Emma made the decision to have breast reduction surgery under the care of breast surgeon consultant Adam Critchley. Emma opened up to Adam and his team about her experience of undergoing the surgery, why she wanted to have it, her initial consultation which put her mind at ease, as well as her recovery from breast reduction surgery with the support of Adam and co.
Name: Emma
Procedure: Breast reduction
Why did you decide to undergo breast surgery?
I decided to undergo breast surgery due to lack confidence and the active lifestyle that I have. I have 2 young children and it got to the point where I was struggling to run around with them due to the size of my breasts and not being able to wear a bra with full support. I thought losing weight and exercise was the answer to reduce the size of them however as hard as I tried this just didn’t work. I hated going clothes shopping especially for occasion wear as my body was so out of proportion nothing would fit me properly. It got to the point where I was feeling down and not being able to do the things I enjoy most eg running around with my children, playing sports etc. I made the decision to see Adam due to these reasons and it was the best decision I have ever made.
Why did you choose Adam Critchley as your breast surgeon?
I chose Adam as my breast surgeon as he was highly recommended by my parents. Both my mum and dad work for the NHS/private medical care and they both advised me that he was the absolute one to see. After my first consultation with Adam and seeing the results from his other breast surgery’s I was 100% sure that he was the best person to operate on me. On leaving the first consultation I looked at his reviews online and pre/post op photos and this clarified everything; his professionalism, knowledge and just being so lovely made me feel completely at ease and excited about undergoing a breast reduction.
How was your initial consultation with Adam Critchley?
My initial consultation with Adam couldn’t have gone any better. We discussed the reasons behind my decision to undergo surgery and he explained everything in full detail as to what the process was. Any operation is worrying and having the feeling of the unknown however Adam immediately made me feel comfortable and confident that not only I made the right decision to undergo surgery but also that I chose him to be the surgeon. His knowledge and explanation of the whole process took the worry away and made me excited that my body was going to change for the better. I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders and that I was in safe hands. His professionalism, kindness and knowledge was incredible.
What was your experience like on the day of surgery with Adam Critchley and his team?
I can only describe my experience as faultless. From the moment I walked into the Nuffield till the moment I left was amazing. I got seen by a handful of people throughout the day of my surgery to which I couldn’t fault any of them. I was seen by the anesthetist whom explained everything that would happen in his role and what was going to happen to me. I felt at ease and all the nerves went away as I was confident I was in completely safe hands with his experience, professionalism and caring nature. Adam then came to see me to which he took his time in preparing me for the operation and explained again everything he was doing. The theatre staff were incredible once I was down there and kept me chatting to ease the nerves prior to being anaesthetised. 10/10 experience, could not fault anything.
How was the recovery after your surgery?
My recovery after the surgery was much quicker than I initially thought. The anaesthetist gave me a nerve block which made me so comfortable when waking up after the operation. When this eased off I took regular pain killers, mainly paracetamol and ibuprofen, to manage the pain. I was up and about within a couple of days albeit quite tender but this faded within the first couple of weeks and I found I was taking less pain relief as the weeks went on. Once the dressings came off I felt a bit vulnerable however I bought several post op bras that Adam recommended and these worked wonders. After 6 weeks I was back to exercising, running around with the kids feeling so much happier in myself.
What advice would you give to someone else considering breast surgery?
If anyone is thinking of having a breast reduction I would 100% recommend. It has been the best decision i have ever made and it has completely changed my life. I can’t thank Adam and his amazing team enough for a new lease of life I have post op. I was thinking about breast surgery for a while, even prior to having my 2 children, and I am so happy I finally decided to go ahead. If anyone else is considering it I highly recommend going to have a consultation with Adam, this will completely make your mind up and you will have the best experience going through with it.