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POSTED UNDER Breast Reduction REVIEWS

8 weeks post op and loving life-,Calgary, AB

ORIGINAL POST

I'm so glad to have found this site as I have been...

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Canadian Lindsey
WORTH IT

I'm so glad to have found this site as I have been so nervous/excited for weeks with no one to really understand what I am going through.

I guess my story starts when i was about 20 i had put on some weight and my breasts went from a DD to an E then F and finally after babies a J. After finding out about having high cholesterol when I was nursing I decided to lose the weight I had put on. 60lbs and one year later I am left with 36F sometimes FF. My breasts are so droopy and heavy and full of stretch marks. 6 months after losing the weight I went to my family Dr. for a referral and his opinion was I was completely fine but begrudgingly sent it away. I got the call about a month later (last october) and it was on! I got my surgery date this May and tomorrow I go in. I have decided on a 36C and as much as I am nervous about the scars I am so excited that I won't be all hunched over all the time. Lucikly for me that Alberta Health covered the cost and all i was responsible for was the lift part and liposuction on the side.

Does anyone have any tips of things that I could use that the Dr never mentioned?

Canadian Lindsey's provider

Ryan Frank, MD, FRCSC

Ryan Frank, MD, FRCSC

Certified Plastic Surgeon

Canadian Lindsey

Canadian Lindsey rating for Dr. Frank:

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Replies (11)

August 23, 2012

Congratulations Lindsey! Hope everything went well for you! I can tell you that my scars are so insignificant that they are barely even a consideration for me. And the pain relief I feel is amazing...as is my newfound confidence!
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August 23, 2012
Thanks. Surgery went well the only issue is a swollen tongue. Apparently the intubation pushed down on it and it's very hard to swallow. Managing the pain fine so far but finding it difficult to stay awake for any length of time.
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August 25, 2012
Day 2 post op and my tongue is still swollen on the left side making it hard to swallow and eat. Pain in tolerable only taking motrin and tylenol. not sure of the placement but it must be cause of the swelling
August 25, 2012
Welcome to the Other Side! This is one decision you'll never regret. Sorry you're having some troubles, but wanted to say...if your body says sleep, listen to it. Also will give your tongue time to rest and heal. Sleeping is great for recovery! Let's your body focus on healing without you asking it to do extra stuff'. Listen to your body! And savor your new life. It's wonderful on sooooo many levels!
August 25, 2012
i thing you look great! yay! speedy recovery!
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August 25, 2012
Lindsey, congrats on making it to the other side! Your day 2 picture looks amazing! Best of luck with the healing, and I hope it goes smoothly for you.
August 26, 2012

Pictures look great Lindsey! Liquids and very soft food until your swelling of your tongue goes down!
UPDATED FROM Canadian Lindsey
6 days post

The day of my surgery I arrived at the hospital at...

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Canadian Lindsey
The day of my surgery I arrived at the hospital at 6:15 for surgery at 7:30. At 7:20 the nurse came to get me and to say I was nervous at this point is an understatement. The anesthesiologist started me on something to calm my nerves while they got set up. The last thing I remember is them strapping my arms down so the would stay in the same postition and it was go time.
I am not really sure how long I was under but the surgery was 2 hours. I couldn't stay awake, although when I did awake for a bit my neck was killing me from the position so my ever so nice recovery nurse gave me a neck massage until my muscle relaxants kicked in. I remember being wheeled back into my little curtained area and seeingmy husband but I still couldn't stay awake.
Around 12:30 I was a bit better but discovered that my tongue was so swollen that i found it hard to swallow my own spit let alone suck with a straw. They determined that the intubation tube likely pressed on that side to hard and caused the sweeling. Awesome!! No time line for when that will go away I've heard 5-7 days and I have heard 6 weeks!!!. I finally left around 4;30 but all I really wanted was for the nurses to go away so I could have one last nap!


Day 6 post op and I am pretty pleased with the results. I still feel like the nipple especially on the left side is a little too high and slightly left. I'm sure I'm just still swollen. I still have a lot of the vibrating feelings and my nipples (especially on the lfet side) errect a lo tMy pain management has been great, still only taking tylenol and ibuprofen since I am still sore from the lipo on the sides. I had a day of percoset but didn't feel like i needed it to deal. My steri strips are still in place so I havent seen the handi work yet but besides placement I am super happy. It's been tough with little ones at home since my son is 2 and all he wants it to cuddle mommy, but has been told mommy has owie boobies which for the time being seems to be good enough. My mom has been here to help and then my husband has time off work when the kids are going back. I am glad to have found this site because I am constantly checking for others updates and similar situations. Gives me some peace.

Replies (9)

August 29, 2012
it sounds like you are moving in the right direction ,,they are looking better every day.! they looked great from day one actually compared to some other photos ive seen..most look scary but yours do not,lol.I cant wait to get mine done!
August 30, 2012

You are looking really good Lindsey! How is the tongue doing now?
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August 30, 2012
Swelling is going down but it is still swollen. I have pain in the morning but by evening my speech impediment is almost gone
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August 30, 2012
Hi Lidnsey! I too am in Calgary I haven't heard of Dr. Frank before, I was originally sent to a guy down South in the Richmond area! he was AWFUL he talked about no nipple, reconstruction, taking me down to a small C from a J - he made it sound like I would look like I had a mastectomy! Then I heard about a doctor in Banff/Canmore etc. Did you just go to Dr. Frank or had you tried others to get their opinion!? Do you think your liposuction was worth $1,000? I would be TOTALLY covered by Alberta Health - but I still want to feel like a woman! RU glad you had this done? Thankyou
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August 30, 2012
I am beyond thrilled. I'm one week post op and I'm elated. I actually tried to get Dr Perron but he doesn't do ahc anymore so my referral was sent to the surgeon in his practice. He is top notch! He also works at the children's hospital doing reconstructive surgery. He recommends the lipo because he says it enhances the overall look. I notice a huge difference but it is the most sore spot for me. Dr frank is fairly young but he is absolutely amazing. Hands like an angel. Haha. I didn't do a lot of research to tell you the truth because Dr Perron was so highly recommended but dr frank was top of his class and is truly amazing. I have heard the female dr in banff does not do ahc cases anymore but I'm sure she's not the only surgeon but she is one if the best in Alberta. I hope this helped.
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August 30, 2012
http://www.ryanfrankmd.com/dr-frank
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August 30, 2012
Yes I know about her! It's NOT right is it? It's not like they are starving or having to take the bus, they get paid a comparable rate from AHC - it's just greed! There was Dr. Elizabeth Findlay & Thomas Sinclair - they both came HIGHLY recommended! BUT I couldn't get into seeing them for MONTHS - because of huge interest in them. Also they wanted me to get down to a certain BMI -which I haven't done yet! I am SO SO worried about scarring, I was even thinking of going to Texas to avoid the scars with their breast lifts etc. i will keep checking out your blog - thankyou for getting back to me!
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August 30, 2012
With my surgeon I had to be 39 bmi or I couldn't see him either. I'm taking so steri strips off today so I will post a new updated pic
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August 30, 2012
Oops. 30 bmi
UPDATED FROM Canadian Lindsey
9 days post

Day 9 post op and I started to remove the steri...

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Canadian Lindsey
Day 9 post op and I started to remove the steri strips, It really tugged and pulled up some scabs and cause a tiny bit of bleeding. My orders on my post op care were to remove them at 7 days. Any advice, I wonder why each dr is so different in their advice. I have also been wearing an underwire since the day after my surgery as per my Dr's request. Im double locked and loaded, seems a bit much but actually feels better to sleep in as it keeps it all in place. The downfall is that It puts pressure on the lipo areas...ouchie. I posted 2 new pics, one of my sore nipple. It's funny to see how big my aeriola was and how tiny it is now.

Replies (3)

September 2, 2012

RE: Steri strips

Mine stayed on until they just naturally started falling off in the shower. But you are right. All docs are different in what they want their patients to do. But if they are still really stuck on I wouldn't pull them off. Just use a little extra soap in the shower and that should help to loosen them. Within a couple of days you should notice them starting to peel off.
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September 2, 2012
I'm surprised your PS wanted you to wear an underwire! I was told not for at least 6 weeks because the wire can rub and irritate the numb skin without you knowing. Regarding the strips, my PS took them off at 5 days post-op and replaced them with paper tape. MY ARCH NEMESIS!
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September 3, 2012
I have to wear 2 bras day and night for 8 weeks. One sports bra and one underwire. I wear the sports bra first to prevent the irritation but he says the underwire is to help the shape. Who knows what's best but when I don't have the underwire on it doesn't feel like enough support. Maybe just all the years of being locked into a big busty bra. Haha.