By Linda Hankemeier
Families share so much with one another. Special moments. Heirlooms. Medical information.
Judy, along with other female members of her family, shared a physical trait — that of being well endowed. While to some women that might be desirable, Judy found being well endowed challenging, to say the least.
“I’m a nurse, and when you’re working with a patient, you don’t want your breasts to be in the way,” lamented Judy. Her cup-size-G breasts would get in the way of normal activities, impede her ability to exercise, and make finding clothing challenging at best. “I could somewhat hide my breasts in my scrubs, but not in regular clothes.”
Over the course of years, the women in Judy’s family who were plagued by this physical challenge all came to the same conclusion: a permanent solution was needed. Each woman, one by one, decided to have breast reduction surgery. As they went through the procedures, the women would gain information from one another’s medical experiences, recovery, and quality of life.
“It’s not easy to make the decision to have surgery, and I was the last one in my family to finally go through with it,” Judy stated. “I was the oldest of the ‘girls’ in my family, and I put it off the longest.” The back and shoulder pain that commonly accompany large breasts wore on her and hit a point at which she could take it no more. She had seen how each of them had benefitted in decreased pain and increased convenience and movement.
While Judy is a nurse and had the opportunity to see several family members go through the procedure, she still gives her doctor the credit for making the entire experience easy-to-understand and navigate.
“She talked to me about exactly what was needed for my specific situation and to get rid of the pain in my back and shoulders,” shared Judy. “I knew what was going to happen, what my recovery needs would be, and how to manage any pain. My surgeon at Twin City Plastic Surgery said everything in down-to-earth, lay terms. Even as a nurse, I was very impressed in how she described things in a way that would make them easy for anyone to understand.”
“I really wasn’t surprised about anything that came with the surgeries, not even where the incisions were located,” stated Judy. “My family members who had this surgery quite a while back were impressed with how the procedures have changed over time. For example, I didn’t have surgical drains or anything like that,” she recalled.
Judy’s family was there for her afterwards, helping her through the recovery and as she began her new life. “My surgery was done outpatient, and I was home the same day. I was a little sore the first week, but got better right on schedule,” Judy offered. “It was just amazing. All of my family members who have gone through this surgery look great, and we all agree that breast reduction surgery was the only way to go.”
Knowing it is a difficult decision to make, Judy offered a final thought for those women who might not have family who have been through the procedure: “I really hope other women who are suffering through the same thing really think about getting the surgery. It has made such a difference in my life. It’s like I have a whole new life.”
Board-certified plastic surgeons Laura C. Randolph, Chad Tattini, and Paige Holt, along with their professional and compassionate staff, comprise Twin City Plastic Surgery. Their Bloomington office is located at 2502 East Empire Street, Suite C, which is one mile east of Veterans Parkway, turning on to Audie Murphy Drive. More information on their practice, surgical options, and their consultation services is available by calling their office at 309-662-6772 or visiting online at www.twincityplasticsurgery.com.