Worried about upcoming reduction (had lumpectomy 3 weeks ago)

Posted by jfhpink @jfhpink, Sep 4, 2023

I am a worried and hoping you wonderful ladies have some words of wisdom and comfort. Had lumpectomy and 3 nodes removed on Aug 21. Breast Reduction surgery in one week. Still feeling discomfort around scars and worried about what to expect after reduction. I have been practicing my back sleeping, concerned about needing drains, etc. What do I have to look forward to? THANK YOU xoxoxo

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OMG your comments are making me feel so much better. Since my lumpectomy I learned to wear a T Shirt under my bra and that is the trick! My reduction is this Monday. I will be checking back over the weekend for any more tips and tricks. Thank you very much!!

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@sessioja

hi. I had a lumpectomy on my r breast and a reduction on both breasts on 4/11. i went from a ddd to a small c. I had no drains and not much pain..i was really relieved and surprised. Sleeping on my back I put a pillow under each arm by my side to keep me from rolling over because I am a side sleeper.. it worked great.
My doc said to put sterile gauze between the compression bra where the stitches/ sutures were rubbing and aggravating me if I couldn’t
stand it. About the 3rd week I did put in gauze in 2 places.
It’s almost 5 months now and I’m pleased with my progress.
scars are healing nicely .
Best wishes and hugs.

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Hi—In Dec 2022 I had a reduction and lift on both breasts at the same time as the lumpectomy on my left one. No lymph nodes or drains involved. I wore a compression bra 24/7 for 3 months until I began radiation. I was not told I needed to sleep on my back. I put thick gauze between the under-breast incisions and the bra for several weeks. The only discomfort was the feeling from the nerves healing in the breasts. Sudden but brief needle-like pains that lasted several weeks, getting fewer as time went on. I was both so relieved that the cancer was removed and so happy with my new “girls”, that it was easy to put up with the occasional weird feelings as they healed. I went from a droopy (I’m 74) DD to a perky C. I feel free and don’t always wear a bra now. Love it! All scars are pretty much gone now. Good luck and good recovery to you!

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My reply to sessioja was meant to go to the original poster. Sorry for the error!

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@catbuddy

Hi—In Dec 2022 I had a reduction and lift on both breasts at the same time as the lumpectomy on my left one. No lymph nodes or drains involved. I wore a compression bra 24/7 for 3 months until I began radiation. I was not told I needed to sleep on my back. I put thick gauze between the under-breast incisions and the bra for several weeks. The only discomfort was the feeling from the nerves healing in the breasts. Sudden but brief needle-like pains that lasted several weeks, getting fewer as time went on. I was both so relieved that the cancer was removed and so happy with my new “girls”, that it was easy to put up with the occasional weird feelings as they healed. I went from a droopy (I’m 74) DD to a perky C. I feel free and don’t always wear a bra now. Love it! All scars are pretty much gone now. Good luck and good recovery to you!

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I am 64 and understand droopy. LOL! DD/E and hoping for small C. Appreciate your note so much! Best of luck to you! And Thank you!

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@sessioja

hi. I had a lumpectomy on my r breast and a reduction on both breasts on 4/11. i went from a ddd to a small c. I had no drains and not much pain..i was really relieved and surprised. Sleeping on my back I put a pillow under each arm by my side to keep me from rolling over because I am a side sleeper.. it worked great.
My doc said to put sterile gauze between the compression bra where the stitches/ sutures were rubbing and aggravating me if I couldn’t
stand it. About the 3rd week I did put in gauze in 2 places.
It’s almost 5 months now and I’m pleased with my progress.
scars are healing nicely .
Best wishes and hugs.

Jump to this post

sessioja, I was 2 days later after you and other than 2 seroma's and the nerve prickly thing I too got past it all fairly quickly. I love my new tiny A's! They look like the fit my short waisted body so much better than my barely C cups. And bonus they look all perky again! But he did leave the left side bigger because he thought I would get radiation so one is bigger than the other. If it's an easy fix I may ask to have it fixed. I see the PS again in December. If not I will live with it 🙂

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@celestebradham

I had lumpectomy on left breast and lift/reconstruction for both at same time April 4. No drains. Laying on back was kinda tough, the rubbing of bra , not comfortable for sure. I still don’t have a bra I love - besides a sports bra.
Good luck. I’m glad I had them done. It was the choice for me.

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@celestebradham You had lumpectomy lift/reconstruction at same time? They recommended me to have Lumpectomy first and then wait for clear margin and then go for lift after 2 weeks.

How was the pain after lift/reconstruction? I am still not sure if I should go for lift 2 weeks after Lumpectomy or skip it.

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@delormv

Hello @jfhpink
I had a reduction and lift after a lumpectomy. My plastic surgeon was able to use the same incision line as the surgical oncologist and continued on from there. He’s a younger plastic surgeon and used a technique that did not require drains afterwards, which reduced the chances of infection and a quicker recovery. The most uncomfortable part of recovery was the compression bra rubbing against the incisions, but as with everything, the pain/discomfort passed after a few weeks. Sleeping on my back was an adjustment and I placed a pillow under my arm on the same side as the lift, which was much more comfortable. I wish you well!

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@delormv
I will have Lumpectomy and then Lift/reconstruction 2 weeks after Lumpectomy, is it worth doing the lift ?

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@jfhpink having the lift with the reduction was worth it for me because I had sagging breasts to begin with, and then a lot of breast tissue was removed when the tumor was removed. The lift was needed to put everything back where it needed to be…which was up! I only had the one breast done and am now considering having the other breast done to match. I refer to the “girls” as one as my 18 year old breast and the other as my 56 year old breast…time for them to match! Good luck to you!

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@taprep

@celestebradham You had lumpectomy lift/reconstruction at same time? They recommended me to have Lumpectomy first and then wait for clear margin and then go for lift after 2 weeks.

How was the pain after lift/reconstruction? I am still not sure if I should go for lift 2 weeks after Lumpectomy or skip it.

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4-4-23 I had lumpectomy on left and reconstructive on both. I had clear margins, but MD Anderson wanted/needed larger margins. I had second surgery 4-21-23 to get the correct margins. I had 15 days of radiation starting mid May. Then started anastrozole after that( that’s another story if you need help there) For me the first surgery was almost easier. As for pain, very manageable. I set an alarm at night to take the pain pills as directed. I was given extra strength Tylenol, 800 ibuprofen and then a heavier pain pill if needed. Which I think I took once when I had to travel home ( I live 3 hrs from Houston) I’m 60 and was/am pretty good health and shape. That 2nd surgery kind of zapped me. I felt or my body felt okay we’re on the way to recovery than bam. But surgery was necessary. They’ll put you in a surgical bra after
Surgery, doctors gave me extra surgical pads to put between incisions and bra which helped. I believe my reconstruction was called anchor. Let me know if there are any more questions. 💪🏻😊.

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@taprep

@celestebradham You had lumpectomy lift/reconstruction at same time? They recommended me to have Lumpectomy first and then wait for clear margin and then go for lift after 2 weeks.

How was the pain after lift/reconstruction? I am still not sure if I should go for lift 2 weeks after Lumpectomy or skip it.

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Need to add- my breasts were saggy- reconstruction was a little silver lining. I was a D cup and went to a C. I’m fine with, but my plastic surgeon said if I want or need more plumpness they can do fat graphing…. They take fat from love handles and inject into breast( from what I understand)But that would be another surgery- so I’m not sure about that.

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