Chris Nichols, MD

My review is for a reverse tummy tuck. The site didn't give me that option to choose. I went to Dr. Nichols and he took the time to talk to me about options during my consult, instead of just telling me what I needed like others had done. Also, there is a difference between a PLASTIC Surgeon and a COSMETIC Surgeon. They can both do procedures and both are board certified doctors, but there is a lot more training involved to become board certified in plastic surgery. I'm sure there are many talented Cosmetic Surgeons, but it's a transparency issue for me. Dr. Nichols is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. He uses doctors on his anesthesia staff. He does not do all of his own closings, but does part and supervises what he doesn't do. I haven't found a doctor in my area who does every bit of his own closing.
Back to my stomach... My pre-op experience was fine. Dr. Nichols' surgical staff were all wonderful and did their best to calm my pre-surgical jitters. Either a staff member or Dr. Nichols himself have responded promptly to every message or phone call since my procedure; one text on a weekend even! I went for my 1 day post op and wow! The results were better than I expected. Initially my pain level was pretty high, but I also had a surprise implant swap during my procedure. Dr. Nichols found that I had a ruptured implant, so he took care of that at the same time. That likely added a bit to my pain level. I was able to stop taking the narcotic meds after 1 week. I'm still taking Tylenol and some ibuprofen for the swelling of my breasts. My incisions are itching like crazy and it feels like I have a really tight band around my rib cage, right under my breasts. I'm still walking around somewhat hunched over, which I'm told is normal. I saw several sites claiming recovery time of a week, but I'm not quite there. Some is my implant swap, but I still can't stand up straight, so that's one thing to really research. I slept in a recliner for almost 2 weeks. I happened to have a lift recliner and it was a lifesaver! I took stool softeners and am glad I did. I had lots of bendy straws on hand. The compression garment is still giving me fits. I feel like I have constant heartburn. Was it worth it? Totally!

Updated on 24 Feb 2024:
A little over 3 weeks out. I'm not sure what is going on with my incisions and implants. My breasts look really strange with regard to position. I also have a few spots that are open on my incision and there is a spot where my cleavage meets my stomach that is pretty much just a hole. The surgeon put silver nitrate on the bad spots two days ago but the place at my cleavage isn't doing anything but seeping out more fluid. The surgeon asked me to come back in a week. I'm totally freaked out at this point. I don't feel like I'm getting much in the way of care instruction or reassurance and I guess I've reached the "I wish I'd never done this" point that I hear everyone reaches at some time in recovery. I have pictures, but they are pretty graphic so hopefully I'll have something pleasant to post before long. One positive... the incision directly under my right arm looks fantastic and I think the scar there will be minimal. The other side is also pretty thin but the scar is in kind if a zig zag line. And they are nicely healed.

Updated on 1 Mar 2024:
Just passed my 4 week mark. At my visit today, it was decided that we are putting a wet-to-dry dressing on the 3 problem areas. I wish we could have started this a week ago. The doctor did more silver nitrate and wow that stuff hurts. I feel a lot better about a plan of action going forward and I feel like I got a lot more information about taking care of this at home. I was given all of the supplies to do the dressing change twice a day and Enma even offered to come in over the weekend to help if I wanted. I guess I'm still looking at a month before I'm healed, so that's a bummer. My stomach still looks fantastic and my breasts seem to be settling in more and looking good.

Updated on 11 Nov 2024:
Things all healed up around June, which was the 5 month mark. I noticed a little bit of sagging returning and went to see Dr. Nichols. He assured me that this happens, but it will not return to the way it was any time soon. I did some research and found that the return sagging DOES happen with this procedure, no matter who does it. However, looking at my latest "after" photo, I still say it was worth it. The only thing I would say to anyone deciding on whether or not to get this done is to weigh whether it is worth it to you, knowing it can and most likely will, return to some extent. Like I said, for me, the improvement is still worth it.

I’ve struggled with upper back and neck pain for over a decade carrying size 38DD-DDD.
I am only on post op day 4, but what a huge difference this surgery has made on me. I no longer feel the heaviness from my chest weighing me down. I am so excited to be fully healed. Absolutely life changing experience! Definitely worth it!

I got 385 cc sientra gummy bear round implants and I love the results. I only wish I had gone bigger but I am still super happy with them.
My recovery was great. I was not super sore or in a lot of pain at all which is great because The pain meds and after affects of anesthesia made me very sick. Sicker than most, but I feel like that's rare. So sick I couldn't believe I had done that to myself. After a few days I finally felt normal and not like I had vertigo. I would 100% do it all again for these results.
I'm only 6 weeks PO. But because I had large boobs and loss of mass before my boobs are already squishy and feel totally real. You cannot see my inframammary scars at all because the size my natural boobs were. It's totally in the crease.
I'm afraid to go back to normal activity that you're usually cleared for at 6 weeks, I don't want something bad to happen. I will probably wait until the 8 week mark to do upper body exercises, totally raise my hands up, lift heavy objects, close my trunk, etc. I've been kind of neurotic during the healing process that something bad will happen because I'm over-stressing my chest/doing too much, etc so I've tried to be extra cautious. 
I can tell the healing process is taking place because my boob and muscle feels different every week. I can feel my implants becoming more a part of me and settling in right. It's a great feeling!

Superb doctor. Very knowledgeable. Realistic. Went in for a breast reduction came out looking like a million bucks. Healing is going great. He did a excellent job on my boobies. If your deciding if Nichols is the Doctor for your breast reduction, then I'm telling you that it will be a great decision.

I have been small chested my entire life. Coming from a family of well endowed ladies, I patiently waited for my breasts to appear throughout my teens and early twenties. After all that waiting, I managed to top out at barely fitting a 32B. And as my stepmother used to say, I could wear a bandaid over my nipples, go bra-free and no one would know. While I have loosely toyed with the idea of breast augmentation since my late teens, I always hesitated to move forward due to the fear of pain and inability to screen for cancer. After a few lumps were found during an annual gynecologist visit, I had a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy to ensure everything was okay. I also decided to get tested for the BRCA gene given the high rate of cancer in my family. Fortunately, the biopsy showed benign lumps and I tested negative for the BRCA gene. This experience gave me the opportunity to discuss implants and cancer screening with experienced professionals. Those discussions and my healthy test results helped push me to consider augmentation in more depth. Beginning in January 2016, I began reading reviews on RealSelf, watching countless videos on YouTube and researching doctors. Living 30 miles south of Seattle, I decided to speak with doctors in my city. While 30 miles is not too far, Seattle traffic can be brutal and I wanted to avoid spending hours in a car after surgery and my follow up appointments. I met with three different doctors at local Tacoma, WA clinics based on reviews - Artistic Plastic Surgery, Aesthetica Clinique and Franciscan Plastic Surgery Associates. Given all my research, I arrived prepared with a list of questions; I'm sure they loved that! While all doctors and clinic staff were kind, patient and helpful, I ultimately felt that Dr. Nichols and his staff at Franciscan Plastic Surgery best addressed my questions and eased my concerns. Primarily, I wanted to guarantee that I had a very natural look; a size that fit my small frame correctly and maintained a tear drop shape. Additionally, while I wanted a natural appearance, I knew I wanted saline implants for my peace of mind. I knew that the implants will eventually fail and I would feel much better knowing salt water would enter my body rather than silicone. All doctors took the time to explain the difference between both silicone and saline implants while one doctor was slightly more pushy in encouraging silicone due to the more natural feel and lack of rippling. Another doctor approached size by allowing patients to select their own. As a woman with essentially no breasts, I really did not feel comfortable selecting the implant myself. There was help from a nurse however, the sizes suggested were so large! It felt as if they assumed that anyone desiring breast implants hoped to look like a top heavy Barbie doll. The suggested size was 450cc. I am 5"2', pear shaped with a current weight of 135lbs (I typically maintain a weight of 125lbs but have been neglecting the gym after gorging over the holidays). It was just way too much for me and I did not think that an implant that large would assist in reaching my goal of looking natural. Dr. Nichols and staff were AMAZING at discussing my concerns, explaining implant variations (high, moderate and low profile) and ideal size ranges for my frame. Although I had notes, photos and clear goals, neither of the other clinics provided the same level of insight as Dr. Nichols' staff. It felt like they understood my concerns and goals and were carefully working to select the best fit for my body and my vision. After considering my consultation experiences, I made an appointment to move forward with Franciscan Plastic Surgery on May 4, 2016 (today!). I'll post some before photos and prepare a few more entries about my experience leading up to surgery day and my recovery so far.
Updated on 5 May 2016:
Even though I researched breast augmentation for months, met with three doctors and booked my surgery, the realization of what was going to happen didn't hit me until 3 nights before. As pain in recovery was my main concern, I of course began reading about other people's experiences. The Sunday before surgery I tossed and turned all night long. I woke up Monday feeling exhausted, with a headache and wanting to run. Runaway Breast Augmentation? New movie idea; not really.

While I was semi-panic stricken most of Monday, I finally felt normal again on Tuesday. Knowing that thousands of people do this surgery each year helped ease my concerns some. I knew I had found a great doctor and would be well cared for. I decided to move forward and stick with the plan.



Updated on 5 May 2016:
The night before surgery, I bought everything I thought I would need such as baby wipes to use until I could shower, bottled water, fruits, veggies and a stool softener to have just in case. I also packed all my pills, ID, insurance card, Chapstick, hair tie, water, apple sauce and directions into a ziploc bag. I cleaned up the house, washed the sheets to ensure a comfortable sleeping environment and set a TV tray with some goodies next to the couch.I would highly recommend everyone do the same prior to surgery. It was nice to have less to worry about on our way out the door in the morning and even better to come home to a prepared space.Surgery was scheduled for 9:45am with a check-in time of 7:45am. For the first time in my life, I was early to something and arrived at 7:30am giving me plenty of time to freak out in the waiting room.When we arrived, I signed some disclosures, watched TV and then eventfully went back to get settled. They performed a pregnancy test, checked my medical history, had me undress into a gown and placed circulation cuffs on my calves.My husband and dad were able to come back and keep me company while I waited. Eventually, the anesthesiologist, doctor and surgical nurse came back to prep me. Once the doctor marked my chest (without my dad in the room), I was ready to go.After a quick bathroom break, the nurse led me back to the operating room. The table was heated and comfortable. I climbed up, the anesthesiologist told me she would provide a sedative to start the process but not put me out. All my nerves and uncertainty were pointless because it was over before I knew it. It's possible I was alert for a while but the next thing I remember is waking up in recovery with the nurse. She provided some applesauce and pain pills, let my husband and dad back into the room and shortly afterward I went home.The ride home was okay and for the most part I just felt like my chest is really tight. Even with an anti-nausea patch, I felt sick walking from the car to the house. My husband gave me an ice cube to rub over my skin because I was very hot. That helped a ton and I was able to make my way to the couch to relax.I stopped eating and drinking at midnight the night before surgery and while I was starving at the clinic, I wasn't hungry after surgery. I've spent the day eating light food such as soup, salad and rice crackers. To maintain hydration, I've drank water all day long.The pain seems to have increased over the past several hours. My husband set an alarm to ensure I take my pills on time and stay ahead of it. My chest still feels tight but my back is beginning to hurt more and my right side and right arm are noticeably more sore and weak than the left. You never realize how much you use your arms until you're unable to use them. Watching me crawl off the couch, attempt to grab something or scratch an itch is laughable. However, it hasn't been too bad so far but I've heard from several people that day two is much worse.I have propped my side of the bed up as instructed and am hopeful that taking meds during the night will decrease the likelihood of waking up in major pain. Guess we will see.Here's a photo of my beautiful surgical bra and bloated belly.

Updated on 5 May 2016:
Today was supposed to be dreaded day of pain but it really was not that bad. Sleeping proved as difficult as I imagined and I woke up pretty stiff. However, once I started moving more this morning, I was back to a low level of pain.

The most difficult part of recovery is not using my arms. They are still very sore and weak which means that when sitting up my body relies on my abs and pec muscles alone. Regardless of the approach, sitting up feels awful.

I'm also dealing with constipation thanks to the pain meds. It's not incredibly uncomfortable but I am certainly starting to look bloated. Finally caved in and took one stool softener to see if it helps. I hope to stop taking the pain meds in the next 1-2 days so hopefully the constipation subsides by then.

Here's some quick stats in case I didn't provide them earlier:

Height: 5"2'
Weight: 135lbs
Starting bra size: 34A/32B
Implant style: moderate profile
Implant size: 330cc
Implant filling: saline

Going for my first post op tomorrow morning so I'll provide more details then. :)

Updated on 6 May 2016:
Last night was much better than the first night. I only woke up once to take my pain meds and use the restroom. May arms are still incredibly weak so getting out of bed remains a challenge. At this point, I just fling my legs off the side of the bed and then slowly slide off until I'm in a squat position and can stand. It's absurd, I know.

I'm going to focus on using my arms more today. I've noticed that I've been keeping them to my sides and not extending them much; I'm a human T-Rex. Hopefully using them will increase my range of motion and ability to sit up like a real person.

I have my first post op appointment today and I'm excited to see everything. Oh and only one more day until I can shower again! As a clean freak, this no shower thing has been less than ideal.

I am also going to decrease the pain killers to one every 4 hours and see if it's tolerable. They make me incredibly drowsy and I find myself falling asleep for minutes at a time throughout the day. I don't know how anyone could use these pills recreationally; it's too much for me. I am still constipated after taking a stool softener so I'm going to take a few more today. Fortunately, I don't feel any pain or discomfort but I would like to fix it before I do. Still no real appetite but my husband has been great at giving me light items to snack on over the past few days. I've also drank more water than I ever have before.

I'll post more photos and updates when I can.

Updated on 6 May 2016:
I had my first post op appointment today. Everything went well; they said they are healing as expected although they are still quite swollen.

Prior to surgery I purchased two bras from Brilliant Contures based on forum suggestions. They are beautifully made but my doctor felt that the size was too small and compression was unneeded. As I was feeling good after my appointment, we went to Walmart to purchase some cheap sports bras so I could get out of the surgical bra.

Bra shopping is so difficult now! I bought a wide range of sizes and styles but nothing fit when I tried them on at home. So I'm back in the oversized, itchy surgical bra with a plan to exchange my Walmart bras tomorrow. I've considered buying a front closure bra from Victoria's Secret but it seems silly to spend $60+ on a plain bra I will only use short term.

Even though I was feeling good today, walking through a store carrying my purse really put me over the edge. After about 10 minutes my back are right breast were throbbing. My husband was kind enough to take everything off my hands and I started to feel better once I was relaxing at home again. I'm glad I still have several days to return to work. There is only so much TV watching I can do but now I know that I need to ease myself into returning to daily activities.

I still don't have much of an appetite and haven't been able to go to the bathroom since Tuesday; today is Friday. I've taken two more stool softeners and decreased to one pain pill every 4 hours. Overall, I'm feeling good but have to remind myself to take it easy and not go too far. Also, I can finally shower tomorrow! I'm so excited to take a warm shower and see if these babies will drop some. After seeing them at the doctor's office today, I can definitely relate to everyone's Frankenboob comments. They are quite flat, large and silly looking at this point but I know it's temporary.

Updated on 7 May 2016:
We had some friends over last night. After being stuck in the house with nothing to do but watch TV for three days, it was nice to change up the routine. We ordered pizza so my husband could have a break from cooking and spent the evening catching up and joking around.

I had reduced my pain meds and was feeling pretty good but about 3 hours in, I started to feel nauseated. I'm not sure if it was the pizza, which is the first heavy thing I've eaten since before surgery, or the constipation. I decided to call it a night and went to bed.

Getting up from bed remains the biggest challenge for me. Even though I have propped 4 pillows on my side I always seem to slide down the bed and wake up almost flat on my back. Because we have been reducing the pain pills, this was the first night I did not set an alarm to wake up and take anything. I slept fine but when I woke up my left side, near the incision, was throbbing. I thought that the jumbo surgical bra may have been resting on it but that didn't appear to be the case. After struggling for a minute, I managed to get myself out of bed and downstairs to take a pain pill and two Tylenols. This was probably the most pain I've felt so far but it was also the first time I have been without any medication in my system. I'm still working to decrease the pain meds; fortunately, the ones I took this morning kicked in quickly and I feel good again.

It's a beautiful day so I'm hoping to get out and enjoy the sunshine! After I shower (yay!!), we need to find a more comfortable sports bra that actually fits my babies. I'm not sure when this ridiculous constipation will end but I'm going to increase the stool softeners today, too. I don't feel too bad right now but I am very obviously bloated and would like to get past this part sooner than later.

Updated on 7 May 2016:
Managed to return all the ill fitting bras and crammed my new boobies into a large, front zip sports bra after removing the liners and accepting that it will not fully zip up. It's a whole new world to go from not needing a bra to being slightly too big for a large sports bra. I can't wait for them to settle over the next several weeks. I'm excited to find my new size!

Updated on 8 May 2016:
Finding a front closure sports bra is such a challenge! I still am shocked at how large they look, especially in a bra. The right one is starting to soften more and the left is slowly catching up. Pain today was better and I'm officially off pain meds completely. Sitting up in the morning continues to be an unpleasant experience but I'm hopeful it will improve soon. One more day off work and it looks like I should be in good condition to return when the times comes.

Updated on 10 May 2016:
Today was my first day back to work. It went well even though I would have rather been at home binge watching terrible reality TV shows some more.

The pain on my left side became noticeable on post op day 3 and is still present today. Based on what I've read, it appears to be related to healing so while annoying, I'm not overly concerned.

As I tend to be stiff and sore in the morning, I attempted to sleep on the couch sitting with my legs propped last night. Not surprisingly, I managed to get about two hours uninterrupted sleep in before waking and making my way to bed. I propped myself up with a collection of pillows, as I have every night, and woke up almost flat, as I have every night. Fortunately, I was able to sit up myself this morning! I had to get creative but I still managed and was not in the usual, tear-worthy pain once upright.

So far, recovery has been pretty easy. Jowever, today I couldn't help but notice the relentless tightness in my chest. Maybe it was because I was sitting at a desk and not as distracted as I had been while at home. Regardless, I'm ready for it to ease up. Now that I've noticed it I can't seem to unnotice it. My back is quite tight as well so I have been using a heating pad in an attempt to loosen it up some. Hopefully my back will feel looser soon and the looseness will translate to a more comfortable feeling in my chest. We'll see!

Here are some Frankenboob photos from post op day 3 and 6 for comparison.

Updated on 11 May 2016:
While healing, I have been cautiously keeping my weakened arms close to my sides. Given my limited range of motion and unwillingness to reach for or touch anything outside of my small bubble, I have joke my referred to myself as "T-Rex Arms" to my friends.

Post op day 3 I felt adventurous and/or tired of being stuck indoors and decided to stop by a friend's place for his birthday. While some people are aware of my surgery, I have attempted to keep the details to a limited group. Although my friends tend to be loving, supportive and all around awesome, I would still like to avoid becoming the "friend with implants" if possible.

So, while at this party, guarding my poor arms at my side and attempting to act normal, the birthday boy decided to high five me (we're not a high five group; blame it on the alcohol). We were sitting on the couch, a friend between us and he called for my hand. I gingerly stuck my poor left hand out low and close to my body hoping he would rethink the dreaded high five. He didn't. He accepted that his high five was now a low five. He went for it and in one swift move, my weaken hand gave way with both our hands landing in the middle guy's lap. Yep. Thanks to T-Rex Arms, the birthday boy and I simultaneously cuffed another friend in the balls.

There was no explaining it so I just giggled and the birthday boy quickly blamed it on me and my "T-Rex Arms". While he's not in the group that knows about my surgery, I think my unexplained inability to move like a normal person is obvious. He's onto me. They're all on to me but whatever, #TRexArmsForLife or at least a few more days.

Updated on 11 May 2016:
No major changes. Arms are slowly getting stronger and flexibility is increasing. Was able to sleep almost flat and woke up without severe pain. I also got a new soft bra today that is less restricting than the last one. I think I can return to regular bras without underwire in a week but will probably wait until my bruising subsides. In trying on this new one I noticed the extreme difference between my left and right side. That left one sure doesn't want to drop anytime soon! I swear it hasn't moved since surgery. I know it's common but will probably mention it during my one week post op so the doctor is aware. Here's a photo of my sexy lopsidedness.

Updated on 12 May 2016:
It almost seems like a cruel joke that I have eagerly awaited the arrival of my breasts since I was 10 years old only to finally accept they weren't going to show up at 25, spend years contemplating breast augmentation, finally do it and then have to wait weeks (?), months (?!), years (?!?) for them to settle into place. Each day is slowly better but I can't help but daydream of a future with normal looking breasts. They're larger for sure, but this silly swelling and tightness make them look comical at best. And of course, I had surgery right as the warm weather showed itself. I have to remember that it will be worth it in the end. Thank god for the Internet and countless brave ladies that undertook this journey before me. Every time I panic and think I may look like a monster forever, a quick Google search assures me that it is only temporary and pretty breasts await on the other side. Godspeed, boobies. Godspeed.

Updated on 14 May 2016:
Each day is better but mornings continue to be hit or miss. This morning I woke up and both my breasts felt like they were stinging near my incisions. My husband helped me sit up and the left side throbbed. For the first time since my surgery I actually cried in pain. After sitting upright in bed for a few minutes, I made my way to the bathroom, washed my face and began to feel normal again. The discomfort always begins when I wake up, intensifies when I sit up and then dissipates after a few minutes of movement or being upright. I know it'll improve once my muscles loosen up more. I had my second follow up this morning. The doctor said everything looks good, prescribed a muscle relaxer to help with the tightness in my chest and taught me some massaging techniques. I can begin massaging at anytime but will probably give myself a few more days. Hope everyone else is recovering well! And those thinking of surgery, feel free to ask any questions you may have. I'm happy to help. :)

Updated on 14 May 2016:
I confirmed the details with my doctor, finally!

Implants style: Natrelle 68MP
Fill: Saline
Volume: 360cc - each side
Placement: Under the muscle
Starting size: 34A/32B
New size: Unknown but will update in a few months once the drop.

Updated on 15 May 2016:


Updated on 17 May 2016:
I had an interesting exchange with my dad today. We are very close and when I decided to move forward with surgery, I discussed it with him. While he didn't love the idea, he is always supportive and joined us the day of surgery and helped my husband care for me a few days during recovery. As a result, I think he feels like I have saddled him with a secret. Close family members that see or speak with him regularly were left with unanswered questions while he was caring for me and unavailable. Today he checked on me and during the exchanged asked when he could discuss it with family. I was somewhat taken aback when I quickly responded by saying, "never." I have been very selective with the people I have confided in and given the relatively small change in appearance and my tendency to wear loose or layered clothes, I do not think anyone outside of that small circle has noticed. It seems like our society, and quite possibly our world, is full of people that feel entitled to discuss other people's bodies. From the time we are born other people attempt to dictate how we will adorn our bodies, where we will take our bodies, how we will interact with our bodies, who, how and under what circumstances we will allow others to interact with our bodies and so on. If you are a female or trans, it seems that these opinions are expressed with even more fervor. Everyone has an opinion about elective surgery. Good or bad, everyone feels something about it. I did not decide to get breast augmentation because I am recovering from cancer; I decided to get surgery because I wanted larger breasts. That's it. It's vain; it's unnecessary; it's financially and possibly medically irresponsible but it is the truth. I wanted to do it so I did it. And I know people will feel some way about that. People will always feel entitled to opinions about my body. People may discuss my tattoos, piercings, hair color or style or anything else. It is out of my control regardless of how pointless and harmful I think it may be. I know that and frankly, I haven't told many people because I do not wish to give them more to talk about; more to judge; more to cloud their views of me, an entire person. You get one life and I am a firm believer that you should do whatever you want with that life. If you desire something and that desire or thing does not negatively effect those around you, then get what you want. [RS bleep] the masses. [RS bleep] everyone that thinks they've earned the right to tell you who or how to be.

Updated on 17 May 2016:


Updated on 23 May 2016:
Anticipating that bra shopping would be difficult for the first few weeks of recovery, I purchased some bras recommended online prior to surgery. Unfortunately my doctor advised against them and I've been playing bra catch up ever since. I've bought sports style bras in stores and online only to find that they do not fit well or comfortably. After being limited to one semi comfortable sports bra for weeks, I finally decided to go for a more regular style yesterday. Now that my flexibility is improving and pain is decreasing, trying bras on proved much easier. I was able to find two comfortable, wire free bras and even managed to wear a normal, relatively low cut shirt today! Let me tell you that wearing a sports bra during the warm spring months makes assembling an outfit a chore. It's so nice to have a normal(ish) bra again! And so far no discomfort so double success!

I know it'll be a while until my final size is known but one of the well fitted bras is a medium and the other a 34C. I suspect that is where I will end up once it's all said and done. My goal was a large B or small C and 360cc was the biggest they could go on my body. I can't help but feel envious of the larger breasts I see on here but I think mine fit me well. I'm relatively petite and wanted a natural appearance; these seem like they've been there all along so I'm happy.

Updated on 24 May 2016:
Returned to my gym today for my first workout following surgery. My trainer knows about my surgery so she prepared a simple plan that focused on leg exercises and some ab work. We're going to ease into exercising and see how I feel after each day. I began exercising more frequently a few months before surgery and would like to get back to 5 days a week soon. I'm planning on going two more times this week due to the holiday weekend and should be back on track next week. On a side note, how big do my ladies look in my work out shirt?! I've been wearing so many loose shirts to conceal the sports bra that this was the first time I had seen them in a form fitting top.

Updated on 25 May 2016:


Updated on 2 Jun 2016:


Updated on 6 Jun 2016:
Because I wasn't sure about what my incisions would look like or how the tape may be attached to them, I've been waiting for the tape to loosen over time. The left side is still fairly attached but the right was loose enough to easily remove today. I'm very surprised at how great the incision looks and glad it was healed enough to remove the tape without issue. The incision is not very noticeable and is right in the fold. Can't wait to sneak a peak at the other side; I think the tape will be ready to remove in 1-2 days.

Updated on 7 Jun 2016:
My poor left boob cannot keep up with the right. It's not visibly noticeable when I'm wearing clothes but I can tell that my bras fit differently on the left side. This photo looks a bit more extreme than they do in person but it's definitely accurate. The right has settled faster than the left. Ahh, patience.

Updated on 16 Jun 2016:


Updated on 22 Jun 2016:
I'm seven weeks post op today and feeling great! My boobs are softening more and sitting closer together in some bras. I almost have cleavage! Crazy new world. I also just realized that I need a new swimsuit for our upcoming Forth of July trip. I haven't been as quick to return to the gym as I had hoped so hopefully I can find a suit I'm comfortable with. I have another follow up in two days and will post an update if anything important comes up. Hope everyone else is doing well. :)

Updated on 28 Jun 2016:


Updated on 28 Jun 2016:


Updated on 1 Jul 2016:
Immediately following surgery my breasts felt foreign. Just like everything I had read and heard, my stretched muscles made it feel as if baseballs had been shoved under my skin. The stiffness, periodic pings of pain, inability to sit upright without assistance and unending cycle of bra adjusting left me more aware of my body and breasts than ever before.

Week six was supposed to be the golden week. By week six the pain would be gone, the stiffness and limitations a thing of the past and most of all, my breasts would again feel like a part of me. It actually began with week five. I didn't think about them every second of every day. I didn't feel like a science experiment. I didn't feel limited. And actually, I felt lucky. I thought, "Great! I hit the week six feeling a week early. Things are moving faster than planned. I got this."

I don't know if the week six feeling actually hit me at week five or if I was getting ahead of myself. I don't know that it truly matters. I do know, however, that at week eight my breasts very much feel a part of my body. These breasts feel so real to me, so original that I forget they are there. Worst of all, I check for them 2-3 times a day sometimes when I really shouldn't.

When I wake up and without the recently familiar back pain, I quickly grab my boobs, sigh to myself and think, "still there". When I daydream in traffic without feeling the discomfort of resting my hands on the steering wheel, I snap out of it and check on my breasts. Haven't gone anywhere. I don't know if this weird obsession is a result of my newfound comfort or due to spending six weeks thinking about them. Now that I've passed the six week mark, I no longer have to calculate the weight of each item I pick up or worry about the consequences of tripping and catching myself with my weaken arms. I can stretch my arms over my head and behind my back. I am finally free to not think about my boobs and now all I can do is think about my boobs.

Updated on 5 Jul 2016:
Although my breasts still have some settling to do, I decided to get officially fitted for a bra today. I know they may change more over the next few months but wanted to buy a more comfortable bra and could only do so after having a better understanding of what size I am. While I had assumed I would be a 34C, Victoria's Secret fitted me at a 32DD. Cue jaw drop. Of course this lead to speculation among the friends I rapidly texted from the fitting room that VS has fallen victim to vanity sizing and my actual size may be smaller than suggested. I think that is quiet possible but whatever. For today I will bask in the glory of going from an A to a DD over night and consider myself a part of the grown up boob club. Once the novelty wears off and they drop more, I'll get a few more fittings at other stores to narrow down the most accurate size.

Updated on 17 Jul 2016:


Updated on 17 Jul 2016:


Updated on 10 Aug 2016:


Updated on 7 Sep 2016:
After reading online a bit, I decided to go to Nordstrom for another bra fitting. It seems that some women swear by them and prefer their fittings over Victoria's Secret. The woman I worked with was great and fitted me at a 30DDD; VS previously fit me at at 32DD which is the sister size.

I bought three bras and a bralette before going on my merry way. Unfortunately, the morning after my first day in my new strapless, I discovered these awful, unsightly blisters across my chest. The bra had been somewhat uncomfortable the evening before but not nearly uncomfortable enough to prepare me for this.

The bra has the same plastic like material around the cups and back to help it stay up. Because the blisters are isolated to my poor boobs alone, I do not think they are the result of an allergic reaction to the bra. Rather, I think that the bra must have been ill fitted and rubbed throughout the day. It was a warm day and we were quite busy outdoors so I could have overlooked any subtle discomfort.

Anyway, I'm planning on returning the bra as soon as I have a free moment. If anyone has some suggestions for treating the blisters, please let me know! They're high up on my chest which limits my late summer clothing options quite a bit.

Updated on 7 Sep 2016:
Looks like they didn't upload. ????

Foobs.

Fake boobs.

Rising out of nothingness…Suddenly. In Biblical fashion.

The surgeons very kindly took me seriously when I said the prospect of traditional dual mastectomy horrified me. They inflated temporary tissue expanders to about half capacity before I left the operating room. So when I explored my chest in the recovery room there were these little convexities–booblets–complete with my very own nipples, right where I’d expect to find them. Mightily encouraged (this is all hearsay, mind you–I’ve no memory of it), I am said to have gleefully exposed them to anyone who’d look–the spouse, my dear friend Peggy, and whatever nurses & techs were trying to keep me breathing instead of flashing the entire floor.

So I’ve discovered an inner extrovert. If it only emerges after anesthesia, I’m good.

I was apparently good that day, as the spouse was heard to say, “Gee–it looks like you’re nineteen again!” Bless him. We won’t talk about how he knew what I looked like at 19, except to say that it involved a communal swimming pool and some self-conscious skinny dipping. There are those who will remember the ’70s & how that used to be OK. Nowadays, if I’d been much younger, there’d have been arrests.

But, nobody gets to stay 19 forever, even a second time ’round. I left the hospital with the medical equivalent of saran wrap holding my chest together. This would stay on an additional two weeks, providing increased heat within really thin skin that needed to establish new circulation, and a way to peer at the nipples–which until the surgeon told me, I didn’t realize might dry up and blow away.

So now, three weeks out from the original surgery and with regular infusions of saline, foobs have emerged from the primordial booblets. Given my profession and the profound effect words have on women’s sense of self, I’ve always been careful to give body parts their correct names–at least with patients of a certain age and comfort level. But special circumstances create the need for new vocabulary. An email friend who’s been through the same process tells me this stage is the “foob” stage. From the Latin, of course: fake boob.

Seems entirely appropriate to me, as these have certainly passed up my 19 year old booblet moment. Booblets are cute and unassuming. Foobs, well, foobs make their own way in the world. Anyone who accidentally runs into me won’t hurt me, but might come away with some serious bruises right about foob height. Which means we’re not talking “real” breasts yet.

I’ve got another one or two infusions to go before the tissue expanders reach their limit. Or I reach mine (this is not a comfortable process). A couple months after that, once things have stretched and settled to the extent they will, the expanders are exchanged for implants that feel much more like “real” breasts. And with any luck, I’ll start feeling real again, too.

I am very pleased with how my surgery turned out. Prior to surgery I was a 36G I was experiencing awful back pain and needed to do something. I was able to go through my insurance company and have them help with the procedure cost. I am still a bit swollen but I believe I will be roughly a 36D now, which excited me! I am 6 weeks post op now, and can't wait to continue my recovery and enjoy my results.

on the 14th of august 2014 i had a breast reduction. i had wanted one for at least 10 years. i had the usual back pain, dips in my shoulder where my bra was. a week after surgery i noticed my breast were leaking green liquid and was informed it was normal. i also had pain and itching. i developed a rash EVERYWHERE. i have yet to be seen by my plastic surgeon but once i do ill have more details and pictures.

Updated on 2 Sep 2014:


Updated on 9 Sep 2014:
I am feeling so much better. I can shower as much as I want, and I can move around much better. I was concerned because my breast looked nothing like anyone else's. I have blisters, they are bloody, they have a smell. Come to find out I have a yeast infection in my breast. Not sure why or how, I do know is super humid these days. I got a three day pill that seems to be working. I also have some diaper rash cream for a topical. I just can't wait to be healed.

My incision from a prior surgery has split open and it was repaired with just sutures the first time. This time I'm having a mesh repair and muscle plication through a full Tummy Tuck incision and hoping this will be my last surgery ever. I have a general surgeon and plastic surgeon working together. My biggest concern is possible umbilical necrosis ( dead belly button) because I have had three prior medical abdominal surgeries using that incision. I'm not doing this so much for looks as I am for support of my hernia repair. I love high impact activities like fitness kickboxing, backpacking, scuba diving etc and I don't want to miss out on anything. I hope I've got the right team and the right plan for this. Wish me luck.



Updated on 10 Apr 2013:
I would love to hear advice for preparing for surgery. I need to know pros and cons of products to help me be more comfortable and to heal. I need answers to questions like, how do you sleep if you can't lie flat? In a chair? How long until you could drive? What do I look for in a compression garment? How tight should it be? Is it better to try to be active right away, or to keep activity down to reduce swelling? I have tons of questions, so I'm off to the boards to see what other people have learned.

Updated on 24 Apr 2013:
My recliner lift chair was delivered today in preparation for my surgery on Monday. Getting a little more nervous now but trying to focus on how nice it will be to be healed and having fun with my family this summer.

Updated on 27 Apr 2013:
Had my markings appointment yesterday. The doc said this ink will stay on until Monday. I was hoping for more steep V-ish shape, but I think this will "hide" better in clothes. I'm trying not to stress about the scar. I'm focusing on how nice it will be to have my hernia fixed and get back to life. We have a big vacation we're taking this summer, haven't decided where yet. Maybe Belize, maybe Africa, Europe. Not sure yet. I want to go somewhere I haven't been before. Any suggestions? What is the best place you've traveled to? Why? Maybe this will help me focus on how cute I'll look in my clothes without my tummy sticking out and how much fun I'll have when I don't have to worry about my back pain and hernia pain.

Updated on 27 Apr 2013:
I just talked to my surgeon. He is VERY reluctant to change the scar he outlined. He says I will get a worse result, but if I want to modify it, he will show me what he is willing to change on Monday morning when I go in for surgery prep but then if I don't like it he suggests I go to another surgeon who does it in a different style. WHAT? I'm two days from surgery, everything lined up, paid, etc and thats his response? He said it will create dog ears and limit his ability to pull in laterally? I told him that I've seen LOTS of pictures online where people have this done successfully and he says that its based on their body structure. He said I have wide hips and that requires this kind of incision. Even if these things are true, why wouldn't he have mentioned that during the initial consult when we went over my scar pics, or at the pre-op when I discussed it again. Is this normal? Each plastic surgeon I consulted (including him) with said that the scar I wanted it just fine for me. But now he changes the story. I'm even more freaked out than I was earlier because I feel like he doesn't want to do this surgery now, or even worse, maybe he's not capable of creating the kind of results I'm looking for. I hope not. On a good note, he returned my call in less than 2 mins (after hours) so thats a good thing right?

Updated on 28 Apr 2013:
Tomorrow is the big day. I arrive at the hospital at 5:45am. See you on the flat side!

Updated on 30 Apr 2013:
Day 2. had my surgery yesterday With the combined procedure my surgery was about 4 hours. Yesterday the pain was practically unbearable but today it's about half what it was yesterday.

Updated on 1 May 2013:
Day 3 post op. so far day 1 was hardest. Today I'm feeling much better. Glad I have a weaker and lift chair recliner. Even with those aides, I still need help.

Updated on 2 May 2013:
Day 3:
Pain is starting to lessen. Still taking pain meds but having an easier time moving around. My docs office provided a walker for me to use. Thank goodness. I need to get a good look at my scar but I'm still not sure what it looks like

Updated on 3 May 2013:
Day 5 I am loving my lift chair recliner. I have rented it for one month but I'm hoping ill be sleeping in my own bed soon. I rented my chair from a medical supply company for about $150 per month. I am also using a toilet seat riser with handles. that has been a big help too.

Updated on 7 May 2013:
Day 8:
This recovery has been BRUTAL so far. I switched to Ibuprofen for pain today. The other pain killers are stopping me up so badly I can hardly breathe. And the swelling feels like my stitches will pop out. Can't wait to be feeling better.

Updated on 12 May 2013:
PO Day 13
I have been sick with flu like symptoms, nausea, achy, flushed face, cold feet, sore joints. Every night the symptoms get worse. I'm feeling a little better today thank goodness and hoping I'm at the end of this. I'm no longer taking anything for pain. I'm still a little tender if I'm not careful about my movements but I was thinking the tylenol and ibuprofen might be adding to my nausea so I just stopped taking it. I'm having vision problems too. Nothing too serious but ever since my surgery I'm having trouble focusing on small print, and the light seems different too. I'm wondering how this surgery could effect my eyesight? At first I blamed it on the medication, but I'm not taking anything and its still blurry. Has anyone else heard of these side effects?

Updated on 14 May 2013:
PO Day 15
Yesterday my hubby took me to the docs. I was declining fast. For about the last 4-5 days I have been getting weaker and having a hard time eating or drinking. I couldn't walk more than to the bathroom and back to my chair without bad cramps and heavy breathing. I was getting very emotional and just had this overwhelming feeling that something is really wrong with me. Doc couldn't find anything obviously wrong. All my vitals looked fine, and my scars are all healing nicely. She ordered blood tests to see if that would show anything. Blood tests came back yesterday afternoon showing slightly elevated white cell count. Looks like I have an infection brewing. To complicate things, I'm allergic to all penicillin type antibiotics and I was already taking Cipro after my surgery and that didn't wipe it out the first time, so they have put me on another round of Cipro to see if it will take care of it. I've only had two doses so far and I'm already feeling a little better. I'm so glad my hubby was there to take me in and take care of me. This has been a ROUGH few days. I'm exhausted. I feel guilty that he is missing work and taking care of everything else too... and we got the nicest surprise last night when my neighbor brought over a fully cooked dinner ready to serve my hungry family. What a blessing after such an exhausting day. Today I'm more optimistic and hoping to be on my feet very soon. I'm going to see my acupuncturist today too. Its supposed to be very good for the immune system and for healing. I need all the help I can get.

Updated on 23 May 2013:
So, it turns out that the infection was the least of my problems. In one week I lost 10 lbs from not being able to eat. Luckily, I was staying well hydrated but so nauseated and having a hard time breathing. Went to see my surgeons several times but couldn't find anything wrong. Ended up in the ER after 11 days of not being able to eat and it was getting harder to breathe and not able to move without feeling like I was passing out. Sometimes the room would start spinning when I was just sitting still in my bed or chair. My surgeon suspected a blood clot or pulminary embolism, so off the the ER for tests. They did a CT scan, EKG, blood tests etc. Everything came back normal. Went home still in distress and no answers. That night I was sitting forward and I felt a terrible, slow, tearing type pain and then it felt like my belly button was being pulled out of my abdomen from the back. The tearing pain was dying down to a throb and within about 30 mins I realized my head started clearing and my nausea was dying down (for the first time in WEEKS). Finally fell asleep. The next morning I woke up STARVING and I realized my eyesight was back to normal too. Plus my head felt totally clear, no dizziness or vertigo and my breathing felt really free and chest felt opened up and clear. Docs have run more tests, ultrasounds etc and aren't sure what the tearing was, but they're thinking it may have been scar tissue from a previous surgery that moved to block my diaphram and stomach opening. What a frightening ordeal. Im so glad that is all behind me now. All I can say is trust your instincts. If something feels like its wrong, it probably is. Its been about 4 days since the tearing and I've been feeling better everyday! My surgeon and his office was very responsive and very concerned. It was nice to know they were willing to take every action to figure this out and stuck with me through it all. Oh, and I had a little incident with the belly button too, but it seems to be doing great now too. Next step is to get my blood checked again to make sure the antibiotics wiped out the infection. Whew. I'm exhausted.

Updated on 25 May 2013:
I took some new photos of my scar and abs when there's not much swelling. Funny how it swells up almost every evening still. And if I'm too active, I can feel it swelling on the spot. Very strange. Wonder how long that will last. My scar is getting much lighter and most of the scabbing is gone. I love my new belly button. I can't believe how different it looks. Finally getting excited about my results.

Updated on 11 Jun 2013:
I'm doing much better but still having some issues with muscle cramps, back pain and it turns out I have ovarian cysts going on right now too. YAY. That may be part of the reason I'm still feeling so crappy. Its like a roller coaster on my hormones but I went on my very first hike yesterday and it felt awesome to be outdoors in the sunshine with my kids. We took lots of rests and only went a total of about 3 miles but it felt good to be doing something "normal" again. I decided to post some of my post surgery pics and some updated ones too. Hope its not too confusing since these are out of timeline order. I've been putting petroleum jelly on my scar 2x per day and I'm very pleased with the way its lightening up and healing.

Updated on 11 Jun 2013:
Still a little swelling at the lowest point of the V, but scar is healing nicely. Sorry about the photos. I have a lot of elastic lines on the skin from panties and pants. Better to take pics right after a shower or something so the skin looks smoother.

Updated on 14 Jun 2013:
I took some pics after my bath that show how well the scars are healing. I still have a little swelling but this week has been good for me. Last weekend I went on a three mile hike with my kids. We took it slow and rested a lot but it was good to be outdoors and getting some exercise. Yesterday I went for a walk and went 3.25 miles. I feel weak and tired after and it reminds me just how much this recovery has taken it toll but I'm glad to be on the mend. Everything feels very tight, and not normal yet, but I expect that to keep improving over time. I'm really motivated to build up my strength and keep getting healthier. I can't wait to lose some more weight as well. The muscle cramping has really died down a lot and goes away more quickly as soon as I rest. I'm easily making it through the day now and even adding in more and more chores and activities. Can't wait to feel "normal" again.

Updated on 3 Jul 2013:
I've been seeing an acupuncturist for pain relief initially but now to help with the muscle cramping which is actually more rare these days but happens mostly when I'm walking long distances or overexerting. I'm planning a camping trip with my son next week so I'm getting out more and getting more active lately but still very careful about abdominal muscles. They are still VERY tender right under my ribs and midline. I'm seeing progress though. I'm really pleased with my belly button and the scar itself. Looks much better than I expected.

Hey guys!

Like most women on here, i too am getting breast augmentation...Soon! This is something that i have wanted for many many years. I am 27 years old and come from a family of very small breasts. I have put so much thought into this especially now that i am married and the thought of having kids in the future almost made me wait to get them done. My breasts have always remained the same since i could remember. No matter how much weight i have loss or gained, the girls stayed the same size. I figured if or when the day comes of having kids, i am about 98% sure my breasts will still be the same size. I also have had complications with my ovaries in the past, so doctors have told me i may or may not be able to even have kids. So, in my mind, why wait? My procedure is in 5 days. I have read so many reviews on here from women all over and my nerves are finally starting to settle down. I am very excited...Ready to get it done and over with!! I will check back the day before surgery and follow up with before and after photos! Thank you to all the ladies who have had enough confidence and courage to post their thoughts, pictures and stories on here.

My stats

Age: 27

Weight: 135

Height: 5'6

34b bra size but hardly fills the actual bra..Without bra, more like a 34a. Getting 304cc allergan moderate profile.

Was torn between 339cc or 304cc but after putting a lot of thought in, i am sticking with the 304cc.



Updated on 7 Aug 2014:
Feeling good today! Compared to my first night and waking up every hour on the hour, I slept pretty amazing last night. I still need help getting out of bed and off the couch but other than that, I feel great. I been walking around the apartment a handful of times a day. I also been practicing raising my arms. I am happy this surgery is finally over and I will be looking forward to the end of the month bc by then, my swelling should be down by a lot!