Anonymous wrote:I got a lift and reduction at 40 and I should have done it years earlier. And recovery is pretty easy. You spend a week or so in bed, but within three weeks I had zero discomfort. Dr. Forman in Rockville did mine.

Same here. I took pain pills for the first two days and that was it. The worst part of my recovery was the allergic reaction I had to the surgical tape. But the pain was not bad at all. I literally felt like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. I also wish I’d had it done years ago.

I got a lift and reduction at 40 and I should have done it years earlier. And recovery is pretty easy. You spend a week or so in bed, but within three weeks I had zero discomfort. Dr. Forman in Rockville did mine.

Don't get implants. They're poison. Never been sicker in my life.

Anonymous wrote:Go for it!

Dr Jabs in Bethesda is not only a great surgeon but he’s really nice. He won’t judge you. I think most surgeons won’t, but I have personal experience with him so I can vouch for his kindness.

Dr. Jabs did my breasts and I agree that he is great! Very talented. If you want the natural look he’s your guy. In fact, mine look almost *too* natural. 🤣

I think if you are a candidate for a reduction only, and are in good general health and willing to take the risks of general surgery, go for it.

But… If you are a candidate for a reduction with a lift requiring an implant, I would take pause.

The problem with implants is that they eventually have to come out, right? That could be 15 years from now or that could be 20 years from now. And maybe that seems like a long way off, but you have to think about the risks of having to have cosmetic surgery done when you are in your 60s, and also what your breasts may look like once implants come out and you do not put in a new pair. Yes, when you are in your 60s maybe you won’t care the same way you do now about appearances, but having removal after having a large pocket created in order to fit an implant, if you need one, is going to be a much trickier excision and surgical fix and recovery, and may wind up with a result that you do not like even with clothing on.

OP, I had breast reduction and a lift at age 50 and no regrets. Like you, I was not overweight, but my breast size increased during pregnancy/nursing and never went back down, though I gained no weight overall.

It's so weird. We live in a society in which more and more people think it's appropriate for young, healthy women to opt for complete surgical breast removal if they have gender dysphoria and think a flat chest will improve the way they feel about themselves— but people think it's inappropriate for a fifty year old woman to undertake a less drastic surgical procedure to improve the way she feels about herself?

Anyway. I digress. OF COURSE you should go ahead. Consult several plastic surgeons. I went to Dr Roger Friedman and he was good. The scars are visible: people who see your breasts from up close will know you had some sort of breast lift. But at least for me, the scars, while visible, are not a big issue; they are not big ugly scars, just thin light lines.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Definitely try better bras. I am similar frame with much larger chest. With better bras I don't feel "compressed and hoisted" I feel supported.

Please post links to bras. Thanks!

It really depends on your size and shape. Go to Trousseau in Vienna and get measured and guidance. If you are a D cup you have many more options than I do as a 32G.

Harlow and Fox provides best overall support, Chantelle, Natori, Elomi, and Simone Perle for everyday drivers. I have a lot of Honey Birdette, Fleur de Mal, Coco de Mer, Wolf and Badger, Bordelle for sexier items.

Op here--thx!
I measured myself according to the Harlow and Fox site and I'm between a DD and an E.
I've been wearing a D cup.
This may help when I'm fully clothed but doesn't help when I'm in a bathing suit, wearing a strappy top/dress, lounging at home without a bra, etc

Get cupped sized swimsuits. Walcoal strapless bra.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Definitely try better bras. I am similar frame with much larger chest. With better bras I don't feel "compressed and hoisted" I feel supported.

Please post links to bras. Thanks!

It really depends on your size and shape. Go to Trousseau in Vienna and get measured and guidance. If you are a D cup you have many more options than I do as a 32G.

Harlow and Fox provides best overall support, Chantelle, Natori, Elomi, and Simone Perle for everyday drivers. I have a lot of Honey Birdette, Fleur de Mal, Coco de Mer, Wolf and Badger, Bordelle for sexier items.

Op here--thx!
I measured myself according to the Harlow and Fox site and I'm between a DD and an E.
I've been wearing a D cup.
This may help when I'm fully clothed but doesn't help when I'm in a bathing suit, wearing a strappy top/dress, lounging at home without a bra, etc

Don’t measure yourself.

Anonymous wrote:55 and I plan to do it. Surgeon suggestions? Bethesda/DC

Dr Jabs

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Definitely try better bras. I am similar frame with much larger chest. With better bras I don't feel "compressed and hoisted" I feel supported.

Please post links to bras. Thanks!

It really depends on your size and shape. Go to Trousseau in Vienna and get measured and guidance. If you are a D cup you have many more options than I do as a 32G.

Harlow and Fox provides best overall support, Chantelle, Natori, Elomi, and Simone Perle for everyday drivers. I have a lot of Honey Birdette, Fleur de Mal, Coco de Mer, Wolf and Badger, Bordelle for sexier items.

Op here--thx!
I measured myself according to the Harlow and Fox site and I'm between a DD and an E.
I've been wearing a D cup.
This may help when I'm fully clothed but doesn't help when I'm in a bathing suit, wearing a strappy top/dress, lounging at home without a bra, etc

Hey OP, I hate my middle-aged breasts too. But what has really helped is lifting weights and exercising more AND getting better bras. I realized part of what I dislike about my boobs now is all the flubbiness around them. Lifting weights helps a lot. And a well-fitting bra—I now only wear Wacoal because they fit me perfectly—makes a huge difference in how I feel in clothes.

I got implants at 47. Nursed 2 kids. Went from an A to D cup. Best money ever spent.

I'm 52 and had a reduction 2 weeks ago. I'm happy to answer any specifics!

Summary - I've been thinking about this for almost 15 years, kept getting denied by insurance, and finally sucked it up and paid OOP. I went from about a 38F-Gish (no true idea because getting a bra to fit was a nightmare) to probably 38B and couldn't be happier.

Procedure itself was 2-3 hours, pain was totally manageable by Tylenol after the first 24 hours, drain (only one side) was removed 3 days after, and overall recovery has been great. For the first week I tended to get fatigued easily but now I'm pretty much back to normal.

The reason I finally bit the bullet and paid OOP is because I did the math and thought about how much happier and more comfortable I would have been if I'd had it done 15 years ago when I was first thinking about it. I probably could have pushed insurance more to cover it but in the end I just wanted to have it done and behind me. OOP cost was around $10K all in, including surgeon, OR costs, and anesthesia. If I live another 40 years, that's $250/year for the pleasure of not dealing with the discomfort, back pain, and inability to feel confident in my clothing.

Anonymous wrote:

Definitely try better bras. I am similar frame with much larger chest. With better bras I don't feel "compressed and hoisted" I feel supported.

Please post links to bras. Thanks!

It really depends on your size and shape. Go to Trousseau in Vienna and get measured and guidance. If you are a D cup you have many more options than I do as a 32G.

Harlow and Fox provides best overall support, Chantelle, Natori, Elomi, and Simone Perle for everyday drivers. I have a lot of Honey Birdette, Fleur de Mal, Coco de Mer, Wolf and Badger, Bordelle for sexier items.

My mom just had a reduction at 68. The recover was not that bad, although you will be pretty useless for at least a week.