Great doc! Takes his time and explains things in great detail. Procedure went very well! Always made time to meet me to address my concerns. I never felt rushed or that he lacked time for me. Overall it was very worth it!
I noticed a spot on my face which was different than any others I ever had. My doctor, Dr. Sam Wise, recommended Dr. Rodriguez. Very glad I went to him! Very personable, was able to help me immediately and called with biopsy results and treatment information. Following up soon. He was very clear about the treatment and how I was to handle the side effects and what to expect.
I have had 4 and 1/2 pregnancies all pretty close together in 5 years. I have lucked out with no stretch marks and minimal amounts of loose skin around my abdomen and slightly deflated and droopy and or breast lift, so I went for it. No scaring, no stiches, less invasive, almost no down-time (I uneven breasts. I won't be needing a full tuck. I realized I could do the Thermage instead of a mini tuckphotographed two family sessions that same day, flew home the next day and played a game of flag football with very little discomfort.) With very little drugs for pain and anxiety, the procedure lasted about and hour or two and wasn't bad at all. Before I knew it I was off the table and on the way home. There was a fair amount of bruising and leaking from the injection points that night, but by the next day, I just felt a little tender, nothing that ibuprofen can't handle. Three months later, my breast elasticity has gradually tightened up and my one sided droopy breast is now even with my other breast. This is so fantastic! I'm really excited for a follow up procedure. I miss my 24 year old breasts and am excited to get them back without anchor scars from a traditional breast lift. Dr Rodriguez is fantastic! I trust him implicitly.
I just got MiraDry done yesterday and my armpits still hurt form procedure, yeah, but I just can't stop going in front of mirror, lifting my arms and see ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! NO SWEAT STAINS. My 15 years of hiding under knit black sweaters and being embarrased are done. I am absolutely thrilled and can't wait to wear a nice NOT black little dress!
I can't remember a time that people didn't make comments about my "Jewish" nose. I've always hated it and it has always taken away from my self confidence. After a series of very fortunate events (mostly financial) I'm having rhinoplasty done in about four weeks. I found my doctor through a recommendation from another medical professional in Las Vegas. I have had my appointment scheduled now since February but I'm starting to get very anxious and nervous. I had my initial consultation back at the beginning of January and my doctor seems very nice and confident. I truly hope it turns out better....I am not looking for perfection, just improvement. I don't want my nose to be the first thing that people notice on my face anymore. I know it is still pretty far away but I will post "after" photos once the procedure has been done Updated on 22 Apr 2011: Updated on 18 May 2011: it's not even 24 hours after my surgery and i feel great! my doctor told me that it was really common to get sick from the anesthesia and swallowing blood during surgery but i felt totally fine once i woke up. i was a little queasy when i was waking up but as soon as they brought my bp and heart rate down i was fine. so far there is hardly any pain at all and i haven't even needed tylenol much less the prescription pain meds. my throat is still a little sore from having the tube down it but nothing too bad. honestly i think the hardest part is having to sleep on my back with my head elevated. that and having to hear my cat meowing and scratching at my bedroom door since i'm not allowed to let him in my room :) i still can't really tell what my nose looks like, but from what i can see it definitely looks better than before. as of right now i would say it was worth it but of course i will have to see the final results to be sure Updated on 29 May 2011: it's been about a week since i got my cast off. my nose is still pretty swollen in the tip but it looks so much better than it did before. even though my doctor was a little more expensive than the rest, i wanted something very natural and his before and after pictures were the closest to what i was looking for. my doctor was not anticipating having to do open rhinoplasty, but ended up having to once in the OR. he said that with the way my nose was shaped he couldn't get full access to all the cartilage with the closed approach. i'm still hoping that the swelling in the tip will go down and i'm sure it will so i will post more pictures later on. Updated on 15 May 2012: So it's now one year past my first rhinoplasty and I just underwent a revision a week ago. My doctor offered to do the revision free of charge (except for anesthesia) because he was not satisfied with the results. I was so nervous and cried for about a week prior to my surgery because I didn't trust him after the outcome of the first surgery. I was so unhappy with the results of the first rhinoplasty and I blamed him. What I didn't realize is that a lot of the reason for the asymmetry in the tip of my nose was because of uneven scarring so it didn't have as much to do with my surgeon as just the way my body healed. My doctor was also trying to be conservative during the first surgery so that my nose wouldn't look like I had a rhinoplasty. During my revision, I was just put under local anesthesia with sedation. I was pretty worried about what it would be like to be awake during the procedure but it wasn't bad at all. I would actually prefer it to general anesthesia. I was able to talk to my surgeon and the nurses and they were joking around with me during the procedure. They were all so nice, not to mention the lovely cocktail of medications that I had in my body. I have to say, I'm so happy that, despite my fears, I went through with the revision. My nose looks a thousand times better than it did after the first surgery and about a million times better than it looked before that. My doctor only did cartilage work on the tip because the bridge of my nose looked great. He used sutures in the tip and shaved down a little bit more of the supratip cartilage to get rid of my pollybeak. I'll post some more photos when the swelling goes down but I thought I'd let those of you out there who aren't satisfied with your rhinoplasty, there is hope! Updated on 21 May 2012: It's now two weeks after my revision and my swelling is going down so fast. I definitely don't think it went down this fast last time. I'm starting to see the results more and more every day. I love my profile from one side but from the other, I'm still a little skeptical. I really wish my nose wasn't so asymmetrical but I have to say that the improvements are amazing. I'm still glad I had the surgery Updated on 14 Jun 2012: It's 5 weeks after my revision and I am still very happy with my decision. I feel like I finally look like a normal person these days! :) Updated on 9 Dec 2016: Wow I haven't been on here in a while. I figured it was about time I updated this so that hopefully I can help others out there going through this process. Unfortunately, after my last procedure with Dr Rodriguez, I did not have the great outcome that I was expecting. In my last post, I added some photos. Looking back, they didn't look awful at the time, but unfortunately as the swelling subsided, more issues arose. My nostrils were very uneven and there were obvious cartilage grafts that made the tip of my nose look pointy and awkward. I am trying to dig up some old photos from back then, but I rarely took any, as I was very self conscious. Overall, I am extremely disappointed that I spent so much money for Dr Rodriguez to basically ruin my nose, but on the bright side, I did find a great plastic surgeon in Denver, where I am currently living. It did take 3 additional surgeries with this new doctor, and it will never look perfect, but I am happy now and have thankfully been able to leave this all behind me. I was young at the time (20) when I decided to go to Dr Rodriguez, and looking back, I should have seen the warning signs. I never felt that comfortable with his ability to perform my complicated surgery and I should have listened to my gut instinct. If there is one important piece of advice I could give, it would be to listen to your gut. It is safer to not go through with the surgery until you find the right doctor than it is to end up with a botched face. Any who, I will hopefully get around to posting a new update in the revision section. I wish everyone the best in their surgery outcomes! Updated on 9 Dec 2016:
Truth be told, I never thought I would ever even want plastic surgery, let alone get it, particularly breast implants. For me, I just preferred being au natural; I was ok with small breasts, and I’ve always kept myself pretty fit, and people have always told me I don’t look anything like my stated age (thanks for the genes, Mom!), so I felt I must be pulling off this growing older thing ok. Well, turns out having a baby at 17, reaps a little bit of latent havoc on your body (contrary to popular belief of having skin “bounce back” easier), add gravity kicking in, and well, after about age 35, my abs, even though they were fairly flat and toned (if I stood upright), I now had this extra saggy skin. So for the last 12 years or so, I swore, one day, I would have that “corrected”. I was still against implants (for myself, mind you) until about 4 years ago - 2 breastfed babies, 44+ years and several trips to the gym later, and now my once small breast are little more than empty sacks of skin (sorry for the graphic description). Now that’s not ok! I started contemplating plastic surgery then, but have spent my entire motherhood as a singular parent, and with my youngest in a [ridiculously expensive] out of state college [Roll Tide!], surgery was just a crazy, selfish pipe dream. Well, my first born has long since been on his own, and my youngest is nearly on her own, graduating from graduate school in May, and I am now in a pretty comfortable financial place in my career, so I feel like its my turn to do something just for me (even though the “mom guilt” still surfaces; “HOW much money am I spending on myself”?!). So, away we go! After extensive research, I chose my plastic surgeon (it helps being in the medical field, and that I live in a city where its hard to find someone that has NOT had some type of plastic surgery, and this site has been invaluable!). Im going with Dr. Ben Rodriguez in Las Vegas. I had my consult last month, and I go for my final consult (and to release the funds :O) on the 21st, and then it’s just three weeks until my surgery. As I said, I am still having waves of guilt, and second guessing, but I am SO excited to have the surgery, and feel good in my new tight, and refilled skin;) I will post my pre op pics the day before my surgery, and update as I go travel this new road. Hoping that my story, like so many others here, will help someone else. Updated on 21 Dec 2017: So just a brief update. I saw my PS today for my final consult before surgery on 1/10/18. Dr Rodriguez and his staff are so attentive in answering all of my questions, and giving me a wealth of information. I had many questions (even more than I did during my initial consult). We discussed in a little more detail what I was hoping to achieve (particularly with my BA), and I told him after some careful thought and research, I want to aim for a full, but natural looking C (and added NO FISH BOWLS!), and told him my thought process of going 300cc. After again reviewing my pre op photos, he said he will "try" for 300, but based on my goals, it would likely be around 275cc, but he wouldnt know until the surgery. He added that he has at least 4 other people in the room (anesthesiologist, nurses, etc.) take a look with him, so it is not just his opinion that uses to make a final decision regarding size. As a medical profession, it is this kind of thinking that separates the good or bad surgeons from the great surgeons. A physician that not only welcomes his staff's suggestions/opinions, but asks for it, is a defining characteristic of greatness, trust me. I was extremely comforted when he told me that. We discussed profile, and he said that he uses Mentor implants, and Modified profile plus is what he recommended for me. So, there you have it! Size determined, pre and post op instructions given, and the countdown begins - 20 days til the new me, and counting:) I promise Ill post pics soon. Updated on 30 Dec 2017: Here I am, just 11 days from my BA/TT and I am getting very excited... if only I could settle on a size!! Here's part of my issue: (and I will post pics, I promise - waiting for my holiday guests to leave to take pics!) I have about 7 lbs packed on that I don't normally have (when you're a petite 5'1, this is a significant amount), and also some hormones on board, being recently put back on BC pills, so my usually, empty skin sacks of A cup breasts (on a good day), are currently about a B. I expect that my hormones will level out over the next couple months, and I expect (because I promised myself with this surgery), that I will lose the extra weight now that I am back in a normal workout routine and back to running. SO, that said, I told my PS my boob goals - nothing bigger than a true, full C, no fish bowls, and a natural, proportional appearance - I am worried that we will go too small, based on how the implants look with my current boob status, and that once my boobs are back to normal, I will be disappointed. I was thinking 300cc (Mentor Mod. Profile Plus), taking all of this into consideration, but my PS said that might be a bit much, based on my goals. Anyone have any input or experience on this? Anyone lost weight after BA, enough to where you were disappointed with the size your chose? I post this question in the Dr Q & A, to see what they think, but really, I'd like some real life experience. Thank you ladies! Updated on 5 Jan 2018: First, Happy New Year All! I finally got around to posting my pre pics (Ugh. Yuck. It's worse than I thought:( My BA/TT is just 5 days away! So, how are my emotions, you ask? Well, I'm finding that about every other day I vacillate between excitement, "can't wait to do this", and "WTF am I doing". I suppose that is all normal. Mostly, I am exited (especially after taking and viewing my pre photos today)! Ok, so that's pics, emotions... yes, new dilemmas. It seems that I am going to be recovering mostly on my own for the first couple days. The joys of living in a new city, and having no family nearby. My son has to work so he cannot be home with me. He is taking me to the surgery center, and my boyfriend will be picking me up and staying the night with me. He works also, and it's not possible for him to take off for me, nor would I ever ask him, or expect him to, for a variety of reasons, but I am so very thankful he offered to pick me up and stay with me. My son will also be taking me to my first post op appt the next day, and I will always have someone with me in the evenings, but during the first day after surgery, and for a few hours the second day, it will just be me and the dog. The 3rd and 4th days post op fall on the weekend, so I will be fine. I just became aware of this situation two days ago (I thought my son was going to be off work), and at first I panicked. I even thought about getting a visiting nurse (but at $165/hr - no thank you). But then I thought about how I came home after the birth of my second child; 4 days post op second C-section, with a new baby, and a 7 year old in tow, and no one but myself to do the diaper changes, the feedings, the bathing, the cooking and the cleaning etc.and that was 24/7 and I thought, "no, I can do this". It wasn't optimal then, it isn't optimal now, but sometimes you are left with no choice. Im in the medical field, so I have people I can call on, should I feel like I absolutely need it, but the people I work with do not know why I will be out of work. I felt that that was my story to tell... or not, as it were. So, my New Years Resolutions? I have 2: 1) since I have finally decided to have this surgery, and pay a hefty amount for it, I have committed myself to getting totally back in shape. Up until about 3 years ago I was in fantastic shape - slim, with great muscle tone. Then I moved, got a new job with a new schedule and my work out routine suffered. It was on again/off again (mostly off), and I not only lost my muscle, but I replaced it with fat. I knew this, and I have been working out it the last couple months, but I didn't know to what extent I had gotten out of shape until I took this pre op pictures today and viewed them (also caught a glimpse of my butt in the process - uggghh). So, back to the gym I go, as soon as I am able. Resolution #2: This is the year I learn how to Salsa!! I have always wanted to learn how to dance, but I was too shy and awkward to just do it. Well, year I'm doing it! I mean, my grandparents were award winning ballroom dancers, into their 80's! I have no excuse! I've been a mom for 31 years (my son's bday is in 11 days), so my life has been about someone else since I was 17. As much as the guilt creeps in at times, I'm making this year all about me:). Cheers to us and 2018 my RS friends! Updated on 6 Jan 2018: Just a little update, meaningless, probably, but just felt like sharing haha. So, to give you a background, I have a new allergy all the time (yes, Im that girl *insert eye roll). Thursday's contestant - pineapple!! Yes, I have had pineapple before, but Thursday, while at work, I ate a piece of pineapple from the hospital "crapateria", and for whatever reason, instantly began coughing, my tongue swelled on one side, and my chest got tight. Immediately after I ate the pineapple, I lost my voice - instant laryngitis - and it has remained like that since (today is Saturday - 2 days later, 4 days pre op). Wonderful. So, this raises a couple of concerns: First, and the most menial, the allergy to pineapple means no Bromelain/pineapple to decrease bruising/swelling. Cool *insert another eye roll. The second, and more importantly, is that, if the laryngitis does not resolve itself by Wednesday, Im afraid they will reschedule the surgery, with the concern that they may have difficulty intubating me. I am probably just being dramatic, but it is a concern that I thought about. I am staying hydrated, sucking on lozenges, drinking tea with honey and lemon, and trying not to talk as much as possible, in hopes it will speed the healing along. Ugh. Why now?! Think good thoughts for me. Ill keep you posted. Updated on 9 Jan 2018: Well, looks like tomorrow is a go! My laryngitis is resolved, and I feel great! I went to Dr Rodriguez's office today for my pre op visit, and I left feeling a little disappointed, but I know all will be well. Funny, I first found this site Googling small breast implants; I just wanted a little filler, a natural look, and found a forum of women who were getting small implants - <250cc - but after "shopping" photos on the site, I started to rethink, and decided on the nice round (no pun intended) 300cc, as, based on photos I saw, thought this would give me the look I was after. Well, when I was confirming 300cc to Dr Rodriguez, he said that would likely be too much, based on my goal of looking natural (even given my current extra boob from BC pills), and said 300cc would give me "coconuts". Coconuts?! Ok, not the look I am going for. He said given my chest width, I would look out of proportion, and you would see the sides of the implant; he said that he would try 250, maybe 275. He said, "don't go by photos of other people. You can't tell how a certain number of CCs will look on you by a photo of someone else". So a word of caution ladies - DON'T JUST GO BY A PHOTO! This made sense to me, as I forget how petite I really am. He said I am much more narrow than the average person, and I have to take that into consideration. He also said that because I run, he didn't want to give me anything that would get in the way. Yes, that also made sense. Bottom line, it's not the CCs I am after, it's the end result. I trust Dr Rodriguez implicitly, he has been making this magic happen for a long time, and I trust his expertise. It will be like a little surprise when I wake up;) The other disappointment was that I was told the anesthesiologist that I wanted called and canceled so I have to go with someone else. This is one of the great perks of working in the medical field, is you either know who the best are, or you find out. Im not overjoyed at who my anesthesiologist will be, but, again, Dr Rodriguez has worked with him for years, and trusts him, so I am putting my faith in that. There was a little good news - they moved my surgery up to 8 am, first case of the day (and before I starve to death, crave my coffee, or have too much time to think haha). Yay! By about this time tomorrow, I will be coming home, a new me. Ok, Im off to do all my preparing. Ill be back with an update. Updated on 10 Jan 2018: I leave for the surgery center in just 30 minutes. Im getting very excited, and a little nervous, which Im sure will escalate a bit once I actually get there, and it becomes more real. Mostly I am nervous about the logistics, the laying/sitting comfortably, and getting up and down from that position. I have prepared as much as I can, but we will see how it goes when I get home. I wanted to give a list of things I did or have to prepare for my recovery, but I will have to do that when I update tomorrow. It's time to go have this surgery! Updated on 11 Jan 2018: All went well! Before I go any further, let me apologize ahead of time, for any typos, or wording that doesn't make sense. Im a little loopy with the Percocet, but I wanted to post an update, and my suspicion is that I will be on it for at least a couple more days. Not to happy about that, but this is a little tougher than I thought, I think mostly because Im getting myself up and about alone, for the most part. Anyway, bare with me. So, I got to the surgery center at 7, I completed paperwork, peed in a cup, and got my IV. I was placed in a bay, and my circulating nurse and anesthesiologist came in to talk to me. There was a little concern over my medication allergies (I have many), but we worked through that, and came up with a plan. The staff at the surgery center were wonderful, and I will be sending them a goody gift basket when I feel up to it. I was wheeled in to the OR between 8 and 8:30, place on the table, surrounded by "bear huggers" - heated pad. This felt amazing. The anesthesiologist started Dipravan right after I laid down, and that was all she wrote. The surgery went very well, and I was back out to recovery in less than 3 hours. I was in no pain at all, and had some good conversation with my circulating nurse, who stayed with me. I had a little trouble with my blood pressure spiking (which I never have), so they gave me one dose of Labetalol to lower my BP. I received 275cc Mentor moderate plus profile silicon implants, a T incision on my tummy tuck, 1 drain, and 1 Q Ball (pain pump). The Q Ball is a Godsend! It doesn't take all the pain away, but all I feel is a little bit of a pinching sensation, and of course, some pain when I get up. My PS told me that in order for him to get my skin nice and tight (I didn't have a ton of lose skin, just enough to bother me), so he said he had me positioned in V position in order for the two ends of the skin to meet. I have my Q Ball until Monday, at which time, I will have a fair amount of healing done, enough so I probably won't need it anymore anyway. My drain will come out next Wednesday, at my 1 week follow up if all goes well. I had my first follow up today, and all looks good! I haven't taking any photos because Im wrapped up like a borrito and I don't want to disturb that. The only issue that I have and it's fairly normal is that, even with the drain, I have a fair amount of serous fluid leaking from the left side of my incision. It's clear, with no blood, so it's all good. My boobs are riding high - practically under my collar bone at the moment haha, and I was given the mid evil torture device band to strap above my boobs to help them drop faster. I kind of feel like this is "smoke and mirrors" and doesn't really do much, but Ill take all the help I can get! Ill try to remember to take some pics tomorrow morning after I change. I think the 275s are going to be perfect! My PS said he tried for 300, but I looked "stuffed" and you could see the ridge of the implant. He knew that is not the look I was going for, so he went the the 275s. Works for me! Time will tell, but I think I am going to be very happy. In terms of my tummy, I think I will be very happy with that as well. I only got a quick glimpse while at the office, but I can already tell, I will have a normal looking belly button! Yay! And my stomach will be flat as flat can be. I can't wait to see this result after I heal. Well, my Percocet has kicked in, so Im going to leave this for now. I will update tomorrow. Thank you all for all of your support, and best of luck to those of you who will start your journey soon! Updated on 12 Jan 2018: And possibly an err of anger. Not the best day for me today. Though Im feeling pretty good, Im feeling a lot of frustration today. I think being alone is at the basis of this frustration. Id like to take my binder off, to see what everything looks like, but I don't want to, because Im afraid I wont be able to put it back on by myself. Id like to take it off, because with it on, my stomach does not look flat at all. I have this little pooch. Could it be just the binder? Or maybe am i a little poofy because by GI track is waking up, and is a little full of gas? Who knows what's going on under there. I see everyone's post 2 day pictures and they are so excited that they have a flat belly, and I am not feeling that is my case. I feel discouraged. Im frustrated by the thought of all the little activities of daily living that I don't know how I will get done, such as the load of laundry I need to do, and how I'd like to have clean hair, but I can't wash it, and how would that work at the salon, if I can't sit at the washing station and put my head back in the sink. I have a follow up appt next week that I don't know how I will get to. Im starting to get annoyed with all the paraphernalia I have to lug with me - the fanny pack with my pain pump in it, which sits perfectly on my swollen pubis, and my drain which is tagging along with it. An I am getting tired of having to change my clothes 3 times a day because of the serous fluid that is draining out of my pain pump insertion site. I am trying to focus on the good things, like how good I actually do feel, and that it really does get better and easier with each day, but something will remind me that I cannot and should not do all the little things that I THINK need to be done. I actually put on a little makeup today, and managed a couple curls in my hair, in an effort to make myself feel more human, and a little more in control. Silly, I know, but it does make me feel a little better. I apologize for the venting. I mean for these posts to be helpful to others, but felt that I needed the support of my RSers, who may have experienced the same feelings. Tomorrow is Saturday, and I should have people around, and hopefully it will be a better day. Updated on 13 Jan 2018: Heading into my 3 post op day, I slept pretty well, only getting up once to pee, and getting up seemed much easier. Im sleeping on the couch again, because without my boyfriend here to help sit me up, getting out of my bed is just to hard, without using my arms to push me up, and I am really trying not to do that. I had a bad breast day yesterday, which carried over until this morning. My boobs, particularly the left one just hurt, it was a stinging pain, that radiated through to my nipple (my implants were place inframammary). I woke up this morning at 04:30 with excruciating pain in my breasts (anyone else experience this??)I took one Percocet and went back to sleep. When I woke up at 07:00 I felt much better. Still waiting to poop....*drums fingers on the table... The one friend that I have in town took me to get my hair washed and blown out, which was a gift from the Heavens! Not only do I feel cleaner, I look damn near human haha. I came home, put a little bit of make up on, and here I am chatting with you guys. I think a nap will be coming soon though. I will post some pics a little later, when my boyfriend is here to help with my binder. Im still afraid that if I take it off, I wont be able to put it back on. How long have you gone without the binder in the beginning? Id like to wash it (and trim it - it is too big for my short torso, and I feel like its digging into my incisions), but that means I will have it off for about 2 hours. Is this ok?? I still dont have much of an apatite, but I try to eat a little something, at regular intervals, and I am trying to drink 3 L/day. I've been trying to eat 80-100g of protein/day; yesterday was the first day I managed about 75g. Im shooting for 100g today though. All in all, so far, today is a pretty good day. Ill try to update later with some pics. Have a happy Saturday, my RS friends! Hope all of you are healing well. Updated on 13 Jan 2018: Did anyone feel like they would never be able to walk completely upright?? Im trying, and not pushing it, but when I do, it doesn't hurt, but I can feel how incredibly tight the sutures are in my muscles. I feel like they will never be able to stretch out. Im sure this is normal...? Updated on 14 Jan 2018: Happy Sunday all. This is day 4 post op, and it’s a little better than the last couple days. Im standing up a little bit straighter, and I am only taking the Percocet at night to help me sleep. During the day I am just taking Motrin once or twice a day. Which is great, except my sobriety is making me feel a little annoying at my situation. Annoyed I can stand up straight, annoyed that I can’t do the normal things that need to get done, and super annoyed at the tubes and extra appendages I am lugging around in my drainage tube and pain pump. There is a light at the end of the tunnel though, and I am focusing on that. My pain pump will be removed tomorrow morning, and that will at least eliminate one set of tubing, and the little fanny pack that hangs in the front of me. I discovered that, what I thought was serous fluid drainage, is actually, the Maracain coming out from my pain pump insertion site. It’s making a mess, and I believe more is coming out than is going in, so it’s basically non functional and pointless to have anyway. Cannot wait for that thing to go! I will take some pics tomorrow, once I have less baggage to deal with. The only other discomfort is the rash that I have developed under my CG. I don’t believe to be an allergic reaction to any of the medications, as it is focal to just under my CG, and no where else. I think it is just my skin screaming to get free of the CG. I guess that won’t happen for, what...? 6 more weeks? :( It felt so good to have it off for a couple hours last night while I washed it. I have peeked at my abdominal incision, and it looks pretty good, as far as I can tell with it covered by steri-strips, as do my boob incisions, again, as much as I can see. My implants are still riding way high, and I am hoping they drop... sooner rather than later. Yes, I am a completely impatient person. I’m having a little bout of second guessing myself, and this whole surgery. Half of me believes I will be happy once some healing has occurred, and the other part feels like I should have just left well enough alone. Ill never be perfect. And perhaps I should have just been happy with what I had, and not having to go through this recovery. It’s not that it is a particularly painful recovery, it’s that it is a long and arduous one. I’m worried that I won’t have the results I desired, knowing that it is way too early to make that assumption. I also feel that maybe I went too large with my implants. I need to realize that this is all a huge game of patience, and I need to relax and embrace that, to make this easier on myself. Until tomorrow ladies, have a beautiful Sunday! Updated on 15 Jan 2018: How about if I blend them all together, so I keep this nice and light and positive. Good news: I slept all night, in my own bed, and got in and out of bed myself fairly easily. This seems to get a little better with each day, as does standing up more straight. For me, it's not the physical part of healing that is the most challenging, for me, it's an emotional struggle. I feel very alone in all this. My boyfriend does come and help, and he's been an awesome supporter, but he works, and can't be with me all the time. I haven't had people check in on me, or ask if I need anything, I've pretty much had to either let things go, or do them myself. It makes me sad. This is the downside to being a strong, independent woman/mother that, no one ever tells you about - that everyone assumes you can do it all and that you need no help. At least, that is what Im attributing it to. At any rate, Im just on my own for the most part. Im also second guessing my decision to have this surgery, wondering if I should have gone through it, thinking my boobs are too big, and its a recovery I didn't need, and money I shouldn't have spent. Im uncomfortable (but not in pain), its hard for me to get around, and I don't yet feel like the beautiful butterfly coming out the cocoon and I am alone. Last night I had a good cry, for which I felt foolish for, sitting in my empty house. Today is a better day, and I just have to except that this is my recovery, and I have to have some patience, and I have to be kind to me. I am taking care of myself, trying to get in plenty of protein, and hydrating, having about 3L/day of water. I made some cucumber/mint water, which is suppose to be very therapeutic in healing and anti inflammatory. Here is a little info on cucumber - very healthy! https://bembu.com/cucumber-water-recipes-and-benefits/ Baby steps. I have to keep reminding myself. I went to the PS today just to have my pain pump removed. Thank GOD! Im not sure it was doing much good anyway, as it has been leaking profusely since the day after surgery. The removal was nothing - didn't even feel it - but I noticed that it was a little sore to the touch, and had a rash around it, which was not there last night. The nurse took a picture of it and sent it to the Dr, who wants me to take a picture of it tomorrow, and we will go from there. Hoping it isn't infected or turns into cellulitis. I think it will be ok. Just another glamorous part of recovery. My next appointment is Wednesday, to get my drain removed and to actually see my PS. It will be 1 week post op. Oh and I pooped yesterday, finally! TMI, I know, sorry. Just want to be thorough in my updates. I have finally taken a couple pics - the first is of my pain pump site, just in case any of you have the same thing occur. The second is what everything looks like this morning. Im seeing myself for the first time with you! Believe it or not, I haven't looked much. I had one tiny peek POD1 in the drs office, and I've peeked a bit at my incision, just to make sure all was well, but haven't seen the whole view. My stomach is very puffy, lots of swelling, and the red marks are irritation or allergy, but I believe them to be an irritation from the binder. One very helpful RSer suggested putting the binder over my shirt. GENIUS! Why did't I think of that?! Im just going to blame that on the meds;). There is a lot less itching since Ive done that, so we will see how it goes from here. I also think my boobs are too big, but Im trying to be patient and wait for the swelling to go do, and things to settle before making a judgement. As for meds, I took my last dose of Percocet last night to help me sleep. Its only Motrin today, and tonight, maybe some Phenergan, just to sleep, though Id really like to get rid of all meds. Thats it. All in all, a much better day than yesterday. Im just keep on keeping on. Hope its a good one for you ladies. Updated on 16 Jan 2018: Day 6 post op, and I get out of bed even easier today, and I walk to the bathroom a little straighter, to start my day as if it were any other, with washing up and getting ready for my day. I undress, and... surprise! See the lovely rash you see in my photos. Am I shocked? Nope. Welcome to my world. This rash started yesterday morning and has spread like wildfire around the site of my pain pump, as well as a streak on the side of each buttock, my other thigh, and the patch on my abdomen. An allergy, presumably... but to what?? My last dose of Percocet and Phenergan were Sunday night, and the only thing I took last night was 50mg of Benadryl, in hopes it would help dissipate the existing rash. The only thing I can think of is an allergy to the Maracaine, but that doesn't make a lot sense, because its on my right side as well; then again, my allergies rarely make any sense. I sent the photos to my PS and Im waiting to hear back from him for advisement. Other than that, I feel pretty good, Im enjoying standing a little straighter, and all seems well. My regular appetite has yet to return, but I am eating, even if I have to force it a little, and Im remaining hydrated. Still think my boobs are too big, but Im trying to be patient. All in all a good start to the day :) Have a wonderful day ladies! Updated on 16 Jan 2018: As I was writing my previous post, my PS called back regarding my rash. He is worried it is an infection process, and not an allergic reaction. He is calling in a prescription for Doxycycline, an antibiotic typically given for skin infections (coincidentally, this is also one of the only antibiotics used to treat MRSA). Im a little worried about this now, infections post surgery are never good, and I am just hoping we caught it quick enough. Updated on 17 Jan 2018: I woke up this morning, POD7, feeling pretty good. I was able to get out of bed almost easily (almost), and I went to the bathroom to wash up and start my day. I planned on vacuuming, before my Dr.s appointment at 4pm, to have my drain removed. When I undressed, I was literally shocked at what I saw. Not just shocked, but terrified. Even after a full day (and night) of being on an antibiotic, my rash had spread farther, and now I noted a purple hue to my original site, as well as a darker purple patch on the side of my buttock. Purple skin usually indicates a vascular issue, and tissue death (necrosis). I knew this wasn't good, I see this (tissue death) in my patients all the time, perhaps not in this setting, but, tissue is tissue. Without sounding like an alarmist, I feared the possibility of the worst - my cellulitis might be the early stages Necrotizing (flesh eating) fasciitis, a bacterial infection that spreads at an alarming rate, kills the tissues in the body, and can, and is often fatal. I knew If that is what It was, I needed treatment immediately, and one little antibiotic was not cutting it. I immediately sent the pictures to my PS (his cell phone), and I tried repeatedly to reach him and a about 2 hours later, finally reached him . He had the same thought I did, and I went to his office an hour later. When I got to his office, he took a look at the rash again, and we discussed our thoughts on what it could be. Necrotizing fasciitis? Yes, Possibly. But I had no pain, and no fever. Stevens- Johnson syndrome? Maybe. An allergic reaction, again, possibly... but to what?? And why didn't the Phenergan (an anti nausea medicine, but also an H2 antihistamine) and Benadryl Ive been taking clear it up. He sent me immediately to the ER. Thankfully, I work in the medical field, and know people, who know the right people, I made some phone calls, and I got right in to see a Dr, with very little wait time. This couldn't wait. Two different Drs looked at it, and concluded that it was a very severe allergic reaction; they suspected one of the 3 antibiotics, because, the types I was given are in the same family as the antibiotics I am allergic to, however, 1) I've had two of the antibiotics before without an issue (however, this sometimes means nothing, in my case), and 2)this is the 7th day post op, and I finished my post op antibiotic on POD2 (zpack), so I doubted that. I, along with my PS decided it was more likely from the Marcaine in the pain pump. Why? If your not familiar or didn't have one, the pain pump is placed with two very small catheter tubings, into the groin (in this case), and tunneled on each side of the abdomen, between the skin and the muscle. wrapped in a pressurized bag, it disperses a small quantity of Marcaine into the tissue at regular intervals. The rash began at the site of insertion of the pain pump, it traveled down that thigh, down the other thigh, around my buttocks, and halfway up my back. I have been lying down or siting, so the reaction took the path of least resistance, and traveled downward from where it was injecting. It is a good thing we addressed it now, though, because when I woke up this morning, I also had a couple spots on my arms and hands, meaning, it was now in my whole system. In the ER I was treated with the usual allergy meds - Dexamethasone (a steroid for inflammation), Pepsid (an H2 antihistamine) and Benadryl (an H1 antihistamine). I was sent home with prescriptions for Pepsid, Benadryl, and a Methylprednisolone (a low dose 5 day steroid pack), and I am stopping ALL other medications - no antibiotics, no pain meds, which actually, I had stopped by Monday morning. So, there you have it. A severe reaction to the pain pump med, or possibly, but less likely, one of the antibiotics. I would like to stress that an true allergic reaction to the pain pump (Marcaine) is EXTREMELY RARE. I am a special case, have a predisposition to having reactions, and have MANY allergies already; a new one pops up nearly every year (yes, lots of fun to be me *perpetual eye roll) Most people DO NOT have allergic reaction to this numbing medication, so I don't want to scare anyone, just telling my story, and perhaps, if you have a reaction like this, get it addressed immediately. Better to have someone tell you it's nothing, or to be treated if need be, then to suffer detrimental consequences. The rash is still there, and even on the medication, it is likely to be a few days before I see any improvement, and several before it is healed completely, BUT the steroid and dual antihistamines should halt the response. Now, some good news. I feel just fine, and my incisions are uneffected by the reaction and look terrific; healing normally. I'm standing a bit straighter, and I have some energy (although all the excitement and running around today exhausted me a little). I even did a little vacuuming when I got home. Now I am going to settle in for the night, sit down to a nice dinner with my boyfriend, and rest a little easier believing things could have been much worse, and will hopefully be on the upslope now. Hope all you ladies are healing normally and well. Have a peaceful night. Updated on 18 Jan 2018: First, I want to thank you all for all your sweet words of support and healing. They are truly a gift, and very helpful as I go through this journey, and all it's little bumps in the road. I am thankful I have you! POD 8 is a much better day than yesterday. As for the allergic reaction, there is not much change today, perhaps it's slightly lighter red than yesterday, but it is going to take some time for it to completely heal. It has stopped spreading though, and the few little spots that had spread to my arms and hands are all but gone. Just aspect of my recovery that I will have to be patient with. In terms of recovering from surgery, I woke up this morning, finding myself laying almost completely flat, not propped up, with just my legs propped on a pillow. Without the slumber assistance of the narcotics though, I find sleeping in one position getting very uncomfortable. I tried to sleep on my side last night, but that isn't terribly comfortable at this very moment either, but I could manage, a half turn, and that helped, some. I felt great today, and energetic, and took full advantage of this! I washed, folded and put away two loads of wash, put clean sheets on my bed (well, I had to half-ass that; I couldn't lift the mattress to get the bottom sheet on properly, but whatever, theyre on), and did a little picking up around the house, so it looked less like an infirmary. And after all that, still felt great! I also saw my PS today, and I am very happy to say, I am drain free ladies! Hallelujah! I was suppose to have the drain removed yesterday, but after my little ER escapade, he said he wanted to leave it in, at least one more day, for monitoring purposes, not knowing exactly what my condition was. He also removed the steri-strips from my abdominal incisions (I have a T incision), and wow! Dr Rodriguez does amazing work! A beautiful perfect pencil thin line! I am VERY pleased with that. Im still a bit swollen, and have this, pinching sore to the touch spot on my upper abdomen, just below the middle of my breasts (about sub-zyphoid), which is also a bit lumpy, but Dr Rod said that is all normal and expected. Okie doke. He also said to ditch the binder Ive been wearing since surgery, and get something more comfortable (well, and that fits me better). He said something like spandex or something like that will be fine. I do have a CG from Amazon called "Queen Shaper" that another RSer suggested, but Id also like to find something that just wraps around my middle, not a full garment; something super easy to put on and take off. Ill see what I can find tomorrow. He also wants me to be more religious about wearing the barbaric breast band. I will be a more compliant patient, as I want everything to heal correctly. Maybe if I wear it just a little bit more loose, it won't cause so much breast pain. Ill try to take some pics tomorrow, maybe my rash will look a bit better then. All in all a very good day, this POD8. Hope you all had a healthy, happy day, and a restful night. Updated on 19 Jan 2018: I was originally going to title this POD9 post, "Getting back to normal", as I was so excited about all the "normal" things I planned on returning to today. With all my post surgical tethers gone, and having about 85% of my mobility back, I took a regular shower today. I had been taking sponge baths up until this point, between being alone, and having the drain and the pain pump to contend with, I just felt better bathing that way. I have been living in scrubs since my surgery, but today, I put on some yoga pants, and later, planned on putting on some jeans, and a nice shirt, in anticipation of having a night out with my boyfriend - dinner and a movie, and a night at his house - the first since my surgery. I also drove for the first time today. I didn't go far, just up the street to the grocery store, did a little shopping, and one other quick errand. This was all done pretty comfortably. These are all great and wonderful milestones in recovery, and things I should be, and planned on being, overjoyed about. A return to normal. All of this, however, is overshadowed by my thoughts about my physical appearance. I know that my transformation will take some time, as well as the healing from my reaction, but today as I undressed for my regular shower, and took these pictures, I am very frustrated and saddened by my appearance. I am not at all happy with the way my boobs look. They are too big, and the shape is so bizzare and unnatural. My belly button looks very odd - there's no hole?? And I am beginning to fear that the reaction I had caused permanent skin damage, as I see no change at all from yesterday, even being on steroids and antihistamines for two full days. I knew it would take some time for that to dissipate, but I did think I would see minute changes each day. Today, it looks exactly the same as it did yesterday. Not very encouraging. I know I need to have more patience, but I just don't. I read so many other RSer's reviews, and they are so elated with their results, even within a week post op, when they still have so much healing to do. I do not feel that way. I feel like a monster. So much so, that I don't want to go head with my plans tonight; I'd rather just stay home, by myself and hide away. I know patience is key here, and Im trying, but my fears are getting the best of me. Sorry about the downer note here. Hoping for more healing tomorrow. Updated on 22 Jan 2018: First, I want to thank all of you that have sent amazing words of encouragement for my last couple of posts. You have no idea how much impact you have, and how much you have comforted. Truly, you guys are the best!! I haven't posted in a couple of days, I just needed a moment to regroup, take a deep breath, pick myself up, dust myself off, and begin again. Saturday was a much, much better day than Friday. Not necessarily because I have done some miraculous healing, but just because I got back to my plucky little self, and just moved on. Not to say I won't have more down days, but, I feel that each day does bring a bit more calm and acceptance with it. Saturday I decided to go ahead with my original Friday plans, hoping it would in turn, make me feel a little more positive. I got up, got myself dressed - real clothes! I ditched my normal recovery attire of scrub pants, for a pair of my comfy-est jeans, and a loose boho top. I even put on my heeled open toed booties, did my hair, put on make up and out to the movies my boyfriend and I went. Admittedly, I was a little tired after the movie (lots of walking through the casino to get to the theater), so we opted for take out, instead of going to dinner, but that was fine. We had a very nice night. Sunday we went out to breakfast, and then we lounged all day, which was also very nice, and it was nicer still to have the company of my boyfriend, and a return to some of our normal weekend activities. In terms of recovery (and I meant to take pics today, but I forgot. Ill try tomorrow), the healing from the reaction is a slow process, but I do see some improvement. There are still areas that don't seem to want to lighten up and heal, but hoping, it is just a matter of patience and time. My incisions look great, and I feel great! Standing pretty much straight. I feel so good, as a matter of fact, that today, POD12 I did the tiniest smidge of a workout. Now, before anyone freaks out, it was nothing that engaged my core, and nothing that caused even the slightest twinge of pain, or counter pressure on my incisions. I just did 3/4 of the squats I normally do, with only a bare bar, and half the lunges I normally do, taking it nice and slow. Then I went on a nice 1 mile walk. I will check with my PS tomorrow to see if this is ok (yes, I know, horse before the cart), I just felt I needed that to make me feel a little more normal (well that, and my vacation to Costa Rica is in 7.5 weeks:). That's it, thats all Im doing, and if he slaps my hands tomorrow, I will wait until Im cleared. I thought the increased circulation my help with the healing of my reaction. The rest of the day I am taking it pretty easy. Im going to take myself to the movies (because Im bored out of my mind), and that will be that for my day. Questions: How long was it before you got feeling back in your abdomen? I have most of the sensation back in my upper abdominal area, and some on the sides, but none around my belly button. Its an odd feeling, and I don't like it. Its so dry too, so I need to put lotion on it, but it is an almost nauseated sensation. Also, realistically, do you really wear your CG 24/7?? I still have the one from the surgery center (the others I ordered aren't here yet), and I CANT STAND IT! It often rubs against my breast incisions, and it's just not very comfortable, and very unattractive. Do you find you need it more at night, or during the day, or both? I don't feel like its doing very much, though at night, I admit, it gives a certain degree of comfort. Im still having to wear the breast band, but that is like a torture device. For some reason, even the slightest bit of tension cause immense pain in the nipple of my left breast. I wear it, but perhaps not as much as I should be. Well, that's it for today. Quite the improvement. I've found that emotions during this recovery are like the weather in Rochester NY - if you wait 5 minutes, it will change. Here's to a better day of recovery, hope you all are feeling well! Updated on 23 Jan 2018: I will post an actual update later, after my Drs appt., but I wanted to ask you guys about something I thought of to add to this site, and help our RS community. I know many of us purchased medical equipment to aid in our recovery (wheelchairs, shower chairs, walkers, etc.), maybe even for some, expensive medical equipment. This would equipment we used only briefly, and no longer have a use for. What if RS had a page where we could "pay it forward", and donate these items to other RSers who need them? Would this be something you ladies would be interested in doing? I thought of this as I was staring at the walker in the corner of my house, that I purchased and never even used. What should I do with that?? I planned on donating it (Goodwill??), but then I thought it would be great if I could make it available to another RSer, perhaps going through the same recovery, or something else. I sent an email to RealSelf with my suggestion, but I wanted to see if this would be something others would be interested in contributing to. Perhaps they can create a "Craigslist" type page, or message board, posting items available? This community and all of you in it have been such an amazing and invaluable resource, I thought this might make it even better, and a way for us to do our part in conservation as well. Just a thought, and I wanted to know what you ladies thought. Updated on 23 Jan 2018: POD13 I just had a follow up with my PS. This was mostly just a visit to clip my BB sutures (they are all absorbable, but he said they can become bothersome to some, so it likes to remove them), but also, a check in from my reaction. He was very concerned about it, as this was a very unusual reaction to Marcaine. I expressed my continued concern that the remaining damage might be permanent, and I relaxed (a little) as he said that he really didn't think it was. That it was such a severe reaction, it's just going to take time to heal. He said that if it were permanent, we would see more hyperpigmentation. I was somewhat comforted by that, and yet, my impatience and fear is getting the best of me, and I still worry that I will be left with this blotchy purple scaring forever; that I merely traded one ugliness for another. Patience. Remember to have patience. The rest of my appoint went well also. My incisions look great, swelling is down, my implants have dropped some, and, as a special bonus, I can ditch the mid-evil breast band!! I explained to him that when I wore it, I often got excruciating pain in my left nipple. After examining me, he said they had dropped enough that if it really bothered me, I could just do the massaging, and not wear the band. Hallelujah!! One downer: that's a negative on the exercise other than walking :((. I return to work two weeks from today, but do not need to see my PS until three weeks from today, unless I need to. In a way, that's good, because he can check things out after I've been "run through the mill" so-to-speak getting back to the grind of work. So, other recovery things. I am sleeping fairly flat, and Im trying to sleep on my side, and I get very restless sleeping in one position, but it's not exactly comfortable. Anyone else? When did you get to sleep comfortably on your side?? I feel that I am walking about 99% upright, without pain, though it does feel quite tight. I can stand in the shower, and wash my hair, though, again, reaching back to wash my hair feels very tight in my belly. An Odd feeling, but not painful. Wondering when this goes away as well?? All in all, things are going well! OH! one other plus, I can, and have also ditched the binder I've had since surgery. That beast went directly into the trash. I have purchased two CGs. I've posted pictures of them along with my update photos. I was searching for a CG that was more band style, than attached to panties or shorts. The first is the Maidenform "Seamless Waistnipper" - firm control (they do come in firm and medium control, I believe. This is a elasticy band type CG. What I like about it: Its thin, seamless, with no closures or boning, and is soft and pliable enough to wear right agains my skin, no need to wear something under it, and can go totally unnoticed. I like that it doesn't make me feel like Im wearing a CG, or binder. It makes me feel a little more like... me. It's almost like wearing pantyhouse, but thicker. It provides a medium amount of compression. I think this might be a good thing, when I do have swelling, as I feel it will be less uncomfortable, as say it would be behind a more restrictive garment. It will also be easy to wash. I believe it also comes in black. What I don't like: Well, that it doesnt have any closures. This is a positive and negative feature, because it is a bit of a challenge to put on and take off. I sized up, because I don't think I'd ever get anything smaller over my butt haha. Without closures, it is also not adjustable. I also bought a Maidenform "curve-loving waistnipper" - firm control. This was more of a traditional CG (stand alone - not attached to panties or shorts) What I like: it gives a little more rigid support than the other garment, which I may want while I am working. It does have closures (lots of them), and while it isn't adjustable, it does allow for easier removal and application. What I don't like: while I haven't actually worn this one yet for any length of time, I do feel that I would need to wear a tank or something under it, as it has LOTS of boning (about 8 pieces, all the way around, but they are very flexible), and I feel it might cause some indentation, especially on those more swollen days. again, I have not tested that theory. It was pretty comfortable to wear, going only by the short period of time I had it on.This also comes in white, black, and nude (the one I have is cream) . While I was searching for a band style CG (or, something I could use for a CG), I did get a fitness band. Its a neoprene band, with velcro closure that is intended to be worn against bare skin while working out to increase sweating in the abdominal area. Well, ignore that. I bought it, thinking it would serve my purposes. I may wear it as my CG when I work out, but wear it over a tank, so when I do sweat, it's built for that. It's pretty thin, and very pliable, and I think it will work well for that purpose. Ill let you know... when Im allowed to work out :\ I did purchase one other CG, from Amazon, a band type, but it hasn't arrived yet. Ill let you know how that goes. Ok RSers that's all I've got for now. Have a good night! Updated on 23 Jan 2018: Forgot to actually post these in my last update. Updated on 25 Jan 2018: This is POD 15, and while all is pretty well, I seem to be having some sensations and observations that feel a little more like POD 5 or 6 (minus the reaction). While I am standing pretty much upright, sleeping flat, and I can reach over my head, today my abdomen feels tighter (from the inside) than it has in several days; that guitar string-tight, feel of the sutures in my muscle repair, that I hadn't noticed in several days. Also, my boobs had begun to feel a little more pliable, but today they again feel very firm, and I can feel them in my armpit when I have my arms at my side. What is this all about?? Is it normal to fluctuate between healing processes in all of this? I don't hurt, or feel bad, it's not a bad day at all, these are just observations I've noticed today. Anyone else experience this? Now, Ill admit, I may have overdone it a tad yesterday (ok, a lot) - perhaps that's contributing?? Anyway, I am doing nothing but resting, hydrating and eating well today, like it's my job. In terms of sleeping, that is hit or miss. Last night, after a day of overexerting myself, my back was aching, and I did sleep with a pillow under my knees. I've been changing position some, to lying on my side, though this is not entirely comfortable, and seems to take a bit of maneuvering to get in to a comfortable place; I don't just roll over in my sleep. Wonder when that will come back?? I may take some photos tomorrow (maybe some of this boob thing will dissipate), because I believe I am getting closer to having an actual belly button! Yay! The reaction.... well... my PS told me, "the best thing to do in this situation is to stop looking at it for a while", and I think that is sound advice, because I am just driving myself crazy, thinking it is permanent. We know the reaction has stopped, and there is no evidence of injury or infection, so no need to inspect it every day. So, that's what Im going to do for a few days. Oh, and I forgot to mention on my POD13 post, that in lieu of wearing the dreaded breast band, I am to do some breast squeezing exercises several times a day, to stretch the muscle they are under, and try to push these babies into place. Is it weird that I do this almost mindlessly, like while I'm watching TV? Or today, while I was at the movie theater, before I caught myself. Perhaps I need to be a little more aware of my surroundings :P I am just ready to have them drop and fluff, take on an appearance other than that of footballs, and maybe get out of my armpits. All in all a good day. I am off to go lay myself on the couch, and see what OnDemand has to offer me today. Have a beautiful day ladies! Updated on 31 Jan 2018: Hello ladies! Well here I am, exactly 3 weeks post op, and it seems my recovery and healing has hit sort of a plateau. I only noticed minor changes in healing, from my TT or my BA, in the last week. I have finally gotten around to taking some photos though. Here are my observations and experiences at 3 weeks PO: Boobs: still feel like they are a little big, more so when I see them "head on" then when I look down. They also still have an odd shape to them, but I know they are not done dropping, and no fluffing has occurred yet. They do feel softer, and more pliable (a little bit), especially more towards the nipples. I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but my PS likes his BA patients to not wear any bra or CG at all. He feels this helps them dropped better, and more naturally. Well that's easy (though I am a little self conscious about my "headlights" being seen through my shirts all the time (it's like they are always on! what is that?! haha). I know Im not suppose to compare to others, but, everyone seems to have either a fishbowl effect - nice and round, or very natural, normal looking. Mine are like football shaped. It's getting a little better, so Im trying to just be patient. Also, and I took a pic to show this, while I was not going for a fishbowl look, I was hoping for that nice rounded cleavage, like I would see when I wore my push up bra, only, without the bra. However, I have none of that. In my tank top, I just look like an older woman who needs to put a bra on; bigger boobs, but no nice mounds of cleavage. *sigh. Hoping this changes. I didn't just want bigger, I wanted NICER. That doesn't appear to be what I have. More patience maybe?? Ugh Moving on... Belly: Healing well, still some swelling, though I noticed today I have some pliability back in the very upper quandrants, just under my breast. Yay! Disappointments? Still, my belly button! WHERE is my belly button?! It is there, but looks like the tiniest BB known to God and Man, and it looks like it has collapsed on itself?? for lack of a better way to put that. While the incision around it has healed nicely (with a beautiful incision line, I might add), there is no hole! Will I get a hole? or is this the way it's going to look? What do you guys think? As for my incision - well, I will say this, I have seen many an incision in my 23 year career, of all different kinds, and believe me when I tell you, this one, is a work of art! I know it's hard to tell because of the redness, still some scabbing left, and it is still puffy and swollen, but this is a beautiful suture line! Its a perfect pencil line and I am over the moon about that! Not all surgeons/Drs are created equal, and not all suture lines come out this thin or even. The tape came off my vertical incision the other night, and I honestly wondered for a minute why it had been there in the first place; I thought for a moment he didn't have to do a vertical incision after all! I had to really look for it! I have all absorbable sutures, nothing was removed, and they take a bit to dissolve and reabsorb, about 90 days. They first have to endothelialize (tissue has to grow over them), before your body breaks them down; this is what causes a lot of the raised ridge. Ok. I can be patient with that, especially since a year from now, you will have to LOOK for the scar:) Reaction: Still not looking... Mobility and sleeping: These seem to be going pretty well. I still have that tight feel in my abdomen, particularly when I am washing my hair, standing up in the shower, but it is a far cry from what it was two weeks ago, so I know this will get better. I am completely upright, but after standing for long periods of time, my back aches, and I get tired. I've been walking a lot, as I go back to work in 6 days, and that is pretty much all I do is stand, and walk around, and I have to wear a lead skirt and vest for most of the day, which adds about 7 lbs. We'll see how that goes. Sleeping is getting better, I can lay perfectly flat, with no discomfort at all, and rolling to, and sleeping on my side is getting easier. Still feel a bit like a beached whale, or turtle on their back rolling over, but it's getting better. All in all, not too bad at POD21. I did just get done planning and making reservations for our Costa Rica trip - we leave 6 weeks from tomorrow (so excited!); hoping I can rock a bikini by then :D Healthy healing, and have a beautiful day ladies! Updated on 2 Feb 2018: First, let me apologize ahead of time for the negativity. I much prefer to send a positive vibe for others than a negative one, but I just felt I need to share. This recovery has so many ups and downs, and the downs seem to come without warning. As you have read in my previous posts, like so many of us, I have moments where I struggle with my decision to do all of this, particularly, my BA. Well, today is again that day. I hate my boobs. Hate them. I decided to have a BA because I wanted to "refill" my tired, empty, aging, post baby boobs. I was not looking to have big boobs, and I didn't want them to look fake. What I didn't even entertain the thought of, was, getting a BL. Well here I am, 275CC later, and what I feel like I have, are ENORMOUS, misshaped boobs, that are far from the perky boobs I had aimed for. I feel old, and inappropriate, not youthful and pretty/sexy. I feel foolish to think that at my age (I often forget to account for my age accurately) I could get the results of someone 15 or 20 years younger. I'm embarrassed by the way I look. I know I am still healing, and that the implants have not settled yet, but I do not see that changing the size or location of where they sit, which I feel, will just be accentuated once they drop. I can't do anything about it now, but I believe I will be preparing myself, for maybe 6 months down the road, to have them removed, and having them replaced with maybe 150cc, and adding a BL. Updated on 6 Feb 2018: First, let me again say thank you to all of you that sent such encouraging and kind words on my last, and very negative post (and I, again, apologize for that). Im starting to understand that there will be up days and down days, and the down days completely overshadow the up days, until there is another up day, and that, on those down days, I should just keep it to myself, and hold on until it passes (because it does). I've discovered that while we, as women, may have a great support system, or at least one person that is our champion through all this, that basically, this is our feat. It is our decision to go through this procedure, to do this to our bodies, and it is our struggle and triumph through recovery. It is our own private Hell on the bad days, and it is our own glorious delight on the good days. No one could possibly understand what it is we go through - not our Drs, our husbands/significant others, not our daughter's or our mothers, not our best friends - only those that have been through it could possibly understand. For me, there have been no more comforting words anyone could ever say than, "yep, [what your experiencing] sounds about right. Been there. And it gets better". When I have my down days, and I feel compelled to document them on here, it is not for flattery, it is for that comfort. That sense of "normal", that we don't see or feel for months during this process. It is for reassurance, that I didn't just make the very worst mistake I ever could have made. It's for the calming. And for that, I am grateful. Right or wrong decision, good or bad results, a little bit of calming goes a long way through this process. With that said, I am going to try to remain more positive (or at least, convey that way;) So, about that update... Today was my first day back to work, and it went pretty well. I am scheduled for 12 hour shifts, though we rarely work the full 12 hours, and today, THANKFULLY, was one of those shorter days. The first 6 of my 9 hour day I spent standing the entire 6 hours, wearing 5-10 lbs of lead. My teammates were great though, and wouldn't let me do any of the heavy lifting (I mean that literally), and I am oh so grateful for that, and it was a pretty easy day. I'm tired, and my back hurts, but I don't have much additional swelling that I didn't have this morning (yay!) I opted to wear my regular binder, instead of just a CG, feeling like I would want the extra support, and needed the extra bit of safe coverage. I have to get through 2 more days, and then I have another day off, which I plan to spend doing nothing at all, before my weekend on call begins. As for the boobs... I received an extra bit of encouragement on RS about those. Feeling some degree of desperation, I posted a question to the Drs on RS, with a few pre and post pictures, seeking their professional opinion as to whether I should have gotten a BL or not. I received several responses, and every one of the them said basically the same thing - be patient and wait, theres still a lot of healing to go yet; once they drop into place, they won't droop, they will lift (it will tilt the nipple into an upward position); and, most importantly, ALL of them said that no, I did not need a BL. Phewww! That made me feel better. I still don't like them (for now), but that info is giving me encouragement to just hold on, and reserve judgement until later. So, again, we wait... I only took 2 pics today, really just to show the swelling after work, but, of course, I did not take pictures this morning to compare it to, but I think it still shows how minimal the swelling was, IMO (I expected a lot more swelling). Still no belly button whole. I am beginning to think that won't appear until most of the swelling has subsided. I go back to my PS next week, and I will again, revisit the topic of my sleepy little belly button *sigh. Sleeping... I think I may have rolled to my side at least once last night without waking up! Whoo hoo! and there were a couple times I did. Eh. Im getting there. After I read all the replies fr
It's going very well. I was given Oxycodone for pain and took it every 4 hours for the first 30 hours and have now switched to ibuprofen for every other dose. Mobility: I can lift little things and have a decent amount of mobility moving my arms forward. I am not attempting to lift it over my head. Pain: 2 at most. Feel very sore like I've been lifting excessive amounts of weight. Sleep: oxycodone is a blessing! Lol. Knocks me right out and I'm not one to sleep on my back. I have 2 pillows on my side to keep my arms propped up while sleeping. I've been doing a lot of sleeping. Diet: sticking to mostly protein Compression Garment: it's a vest that is full sleeves and pulls to my mid torso. First 24 hours I had a decent amount of drainage so I had to keep chucks on my bed, but now drainage has subsided. Physician: Great doctor, very friendly and takes his time with his patients. He even called the evening of post op to ask how I was doing! Personal attention by the whole staff so you don't feel like just a number. 19 days post Op Update: Still some swelling and soreness, but most my movement is back. I still can't fully raise my arms above my head, but mobility is back around 85%. I still take Advil or Aleve in the morning and at night. Updated on 10 Apr 2017: Please see update in original story. Arms have shown quite a difference. I'm very happy with the results so far and am hoping for further improvement with time. I'm also starting a light workout routine. I will update soon.
Most patients are presentable in about a week after Thermi treatments. Don't be too dismayed about prolonged swelling(1-2 weeks). It usually means that you had a good, thorough treatment. Please follow up with your doctor if you feel you have unusual swelling for more than a couple of weeks. Using a face garment often reduces the posttreatment swelling. The squareness of your face will diminish as the swelling subsides.
