I had my septorhinoplasty surgery with Dr Fatah 3 months ago and waited to leave this review since the healing process takes a long time. I had a few other consultations prior to meeting Dr Fatah, however, when I had my initial consultation with Dr Fatah, I knew I did not need to look any further. After a lengthy conversation, Dr Fatah told me he would give me a more refined nose that will fit my face and that would not look fake - I did not need to hear anything else. My goal was to see a visible difference, but a very natural one at the same time. The day of the surgery I arrived at the centre, the nurse processed all my details, then I met with Dr Fatah, then off we went to the OR. The surgery itself was a breeze and everyone in the OR was absolutely amazing, caring and attentive. (keep in mind this was my first surgery ever and I am terrified of needles so the level of care was beyond my expectations). I had local anesthetic and sedation, I did not feel anything and I was sleeping for most of the surgery; I started to be aware towards the end of the surgery, but had no pain whatsoever, and when we left the OR I was fully awake. The surgery lasted around 3 hours and the aftercare was fantastic. After a couple of hours, I was sent home with a bag of painkillers, of which I took none. The recovery was very easy for me and went back to work 10 days later. I am now 3 months post-op and could not be happier with my result - a more refined, very natural looking nose, yet such a difference! Because the tip of the nose was lifted, my upper lip appears bigger so that is a bonus which Dr Fatah promised would happen. I also want to add that his assistant, Ruth, was always very prompt and helpful, very professional and no question was too much for her. I made the best decision in choosing Dr Fatah, he is an amazing surgeon, incredibly professional, with amazing bedside manner and calm demeanor, you will be in the best possible hands and cannot recommend him enough.
Very experienced surgeon 100 percent trustworthy, highly recommend for breast reduction, superb support team at Westbourne Centre, in my opinion there’s no one better. Operation carried out through sedation, you just sleep all the way through.
The usual, I’ve hated my nose since I was s teenager, I’m now 55! It has taken me this long due to either not having the money or not having a partner that would support me.ive noticed that as I’ve got older my nose has got worse and I’ve hated it even more, topped with losing fat in my face it made it look worse and my face very angular. All helping me feel old and ugly!
I'm a black female from the UK and decided to get my rhinoplasty done with Dr. Fazah Fatal in Birmingham, UK. He's a very respected surgeon, and I have not seen a bad word said against him on here or any other site. I had my consultation with him in late January and the following week booked my surgery for March 15th (which was yesterday.) At the consult, I asked him not to bring in the bridge too much. I also requested a subtle tip refinement and an alar base reduction. He told me he will give me a new nose to fit my face and not do anything to compromise the ethnic structure. This is all I needed to hear. I've seen reviews on here, where the doctor has tried to talk the patient into doing things they didn't want or ask for. In worse case scenarios, the doctor went ahead and did things during theater that the patient didn't consent to! I can assure you, Dr. Fatah is not like this at all. Yes, I asked for subtle, but he's worked on three areas of the nose so the changes will still be somewhat noticeable. I can already see it's smaller even with the cast on. As for how the procedure went, it went by so fast. I checked myself in at 9am, and by 10am I was already in theatre! They don't mess about over there! There was no complications during my procedure and it only lasted TWO hours. By 12:30pm I was eating and drinking. I was still a little drowsy from the sedation, but was still able to walk about unaided. I was dressed by 1:30pm. And by 2:30pm my mum arrived to take me home. So I was home by 3:00pm, just resting and taking my pain meds. I'll do another update tomorrow, but these are pics of my nose pre-surgery.
I have thought about this for decades (I am 60) but I can't deny that I am nervous. I have had other 'consultations' over the years but this time I am almost there ... I have a date and I am counting down. My fear of bleeding to death (!) doesn't seem likely ... I have watched several videos at a safe distances (without my glasses so that I don't see too much detail) and I have discounted that possibility. I have resolved my fear of a General Anaesthetic and found a surgeon in UK that uses Local + IV Sedation. So now I am left with the fear of having to deal with an infection and then wishing I could turn back the clock. All that said, I am just days away from the moment I can make a lifelong wish come true ... to have breasts in proportion with my 28/30 inch frame. I am currently a 30G and I went to look at 30D bras (they look tiny) so I am hoping to end up a 30DD/E. Does anyone know how I can get my pictures from an iphone onto this page ... I am so impressed by the courage of everyone going through this procedure and seeing your images has helped me know what to expect so thank you for that. Updated on 25 Jun 2014: I have just this weekend left to organise myself and everything I think I will need to make my life as easy as possible when I get home. I am a vegan and have doubled the amount of protein I am consuming so that my body is hopefully prepared for the healing process ... the surgeon who told the lady with an infection that it was because she was a vegetarian alarmed me ... so let's see how my diet pans out over the coming weeks ... perhaps I will be a meat-eater by the end of July! I am working on the images so that I can see my progress over the coming months ... I have figured out how to upload them ... first I need to take some this week-end. Updated on 28 Jun 2014: I can't believe that this time next week I will have had my operation. Thank you to everyone on this site for sharing their story ... it has been a huge help when I have felt insecure about moving forward. I am (nervously) about to start new chapter in my book. This is how I look as a 30G and I can't imaging how I will look or feel this time next week ... I have been told I will not be removing my bandages for one week so we'll have to wait and see. Updated on 1 Jul 2014: It has taken 2 months of practice to sleep on my back (I am a side sleeper) and this morning, when I woke up, I was still on my back ... although I had a crick in my neck. My little suitcase is packed along with a soft pillow for the drive back. This evening I will go to my Tai Chi lesson and pretend everything is normal despite the flutters I feel inside ... perhaps it will help. As a vegan I have prepared as best I can to get my protein levels up and hope I have done enough to carry me through the healing process. I will let you know how I am doing ... all the best until I resurface. Updated on 4 Jul 2014: Having spend two months preparing for this moment (health-wise) I woke up early, just before 5am, to drink a litre of water before 5:30 (to hydrate myself before the deadline) and shower with tea-tree (give me something to do). I arrived with a friend (from Bristol) half at hour early thinking I would wait in the Reception area (feeling anxious) but I was immediately invited to the surgical wing of the Centre where I changed into my gown and was given pair of disposal knickers (what I think Americans call panties) to wear ... not the sexiest pair I have worn in my lifetime. My usually low blood pressure was taken (not surprisingly it was high) and I met with the anaesthetist who talked over my medical history (I am hypo-thyroid and take thyroxin) and my concerns (getting cold during surgery that I was assured would not happen). Mr Fatah came to see me and mark me up me ... I was naturally very anxious but knew I was happy with the decision I had made, the preparations I had taken and that it was time to stop thinking about it and do it. I chose Mr Fatah because I wanted to avoid a General Anaesthetic ... I am 61 this September and, having lost my mother to dementia a few years’ ago, I wanted to reduce the risks of surgery as best I could but still go ahead and do this. I spent months researching the possibility of the procedure being performed in UK with local anaesthetic and IV sedation (it seems common in USA) and was about to give up before I found Mr Fatah. What followed next was an extraordinary day. I walked into the theatre (wish I had remembered to pack my slippers) and everyone introduced themselves and told me what they would be doing ... I was surprised to see so many people all dressed for the occasion with (surgical) gloves and hats. I had watched several breast reduction operations on You Tube (without my glasses so that I did not see too much detail) so I knew what was going to happen i.e. my arms were lightly secured so that I did not waive them around, my body was kept warm, my lower legs were put in cuffs to maintain good circulation, the cannula was put in my hand (never realized they are plastic), a blue screen was put across the upper part of my chest and an oxygen mask was put over my nose to maintain the oxygen levels in my blood. There was a cool sensation in my hand and I drifted away ... it was like peacefully falling asleep. For the next 3hrs (just over) I felt absolutely no pain in my breasts and, during the operation, felt comforted by the fact that I was sometimes just conscious enough to know that I was surrounded by a team of people that there to take care of me. I remember telling them about my blog, asking (more than once) how much longer it was going to take as if I was impatiently waiting for a bus, asking if I could to stretch/move my arms and legs a little and if someone would scratch my nose ... all the time feeling no pain or awareness of the life-changing procedure that was happening under my nose on the other side of a blue screen. The last time I asked how much longer he would be (!) I remember Mr Fatah saying 20mins and then it was suddenly over. The screen was removed and I was asked if I wanted to see but I was too sleepy to focus although I remember watching Mr Fatah putting strips of white (rubber) fabric across my newly re-formed breasts (see photo). I will see them in one week’s time when the fabric comes off and that will give me time to get used to my very different profile. I was carefully moved onto a trolley and must have fallen asleep again as the next moment I was in the recovery area being offered a drink. I remember being amazed, looking down, at the size of my breasts and how high they were ... just like those actresses in period dramas that I have often looked at and wondered how come they have such high breasts until they get older and then they have what can only be described as an ‘ample bosom’ in the words of their era. Before leaving I had a blood thinning injection ... I was resistant but understood it was a precaution because I am over 60, hypo-thyroid and had just had an operation that lasted just over 3 hours. I also had to put on a pair of compression socks (but now hidden under a pair of jeans) and given a number to ring at any time (day or night) if I had any concerns. I have not as yet used it. I walked into the Centre at 08:30 and walked out, pain-free, at around 2:15pm ... I kept saying it at the time but ... it was an extraordinary experience that flowed seamlessly. For the rest of the day I was totally alert and stayed overnight in a nearby hotel where I rested in bed and someone called me around 7pm to check I was OK. At 11pm I decided it was time to go to sleep although I don’t know how I managed to sleep propped up ... but I did. I have to admit that I did not take any pain medication until 11pm because I was curious to see how painful it would be when the anaesthetic wore off (call me stupid) however ... I was surprised that I felt only discomfort and not what I would call pain. That said, I decided just to take 1 x 500mg paracetamol to take the edge off any discomfort before I switched off the light and went to sleep, still gazing down at my miracle of the day. Now I am hoping for a healthy recovery ... Updated on 4 Jul 2014: I slept well enough despite being semi propped up with several pillows and was grateful that I had a friend with me who kept admiring the difference although I am not sure who was more impressed ... him or me. We took turns to say 'how amazing' and 'what a fabulous sight'. I had to agree that I do not know why I did not do it sooner but everything has its time and it is a big decision to take even when we are ready to take it. I am grateful that I will have small boobs for the rest of my years and it was the blog of a lady in her 70s that finally tipped the balance for me and gave me the last bit of encouragement I needed to move ahead ... I thought if she can do it in her 70s then I can do it in my 60s. I went back to the Centre for a check up in the morning and my nipples are pink (good blood flow) so we drove back to Bristol (me with a pillow across my chest under the seat belt). I had a headache that persisted all day so I took four more 500mg paracetamols during the day and drank a lot of water. The moment I got home I prepared a fresh juice (celery, cucumber, beetroot, raw turmeric, ginger and lemon). I usually juice every day and miss it when I don't. I am talking a high dose probiotic as I had IV antibiotics. I rub lavender oil and tea tree oil into the souls of my feet because it smells nice and I like nice smells. Otherwise, I have not been in any pain although I am conscious of all sorts of feelings going through my breasts ... the right one more than the left one and I figure that is because I am right handed so I am trying to use my left hand more i.e. turn on taps, flush the loo etc. The feelings range from pins and needles, to short sharp stabs and all over tingles ... all very manageable. I notice them most when I move around i.e. stand after sitting or sit after standing however I have decided I prefer to move around as much as I can without tiring myself. I do Chi Kung (a form of Tai Chi) so my legs are strong for squatting down to pick things up (without bending over) or I use my toes. All in all I had a good day considering what I have just put my body through. Still wishing my self a problem-free recovery ... Updated on 4 Jul 2014: I did not sleep so well propped up and ended up with stiffness in my lower back. So I got up at 5am and moved myself downstairs to try propping myself up on the sofa. After a while the stiffness left me as has the headache from yesterday. I have not taken any painkillers to-day and am sitting here with my juice (same old - celery, cucumber, beetroot, raw turmeric, raw ginger and lemon). I am annoyed that I have not been to the toilet today (sorry for the detail) but I am taking my probiotics to move things along. I am a vegan so it is not for shortage of vegetables. To-day I am resting, typing this to occupy my mind and catch up with the days, watching the men's semi-finals at Wimbledon and routing for Federer now that Nadal has gone (or I would be routing for him). I am still in my PJs and don't plan to venture out for a couple of days. I want to have my hair washed on Monday and my next task is to ring and organise that as I don't think I will attempt to do it myself. There is a salon about 200m from me so not far to walk. I am babbling ... I can’t believe how normal I feel within the restriction of not wanting to push myself. I had not appreciated how long the operation would take and I am filled with admiration for Mr Fatah and his team ... and of course ... myself. I forgot to add that when I first met Mr Fatah he asked me if I thought my boobs were the same size and it never occurred to me that they were not. But, when I stood in front of the mirror I realized one was slightly bigger than the other. He removed (if I remember rightly) 285gms from one side and 235gms from the other ... enough to make a huge difference on my tiny frame. Otherwise, as ever, wishing for no complications ... one day at a time. Updated on 5 Jul 2014: I do not sleep well 'propped up' and am going to give up tonight and lay flat with just a few cushions ... I now wish I had bought one of those wedge cushions that I was looking at some weeks' ago but could not quite make a decision about. Because I had to have a blood thinning injection after the operation I am aware of the extra risk, however great or small, of a localized blood clot (hematoma) so this morning I decided my right breast has swelled up bigger than my left although I am not in pain and I would expect it to be throbbing if so. It is so difficult to tell as I know that inflammation is part of the healing process and each of my breasts will go through its own process independently of the other. Anyway, for my own peace of mind, I rang the nurse at the Westbourne Centre (I have a 24hrs number) and sent some photos that she showed to Mr Fatah who expressed no current concerns. I don't want to obsess (easy to do) so I will check every morning and evening to see how it goes over the next few days ... my follow-up appointment is on Wednesday (my next milestone). Otherwise, yesterday the bruise is came out where the cannula went in and it is much reduced over-night ... I imagine my boobs look similar underneath the dressing. Remarkable that it was only three days ago ... Updated on 6 Jul 2014: I just had my best nights’ sleep and what a difference it makes. In the end I decided to sleep on the sofa that has sloping ends and I slept like a rock from 10pm to 1am when I woke up and spontaneously had a hot flush that left the back of my next dripping with sweat. It is not something that usually happens to me so I decided my body wanted to get rid of something and went back to sleep until this morning when I forced myself to get up around 8am as I was starting to feel stiff. I am not used to being so inactive for long periods of time ... I decided to put on a wash and found, in the basket, the 30G bra I last wore. I held it up, looked down, and put it up against my breasts. I would need thick winter woollen socks to fill it out now and that put a big smile on my face. I remembered how, when I was a child, my friends and I used to joke about putting socks down our fronts to pad ourselves out and look more grown up ... little knowing that when our breasts did start growing they would never stop! My breasts, under the strapping, look their normal newly formed size with no additional swelling. The sensations continue ... sharp little stabs, tingling and shooting feelings. Pain to-day, on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being high, I would rate as a 1. I only took one 500mg paracetamol yesterday before I went to sleep. However, I know my mind and body have been through a huge trauma and it is still early days ... so one day at a time. Updated on 7 Jul 2014: I am getting nervous of the bandage being removed on Wednesday. I have appreciated it being there because it is really robust (like a rubber casing) and I haven’t been fussing over scars and worrying if I was taking best care of wounds. I know what to expect, thanks to all your photos, however I anticipate feeling really emotional when I see my own scars for the first time. That said, no one seems to have had an issue with that side of things and we all know it’s part of the deal. 2 days to go before I see my scars ... Updated on 9 Jul 2014: I am relieved to get the bandages off as I can see where they have been digging in and aggravating the skin underneath my breasts. I expected them to be yellow and bruised but they are not, However, at the moment, they look better clothed than undressed and look odd, swollen and a bit lop-sided ... but I will give them overnight to settle before and then take some photos. Not sure how I feel about them at the moment ... Updated on 10 Jul 2014: After all the excitement yesterday of travelling to Birmingham and having the bandages taken off, I woke up at 3am and was not sure whether I should be having a panic attack or not. I know that sounds weird but seeing my breast for the first time was a shock because my immediate reaction was that I do not like the way they look. After being compressed under a bandage for a week in July (hot and sweaty) there was no bruising on my breasts (surprised me) but purple bruising underneath on my ribcage where the bandage had been digging in. They are as solid as a rock (also surprised me) and swollen (not a surprise); quite flat along the bottom and different from each other. I was nervous of showering so I sat in a shallow bath. To-day I felt more confident and took a shower with my back to the power shower head so that I did not blast off the steri-strips. They still look very weird to me and I will have to trust that time and gravity will do its thing and make them more rounded and less boxy as the swelling goes down. It is taking me time to want to look at them ... On the plus side I feel increasingly energetic and walked up to the allotment to pick sweet peas that smell divine ... Updated on 11 Jul 2014: I never used to wake up in the night and last night I managed to sleep until 2:30am before walking up. I have decided it is because I am mostly stuck in one position (on my back) and my body starts to ache so the best solution is to get up, move around, make a cup of tea and settle back down again for the rest of the night. I can't wait to be able to lie on my side and move around in my sleep as it should make a big difference to how I feel when I get up in the morning. Yesterday I found that the most comfortable bras I have are some old 32FF sports bras (one size bigger than my 30G day bras to enable me to exercise). But my frame must be swollen as I had to make two one inch cuts in the bands to be able to breathe without feeling constricted ... I always hated that felling. The bras pretty much fit me perfectly, over a very fine silk camisole, so the amount of swelling must be almost equal to the amount of the reduction (285gms and 235gms) Naked, my breasts sit much higher on my body but, rather than being longer, appear shorter and wider with a flat bottom. I understand these are early days, what is important is the end result and that they will start to change over the coming weeks and months. I now I will look back thinking it was so worth it as I did not enter into this with my eyes closed ... it is the 'in between time' it takes to get there. Updated on 11 Jul 2014: I ordered some Royce front fastening Post Surgery bras as it is easier than doing up a back fastening sports bra and twirling it around, especially with damp skin after a shower. My rib cage has definitely swollen (unexpected). I tried on the Royce bra a month ago and the 32 (smallest band width they do) fitted perfectly without stretching ... now it is tight but I think the 34 will go baggy. The 32F fits me best (largest cup size they do!) so it will be interesting to see what happens when the rock hard swelling goes down. I am hoping to realistically reduce from a 30G to a 30E i.e. at least two full sizes or it is not worth going through this. Updated on 12 Jul 2014: I found the past few days really stressful but am feeling more relaxed. It was a shock seeing my scars and shape for the first time (they have looked the same for decades) and I was very nervous of looking after the incisions. I am now comfortable taking a shower (sounds daft) and my breasts are starting to soften (a little). I still have dark bruising under my right breast where I think the compression bandage was digging in and my right rib cage is still sore on the same side. My tummy is swollen (bloated) so I think the best thing for me is to walk although I look forward to being able to go swimming ... does anyone have any idea how long I will have to wait to swim ... I know it will be a while. All said, I have not inspected the incisions and can't easily see the ones underneath, especially the one under my right breast that is sore. I have decided to go to my GP surgery next Wednesday to ask the nurse to take off the steri-strips and check the wounds are healing OK. With a much lighter step I am off to pick sweet peas and walk around the allotments ... my sister and I have two where we grow vegetables and flowers. Updated on 13 Jul 2014: This is the day when the compression bandage, that had been flattening my breasts for almost 7 days, came off. I was surprised by the lack of bruising on my breasts (for some reason I expected them to the yellow and purple all over) but was surprised by the amount of bruising underneath my breasts and to find that not only my breasts were rock-solid but that my rib-cage was also swollen. I concluded that the compression bandage had been digging into the skin and possibly the incision under my right breast. The glue on the bandage had also irritated the skin between my breasts and neck. Updated on 13 Jul 2014: When I took off my bra to shower yesterday evening there was a gunky smell coming from underneath my right breast (panic). I rang my 24hrs number (grateful to have one as these things never seem to happen at convenient times i.e. 9am-5pm week-day) and the nurse kindly stayed on the line whilst I (nervously) removed the steri-strips from underneath both breasts ... the strip from underneath my right breast smelt rancid (alarming). She told me to shower, dry the incisions with a hair dryer (at which point I found a bottle of colloidal silver and sprayed them figuring I had nothing to lose) and lightly dressed them with dry gauze (I had prepared a little box of things in case I needed them). I stayed up late to watch a really bad Bruce Willis movie (he doesn't do it for me) but it occupied my mind and then was wide awake at 3am so decided bathe both under-breast incisions in boiled salted water and go through the same procedure before going back to sleep (gave me something to focus on rather than just lie there). I have to ring the nurse again this afternoon to update her and decide if I should visit my GP surgery on Monday (I had already made an appointment for Wednesday) for them to check the incisions and see if I need antibiotics (hopefully not). This is how the steri-strip looked dug in underneath my right breast before I removed it (you can see the bruising still present on my rib cage) and how it all looks this morning. Hoping all will be OK with a little care and attention ... Updated on 13 Jul 2014: With the steri-strips off I had a much better day ... nothing digging in and aggravating me underneath my right breast ... it was like removing a thorn in my side. It is so difficult knowing what is a good stab and what is a bad one, if that makes sense, as I have no experience to draw on. I am glad that I have an acute sense of smell ... useful in knowing that my right breast did not smell right ... but they are much higher and closer to my nose now! I am bathing my boobs 3 times a day in boiled salty water with a couple of drops of tea tree and lavender added in before getting out the hairdryer to dry them off. A pair of very pampered breasts ... Updated on 16 Jul 2014: I have just been to the GP surgery and the nurse called in the doctor. They decided I am showing signs of an infected incision under my right breast; all other incisions are fine. She cleaned the wound and dressed it. I am on antibiotics for 7 days and back to have the dressings changed next Tuesday ... they will see me twice a week until the wound is healed. Fingers crossed it will be resolved quickly. Updated on 18 Jul 2014: This recovery process is far more stressful than I ever imagined. It would have been a breeze if my right breast had behaved like my left one. My left one is soft and healed with closed wounds. In contrast, my right breast is still bruised and my right rib cage is still sore to the touch; it is still as hard as a rock but hopefully, with the antibiotics that are giving me a headache, the incision underneath is healing. I realize it is only 16 days but it is not going according to plan and is starting to wear me down ... Updated on 21 Jul 2014: I have been able to sleep on my side these past two nights and what a difference that makes to a good night's sleep although I wake myself up at 12midnight and 6am to take antibiotics. After 5 days of antibiotics the incision under my right breast is far more comfortable under the dressing. The dressing comes off tomorrow so I will know more then. Meanwhile ... my left breast is doing great. Updated on 23 Jul 2014: I finished my week's course of antibiotics at 6am this morning ... glad that is over as my tummy is puffed up like a little balloon. Yesterday I had the dressing off righty and the nurse said it is much improved ... just waiting for the T junction to close up now ... she put on another dressing until Friday. The nurse was impressed with the stitch-work and said she wished she had the courage to do it ... how many women are there wishing they could take that first step? Meanwhile I am going to see Mr Fatah tomorrow (Thursday 24th July) for a check-up. The left breast is still the perfect patient ... the right one just needs to catch up Updated on 24 Jul 2014: I had an appointment with Mr Fatah to-day ... he is happy with the incision and left off the dressing. It is likely that I had a small bleed inside the right breast however, rather than opening up the incision, we will leave the body to deal with it and review again in a months' time. I am very happy with that decision and will start massaging both breasts using aromatherapy oils. Clearly both breasts are still swollen and the right one more so than the left one. BUT, and interestingly, he told me that I have Symmastia ... 'a rare condition in which the breasts come together at the centre of the chest and merge together in a weblike manner. Symmastia can be a congenital condition that is occurs from birth (as in my case) or can result from breast augmentation or other chest surgery. I was so amazed that I forgot to ask him if that was why surgery took much longer than I anticipated ... will ask him next time. However, looking at the images of before and now ... I can see that my breast are further apart than they used to be i.e. always have been. The things I have learnt about myself that I never knew before ... first that I had one breast bigger than the other and now that I was born with weblike breasts! Updated on 26 Jul 2014: I removed the micropore tape last night as my notes said to change it every 2-3 days. It did not peel off easily and, as it came off, it pulled out little black sutures around my nipples. Short panic (waiting to see if I fell apart or started bleeding - did not) and then I figured they must have dissolved under the skin so I was just pulling off the exposed tops. Did not expect that and had a few zingers but to-day I am good ... Updated on 29 Jul 2014: What a difference a few days can make. I started massaging 5days ago (Rosehip Oil with Lavender and Helichrysum Italicum) and I cannot believe how much my breasts have softened. The bruising has come out on my right breast and the space in between them ... that makes sense now that I know they are inter-webbed with no clear separation. I was nervous at first but have thrown caution to the wind (within reason) and am massaging them at least four times a day. My right breast still feels like it has a rock deep inside it but what an improvement ... suddenly I am feeling that I am on the home straight. And, I have finally started sleeping through the night ... two nights in a row now without waking up. Times like this are very uplifting ... SO GLAD I DID THIS in spite of the scary vulnerable moments. That said, they still look a bit odd to me (!) ... it will be interesting to look back in a month or two. Updated on 30 Jul 2014: It is now 4 weeks and this is how I look. The bruising on my right breast has almost gone. Both breasts, but particularly my right one, are very swollen on the inside bottom quarters. I am developing a little dog end at the end of the incision on my right breast as it drops; but not on the left side. I can't believe how differently they have responded to surgery. A big scab came off with the tapes to-day from the junction of my nipple and vertical line downwards on my right breast ... I guess they come off when they are ready leaving pink skin underneath. Both breasts feel heavy but they are softening with oil and massage - I am using rosehip oil with lavender and helycrysum essential oils. I don't think I will be going bra-less at the end of this story and I predict I will end up a 30DDD or UK 30E ... time will tell if I am right. That would put me back to the size I was in my 20s ... I have put on 7lbs since then and I guess one of those lbs went into my breasts. Isn't it strange how, for some of us, our breast just keep on growing ... Updated on 1 Aug 2014: I have realized there is a 6inch difference between the measurement under my breasts (28ins) and across my breasts (34ins) which means I won't be wearing strapping tops any time soon and I certainly won't be going out bra-less. My breasts are no longer a droopy shape but they are still very heavy so gravity can only pull them downwards over the next months and years. To demonstrate, I have put a fine silk cami underneath my Royce bra. How much of this could be swelling at 4 weeks post-op? Updated on 1 Aug 2014: For comparison ... my old 30G bra over my cami ... I would not get a sock down there! The difference, and this is weird ... I do not need to hoist up my breasts 'up' to get them into the bra ... they are sitting solid at a higher place on my body ... but I am not convinced they are significantly smaller ... if that makes sense. I hope, at 4 weeks, there is still a significant amount of swelling. Updated on 2 Aug 2014: I went to John Lewis to-day ... have not been to the shops for a month and have not missed them. I tried on bras from manufacturers I would have previously worn and I am a 30F across the board. Could not squeeze myself into a 30E (my ideal size) so I will just have to wait and see if the swelling takes me down over the next month or so. Good news is not that I can now wear a wider band (I will never have to wear a 28 again) as I do not need to haul myself up and into a bra ... but I guess strap indentations will remain a part of my life. 30F is an improvement on 30G but a 30E would be far better on me so fingers crossed ... Updated on 6 Aug 2014: This week has seen all the scabs around my nipple area fall off and this is the first picture sans paper tape. The paper tape makes my skin pucker up for some reason ... not sure that I am doing wrong. My breasts are still swollen and blotchy with dark bruising, white patches and red areas ... they are getting there ... slowly. I can still feel a hard lump inside the right breast that is developing a dog ear at the outer edge of the incision underneath where I have a small hard nodule that is painful to push ... could it be a knot at the end of the stitches? I have realized they look a much better shape if I put back my shoulders ... not something I am used to doing, but they still look very boxy to me at the moment ... see how they are in a couple of months' time. Good to remind myself how I looked 5 weeks' ago as it is easy to forget. I am amazed at the slow but steady changes that are happening every week at the moment ... Updated on 14 Aug 2014: It has been a surprising challenging week, which was unexpected. My incisions turned angry red and itchy, my breasts became heavy with sharp stabbing pains when I moved and I have had a lot of hot sweats. I have stopped the massage and am using a balm on the incisions to calm them down ... I noticed after a shower last night that they got redder so I will not get them wet for a few days. I am in fine spirits ... it was just an unexpected week and I could do without the hot sweats as they always happen at the worst times i.e. sitting in the dentist chair yesterday I turned bright red and apologised (why did I apologize?) that I was having a hot flush as I did not know what else to say! Updated on 15 Aug 2014: I suggest you post your review for an open discussion on whether women with large breasts want to sunbathe topless before or after a breast reduction. Updated on 17 Aug 2014: Everything has settled down and the sharp stabbing pains I experienced last week have gone ... I stopped massaging and will start again next week (gently this time). The incision areas are red (not unexpected) and the little dog-end is visible on the outside of my right breast (will talk to PS about that). I am convinced the nipple on my right breast is half an inch lower and facing a slightly different direction (perhaps not unusual) but it is really difficult to photograph it myself ... however it is clearly visible that there is less length from the nipple on one side to the bottom edge than on the other side. That said, the right breast is still swollen and sometimes uncomfortable when I am trying to get cosy. I am back to see Mr Fatah on 4th September so we will see how it looks by then. What most amazes me at the moment is that I figure my breasts have moved at least an inch up my body giving me an extra inch on my belly. I tried on a dress and figured that it did not suit me because my breasts are still so high ... that is a first. Updated on 28 Aug 2014: Can anyone explain to me why the tissue underneath my vertical incisions is so hard? Is it scar tissue along the line where the tissue is sewn tightly together? Does it eventually soften to feel like normal breast tissue? If so, does it take months or years? Or does it always remain hard? Updated on 4 Sep 2014: I travelled to Birmingham to-day for my 8week (or thereabouts) meeting with Mr Fatah and I feel positive about the way forward. It appears that scar tissue has formed inside my right breast, which is pulling down that breast and explains why it feels so tight when I lift up or swing my right arm out. Solution is that I go away for 8 months (in the nicest possible way) to see how it settles down. If not I will have a revision to cut out the (or any residual) scar tissue . I will also decide at that time if I want to go smaller by one more size or if I am happy with the final result. Would I go through it again? Sure I would if I decide I want to. Any suggestions for relieving the scar tissue in addition to lots of massage and stretching? I would start swimming every day but I don't like heavily chlorinated pools as they make my skin dry and itchy. Updated on 21 Sep 2014: I can't believe I am suddenly almost 12weeks post-op and , that aside, I am now 61years old as of last week! My right breast continues to be a pain and I spend time each day doing the 'Usain Bolt pose' in an attempt to stretch the scar tissue that is still really tight ... when I try to stretch it through massage it just aches. Otherwise, yesterday, I was in John Lewis and asked one of the ladies to fit me for a bra ... we ended up agreeing that I am a 30F (despite my trying to squeeze myself into a 30E without success) and so, at the moment, my reduction is from 30G to a 30F despite over 3hrs of surgery and the removal of 285/235gms ... I still can't figure that out. I would love to have gone that extra size as I still feel big on my 30inch frame when I look down. My bra size has not changed in the past 8 weeks (from a 30F at 4 weeks post-op) so I figure my breasts are not going to get smaller without further human intervention. I have been wondering if liposuction in one year's time would take me down a size rather than further surgery. However, that is all a long way off and I have plenty of time to consider my options then if and when I have to have scar revision surgery. Right now I am packing up my home to move into a new house in October ... plenty to occupy myself with for the time being. Updated on 19 Oct 2014: As the weeks have passed my breasts have become less of a focus in my life and, as odd as I still think they look, I am so glad I went ahead (after years of thinking about it) and had the reduction ... it has truly been worth it. My only regret is that I have only reduced from a 30G to a 30F so I feel that I still have large breasts for my frame. That said, they are higher, better proportioned and far more comfortable to live with. I don't believe they will get any smaller and I would like to have been a 30E. In the past month my right breast has really softened and the rock solid areas are slowly growing smaller; my left breast did not have any healing issues and was the ideal patient. The scars are slowly fading and I have been careful to oil the incisions twice a day. The jury is still out on whether I would decide to have revision surgery to make them another size smaller and that is next year's decision. Updated on 1 Feb 2015: I can't believe it is 6 months since the op and this is how my boobs look now. I am really pleased and have to look at an old photo to remember how they were this time last year ... the mind quickly forgets. When I stand in front of a mirror and scrutinize them, one nipple is higher (or lower) than the other however, but even so, I am really happy that I went ahead with the reduction. Despite the fact that I think (must check as I have not done so for a while and have not yet returned to wired bras) I only reduced from a 30G to a 30F it has made a huge difference in my life ... clothes fit me better, I confidently put my shoulders back and I feel so much 'lighter'. If I did it over I would not panic (easy for me) like I did when I first saw myself after surgery and I would feel confident that time would heal my body ... and in a relative short time. Not sure what can be done, if anything, about one nipple being higher/lower than the other and the odd thing is that it only shows when I stand up ... when I lie down they look more balance. However I will see Mr Fatah in April and talk to him then. All the best to everyone planning or about to have surgery ... it is something I will never regret. Updated on 1 Mar 2015: I bought my first (post-op) underwired bra this week. The fitter wanted to put me in a 30E ... yeah!. I realize size is just a number but, even so, I have finally got down to a 30E as the internal swelling has gone down ... can't believe it has taken eight months and just goes to show they are right when they say it can take up to a year for the final shape to reveal itself. After decades of feeling 'encased' and these past months of not wanting/needing to undo my bra in the evening to be able to relax and breathe, I went for a 32DD. It is a very long time since I fitted into a 32DD and not having to hoist myself up and into a bra is a liberating feeling that makes me feel really good about myself. The scars, at 8 months, are turning into fine white lines (magnified many times in the image) and that, for me, is a small price to pay for the difference this procedure has made in my life; I do however wonder how I would feel if I was half the age I am and I don't know the answer to that question. For the greater self-confidence I believe it would have given me, I wish I had had the courage to go for it sooner but ... heyy ... 'better late than never' and I am so glad I created and grabbed the opportunity when I did. Looking back over the past eight months I don't know why I panicked along the way, especially in the first weeks months after the operation, however I cannot now express how pleased I am with the (almost final) outcome ... I guess I will have to wait the full year for my 'final' judgement of the outcome! Updated on 30 Jun 2015: I can't believe it has been a year and I am so thankful that I found Mr Fatah and made the decision to go ahead with the BR. It has changed how I feel about myself more than I can tell you - just a couple of weeks ago, on holiday, I realized how comfortable I now am in the heat and how much more confident I feel about myself. I guess this will be my last post and all the best to all of you starting out on this path to feeling great about ourselves. Here are the pictures, to remind myself, of before and one year on. Updated on 18 Jul 2016: I thought I would write one last review and it is two years this month since I had my breast reduction. Looking back through the images it is really interesting to see how my breasts have dropped into looking a more natural shape. I am really glad that I had a breast reduction. It has made such a big difference to my life and my confidence ... would do it all again in a flash. All the best to everyone out there going through the same process.
I haf my implants removed today after 7 years. I had 350, over the muscle. Started feeling really scared after the pip scandel and was worried for my health. I didnt have pips but realised how damaging implants can be on our bodies. i feel ok,procedure was simple, im home and feeling fine, i had just sedation and local. Was awake and eating my lunch within an hour. Not too much pain, just a bit achey. I am really active and have a 1 year old and it was totally the right time to be back to my self and implant free. I had them put in following an unhappy relationship. Wish i would of met my now husband sooner! I would of never had them put in,in the first place! Just want to encourage you all , if you feel that its right to go ahead and remove them, do it!! I didnt take a before photo but ill post some after ones soon when i feel brighter x Updated on 14 May 2014: Had my dressings off today and my breasts look really sad. They are tiny, which im not worried about but they just look really deflated. Does anyone know if they will fluff up at all? It seems they are really deflated at the top and a bit concave. I feel like i want to cry and that i look terrible. Did i do the right thing in having them removed? I cannot beleive i thought breast implants were a good idea. I hope and pray that in time they will look better...can anyone offer any advice? X Updated on 17 May 2014: So im on the 9th day after surgery. Feeling a bit up and down really but im sure that they are changing and fluffing a teeny bit and i think the skin might be improving a bit. Ive started applying bio oil all over twice a day but not yet to the scars, doctor said to wait until next week for that. Wearing sports bras all the time to for support and hopefully encouraging everything back in to the right place. Things arent too bad really, just the upper poles are a bit indented.....do you think they will fill out? Can anyone see from the photo if they think there is good potential for fluffing? This is the first photo i have taken today, i was too scared before now. Its hars to see improvement from day 1 without photos but im sure its there... X Updated on 19 May 2014: I LOVE exersize and its driving me mad just sitting here. When can i exersize, even just something light or yoga? X Updated on 20 May 2014: Feeling really good and positive about things. I think i am starting to shape up ok already.....its early days and i have to remember how much my body has been through. Bought 2 nice sports bras from M & S today which are so comfy and supportive. Also got 2 pretty bras for later on without wiring. Felt really good to buy nice pretty bras. Heres another photo....not sure if you can actually see much difference here but ive added it anyway. X Updated on 20 May 2014: Updated on 20 May 2014: Just realised how awful they look in the photos....its not as bad in real life .... Updated on 25 May 2014: Just wanted to let you all know that i am feeling really good, i went to the gym twice this last week, just for 40mins and just did some lower body stuff and no running, but its a start. Also, the way my breasts look now is astonishing, i cant beleive how well they have healed. They look pretty much jow they looked before already, the skin has retracted and they have fluffed lots. I actually really like the way they look and i cant wait to wear a bikini.... I am amazed at what the body is able to do in terms of healing itself. Ive been drinking lots of water and green tea,eating well,massaging breasts with bio oil twice a day and wearing a good sports bra around the clock. Hope everyone is well, if you are deciding whether to explant, i say go for it! X Updated on 3 Jul 2014: Ive been signed off by my surgeon. Feeling great.....so so happy. I have now got the pre and post operative photos that my PS took....the pre op ones shocked me. I cannot believe that was me!! Here they are anyway, thought they might be usefull for you all to see x
After I found out I had PIP breast implants I decided to have them removed without replacement. I had them implanted at age 18 and removed at age 27, so had them in for a total of 9 years. They were 330s over I think! I feel happy with my decision especially considering the new research just released in regards to implants affecting mammograms and woman with implants are 40% more likely to die if diagnosed as it found later. I have two children both whom I breast feed for 6 months each. I was and am a 34 A and went up to a large C. I had my implants removed under local at the Westbourne clinic in Birmingham. A great clinic and Dr. Overall I am happy. They're not perfect and I'm considering trying Brava or having an uplift. But I don't want implants!
I had a number of appointments with the provider over a number of months to determine what my options were and also to discuss what I required. In this respect Dr Fatah was good. I requested a conservative, but even distribution of fat in the areas I perceived it to be lost (upper cheek mainly) My goal.......to look like I did just a year previously. Photographs were shown. Unfortunately, despite feeling before surgery we were singing from the same hymn sheet, Dr Fatah concentrated fat higher up on my right side as he believed it required more there. This was done whilst I was sedated and therefore without discussion. After the procedure my right side was very different to my left, it swung out more and the apex of the cheek looked a lot higher. There was also a lump near my orbital rim close to my nose. The disproportionate affect did not diminish significantly after the swelling abated. When I returned for a check up and discussed the issues Dr Fatah said my right cheek was slightly bigger to start, I just hadn't noticed it as likely 'looked as closely before. I can appreciate the logic but would imagine he would add less fat to that side if this was the case, when in fact he added slightly more. The slight lump meant that the area adjacent looked like a dip. Dr Fatah advised a small amount of fat dotted into the dip would disguise the lump. This repair has left me with the original small lump and now a much more noticable and unnatural looking bulge on top of my orbital bone. In short I now have one side of my face larger than the other at the top of the cheek, an irregular lumpy area and a bulge on and just above my orbital rim giving a strange under eye shape. Rather than apologise and offer further treatment or refund I was told I would just have to live with it. In fact, when I requested a partial refund to pay for consults with other surgeons It was refused. I am stuck now as of course any procedures to try to correct the problem are risky. Other surgeons do not want to take this on without adding considerable high costs or other procedures on top. I was hoping to try low level laser treatment in the area to reduce the fat but again, clinics are only willing to try this on the stomach and thighs. I don't blame them. I am so self concious of my lop sided face it affects me when meeting new people or attempting relationships. I try very hard not to dwell on it and get on with my life but putting make up on or even rubbing my eyes and feeling the lumps are a daily reminder. I would just like to look normal and look like me. For anyone else considering this surgery my experience suggests the Dr Fatah may be an able surgeon but an aesthetic eye he certainly does not have. If you wish to be charged a large fee even if your procedure is a failure then try Westbourne. If, on the off chance someone can recommend anything I can try to reduce the misplaced fat then I would love to hear from you. Many thanks.
Splint comes off tomorrow. I'm both nervous and excited. I will be able to wash my face properly instead of using baby wipes! I think it would be nice to finally get out the house, and do some shopping. I've been holed up for an entire week now. Updated on 2 Apr 2017: It's been almost 3 weeks since surgery. Well, two weeks and 5 days to be exact. Last week, I went back to work and everything was fine. Only two of my work colleagues know I had it done, and say the swelling is hardly noticeable. I waited a week before returning to work after splint removal. I was a little disheartened when the splint came off, but the swelling in my tip has gone down significantly. The bridge looks really nice, and I'm really starting to love my results. I can't wait to see how it looks when I wear full make-up. As of now, I was told to avoid wearing foundation, so I just wear lip gloss. I'll have some photos up soon. Updated on 10 Apr 2017: Sooooo, it's been a month since I've had my surgery. I am happy with how things are progressing. There is still some swelling in my tip, but I'm only 4 weeks in and it's only noticeable to me. I've had people say I look different and very pretty but no one has directly addressed my nose. So that's good! I've posted a comparison pic, and you can definitely see a change! Updated on 28 Apr 2017: I'm celebrating 6 weeks post op by sharing a photoshoot I did this week. I had my follow-up appointment with Dr. Fazel Fatah yesterday. He said I am healing very nicely, and my results are beautiful and very natural. This is what I asked for, as I did tell him I would not have liked it if my nose was too pinched (Jackson family-esque). I still wanted to keep the ethnic structure of my nose, and this was greatly achieved. He used my own cartilage to build my tip, but added none to the bridge. He told me all he did was bring in the bones closer together slightly. I was only in surgery for 2 hours and it went well. No complications. I told him the swelling in my tip isn't going down as fast as I would like it to, granted, a great deal has in deed gone down, but not enough. It doesn't look bad at all, but I'm just soooo impatient to see my final result! He actually squeezed my tip, and said the softness was coming back, and that my tip still being swollen is perfectly normal at 6 weeks. I don't even know why I raised this as an issue at just 6 weeks. I already know this prior to research. I already know that the tip takes the longest to go down especially on a thick skinned person like myself who had an OPEN procedure. But as I say, the waiting game is killing me slowly. Lol. Dr. Fatah said most of the swelling should subside in another 8 months. But as I approach the 2 month mark, my nose is becoming more and more refined week by week. Sometimes it's real swollen in the morning when I wake up and as the day progresses, the swelling goes down. Most people have cited 4 weeks where they started loving their results. For me, 6 weeks is definitely my turning point where I am actually seeing GLIMPSES of what my final result will look like. And I can't wait to see what my nose will look like at 2, 3 and 6 months. I've stopped taping my nose, because after a while it doesn't have an effect. I was doing the taping at night for 4 weeks. Now I just put a wet wipe underneath the cold water tap, and then dab my nose with it. Or just use it to cover my nose entirely. I do this for 15 minutes a day, and I think it's helping just a little. One more thing. I went to the gym last week, and by my standards I assumed I was taking it lightly. I didn't do weights. I stuck strictly to cardio and didn't push myself. OK, maybe I did a little but I was still holding back TREMENDOUSLY. I'm the type of person that thinks going to the gym is pointless if you're not prepared to sweat it out. Well anyway, after my work out, I came home and my nose had BALLOONED to epic proportions. I was WTF-ing at myself in the mirror completely gobsmacked. It took TWO days for my nose to go back to normal. So I mentioned this to the doc, and he told me I should wait a few more weeks to return to the gym. I will go back in a month's time. Overall, my nose is healing great and the right amount of swelling has gone down at 6 weeks. Apparently, my healing process is right on target. My next and last appointment is a few days before Christmas (December 21st.) I probably won't update for a while, but will definitely post a photo update once I get to the 3-month mark in June. Updated on 21 Jul 2017: Sooooo, I've just passed the FOUR month mark since having the surgery, and this is the result right now. I am very happy. There is still a bit of swelling in my tip, but it's been going down gradually. As my doctor told me in late April, it will take 8 months for the swelling in my tip to subside completely and that was 3 months ago. 5 more months to go! Updated on 30 Jul 2017: As I approach the 5 month mark, here's the latest outcome...
Hi, Firstly I am so grateful for finding this website. All of you women are amazing to have shared your experiences on here. You have all truly inspired me to make a decision and express what I am feeling at this moment in time. I am a 33 year old woman, I have one child who is 18 months old and has completely changed my life for the better :-) I have implants which are now 14 years old (gulp) under the muscle. I think they are 350cc (can't remember it was that long ago). I am 99% sure I want them out. I'm not sure why I had them in the first place if I'm honest. At the time I think I was slightly insecure, just wanted bigger breasts. I was of such a tiny frame. From the age of 15 I just knew I wouldn't have big breasts so in my mind I decided that I was going to have breast implants as soon as I could afford it. By the age of 19 I booked my surgery with transform medical group. I was determined to go ahead with surgery. My date finally arrived, I travelled from B'ham to Manchester! When I arrived I had conjunctivitis so the surgeon told me he could not go ahead. I was so gutted. At that point I actually was not going to have the implants. Anyway a Month later I decided that it was what I wanted... So here we are.... I had my consultation today with Dr Fatah at the Westbourne clinic, Birmingham. He was very understanding and helpful. I explained that there was nothing physically wrong with my implants, they look great but it's just not what I want anymore. As I've got older, had a child my prospective on life has completely changed. I don't want to have these great big heavy balls on my chest anymore. I honestly feel like I look ridiculous with them. All of my friends and family know I have them. Although a lot of people understand and accept me for having them I still feel like people just stare at me or talk about me behind my back because I have implants. I sometimes can't help but get paranoid that people only know me as 'the boob job girl' ha. Although I shouldn't let it bother me, it really does ... Sometimes. Anyway I was watching an American reality tv show called 'wives of orange county' or something like that. There was a woman on there called Tamra. She is in her 40's absolutely stunning and she had these humongous breast implants. I remembered looking at her and thinking, I wonder if she is truly happy having breasts that big and so high on her chest knowing that is all you can see. I don't judge anyone who has had implants, I have! It's just I can't help but notice how much society has changed, I notice people striving for this look of perfection. So long story short, she decided to have her implants removed. Omg I could not believe how amazing she looks now au- nat-ur-al. She really inspired me to look at myself and it made me think about my health and the reasons why I had them in the first place. So that's a little background about me. I am going to make a decision very soon. I'm usually quite a spontaneous person but regarding this I know I want to do it, I guess I am a little afraid of the way they will look after and how I will mentally cope with such a drastic change. I will keep you all updated on my progress. I know it's going to be an emotional and mental roller coaster but I'm sure this is what I want :-) I will upload some photos very soon when I am feeling braver. thanks for reading x
