I just got my 2nd breast augmentation with dr garber. He is amazing !! My first was done 5 years ago (but I’ve had 2 more kids and breastfed). This time around I got a bigger implant, and lift. Dr. Garber was amazing!! Highly highly recommended
I was finally read to pull the trigger on a breast reduction. I called and got an appt and minutes later they called to tell me that "he's at his quota for my insurnce company". That's total [RS bleep]; he just doesn't feel like he get reimbursed enough by them so he's being picky on who he takes. Updated on 11 Feb 2020: I spoke to a few others medical professionals about BR. During the process I have heard additional stories about how he avoids using insurance and one even called called him “fiscally unethical”.
I've been wanting to get an augmentation for a few years, but now seems like a better time than ever. Then plan was to have the surgery immediately after graduating, but my car died and a replacement ended up being the priority. I don't have the cash to pay for it now, but would it make sense to get it done soon and have it financed? I've just graduated as an engineer and, once working, won't be able to take a lot of time off to recover. But I also won't be as worried about paying off a cosmetic surgery bill. It also helps that I'm in a transition point in life and won't have to explain the change to new coworkers. I've had a consultation with a surgeon who I really like (he's also willing to let a general surgeon remove my fibroadenoma simultaneously) and have most of the details of my augmentation decided. Can anyone who financed their surgery with a loan give me feedback on whether it was a good decision or not? Or advice from anyone who got/considered an augmentation in their 20's? I would be looking to get the surgery in the next month or two.. Thanks!! Updated on 17 Mar 2017: Since my last post, I've been working full time, paying off my student loans and living at home to save for my augmentation. I had planned to wait a few years until I'm out of debt to go through with the procedure. However, I will be transitioning to a different company with completely new coworkers in a few weeks, so I think this could be the perfect window to get it done! Even more excitingly, Dr. Brett Garber, who operates in Vorhees, NJ and was my first choice based on the consultations I had, has an opening on March 31st. I have no hesitations about getting the augmentation, but if I had the operation Friday, would it be reasonable to begin a new office job 10 days later? Will the price change because there's only a two week period between scheduling and surgery? I am also tight on money and because of the 2017 price increase, may have to switch to saline if I get it done now. Any advice or comments would be hugely appreciated! Updated on 21 Mar 2017: I'm going to add pictures, but the March 31st date is official now! Because I have broad shoulders and a muscular frame, we decided to go with 575-600cc (leaning towards 575). I know that sounds big, but the sizers looked very natural and I haven't heard many people say they wish they'd gone smaller! I'll post some additional before pictures and wish pics this week. I can't wait to review my full experience on RealSelf! I've read close to 100 to prepare me for my procedure so I'm hoping to provide comfort to someone who's still unsure ???? Updated on 23 Mar 2017: It's been difficult to make up my mind on sizing. I spend most of my free time working out or being active. I have a decent amount of muscle on my body and am 5'10" and recently weigh in the high 150s. Going too big could limit my running or workouts in general, but my doctor thinks even up to 600ccs wouldn't look big on my frame. It seems like a ton of women wish they had gone bigger, but very few wish they had gone smaller. This is interesting because of how many people say beforehand not to get anything too big/ridiculous. I guess it's a matter of preference. Anyway, the girl in these pictures is my height and weighs about 10lbs less than me. She has 550ccs and I love everything about how they look. Any other tall girls going through/went through this sizing issue. I ended up deciding on 575cc but want to make sure I don't regret going that big! Updated on 23 Mar 2017: For some reason it didn't post my pictures? This site really is as glitchy as everyone says! Updated on 30 Mar 2017: Surgery tomorrow!! Wow I still can't believe it - I've wanted this for so long and this is finally happening ???? I've been taking vitamin C tablets and Arnica to keep me healthy and aid recovery. I checked with my surgeon's assistant beforehand and she said taking them is a great idea! I'm going to drink plenty of water today and begin the Cephalexin (antibiotic). It's my last day of work but I'm having a hard time staying focused! Everyone brought in baked goods as a farewell so I'm stress eating everything and it's only 9:30am. I took a few more before photos since my other one was from almost a year ago! Some are with a sports bra (what I spend most of my time in) so you can see why I'm frustrated to be lacking in the boob department when I work so hard on my body. Dr. Garber took much better befores so hopefully can get a hold of them later on. Updated on 31 Mar 2017: It seemed a bit odd to me that I hadn't been having any doubts, second thoughts or anxiety over my impending surgery. Because let's be honest, it's completely voluntary... if something went wrong, I would feel so angry at myself for bringing harm to my body. Because I love my body and everything it does for me! But this all caught up to me at 2am the night before the surgery. I didn't want to worry my mom, so I just sat in bed and had a minor freak out. This led me to search augmentation anxiety on the RealSelf question section and read how normal this was. There was one answer that was particularly comforting that discussed how low complications are and how high satisfaction rates are for the procedure. Needless to say. I felt the exact same way k Updated on 31 Mar 2017: My biggest fear from the beginning has been the IV since my veins all decide to retract into my body (probably from not being able to drink water for hours) before any operations. It always takes them 3-5 tries. On top of that, I have a pretty serious irrational fear of needles - which amazes my parents because I also have a high pain tolerance. I was shaking and on the verge of crying before my nurse at Centennial Surgery Center, Shannon, made her first attempt. She got it with ease which actually made me cry more out of happiness because NEVER before has someone taken less than 3 sticks to get my IV in. She was an absolute life saver. That was definitely the most stressful part for me and I was looking forward to the rest! My surgeon came in super casually dressed in distressed jeans to mark me up. Hahaha he is such a funny guy and really made me feel at ease. I got marked up then was ready to go!! Here's a picture of me beforehand ???? Updated on 31 Mar 2017: When I woke up, I was in a lot of pain to be honest. I have never weighed much more than I do now so I knew my skin would have to be stretched to its limit. I also used to do a lot of bench pressing and could tell the muscle was causing a lot of discomfort as it had to be cut through. The nurse alternated between giving me painkillers and anti-nausea medications. I was sleepy more than anything so the time went by quickly. I was glad to be drinking water though! I went to a Recovery room where my mom was able to come back and this really put me at ease. I was still sore but everyone reminded me through the process how worth it this would be. I really can't say enough good things about my experience with Dr. Garber's team as well as those who helped at Centennial Surgery Center. The drive home was bumpy despite my moms best efforts to drive extra carefully. I would suggest not looking at your phone screen on the way home because it will make you feel sick. Updated on 1 Apr 2017: I was in more pain than expected but made sure to ice thoroughly! Took the pain meds every 4 hours, but I think the discomfort is just as a result of large implants being stuffed into a small space! Haha I'm not supposed to take the bandages off until Monday, but here are the bandage on day 1 pictures I have. I think the craziest thing I've noticed is how much water I've been drinking. Well over a gallon/day. As a result, I was also extremely bloated as you can see. Normally I probably would have freaked out crying over this, but it's normal according to the other reviews I've read on real self. Hoping it'll go away soon!! Updated on 2 Apr 2017: My bandage came lose so, even though I wasn't supposed to take them off, I snapped a few quick pictures of the new boobs ???? they look pretty Franken-boob to me, but I've been assured this is how the should look less than 2 days post-op. I think the size will end up being exactly what I wanted! Updated on 7 Apr 2017: I had planned to be more active in giving updates on here, but the pain on day 3 and 4 took the fun out of it for me! I went off my Percocets after day 3 because I had a drug test for my new job yesterday. Prescriptions are obviously cleared if the drugs are still in your system but I don't like taking them for long anyway. I had my first post-op on day 4 and the bra I was given is absurdly tight, so I've been wearing other sports bras. I have another post-op in 6 days. Hopefully I will be mostly pain-free by then, especially because I'll be almost a week into my new job. I'm still bloated and going a little stir crazy. I was told not to do a lot of walking yet so my body can heal and prevent bleeding under the skin. I'm amazed that I haven't seen any bruising. I'm starting to like the look of them, but it's a big difference to get used to! Can't wait until they move closer together ???????? Updated on 11 Apr 2017: Shopping is a little confusing to say the least. I love them in some things but feel so fat in everything that would have looked great on me before. I'm figuring it out slowly, but this sports bra helped me absolutely fall in love with how they look!! The pain is mostly gone... still can't lay on my side or do a lot of walking at once, but that seems to be expected only 10 days out. They are slowly moving down and closer together, but maybe massaging will help after I see the doctor thursday will help speed that up! Still can't wait to get back to exercising (especially lifting), but I started a new job with a new company yesterday so it'll keep me distracted!! Updated on 16 Apr 2017: My stitches were removed on Friday (2 weeks post-op) and I am blown away by how healed they look!! I had a minor shoulder surgery to remove a lump of fatty tissue over 2 months ago and the scar doesn't look too good. My skin has always scarred badly, so I was expecting the same from my augmentation but they are hardly noticeable already. The first 2 pictures are of my right and left breast incision from 2 weeks ago and the 3rd is my shoulder from 2 months ago. I know you can't necessarily compare them because the circumstances are different. But moral of the story is that I'm thrilled with Dr. Garber's work in every single aspect!!
Thank you all so much for sharing your stories, worries, wit and of course pics! When I think back about making the decision to get BA I'm aghast at how little info I was armed with. I was a 32B+ with some sag and wanted to have the option of going braless. In no way did I want to be bigger, higher was my goal. After BA of course I was bigger but not higher and much to my disappointment still had some sag...never did get to go braless :( Even so, up until age 52-53 I kept with and was pleased with my stable dimensions...5'3, 105, 32C+...and then, hello menopause! I do need to back tract and tell you that my husband and I (at age 50) adopted a special needs baby. Between 50-60 I was so busy with MD appointments, arsenal of therapies, home schooling, ...one day I just noticed that my breasts were enormous! Thankfully, I've never experienced any illness or problems with my implants but 7 yrs ago I had MRI which showed right had beginnings of a leak. I thought, no problem they're saline, and I was always under the assumption they were, even my friend who was with me for the procedure remembers me assuring her they were. Well a month ago I found out that was unlikely...so that, coupled with the problem of a progressively worsening cc (baker 3 now on right only) was what started my research on explant. I might also add...In the past year my right breast has really hardened and shifted upward to the point where it's obvious even with clothes on and I'm talking big sweaters and the like. I'm an RN and probably more neurotic about finding the right PS but reading the blogs and seeing some of the explant results has my radar on full alert...5 consults over the past two weeks and still undecided. I live in Southern NJ close to Cherry Hill so any recommendations on a PS would be much appreciated. I'll close for now but will return later to discuss more about these consults. Updated on 6 Mar 2015: It was a banner day!! I received a call from PS office...insurance approval for explant and...I have an OR date set for March 25th. My husband picked up my scripts for EKG and CBC which I've scheduled for next week. This weekend I plan to give the house a good cleaning and make a few more meals I can freeze. Bone broth is simmering on the stove top. I decided on Dr. Brett Garber who although does not possess the coveted ABPS was the PS recommended by my PCP and a breast specialist I had recently seen. He does a lot of breast work...50% cosmetic, 50% reconstruction. His nurse assured me that he has a lot of experience with baker III cc which I have on the right side. I also called 2 of the surgical centers he is affiliated with and was able to speak with an OR nurse supervisor at one and a scrub nurse at the other. Without mentioning his name, he was the one both of them recommended for technique and expertise. He was the only one out of 5 PS that recommended the staged approach ie...explant...wait 3-6 months for healing, restoration of blood flow, settling /retraction of breast tissue...lift. Among the advantages are optimal lift results and decreased risk of infection/complications. In addition, this methodology allows for opportunity to determine if lift is necessary. There's plenty of discourse on both sides of the explant/lift vs explant/wait/lift debate but I'd rather err on the side of caution and proceed in a more conservative manner. Okay, enough bantering for one day! Updated on 15 Mar 2015: Oh dear, I've been having second thoughts about the staged approach and plan to speak to my PS during the pre op tomorrow. The reason is because I'm seeing so many of you coming out of your duel procedures looking great and free of complications. Also, as I have ample breast tissue I'm thinking this might work in my favor for a good result. I really don't know if I will be able to justify the risk of general anesthesia again for something that's not a necessity (even if I end up deformed). Just concerned about my right breast as there is probably going to be less tissue left by the time he finishes excavating that scar capsule! Any thoughts ladies? Let me switch gears to lighter subject matter...I wanted to give a review of sports bras... I bought several different styles, high end to low end, including Armour, Champion, Danskin Now, Fruit of the Loom and several others (names?). Brought them home so that I could do a good comparison, left all the tags on of course...in my estimation hands down the Danskin Now was the most comfortable, provided the best compression and was the least expensive at $12.94. For sleep, Fruit of the Loom...perfect! It has a front hook closure, 95% cotton 5% spandex providing just enough compression, and at $7.94 it's a steal! Purchased both styles at Walmart (gotta love Walmart!). 10 days to surgery and the jitters are setting in! Please keep me in prayer regarding aforementioned decision, thanks so much! Updated on 23 Mar 2015: I have a healthy diet but in the last few weeks I've all but excluded anything with sugar and white flour in prep for surgery...then my in-laws asked us to meet them for dinner at their favorite restaurant...they don't know about the surgery and how do you say no to your in-laws anyway. So I figured okay...last hoorah for theses fake breasts I've been sporting for the past 28 years! So with the exception of Saturday evening's backslide I've done everything I can to prepare my body for explant with general anesthesia on Wednesday...note my arsenal of ammunition in the pic...green smoothie's with cinnamon, Kefir, yogurt, bone broth with cayenne and turmeric, probiotics, and cabbage soup...but alas...will it be enough to battle 7 days of oral antibiotics...ouch!...overkill!!...but I plan to follow my PS instructions to the letter! Also, I thought it might be helpful if I took some before explant pics in a few of my bras, after explant I will dawn the same bras to give an idea of loss of volume. I don't know about you but it's always been anyone's guess as to what size bra I wear. It depends upon the manufacturer and has been that way forever. Some of my bras are over 20 years old and no longer fit...case in point...the grey underwire bra which is a 32D...I'm hoping to be able to wear it again post op...only time will tell if I've completely deluded myself! Upward and onward!! Updated on 26 Mar 2015: I was the dreaded late case yesterday with an 11:15 arrival time. I was taken back promptly by a nurse who gave me ted stockings, footies, gown and a robe...which is where her level of expertise ended as I have great veins and she missed, not only that but she kept up with the piercing, poking, and probing of that harpoon...finally I said ok that's it as I knew she was bound and determined. The next nurse got my IV straight away. Went in for procedure at 12:35 and out by 1:15 (35 minutes) had general anesthesia with LMA (less invasive), left the center at 3:30, home at 4pm. Even though it was pretty much a cake walk it did make for a long day. I have one drain (don' even know it's there) which is on the right where I had the baker III capsule. Last night I had minimal bilateral incision discomfort (inframammary), with the right breast feeling kind of raw, hard to explain but nothing that ice didn't alleviate (no pain meds, not even tylenol). Today my pain scale on a 1-10 is 0, only when I use my pecs...pulling or pushing mildly, feels like I've been working out. The biggest surprise was...my PS told my husband my implants were not silicone after all but saline (just as I always thought!) the downside is that insurance may not cover my explant now, so the PS says. I didn't see my PS before I left the center but I asked why my binder was so loose especially as I didn't have a drain in the left (and I've read it should be tight especially in the absence of drain)), the nurse assured me that my PS doesn't wrap tight...feels like it's so low it could slide down to my waist and doesn't give my breasts any support whatsoever...really annoying so today I tied two sweat shirts up under my breasts to give some support. I go back tomorrow to have my drain discontinued and sports bra will replace binder. My drain put out 20cc last night, 5 this am so I don't think it'll be worrisome that he's taking them out so quickly...comfort wise I still can't even feel it's there. Now I know what you're all waiting ladies!!!... results of course!!!! I was instructed to leave all bandages and wrap in place until my follow up but they said nothing about peeking which in my case with the wrap so loose is pretty simple...I peeked yesterday after I got home and 57 times since then...first the good news...to my shagrin I have a good portion of upper pole fullness even when I pull my ensemble away from my chest so it's not the binding pressing my breasts upward...I'm hoping that it's not just swelling that ends up dying a slow death. But overall at this juncture, my breasts are full and appear (from what I can see) to have nice shape. Now for the bad news...pretty sure I'm going to have some dreaded asymmetry...smaller on the right but it's hard to fully assess at present. Also my right nipple (not the areola) is caved in slightly, I'm hoping this will correct over time. All in all, not a bad report and if I retain what I have and then "fluff" afterward...there is no way I'm going to do a lift!!! Yesterday, although I wasn't tired, I just felt blah and lounged around and drank tons of fluids (flushing out all the meds I was given during anesthesia). My PS instructed me to stay above a 30 degree angle while resting/sleeping in bed (to curtail swelling). My dear husband brought a chaise lounge in from our patio and set it up in the bedroom but I wanted to give the bed a try first with all the pillows arranged...not too bad but I'm going to try the lounge chair tonight for a comparison. Had trouble falling asleep last night (finally crashed at 2am), not sure why, up at 7am today as we start school here at 8:15am...did a full day of school with my kidlet and now I'm feeling like a little nap. I just want to give credit to the Lord first...I am so thankful to Christ, my Lord and Savior, for this site and all the info I garnered in prep for this procedure. I feel that I went into this fully equipped in all that I needed to know...thanks a million ladies for all your encouragement, support and fun!! Will follow up with pics at a later date, still a little nervous about the complete unveiling! Updated on 28 Mar 2015: I'm 3 days post and I have to tell you I'm having a really hard time with this loafing around thing. Zero pain, Zero change in energy level. However, I'm adamant about caving into the temptation to do housework and such, all in an effort to avoid seroma. I had my follow up yesterday (Friday) the nurse pulled my drain...painless. Still had some upper pole fullness but was informed that it was all swelling...hey maybe she's wrong...after all...everyone of the medical "specialists" were wrong about my implants being silicone! Okay, I can dream can't I. Even though my drain was only putting out 10cc's or less in a 9-12 hour period I was concerned about it being pulled within 48 hours of explant so staying true to my neurotic tendencies I wrapped the ace around my sports bra for added pressure. One thing that I wasn't prepared for...I can't go without my sports bra as it feels like my breast muscles are being pulled downward...anyone else experience this?? As far as my "prognosis" thus far...let's just say...while it's not 'critical', they're probably going to need some sort of rehab. Definite asymmetry, slight depression of right upper pole...but on the upside...no skin tethering (yet)! To be continued...
