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an hour ago
- Yahoo
My breast reduction left me with huge open wounds – but I still don't regret it
I always felt like an alien growing up – an alien with double H breasts. They were just too big for my frame and it was awful. So, when I first discovered breast reduction surgery at 19, I immediately knew it was what I needed to do. Unfortunately the transformation itself wasn't as simple. My body rejected the initial surgery, triggering a relentless 11-year journey of corrective procedures to fix the damage. At least 12 operations later and now 31, I pray that I am nearing the end of this surgical nightmare. I grew up with my mum, my dad and my older brother. As one of the oldest girls in my year at school, I was one of the first to go through puberty. I started gaining unwanted attention from around 14 – all the boys would make jokes about my breasts. I didn't have many relationships growing up as all the attention was solely focused on my chest. In any event, I didn't want anything to do with anything sexual or intimate, because I hated them so much. Even outside of school I received attention from men in the street. They would scream things at me – 'Look at the t--s on her!' When you're that young, you can't process things like that properly – it was horrific. By age 16 I was a double H. I would wear baggy clothing all the time – hoodies, shirts and never anything that would show cleavage – but you never feel you can hide them. They always felt extremely tender; the sensitivity was unbearable. My mental health also suffered. I was a very sad teenager, who struggled with depression. I've been in and out of therapy since I was 17. Exercising was mostly impossible. You could completely write running off – even star jumps or yoga. I'd strap them down in two sports bras. When that didn't work, I got a personal trainer. My PT was an ex-military man who was lovely, but had zero experience in training a young teenage girl with massive boobs. The route to surgery For the longest time I just accepted my fate. I didn't know what a breast reduction was, let alone that it was an accessible procedure. My mum was the one who brought my attention to it. I was 19 when one day she said to me, 'If you ever want a reduction, me and your dad will take care of it.' Immediately I knew that it was something I wanted to do – I was ready to be booked in. From then, it was full steam ahead. In that same week, I had an appointment with a Nuffield Health private surgeon who was recommended to me. He looked at me and confirmed he would be able to fix my boobs. I told my surgeon if he could make them an A cup that would be ideal. I just hated them so much that I preferred to have no breasts at all – I wanted to be flat chested. The surgeon wouldn't do that, but he would make them a 'normal' size for my frame and give me a B-C cup (I was around a size 14 at the time). He showed me a book with prints of his previous work before and after. They were all beautiful and perfectly healed to the point where you wouldn't even know they'd had surgery. I remember thinking, 'Sign me up and book me in!' The surgery was going to cost my parents about £6,000 but we didn't even try to have the surgery with the NHS because I was too desperate to wait and just wanted to get it done. There are very few women who get breast reductions this way. In order to qualify, you almost have to be verging on disabled – you can't just have back pain, you have to not be able to sit or stand up straight. I went in for the private surgery less than a month later. My first surgery The experience leading up to the procedure was extremely uncomfortable because my surgeon had no bedside manner – none whatsoever. I remember the nurses really overcompensated for him, making conversation to calm my nerves. About half an hour before the surgery he came in to 'draw me up'. He took a marker pen and spent a long time with a ruler and tape measure drawing all over my chest. He circled my nipples and marked where he'd be moving them to. Once he'd finished he said, 'Right – see you in surgery,' and that was it. When I woke from the surgery, everything seemed fine. After the first night, I went home. The recovery was hard – because I was all stitched up, everything in my body was super connected. Even if I moved my elbow, I could feel the pain on my chest. I was practically immobile for two to three weeks – I needed help to sit and stand, to eat, even to go to the bathroom. Luckily, I was living at home with my parents, so I had their full-time support. When the surgery starts to go wrong After a week, I changed my dressing as the surgeon had instructed me to. That's when I noticed that my left breast had a hole at the T-join. It's the most common place for a split (I believe there is a 20 per cent chance of wound separation) because there's a lot of tension from the three points of flesh joining together. It was horrible to look at but the smell, too, was horrific. At its worst, the hole [seen below] was roughly the size of a bulging 50p coin, so we went straight back to the surgeon. He was so unbothered by everything – he said: 'Oh, that happens, let's just stitch it back up in two days.' That was a quick anaesthetic procedure, but as soon as I got home from that, every other stitch on me started to burst open. We pushed him to explain what was happening to my body, but he refused to explain or offer any sympathy. He would just say, 'You knew this could happen,' without explaining what 'this' was. It felt like he didn't want it to be his problem, so his defences immediately went up. In hindsight, we think that I was allergic to the stitches the surgeon used because my body seemed to completely reject them. Over the space of a week, my breasts began to look more and more deformed – and infection was thriving. We went back to the surgeon and this time my mum challenged his indifference. He suggested that I come into the hospital every other day to get redressed. My mum felt strongly at that point I needed another surgery. After a couple of days, he came back and said he would have to charge me thousands of pounds to essentially redo the original surgery. He offered no sympathy. This wasn't an option for us any more. We didn't want to trust this person with another full surgery. We chose to go back to the hospital every other day to get redressed. For the most part, my body was left to heal these huge open wounds. It took nearly a year of this for the skin to fully close. I couldn't swim, I couldn't go to the gym, I couldn't even have a bath. What should have been three or four weeks of healing became a year. I did very little during that year. My friends were as understanding as they could be, but they couldn't fully comprehend what I'd done. There was no guarantee that I was healing. Some days my wounds would be closing and then a week later, they'd get even bigger than before. There were times that I wondered if I was ever going to get better. That year was my lowest point – I was a shell of a person. Finding a new surgeon Once I was finally healed, the next job was to get the scars revised. We tried to go through the NHS for this because I was so self conscious of the scars. The process of getting the surgery covered by the NHS was horrific, and I hope no one else has to go through it. For the first stage of the process, I had to take photos of my breasts. I went into this old fashioned hospital photo booth room and was made to stand in front of the camera with my deformed boobs while a stern-faced lady shouted at me to put my hands up and down. Those photos were then sent to a board of people on the NHS who decide who can qualify for surgery and can't for non-life threatening complications. The second stage of the process involved me going to face the board, and essentially selling myself and my story to them. I had to say why I needed the surgery and how it would affect me if I didn't get it. I was essentially pleading with a room full of strangers and begging them to see my point of view. I just couldn't face it, so instead we found a new private surgeon. This time my mum personally looked into a surgeon who specialised in reconstructive surgery. She spent a lot of time emailing and calling on my behalf to find the perfect surgeon. The surgeon we went for in the end was an expert in burns and cancer patients who needed reconstructive surgery. We asked the new surgeon what the problem could have been with the original surgery, as the previous surgeon would not. He confirmed that I was either allergic to the Vicryl stitches used, or I'd suffered an extreme infection. I've had all my corrective surgeries with him since. Vicryl stitches are commonly used in surgery so the new surgeon used an old fashioned stitch, and I never had wound separation again. He is such a kind man, so compassionate and reassuring. When I first met him, I said: ' Knowing that you exist, I can't believe I didn't come to you in the first place.' From the beginning, he took me seriously, listened to me and explained things in a way that I could understand. I've had at least six surgeries (I've had a lot more scar tissue removed from my left breast than my right and it was hard to keep the symmetry) and five additional procedures like steroid injections. My last appointment with him was about eight months ago. How I feel now I decided to start posting pictures on Instagram as a way to celebrate my new body and my newfound confidence. For me, losing my boobs was the best thing for me because I suddenly fell back in love with my body. I went back to my old ex-military PT and am now into fitness again. I am happy to be in pictures with my friends, and wear clothes and pretty lingerie that are flattering. My mental health has improved drastically as a result. And even though my surgery went horribly wrong at first, I would still recommend reduction as a surgery for women who need it. I've never met anyone who has regretted a breast reduction. It has revitalised my life – and I don't regret it one bit either. As told to Nicole Collins Breast reduction: the low-down A breast reduction is a popular procedure which removes fat, skin and glandular tissue from the breast to make them smaller. It is the second most popular cosmetic procedure in Britain, with 4,641 people undergoing the surgery in 2023. The nipples may also be repositioned to look more natural in relation to the newly reduced breast size. The surgery usually takes two to four hours, is performed under general anaesthesia and may require you to remain in the hospital for a couple of days after the procedure to heal. Recovery can vary, but typically it is recommended to take one to two weeks off work, and expect a full recovery within two to three months. Breast reductions performed privately on average cost around £6,500 plus the cost of follow-up care. Those who experience distress or physical discomfort due to their breast size may be able to get their breast reduction covered by the NHS. To do this, you would have to consult with your GP and demonstrate how your breast size is impacting your quality of life. The criteria for getting it covered varies depending on where you live, but typically includes factors such as the size of your breasts, your weight, your general health and whether you smoke. The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) are the national board who accredit and certify private surgeons and NHS surgeons around the country. All plastic surgeons are required to be on the General Medical Council (GMC) specialist register, but BAAPS assures quality held to a certain criteria. Those seeking the procedure should ensure that their plastic surgeon is board certified by searching on BAAPS's online registry. Reconstructive procedures: the wider costs The most popular reconstructive surgeries in the UK are breast reconstruction following a mastectomy due to breast cancer. In 2023, BAAPS reported a 94 per cent increase in individuals requiring hospital treatment in the UK after getting cosmetic surgery abroad. BAAPS estimate that the average cost on the NHS for a corrective surgery is around £15,000 per patient. A recent study recording the number of patients reporting to NHS hospitals with post-op surgery complications across 17 months found that 96 per cent of cases were from surgeries performed in Turkey. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Teddi Mellencamp battling 'severe anxiety' during cancer treatment
Teddi Mellencamp is battling "severe anxiety" during the latest stage of her cancer treatment. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, 44, has been diagnosed with stage four melanoma which has spread to her brain and lungs and previously underwent surgery and radiation treatment before starting a course of immunotherapy and she's now revealed the sessions have left her feeling highly anxious for "no apparent reason". In a video posted on Instagram. Teddi said: "OK for those of y'all who've gone through immunotherapy, did you have severe anxiety? Just on random days for no apparent reason? "Like today I was able to walk, I did the [Two Ts in a Pod] podcast and now I'm just sitting here full of anxiety. Is this common? "What are things that you guys have done to help make you feel better? Let me know. Looking for any positive advice." During a previous appearance on her Two Ts in a Pod podcast, Teddi admitted she has been starting to struggle with the new treatment, saying: "Essentially, what we figured out with me was, yes, I started out feeling great, and I could do all the pods and I could do all these things, and I could go to all my daughter's horse shows and I could stay at my house by myself, and I felt really strong. "And what's happening with me is the longer that I'm on immunotherapy, the sicker it's making me." It comes after Teddi admitted her cancer battle would likely prevent her from returning to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, after previously appearing on the show from 2017 to 2020. Speaking on The Jamie Kern Lima Show podcast, Teddi said: "Yeah, no. I don't have the bandwidth for it right now. I'm not somebody who likes to do something when I can't be good at it." The star - who has children Slate, 12, Cruz, 10, and Dove, five, with her estranged husband Edwin Arroyave - explained that the treatment she has received for the tumours in her brain has caused her some challenges with communication and she doesn't want to risk being misinterpreted. Teddi said: "I feel like my words are a little stutter sometimes and it doesn't mean I'm telling a lie. "Some people have to relearn to talk after having these surgeries that I had. The fact that I can do as much as I can do, I'm so blessed for. But it still happens to me, and some days are very bad." She added: "Some days, I'm just stumbling word over word. And I would hate to be on a show like that and somebody think that I was not being honest and really I was just struggling. And then them get the heat for it because how could you do that to someone that has cancer? "I don't think it would be the best for the cast, and it wouldn't be the best for me right now."
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Teddi Mellencamp Asks for Advice on Handling the 'Severe Anxiety' From Immunotherapy amid Brain Cancer Struggle
The 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' alum said she's dealing with anxiety 'on random days for no apparent reason' NEED TO KNOW Teddi Mellencamp asked fans for advice after sharing that she's 'full of anxiety' as she undergoes immunotherapy for stage 4 brain cancer The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, 44, said she gets anxiety 'on random days for no apparent reason' Commenters suggested adult coloring books and edibles, while others told her to check in with her doctor Teddi Mellencamp reached out to fans for advice on how to handle the 'severe anxiety' she's experiencing amid treatment for stage 4 brain cancer. 'OK, for those of y'all who have gone through immunotherapy, did you have severe anxiety?' the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, 44, asked in a video she posted to Instagram on Aug. 14. While lying in bed in a taupe hoodie, the Two T's in a Pod co-host shared 'just on random days for no apparent reason like today I was able to walk." Earlier in the day, she'd shared a video to her Instagram stories of her walk with son Cruz, 10; She also shares daughters Slate, 12, and Dove, 5, with estranged husband Edwin Arroyave, Afterwards, she shared, "I did the podcast, and now I'm just sitting here full of anxiety.' 'Is this common? What are things that you guys have done to help make you feel better.?' she asked, taking a deep breath. 'Let me know. Looking for any positive advice. Thank you.' Related: The comments ranged from adult coloring books to edibles, supplements to breathing exercises, while others urged Mellencamp to get her labs checked as anxiety can be a symptom of another health issue. Anxiety has been a recorded side effect from immunotherapy, with one study finding that as treatment increased, more than half of the participants had anxiety. The reality star — who has been documenting her ongoing melanoma diagnosis after undergoing 17 surgeries for the invasive skin cancer — confirmed in April that her disease progressed to stage 4, having metastasized to her brain and lungs. She needed immunotherapy, radiation and surgery to treat the tumors. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Read the original article on People
