Breast Lift no Implants

Hello all! First I just wanted to thank everyone who has listed an experience or photos on here, they have helped me SO much in the months leading up to this as I did research. Thank you, thank you, thank you. This is a scary and daunting decision sometimes, even though it's what I want, so I appreciate you sharing and I wanted to share in return.

Details: I am 5' 9", 155lbs, 27 years old. I have wanted a breast lift for years, they have never been perky. Over the years I gained a lot of weight (50ish lbs) which didn't help, but I took off most of the weight three years ago and have been at my current weight for a year. I anticipate staying within 5ish pounds of this weight, and figured there's no time like the present for this surgery.

When I was heavier I was a (still sagging) solid D cup but since losing weight I am a deflated C. With this surgery I expect to be a smaller C or full B (I notice my C bras are loose now but only near the top, we'll see how they end up). I know considering the deflation what would really look good is implants, but personally I just can't get used to that idea for me, so I've decided to do the lift and hope for the best shape (and nipple placement!) possible. Honestly at this point my biggest hope is to have the nipples raised with skin visible all around them instead of just pointing down, that's my biggest annoyance, although a higher lift and shape would be great too.

The plan is an anchor lift on both breasts, and my PS pointed out asymmetry on one side which I'm going to tell him to correct. He did say that I could almost get away with a Benelli on the left hand side, but would want an anchor on the right, so for scar symmetry do it on both--which I'm fine with, I've always assumed anchor on both anyway. I did read one story on here about a woman who was marked for anchor, and when she woke up the PS had decided to only do Benelli! So considering my PS's comment I'm slightly worried about that but I think I'll just confirm with him before the surgery.

Ok let's hope for the best for tomorrow! I really hope I like the result and I also hope that I have some managed expectations--we're going for solid improvement, not perfection. Thanks again for all of your contributions, and I plan to keep you posted since one of the biggest benefits of this site is learning how the results improve over time.

-G

Hello all! Thanks for the well wishes! My surgery went well yesterday and I'm now 24-hours post op. I changed out my gauze this morning and took some photos in the process just for anyone who wants to prepare themselves for what they may look like immediately after. I would say it's pretty hard to guess at the final results at this point, all of the swelling is in the upper pole and the stitches make the undersides tight, so the nipples are flipped straight down--you'll see from the side angle, kind of funny-looking. :) Reminds me of the nose on Max the dog from the Grinch! My hope is that within a couple of weeks that swelling will drop down, round out the bottom, and the nipples end up in a more neutral position. I'll post more as I see changes!
-G

Hello all! It's one week and a day post-op, feeling pretty great! To summarize, I'd say the day of surgery was deceptively good-feeling, days 2-3 were the worst (immobile, in pain, bled when trying to change bandages, and just generally freaked out), but day 4-5 got a WHOLE lot better--I switched from prescription pain pills to Ibuprofen on Day 4, I got a routine down for how to change bandages/clothes, plus regular showers will increase anyone's morale. :) My surgery was on a Tuesday, by Friday night I felt good enough to meet the girls for a short dinner (although I found I couldn't talk as fast with a compressed chest! Shallow breaths...). Saturday and Sunday I incorporated short walk abouts up to three miles (although immediately went home to shower since I'm a little paranoid about infection). This past Monday I went back to work (equipped with an ace compression bandage in case the surgical compression bra got old after 8 hours, but it's been fine). As of today (one week one day post) I feel about 85% comfortable doing things I would normally do. I can lift (light) things down from over my head, I can sleep with one arm above my head, I can walk and stand and bend over. I would still not lift anything heavy over my head, I would not bend over AND stretch forward (yoga), I would certainly not like anyone on the subway to run into my breasts. :) But otherwise, feeling great!

(Side note, I can recommend the Marena brand surgical compression bras, they close in front, have 4 clasps but you can clasp any one of them by itself which has been a godsend (I clip the top most rung if my incision is sore, clip the bottom most rung if I need more support). The band around the ribcage either extends 1" below breasts or 2" below--I def recommend the 2" especially for the early days because it does not threaten to get near your incisions. But I did buy the 1" as well and use it as an 'alternate' bra to sleep in while I'm washing the 2" one (usually with only the middle clasp hooked))

Finally, I went in for my first post-op appointment today. My PS said everything looked great and the steri strips were 'really clean' so he wants to keep them on one more week. I knew that would probably be the case from other reviews (thanks). So I will see him next week and we'll take the strips off (assuming they haven't come off on their own, which they haven't yet) and he said at the two-week point, I will be cleared for swimming, exercise, immersion bathing, etc. as I see fit. Whee! (Does this include a cocktail? Because I've been avoiding indulging and jeez, August, your temptations...) =)

So, yep! Feeling physically well, which is PARAMOUNT, and as far as final results, who's to know, we'll just have to wait and see. :) I don't expect to see any change until the steri strips are off at least, because they literally hold the breasts where they are for now, and even then I expect it will take some time for things to begin settling. He noted the stitches will be dissolving over 8-12 weeks, so that's another marker to consider when watching the shape change--those internal sutures play a role. I don't know if this view helps any of you, but what I say to myself is, waiting is the only option and it's worth waiting for. Because either the results are great, and I have to wait for them, or they're not so great, but we still have to wait to find out and wait to correct it. In the meantime...patience. In the slow lane. :)