Can't belive it's 2 days till my op, in fact in 48 hours time I will have new boobs.. such an exciting feeling especially when it's something I've been dreaming of for so long. I was never blessed with boobs of any shape or size with my chest resembling that of a teengage boy for as long as I can remember. Spending 5 years researching the procedure includinget the pros and cons hasn't been easy, it's almost easier to talk yourself out of it the more educated you get however all of this research has has actually fascinated me and has helped me make an informed decision about having this life changing procedure ( definitely life changing for me, I've never had to wear a sports bra in my life, never not been able to see my feet and never experienced this back pain allike you gifted ladies talk about ) having said that I'm not entirely sure if I class there as pros... I am from north of Aberdeen and so having my procedure at the albyn hospital in Aberdeen City, My surgeon Dr Amir Tadros who specialises in breast and hand surgery and is very highly ranked - I done my research on him too! I felt instantly comfortable at my initial consultation and there again for both further consultations . Mr Tadros was great, he anewered all of my queries professionally and was very helpful when choosing my implants, we tried various implants again and again weighing up all options and finally settling on the perfect size for me. I have chosen 450cc, moderate plus profile implants which will be inserted over the muscle, initially I was a tiny bit apprehensive of such a large implant size however being 5ft5, and weighing in at 9.5 stone with a slim but curvy figure I could see why Mr Tadros said 450cc implants would compliment my figure perfectly. As per his procedure he does order at least 5 sets of implants per patient and would never leave in implants that look abnormally large or silly. His aesthetic nurses are on hand to assist with implant decision and I know that whatever I wake up with will have been the best, most practical choice for me. I can't wait...... Updated on 20 Feb 2015: I feel like im getting sorer but I guess thats the GA wearing off. I had my maximum doseage of morphine following my OP and have been on oral meds since.. I also have a cathator in as I was finding it extremely difficult to wee and it was getting me a bit stressed. I havent seen all of my new boobs yet but I can see the top and im really happy with them. Originally we planned 450cc overs M+ however when I was under these were a bit wide and very-un natural looking, I had always mentioned to my surgeon I wanted to keep somewhat of a natural look and something that suited my quite small frame. I think we have gone for 350cc M+ overs and I am actually filling my D cup sports bra very snuggly, I know the swelling will reduce and I think I will be left with a nice D.. which is what I was hoping for anyway so im super pleased. Maybe the 450cc would have been slightly on the big side for me.. Sleepwise ive gotten a couple of hours, I am a very light sleeper at the best of times and with nurses doing obs and just general hospital environment noise I have struggled a bit but im glad im here as they have been great. I would have never coped at home. These electric beds are a god sent!! Hoping to be discharged later on this morning if the pain eases off but for now I think its back to sleep for me.. n'night ???? Updated on 22 Feb 2015: Being 100% honest these last 24 hours have been tough.. not having the aid of an electrical bed has been very difficult and I have been feeling really quite sore, more on one side than the other. I have been keeping right ontop of my meds and would strongly recommend that to everyone.. don't wait until it gets sore! Sleeping is a bit of a nightmare as I am not used to sleeping on my back at all, I really dont like it :( Hoping that it wont be too long before I can get onto my side but we shall see.. Wonder if anyone else has had this sharp pain in just one boob? not really sure what it could be. In general terms, being in recovery is a bit boring.. I went out a walk with my boyfriend tonight and the dogs and got some fresh air which did take my mind off of the pain and discomfort. He has been absolutely brilliant so far helping me with everything he possibly can.. he even see's the funny side of my mood swings. I feel bad because he must be feeling a bit bored :( will definately make it upto him when im feeling a bit better. On the upper hand my bestfriend asked me to be her bridesmaid today which definately cheered me up big time.. roll on the wedding planning ???? Updated on 27 Feb 2015: Loving my new boobs.. don't get me wrong I've been in a bit of pain for the past week, mainly from one side .. not quite sure why but apparently it's quite normal so I'm not worried.. I can honestly say it's totally worth the pain! I'm seeing my surgeon tonight to check my stitches etc and make sure everything is healing as it should be, and hopefully won't be too long before I get rid of my dressings altogether. The worst part of the recovery so far for me is the difficulty washing my hair, and sleeping.. I've found both of these tasks incredibly hard and as a result I've been quite moody etc but my boyfriend has been amazing, really helpful and really keeping me going. I tried on a basic non padded D cup bra and completely fill it which is so exciting, can't wait to bin all my old ones! I've went from barely an A cup to a D cup with 30th Moderate plus implants placed over the muscle and I couldn't be happier. I don't feel as though they are sitting high, and they are very even.. I'm still taking strong pain killers as I previously mentioned I am getting a fair bit of pain from one boob, I think it's more the muscle that's sore, I maybe gave slightly over done it in terms of moving around too quickly so probably my own fault.. I'm going to really take it easy this weekend as I'm meant to be back to work on Monday so don't want to tire myself out.. uploaded a pic of my boobs today, it's not the best pic, and I'm looking and feeling a bit chubby right now ???? can't wait to get back to running and horse riding. Updated on 2 Mar 2015: Still experiencing some pain mostly in the mornings and predominantly from my right boob but im getting there with some pain meds etc I was supposed to be back to work yesterday but i havent gone back just yet, i dont feel right enough to go back and im a bit scared with the whole driving thing.. I had a drive round my village at the weekend and i really dont feel safe at all, I dont feel confident when braking and steering hurts from my right side, id never forgive myself if something happened so im just gunna lay off the driving a little longer. I tried on a bikini top i bought last year for after my op and i am so over whelmed that I actually fill it, so happy! Updated on 8 Mar 2015: Feeling much better now. Still getting some pain mainly from my right side and mainly in the mornings. I've been able to sleep half on my side which has helped my sleeping so much! Im still taking dehydricodine but try only to take them in the morning and before bed.. seems to be going ok just now. Posted up some pictures from the past few days, so happy with how they are coming on, personally I think they look fab :-) Updated on 12 Mar 2015: 20 days on, can't believe it's basically 3 weeks since I had my op. It still feels like this is all one big dream and I'll wake up with my pancake boobs. I am so happy with my progress to date, since my last review I have had little pain, mainly only at bedtime and first thing in the morning. I still take pain relief when I feel like I need it as I don't want to get overly sore but I don't need them half as much as I did for the first 10 days. Being able to move around in bed a little is helping me so much with sleeping, sleeping on my back was a total nightmare and I am so glad it's over, saying that - my travel pillow was amazing and I actually still use it to this day :-) I think I'm a bit addicted to it. Driving wise, not going to lie it's a little uncomfortable - I have been sharing a lift to work with my boyfriend as we work at the same company and that has been a great help. Steering and gear change can sometimes be a little painful and at such an early stage in recovery I am just not willing to risk my perfect results. I am going to try and drive to work next week and see how I feel - it's got to happen one day however that day can wait if need be - I'd rather be safe than sorry. Working is totally fine, I am a Project Administrator and so the majority of my work is at the computer and so not strenuous at all, I am still slightly more tired than usual however I put this down to broken sleep, and an extremely busy period at work right now. The one thing I am really missing is getting out and about - going running, swimming, horse riding and just generally being active, it's really getting to me however as I mentioned previously I would rather be safe than sorry. I hope I can get back to all my favourite things very soon! Top tips for my recovery so far would be - Keep on top of pain relief, don't wait to get sore - Travel pillow, it's even great for sitting on the sofa watching tv - Don't over stretch that's how you pull muscles, keep everything in easy reach - Eat well, you will generally feel better if you eat well, keep up a high protein diet, lots of fruit and vegetables and oily fish for omega 3! Be careful with your fibre intake as pain killers generally make you constipated, you dont really want it getting worse. I have IBS (suspected colitis) and so I know what my body can and cant accept. Learn to listen to your body, it really helps :-) - Multi-vitamins, and supplements are good. I took one a day multi-vitamins with iron and also hair, skin & nails supplement, I feel like they are well worth it. - Make sure you have a drink by your bedside, and adequate pain relief as I personally experienced broken sleep, and having meds available at my bedside was great, was easier to drift off as still in the dark. I feel as though once you get up turn on lights and stuff your mind becomes alert and it becomes more difficult to wind down. - Don't be afraid of your new assets, I was a little scared to even touch mine for the first 10 days, mainly because I felt like it wasnt really happening. I now massage mine around the top and sides (not the incision scars yet as they are not healed) and it's a great feeling, it also helps with the circulation and re-activating the skin sensitivity lost during the stretching of the skin when the implant is placed. - DO BE PROUD, don't listen to anyone else. If you are happy that's all that matters! I have had a few people stereo-typically saying to me 'oh i thought they would have been massive' and so on. Quite frankly I feel that this is 'massive' for me, I went from flat chested to a C/D cup overnight, it is a massive change and it's also what I wanted. Who cares about anyone else, they dont have to look at them! Hope that's given you all some tips :-) If anyone would like any questions answered I will happily assist, just message me XX
I wasn't going to write a review but being 3 days post op and severely bored I thought my story may help someone. I have tuberous breasts/tubular breast deformity. I have hated my breast size and shape for as long as I can remember and I realised young that my breasts were not "normal" and I always knew that one day I was going to get them fixed. Genetics were not kind to me...I have ginger hair, acne, required braces, had deformed boobs and as a result suffered from some serious confidence issues growing up. I was commenced on the pill which cleared up my acne a fair bit and I had train track braces for 2.5years which worked wonders for my smile. I was starting to feel a little more confident in my late teens but still had these hideous boobs. I never filled out bras and I wore chicken fillets a couple of times which ended up with nipples poking out or the fillets near falling out when drunk/dancing, I could never wear a backless top/dress and felt very restricted with what I could/couldn't wear. My breasts were always too small for my frame which has made me feel FAT my whole life. looking back to when I was a slim size 8 I still felt fat/massive as my stomach always projected out further than my breasts. swimwear and pjs were always an issue as I felt hideous wearing them in front of others (I did not have a padded bra to hide behind) I decided not to take a before photo of my breasts as I couldn't bear to see them again, however a photo would have posed very useful for this review (my surgeon took photos pre op and I will request to have those) in the meantime I will try to describe what they looked like. They both lacked upper volume and looked saggy, they were asymmetrical and left was smaller and more constricted than the right, the nipples/areola were puffy and herniated due to constricted tissue and the right areola was much much larger than the left. the right breast was also saggier and lay lower on my chest wall than the left. my nipples were positioned low on both breasts close to the breast crease. they were UGLY! I felt UGLY my whole life as a result. I had my 1st child unplanned at age 21 and my breasts increased in size dramatically and when they reduced post pregnancy to a worse shape than before I was left even more devastated. I was very busy at this time being a new mum and finishing my nursing course at uni I decided to postpone surgery. I then wanted another child and after 22months of trying I finally conceived and post 2nd baby my breasts and body looked worse than ever hence the decision to find a surgeon and get them fixed. I have been with my fiancée since I was 16 and he has always been very accepting of my breasts and only finally agreed to support my decision of corrective surgery. Updated on 2 Jun 2016: After getting engaged and starting to plan a wedding I just couldn't face the thought of getting married feeling ugly in my wedding dress with my ugly deformed boobs so I decided now is the time to get them fixed. I was recommended Albyn Hospital in Aberdeen by a friend as the food is meant to be amazing (due to nausea post op I only ate porridge, toast and sorbet and was disappointed I never got to sample the delicious food) I live in the Highlands in the north of Scotland and Aberdeen was a good choice as it is one of the closest hospitals to me despite the 4.5hr drive to get there. I googled Albyn Hospital and came across Mr Tadros and his experience and credentials stood out to me straight away. I came to learn that he has a 3month cooling off period and being impatient and wanting my boobs fixed asap I ended up researching a lot of other surgeons even in Glasgow and Edinburgh but none of them stood out to me as much. I contacted Mr Tadros' secretary Helen and booked my inital consultation on March 8th. I was very nervous about someone else seeing my breasts and I was terrified I was going to feel hideous when being examined. Mr Tadros immediately made me feel comfortable with his professional yet approachable manner. Being a nurse I have met my fair share of arrogant surgeons but he was far from arrogant. I was confident he was going to be my surgeon. As I was keen to proceed with surgery and due to the nature of my breast deformity I was very grateful to be able to have my surgery on May 28th. I seen Mr Tadros again for my consultation 10th May for selecting size of implants. I am not going to lie I was a little disappointed after this appointment. I tried on two different sizers and I felt the first was too small and the second too large, however I found it difficult to self assess as there was not a full length mirror available and only a mirror above the sink in the room. I am a very indecisive person and when trying on clothes I often ponder in front of a mirror for quite some time. My fiancée accompanied me and it helped having him there for advice. I was more annoyed at myself after the appointment as I didn't enquire about another mirror or ask for more time trying on the sizers, or even ask to take a photo. The majority of my dissatisfaction was at myself for not being more assertive and saying nothing at the time when I felt anxious. We agreed on an implant in-between the two I tried on and decided on approx 400cc implants. I emailed Helen his secretary with my anxieties and concerns re size and she phoned me very promptly to discuss this. She was amazing and extremely reassuring. He is very lucky to have such a lovely kind, knowledgeable and informative person working for him. We arranged to discuss implant size on the day of the operation to further reassure me and relieve and anxieties I had about sizing.
Having been big booked for most my adult life, and with the bairn at school, I thought it was time to finally get the reduction I've been thinking about. Being from an island in Scotland, I thought it was going to be a challenge to find a consultant that would do the op.. the options were for Glasgow, Aberdeen or Edinburgh, but the more I researched, the more Aberdeen appeared to have the best reviews - for the Albyn Hospital with Mr Amir Tadros. Helen, who works as his assistant, is so helpful, with lots of information.. And having helped other women from the islands, was already equipped with the answers to my questions. I took the plunge and booked my consult for November. It was great, Mr Tadros has a fantastic manner & I feel confident that it's all going to go well. Pre-op appointment in a couple of weeks, so I'll let you know more after that! So excited! Can't wait! Updated on 23 Feb 2016: So.. I've done it! I travelled to Aberdeen for the surgery and was admitted into Albyn around Friday lunchtime. The team there were really friendly, put you at ease.. The room was nice and clean, tv, wifi. Having met the anaesthetist, Mr Tadros came by and we discussed the operation & what to expect.. A wee while later, I was wheeled into the theatre room! the theatre nurse was very reassuring, and I drifted off! I awoke later in my room, and was extremely nauseous, which I told the nurse Patrick, and within minutes he was back with an injection, which perked me right up! The post-op checks have to be done regularly so any sleep you get is disturbed but them coming in, but they were so kind and gentle about it all... Checking all the time if I felt OK as well as checking the pulses n temps. I felt very safe and looked after. I'm the morning I was feeling remarkably good.. They were giving me regular pain meds, so I wasn't in any pain, just a little discomfort from the pressure of the post-op bra under my armpit - perhaps the size the website recommended was wrong? Saturday my sister-in-law came to visit and we had a lovely afternoon chatting n drinking tea... I honestly felt fine! Saturday night I slept really well - I wasn't expecting to but I slept through the night! Discharge from Albyn on Sunday was quick and simple, and again, no pain or discomfort - and off home I trotted. Albyn hospital is fantastic. The food is way above and beyond what you'd get NHS, and they are always ready with a cuppa! The staff are sterling - Patrick, the nurse from the first night is a credit to his profession as we're all the lasses on Saturday & Elaine & Flora on Sunday were just superb. Time to mend now...
Today I had a consultation with Dr Amir Tadros, at the BMI Albyn hospital Aberdeen, Scotland for a breast augmentation. A bit about me: I'm 23 years old, 5'10", slightly heavier than I should be/used to be, no children, 34A bra size. I have wanted a breast enlargement for years and with my first job after university I will be able to pay for it. Researching before the appointment I thought I would want anatomical implants under the muscle to make a large B/C cup. Arranging the initial appointment was easy and I didn't have to wait long. Helen, Dr Tadros' secretery was extremely friendly and helpful. She phoned me a few days before the procedure to explain what will happen and the basics, and also gave me an idea of how long I would have to wait for a surgical date which was good as I had to readjust my expectations! I'm obviously impatient. The appointment was pleasant. Dr Tadros introduced his self, took a brief history, offered a chaperone, and examined by breasts and took measurements. He told me that I have accessory breast tissue, in both armpits (I thought it was just fat!) which makes the breasts look smaller as it hollows out the upper portion of the breasts. The options were to bulk out the hollow with implants and/or remove the accessory tissue surgically during the procedure. This would require a larger scar and the risk of excess skin. He advised that I get sub glandular round implants! Totally different to my expectations but he explained it well and I agree. Thinking about it, I would like if the accessory breast tissue could be removed at least partially as I can't wear anything strapless at the moment, and I always have flesh sticking out bras/swimming costumes. Dr Tadros likes his patients to have a 2-3 month cooling off period, then have a further consultation to discuss the implants more, then the date of surgery can be booked. I left the consultation feeling excited and confident in Dr Tadros' judgement. Can't wait for the next stage! Updated on 19 Dec 2015: A photo of my breasts pre-surgery. (Ignore the red mark, but have just scratched my self!). Notice the prominent axillary breast tissue. Updated on 12 Jan 2016: So excited. After weeks of trying to find an available date for surgery that fits in with my rota and swapping with colleagues, I've finally booked March 1st! It doesn't seem like a long time away. I'm sure the time will fly by. Currently trying to get in shape and lose as much weight as I can, since I'm at my heaviest I've ever been (relationship, new shift work job, general love affair with bread) and I know I can't do strenuous exercise after the op. I will have an appointment in February to try sizers and decide on what size to go for. I wish I could bring my boyfriend along for a second opinion but he is in Australia at the moment. I'm hoping for a full C or D. Also, I only have 12 days off after the op to recover. I hope that's enough. I go back to a busy and active job. Would love to hear about a few things: 1. I'm nervous to tell my parents, I think they will be angry and disapprove! Anyone been in this situation? 2. I'm wondering how to deal with colleagues and acquaintances who will notice. How have people found the reaction? Thanks ladies! Updated on 9 Feb 2016: So I've been totally obsessing over real-self reviews, loving hearing about everyone's experiences and (more importantly) seeing photos. I thought that 330cc would be a good option for me. Tonight, I went for my pre op assessment. Mr Tadros took measurements again. My left breast is slightly smaller than the right. I was wearing a non padded sports bra, and a fitted white top. I tried on "chicken fillets" or sizers. Started with 250cc - too small. Next tried 330cc - looked fine, but thought bigger would fit better with my proportions. Tried 460cc - I'd probably be fine with this size, but it made me look non-athletic and couldn't see myself wearing anything classy (if you know what I mean) Last tried 500cc just for completeness - made me look totally frumpy, way too big. So! We decided on 400cc. Super excited! Bigger than I thought I'd go, but I think in between the 330 and 460 will give me the look I want in keeping with my height and pear shape. In other news, I told my parents about the surgery (over the phone). They took it a lot better than I was expecting. They think I'm "off my head" and it's unnecessary, but after the shock sank in, they seemed supportive. Not sure what I'm going to do about my sister, extended family and friends... March 1st can't come quick enough!! Updated on 29 Feb 2016: Waiting to be admitted. First on the list so I should be getting started at 8. This is so surreal actually! Can't believe I'm doing this! Updated on 1 Mar 2016: So I'm on the other side! Not in a lot of pain, and already managed tea and toast and not feeling sick at all. Just a bit dizzy and light headed. Not feeling that happy like I thought I would though. I arrived at Albyn, got admitted by the nurse and had to change into my gown,!conpression stockings and awful paper pants!! Haha. Then met the anaesthetist briefly. Mr Tadros came in next and marked me, took pictures and went over the complications. Soon I was getting wheeled off to theatre. The anaesthetist took two attempts to put in a cannula after some digging around! But I must have small veins so i don't hold it against him haha. Then I was put to sleep, just like getting drunk. Next thing I know I'm waking up, very drowsy and shivering uncontrollably because I was so cold. I have a compression sports bra on but I can see that one, my left, is way bigger than the other. And I notice that I have a drain in that side. I'm from a medical background so I asked to see the post op note to see why and when I got the drain but they said no. I have a lot a bruising under my arms since I got liposuction on accessory tissue there too. I also have an extra incision on the right - but the nurses weren't aware of that when I asked. The nurses also forgot to bring the analgesia I asked for. I'm a bit upset and frustrated that I don't know how the op went as clearly extra things had to be done. My left breast continued to increAse in size and my drains were emptied. Turns out I have two drains but again the nurses didn't know if they went into the breast of the axilla. It's tenser so they got the staff doctor to see me. He wasn't great to be honest, didn't know the procedure I had and didn't examine my breasts. He phoned Mr Tadros who is coming back to see me and in the meantime have sat me up and put a makeshift armpit conpression bandage since its in such an awkward place! Also, I overheard that I was taken back to theatre because of bleeding to place the drains. But the nurses wouldn't tell me this. Starting to get a bit upset and frustrated that they won't answer my questions or let me read the operation note so I can find out what happened. Updated on 1 Mar 2016: 400cc was what was decided but I left it to me Tadros' discretion and was happy to do so. But the nurses wouldn't tell me what size I got?! I'm not sure if they don't know or they just aren't telling me anything Updated on 1 Mar 2016: My PS came back, examined me and redid my compression dressing because the nurse did it completely wrong. He then observed me for another hour or so and decided to take me back to theatre as an emergency because he was worried I had a haematoma. Went to theatre and took a while to come round from the anaesthetic. Again was shaking and very cold, and I also felt my muscles were tensed up and was grinding my teeth. Made it back to the ward and yet again the nurses didn't tell me any information. Mr Tadros then came back to assess me after he was finished in theatre and told me what was happening. He explored the left breast and left axilla. The two pockets weren't connecting so there way no blood trickling from the axilla into the implant pocket which is great, it was bone dry apparently. There was loads of soft tissue swelling though. The axilla was oozing and again really swollen. There was no bleeding point or haematoma so that's great. Apparently my PS hasn't seen bruising like this following liposuction! He's going to keep me in an extra night (so I'll stay two nights in total is all continues to go well) just to be cautious. Very happy he came back to explain things and the nurses weren't communicating and was making me very anxious and upset. Mr Tadros put my mind at ease so hopefully I'll sleep well tonight. Updated on 2 Mar 2016: Day one post op with one drain removed, another still in place in the breast Updated on 4 Mar 2016: Yesterday was awful. I woke up and was sick and feeling nauseous all day so I asked for something to get my bowels working since I hadn't been and think that was making me feel queasy. Got my second drain taken out then was allowed to go home but got given no painkillers of anti-emetics. When I got home the abdominal cramping was unreal and I finally went but had a lot of diarrhoea, and was also vomiting. Not pleasant, sorry. Basically slept all of yesterday. So today, day 3 post op I woke up feeling less sick but unable to drink water without feeling sick. Still getting some cramps. The chest pain is bearable. Tried to have a shower without getting any dressings wet. Updated on 7 Mar 2016: From a boobs point of view I think thinks are coming along well. They are softening up a bit and I havent needed any pain killers, are only sore if I move too fast/too far. I'm wearing a sports bra or my Macom bra 24 hours a day because they are really tight and uncomfortable when I take it off. Hope this goes soon. I got liposuction under my armpits as there was extra breast tissue there. This is the problem area. They are still very bruised and lumpy underneath and restricting my movement. The left particularly has a big lump underneath the bruising. My bras are cutting in on them. I spent last night using a hot water bottle to heat them then massage them. I'll try again tonight to help the drainage. Updated on 8 Mar 2016: So it's been 7 days. Feeling more like myself and have energy. Righty is coming along great, feeling a lot softer and the swelling is almost gone I think. Lefty is still swollen and a bit uncomfortable, but I think that side will take longer to heal. Just got to be patient! Updated on 10 Mar 2016:
Was 34AA prior to BA carried out almost 20 years ago. I was told I would be a large B, small C cup which was just fine with me. They ended up being 34D or 34DD depending on the bra. I was disappointed and have always felt they were too large. I tried to have an explant 5 years ago but the PS at the time talked me out of it thinking as my husband had sadly died 6 months previously, that it was some kind of grief thing. At that time only my right breast had some encapsulation. Now both are and are quite hard and I hate them. They ache sometimes and I have had shoulder and upper arm aches for years and had monthly massages thinking it was all just part of getting older. I have tiredness too that I just put down to getting older but having always been very active and very fit and reading on here that implants can be the possible cause, I am now on a mission to get these monstrosities removed asap. I have had my 1st consultation with my PS last Monday and have decided on having explant without lift. I know my breasts will look like a war zone but the thought of any more surgical intervention is just not for me. My poor girls will be what they will be and I will love them and respect them for what they are...survivors. PS's diary is booked until October but I am on his cancellation list, so I shall keep fingers crossed. I have gleaned great resolve and hope reading all your stories and thank everyone on here for their honesty and bravery in sharing. Updated on 25 Jun 2015: I had kind of put this to the back of my mind, thinking I would have to wait until October for explant. Got a call yesterday to ask if 21st August is suitable, about 8 weeks away! Just have to check that lovely daughter can get time off work to come home and care for the animals. Things may be moving at last! Updated on 2 Oct 2015: Had my pre op consultation 2 days ago. Ready and waiting for op on 30th October. I hope I have finally managed to upload a pic of how the girls look presently for comparison later on. I am technologically challenged, so hope the pic loads ok. Plan has not changed still just want removal without uplift, no more messing with my girlies! I didn't have much before and don't expect there to be much more afterwards except sad, saggy, empty girls but maybe nearly 20 years have put a little more in there, time will tell. Wish me luck! Updated on 18 Oct 2015: In 2 weeks time I shall be at home and it will all be over. Getting a little nervous and excited at the same time. Don't know if it is my imagination but the aches are feeling worse this last month or so. Could be I am just more aware because of being in countdown mode. I am looking forward to trying on lots of my clothes post op to see if I can still wear them, some I am sure will look much better, others may have to go to the charity shop. How soon after, all being well, have others been able to drive? My present car is automatic, so won't need a lot of left arm action. Updated on 26 Oct 2015: Friday is coming like a freight train. My feelings are all over the place (could be the full moon tomorrow). Feeling so sad that my lovely husband, who was with me when I had them inserted, is no longer here to give me hugs of support. I have a friend taking me and coming to collect me next day, all being well. I don't know if I am paying more attention to them because I know they are coming out but the aches in both breasts feel worse lately. All of that aside, I know I am doing the right thing for me. I am trying to prepare myself for how I will look after surgery. Not having much in the way of breast tissue, I suspect I will have to get used to 2 empty, baggy girls as I have no wish for a lift. Can't bear the thought of any further mutilation. I shall need to find my positivity again, I am scared, feeling tearful and emotional. Not like me, need to find my big girl pants and pull them up! I shall look through everyone else's stories again, to give me some strength. Thank you all ladies for sharing your stories, you help those of us, not yet there, to be brave. [RS bleep] Updated on 29 Oct 2015: Well, It's nearly here ladies! Tomorrow I get rid of these toxic invaders. I was very nervous and upset at the beginning of the week but now feel remarkably calm. Not looking forward to not being able to have my hourly tea/coffee but I can make up for it afterwards. See you all on the other side! [RS bleep] Updated on 31 Oct 2015: I've done it! So very happy it's over. Not a bad experience at all. All deformed with tapes and dressings, a bit swollen and will probably be lots smaller but It's a wonderful feeling. I expected my skin to be much more wrinkly, yay! for Palmer's cocoa butter! I was very relieved to hear there were no ruptures or leaks from the implants but my capsules were very calcified and the surgeon said they just cracked and crumbled, so they were all cleared out and he has sent them away for anaylsis to be on the safe side, he did say he didn't think there is anything wrong. Sleeping lots today, awake one minute, sound asleep the next, feels quite pleasant actually. Just on paracetamol and ibuprofen. Hardly any pain just little twinges. I had a drain in my left side only and it was taken out today before I left the hospital. All looking good so far. Thank you for all your good wishes ladies, your support is amazing. I shall report back as and when, reporting changes and feelings. I expect this euphoria will go and I shall be a bit down now and again, only to be expected. If you know it will happen you also know it will go. Just so happy the toxic invaders have gone! [RS bleep] Updated on 1 Nov 2015: Woke up a couple of times in the night. Must sort out my pillows, I was too low and felt my boobies were trying to fall under my arms, causing them to ache despite the tightest sports bra. Think I shall prop myself up a bit more tonight and see if that helps. One thing I forgot to say yesterday was that when I came around from the anaesthetic The end of my tongue was totally numb. My PS checked with the anaesthetist and she says that the air tube must have been pressing on a nerve in my tongue and that it should right itself in a couple of days. I do hope so I sound like I have had a couple of big gin and tonics when I talk! I can feel a little improvement in that I am beginning to just about feel my teeth with the end of my tongue today, it was weird, it felt like I had no teeth where my tongue was touching them. Just something else to be aware of as a possibility after a general anaesthetic. Caught sight of myself in my dressing gown in the mirror and it was lovely not to see those matronly lumps on my chest. Not looked at the girls yet today but I was happy to be told with these dressings I can actually have a shower, a proper shower. I had expected to have to just wash my top half as best I could for the next two weeks. The girls do feel like they have been scraped inside, feeling bruised but no wonder if my capsules were hard and calcified I guess. I shall take more pics later if lovely daughter doesn't mind being my photographer again, I am so rubbish at taking selfies! Thank you all for your good wishes and compliments, they make such a difference at what would be a very worrying and self critical time. No regrets ladies! [RS bleep] Updated on 8 Nov 2015: Here are updated pics, feeling great, don't think they look too bad either. Lefty is a bit deformed looking at the bottom but I think and am hoping it is the dressing, which seems to be slightly more stretched than the one on righty. Have to say I am so pleased with what is there after expecting to be totally flat and empty. I guess things will still alter as they settle and I have no idea if there is still some swelling or not, no idea how quickly that goes. I don't feel swollen. Just lovely soft natural boobs. Oh the joy! I am SO glad I did this and even with my industrial strength 34A sports bra crushing me like a ninja, I feel sexy again! Lovely daughter said, oh Mum, I m going to look good at 58, I'm so pleased to see you natural. Appointment with Surgeon, the wonderful Mr Tadros on Tuesday night, hopefully get the dressings off and have a proper shower! Oh and on a totally different subject, after 2 Colposcopies and one loop excision in the past 2 years, I got the all clear from my latest smear test on Saturday. Happy! Happy! Happy hugs to all you lovely ladies and I hope all is well on your planets! [RS bleep] Updated on 11 Nov 2015: Saw my PS last night and he removed my dressings and one of the steri-strips came off with the dressing, the other is still in situ and will come off when it is ready in the shower. Been given instructions to begin massaging the scars with firm pressure in 2 weeks time to ensure the scars flatten out. The one I can see is not at all bad actually. However there is an indentation below my left best where I thought the dressing was tighter than the other side. Surgeon says this will get better with time and not to worry, to give it 12 months at least. His Secretary did mention to me that he does 'extras' during surgery and it turns out he did with me too. He said I was very flat, upper breast area, that all my best tissue was at the bottom. He went inside and stitched it in place with dissolving stitches and the scar tissue around them will hold my tissue in place, which is why I have fullness on top and not quite so much below. No charge! A few of you asked the size of my implants that were removed and I had no idea, he told me they were 220CC. Lovely to be finally informed after 20 years of having them. My calcified capsules came back with an all clear for the nasty big C too. I am so very lucky. I shall post update pics once I get rid of this awful abscess in a tooth that began yesterday! Antibiotics to clear that now but I'm still a happy lady! Love and best wishes to you all who have done it, who are about to do it and those who are working up to doing it! It's worth it! [RS bleep] Updated on 12 Nov 2015: Two weeks tomorrow already, where has the time gone? I have just had my 1st proper shower, boy! that was great and took some up to date pics. One side is still taped, the other is not, it came off with the dressings on Tuesday. My left side is misbehaving a little, as well as having a bit of an indentation, when I took my crushing sports bra (34A) off I noticed the nipple a little indented, it wasn't before. Whatever, I am still chuffed to bits and it's early days, no doubt they will morph into something else by next week as they do their thing. I got the surgeon's permission to wear a normal bra for a dinner dance I have to go to at the beginning of December, so I bought this cheap bra for the occasion, I had to get a 34C and it has a little shelf of foam padding inside, tried it on with a tight Tshirt and it looks great. I will not be that size for long I don't think but that's okay with me. Tackled 3 weeks ironing today and I am tired out, amazing how sitting around for 2 weeks saps your energy! Poor dog is only getting one walk today, thank goodness for the back garden! Updated on 8 Dec 2015: I am in love with my little war torn girls. Feel amazingly free, physically and mentally. Scars are fading well and being massaged (with Palmers cocoa butter firming cream) every night as instructed by the surgeon. Crushing sports bra still being worn until January, with the odd bid for freedom when I am going somewhere special. Left girl with indented scar and slightly indented nipple, which worried me, is looking a little better. Upper breast area seems a little flatter on that side too than the right. Not really too obvious but I can see it. Rome was not built in a day though and I was told 12-18 months before I truly see what I have. They are not beautiful but they are all me and I am so very happy even if they don't get any better. I also notice how bad my posture was when the implants were there, I used to try to hide them and I can feel my natural straight backed posture returning which in turn makes the little girls stand out quite proudly even in my sports bra. I can't emphasise strongly enough the feeling of freedom and well being I now have. I have also been able to lie on my tummy for the first time in 20 years! I shall take up to date pics very soon for comparison. I have also been on a first date with a new man, at 58! Go me! Updated on 29 Dec 2015: I have managed to take a couple of pics to show my girls at 8 weeks of age. Apologies I couldn't get any from the side, I am so rubbish at taking selfies, need my daughter to do that. Left and right are looking different in shape, left is flatter up top and my nipple is a bit lower on that side too. They are moving all over the place! Haha! I am still very happy and very content with them even if there is no further change. Perfection is over rated anyway. It is still early days and I feel sure they will change into something else in time. The indentation of one nipple is getting better and I am sure the indentation on one side is not nearly as pronounced as it was. I am wearing an old sports bra from when I had my implants, it was a 34D but I managed to shrink it in a too hot wash, I must have known there was a reason to hold on to it! Wishing all you lovely girls a very Happy & Healthy New Year! Lang may yer lum reek! (that is Scottish for may you always have smoke coming out of your chimney!)
So heres a brief descrition of my story...... I am Andrea,32 soon to be 33 years old with 2 children,my boy Calvin who is 10 and my girl Carli who is 4. I have never had big boobs or been blessed with a nice little cleavage,in fact my nickname at school was pancakes or fried eggs as i was also a late developer. after puberty i maybe just filled a 34b cup which was ok as i have a small frame anyway! although i was still always very concious and hid them away! But after having my 2 beautiful children who i breastfed until they were both 1 years old my 34b had diminished to an A cup,so when i breast fed i felt more like a woman than i ever had done in my life as i went up to a 34DD cup....wowzers!!! felt great it was almost as if someone had given me a boob job then taken it away again:( but left me with even less than i had before. So after a lot of though and consideration and tears and rejection i decided to turn my life around and take the plunge to make myself a more confident happy person for myself most importantly but also for my kids coz a happy mum equals happy children:) I done a lot of research on a lot of different private hospitals and surgeons and i must say thast Dr Amir Tadros stood out a mile away,with all his experience in a wide range of different kinds of plastic surgery,awards and certificates he was sold to me straight away:) Next was to book the consultation which i did and i had it way back in august 2014 might have even been july,was so long ago haha! but that was also another very reassuring factor for me that he had a 9 month waiting list! So the consultation went well and i felt very comfortable with him and he explained everything and answered any questions i had for him,even though i went away and forgot to ask him most of them haha always the case,but his personal secretary Helen was always at the end of a phone or email to help me with any questions or concerns i had and i just want to say what lovely lady she is,even though i have never met her she has made the experience all the better for me. She is so helpful and always checking in before and after every appoinment just to make sure everything went ok and to ask if i had any concerns or questions i may have forgot to ask so i just really want to praise her and give her recognition for that coz she really has made me feel at ease so thank you Helen:-) My operation is another 3 weeks away but i wanted to start this now so i could jot down my journey and maybe help people who are going through the same thing as this website has really helped me because Helen also told me about a girl who got her boobs done a couple of weeks ago in Aberdeen with the same surgeon who has been recording her journey on here.so i have been following her journey and experience and it has really helped me to know what to expect and things i might need etc etc to make my experience and recovery as best as i can:) So thats it in a nut shell really,i will b taking before and after pictures,and il write a bit more here just before my op,in the meantime i am super excited and really cant wait for this,but im also super scared and nervous,but it will be life changing for me and im looking forward to a new beginning as a woman:)x Updated on 22 Mar 2015: so its 5 days until my op and i have to say its constantly on my mind,i cannot wait but at the same time im really nervous and scared but mainly the getting put to sleep as i have a mega fear of it!! but how i feel about my body totally out weighs that fear so im prepared to 'man up' and get it done!! iv got my 2 bras one is a macom one in red as they didnt hav black and another is lipoelastic post op bra in white,i got them both in a medium so hopefully these r ok? Iv been trying to think of having everything i might need after my op so im prepared,so iv bought a travel pillow to go round my neck for the first week of sleeping as iv heard these r a godsend:)iv got some baggy pjs tht i can slip into without having to reach my arms into a tight top! im going to make sure my house has had a little spring clean and all our beds r stipped and washing is up to date so i wont stress about not bein able to do jobs about the house once im out of hospital. Im going to do a food shop and make sure i have everything i need in to make easyish meals for me and the kids. Iv told the kids im having an op(they dont know what kind of op) so iv explained tht mummy might need a hand to do things for the first couple of days or week even,they r on holidays so i wont need to worry about doing the school run or hobbies as i know i wont b able to drive for a little while! But one major thing im stressing about and know im going to find hard is the fact i wont b able to workout for a long time! i currently walk 7 miles a day with my job and workout 5 to 6 days a week which can be from running to kettle bells and some quite high intense exercise too!! its part of my daily routine and has been for the last couple of years although i have always been pretty active. So im going to look into the type of exercises i might be ok to do as soon as im able and healed as i definatley dont want to do any damage or undo the good work and whats 3 to 6 months out of the rest of my life right?:) i know there will be certain types of exercise i might not b able to do again like intense upper body stuff because Dr Tadros will be going under my chest muscle as im such a small frame and have no volume atal in the top part of my breast,you will c this when i post my pictures! I keep trying to imagine what i will look like with boobies but i cant!!! cannot wait to fill a bra as i dont even fill an A cup at the minute and padded bras and my massive chicken fillets have been what iv had to endure for pretty much since i hit puberty! always having to worry about them falling out on a night out or my nipple showing coz its pushed so far up that its right at the edge of my bra(girls with little boobies will know what i mean) Anyway i cant believe that this is all about to change in less than a week!!!! exciting times ahead!!!!:-Dxxx Updated on 30 Mar 2015: So i have eventually found some time to get back on here to update my progress:) i cant believe its 3 days since my op already!! So fri 27th me and my mum left Elgin in good time to get to albyn for my addmission at 11.30,i drove as knew it would be my last time for a little while! As u can guess all that was on my mind was where i was going and what for and although i was very scared,nervous and anxious the excitement of finally getting boobies out weighed it:) What makes it worse is not bein able to even have a sip of water or piece of gum to chew to take the dryness away,but hey ho has to b done. So we arrived at about 11 and it felt like i was checking into a hotel,didnt feel like a hospital atal which was good as it made me more relaxed as i hate hospitals(am sure a lot of peolpe do) Everyone was very polite and welcoming too! I got taken to my room by a nurse room 4,and got left to settle in,it had everything i needed,en suite,tv and wifi;) Then was just va case of waiting for things to happen,seen anesthetist he went through everything,got my tags on and got to hav a small glass of water with a few tablets for settling my stomach after the op with all the meds they give u! got my gown on took make up off and just waited anxiously for the next step! Dr Tadros came in to c me and take some pictures and draw lines on me,he explained everything he was going to do and made sure i was happy with what was planned so then went through some forms and i signed on the dotted line!! EXCITING!!! cant believe it was all happening finally! it was time to go so the nurse gave me my morphine tablets in my bed then i got wheeled down to the anesthetic room,by this time my whole body was shaking all over as i was so scared but everyone was very reassuring and the nurses and anesthetist really settled my nerves:) I just kept thinking of why i was going through this and how good i would feel when i woke up like a new woman!! Next thing i heard was my name getting called and i opened my eyes and it had all been done,i tried to focus on the clock but it was a bit fuzzy i was still half asleep,the nurse told me to have a little sleep so i drifted in and out! next thing i knew i was getting wheeled back to my room,where my mum was waiting for me:) So when i came to a bit my mum told me what Dr Tadros had told her when he called her to say i was in recovery. The op was more complicated than anticipated because i bled a lot,also my muscle was really hard to lift as it was stuck to my chest wall and every time he managed to get under a piece he would get to the next bit and it was stuck down too! so because of the bleeding i ended up getting drains in. I just feel bad i made Dr Tadros job more difficult(trust me haha) but all that aside i instantly felt happy and proud of my new assets i still cant believe it!!!:) In the end he went for the size i chose which was 300cc round mentor under the muscle,he did try bigger but didnt look right with my small frame,anything bigger started to look a bit fake,im more than happy with what he went for i had every faith in him and he knows what hes doing and i trusted and knew he would do a fab job which he did:-D i just wanted to give him a massive hug(but couldnt coz i had 2 new tender bumps in the way) when he came round to c me and i seen them for the first time coz i was so happy and he has changed my life hes amazing at his job and i would highly recommend him!! And Albyne hospital as a whole was fantastic,the place was very clean professional and the staff were amazing even the catering staff and auxiliary's. food was great too!! I got out after 2 nights as Dr Tadros just wanted to keep an eye and make sure the bleeding had stopped b 4 i left. getting the drains out wasnt great not gona lie but it was fine to get them out as they were uncomfortable being in. Im managing to control my pain with paracetemol and although i dont feel in huge amounts of pain im taking them regular so i dont get too sore. it just feels lijke iv done a mega chest day at the gym haha!! and doing things is a bit harder but i intend yo totally rest this week and take it really easy,im lucky i have great family and friends here to help me out,duno what id do without them. Anyway i have some before pictures which i will get up but its over and out just now as im getting tired. but il b back on to update soon. one last thing,i cant tell u how amazing i feel,forgetting the pain and everything iv been through,not 1 ounce of regret has ever entered my mind,im totally happy and satisfied and so so glad i went ahead with it,i feel grrrrrreat:-Dxxx Updated on 1 Apr 2015: Still not even a week after my op and I'm still feeling ok,only taking paracetamol now and again mainly at night as I'm finding it uncomfortable to sleep so my back and my neck r a bit stuff and sore,I'm still managing to get some sleep tho and I know it's not forever! My chest feels a little tight but I'm guessing it's jst everything healing and getting bk to normal and once I can move a by an do a bit more il lossen off. The day after I got home the nurses from the hospital called just to check in and make sure everything was ok and if I had any questions,that's service for u makes u feel like ur not just a number to them???? Helen also called to c how it went and how I was and to giv me my follow up app which is a week Monday! It's so nice to know she's right at the end of the phone if I needed to ask anything????all these little things help so much with the journey! I can do little things but I'm trying to really take it easy this first week after my op as I know it's important to rest up! I'm finding it hard tho coz I'm not used to doin nothing but my body wouldn't let me do too much just now anyway as I still feel a bit weak,but I'm managing to do what I need to do like pee or get myself a cuppa so that's the main thing???? My mum washed my hair last nite and I felt so much better after that too just felt a little fresher. I also had a proper look at my breast today as I had to order a smaller fitting bra coz the one u got was slightly too big so my mum helped me change it today. And I looked in the mirror and just feel over come with happiness????????????although they still hav to drop a bit and heal properly I'm super duper happy with them and Dr Tadros has done an amazing job they look so natural already????I also had a great anaesthetist coz I never felt sick or drowsy when I came round after the op????and the nurse that took my drains out was very careful the left side was worse than the right and I still get a shooting pain in the left where the drain had been now and then! It's hard to know what ur ok to do and what ur not ok to do so I think in bein extra cautious! I wiped my surfaces and thought hmmm mayb shouldn't have done tht also helped my daughter with some colouring in but couldn't do it for long,it's amazing how much u use the chest muscle without realising. But I'm definatley not over doing it if I do something and it's uncomfortable il stop! My body will tell me whn it's getting pushed too far! Anyway can't wait to c Dr Tadros again to get dressings off and give him that huh to say thanks he has changed my life and I'm so happy and grateful????????????iv got a couple of before and afters so far??X Updated on 19 Apr 2015: So its been just over 3 weeks since i had my op and i cant believe how well i am recovering:) I had my follow up appointment with Dr Tadros on Monday 13th of April,so my savoir my mum drove us through again as i wasn't sure when i was allowed to drive again. I went in prepared with all my questions that i had been writing down over time as they popped into my head:) Firstly i went in and he asked how i was doing and how i was feeling,so i'm feeling great,feel like i have a new lease of life as a woman and honestly cant put into words how happy i am:D i'm in love with my boobs,Dr Tadros has done an amazing job,they are perfect in every way and i don't say that about a lot of things because i know nothing in life is perfect but i honestly feel like my new boobs are:D they fit my body and shape so well,they aren't too big and they don't look fake atal which is exactly the look i was going for:) I am super delighted and cant thank Dr Tadros enough,he is a very talented man who knows what he is doing,has a great eye for detail and is super passionate about his job,anyone who knows or has met him will understand what i mean:D It was time to get my dressings off which i was really happy about as they were starting to irritate me a bit just because they were starting to unstick and i couldn't wait to get a good wash in the shower:) So Dr Tadros as always was very gentle at taking them off and he also took the sterile strip on my right side off just because it had seeped a bit so he wanted to make sure my scar was ok. he left the other side on as it was ok. He said the scars were healing well and just to be careful when drying them and stuff just to pat dry and not rub to stretch it or anything esp because i have thin skin. Also no oils or moisturizer as they are still healing and things like this could still seep in. So then it was question time; 1. What i can and cant do when it comes to everyday things like washing hair,putting hands behind my back,putting weight on my arms to get up from bed and stuff? 2.When am i ok to sleep on my side? 3. How long am i allowed my bra off at one time when it comes to taking a shower and stuff? 4.When am i allowed to drive? 5. Why is the left top part of my breast tender and sore to touch? 6. Why are my nipples really sensitive and almost feel stingy,as do the sides of my breasts,they feel really tender? 7. How hard or soft should i massage my breasts? Ok so lets start with 1. I'm allowed to wash my hair and put hands behind back and put weight on them to a certain extent, basically your body will tell you what you can and cant do,i'm definatleley not allowed to lift or carry Carli(my 5 year old daughter) as this can cause the muscle to strain which may result in the implant flipping until there is a pocket healed around the implant i have to be really careful with these things esp because he went under the muscle with mine. So this rules out working for another little while as my job is very physically demanding and i have a lot of heavy lifting and carrying heavy bags over my shoulder with being a postie,so he has signed me off for another 6 weeks which might seem long i know but i am just not willing to risk going back too soon and cause damage. Because i know when i go back me being the independent person i am i wont ask for help if i need it and i would struggle on,but not this time no way!!! 2.I can sleep on my side now,as long as i'm not leaning on them or sleeping on my stomach and squashing them:) This is good news as to be honest one of the worst parts of this whole experience has been the sleeping,i haven't slept a full night through since having them done purely because i hate sleeping on my back anyway. plus i have been propped up by pillows so i can sleep sitting up right a bit and have gradually been making my way down to lying flatter but it has taken time as they have felt quite heavy,and just the whole being able to get up from a lying down position without using your arms to help can be hard sometimes. So yeah sleeping sitting up comes with its cons and that is the fact that my back and my neck have been killing me just because its so uncomfortable,doesn't matter how many pillows or support i had what i really needed was a hospital bed that i could control to get me to sitting position ha ha!! 3. Long story short Dr Tadros wants me to go bra less for 4 weeks so my implants can drop a bit now:) I'm happy with that cos they look fab in a tight little top:D Although it does feel really weird to start with but you get used to it. In bed still feels strange esp if i'm lying on my side as i feel like they are falling to the side but i guess this is normal. I'm just being careful. He said they are going to look great once they have settled and stuff,i love them already so cant wait to see the end result:D 4. He said he is happy for me to drive now. So i did drive my daughter to nursery the next day, it did feel weird and i still had to be careful as its a little harder steering and changing gear and stuff,plus wearing the seat belt isn't the most comfiest yet so i'm driving like a learner again,feeding the wheel and being extra cautious. So i'm only going to drive if necessary. i'm only just managing to pick up my pace with walking as i felt walking too fast (which i naturally do) was a bit uncomfortable,felt like i had to hold underneath my boobs:) 5. The top of my left boob is tender to touch and i can still remember the feeling the sharp pulling pain coming from there when i was getting my drains removed. This is because before my surgery i had a lump on my chest which would have been in among'st breast tissue if i had any but because i didn't it stuck out a bit. So Dr Tadros said he would have a look while he was under the muscle and shave away the lump and send it off to get tested if he thought it was anything serious.. Turns out it was just scar tissue that had formed there due to me damaging it in the past through exercise or work, so that's good:) but he still shaved it down a bit so it wasn't sticking out even further when the implant was in and so both sides were even:) hence the pain and tenderness there although it is subsiding now. 6. The stingy tender nipples are what i thought it was and its just all the feeling and nerve endings starting to come back. I'm just happy that i still have the sensation there although wearing no bra is causing a constant nipple erection hehe;) 7. Its good to massage your new assets as long as your not too rough or hard, it helps circulation and keeps them soft and supple:) iv been kinda scared to touch mine just cos they are new to me i suppose and i have been tender,but the top part of my boobs are fine now i feel like the muscle is settling,its just down the sides and underneath that's still a bit tender. But in time my muscle will settle and get stronger:) So as always he answered all my questions and reassured me with any concerns i had,was super polite and nice and made me feel like a patient and not just a number:D Although im managing to do more i think i have been pushing it a little and doing too much because i have been experiencing a sharp pain in the right side boob, but i know its because of over stretching and stuff so i am going to listen the my body and put on the breaks and slow down a bit. i will just gradually build up my strength and iv been walking a bit more. But when it comes to exercise obviously no upper body exercises but hes happy for me to do lower ones like squats and lunges and stuff so i'm going to gradually start doing lower body exercise and just build it up as i get stronger. He said i can also go jogging but nothing too fast just a gentle jog but to wear a bra for support so i will try this when i feel ok too. So yeah i see him again in another 4 weeks,by then my implants should be feeling more at home in my body:) But i can honestly say that i feel like a different person, doing my research and reading up on things have definatley helped. And i have no regrets what so ever and im quite proud and amazed how quick i'm recovering,i havn't need any sort of pain killers for 2 weeks now, even then when i was taking them it was only paracetamol and twice a day:) Everyone is different i know but i think it helps when you have a fab surgeon and a fab support network behind it all like Helen who always checks in(his personal secretary)She is lovely and has been a fantastic help too. And Albyne hospital itself was great its like a little hotel and all the staff were lovely and very accommodating i would highly recommend it,iv had a great experience, Thanks to all:D P.S One super duper happy customer:) :) :) [RS bleep]