I had my post op appointment today ( Mommy Makeover ) and I am so excited to say I couldn't be happier! Dr. Hein has been wonderful through this entire process and her staff is great! Everyone is always so friendly and helpful and Dr. Hein is truly caring and sincere. I am so glad I found her. Thank you Dr. Hein!
Hi everyone! I have never posted here before, but thought I should share my experience to hopefully help anyone considering what I did. :)) I am a mom to 2 children and due to pregnancy and nursing them a year each I had deflated breasts. I decided I wanted a lift and the doctor I used thought I should also have an implant to achieve fullness. I agreed. I was someone who exercised a lot and didn't think about the impact the implants would have on my life. I lived with DDD boobs for 10 years and didn't exercise the way I used to at all. I gained 20 pounds over those 10 years. I got saggy boobs again and hated the way my boobs looked. In March I went for a consultation and booked surgery that same afternoon. The doctor I chose was one referred to me by my GP. She was amazing. I will write more about that in a minute. I did research online, read a lot on this forum and was scared to go through with the surgery but I am SO GLAD that I did it! I am Day 4 post surgery, only taking extra strength Tylenol and want to see a movie this afternoon, at the theatre, not my living room :) I had my first shower yesterday morning and took the dressings off. I had a lift as well as an explant. The scars are very vivid but I know they will heal nicely because they did before. Not even thinking about that right now because I am SO happy about my little boobies! I have always been a D my whole life and I told the doctor that I wanted to be a large B or small C. It looks like I am! They are natural looking and I am so excited to see what they will look like after all the healing. I look like I have lost at least 10 pounds too. If you are considering this surgery, do not be afraid and follow your gut! It feels so good to be all natural! Updated on 5 Jun 2017: I continue to be happy with the decision of getting the implants removed and a lift. I am no longer taking anything for pain at all and am back to work (since day 7 post op) and other than no exercise, living pretty much the same as before. I go in 2 days for a 14 day post op check up and hope to get the tape and stitches off. I hope to be cleared for at least 2 mile walks. I also have lost 6 pounds since the operation, and I still have swelling in my breasts. I truly believe that my body was holding onto weight with the implants. When I had the surgery to put the implants in I only gained 3 pounds, that is why I truly believe my body did not react well to the implants and I am finally losing weight again! I will update after the appointment this week. Again, if you are considering this procedure, I would highly recommend and encourage you to take the leap and get your natural self back!
I am a 40 yr old Mom of 3 who breast fed way too long ! 4 doctors said I was so saggy I needed a lift but as a mammographer I knew at my age I would probably getting a revision in 10 years and would cross that bridge later .Finally got my silocone implants from the amazing Dr. Hein . She was the only one to listen to me that I did not want a lift even though I probably needed one . I will in the future ,but for now , as a mammographer I personally do not want the scars at my age . Updated on 16 May 2017: Updated on 21 May 2017: Updated on 27 May 2017: Here are some pics a month later , and a pic of the scar . Just about pain free at this point Updated on 1 Jun 2017: Times flies ! No more zingers or weird shooting pains. Officially sleeping on side , and only in compression during the day Updated on 17 Jun 2017: Updated on 18 Jun 2017:
I went to the Framingham location. Everyone was really friendly and nice. The office was really clean and professional. I had Kybella treatment done. All my questions were answered, I did not feel rushed at all. I felt very comfortable being there. The staff was amazing!
As I aged my upper eyelids got very heavy. I noticed that my peripheral vision was becoming bad . I saw the eye doctor and they did a visual field test . I failed that. Next I went to a plastic surgeon . She told me blepharoplasty would help that. The insurance covered the upper eye surgery. I decided to have my lower lids done at the same time. My lower lids looked puffy all the time. I opted for general anesthesia and the doctor was ok with that. I had to pay for the lower eyes to be tightened up. My surgery went as I expected. I did a lot of research on this before the surgery. There was no pain , just a tightness and gritty dry eyes. I saw the doctor to have the stitches out on day 6. At that time I told the doctor that my lower eyelids were droopy. She said that may get better with time. It has gotten somewhat better but is still there. I use makeup to hide it though. The doctor said I could go back in to surgery and fix that. It would be putting a stich in to the corner od my lower lids and stitch that to the temple area. She also stated that it would change the shape of my eye and she didn't think it would look good on me. She also said mine is mild. At this point I don't think I will go through it since the surgery I wear eye makeup when ever I go out to hide the drooping area. Most people said they can not see that. Maybe I am too fussy. My incisions on the upper eyelids are still very sore .All in all I am happy on my decision to have had the surgery done. I can see much better too Updated on 5 Jan 2016: I am 3 and a half months post op. Every week I see a change in my eyes . My right eye seems bigger than the left .? I noticed that before surgery one eye was bigger than the other and thought It would be corrected during surgery. Was that possible? Also earlier on I thought my under eyes looked hollow. Now that more of the healing has happened , I don't see that anymore. Updated on 5 Jan 2016: Updated on 10 Jan 2016: I need opinions as well as the doctors. I feel as though my lower lids are droopy since my upper and lower blepharoplasty in September of 2015. 3 1/2 months ago. My doctor said they are slightly droopy and that could be fixed. I am not sure if they are drooping enough to go through another surgery. My previous pictures I was wearing makeup and it was difficult to tell. Here are pictures with make up and without so you can get a better idea. Updated on 15 Jan 2016: I nee opinions on my lower lids since I have had upper and lower blepharoplasty in September of 2015. I feel that my lower lids are drooping and hollow looking under eyes. I talked to my doctor about this and she said I had a slight droop in the lower eye lids . I don't know if it is me just making more out of it than it really is or if it is really noticeable . When I wear makeup I am able to hide it as you can see. Updated on 20 Mar 2016: It has been 6 months since my upper and lower eyelid surgery. I can see so much better now and am happy with the results. My only concern is the hollowness under my eyes. I am going to get filler put in that area when I see my doctor again. Updated on 10 Aug 2016: It has been 10 months since my upper and lower blepharoplasty. My lower lid droop has gotten better with time. The dryness in the eyes has also gotten a lot better. Every now and then my eyes dry out and I have to use eye drops. I am happy with the results except for the hollowness under my eyes. My doctor said I need fillers for that. I can not afford that so it looks like I am stuck with them the way they are. In general my eyes look better now than before the surgery. They look more open and youthful. Updated on 3 Jan 2017: It has been 1 year since my eyelid surgery I am happy with the upper lids but not happy with the lower lids, I have hollowness under my eyes . In the future I would like to have a filler put in the tear through area. For now I try to hide it with makeup. Since the surgery my vision is much better. I feel that the heaviness of my upper lids were affecting my vision. Updated on 25 Jan 2017: 1 year ago I had upper and lower bleph. The upper lids came out very nice but under my eyes look hollow. It makes me look old. I didn't have that before the surgery. My doctor suggested having a filler put in the tear through area. I told her I can not afford to have that done because I am disabled and can only work 2 days a week. She was understanding and said she would only charge me what she pays for the filler. So I am going to save up for it to be done. Can anyone tell me what fillers they have had in the tear through area and how your results were.?
I loved Dr heins professionalism, experience, honesty and over all procedure was great! Everything came out exactly as we had discussed and couldn't be happier! i had lost a lot of weight and going from an almost D cup to an A cup my breast were very deflated and saggy I had contemplated a lift and an augmentation but after discussing it with dr hein we had gone with the under the muscle saline implants. I had gone to quite a few plastic surgeons in and around the area and she was the kindest and most honest of them all not to mention very reasonably priced! Doctor hein was always very courteous and a-tentative to all of my needs and questions I will def be going to her for any possible future needs ;) -photos to be updated later
Since I was young, I have been large-chested. At first, I didn't really know what to do with it. Today, I know what to do with it, but I have too much to do WITH. In the past year, I've experienced chronic back, neck and shoulder pain. Other parts of my body suffer as well. I have felt fatigued, not wanted to exercise, and generally cranky. Anyone who hasn't experienced chronic pain is very, very fortunate... and for those that have, I am so sorry for what you go through daily. ?? Back in 2007-8, I tried to initiate the breast reduction insurance approval process. Actually, I saw the exact same surgeon then! With Aetna as my insurance provider, I was advised that I probably wouldn't be approved the first time around, and would need to appeal. I was denied, and appealed, and was denied again. I moved to Oregon about a year later, and didn't pursue a reduction while I was there. Back in MA at 31, I'm ready to get on with my life. I can't remember life without giant breasts. Being very wide-set with low nipples, I'm often irritated or over-sensitized when I go braless. Bras from Elomi, Curvy Kate and others that serve the J cup market charge $60+, and never go on sale. Updated on 28 Oct 2016: I wanted to put this through as a separate update: I was approved by MassHealth yesterday, on the first shot! So much better than Aetna back in 2007. The pre-op has been scheduled for November 7, with the pre-op phone screen on the 13th. Surgery happens on the 16th, AKA the first day of my new life!! I've been reading a LOT of articles and reviews on RealSelf, and I am admittedly concerned about things like infections and other complications. Recently, I had a ganglion cyst removed from my wrist under local anesthetic, and the scar is barely visible now, thanks to a vigorous regimen of tea tree oil and cannabis coconut oil (medical cannabis is legal in MA, and I am a cardholder!). My ortho surgeon was floored at how great the scar looked, and I even find myself occasionally admiring it! So if that's any indication, I think that I will heal successfully, and need to stay positive about that end. If complications happen, so be it. I have good support and help. Things will be okay. :) T-minus 18 days! :D So excited!!! Updated on 2 Nov 2016: The top-left is me pre-surgery, the rest are wish pics. Think I could attain this? Going to show it to my PS at our pre-op appointment on the 7th. Updated on 7 Nov 2016: I'm so so so excited. Tomorrow is my pre-op appointment. I received my packet in the mail from the hospital two days ago, with directions on what to do in preparation for my surgery, what to expect, etc etc. I am going to show Dr. Hein my photos, and see if that would be an attainable goal for shape and size. I'm also going to ask about a particularly startling negative review I found on here, claiming that she was more concerned about going on vacation than a patient's after-care. There are two sides to every story, but this is such a life-changing and permanent experience for me... I don't want to take any risks. I'd like to hear what she has to say and have her commit to an after-care plan on paper. We are our own best advocates, and sometimes our only advocates. Ask all the questions, and don't take "I don't know" for an answer. On that note, I have a question for the community: I am a pretty compulsive vaper (nicotine, around 3mg/ml, constantly throughout the day while I work). Reading through my packet, nicotine is described as a vasoconstrictor, and thus a no-no for up to 6 weeks prior to surgery. They even advise against transdermal patches and gum. Does or has anyone have/had a similar experience with vaping and healing post-reduction? I'll post tomorrow with results from the pre-op appointment! XO Updated on 10 Nov 2016: I spoke with Dr. Hein about the negative review on here, and she said that they had seen it but couldn't find a patient in their records in which that situation could have occurred (while she was supposedly on vacation). Maybe the patient was confused. I made it very clear to her that it was important to me to have access to her 24/7, and that as long as she is my PS, me and my boobies come first to her vacations. :P She understood! Less than a week to my surgery, and I'm really getting excited. I also managed to drop 10 lbs prior to getting on the table, so hopefully that will help me. I showed Dr. Hein the pictures of I uploaded here of my ideal outcomes, and she said she can probably get me somewhere between the top-right (my ideal-ideal) and bottom-right. I'm MORE than happy with that. Still feeling pretty good about things. I'll be taking more Before pictures in the next few days, since I've seen some really awesome ways people are doing collages with their before/after and through healing stages. Re: vaping, Dr. Hein seemed very adamant that I quit for the duration of my healing, with good reason. I'm currently using 0mg (non-nicotine) liquid, and will plan on keeping it that way for now. I'm a fidgeter and I tend to call my vape my "pacifier"... I'm going to need something to do with my hands. Updated on 13 Nov 2016: The big day is getting closer and closer! I'm full of nervous excitement, and just trying to keep myself busy and focused has been proving a real task! I'd much rather be looking at y'alls pretty [RS bleep] on RealSelf haha. I'm trying to think of things I will need to have on hand while recovering. Any suggestions? My doctor has given me a prescription of Dilaudid to ease the pain over the first few days, then I'll be switching off to just Advil/Tylenol. I should probably have a few extra ice packs, too. Later today, I'm going to Macy's to shop for new bras. I can always return what doesn't fit, but the bigger thing for me is actually visualizing what my new breasts are going to look like. I have been minimizing (literally and figuratively) the size of my breasts since I started growing them. It was always a shock seeing myself in photos. I want to put my bras side-by-side, old and new, and try to wear the new one. So, you'll be seeing a lot of new photos from me over the next couple of days! ;) Updated on 14 Nov 2016: Though honestly, it was more do it the laughs and before-after photos. I picked up 2 36DD bras (supposedly my post-op size, but it may be a larger back size after lipo). Updated on 14 Nov 2016: Bonus update: I took more before pictures, from a variety of different angles. My breasts are VERY heavy, and I feel like everything from my gait to my turning radius is going to be affected (positively!) by this surgery. For the other folks out there with big boobies, I feel your pain. Just know that it will get better! I know it will. :) Updated on 17 Nov 2016: I woke up from my BR surgery around 3 PM yesterday. The general anaesthesia made me queasy when I came out from under it. So they gave me some anti-nausea via a thigh injection, and I was right as rain. For pain medication, they used Fentanyl, much stronger than morphine. They let me sleep as long as I needed to, then when I woke up, I had an orange popsicle to soothe the throat irritation from the breathing tube. Within the hour, I was headed back home. I have two drains that I'm emptying regularly. Swelling is still an issue. Will update with pics later! Updated on 17 Nov 2016: Updated on 17 Nov 2016: My PS put on a bunch of bulky bandages that were sticking to the incisions. I went to CVS and picked up some easy-to-remove tape and gauze bandages I was sent home with. SO much more comfortable. I'm in virtually no pain, and my shoulders and back are feeling so much better. First pictures of the new bandaging job, without bandages, and in the surgical bra. :) Updated on 20 Nov 2016: My drains are still outputting about 10-15 CC of fluid, and I'm supposed to have my post-op appointment on the 22nd (Tuesday). Hopefully, they'll be removed! My breasts have been really swollen since the lipo. It took a few days for the bruising and full swelling to set in. However, I'm not putting out as much fluid in the drains, so I think everything is going well! I went bra shopping today since I was feeling pretty good, and was measured around a 42DD (accounting for the swelling). I wanted to get a couple of compression-style sports bras, since I've seen others having good luck with those -- and if you get one of those Velcro-front surgical bras from the hospital after surgery, you'll eventually need to wash that/reshape it a bit. Macy's had a sale on Bali bras, and I was amazed at how silky soft they were. The best part is that they stretch over everything. No squeezing already-swollen boobies into unnecessarily tight clothing. But the second best? They were BOGO 75% off! If you had a J cup or anywhere close to it, you know why I'm celebrating about that. None of those expensive plus-size brands go on sale, and when they do, it's a drop from "exorbitant" to "really expensive". Other thoughts: - I'm paying a lot more attention to my posture now. After surgery, I noticed that even though I did experience a lot of relief from having nearly 2 lbs removed from my chest, I still tended to slump. It's just muscle memory. So, I'm working on this, and noticing huge, immediate effects. - Ice packs are everything. EVERYTHING. - I need to stop lifting things. I read kimmers25's article on things to know about BR surgery, and felt personally attacked when she bolded "really important" lmao. I try to be a super hero but I also need to chill. - Also need to drink a lot more water. I'm tapering off the Dilaudid in favor of medical cannabis, ibuprofen and acetaminophen, and let me tell you... opioid constipation is a REAL problem, especially if you're already dehydrated. - I am so happy I did this. <3 Bra shopping pictures attached! Updated on 20 Nov 2016: Here's a side-by-side of my pre-op and post-op photos! Before: 36J, After (4 days post-op): 42DD (with swelling) Updated on 24 Nov 2016: So, I didn't think it was possible for my boobs to get any more swollen. But they're getting hard now in the areas by where I had liposuction (sides, mostly). I'm not really sure what to do about this besides drinking lots of water, using ice packs, and taking ibuprofen/acetaminophen. They feel heavy, sore, and tender to the touch. My incisions are healing well. I'm seeing some of the things I noticed on others' reviews, like blistering skin that peels to reveal pink, new skin. After reading a lot more post-op updates from other people lately, I'm feeling really grateful that she didn't do an anchor incision, but rather down from my nipple and out toward my armpit. I have no incisions on the inner half of my breast below the nipple, which I'm quite sure is helping speed my recovery along. The "T-zone" seems to create a lot of problems for folks after they have their sutures removed, including splitting (the thought of which makes me want to faint). My post-op with Dr. Hein was this past Tuesday the 22nd, and she was impressed at how good I look. I forget sometimes that this really is a major surgery, and it's "reconstruction". My body has gone through a shock. I should be getting my sutures out next week, though, and I SINCERELY hope the swelling will go down in weeks 2 and 3! My breasts feel as heavy on me as my old ones were, though I know that's not the case. Anyway, here's some Day 8 photos. Incisions are still thick due to the sutures still being in, but I'm doing pretty well! :) Updated on 24 Nov 2016: Should I be ok if I sleep without a bra on at night, and just tape my incisions to prevent irritation? Even post-surgery, my breasts still sit well below the breast line (are kind of pendulous) but have higher nipples. Anyone else in this boat? I feel like sports bras either need to go up under my boob, or they roll up and get bunchy if I try to pull them down. Somebody else must know this struggle. :( Updated on 8 Dec 2016: It's been about two weeks since I last updated, and not a lot has changed, besides that I'm healing as expected. Which I consider to be a good thing! :) Last week, my PS decided to keep my stitches in for an extra week, because the skin on troublesome Lefty's vertical incision had blistered before healing. The skin has since peeled, and is now closed up -- woohoo! I never thought I'd get excited about stuff like this haha. She'll be removing the stitches in just a matter of hours, tomorrow. I'm showering without plastic wound covers, which is amazing. I can bend and reach comfortably, but still taking it easy. Sleeping on my side with a pillow prop is very comfortable, as well. The only negative thing going on... I think I might have a minor hematoma in my left breast, deep in. It could also just be hormonal since it's that time of the month, but it feels like a hard mass, different from my milk ducts. I will also be writing a review with pictures this weekend about this incredible surgical bra I purchased online. I had an opportunity to speak to the owner, who designed the bra herself. I think anyone who just came out of surgery should be wearing these things. The support is incredible, the price point was very reasonable, and it's made of really high quality materials. Week 3 photos attached! Updated on 30 Dec 2016: It's been a while since I updated. I've crossed the 6 week threshold, and have been really impressed at how fast my body is healing. Any necrosis I had is cleared up, and I only occasionally get deep-breast zaps. Righty is one gorgeous boob! The surgeon really got everything right with the nipple positioning, and the scar is disappearing fast. Lefty is still a bit saggier compared to Righty (possibly because of the hematoma, which seems to be getting smaller), but is looking better with every passing week. Showering is totally normal, and I'm back to the gym working out. Energy levels are still a little low, but working out is helping. Next week, I'll be getting back into the pool. SO excited to be in a bathing suit again! I've been sleeping braless lately, since it's more comfortable than wearing a bra, but I try to wear a bra most of the time. I've also woken up occasionally on my stomach with no pain or discomfort, but I try to avoid that with a pillow to my side. I use cocoa butter after showers and every night to keep my skin moisturized and prevent dry skin. Otherwise, I thinking/hoping that I'm out of the woods with my breast reduction surgery! I'll post occasional updates. I feel so sexy now, and can't believe how much my body has changed since just 6 weeks ago. So glad that I opted to have my breast reduction done, even if I didn't go down quite as small as I would have liked. I'm already losing weight, and everyone that's seen my breasts says they fit my body perfectly -- super-perky wouldn't quite look right. Enjoy some 6-week post-op photos! Updated on 13 Feb 2017: Oh my goodness, another 6 weeks has passed. The good news is that nothing has really changed since the last update. My scars are softening and The bad news is that I'm having a lot of thoughts now about my breast size. I've lost some weight since surgery (~10-15 lbs), and I'm not noticing that I'm losing any weight in my breasts. That's fine, I knew this could happen... but I need to know what my options are. But I am still a bit irked with my surgeon that I haven't gotten a straight answer on my nipple alignment and breast size. I feel like she went about the surgery to her own discretion, which I respect, but her decision didn't fix the problem. When I first went into my surgery, I had no idea what kind of incision technique Dr. Hein was going to use. She ended up using a lollipop incision instead of an anchor, with the incision going down from my nipples, and out toward my armpits. I really haven't seen too many done like that, as the anchor incision seems most popular (according to this site, at least). But she assured me that this was the better option for me, and I saw a lot of indicators that not having a T-zone was a great benefit to my healing. Also, my right breast pre-op was a good cup and a half larger than my left. Dr. Hein made several remarks that we'd need to see how things went with the right breast, as it would set the stage for the left one. Well, that turned out to not be the case. The right breast turned out much better than the left. When I asked Dr. Hein why this was the case, she just said that she measures and marks from the sternum to nipple on both sides before making any incisions, and they were even. I mean, I can look at these and see that they're not even, so that's [RS bleep]. Immediately after I unwrapped for the first time, I felt like my left nipple was lower than my left. And today, at nearly 3 months post-op, I'm still having both shoulder/back pain AND rashes under my breasts. Furthermore, my left nipple has little to no sensation, where my right is just fine. If she had used the anchor incision to make me smaller, I understand that we would have encountered more risks. But my insurance covered me to fix this problem, and the problem wasn't fixed by this plastic surgeon. Dr. Hein has been a bit defensive, but I hope she'll be reasonable when I ask about my options at my post-op on Friday. I'll ask her to measure now and see how off we are, and she'll probably tell me that they've settled... but I'm not giving up. I still KNOW that my left nipple was placed far (~1") below where the other was. I'm not going to be gaslighted into believing I'm delusional about my own body. I look downward and can barely see my left nipple. Has anyone pushed back at their PS after surgery because they weren't happy with the results? If your insurance covered it, what did they do? Would you recommend going to a different PS for a revision surgery? (I assume so) And how long is nipple sensitivity supposed to take to come back? Is my left nip in an eternal coma?
Not a good experience or procedure. Dr Hein does not use the standard lollipop or anchor technique when doing breast reductions. She used her own experimental method which i wold describe as a modified anchor. She did this without letting me know in advanced. We had discussed the anchor technique being used before surgery but after i realized she had done her own thing. DO NOT GO TO HER FOR BREAST REDUCTIONS !!! After surgery following up appointments were rushed and she was very dismissive . Im very disappointed because my breasts have healed into a terrible shape. I wish I had listened to the other women on here who had seen her for reduction. PICTURES: i attached two drawings that I did quickly showing the traditional anchor method vs what Dr Hien did on me this method she used which i have been unable to find anyone online mention has ruined my breast. I may post my personal pictures later if I find the courage
She seemed nice and knowladgeable however this Dr. Frakenstein did a tummy tuck with breast implants and lift. She botched the implants and they got infected had to be removed. The tummy tuck left me with a massive mons pubis so in tight pants it looks like I have a penis. I urge you to go anywhere else. Once I started to have issues she totally flipped the switch from caring and concerned to rude and making me seem like I'm taking up her time. She was more concerned with her vacation then taking care of the issues she caused. I feel as though she took my money and left me worse off then before.
I had Restalyne to make my top lip appear more in proportion to my bottom lip. I liked the bee-stung look immediately... what I didn't know is that I would continue to swell for several days. That was NOTHING compared to the bruising. I had bruises on my upper lip, up into my nose. I looked like I was in a fight. Even my gums became purple and sore. It was the biggest waste of money. After the swelling and bruising went down (that took 2 weeks), the effects were not all that noticeable (not $400 noticeable).
