My breasts are 30 years old, hard working, nursed two kids for 16 months each and due for a make over! Happened very quickly in Calgary, AB. Expected to wait 2 years for consult then another year for surgery. Casually mentioned to MD I'd like a referral, 10 months later got a call and after consult had a cancellation and WOW - 2 weeks later it's done. Only had 2 weeks to troll Realself - thank you you brave strong inspiring women. I think being mentally prepared helped and understanding it will take a long time for them to look and feel better has made a huge difference. They look tiny to me!! After asking a few friends who've had the procedure they said biggest regret was not going smaller. My weight fluctuates 30lbs a year so thought I'd ere on small side. Very lucky timing in that my Mum was visiting from UK so had help. Hubby slow at work so took few days to help me thru the first nights and Taaa-daaaaaa! DONE!! 36J to ? 36C maybe. Too early to say but they seem tiny and perky and I look like a tomboy and need to work on tummy but they are round, can feel my nipples (very sensitive), no pain - no meds since surgery and clothes just slip on - surreal!! Day before surgery I wore a size 12 to accommodate my breasts - next day with little breasts, instant size 8!!! Bloody hell amazing. I'm 15lbs over weight but surgery and maybe 3lbs tissue gone = 2 dress sizes! Yippeeeeeeee! So far so good - 5 days post surgery, no drains, compression bra fitted, 1st shower no problem and 1st peekaboo. I'm so squeamish I had to have my husband and sis-in-law look and convince me I wouldn't pass out if I looked. Hideous!! Ha ha but "got potential" ........... AHC covered everything but side lipo = $900 Sigh of relief. Only up from here! Updated on 3 Sep 2014: Well after going back and looking at other women's after pictures I think I bruise ALOT!! Still happy, still numb, still very bruised & but oh so glad each day is easier. Except actually under my armpit is hard and swollen in lipo area - worst part so far but husband massaging with arnica cream helps quite a bit. I have to cheat and sit very still without the compression bra on for extra 30minutes or I'll go nuts. 23hours a day in that torture device is cruel! ; ) Updated on 3 Sep 2014: My dark mole used to be 6" from my nipple & now it is an inch away! Cool landmarks of how high they've come! Silly thing but one thing that really stands out is how my underarm hair now seems to be close to breast tissue. Silly thing to notice but they used to hang so low the armpit was unrelated ha ha! Bless you Dr Yau! Updated on 3 Sep 2014: Updated on 7 Sep 2014: Think I just figured out why each breast is having a completely different recovery. I think the trainee doctor who was with my surgeon during the mark up did my right breast. I guess everyone needs to practice at some point. Left breast barely any bruising, already softened and pain free. Right breast massive bruising all down my ribs, hard, swollen, painful and rigid. I suppose if I had my surgery on the provincial healthcare system & not privately then that is one of the risks? Certainly bit fed up with right breast! Massaging with arnica, oils, ice packs and compression bra does nothing. Feels exactly as I did when I had mastitis nursing babies. Friday to PS.....fingers crossed settled down by then. Updated on 7 Sep 2014: Updated on 8 Sep 2014: Sent last few pictures to Dr Yau with concern I had hematoma. I've read too many of these forums! Am I a hyperchondriac??!! She thankfully called back just as I was starting to panic - said everything looked ok & even if I came in there wouldn't be anything she would do. All symptoms of swelling, pain, altered colour to nipple all "normal" side effects of trauma breasts have gone through. Meh! I'm getting tiny bit fed-up, but I'm not exactly a patient person. : ) Tried on swimsuits and I don't overflow them, fit like a glove off the rack!! One benefit of swollen breasts is they kinda look fantastic! I should be careful what I wish for wanting them to soften - the swelling does make them a lovely shape! : ) Updated on 13 Sep 2014: So, simply said looks great, everything normal, see you in 3 months if you feel like it! Righty = 339g Lefty = 431g Grand total only 1.7lbs of tissue between the two breasts. I was surprised but it makes sense as I had really low density, big floppers for boobies. They were big but not full & dense........greedy little babies who refused all bottles & other sources of milk for total of ~30months of nursing - life sucked out of them. Mind you they were never ever perky so didn't stand a chance! : ) Ha ha. I finally changed the yucky tapes one piece at a time. I'm quite squeamish so didn't look at scars very closely but everything seems straight & closed. I rather over applied the new paper tape so it acts like a bra. I was terrified the incision might split so not sure how I'll ever get it off......I'm just leaving well enough alone. Right breast still quite swollen and wide. Deep bruises keep coming to the surface of poor battered Righty. I massage one away and it's deep green cousin comes to the surface. Puckering between breasts at incision points and soft Lefty seems to have puckered so breast indented under armpit. It's SUCH early days I know eventually I'll be able to straighten the scar tissue and break up more knotted fibres but that's a long way off. I trained as a massage therapist and worked 10 years - I did work on a few full mastectomy scars so know dramatic improvements are possible. Lots & lots of patience first. Pictures next. Look mostly the same. Too scared to go without tape to show incisions yet. OOOOH, my PS said swimming at 5 weeks fine, also underwire bra fine if I don't feel irritated.......I can see the light!!! : ) Updated on 13 Sep 2014: So, 38g/j to a 38C Picked out a beautiful off the rack bra at THe Bay, pink & orange embroidered lace, so unbelievably pretty. Slipped it on nervously and I didn't even nearly fill the cup! Whoo-hoooo! Too lazy to get dressed and try another bra but off the rack & pretty. That's worth celebrating! Fingers crossed they stay nice & high.....please, please Breast Gods, don't let them fall : ) Updated on 14 Sep 2014: Needed a comfy bra to help me sleep....sports bra, nothing fancy! One bra fit and it was a 38B! Never in my life, and I'm swollen! Wheeeeeeeeee! Updated on 14 Sep 2014: Updated on 14 Sep 2014: This is turning into my daily breast diary.....dear diary, today I wished I'd allowed photos from before in my bathing suit, all were immediately deleted and I've no proof of gigantic boobies. Only found one snuck by Hubby this summer - from a distance you can see the shelf-like rack..... Updated on 16 Sep 2014: First time I've ever looked at breasts without tape on. Managed to replace little piece by little piece last time so didn't need to look too close. Well, they're healed and lumpy & bumpy and a tiny bit puckered at horizontal incision ends......is that called a dog ear? Righty is misbehaving again, still darkly bruised and nipple edge looks a bit wobbly. It WILL fade It WILL smooth It WILL return to a normal colour......right? Fingers crossed! I might be a B cup.....it IS worth it........right? Best wishes girls. Thank you for all your support & brave, baring pics! Love c [RS bleep] Updated on 16 Sep 2014: Updated on 16 Sep 2014: Updated on 2 Oct 2014: Had a little trip away, swimming & lounging in the sun. Back to underwire bras in the day time. I'm taped all over incisions and it doesn't hurt at all and seems to mould them into round, separated shape so I'll stick with it. Still sleep in surgical compression bra, going to gym for legs and planking for core all no problem. Can't see much change. They feel soft and little bouncy just thick scarring along incision lines but wondering if that creates support for the girls? Should I try and massage that out? Hmmmm? Not using any oils just tape all the time. Lines are really thin and almost white on vertical. Red horizontal. Still no hang...........please don't drop, please don't drop, please don't drop......... Updated on 6 Oct 2014: More lingerie cruising, my 6 year old son grabbed a 38DDD and put it on his head, came down over his ears with room to spare.......ha ha ha, and I carried 2 heads around??!! I've lost perspective on how big I used to be......keep thinking, "Well they're still kinda big...." Does anyone have an accurate body image? Quick pic without tape week 6
I am 34, 5'6 and 140 lbs. I am a mother of 2(10 and 12 year olds) and I have been sorta wanting this for a long time. However, since I am very active and looked okay in clothes plus the wait time to get a consultation is like three to four months so I have never gotten very far. My husband never thought I needed it and never was against it either. Anyway... everything changed when I met Dr. Yau. I went and had my first consult in Feb 2013 with Dr. Yau and I was not prepared . I didn't really know what to ask and just asked some basic questions... Plus I just wanted to see if I am a good candidate of TT. I showed her my belly and oh yes I am a good candidate. LOL. I asked to see some of her work. She said she had to get consent from her patients and would show me if I book another consult. I did and came back two weeks later with lots of questions! I was concerned about the length of the scar, the shape of the scar, the location of the scar and the pain I was going to be in. I put all the pics of tummy tuck scars I like and don't like in a folder and brought my computer with me. I also emailed her a load of questions before I went in for my second consult. Dr. Yau addressed every single question. Dr. Yau said that she can control everything she does but how I am going to heal is something she can't control. I looked at her work and very pleased with the belly buttons. The scars looked fine too. But I was still uncertain so I said I will think about it and let her know... She said no problem. And then... a week later I went for the third consult and booked my surgery, which was yesterday April 5th. I was stressed over the surgery for the whole time and looked online everyday for the same info and strangely relieved from it a bout two weeks before surgery. I had dreams about the surgery for quite some time then strangely felt great just about a week before. I kept myself busy and really didn't think much about it. And then the day is here! I had my surgery at the Peter Lougheed hospital. I had to call and find out my surgery time the day before and I was told I had to get admitted by 6:30 in the morning and surgery time at 8:40. I was happy that I was the first one in first one out. I went to the grocery store and bought tons of food I like and spent the rest of the night watching Grey's then went to bed and slept like a baby. No stress , no anxiety. Got to the hospital on time, got admitted on time and went up to day surgery unit right away. Changed into a gown pretty much my butt and waited on the day surgery bed. Then my nurse Jasmine came and put the IV in and we went though my medical history and other paper work. It was about7:30 when I was done with paperwork and stuff then just was waiting for Dr. Yau to arrive to mark me pre op. Dr. Yau came at around 8:15. I didn't quite recognize her. She always had her hair down and in a white gown at the office but she was in Dr's scrub and wearing a surgical cap hiding all of her hair. Anyway, she looked pretty. Dr. Yau spent quite a bit of time marking me and measuring me. She drew the incision as low and short as she possible. Gosh my tummy looked ugly. Again I was glad I was getting it done. After Dr. Yau marked me the anesthesiologist came and talked to me. I told him that I threw up many times last time I had general anesthetic and I asked him if he can mix the drugs with something to prevent it. He explained and basically told me no there is not preventable. He was a very nice looking Dr. I think his last name is Preddy. too! Anyway, I went to the bathroom before I got wheeled off to the OR. There were four nurses in the OR plus the two Drs. Dr. Yau asked me if I was nervous. I gave her a big smile and said " I am excited!" Then I fell asleep. I woke up in the recovery room and feeling great. I didn't feel any pain yet so I was expecting it to hit me sooner or later. I felt a little sore getting up and move around but no pain at all. I was really drowsy though. I looked at the time and it was 2 when I woke up. I was falling in and out of my sleep and the nurse came twice asked me about my pain level and both times I said 2 on the scale of 1-10. Then I went to the bathroom and the nurse told me that I can go home if I'd like. I said no I have to wait for Dr. Yau to talk to me before I go home. So they just let me wait there. It was very comfy at the hospital so I was in no rush. Dr. Yau came to see me at around 4:30. She opened the binder up and I saw my all stitched up BB and it looked just fine to me regardless of the looks... I think it will turn out lovely. I didn't get to see my incision though as it was all covered up. But I could tell it was very low. I was not concerned. Dr. Yau gave me her cell phone number and told me to go see her next Wednesday for post op check up then she left. I was still not in pain when my sis in law picked me up at 6:30. So I got home and mom cooked me some soup and I couldn't eat it. I threw up at the hospital once and I threw up again at home. Just couldn't eat anything. I was afraid that it would be very painful when I threw up but it wasn't. I threw up couple more times before midnight then it stopped. I set my alarm to wake myself up every 2, 4, 6 hrs. Every 2 hrs to empty my drain, every 4 to take antibiotics and every 6 to take pain killers. I am on T3 only as I was told the percocet or the Oxycodone would give me nausea and I really don't want to throw up anymore. Plus my pain level was always a 2 and I moved around fine. Hunched over only because I was told not to put tension on my incision, not because of pain. I was still a little worried about PO day 2 though as the pain might kick in then. Woke up at 9 this morning and feeling fine! No pain just sore. I wasn't planning on writing on realself but all the sudden I think I should. Not a lot of people from Calgary there and I thought I should share my experience! So far so good but still don't know how my scar looks. So far so good, not overly concerned. Will post pics when I find out on Wednesday!! Good luck ladies!! Updated on 7 Apr 2013: Okay, last night was tough. I wasn't in a lot of pain but I thought I would try the heavy dose narcotics just to have a good night sleep. Gosh I was up throwing up three four times and that was the most painful experience so far! Should have just taken T3s. So stupid. Anyway, the night was over and I am feeling a lot better now. Checked the drain every two hours and I am still draining about 10cc every time. I kinda doubt I will have my drains removed on Wednesday. Can't stand up straight yet and my back is more sore than my belly. I know I am supposed to get up and walk but just had been too lazy. Still haven't had BM even though I have been taking Senokot. Hopefully I will go soon. I opened the binder and still couldn't see much but strangely I see an old scar still at the same place as it was before surgery. Also some stretch marks... I can't figure out why that is and I guess there is nothing I can do now. Updated on 9 Apr 2013: Past couple days had been about the same. Sleeping watching tv and eating like a pig... Surgery did not affect my appetite at all. Daughter is sick so I took her to the doctors today and the drive was not pleasant. Not painful just very uncomfortable. Draining about 20 cc a day so hopefully my ps will take the drains out tomorrow. Still haven't had a chance to look at my belly yet but I'm sure the surgery could not remove all my stretch marks. Oh well at least I get a flat tummy! I just hope the incision is nice and smooth and the same height on both sides... So much to concern about. Crossing my fingers! Updated on 10 Apr 2013: PO day 5. Finally I got my drains out!!! Yay! I didn't expect that my ps would take them out but she did! I felt nauseous when she pulled the tubes out even though there was no pain. She said everything looks good(well, it looks really ugly right now appearance wise) I can't shower for another two days and will make an appt to see her in two weeks. I still can't stand up straight and my back pain is causing me way more pain than my tummy. However I feel great and looking forward to another day of getting better! Updated on 14 Apr 2013: My back had been extremely sore in the past few days and I was really getting annoyed. The muscle relaxant didn't help much at all. Finally I decided to call my PS. (I could have emailed her but I didn't as I have been a pain before the surgery emailing her over and over about the same questions...) Anyways, I didn't talk to her but talked to the nurse instead. The nurse told me that I should be able to stand straight by now and because I am so afraid to stand straight so I am so hunched over which causes the backache.... That kinda made sense as I had this tingling pain when I was trying to straighten myself. I also told her that I have been sleep upright for the last few nights and she said to sleep a little flatter night by night. I listened and started to lower my recliner for the past three nights. And I woke up on day 9 with no backache this morning! Yay!! I felt great and was running around doing errands all day... I am still very swollen and very tight and especially so now at night. However, today is definitely the turning point for me! Yay again!! My ps told me to keep the steri strip on till next visit, which is 7 days from today. I couldn't help but took a peek at the end of the incisions and I think I got a dog ear... i hope not!! can't wait to see my ps to confirm. I know dog ear can be easily fixed but I still don't want to go through the trouble. I also hope that my incision will look nice and straight... My BB is not a innie but an outie right now and I know what my ps is going to say :" Give it time" Anyways... hopefully everything will be fine!! Updated on 21 Apr 2013: Tummy had been hard and swollen for the last few days. Bb is so dark... I tend to have hyper pigmentation for the previous scars and it takes a long time for the color to fade. I still have hyper pigmentation from laser treatment on my stretch marks from two years ago. It will go away I'm sure but it will take a long time. Still can't get completely comfortable sleeping flat but no problem sleeping! Back is no longer sore but still hunched over at the end of the day. Over all pretty good considering it was a major surgery. I'm gonna go see my ps tomorrow and I hope she will tell me my BB looks ok... I always thought I would have a round deep bb.
