1 Week Post-op, and Already Happy

I have very sensitive skin, and after the first 10 dyas of Embrace, by skin was red and irritated when I removed the strips. We decided to give them one more try, and after removing them after 12 or so days, the irritation was even worse. So...no Embrace for me. Doc says I am experiencing a reaction than 1 in 20 women get. He suggested switching to polyurethane strips from Amazon, along with daily massage with coconut oil, or arnica, or any other mild healing substance I can tolerate. So I'll try it. Otherwise, the scars are healed, and after approximately 6 1/2 weeks I/m all clear for excercise, and I have no other restrictions! Yay!

Had my BR with Dr. Kenneth Bermudez in SF. The experience was wonderful from start to finish. He took his time, and spent at least an hour with me at our first meeting, and then spent some more time with my husband and me at my pre-op. He and his staff are friendly and answered all my questions, and are now helping us to get FSA reimbursement.

He doesn't use drains, but sent me home with a pain pump worn in a fanny pack, which I removed a few days after surgery when I changed from ace bandages into a post-surgical bra.

I could have done this at Kaiser, but met with the surgeon there, and did not leave feeling comfortable AT ALL. I asked for a referral to a different surgeon, and my PCP said I can only get one if I'm a medicare patient (apparently not true), and she couldn't suggest any other surgeons at Kaiser...NEXT! So I interviewed 3 plastic surgeons outside of Kaiser, and scrounged every penny for a year, until I finally settled on Dr. Bermudez. He was close by, I didn't need to take 6 weeks off of work, as another surgeon required, he was comparatively more affordable, and has a wonderful, warm personality. The price I listed above includes all the add-ons, such as silicone scar treatment, meds, blood-test, bras and a wedge pillow from Amazon, bandages, pathology, etc.

I had my first post-op appointment today, and he said I was healing well and the stitches around my areolas were removed. I agree. I was expecting to look like Frankenstein's monster, but it wasn't that bad. Over 600 g was removed from each breast. Cigna had denied me this procedure before, and other surgeons also said that removing even 500g from each breast would leave me flat chested. They were wrong. I am still swollen, and it's a huge change, but I will end up being at least a B cup, if not a C, which is just what I wanted. I started as a 42DD. The difference in my neck, shoulders, and back is already apparent, and I can't believe it! I told people at work that I was having surgery to relieve pain in my neck, shoulders, and back, and I let them all assume I was having a spinal procedure, because I was too embarrassed to cop to this surgery, working with a bunch of men. The last thing I want is MORE attention on my chest. But now I don't really care. This is the best health-related thing I have ever done for myself.

If you have any thoughts of having this procedure, just DO IT!