The 'lollipop' is a single cut up the breast and around the nipple. Healing time is faster with less scarring but the breast shape isn't as natural. I got the anchor but I wish I'd have got the lollipop because I've got bad skin and have yucky scarring.

- It's a major surgery so be prepared to feel knocked around for a couple of weeks after. You'll need minimum four weeks off work and you'll have to limit touching for a few weeks. Also, be prepared that when the drain is removed from under your breasts the day after the surgery, it feels horrible.

- Cost wise, it was $11,500 in total and I was $6,500 out of pocket. It was worth every cent. You can sign up for the public system but there is a two-year waiting list and you can't pick the surgeon.

- Complications: I didn't have many except for seven hideous abscesses that popped up like enormous pimples and altered the scarring. This was probably my skin more than anything and I don't know of anyone else who had them as bad as I did.

It took a long time for the scars to fade to white and about four years to my breasts to settle into their final shape, but again, that's probably because of my skin. I love my breasts now and don't feel like a freak any more. Even hubby gets flashed now, so he likes them more, too.

[seeingstraight]

Help you with the reduction side of things as I went the other way:-)

Start googling plastic surgeons in your area seek out ones who specialize in breast reductions.
Get a refural from your gp as Medicare will then cover some of the app cost.
Private insurance is good as it pays for your hospital stay and theater if the procedure your having done is covered by Medicare ( reduction would be)

Not sure how the public side of things go as I went private but would imagin a fair waiting list.

Do it!! If it makes u happier and healthier then go for it.
I don't refer having my surgery ( lift and implants plus TT)
I am more confidant and am able to exercise now)

Oh and on the BMI thig I was 90kg when I hast surgery.

[ComeWhatMay]

I am currently sitting here on day 5 post surgery.

When I went for my first appointment with my surgeon he asked if I was happy with my weight and if it was stable. He advised if I wanted to loose a lot of weight to hold off on the operation till I was closer to my goal weight.

In regards to my referral. I originally spoke to my OB after I had my son. He wrote me up one due to over the two pregnancies he had seen my body change and my breast did not recover afterwards. I then ended up getting another referral from my gp which is the surgeon I ended up going with.

In regards to picking a surgeon I did some google. Also I think when you meet with a surgeon you need to get along with them and feel comfortable around them.

With PHI I was able to go to the hospital of my choice and have the surgeon of my choice. I also did not have a waiting list which allowed getting hubby to have time off work to look after the children.

My cost breakdown is as follows:
Surgeon : $1490
Anesthetist : $500
Hospital Stay : $500
Post op bras : $60

I am in SA.

[#tootired]

Thanks everybody.

Comewhatmay thanks for posting so recently after surgery.

I hope all goes well.
I have decided I am going to go through with it.

I have 12 months to lose about 10 kgs before I would be happy to do it.

I have an appoinment with my GP in Feb and I will go from there.