My experience has been like many others I've read about. Years of contemplating the op, as soon as I had the money, found the right consultant for me and went for it. I'm 47, relatively fit though overweight and despite my one black nipple setting me back a little in recovery, am delighted with the results so far, not least of all the pleasant change it has offered my head and heart when I catch my reflection! The anaesthetic has knocked me sideways. So glad I'm self employed with the ability to take the time i need to recover well. This website has been great. I'm now 14days post op. Had a difficult week this week but my nurse friend warned me that it's 2 steps forward 1 back in recovery. And she's not wrong. Updated on 30 Jul 2018: It's funny, I've thought of it for years and still can't quite believe I went through with it! I am currently resting as much as possible still, but keeping as active as I can too. Finding the balance when I'm normally an active zippy person is hard to guage. I have taken to buying some new clothes online. I'm not a good shopper, I've always hated it in fact and for obvious reasons, but already I'm finding tops I wanna try, with a different neck line, size etc, this comes attached with years of fantasies about what I always wished I could wear. We went through my wardrobe and my partner decided that most of the tops just had to go. Considering most were from charity shops anyway, I'm good to go with a new attitude towards it all. I've decided not to buy any bras yet. I want to take delight in going into a shop and just buying something off the shelf. The excitement I have for this is astonishingly bizarre and very welcome in my life. It is so refreshing to catch myself in a car window reflection and smiling rather than feeling embarrassed and full of deep self loathing. This is why I went through with it. Updated on 3 Aug 2018: So I saw my surgeon today. I really like her and love the aftercare that she is giving me. She's very happy with righty, behaving in an exemplary fashion. And she is also very happy with how lefty is managing to develop a fantastic scab. I have been airing my breasts as directed for an hour here and there to help lefty dry out and form the scab. She, lefty that is, feels like she has a hard crab shell over her, protecting the goodness that is happening and healing underneath. 'no picking'! Absolooootely bloody not... That's the surgeons job. She wants to see me in two weeks to be able to start cutting the scab back. I had my first front to front embrace with my partner this evening, it's just been too sore til now. What with black nipple, rollercoaster recovery journey, and the funeral of a young friend to cope with, it's all felt quite isolating over here, so a lovely hold, hug, embrace was exactly what I needed. My partner notices a big difference in our embrace. I felt it was just so wonderful to be able to get right in there, so close. I suspect that playing my guitar is going to feel so very different hey!? I've added the two photos as I found finally520's review and photos so helpful for tracking the week on week changes and though I can't quite tell much of a difference, I have decided to keep taking weekly photos over the course of recovery. I want to know when lefty sheds the scab and what the under looks like and how long it takes to heal. Looking at other reviews has been invaluable to me, the ups and downs that people have recovered amazingly from. I am a patient woman, but also prone to worrying, so read on and stay grateful for the changes and miraculous healing body. My belly still feels and looks bloated. How are you all getting on with yours? Updated on 13 Aug 2018: Can't deny it, am feeling a little upset with the latest opening of my vertical incision scar under my horrendous black nipple scar on lefty! Am adding a photo just in case it may help anyone else at some point. All was going swimmingly in the 'patiently healing' department when yesterday it took a turn in the other direction. Mix that in with a bit of pmt, grief from my friend dying and impending work bookings and I'm feeling a little down. I cannot fault my surgeon at all. Her post surgery care and concern is wonderful. Thank goodness for that! She called me today just to see how I was doing, having not received my morning email with an overnight update and photo... It had landed in her spam box! Still she called on the off chance and has booked me in to see her assistant tomorrow morning and then to see her on Thursday afternoon. She is talking about putting some silver in with the wound which helps the healing process. I am blessed with her meticulousness. That and the fact that I had a back up plan for my work bookings which I've now 'code reded'! Don't mean to make anyone queazy... It's not pretty I know... But it's the reality I'm dealing with just now. I look forward to looking back at all this and going 'blimey, I remember that, it was horrible but I got through it eventually and look at these wonderful [RS bleep] I now have! Best thing I ever did!' Updated on 17 Aug 2018: Saw PS yesterday (Thursday) and today having seen her assistant on Tuesday. Assistant did a good all over dressing for the whole areola and opened vertical scar area at the t junction. I was concerned as I was being completely covered in when I had been doing well airing and hardening the scab for when I next saw Anita. I thought it was going to get soggy and festering... Mad what my mind was trying to tell me! I was afraid of letting her down, despite having tried to take great care of her work. Sure enough when I saw Anita yesterday, it was soggy in part but also ready to cut back the scab. She took away about just over half of the scab, much to my surprise. I had convinced myself it wasn't going to be good enough to be able to cut back at all! My mind is so unkind at times. She then placed a layer of aquacel over the whole area and a fantastic watertight padded dressing... In the shape of a heart! I came home last night with my partner both holding the impression that the nipple hadn't survived. The areola was looking pinkish as it was being exposed but where was no nipple. I had a night of contemplating how important it is to me, if the nipple hasn't survived. Saw PS today as well. She managed to pick off the rest of the scab over the areola. Underneath was a mixture of pink and yellow, plus tiny blemishes of red. And whats more... We both saw, at the same time, what looked like the potential of a definite surviving nipple. Bloody hell!!!!! More silver and a new dressing, a happier PS, and 6 dressing change appointments with her assistants and a follow up with her as soon as she gets back from annual leave in 2 weeks. I drove there and back with my sister's company. The furthest I've driven... About 40 miles or so. Boobs no longer sore over every bump, but lefty tender from the picking today. I've been using my dogs inflatable ring donut shaped no nibbling collar, just thread the seatbelt through it to keep it away from my chest area. Feeling loads more relieved and positive knowing it's moving on with the silver aquacel helping to speed up the healing process. Came away from clinic today thinking 'it'll all be alright' again. I'm gonna sleep well tonight! Night ladies x Updated on 20 Aug 2018: Don't mean to upset anyone with this but feel it important to keep this real for anyone in the future who may need to see the healing process I'm going through. I saw nurse 1 today who managed to take all but a slither of the black scab off. She was very pleased with this. Plus she took a load of slough off. I couldn't look! Three good things she mentioned:- 1. There were spots of bleeding and the blood flow was good 2. I could feel some stuff which means there is sensation! 3. Seems definitely to be a nipple amongst it all - just to the left of the yellow bit! I then went to take a photo, was slightly taken aback (!!!!) but managed not to pass out. I'm not good with this sort of stuff. The yellow bit is where there was originally a blister formed in the first week. PS told me this is where there may well be scarring left on my areola when healed, rather than the skin one would hope for. As you can see the vertical scar has pretty much opened up completely. My understanding at the moment is that it is all sealed in with the Aquacel silver healing guaze for the silver to work and heal from the inside. We don't want a layer of skin to heal over the top and potentially cause a pocket of fluid underneath, that would be bad! Although right now it's hard to see the way to a properly healed breast, I do trust that in time the vertical scar can be restitched and some sort of shape regained for the areola. Only time will tell quite what I'll be left with. And there are some amazing tattoos around if we even need to go there. It just seems like an incredibly unfortunate road that my op has taken. I'm so glad not everyone goes through this, jeez! Upset that I am, but reassured by my relationship with my surgeon that we'll get through it together and that she won't let me go until we're both happy. She has been so amazing and is gutted for me, and herself I guess. I feel sorry that I've blotted her book! I have been trying to take such good care of her work and she has such a good history of work. Next nurse appointment on Wednesday. First session of work tomorrow, singing with a group of 50 elders. Thankfully I've enlisted 2 helpers! Just hope my energies are up to it. I booked this work thinking I'd be pretty much fighting fit by now... Almost 6 weeks post op now! Wish me luck! Updated on 24 Aug 2018: So.... I've added the photos I was afraid to add before now. It may help someone in the future hey!? After the shock uncovering at nurse session 1 on Monday this week (picture 2) I've managed to get my head around what's going on. I am being treated and nursed so well which all helps my anxiety. Nurse 1 left just a slither of black (picture 3) for nurse 2 to deslough two days later, Wednesday. Nurses and surgeons, I've realised, take delight in desloughing!!! Back to nurse 1 today, Friday, who was happy with the progress of islands forming and outer edges of the wound starting to contract. She brought in another surgeon to have a look after she'd cleaned and desloughed in part (picture 4) and then the surgeon decided to pick out all the yellow as it was bad fat tissue, not good. The more they can take out the faster the healing progress... he left a hole or two (picture 5)! The nurse then packed the holes with the Aquacel dressing, sealed it up again in the padded dressing and sent me on my way, very happy with themselves. My usual PS is being kept in the loop with photo updates while she is on annual leave. Bless her, she texts me to make sure I'm ok after each session I have with a nurse to make sure I'm ok. I am ok. The 2nd surgeon I met today said this sort of thing happens only every now and against, like 1 in 500! Not sure that makes me special!!! All the time they are desloughing I barely feel a thing by the way. Every now and again I do and I'm told that thats good as because it means there's sensitivity and good nerves in there! After the digging out today, I do feel slightly tender and like I just want to relax over the weekend. So despite my partner and my PS being away for the week I've been cared for highly by the nursing team and managed to do my first 2 work sessions (singing with 30-50 participants) following the op. Healing is in progress, I do have a nipple in tact and I know that in time my areola and incision scar will contract back into some sort of shape. Any revisions or corrections will be months down the line once we know what we're left with but I feel quite hopeful considering the 2 setbacks so far. Updated on 5 Sep 2018: Clearly, my recovery is not to be smooth at all. Day 1 - complication of black areola and nipple Wk 4 - complication of vertical incision scar opening up as the black scab came away undoing stitches as it went Wk 8 - an infection in the open wound! I'm learning so much. Mainly about myself in the face of such complications. The nursing staff have been incredible in looking after me while my surgeon is away. She's back next Thursday and I'm looking forward to seeing her. She's been in touch with me by text after every redressing visit, to see how I am. Bless her. Think I've got them all a bit worried. Why aren't I healing? I guess I am, but slowly. And now an infection! Now I haven't taken antibiotics, apart from the ones they gave during the op, for 25 years. I took aversion to using them after they gave me a terrible and stubborn candida issue in 1997 which lasted well over a year and made my life truly miserable. All because I took 3 lots of antibiotics within a year. What can I say? I'm a delicate flower! And antibiotics are poison... But no mucking about now Jodi, this is serious [RS bleep] going down in your recovery and the best thing to do is take them to boost your healing. Every tablet feels like poison I'm putting in my body. They have also prescribed some anti thrush treatment. Fingers crossed everyone coz if I get similar issues as before in 1997, that may just test my resolve too much for whether this whole op was worth while! Feeling a bit worn now. Back to work proper next week! Thank goodness I went private and all this aftercare comes in with the package. Still trying to post here in the hope that looking back or over my journey will be helpful to someone else in the future. It's a reality check for me this. The positives are:- I'm not ill, I am a well person I've stuck to a good healthy diet full of protein greens and lemons I have a nipple in amongst the wound even then the areola died I have an amazing team looking after me I have much love around me I am a positive thinker I am very happy with my new bust size - thank goodness for that! Sending well wishes to everyone else on your recovery journeys Updated on 25 Sep 2018: Ok, so 3 weeks on from my last update... These photos depict the last 3 weeks of redressings. I have been going in every 2 or 3 days. The infection did clear with the antibiotics and I realise now that the stingy pain that I was assuming was just more zingers was in fact the infection. Really hard to tell what's what. Even now, the different pains I get are hard to define. Some are because I've moved in the wrong direction at the wrong angle, some coz I've stretched too far, some coz its a deep wound that just for a moment is telling me it's there. Some zingers from nerves refinding themselves! It's a knack of self discipline not to get worried... And clearly I know nothing.... I am in the very capable hands of a good team who are also learning from my journey. Do you all still get zingers after 2.5 months? I feel I do every now and again in rightie, though almost gone. Lefty seems to be doing its own thing so it's very hard to tell what's going on. Some days all the scars under rightie feel quite tender. Do you get that? My surgeon is back, talk about relief! So nice to see her. And she's happy with how things have progressed. I see her once a week and she's just suggested we try to reduce to 2 dressings a week, which is great... Great on my fuel and my energy and time. I'm still on restricted lifting of heavy things as lefty needs to mesh together still. Apparently it is starting to heal from the inside up. I'm just hoping for no more complications, though of course, infections love warm moist areas to breed in and I'm offering a really good one of those! Thanks for all your thoughts and support. Although behind in my healing journey, I still look forward to buying my first decent bra beyond the post surgery ones I'm still wearing. I'm currently still a 38d. That's fine, really hoping when I can be more active I'll get down to the c I want! But it's no Biggie... Even with all this going on, I'm so happy to be rid of the big cumbersome embarrassing [RS bleep] that never felt like they were mine! Surgeon allowed me to stop wearing my bras at night about 2 weeks ago. Really nice to be so much more comfortable, sleeping on either side now with little need for too much thought about it! All in all, healing is progressing, albeit slowly. Leftie feels a lot less sore and wound like. When I'm working I forget its a wound altogether! So seems like it looks worse that it feels ATM! Wishing everyone well x Updated on 25 Sep 2018: I don't think these uploaded before so trying again. And it won't let me update without writing 200words here! So... I started my review by saying my experience has been like many others I've read about... Up until the day after the op that is... And since then, geesh, it's been quite an isolated and isolating incident. Because I was always totally embarrassed about the size of my chest, ever since it grew, I've been quite quiet about the op in my life generally. One of my closest friends didn't even know it had always been such a big issue for me and even my family were surprised that it must be such an issue to me that I'd save up and go through with such a drastic alteration surgery. Despite all the complications I've been having, I am totally happy with the size I now am. In time I will heal. And I love the fact that people haven't noticed the change. 3 people have asked if I have lost weight. Just 3. I didn't want people looking at my chest then, and I still don't want them too now. The difference is my head space - so totally different. I'm not embarrassed or full of self loathing. I'm so very happy to feel i am a normal manageable size, as should have been in the first place!!! Isolating because I do feel slightly let down by my body in recovery. I know it's doing the best it can. But there is still the part that asks, why are these complications happening to me? I'm not feeling sorry for myself but more wondering what made my body react so differently to others? Updated on 14 Oct 2018: These photos have been taken over the course of the last 3 weeks. Feel like my lefty is starting to take some proper form resembling an areola and a nipple! It's been 3 months since my op! My surgeon doesn't care suggest whether I may be ready or not by Christmas to sit in a private hot tub we've hired for our holiday. I don't blame her... Not after all the setbacks I've had! Updated on 30 Dec 2018: I am still here! Slowly healing. I've found uploading a problem at times as I think there's a glitch in the website somewhere. Get to writing something, uploading photos and then it all disappears. This is my 3rd attempt to upload these photos! And then I got locked out altogether. I have no idea why the photos are sideways on! Perhaps I can rotate them later but for now.... The journey has been slow and more of the same. Having gone to clinic 3 times a week for the first 3 months post op, I'm was then down to twice a week, and now once to see my surgeon. Updated on 30 Dec 2018: We have been paying for our Christmas holiday retreat all year, very much needing and looking forward to the break. When I initially had the operation I thought... '5 months after op would be fine for a hot tub' and believed it would be amazing to be in my new birthday suit, free and healed with a new sense of feminity and self-confidence. Not quite as I'd fantasized! The whole holiday has been in jeapordy, though we decided to go for it anyway as the dressings may well be up to it - lounging in 40° wood fired round outdoor tub under the stars.... Yes please! We left home, packed with various dressings from the care team, Hibiscrub antiseptic shower gel and a pin prick of a hole. Healing is not to be hurried.... But surely any day now.... The problem of course, is infection... From faeces. Extra extra care in showering before and after each tub with the antiseptic gel. And cleanliness around dressing changes plus we have the dogs to navigate and all their germs! The team have clearly stated that the hole can not be allowed to cover over until the inside has come up from the bottom to meet it. So the Aquacel, over the holiday, was more as a plug to keep the hole open while the inside comes up healing from underneath. If you look at picture 4, last photo before driving back from holiday, don't be fooled into thinking there is a nipple in the centre of what I have left of an areola - that's actually scar tissue left from the blister before. What is actually left of my nipple is on the right hand side of the areola, directly next to the pin prick hole Updated on 30 Dec 2018: As anyone who has followed my story will know, my journey has been hard edged. I've had issue after issue from day 1 of recovery and waking up to a black nipple. I am grateful for all the goodness in my life. I've an amazing surgeon, care team and home life who have all supported me with love and decency all the way. The holiday was incredible, walking the Dales with my fiancée and the dogs, coming back to soaking in our private hot tub. I decided to try out the 2 different dressings I had from the team. First dressing, picture 2, was great. I kept it on for 3 days of tubbing (then the tub is dropped and cleaned and scrubbed and refilled) and it was perfectly dry when changed. My surgeon had suggested I then give some air drying time with no dressing on. So I did overnight. Second dressing, picture 3, leaked and after 2 tubs I decided to check into find the pad was sodden, so went back to the first but also realised I was running out of spot dressings - the small brown plasters from picture 2. My surgeon had told me I could just use a normal spot plaster, so off the a chemist we went. Third dressing from the pharmacist was fabulous. I did need to explain my particular situation, but wow, what a result! Used these for the rest of the holiday... But... In the meantime.... Water got in. After the water had got in and after a few days, lefty started feeling tender. I felt like I had a large lump developing and that lefty was swelling. When I realised it wasn't my imagination and it was quite sore, despite airing and re dressing and keeping clean I succumbed to a walk in clinic, far from home, sure to be told it was an infection. But they didn't say that at all. They said it was fine, probably scar tissue moving from having my arms draped over the back of the hot tub, redressed it and sent me home. I said to my fiancée, 'ok so it's not an infection, but why is it so sore then, it feels swollen like it's gonna burst'. The following day, we travelled back 350 miles, and something burst as I was driving down the motorway! I didn't feel a bang, but felt it was wet under my arm and it smelt slightly, not too bad, but not perspiration and anyway, I wasn't sweating. It was a nervous drive home for the final 40miles. I rang my surgeon immediately. She believed it was a reaction to the water getting in and building up and then the breast needed to reject the serum fluid. So it burst out of the water proof dressings from the pharmacy and made a complete mess, nearly giving us both a heart attack! As I write this, on a 'taking it easy' day (instructed by my wonderful fiancée) I am about to change the sanitary towel dressing (instructed by my surgeon to catch the oozing over night) to see the size of the damage. I'm pretty sure a third hole was developing above the two in picture 7. So a slight set back, yet again... But please please please, no infection! I hate antibiotics. Updated on 30 Dec 2018: I'm feeling grateful that I arranged an appointment at my usual clinic for tomorrow when I spoke with Carole from there last Thurs. I was in Derby on holiday wondering if I needed to go into the walk in clinic as I wasn't sure, if it was an infection, that it wouldn't kick off big time when i was traveling and before I could get home to my usual team of nurses. Carole took a 5 min synopsis over the phone and advised that it was probably best if I got it checked out... See last post...! The trauma that has unraveled since then, what with the 'travelling boob outburst', is now under control and my panic has subsided with logic. I don't blame myself for a little trauma, a little drama, a little panic. After all, it's not everyday you go to bed with a medium flow sanitary towel on your tit! It's also not many people who can say 'my boob burst on the M2 motorway... while i was driving'. I didn't really think much about it before now... I'm neither a chemist or biologist... But the gunk that my boob ejected with the serum fluid, seemed quite acidic/burny. It seemed to me that the fluid burst out the dressing in a forceful way, quite different from the 100% waterproof protection the dressing had afforded me, stopping the 40° hot tub water from getting in! The adhesive was strong, was it burnt through? It felt like the fluid, after the initial outburst, then slowly leaked out, burning a new hole in my skin. Overnight this oozed into the sanitary towel which with its super absorbent capacity, along with the Aquacel which is great for drawing out bad properties, kept the fluid away from my skin. Does the body hold such burny fluid in itself? Or I wonder if the hot tub water would have had an element of the hot tub cleaning fluid in it which the inside of my breast didn't like... And so it shouldn't! I wonder if some of the hot tub water got trapped in a type of blister effect which swelled and finally burst as the body needed to get rid of it? When I redressed it this morning I made the mistake of putting a spot dressing on. At about 4pm I had burns on my skin under my boob from where a small amount of the fluid had leaked out the dressing and onto my bra and this was now directly against my skin. Enflamed and like a burn. I've now redressed again with another sanitary towel and braless as both post surgery bras are in the wash!!! Whatever did actually happen, the effect is, I'm set back in my recovery again. But I'm well and looking forward to getting to my clinic tomorrow for sterile conditions and a professional to take a look. A friend asked me if all the issues I was having was just unlucky to which I said 'yes'. I'm probably one in a million if not more, and that means, it most certainly won't be happening to any of you out there! Phew!
Hi guys, I’m 21 years old, from the Midlands. So I’d say I was around 13 ish when i noticed my lady parts properly, I noticed that the inner bit hung out slightly further than my outer bit. I thought it was gross and abnormal. Like any 13 year old, I was a lot shyer than i am now, and did NOT want to tell anyone. I sort of let it sit at the back of my mind for years and just carried on life as normal. When i got to about 18, i had thrush for the first time, which was horrific and it lasted about 6 weeks, no word of a lie ! Everytime i thought i was getting rid of it, it would be back again with a vengeance. I spoke to my doctor and she swabbed me to make sure i hadnt got anything other than thrush, i asked her if it could be anything to do with my inner labia being abit larger. She told me my annatomy was extremely normal but it could well be. Because my inner labia sits just below my outer, it rubs against my pants. So when i had thrush, the friction against my underwear was making it worsen and was so uncomfortable. I stopped wearing pants around the house and and wore a loose dress. This made it 100x worse, my inner labia swole up and was so inflamed. This was when i thought that enough really is enough and i told my mom. My swabs come back and i was clear for everything apart from an ‘awful case of thrush’ as my doctor put it. I told my mom everything after that and she said if its something i really want done, to look for a surgeon and she will come with me to the appointment. So now I’m 21, im sexually active and have been since I was 16. Ive only been with two boys and I’m still with my second now. I cant say as sex was a huge deal for me, it was more so the other parts. I hated being touched, and i still do now. When your having sex, you cant mess with anything like you can with your hands. (if you get what i mean) Only occasionally sex can be abit uncomfortable and the lights are always off in the bedroom. It took my three years to find Miss Hazari, i came across her via one of her patient diaries. She was great, and put me at ease straight away. She said the best option for me would be something called the wedge technique, where its cut sort of like a pizza slice and sewed together instead of a straight cut. She also told me i had a little excess skin running up towards my labia hood and she would want to take this off too else i’d look abit odd and she didnt want me coming back and being annoyed about it ???? We both decided general anaesthetic would be best for me, becuase i would most likely freak out if i was awake under local anaesthetic. Because i’m a three hour drive away from my procedure location, Miss Hazari wanted me to stay at a local hotel so im near if I need anything (i didnt want to stay in the hospital over night) Out of everything, I’m most worried about the drive back home on the following day, i dont want to need a wee and have to stop at a service station. I also come on my period 2 days ago, since coming off my pill they are super irregular and its sods law that id come on over my procedure date. My Surgery is at 12:30 tomorrow, so i’ll be on day 4 and usually im coming off by then, so thats not too much of a problem for me. I’ll post some pictures later and I plan to keep you all updated through my whole process beginning to end ! Any questions feel free to comment or dm me! ???????? Updated on 12 Jun 2018: So i did it ! Was a little late going into surgery, the longer i was waiting the more my anxiety was kicking in. After i was showed to my room i had 2 different nurses come in and ask me some basic questions, miss Hazari (my surgeon) then come in and made sure i was all okay and ready for it and told me not to be nervous because she isn’t ???? I met my anaesthetist last, who couldn’t have been a more lovely guy. So professional and light hearted, nothing was super serious, they all had a great sense of humour, the type that just makes you feel comfortable and at ease, you know what i mean. Walking down to theatre was odd, it wasn’t until i got in there that i started to panic a little, but the two nurses were fab, talking to me while hooking me up to wires and what not. The anaesthetist came in then, and put my Cannula in, it wasn’t pleasant but iv had a lot worse (I’m a real wimp when it comes to needles). My body went a little tingly and before i knew anything else I was being woken up ! I felt nothing, it was bliss. I was told it all went perfect and the op itself was only about 30 mins. It was trying to wake me up that was tricky. I had to ask if it had actually been done because everything felt normal. Id had a local anaesthetic down there. After chatting complete bubbles i was wheeled back to my room to my boyfriend with one of the lovely nurses. my fella thought it was hilarious because of how i was talking. I felt a little tipsy and could taste like a vodka taste in the back of my throat. Id drank quite a bit of water in small intervals and went for my first wee which felt completely normal. Patted dry with tissue and was well equipped with a giant sanitary towel. I thought id feel sick as im one of those people that literally gets sick with everything, but no, i was bloody starving! I ate like 3 pieces of toast and jam, melon and a cup of tea and biscuits. They then took my cannula out. About 2 hours after i started to feel down there, it felt like a sort of tight pinching but only on the left side. I sat and tried to brace it but called the nurse for some pain relief. It feels a lot better when i stand up as to when im sat/lay down. My nurse said its good that im up and about but i do need to lie down too and rest. I was then ready for discharge ! Only around 3 hours after i was put back in my room. Drive was okay to the hotel and im sat here now watching some films with my legs elevated and a belly full of pizza. Iv just took my second lot of tablets and am ready for some sleep. Im shocked im not more tired than i am, i haven’t slept well the past two nights. Still a tight pinching feeling. Iv had another wee since being at the hotel and out a thin layer of paraffin cream on as advised for morning and night. I’ve posted some pictures too, some of what i looked like before and the others are after while i was still in the hospital. I literally cant help but smile every time i look at the pictures. Im well chuffed ! Will update you guys tomorrow when I get home ! PS. I promise to make my next posts shorter !!
Hello, The realself site has been invaluable to me to help me make the decision to go ahead and have implants. It is something I have a thought of but never thought I would do. I breast fed my boys and really enjoyed the feeling of larger breasts at that time and also felt my most confident. I have done lots of research, I also saw four consultants before choosing my lovely lady consultant who I have every faith and confidence in. She has always welcomed me and been very patient with all my questions and worries and has been nothing but understanding and kind. I am at present an empty 34b cup and hope to be a 34dd at the end of my procedure. I have had my pre op and am set for admission on the 11th at 11.20 . I have bought just about everything I need with advice taken from the lovely ladies reviews I have read on this site. I have left it to the surgeon for the final size. She has ordered 380 ultra high profile and also 425 ultra high profile polytec polyurethane anatomical implants for me and depending on what looks better on the day and fits well I will have. I have a 33" rib cage and a bwd of 11.5 so I don't have much to play with size wise, hence going with the uhp to get the size I wish. I am having them dual plane , inserted under the breast crease. I have to say today I feel very calm but I have moments of sheer panic and fear. I have been in contact with a few ladies on here in regards to their ba and they have been so incredibly brave and strong and have inspired me to go on and follow my dreams and to hopefully feel happy and confident once more. My husband is quietly supportive, he loves me as I am and can't understand why I am doing this but is by my side if I go ahead and has booked two weeks of work to look after me. Feel incredibly guilty for taking our savings and spending them on me, and therefore no holiday etc this year for any of us. Updated on 4 Feb 2016: Heard from the hospital that I am first on the list for surgery on the 11th. Feel happy about that, I did ask if there is no real order or preference could I go first to get it over with and they have now confirmed that for me. Feel incredibly calm at the moment thinking this time next week it will be all over. Updated on 4 Feb 2016: Hi, I've read some amazing lists of items bought before surgery so have listed mine and my own personal preparation for surgery. Firstly I have given up alcohol since Christmas. I am an avid wine drinker and would drink probably a bottle a night with a meal so have knocked that on the head and to be honest feel much better for it. I have been oiling and moisturising my boobs morning and evening. I am having my hair cut on Saturday, just to make me mentally feel good and I will wash it the morning of surgery. I have tried to be healthy with my diet all mainly because I am an asthmatic and am on a lot of drugs for this so just trying to support my body as much as possible. My bag is packed!,in it I have Slippers, Socks, Bras, a Macom anatomical bra, a couple of sports bras and some bra extenders Dressing gown, Book, Flannel, wipes, toothpaste etc Eye mask, A couple of drinks and straws (lucozade recovery types to rebalance your body) A box of chocolates to keep in the nurses good books, Button up nightie, Loose track suit bottoms to come home in Slip on shoes Morenga balm (my desert island must gave) Track suit zip up top, I will also take my own pillow, (good for when travelling home) Phone, I pad, Paracetamol and codine Think that's it, it looks like I'm going on holiday! Anyone think I've forgot anything? Updated on 7 Feb 2016: Took photos this morning, beyond depressed, never thought I looked that empty and flat, that's what ten years of breast feeding did plus age. Now happy I made the decision to go ahead with the ba. Updated on 7 Feb 2016: What's that saying, "you can't make a silk blouse out of a pigs ear!", well I think my consultant is going to have her job with making me look good. Bye the way, I'm not lop sided like the picture shows my left is slightly bigger but I am at an angle trying to hold the iPad at the same time. Updated on 8 Feb 2016: Strangely I am amazingly calm, surgery is two days away and I am better and more at ease than I was a month ago thinking about it. I'm sure it's because I have done my homework and the ladies and their honesty about their journeys and their ba's on this site have helped me greatly. Good luck to all the February ladies, thinking of you all [RS bleep] Updated on 13 Feb 2016: Hello lovely ladies, Home, yes in pain, two rock hard boobs and here's my story of the op to help all the other ladies approaching their surgery and to help them prepare as best as possible. Well slept ok the night before, got to the hospital for 7.30, was seen by the nurse, the anethatist and my consultant who then took photos and marked me up. I was ok till laying on the bed ready for the ga when I began to panic, got very scared and the staff were brilliant, didn't even feel the cold go down my arm when the anasetic went in, I was gone. I woke up with someone calling my name, no pain, not great pressure either, in fact better than I expected. Fell back to sleep again and found myself now in my room with my husband. I'd been gone a lot longer than expected, I was first for the ops at 8.30 and didn't get back to my room till about 12.15. I know they were keeping an extra eye on me as I am asthmatic and they had some concerns over recovery. Back in my room felt better than expected, constantly checked by nurses, legs in stockings and these horrendous leg inflators (strap on leggings to help prevent dvt) they kept blowing up deflating blowing up again and to be honest there for a reason but a total pain, every time the air was released they went pop, just like someone popping a crisp bag so couldn't really sleep well they actually was making me jump every time I dosed off to sleep. I was given a drink, no sore throat in fact like I said felt a lot better than expected and I just wanted to dose. The staff were fantastic couldn't fault them, I thank them all. I hadn't had a wee since before surgery and it was about 5 o'clock in the afternoon and I still didn't want to go but I had drunk loads and thought I must go this is ridiculous so with help got up and weed for England. Back to bed was visited by the vicar, a little frightening, the anethatist, and the consultant with a nurse who undid my corset which I had strapped on me, she asked me to look at my breasts (couldn't see much)and said she would be back in the morning to check me. I had drains in, they weren't a problem at this time, was only on paracetamol which was fine and just dosed on and off through the evening. I was desperate to sleep, the blasted leggings were terrible they were so noisy and kept waking me up with a fright. I was told I could have some liquid morphine if I wanted it, I didn't need it for pain but they said it might knock me out a bit and it could help me sleep. I took the morphine and sadly it didn't do what I hoped for to send me asleep. I wasn't uncomfortable wasn't in pain just so beyond tired. Dosed on and off through the pops and crackling and machine blowing up and down and at about 6pm rang the buzzer for some help to go to the logo. Every time I got up the leggings had to be taken off and the bottles carried for me and hallelujah the nurse said from 6am the leggings could stay off. I had another wee went back to bed and slept wonderfully till about 7.45. Got up myself, cleaned my teeth, had a wee and waited for breakfast. I still at this stage felt pretty good, far better than expected. After breakfast the consultant checked me over and said to try to move around a little bit and the nurse will take out the drains at 11.30 and I could go home after lunch. I did worry about the drains coming out, and was nervous and scared yet again. There was also a stitch in each side which had to be cut open and she asked me to take a deep breath and when I breathed out she would pull the drain out one at a time. Yes it did hurt a bit but got it over with, she put dressings over the holes and put my Macom anatomical bra on which felt lovely. My husband helped me dress after lunch and we made our way home. Since the drains were removed I seemed to go to a different pain level. I have to say I was now in pain very swollen, rock hard and sore. My husband made a bed up on the sofa and I thought I would be happy with this but by 8pm I'd had enough and got into bed. Had my wedge pillow, quilt, electric over blanket and tried to sleep propped up. Dosed on and off, took paracetamol every four hours and one thing which was lovely and really helped was to sit up on the bed, take my bra off and my husband massaged my back gently with som cream it was heaven, it just got all the blood flowing and was so soothing. Re dressed and went back to sleep till this morning. The real self site and the amazing ladies and their honest reviews has been the best thing to prepare me for this surgery. I will take some photos when I can but from what I can see I am very happy. My breasts are very hard and sore, both pretty much the same re swelling and I am just sitting propped up watching tv. I have to wear my support socks for a couple of weeks which is fine and I see my consultant again on Thursday and can call the hospital for anything I may be worried about. Thinking of all the other ladies who had their surgery on the 11th (I hope your ok) and to all the other ladies recovering or those about to have surgery good luck thinking of you x , Updated on 13 Feb 2016: Hello ladies, Sorry this is all I can manage, x Updated on 14 Feb 2016: Hello ladies, Another day gone by, again not in real pain just uncomfortable. Boobs very hard, sleeping upright is hard even with the wedge pillow and loads of other pillows but did get some sleep. Bras are interesting, I bought a variety of post surgery bras and now have my favourite two and they are the cheepest out of all of them. I tjink comfort is so important at this stage, every little bit helps at the moment. I did buy a Macom anatomical which I wore on day one and I thought that was lovely but the one I put on today is like heaven, pure cotton and so gentle yet supporting. Take care girls, photos attached with new comfy bra I just put on x Updated on 14 Feb 2016: Surgery was on the 11th February, very early days but so pleased so far. Updated on 15 Feb 2016: I have to say I am incredibly happy with my ba so far. The only pain relief I've had is paracetamol and the last ones I took were yesterday lunch time. My boobs are still very hard and my sorest areas are where the drains were and areas under my arms. I'm not showering, my consultant said I could as long as I dried the incision areas with a cool hairdryer afterwards but instead my husband runs a shallow bath about 6" deep he helps me in and I just gently wash all over with a flannel going no where near the incision sites. I am gently creaming the top of my boobs day and night and am wearing a strong support bra in the day and a softer sleep bra at night as my boobs so swell through the night/early hours of the morning. Sleeping for me is very hard, I cannot get comfy propped up with no matter how many pillows etc, sleep deprivation for me is hard, I'm a side, belly sleeper and can't wait for a good sleep. The incision sites are covered and no blood or seepage is showing and the drain sites are good also. The drain site area is sore more so than I thought it would be. To me all this has been very worth it. I love my new boobs and keep undressing and looking at them, something I have never done before. I am even happy to walk around naked for the first time in front of my husband, something that within 16 years of marriage have never done. Updated on 19 Feb 2016: Off for my first post op this afternoon, not really looking forward to it as I think they will be taking the tape off ouch!, I have just taken a couple of photos although not brilliant so takes have no blood on the I think some of the change in colour in them is fluff from cloths etc. I had my op on the 11th Feb and am more than happy and delighted with the results so far even if it is early days. Updated on 20 Feb 2016: Well as you read from my previous post I was not looking forward to the tapes coming off but I was silly to think it would hurt as she just peeled them off and the Tagaderm patches over the holes where the drains were and it didn't hurt or sting one bit. Such a baby but thrilled to get that over with. As I lay on the bed with the tapes off I did not see my scars but she asked if my husband could come over and see. He came over and she said they are doing well and all I need to do now is apply two layers of micro pore tape over the hole incision area and go about 3 cm past the scars don't pull the tape just lay over the scars softly and leave. She showed my husband how to do this and said I need to still keep this dry and either weds or Thursday next week take the tapes off have a shower and let the water run and wash over the scars then pat dry, lay on the bed or chair and just let the air to them for 15 minutes then tape again as before for one more week then do the same shower routine but start scar care treatment ie massage area etc. She watery happy with everything and thought they looked really good and said I didn't look like a lady who had surgery last week. Feel very happy so far I have sailed through my only problem is the normal morning boob and lack of sleep where I usually lay on my belly so find it hard not to and also I am also frightened of moving awkwardly and doing something to make healing worst. Have never been bloated and can't work out why I have put no weight on especially as i am doing so much less than my normal routine. I have never worked out or exercised in my life but I do have four horses and five dogs, the horses I muck out everyday, pretty physical stuff and walk the dogs for an hour a day plus work so I thought stopping this plus the weight of my boobs and excess fluid I would be a fat lump but surprisingly no. Last night I got undressed and had a look under the boobs and was surprised the drain sites had not been covered, I called my husband and looked at these two tiny marks just like freckles and said is that we're the drains were and he said yes so very please with that also. The bras I am wearing at the moment are all 34E which is what I asked for, I never bought any bigger rib size bras I just bought bra extenders and havn't used them now for about 4 days so I think most of the swelling around that area has gone. I will keep you all up to date, and happy healing to you all [RS bleep] Updated on 24 Feb 2016: Hello, Just a comment on bras, I have bought many in preparation for my post surgery and have wasted my money as they are so uncomfortable. I have been asked what bra I have and have found it so very comfy, it has a lovely wide rib band and shoulder straps and gives plenty of support and is still so comfy in bed at night. You can find these bras on the "Curvissa" website and they have a page for un-wired bras. The bra I have is on this page made by "petite fleur" and is £35 for a pack of two. Updated on 29 Feb 2016: Hello ladies, Nothing much to report on my progress really which I suppose is good. I'm not in any pain at all, only occasionally get the dreaded zingers which I don't mind as I think that's my nerves coming back to life so that's good and boobs look good but I don't notice any difference in how they look. One thing for sure is they are greatly sensitive even to the extent that they feel sore and they get cold very quickly. I know this is because they are a foreign object but God do I notice it. I went to the chemist for a few bits today and noticed a box of breast feeding shaped pads so bought them. Am now walking round as if I'm about to feed a baby, bulging boobs with pads on but don't care the pads are lovely and soft and warm. Boobs do feel a little softer but I have no feeling just great sensitivity/soreness in the lower half of them. As they say early days, not complaining at all as so far I have been very lucky with the whole procedure having no bleeding or problems. Will do some more photos soon, I don't see any difference but maybe everyone else can. Happy healing ladies [RS bleep] Updated on 10 Mar 2016: Hello lovely ladies, Well I'm four weeks to day and very happy. I have been really lucky all through my recovery and am grateful. As regards progress. SLEEP. I'm sleeping well, I wear a bra all the time and can sleep on my sides no problem, I do still have morning boob but no where as bad as earlier in recovery. BRAS. I wear total support bras all the time except of course for showering and have my favourite few which I tend to keep washing and re wearing. SCAR CARE. I have silicone strips which I wear all the time again take of for showering, rub vit e in and also polysporin alternatively and massage the scars twice a day which I hate doing. There are in total I think three layers of stitches, muscle, epidermis and skin. My skin has healed well other than still visable scar but I can feel the other stitches underneath so I keep massaging and they will eventually soften. IMPLANTS. Can't feel them or see any signs of edges etc which I'm thrilled about. As they are anatomical they don't need to drop and fluff they just over time soften. SIZE. Previously as said before surgery I was a small 34b cup. I had 425cc anatomical placed dual plane under the crease. The bras I am presently wearing are either 34E or 34F cup which is exactly what I hoped for. I really would not of wished to go any larger. Overall I am extremely happy, I have no pain whatsoever, am sensible but I am back at work and doing all I used o do before my surgery I am back with my consultant next Friday for a check up and also she said my first set of after photos. I will update again after my consult. Wishing all you lovely ladies speedy recoveries and happy content thoughts xxxx Updated on 19 Mar 2016: Hello lovely ladies, I was looking forward to seeing my consultant and having this check up. Things have been good, boobs at times incredibly sensitive to the extent that they feel sore although there not just more sensitive than I ever thought they could be. I can do more or less anything although I am being sensible, I sleep well either on my side or I did semi lay on my stomach the other day and it felt fine. Have been rubbing my scars and the other day I noticed my right boob the scar towards my arm pit was slightly red so had a good look in the magnifying mirror and it had opened a little bit so I have left it alone. When I saw the surgeon she instantly spotted it and said its quite common and not to worry but to be more gentle and leave that spot alone for at least a week to heal. She said I'd been trying too hard and to be a little less paranoid over them, there fine not raised or anything and to be a bit softer with them. I keep buying bras, I now have another favourite which I have attached a photo of. Life is good with boobs, the surgeon even said I walk differently now, she said to me go back out the door and come back in, I couldn't work out why so did as she said and she said I even walk differently now, she said I used to walk sort of haunched up and today she said you walked in shoulders back and full of confidence which is so true. I am happy and I have been very lucky. Once my little bit of open scar has totally healed and can gave a soak in the bath which will be mega. Wishing you all happy healing and much happiness [RS bleep] Updated on 1 Apr 2016: Well yes I have gone bra crazy! Scars are healing well and I am now having baths which is so nice. Bras are a problem, how strange life is one minute I can't find a good bra to fit because of my small size, now I'm having trouble because of my small back and larger cup size. All through post op I have been wearing stretchy soft bras in a 34E I also still wear these to bed just because I do feel supported and comfortable in them. Moving onto other bras I have several sports bras and also support bras in a 34 F which fit lovely. Last night for the first time in my life I felt a million dollars. Just wore a skirt and a roll neck top as in the picture and I felt so happy, I never thought I would have this confidence. It's crazy to think that boobs can make me smile, feel womanly and attractive and give me the confidence to walk tall and proud. The bra I have on is a full cup 34F which fit lovely and was very comfortable. Today again being in bra mode I went into town to a big department store ready to buy a couple more pretty bras, must of tried on 20, all full cup I was trying all different sizes from 34F, 34 E to 32 F, everything I tried on either was too loose at the back, I was bulging over the top or it didn't sit right. The 32 band seemed good in one bra but the F cup was too small so I got the 32G bra, tried it on and it fit lovely. The fitting lady was with another young lady and I just grabbed her attention as she passed and said could you tell me if this fits me well please and she agreed it was a good bra on me. I am now aware that depending on make etc etc I am either a 34F or in some makes the 32G. It was hillarious some of the bras were £30 or more and none of them fitted me like I said and I wasn't looking at that time at the prices on the ticket I was just trying them one after the other and the lovely one I ended up with was the cheapest of all, crazy. I am really enjoying what these boobs are doing for me, my confidence is over the roof. My boobs actually feel alive, similar to before a period which I like, I have no pain and can do all I did before surgery and my scars are flat though still dark. I gave at no point ever thought of them being a foreign object they feel very much part of me and I am so happy. Take care all you lovely ladies [RS bleep] Updated on 3 Apr 2016: Just watched a bra measuring video for bare necessities and got loads of advice and tips. I always go for a 34 band even when I was measured for my ba it came out at a 33" rib cage. Watched this video and she said lift your breast up and measure securely, not really tight but firm under your boobs on doing this I am an easy 31-32" cage. Thick as I am therefore when I wear my 34" bras there on the tightest fitting I feel the bra rides up at the back. I have two bras now exactly the same style and make, I've waisted so much money on blasted bras well I have a 34F and a 32F, the 34 one I have on the tightest fitting and I still feel I need to pull it down but the cup size is good, the 32" bra I wear on the loosest fitting but the cup is too small so I think I need either the 32FF or the G in this one. I'm more than happy with the un wired ones at the moment but will need to find a brand which suits the shape of my boobs in a wired bra later on. Trying these wired bras on I think it's the shape of my boobs that is the problem. I have ultra high projection and I also have side boob to sort out aswell. Don't get me wrong I am delighted with my results I just need to find some pretty bras that fit well and support me well. Updated on 10 Apr 2016: Hello Ladies, Well I'm happy!, after many days of trying bras, hours on the internet I have finally found some bras that fit me and my new boobs. Mostly I am still wearing my old faithful un wired bras but occasionally when we go out I wanted to wear something special so have been searching for some pretty under wired ones. I have finally found some brands that seem to suit my shape and boobs so at this moment much to my husbands relief I have given up the endless hours on the internet looking at bras etc etc. The main make of bras I have found are Panache and fig leaves and I also have two m@s ones. Life with boobs is good. Still can't believe I have them and every morning when I wake up I grab them to check them, crazy I know. I can more or less do everything I was before, I even sleep on my belly and there fine. Coming up to three calendar months now so will do some pictures later. Nothing else to report really, I must confess like some other ladies have said I have even thought about a bit later going bigger. I do have moments when I think I wish they were bigger then I think no there just right. I'm now 55 years old and I don't in a couple of years time want boobs so big they fall flat or be weighty and get saggy so I should be grateful. It's crazy thoughts really, I've gone from a small deflated b cup to a 32G cup and I'm moaning. I said at the time I'd be happy with a DD/E cup so these are a bonus already so I need to shut up and be sensible especially as I have been incredibly lucky health wise and sailed through this ba with no problems. In another happy boob moment this morning I gave attached some photos of some new bras. These bras seem to suit anatomical implants and feel really good x Updated on 4 May 2016: Hello Ladies, A quick update as I havn't been on for quite a while. Life is really good with boobs. I can't say how much my life and confidence has changed since my op. I am so happy with the outcome, I was previously a 34 small b cup, I have been wearing the wrong band size for years but probably wasn't bothered as I had so little self confidence no one was going to see me anyway, I now wear a 32G bra and I had 425 ultra high textured anatomical implants and couldn't be happier. I have been one of the lucky ones, I only had paracetamol pain relief when I remembered for the first three days then stopped. I had no bruising or any problems so I consider myself very lucky. I can do anything I did now pre op, only occasionally have a little nerve tingle but that's it. The scars are doing well, for me the best thing after trying loads of lotions and creams and tapes and strips is "sudocream". It's marvellous. Nothing really else to say,I love going out dressed up now and am bra crazy. Sadly I will no longer put any topless photos up due to the ones that were found on a [RS bleep] site which is so sad as we are here to help each other, but I just feel happier not doing that. Take care ladies, X
