It all started the week I turned 20. I got a boyfriend, my period and boobs in one week. A boyfriend, I had been praying for for a long time, my period I had been expecting for a REALLY long time. But boobs, like huge boobs? Where did you come from? Did you get the wrong address? I went all the way to an F cup, just like that.
[jwplayer Wc3tCQ18]
Everyone around me noticed the change, and my new chest quickly became the topic of every conversation and the butt (boob?) of every joke. I even had a manager at work seriously ask me where I found the time to get implants without any time off.
Actual footage of me after that q
All the attention left me feeling really embarrassed about my body. The way my clothes fit me had completely changed. Anyone with big boobs is aware of the way one dress can make your smaller-boobed mate look cute, and you look like a milkmaid in a porn film. It made me want to hide myself.
I replaced my entire wardrobe with big black baggy jumpers to hide my chest. The feelings of shame got so bad that I would put blankets over all of my mirrors at home, and walk with my head down on the street to avoid catching my reflection in a shop window.
I stopped going to social events, so lost a lot of friends during this period. I even cancelled my gym membership because it hurt to run, and then I’d feel embarrassed because I just couldn’t find a sports bra that didn’t have them flopping everywhere. Not to mention, I didn’t jump into one photo during this time, not even with family. It hurt my mum, she cried about it a lot… it was a really hard few years.
I tried to accept my body the way it naturally existed, but it was hard to overcome the effect my new boobs had on my self-esteem. After being told to “try the maternity section” while shopping for swimsuits, getting a lot of unwanted attention and some pretty vile comments from the wrong men and even a homeless man yelling “Oi big titties, spare some change?” at me on a Hawaiian holiday (enough time has passed that I can laugh at this one now), I decided to get a loan and get a breast reduction at 22.
At 24, I had another one. Here are some things you should know if you are thinking about having one.
1. Listen To The Docs & Take The Right Recovery Time
I was on a waitlist for 6 months to have my second reduction. By the time I got a phone call to say it was my turn, I just started a new job. My surgeon told me three weeks recovery but I only asked for a week off from work.
Due to this, my post surgery staples kept falling apart, and I could see my literal boob flesh, both the left and right. I remember holding my bleeding boob together in the office bathroom, not knowing what the fuck to do. I had to visit my doctor on multiple occasions to get emergency stitches.
One side got badly infected, so I ended up having to take more time off work anyway. It made my recovery much much harder, more painful and far longer. I now have very thick scarring in those areas due to all of this, so yeah take the time to recover.
2. Your Nips Might Be Numb Forever
I haven’t completely lost feeling in my nips, but they are more than halfway gone. For example, sometimes they get hard when its cold (or when I’m horny lol, hey mum), sometimes they don’t. You might call them lazy.
I also wanted to have a point on potential issues with breastfeeding, but can’t speak personally on it as I haven’t had a kid. It is definitely something to consider though, and speak with your doctor/ surgeon about before going ahead.
3. Look After Those Fucking Scars
Can’t emphasise this one enough. By the time I had my second reduction and had all of the recovery complications, I was sick of the sight of my tits and I gave up on scar care. I was told to keep the silicon strips (think bandaids but they help heal scars) on them at all times , plus put vitamin E on them twice per day.
I did a complete half-ass job of this, and as a result I now have terrible, thick and unsightly scars. I have never been able to show my boobs to a guy as a result, and it can be a barrier when it comes to love. I’m like Tobias, the never-nude from Arrested Development – I joke, but it’s kinda sad tbh.
This has bought with it a whole new set of complications, like awkward times during sex when someone goes to take off my bra, and general self esteem issues. It’s not that I want to feel this way or that I deserve to, it’s just my reality right now and I want to be honest. If I could go back, I’d take better care of myself post-surgery. Those first two years are so important for scar care, so really do all you can. I’m currently looking into scar revision surgery.
4. It’s Not A Magic Fix
If you, like me, were after this surgery cosmetically (as in not for medical reasons), you should know it’s not exactly a magic fix. I did some pretty hardcore confidence damage to myself during those few years of having large boobs, it affected my thinking patterns and the way I treated myself in a very negative way.
I was under the impression I would wake up from surgery, throw on a bikini and laugh my troubles away, but it didn’t happen like that. The surgery was the very important first step for me, but it was a working progress to get myself back my confidence.
5. It’s Not All Doom & Gloom
I know those four points make it sound like I regret everything, but I want the emphasise that for me, having a breast reduction was one of the best things I’ve ever done.
I’m way less concerned about the way I look now and don’t fear conversations will end up on one of my physical features. I can wear whatever I want, I’m back at the gym and I’m social again. Most importantly, I never have to hear “Give some of your boobs to meeeeee” EVER AGAIN.
I do want to say before I finish this article – this was just my experience.
I know of other people who have had breast reduction surgery and their recovery was comparatively a walk in the park. If you’re considering it, it could easily be the same for you. The above are more points I would have wanted to read before I had my breast reduction.
If you’re happy with your big boobs, embrace them – but it’s ok if you struggle with them and want to reduce them in size, too. So if your tiddies are causing you more unhappy times than happy times I would give you the big thumbs up on getting a breast reduction, just remember to look out for number one during recovery and the following year, and for that matter, all the time.
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