Worried about upcoming reduction (had lumpectomy 3 weeks ago)

@celestebradham Thanks for the details. I wasn't sure weather to go with teh lift 2 weeks after Lumpectomy but good to see your positive reply. Does radiation also effects the size of breast?
I will have to take Tamoxifen.

I was told radiation shrinks the breast a bit. So my plastic surgeon made it a little larger- I couldn’t see any difference.

Ok Thanks

Had bilateral lumpectomy with reduction and lift on both sides 9 days ago. Had drains. Slept in recliner the first night and slept well due to the pain medication then slept in bed since. I’m a stomach sleeper so was dreading bedtime but adjusted to back sleeping immediately. Put a folded towel under each arm, pillow under my knees, and fairly flat pillow under my head and slept great. Sometimes, after I got up to use the bathroom, I put a pillow long-ways under my entire back. This relieved some stomach pain from lying flat for so long. Drains and steri strips were removed after 8 days but I have a burning sensation where the incisions are. Plastic surgeon recommended Arnica to promote healing. Have any of you used it? Eating pineapple promotes healing too. Good luck to all. ❤️

I've never had much to begin with -- started as an A, ended up a B, so I have less breast tissue to spare than many. I had a lumpectomy on the lower left quadrant of my left breast, and like most had concerns about the cosmetic result, even though my lumpectomy was minor compared to what many of my 1-in-8 sisters are going through. I told my surgeon to take anything she deemed necessary going into surgery, so I was not sure what I'd wake up to. To my complete surprise, my female surgeon at the Mayo left me looking improved and more symmetrical -- the very last thing I expected. Having everything done in one surgery makes lots of sense for so many women, but I'm glad I waited to see the initial result before planning anything else.

I had BCS lumpectomy on right breast with a reduction, and a reduction (mastoplexy) only on the left. Went from a DD to about a C. Nerve block eliminated all pain, thank heavens, because I live 3 1/2 hours from the surgical center and had to ride home in the car 2 days later. I slept in a recliner for the first week, then just propped myself up with pillows in bed which worked better.
I had anchor shaped sutures. Plastic surgeon did a nice job, but he thought I was having whole breast radiation on my right breast, and so made that one slightly larger than my left. Radiation can, but not always, cause some cell shrinkage. Size difference is hardly noticeable, probably only to me, but I don’t notice it with clothes on.
I did have 5 days of partial breast radiation and I’m taking tamoxifen. I’m 69 years old, typically an AI is the hormone therapy of choice for my age but I have pretty serious osteoporosis and prior fasciitis (tendon, facia) problems and AIs can make these worse. I’ve had some problems with tamoxifen, I’m happy to share if that would be helpful.

Hi! I have the same procedure 3 weeks ago. My surgeon recommended the Arnica, but I didn't have to use it. I have been feeling very well. Eating papaya heals too. Hope you get a speedy recovery.

I had a lumpectomy and bilateral breast reduction and lift on July 19 of this year. The breast reduction and lift was the best part so far of this whole journey. It made everything bearable. I went from having a really large breast to having small perky what I call French Riviera brass, and I do not need a bra for the first time in my life. My surgeon told me that the breast reduction is the most satisfied happiest patient she has. And I believe her I’ve been to weddings, hiking, etc. and in every regard it is just so much easier and nicer to have smaller breasts, especially at my age 52.

The surgery required me to stay overnight in the hospital and they removed the drains before I went home. I had some leakage afterwards, but it was really nice not having drains from everything I’ve heard I got one of those big pregnancy pillows that’s like a big U-shaped and that helped me sleep much better on my back.

I was prescribed only high doses of Tylenol and Advil and the pain was completely manageable. I really didn’t have pain as someone else said the areas are pretty numb. I followed the post surgery directions closely and my wounds healed really well at first I thought they were too small, but as everything settled in, they feel just right, it would be good to talk to your surgeon about the size that you want. I told my surgeon I didn’t wanna have to wear a bra again so I guess that means I’m a B or an A somewhere in between. I love my new breasts and I am so glad that I did the surgery. My sister, my friends they all are in awe too.

For me, I liked that they did the lymphectomy and the reduction surgery all at the same time. Also, they didn’t say anything about making my right breast bigger because of the radiation that I would go on to have. I don’t notice that and now that I’m done with radiation, I don’t notice that my right breast has changed at all since the surgery to me. They’re absolutely perfect.

I hope you have a great surgeon and that you figure out what you want and that the surgeon gives you what you want even though it’s uncomfortable for a couple of weeks sleeping after the surgery. I was up and walking and going back to a daily walking routine a couple days after the surgery, walking upstairs and driving over bumps is uncomfortable, but you heal quickly and you have great new breasts for the rest of your life!

Breasts no breasts / brass 😂. I had both breasts done at the time of my lumpectomy.

@gemjaynes - How did you end up a cup size bigger?! I'm a B, which is relatively proportionate to my body, although I've always wished they were a little bigger. I had a lumpectomy for atypical ductal hyperplasia but the pathology report revealed invasive tubular carcinoma and DCIS. Because they found cancer, I have to go back to have a sentinel lymph node biopsy and was told I could get a lift while I'm under anesthesia. While I would like to have my breasts be more symmetrical, I'm worried that a lift will make my breasts even smaller, especially as I have to have radiation afterward, which I've read can shrink your breast by as much as 20%!