It's Finally Time - Michigan

5 months and 4 days post-surgery as of today! Woohoo! I'm wearing underwire regular bras now (38D) and still exercising 4 times a week in my Zumba classes. Wearing the underwire doesn't hurt! I still don't have the feeling back fully along the bottom longer scars that go across the breast, though it seems to be getting better as I heal. There's one spot towards the middle on my right breast that still has more numbness, but things are coming along more than they had been in this department! I still believe surgery was a great decision, but I sometimes miss having a fuller breast since it made me feel "sexy" sometimes. I just have to remember the reality was that I had saggy large breasts that were sweaty underneath and had no perkiness and cause me chronic pain...then it's easy to feel sexier with my new breasts! lol I think I'll continue to feel sexy as they heal. :] The shape of my breasts seems to be shifting to a more natural feel and look slowly as I heal, hopefully this will continue through this year of healing as well! My chronic neck and back pains aren't even an issue now post-surgery, and my singing has improved because it's easier to use breath control since I don't have my breasts and underwire digging in and weighing down right on my rib cage. It's a relief! Posted some 5 months and 4 days post-surgery pics. Thanks!

It's been awhile since I've updated! I was able to start going back to Zumba at about 6 weeks post surgery, and I haven't looked back! What's the most hilarious part of it for me is that I wear the same sports bra as I did before--only now it actually fits!! haha Surprised me, but it works! I've been back to doing Zumba 4 times a week ever since I started back up around August 17th. Jumpy exercise seemed like a bad idea before that point...I then started back at yoga around September 3rd, which I found to really help get rid of the tuggy feelings that the incisions had for awhile after surgery. (I've been practicing yoga since May 2006, so it was great to get back to it). I found less pain, etc the more I've been doing yoga. The only uncomfortable part, that's getting better as time goes on, are poses when you are on the ground on your abdomen. Doing cobra and loctus type poses were hard at first, so I had to modify them...but it's getting better the more I do yoga and more time passes with my healing! I fully recommend adding yoga in to help heal after about 2 months...
As for the appearance, things are really coming along I would say. My right armpit has come along a bit better; still isn't exactly what I was hoping for, but boy does it look less swollen than it had before!
Sometimes my breasts are sore and have a little reddish tint (especially after exercise), but nothing crazy to worry about.
Still no underwire bras yet. I tried on an old one for the heck of it last night from before surgery, and ended up giving myself a couple little bruises on the side breast area where the wire pushed in, even though I only tried it on for like less than a minute. Guess I still have some time before I can wear them again!! I'm getting anxious though...lol It is fun to try on all of my fall clothes, and some old items I had given up on having as part of my wardrobe, and see that things fit in a more flattering way. I'm excited for the cool temperatures to keep coming!
How long did it take for you guys before you were able to wear under-wire bras? I thought I would never want to wear one again...but I really really do now! Figures right? lol I can't wait to wear a shaping bra!
I'm still getting things settled with my insurance and such before I update the cost...there were a couple of annoyances with the wrong date put on something that had to be refiled, etc. But it is being worked out!! Thank goodness! lol I was approved prior to surgery, so everything should work out just fine.
I feel like I look so much better now! It'll be great as the scars fade out a bit...they're in a pink stage right now. Sometimes they are tender and sometimes a little itchy, but I think that's a good thing! They are healing! Yay!! The weird part near my cleavage has mostly gone away with time as my breasts shift into a more natural way of sitting too. :]
I will update a picture after posting this!
Thanks all!

I bought some organic booda butter today. My friend who works at the vitamin counter at a local healthfood store that I frequent recommended it, and even showed the difference between two very similar scars on his elbows (one he used the booda butter on, the other he didn't) and it was a large difference! I asked one of the vitamin counter buyers today as well for her thoughts and she said it would be good for scars, along with vitamin e oil (trying to figure out how to get some that isn't too expensive...any suggestions of where and what kind?). The booda butter is all organic and has Shea butter, Cocoa butter, Jojoba oil, Coconut oil, and Olive oil in it. The website had a list of different ways to use it and it said it was great for scars.

So...that being said...

Question:

How long do you wait before you start putting things like booda butter or vitamin e on your breasts/the incision scars? My PS had said not right away. I'm 3 weeks post-op as of today (right now actually, crazy!!). I had thought of waiting 4 weeks...but I'm so excited to use this new stuff.
Thoughts on how you approached this?

Other question:

How long should I wait before I go to the beach/have a beach day? As long as I put sunscreen on, I'm pretty sure I could go now and sit on the beach...but what about swimming? Should I make it to the 4 week line? Maybe 6 weeks, just to be safe?

You ladies rock! It's great to have advice and support from here.