Today is the day, all going to plan, I’m having my breast reduction surgery. Many women find it a strange thing to do, and many women pay to have their breasts enlarged. Sure this is a first world problem, but I live in the first world.
Since I was a teenager and my breasts rapidly expanded from flat to buxom in a 3 month period, I’ve been aware of being treated differently than my friends.
During my dating years (both in my 20s and 30s as well as my more recent foray into that scene in my 40s) I discovered that many men assumed that I was “easy” and “up for it all the time”, but not someone that they’d want to have a relationship with, because of my mammaries. There seems to be an assumption that if you have larger breasts (that can be hard to hide), then it’s fine to be treated as a sex object.
I spent years with men speaking to my chest at work. I’d have to remind them that my eyes were “up here”. You can see that part of my problem was that I just had no idea how to dress them to draw attention away (lower necklines, larger scale necklaces). I may have figured that bit out, but still, I’ve never like running (and even now with some serious sports bra (and I wear 2 at once) I still have to hold my breasts when running. The grooves in my shoulders are deep, and my posture not so great from all that extra weight.
So the next time you see me, I’ll be much more proportioned and I will tell you how I’m feeling.
Every good wish for your speedy recovery and newfound joy and freedom.
I hope your surgery and recovery goes well Imogen
All the best Imogen with your surgery and recovery. Thinking of you! x
Great comparison photos! All the best today and I hope you have a speedy recovery.
All the very best with your surgery and recovery, thinking of you. Linda x
I hear what you are saying and wish you nothing but the best. My large breasts began in my adult years with weight gain and I believe have contributed to back pain and some curvature of my spine as well as the issues you mentioned. I am almost 61 years old and just began the Fast Diet (thank you for that information!!). I am really hopeful that as the pounds go away, the cup size will decrease too.
Much respect and admiration to you for going through with it. I am 5′ tall and also wear a 34G. The dents in my shoulders are permanent; I’ve accepted that. I have one running bra that gives decent (not great) support. Because I’m short, people always look down, so there’s really noway to encourage them to divert their eyes elsewhere. I won’t even talk about back pain and posture. I’m not brave enough to go through with a reduction. I hope that you have a successful procedure and speedy recovery.
Best of luck with the surgery! I am contemplating it myself.
Goodluck today Imogen I can totally understand as I too have the same problem & have been dressing ti cover them up. I hope all goes well for a fast recovery & you enjoy your new found freedom xo
Speedy recovery. I support all women who have suffered with large breasts that can have them reduced. I too have suffered from this since my teenage years and have always considered them a curse.
Enjoy your new proportions!
All the best, I hope you are thrilled with the results, and everything goes smoothly.
Praying for you as you recover. I’m happy for you to be able to do this.
Best of luck and get well soon! You’re going to love your new well-proprtioned body!
Hope your surgery was a resounding success, dear Imogen.
Hi Imogen, Well done for taking that bold step which I took last year July. I was a 34J and it was one of the best decisions I made. I wish you all the best for the surgery and post surgery.
Good luck Imogene! I am an avid follower of your website and appreciate you sharing not only your vast knowledge, but also your personal experiences. Will be sending you positive messages tomorrow!
I’ve known two women who have had breast surgery. (One was enlargement and the other reconstruction after cancer.). Both women described almost unbearable post-surgery pain. I hope and pray you will not have that kind of pain but that you do have a swift recovery.
I’m also too scared for surgery, and spend most of my time with kids, who care much more about what craft project we’re doing than about my looks. Best wishes and I’m looking forward to hearing how it goes.
Very best of luck and wishing you a speedy recovery. I’ll be following your journey closely as I’m intending to have the same op later this year.
I hope all goes well for you Imogen.
With your help I’m learning to dress my large bustline (currently 32HH). I have never considered surgery as I don’t suffer back or shoulder pain, but my friends who have don’t regret their decision at all.
I wish you all the best and especially a fast recovery!
Good luck Imogen, I wish you all the best. I had a reduction 20 years ago (when I was 19), and it was the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. Welcome to the word of pretty (or no) bras and better fitting clothes!
Yay, today’s your day! I wish you a speedy recovery Imogen. My experience with this surgery was that it wasn’t as painful as I anticipated. I took my pain pill religiously every 4 or 6 hours for 2-3 days and used frozen popcorn kernel bags for ice like the doctor ordered and then needed nothing for pain after that. And I am a total wimp with pain. I can’t wait to hear how you like your new smaller, perkier breasts!
You were called in 12 hours ago, so I’m sure you’re in the recovery stage by now. Praying for you. ~Helen
I am and so far so good!
Imogene best of luck with a speedy recovery. I totally get what you are doing and why you are doing it. I think it is extremely an individual decision but if I had the cash I would do it too. You are so correct about all of the things people can attribute to you just because of your breast size, silly really. Cant wait to see the new you.
I am lucky that I qualified for a medically necessary breast reduction and because in Australia we have government funded Medicare it has cost me nothing. I did have to wait a year and a half, but I’d had them for so long anyway it didn’t matter
lucky you. We do have medically necessary over here too but you have to get your doctor and insurance company to make that decision first.. I doubt I would qualify.
The dr decided I was medically necessary, otherwise it would have been something I’d have to pay for.
I too had breast reduction surgery through the public hospital system – 7 years ago. I don’t remember extreme pain being involved. Just remember to be careful and watchful during recovery to avoid infection and help reduce scarring. One of my incisions got mildly infected & not the other, consequently the incision site on one breast is almost invisible & more obvious on the other… Not that anyone else really sees that! Wishing an uneventful recovery Imogen! All the best – Deb 🙂
I remember you telling me about it and it finally inspire me to do the same thing
I was thinking of you yesterday as you said Thursday was the day. i hope all went well and recovery is swift and you are feeling good if not a little sore. It is great to see a medical proceedure like this is available on medicare for woman that need it.
Sadly they only do around 10 procedures a year on public health. So I’ve got really lucky!
All the best to you Imogen for a speedy recovery. I admire that you have told your story which I am sure will be an inspiration to others.
Those photos are amazing – what a difference! Hope all has gone well and you are steadily recovering.
All the best luck for your surgery, and hope your quality life will get better after too… no one ever imagine what that means having big breast, and I actually can’t probably singe I have very small breast, but I think almost every woman teased for their breast, big or small, and it is always unfair… anyway, the most important thing is your health and that you can feel good with yourself…
love from Italy
It’s remarkable that you were the same size in both those photos….amazing! You continue to be an icon and inspiration to me for dressing so beautifully..I will still refer to your “before” photos 🙂
Best wishes and speedy recovery.
Nancy
Glad to hear you are recovering from your surgery.
This picture is a great example of why I follow your blog.
I’m H shape, with a large bust and tummy but short in height – so try to use layering with less volume in clothes choices together with a column of colour (in a Summer seasonal palette ) etc.
I’ve yet to get my style words… but would like to look friendly and “pulled together” dressing in a casual to smart casual way (early retired so no work issues!)
In the above example, would a plain colour wrap top and a patterned camisole/ knit tank as the “under layer” work? This is where I have problems, deciding what is too “busy / jazzy” a pattern and the balance of the outfit.
I would also need to cover my arms, so tend to wear a jersey edge to edge or cardigan loose cotton plain shirt, with Tshirts or shell knit tops underneath – but I could also try a light tshirt underneath if it coordinates in colour terms.
If you can comment – when able to – I’d really appreciate it.
A smaller pattern is better on a shorter person, this is a pretty large pattern! You could do a smaller lower contrast pattern as your top or dress, or a higher contrast pattern with a solid top as your under layer. With patterns, I really think getting your contrast levels right makes a big difference to the overall effect.
Hello Imogen,
It’s too bad you had to go through that ignorance and incorrect assumptions made about you as a person, and as a woman. Browsing at the various photos, it’s great that you took the step toward pleasing yourself and eliminating back and shoulder pain.
And yes, much can be achieved and disguised when you know your figure type and dress accordingly.
You have a nice blog and look lovely, before and after.
All the best,
Linda
Hi Imogen. I’m writing this a year after you’ve had this procedure done, because I just received your first anniversary email, and I’m a newbie here. I had this done many years ago, in the 80s. Same story as you. One day I thought they looked unusually small, so I was feeling unusually confident. I walked past the local pub, on my way into town, and a drunk stuck his head out the window, and snarled ” Gidday, – TITS” ……. I just shrivelled. I started punching them after that. They were an inch above my waist, I couldn’t play pieces on the piano where I had to cross my arms, and couldn’t cross them properly anyway. I had non-elective surgery, as the top of my back went in instead of out, undoubtedly like yours, because of all the weight. 2.8kgs lighter after the op my life was transformed. I haven’t regretted it for one second. I so know how freeing it is, just as you say. How lovely that you’ve been uncaged, and can now wear whatever you want! That explains the riotous colour around you! Congratulations! 😀