Sue Towers tells us about the life changing breast reduction surgery she received at Benenden Hospital.
“I had bilateral breast reduction surgery at Benenden Hospital on the 21 September. Mr Marc Pacifico was my Consultant Plastic Surgeon, he was great. I live near Rochester in Kent so it took me less than an hour to get there.
How Sue’s natural weight loss journey led to her opting for a breast reduction
“Before opting for breast reduction surgery, I’d naturally lost 3 stone by cutting out unhealthy snacks and by starting to go to the gym. When lockdown hit in 2020 and I couldn’t go to the gym, my friend suggested Couch to 5k, this helped me to lose the last stone. However, it was difficult to run due to my breast size - sports bras gave me no support.
“I’d lost just over three stone in weight and my breasts were down to my belly button and they were just horrible. I decided I needed to do something about it.’
Sue's breast reduction surgery success
Hi. I'm Sue. I had a bilateral bust reduction.
What made you decide to have breast reduction surgery?
So, after my weight loss, which was a natural thing for myself, I cut down everything that you need to cut out: chocolate, everything. I went to the gym, and then we had lockdown last year and I couldn't go to the gym and a friend of mine suggested the Couch to 5k jogging, which I did and that helped me lose my last one stone.
Prior to the weight loss, a friend and I, we weighed my boobs by putting our hands under them and lifting them, weighing me again and they were about a stone each. It was ridiculous.
The dents I had here were so bad and they were horrible. I hated them. That was what made me want to have them away. So, I proceeded to then follow down the line of trying to find out about how I could pay for it myself. That led me to the Benenden, as I said earlier. What a fabulous thing. It's just been absolutely great to know that they're here for you. Obviously, you know, that if you know the Benenden, they do everything here.
How easy was it to find out about breast reduction surgery?
It was very easy. I sent an email originally, I had a reply from whoever it was, to give me the offers of the prices and the quotes and everything. There was a package deal available for self-pay, which I’d have often thought about.
Could you tell us about your breast reduction surgery consultation?
I came and I had my consultation with Mark and Ali, his wonderful nurse, who also played a fabulous part in this whole journey. And we chatted. The breasts came out and we, we spoke about them, how much I hated them. And I'd lost just on three stone in weight, and they were now touching my belly button, down on my elbows. The nipples were bit dip and dazzle, and they were just horrible, and he spoke to me, and he said we're going to make you lovely again. And that's what the next step was, and it was fabulous.
Could you tell us about your breast reduction surgery procedure?
I came in here in the morning. I was taken up to the ward and met some lovely ladies up there and I came down in the afternoon to the theatre, at half past three. Remember it all.
And we looked at the time and it was 3.40 he said you're going to go now and then that was it. And then twenty to eight o'clock, something like that, I was back upstairs, and I was done and ready for a cup of tea.
How did you feel after your breast reduction surgery?
But I had to do this exercise every day, which was to touch my nipples and squeeze them and make sure there was blood flow and that they were pinking. Anyway, I literally went like this because that's where they used to be. And we all had a bit of a giggle because, of course, they’re here!
And that's where I am now. I've just had my eight-week check-up from Mark and Ali and the nurse, and we spoke about trying to let you know how good that this can make you feel. You can pay for something yourself and have a surgery done.
Why Sue chose Benenden Hospital for her breast reduction surgery
“After my weight loss I went back to my GP but they unfortunately couldn’t give me breast reduction surgery on the NHS. So, I went to find out how I could pay for it myself, that’s how I found Benenden Hospital.
“Originally, I sent an email to the hospital enquiring about breast reduction and had a reply from someone who gave me an in-depth price list for the procedure. It was a package deal for self-pay. I had my initial consultation with Mr Pacifico and Breast Nurse, Ali Holden-Smith. She is a wonderful nurse who also played a fabulous part in my whole journey. Mr Pacifico spoke directly to me and he said: ‘We’re going to make you feel confident again’.
“On the morning of the 21 September I was taken to the ward to meet the wonderful staff, they were all fantastic and it instantly calmed me down. In the afternoon I was taken down to theatres. I was explaining to the gentleman that did my canula for my anaesthetic how I’d had such a bad experience with cannula’s before. In response he said, ‘I put your canula in 5 minutes ago’. I was so impressed! Four hours later I was upstairs in the ward ready for a cup of tea.
How breast reduction surgery has helped Sue to run faster
“Before weight loss and my breast reduction, my breasts weighed a stone each, I had huge dents at the top of my shoulders, they were a huge strain for me.
“Prior to the surgery I was a double G cup size so I couldn’t go to Primark to spend £4 on a bra. Instead, I had to go to Rigby and Peller to have one which costed £102. To be able now to go to Primark and spend less money on a bra is amazing! I haven’t been able to do that since I was 25. I’m 56 now and people have asked me why are you having your breasts done now? - I say I’m doing this for me. Literally two days post-surgery the smile on my face said it all, my shoulders were back, my posture had instantly improved and my confidence had skyrocketed.
“With regards to my jogging, Ali said ‘Slowly, slowly Sue’. I did that and I thought I was the same pace but I was running half a km faster!
“I used to call them my ugly boobs now they’re my girls because they’re a part of me again and I love them.”
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 07 December 2021