Breast Implants: Stories

I am a 44 year old mom of 3 kids. I nursed for 6 years total. I have always had issues with small breasts as a kid - and was teased, etc., etc., etc.
I loved the feeling of femininity of having full breasts - which I experienced during pregnancy and during nursing. Now that I am done having kids, I feel like I am in the prime of my life, however, my breasts are just dilapidated. I am in good physical shape, am 5'5 and weigh about 125 pounds. Finally, our kids are old enough for my husband and I to have romantic weekends, but I just don't feel much like ever taking my bra off, because it is so depressing.
I would love to feel sexy again and to enjoy myself naked.
I know I have three beautiful kids and I am feeling somewhat selfish for thinking of doing this surgery, as my husband loves me just the way I am. Is it a low self esteem thing to do this? I don't know... I do know that it really isn't that much different from anything else that I do to make myself look my best - shaving, waxing, facials, manicures, pedicures, even teeth crowns and so on. BUT, surgery seems kind of extreme. Yet, I really think I would love the results.
I am looking at so many people who are pleased with the results and the doctor I have chosen seems to be so experienced, compassionate and knowlegable. I felt comfortable right away with him and his staff.
Anyhow, I am also a Christian, so I am wondering if I am doing something that God thinks is... weird, right?
But, as I pray about it I have a peace as it being no big deal in the big scheme of things....
Anybody else feeling this way?
I have my pre-op appointment on Tuesday and my surgery date already scheduled for March 27th.. I will be making my official commitment at the pre-op appointment, since that is when payment is due....
So far I am looking at doing an internal lift as well as silicone implants, 400cc under the muscle with the incision under the breast fold.
Also - am worried somewhat about post op infection, blood clots, complications...
But, still excited about it all too... this website has been helpful to see and hear everyone's stories!

So, tomorrow is the big day! My house is not as clean as I would have hoped, but kids have had the stomach flu... so glad I didn't get it. I have been washing my hands and everything like crazy. I am done eating and drinking now until after the surgery. I have to be there at 9:30 am. My husband is so not thrilled, but he will come around. He is not against it, just thinks it's unnecessary and doesn't understand. But he does know that I want to do this for me so he is trying to be supportive in his own way.
I had a crazy thing happen tonight. I witnessed a three car wreck right in front of me at an intersection. I was so fortunate to be there to help a young mom who was ok, but really upset. I had some wet wipes to wipe her face as the airbag hit her pretty hard and her nose was bleeding quite a bit. She was so thankful that I was there to give her a hug and pray with her. I gave her some bottled water and just sat and talked to her. Everyone else seemed to be fine and was walking around. Her car was totaled. It just was a reminder to me that life is so short. I am feeling good about getting this done now and not waiting or wondering. Anything can happen in an instant. Why not do the things we have always wanted to do right!
I feel pretty fortunate to get this surgery tomorrow and I hope and pray that my recovery will go smoothly. I will update more tomorrow. I have been a nervous wreck all week worrying about every possible disaster that could happen. But, somehow I am feeling more at peace now. I think I will even sleep tonight....

Well, my surgery went well this afternoon. The patch they gave me to wear the night before to combat nausea made me so dizzy and off balance, but I haven't really been nauseated. I only have to wear the patch for another day or two, so that part is good. I have been eating and drinking normally which is nice. Already had a bowel movement, so thank God for that. After I came home, i slept for a few hours which helped to get over the anesthesia. I was dillerious when I left the hospital I don't even remember coming home. I also had to keep my eyes shut as everything was spinning.
But, now the rest of my body is really fine. My boobs are SOOOO sore though. Although the Dr. said everything is ok. There is only one strange reaction I had to everything and that is that my face and torso are red and so itchy - I devoloped some kind of allergy or something. The Doctor did say this rash is somewhat common, so that eased my mind. I started to take the steroid tablets as that should help with calming down the rash. I am also taking Benedryl which should help quite a bit I think. Other than that, I have no bruising, just extreme discomfort for now. I have been able to walk around though just fine which will help combat getting any blood clots. The 'girls' are swollen right now but otherwise seem to be doing good! Oh, I forgot to say that I am also taking arnica for bruising, etc. That along with an antibiotic, a musle relaxer. The Dr. also gave me strong painkillers, but I don't want to take them as they usually make me feel sicker. I am allowed to take motrin after 48hours, which I look forward to, as that works best for me rather than the strong pain killers the Dr. prescribed. Of course Motrin doesn't remove all of the pain by any means, but it does keep the edge off and doesn't knock me out like the strong pain killers.
So, I ended up doing ultrahigh silicone implants that I think were the equivalent of 425cc's, but I don't even really know as I was so out if it after the surgery, I just left in a haze.
I anticipate that tomorrow will be rough, and then hopefully I will start to come out of it as time passes. My husband has been invaluable and is helping me endlessly. Can't wait until the 'girls' drop and the pain subsides! And am thankful it is now over, woohoo!

Well, one week has gone by since my surgery. I am on vacation in the mountains with my family and brothers family - not doing much myself- 1,000 piece puzzle while they ski. Still super sore and taking it easy. Taking Motrin, prednisone and Arnica tablets to keep things under control. I ended up having an allergic reaction to a penicillin drug that was given to me before and after surgery which was awful - my whole body broke out in a rash. But now that is gone. Another weird experience was that I finished my period two days before surgery but then a few days after surgery I got another full blown period/ so strange and a drag. Not sure what caused that. Otherwise I was given a sports type bra to wear which has helped a lot to feel more protected and supported. Also Arnica Gel is absolutely the best thing ever - it feels soooo good and eases the soreness albeit for just a short time. I had some bruising after the surgery, but that has now improved greatly. The swelling and soreness are still bothersome but hoping by the two week mark I will start to feel better. I see my Dr next Tuesday for a recheck. Praying all is going well under there and that there are no complications!

Well, I saw my surgeon yesterday. Everything looks like it is supposed to, I still have a ways to go with dropping into place. He says another 6 to 8 weeks until I feel 'normal' (seems like forever about right now)... I am still sooooo sore, but not abnormally so. It seems that now that I am off of the steroids, I feel more sore than I did in the first two weeks. I was hoping it would lessen, but it hasn't at all. But the good news is I am finally off my meds. I had to go back on the steroids several days ago because my rash came back - from the penicillin allergy (there was still residue in my tissues surrounding the implants) - (it also caused a systemic reaction of hives on my legs - fun!) It just still wasn't out of my system yet. But yesterday I am off of them again. Hoping and praying that I don't get any more skin rashes and that now I can just start to heal. I have been driving a lot and that has really been bothering me. I have a 5 hour road trip (one way) this weekend which I am both looking forward to and dreading all that driving at the same time.... Hoping I won't get too sore. The Dr. also mentioned that all of the drugs can cause hormonal issues, so I am hoping that will resolve itself over time as well. I was really hoping to feel much better than this at two weeks, but I am still thankful that I am doing pretty well overall. I am happy with the way I look and I am happy with the scarring - it doesn't look bad at all. Well, back to work here.... God bless ya'll and thanks for listening ! : )

I am reading so many posts from women who have no pain after surgery. I am 2 1/2 weeks post op and I am still sooooo sore. I am sore all day long. The only time I am not sore is if I am lying flat on my back (ahhhhh relief). The Dr. says I look great and this is normal, but I honestly haven't read anyone else saying they are sore still. And what exactly is 'morning boob'? I usually feel good when I get up, but then it's just sore, sore, stiff and sore all day long...
I do quite a bit of activity each day, and sex is not a problem the past couple of weeks as long as I am lying still on my back - my husband couldn't wait : ) (by the way - he is in LOVE with my new look).
Anyways, Anybody else on the planet still feel sore this far after surgery, cause I am seriously feeling like a wimp, ha,ha,ha!

Hallelujah! The past few days I have really started to notice a significant improvement in the way I feel through the day. I can drive more comfortably, and, although I am still tight and a bit sore from time to time, I am uncomfortable less and less and so thankful for that! I did have one lump under my left breast that was really painful and bothering me for a couple of weeks - and giving my nipple constant zingers(ugh), but the dr. said it is normal and as I gently work on massaging it, it is starting to soften up a bit and the pain has dimished greatly and the zingers are far less frequent. Those can take a couple of months to go away all together I guess. I had a back massage at a spa about two weeks ago and the woman who did the massage was telling me that the little nodules that you feel on the incision are actually scar tissue and once it is healed, to gently massage them out - it breaks up the scar tissue and they will heal better. I have been doing that and can actually feel as though little particles are breaking up. Kind of interesting. One amazing thing happened to me this Sunday at church. We had a guest preacher from Ethiopia. He had a great sermon and prayed for anyone in the congregation that needed healing. I accepted that healing and I swear that I had a sensation that I can only explain as electric go through my breasts and I felt really emotional for a moment - it was so amazing. I really feel that I experienced some sort of healing by God in that moment, It was awesome. It was not anything I could shout out about of course - ha,ha,ha - Hey, my boob job! My boobs are healed! - but seriously - it was very awesome and personal. I thank God for that and I feel it was a sign that as I recover, I am in His hands and my healing will eventually be complete. I have also just discovered tylenol/aspirin/caffeine pain pills (labled as migraine headache medicine) that seem to help more than motrin for me which is nice. So, needless to say, I am starting to feel like I am on my way to 'normal'. Planning on going to the gym tomorrow for the first time since the surgery - yippeeee! Just to do the stairmaster and some light weights on my legs probably not arms yet. Whatever feels comfortable for now. I DON'T want to take any steps backward if I can help it that is for sure!!! I am uploading some recent photos - swimsuit shopping tonight - a large top seems to fit nicely : ) I will be hopping a plane next week to go and visit my parents so hoping that goes well. Thanks for your prayers and hope that you all continue to recover well.