On 19 January 2024, Sam Myring had Breast Reduction Surgery at our hospital under the care of Consultant Plastic Surgeon Mr Chris Macdonald and Clinical Nurse Specialist in Plastics and Cosmetic Surgery Kate Comrie. Discover how having this surgery felt like a weight was lifted for Sam.
How were your breasts affecting your everyday life prior to reduction surgery?
“My large breasts had a major impact on my life. They prevented me from taking part in sports and from dancing, which I love. From a young age, I’d always been conscious of them, and this led to a lack of confidence generally.”
At what point did you decide to get your breast surgery?
“My confidence was at an all-time low, I knew I had to do something. So, I decided to book a consultation because I had some money saved up and I was able to do what I wanted because my children had all grown up. It was time to put myself first.”
How and why did you choose Benenden Hospital for your treatment?
“I’ve been a Benenden Health member since 1989, so I know that you can choose to go to Benenden Hospital. What a wonderful hospital it is! It was my number one choice. From the moment I set foot in the hospital I knew I’d made the right choice.”
Cosmetic Surgery at a hospital vs. a clinic: which is best?
“The biggest factor I considered when choosing to go to a private hospital over a cosmetics clinic was the patient experience. It was important to me that there would be staff and facilities should anything go wrong. I’d heard negative stories about cosmetic clinics, especially from abroad, and I just knew that Benenden Hospital would offer the best service for what I wanted.”
Initial consultation
“I phoned up the Private Patient team to make my booking for an initial Breast Reduction consultation. When I first came in for my appointment, I was told about the process by Consultant Plastic Surgeon Mr Chris Macdonald and by Clinical Nurse Specialist in Plastics and Cosmetic Surgery Kate Comrie.
“During that consultation, I was given some patient information to go away and read. I then had time to cool-off and make the right decision for me, so it wasn’t a snap decision.”
How did you prepare for surgery?
“Once I’d made my final decision, I rebooked for another consultation and the process began. Mr Macdonald was such an excellent Consultant. He gave me thorough advice. He wanted what was best for my health, so he explained why I couldn’t have the operation until I’d lost some weight. At first, I resisted this and felt frustrated I couldn’t just have the surgery as I was.
“However, now reflecting upon this, I’m beyond grateful that my Consultant urged me to lose the weight. I’m a better, more confident person because of it. And Kate, I couldn’t have done it without Kate. They’re a fantastic team together.”
What was your experience of the environment and staff?
“When you walk into Benenden Hospital it’s so calm and everyone is friendly. It doesn’t matter who you meet, they’ll always greet you warmly. If appointments are running late, staff are always apologetic, which doesn’t always happen elsewhere. It’s such an amazing place to come; it’s very relaxing.
“When I came in for my first consultation, I was in an Outpatient room, but my past few appointments have been in the recently developed Cosmetics Suite. This is lovely because you know where you’ll be when you come into the hospital for follow-ups and it’s a dedicated room just for Cosmetics patients.”
How did you feel on the day of your breast reduction surgery?
“Like any surgery, I was nervous! It was early in the morning when I came in. The staff were so good, they had everything prepared for me. I think I was waiting in my ward room for no more than an hour before I was called down to Theatres for my surgery.
“Being one of the first on the list really helped, because I didn’t have much time to get worried about anything. In the anaesthetic room I was made to be comfortable and at ease, which helped me to relax further. Mr Macdonald was so thorough in his explanation of what would happen that I didn’t have any concerns, questions or worries on the day.”
What happened post-surgery?
“My compression bra was put on me post-surgery when I came round. The care provided by staff was enough without being too intrusive, it couldn’t have been better. As I expected, the care from the staff was fantastic. From my arrival through to my overnight stay, the care I received was excellent.”
“Two weeks into my recovery, I had a checkup from Kate to look at my dressings. Unfortunately, there was an issue about a month later where my breasts weren’t healing as well as planned.”
“I was on the phone with her, sent her photos, she discussed the problem with my Consultant and they made a plan of action on how to help me on my healing journey. They made sure I had all the care I needed.”
What improvements has your breast reduction made to your life?
“The confidence that having my breasts reduced has given me is priceless. Friends and family have complimented my posture, which is now upright. I’m walking properly, not hunched over like before. I can participate in sports and finally dance without feeling physically restrained.
“If you’re struggling with heavy, large breasts and you’re considering surgery, I’d recommend booking a consultation just to talk things through and then it is down to you and you alone to make the decision.”
“I was embarrassed to tell people about my surgery, but people reassured me that if it made me feel better, that was all that mattered. If you decide you want to book your cosmetic surgery here, I honestly couldn’t fault it!”
Female breast reduction surgery at Benenden Hospital
To find out more about female breast reduction surgery and our other cosmetics procedures please complete our online enquiry form, contact us via Livechat or call our Private Patient team on 01580 363158.
Published on 13 August 2024