Breast reduction surgery made "a world of difference."

Mary Coleman, 51, struggled with large, heavy breasts since junior high.

They made eight years of military service uncomfortable and hindered any running activity. After leaving the military, she became pregnant and her breasts increased more than four sizes to a 38H. Diet and exercise over the years did not diminish the size of her breasts, which were causing backaches, headaches and shoulder pain.

After 18 years of trying to cover up with big shirts, sweaters and coats and enduring physical discomfort, Mary decided in 2013 to see a plastic surgeon about breast reduction. Her Kelsey-Seybold primary care physician, Dr. Christine Le, referred her to a Kelsey-Seybold plastic surgeon. Mary immediately scheduled a consultation with him and was struck by his and his staff’s compassion.“

"He didn't make me feel uncomfortable that I was a size H. He said, ‘We can fix this; this is not an issue.’ He made me feel comfortable because his demeanor was so professional. From the start, he and his assistant were most concerned about what would make me feel at ease. They listened to me, which was a breath of fresh air,” Mary said.

They took the time to answer all her questions and talked about any issues or worries that she had. Her surgery was scheduled in June. She remembers going in for surgery on a Thursday and going home the following afternoon.

“I was surprised at how relaxed I felt going into surgery. My surgeon and his staff made me feel important – as if I was the only one they were taking care of,” Mary recalled.

Today, Mary’s breasts are a 36 DD. They look natural and she couldn’t be happier with the results.

“It’s a relief. I should have done this a long time ago. I would do it again in a heartbeat,” she said.

In fact, her advice for other women considering breast reduction surgery is to do it while you’re young rather than waiting.

“Constantly wearing big, bulky clothes and people staring at you can really hinder your self-esteem,” she said. “Having regular size breasts now is a world of difference.”