My name is Mandy McDonald. I'm from St. Leonard's, East Sussex, and in September 2023 last year, I privately paid for a bilateral breast reduction.

Why did you book your initial consultation?

So, a reduction was something I wanted for a very, very long time because of the impact on my everyday life. I remember coming to see Mr Macdonald and talking through with him and bursting into tears and explaining to him why. Obviously, you know, when you go in for something like that, your Consultant wants to know why you want it done.

And it did impact. I had huge breasts that I had to carry around every single day. I had dents in my shoulders, I had pain in my neck and my back. It's seen as a glamorous thing, sometimes, to have big breasts, but I can honestly say hand on heart, it's not very glamorous, carrying them around. And only someone that is in that position, that has those, I think, can truly empathise.

Why did you choose Benenden Hospital for your breast reduction?

I wanted to look for somewhere locally and I know somebody that had used this hospital and she recommended it to me, and it's perfect because it's literally 40 minutes’ drive.

After meeting Mr Macdonald, it just put everything at rest. You know, I'd saved a long time for the operation, and I just knew then this is where I'm going to come for that operation.

How did you find the surroundings and environment at Benenden Hospital?

It's just set in stunning grounds, isn't it? It's beautiful, absolutely beautiful. You know, I think, you know, it's your ideal place for coming for an operation and sort of having that space around you is lovely. And the facilities, it's just clean, it's well kept, everybody is so welcoming.

How did you find the post-operative care at Benenden Hospital

Kate and Mr Macdonald both came in to see how I was. And I remember saying to them, am I flat chested? And they said “No, no, definitely not flat chested” And again, you know, just checking out how I was, am I comfortable? And then, you know, spending the night in hospital; the food was lovely, really, really well looked after.

And then it's the start of, I remember, Mr Macdonald saying, well, it's your job now. You've got to go home. You've got to sit just for a couple of weeks, literally with your arms by your sides, not doing much at all, watching plenty of Netflix, getting waited on hand and foot. Because that part of the recovery is really, really important.

The really lovely thing was Kate was just at the end of the phone, end of the email, you know. I remember sending her pictures – are they meant to look like this. Is this ok? And she was just there, giving me reassurance the whole time.

How do you feel after your breast reduction?

I went from wearing compression bras after the op for six weeks. And then once I didn't have to wear the compression bra anymore, it was like invigorating.

I can wear, you know, just a little sort of sports bra now or a crop top even dresses. I'm wearing dresses, backless dresses with no bra. I've never been able to do that. It's absolutely amazing.

Would you recommend Benenden Hospital?

I absolutely would recommend the hospital to anybody. And I already have, you know, I've got a couple of friends that are looking to have a breast reduction.

Don't look abroad, come here. You get so well looked after, you know, all the reassurance before the surgery. You come in on the day of the surgery and again, so well looked after and really looked after after the surgery and Kate, you know, the breast nurse is there to help you, answer any questions, reassure you. It's just such an amazing service.

What would your advice be to anyone thinking about breast reduction surgery?

It's made such an impact on my life. I just, again, I can't begin to name everything that is different for me.

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.