Kevin Ruhge, MD

I would like to share my breast augmentation story. I have Breast-fed 2 beautiful babies. Before babies I was a 32A, obviously when you have milk your boobies get big and engorged, well my size went up to a 34B; after I fed both babies they completely deflated.. back down to nothing. I recently just got 360CC saline implants under the muscles & I love them. Updated on 15 Feb 2018: Went in for surgery around 11am. Woke up around 1:30.. I felt super tired and nauseous for the rest of the day. My chest felt different.. heavy and tight. I mainly just slept. Updated on 15 Feb 2018: I just received my implant identification card, & doctor filled them up to 380CC ???? Updated on 16 Feb 2018: Still very tight and heavy on my chest. But things are getting easier everyday. It different having boobies! It’s the little things you have to get used to like that extra swing you had before in your arm is no longer there. Haha Updated on 16 Feb 2018: Updated on 18 Feb 2018: The swelling is subsiding, I feel great. I get occasional sharp pains throughout breast. & the incision stings; but nothing to unbearable. Updated on 25 Feb 2018: Getting more squishy, I just want them to drop and fluff already!! Patience is key. & also I can’t wait to be able to wear a bra. No pain really just feel bruised on my ribs and under my arms. Incision not really bothering me as much as it was few days ago. Updated on 11 Mar 2018: Feeling great. No pain. Got sized the other day a Victoria secrets just for the hell of it, 32DDD. I’m sure I’ll measure smaller at other places. Updated on 11 Mar 2018: I liked this picture. There starting to look nicer and nice everyday. Updated on 13 Mar 2018: Updated on 15 Mar 2018: So I am able to wear my bra for about an hour until it starts bothering me and making me feel uncomfortable. I’d honestly rather be braless. Will the feeling go away? & also my scars and bumps and lumps.. will they eventually be smooth? Updated on 4 Apr 2018: Just an update on how the girls are looking. Now I just need to work on my bloat. Haha Updated on 15 Apr 2018: Feeling completely back to normal. Comfortable in everything I wear & loving my boobies more and more everyday!! I’m so glad I decided to get them done. Updated on 22 Aug 2018: It’s crazy, to actually see professional photos of my before an after. I honestly wanted to cry. I really forgot how little they were; I love my boobs now. It took some time to get used to them, especially trying on new clothes and bathing suits. But I’m loving them. & I would definitely recommend getting your breasts done, if you feel you need it or want just want them done.

Preparing for your tummy tuck recovery. Items recommended below in no specific order. 1. Lots and lots of gauze pads, all different sizes. 2. Non stick bandage tape. 3. Neosporin or triple antiobiotic cream 4. Landyard; wear around your neck to pin drain tubes while showering. I found this to be the easiest and best option for showering. 5. Walker, to assist with getting up and walking for at least a week. 6. Arm lounge pillow. This was extremely helpful to prop you up for sleeping or just sitting. 7. Stool softener and or milk if magnesium. The pain meds and anesthesia will cause constipation. 8. Robe or long button up flannel shirt. I slept in this for 2 nights, I skipped wearing panties for few days, only robe. 9. Tray table. This was so helpful to use for eating, placement for drinks, meds, remote, phone, etc. You can buy a cheap, adjustable, collapsable tray table at Walmart for $14. Updated on 19 Aug 2017: I had a full tummy tuck, muscle repair, and lipo of flanks on 7/25/17. I was prepared to be in major pain for a few weeks. My husband was so worried he took a whole week of to nurse me. Turned out I had no pain. Can you believe it? I think I was so numb due to the nerves being disrupted from the surgery that I experienced no pain from the muscle repairs or the major cut across my lowerabdomen. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't an easy process. First couple of days, it was difficult to stand up by yourself. I had a walker, it was a major help! My husband also had to use his muscles to pull me up and help me lay down. The drain tubes were the worse part! If there was any pain, it was the drain tubes. When I moved certain ways, the tubes would poke me where the open wounds were located. Even having them removed, the wound still hurts. I slept downstairs the first 2 nights on our nice big sofa with propped up arm lounge pillows. My husband took the other side of the sofa to help get me up at night to use the restroom. After day 3, I was well enough to climb the stairs to the 3rd level to sleep in my daughter's room. We slept there for 2 nights and by 5th night, I finally was able to walk up and down comfortably to my bedroom on the 4th floor. Yes, the 4th floor. We have a townhouse with 4 levels. Garage on the bottom, main floor with kitchen and living room, and bedrooms on upper levels. I went back to work one week after my surgery. I had no bruises from the lipo or pain from anything (except occasionally the drain tubes poking me) so I felt good well enough to go back. My doctor cleared me to drive 6 days after surgery because I wasn't on any pain meds. I only used the pain meds first day when I came home from surgery but since I didn't have pain, I used Tylenol 2nd day just in case. By the 3rd day, I stopped taking anything.

By far the best plastic surgeon in Pasadena! I consulted with 8 other top rated surgeons in the area and Dr. Ruhge was by far the most thorough and honest of them all. I was told by other surgeons that I needed fat sucked out of places that didn't need to be treated. His pricing includes contouring the flanks, he doesn't nickel and dime you. He is a true artist as you can see in the photos. Thanks To Dr. Ruhge I now have my confidence and self esteem back.

This was the best decision I have ever made in my entire life! I had the most amazing doctor who took great care of me. The pain was absolutely tolerable, it only felt like I had gone to the gym & worked out. I had stitches that were underneath the skin & dissolved so no stitch removal. It's only been 6 months & scars are starting to go away!

Sine having my first c-section in 2009 I have been suffering with that dreaded pouch below my belly button! It was finally time to get rid of it, and I'm so glad I did!I had a mini tummy tuck with muscle repair with Dr. Kevin Rouge and so far the results,are great. He was very friendly and made me feel comfortable at all times. I had surgery on Tuesday Sept 6th, and since Tuesday at 11am I have not needed to take any pain meds! He has magic hands! After looking at a ton of youtube videos and reviews here on realself I was scared of how painful this would be, however my experience has been the complete opposite of what I've seen. I have not taken any pain meds since Tuesday and the pain I do experience, I would rate at 1 out of 10. I cant recommend him highly enough, so happy with my results. I returned to school today and seriously, I could have done so earlier, although Dr. Rough recommends 1 to 2 weeks off of school or work. I just can't believe was a pleasant xperience this has been. Here are some before and after pics. More to come! Updated on 16 Sep 2016: So it's been 10 days since my procedure and so far I can't complain! I had 1 drain removed this week and can't wait until Thursday to get the second one removed. Concealing the drains has been my biggest problem, since I've been out and about for the last 7 days! I was tucking them into my pants and kinda looked pregnant, now that I have 1 I clip it to the side or back of my compression belt to hide it. I've also been trying on all my pants, shorts, skirts and dresses and couldn't be happier with how well they look on. All those clothes I was saving just in case "I ever got ride of that pooch" fit like a dream! Oh, my doctor did prescribe me antibiotics because of a red spot near the incision. I didn't feel any pain, but he just wanted to make sure that I didn't have or develop an infection. As mentioned on my last picture, I have also seen a lot of improvement on my uper inner thigh area. It looks a lot tighter and well, just youthful. My lady parts have been pulled up quite a bit too (My 20 year old "coochie" is back!), which might explain why my thigh area looks better.

I have always thought about getting breast implants to enhance my size. I would constantly look in the mirror and wished my breast were larger, so I finally decided to get them done. I am so glad I did this for myself, and I couldn't be any happier with my decision.

I am so excited about joining this amazing site and reading more about all of your stories. I have been reading non-stop for about a week and I cannot stop it! I feel like I have a crazy obsession with boobies! My boyfriend pointed out that while he is watching sports, I'm watching boobs! haha! I have been thinking of getting a breast augmentation since high school but have been much more serious about it for the last year. I have always been a chubby bunny but lost about 45 pounds in the last 18 months, and of course my boobs went with the weight. Though I still have about 15-20 pounds that I'd like to lose, I have decided that it is time for me to just get it done. I thankfully have a flexible work schedule and a boss that is fine with me taking time off. I will be taking about a week off to recover, and am hoping that will be enough time. A little bit of info about me: 5'4", 145 lbs, currently wearing a 36B, but I should really be wearing a 36 A. :( My goal is to be a large C/ small D. I have tried on sizers and have done 3D imaging... I'm still uncertain of the CCs and whether or not I will get high profile implants, but I know for sure I will be getting saline with inframammary incisions. I have a few great friends and patients who have openly discussed their augmentation process and all have been extremely happy with their results. I cannot wait to be on the other side! I have scheduled my surgery for May 22nd and cannot wait for it to happen! I made my deposit last Thursday and it is now becoming a reality! Will post pics soon! I am so excited about hearing from some of you as the day gets closer and will definitely be reading your posts as well! Thank you to all who have posted! You have all been great inspirations to me! Updated on 19 Apr 2013: Hi everyone! Hope you are all doing well! I just realized my BA is in a little over 5 weeks and I could not be more excited! I just had a wisdom tooth taken out yesterday and I wasn't even thinking about any of the pain because I'm too excited about having boobs! I am quite swollen but I'm sure it'll go down soon so I won't look like a chipmunk any longer. Even though I have already chosen my surgeon, I went to another consultation with a female surgeon yesterday to see what her opinion was. She was really sweet but a little more conservative about size. I don't mind conservative but she kind of gave me the impression that she would make the final decision. This made me realize that I chose the right surgeon for me. Since all I think about it getting boobs, I'm not so much concerned with the recovery since I have seen so many of you ladies go through it. I am concerned with right before. I'm worried about seeing the operating room for some reason. I do not want to see any tools!!!! Everyone says you don't remember anything but I get symptoms of passing out when I get blood taken. I'm not much of a drama queen since I'm not scared when I get blood taken... I just feel like my body takes over. Any suggestions on how to calm my nerves? I know it's normal but I also know I can't have a cocktail right before surgery! hahaha Thank you all! Updated on 7 May 2013: Hi everyone! I went in for my pre-op appt and left feeling super excited but also a little confused. I tried on a 460CC, 485CC, and a 510CC. I decided to go with the 485CC but a part of me thinks I should go bigger. I want to be able to run after my procedure (of course, when I'm allowed to) so I feel that it would be smart for me not to go too large. It is my first surgery (EVER) so I'm thinking I should stick with the medium size for now and switch to the larger size after I have kids. Do any of you have any thoughts on this? Thanks everyone! I can't believe i'll have them in 2 weeks! Updated on 15 May 2013: Hi everyone! So now that I am exactly a week away, I am getting more excited by the minute. I had my bloodwork done yesterday so I'm anxious for the results to come in. I'm sure everything will be just fine but I really want to make sure everything is good to go. All I can think about is boobs and how nervous I will be the morning of. I feel that I'll be really excited up until right before I get to the surgical center. I, for some odd reason, get symptoms of passing out whenever I have to get blood drawn or even when I see my gynecologist for my check-ups. I don't know what is wrong with me but I sure hope I don't pass out before surgery! I think I'll be ok since my boyfriend will be with me. I still don't have support from my mom but I know she has just kind of accepted it. She thinks I'm making a big mistake but I want to enjoy my body since I have worked so hard to drop weight. I've never been excited to wear a bathing suit but I can't wait for this summer! I still have about 15 pounds to drop but my PS told me to wait until after the BA is done. He doesn't want me on so many supplements prior to surgery. How long did any of you have to wait until you could start taking supplements again? (multi-vitamins, other vitamins, homeopathic remedies, etc.) I was really looking forward to buying new bras and new tops but my PS office told me I don't need to worry about getting any bras for at least a few weeks. EEEK! I can't wait! I've been working out and trying to eat clean so I'm hoping to drop a couple pounds or at least feel better. Working out always makes me feel great so not being able to do so will be a little tough for me. How long did it take before you guys could walk or do leg and core workouts? I probably should have asked my PS. Another PS that I had a consultation with said 3 weeks. Thanks for all of your help with this journey! I love reading all of your stories and updates. I will be posting more pics soon! Those have been so helpful Updated on 22 May 2013: Hello everyone! Just wanted to say that i am done with surgery and doing well. I am going to focus on recovering for today so I'll post more in detail tomorrow. Hope everyone is having a great recovery! The pain is definitely not as bad as I was thinking... I'm in some but not much. Updated on 23 May 2013: So surgery yesterday went really well! My PS was very pleased with the outcome and was so awesome to call me at night to check up on me. So since I was a little too tired to update yesterday, here are some details for you ladies. My boyfriend and I got to the surgery center at 5:45am. (Boy, was I tired!) I was starting to get nervous after I paid the remaining balance. A nurse called me to the back to go into the pre-op room. She had me change into my gown, took my blood pressure, other vitals and asked me a series of questions. Next was the IV. That honestly was the worst part and it wasn't even that bad! A few minutes later, my PS came in. After I saw him, I felt so relieved and ready to go. He really knew how to make me feel better and confident that all would be ok. The nurse that was going to be in the operating room came to greet me and she was super sweet and comforting. The anesthesiologist came in after and gave me "a margarita but no hangover" in my IV. I began to feel a little more relaxed and then they wheeled me into the OR. I was nervous about seeing the OR for some reason but the worst part was that it was cold! They gave me a warm blanket, oxygen to breathe in, and I heard them talking for a little bit. After a minute or two, I was out! About an hour later, I woke up as they were wheeling me back in to the recovery room. I fell back asleep for a few minutes but I immediately asked the nurse if my boyfriend could come into the back. We left about 15 minutes later. It was nice to be home but I noticed how sore my throat had become. It is still more sore than my boobs! I didn't have much of an appetite but I did eat quite a few saltines and pretzels when taking my vicodin. I did not want to get nauseated with that! The only complaint that I have for today is that my back is really sore. My boyfriend rubbed my shoulders for a bit and that has helped. Other than that, I have been drinking a lot of water. It feels so good to have that much but the trips to the bathroom are little difficult only because it takes a while to pull my pants up. haha my boyfriend has been great about that. :) Hope everyone is healing well! I can't wait until I'm a few more weeks away! By the way, when have people started to lay flat on their backs? I'm still sleeping on an incline. My PS didn't tell me to but I know a lot of you have been sleeping that way. Thanks! Updated on 24 May 2013: I know it's probably normal but when the vicodin starts to wear off, I get these constant shooting pains in my right nipple. Only the right boob is giving me pain. So strange. Also, I have been drinking water like a maniac and taking a constipation relief supplement. It doesn't seem to be working at all. I took another pill tonight so I hope to use the restroom tomorrow. I know this is TMI but I know other ladies have had issues as well. Any suggestions? I am so beyond bloated! Updated on 27 May 2013: I FINALLY got to go to the bathroom today! I tried 3 different constipation relief supplements and prune juice but the only thing that really seemed to help was stopping my vicodin. I switched to tylenol with codeine for a night and that was ok. Thank, GOD! I have to say that was the worst part about recovery. I'm hoping my stomach will now go back down. It's really weird how that made my self confidence go down. Ugh. As for the boobs.. they look a little funny but I'm happy that I at least have more cleavage now. I can't wait to see how they are going to change. My wonderful boyfriend took me to WalMart and we picked out a few bras. Only 2 fit me, but that is plenty for now. The bandage the doctor had wrapped around me needed to be thrown out. It feels so nice to shower and I can do it on my own! Even though it hasn't been a full week yet, I'm feeling like my right side is definitely healing slower than the left. I have a little area that is still numb on the right and it is more sore toward my sternum. The left side seems to have full feeling and there is no pain whatsoever. I'm hoping this is normal. I'm starting be able to move my right arm a little more but I also don't want to force something that is not ready. I will try to post more pictures today or tomorrow. Hope everyone is recovering well and not having any complications! :) Happy Memorial Day! Updated on 27 May 2013: Updated on 2 Jun 2013: Hope everybody is healing well. I am 11 days post op and feeling almost normal! I still can't lift heavy stuff and I don't have full rotation with my arms yet but much more than I did a week ago. It is so nice to be able to take a shower on my own. :) I work for a doctor that uses laser therapy.... She put a few of the lasers on areas that I was having pain and soreness and it is gone! I think I probably would have felt better soon anyway but I think the lasers sped that up. At my last PO appt, my PS gave me a strap to wear. The first two days were a little annoying but it kind of becomes a part of you and is less bothersome. I definitely have noticed both sides have dropped a bit with the strap. He also instructed me to massage them... I haven't been too good about that. For some reason it seems a little scary. I'm posting some pictures that I had from a few days ago. It's fun to see the changes! Updated on 10 Jun 2013: I am so happy with my results. I was feeling a tiny bit of boobie greed but snapped out of it because I realized how different they have become. I tried on all my old bras for the first time today and was more than thrilled to realize that I could never wear them again. I can't wait to try on some of my dresses and clothes. I put on some of my lingerie that I have had for a while and all I could do was smile. It was so nice to finally fill them out. (It also made me realize that I could definitely afford to lose some weight but I will be working on that) There are really only a few things to update: My nipples are very sensitive right now. They are even peeling. I hate wearing a seat belt and often times find myself holding the seat belt out in front of me. My incision was in the crease of my breasts so I'm not exactly sure why my nipples are sensitive but I'm hoping it doesn't last much longer. Any experiences with this too? Another this is that I'm still numb from the base of my nipples to the incision placement. I'm assuming it's because the nerves had to be cut there but I'm also hoping that feeling comes back. It's really a strange feeling. So overall, I'm feeling back to normal. For the first time this week my implants felt like they were a part of me. I'm really looking forward to them dropping a bit more and I hope they really do "fluff" a little, as many of you say. Another side note: My best friend is have her BA on Thursday. I could not be more thrilled for her. We both have talked about BAs for a few years now and I'm so glad we will be doing this together. I'm also very happy that I will be able to guide her through this process and tell her what to expect since I just went through it. We are going to plan a trip to Vegas later this summer since we've done this. It's so bad, I know, but what better place to celebrate than Vegas?! Hope everyone is recovering well and not having any complications!!! Updated on 20 Jun 2013: Hi everyone! Hope you all have been doing well. I have been feeling happier by the day with the way my boobs are healing. Even though my surgery was a few weeks ago, it really feels like it was so long ago. You kind of forget any pain or discomfort you were in. I tried on all my bras about a week ago and it felt great to get rid of all of them! I went through my closet and tried on my clothes 2 nights ago. I was so pleased to get rid of a few shirts due to my boobs being enlarged. There were a few tops I got rid of simply because I never wear them but I LOVED trying some of my clothes and actually filling them out! I cannot wait to go shop again. Back to the boobs... I haven't had any real pain or discomfort in the last week. They are really feeling like they are a part of me. The only time I feel any discomfort is if I try to lay on my side. The bottom part of my boobs feel as if they've been sunburned. I know it's just the stretching of skin. Has anyone had any issues with stretch marks? Let me know if you have and what I can use to prevent them. My nipples are slightly sensitive still when I have bras or tops that are rubbing closely against them. I am ready for that sensitivity to go down! I met with my best friend and she has had a great recovery. I'm so happy for you and happy for everyone getting a BA done in the near future. I am so excited about my results and can't wait for others to be excited. Hope y'all are doing well! Updated on 28 Jun 2013: I'm loving my boobs more and more everyday! They are a part of me now. I can sleep on both sides without any discomfort. The massages are MUCH better and they actually feel kind of good now. I have noticed many air bubbles but I'm hoping and thinking it is normal. Does anyone have stretch marks from these ladies? If so, is there a cream that you can recommend? I think I may be getting faint ones underneath. Hope everyone is doing well! Updated on 16 Jul 2013: Hi everyone! Hope everyone who is recovering is doing well and prospective BA patients are finding all the answers they need. I am still loving my new additions. Here are a few pictures of how they have been doing for the last 2 months. Sun burn feeling is slightly still there but I am very comfortable with them! I still love seeing everyone's progress so thank you to those who have been sharing.

I’m an urban legend! I received a free tummy tuck through a clinical study for pain treatment in elective surgeries. My timing happened to be perfect. I went and got information on the study and what drug they would be testing. I also found out who my surgeon would be and learned quickly of his wonderful work.I met with him to discuss my eligibility for the study and surgery as well as get to know him better. Everything looked good and I was good to go. I got my surgery date and showed up not knowing what to expect. Dr. Ruhge was wonderful. Knowledgeable and confident. He marked me for surgery introduced my anesthesiologist and nurse and everything else was a blur. When the anesthesia wore off it became apparent to me that I got the control (this was not confirmed since it was a blind study) but that’s alright, I know it... without a doubt. I opted for the rescue drug (OxyContin) for that day and the next and so far the pain has been little to none, or more so discomfort. I’ve been wearing my binder since the end of surgery and am getting set to go home. I can’t wait to shower! I am appreciative of the fact that my binder is not soaked in blood (Not a fan of blood on the outside of bodies) and my swelling is minor. 5 days out, I am standing 80% upright.

Currently 32A with biggest size being 32B while in my early 20s. My initial goal was 225-250cc, now I am considering 275-300cc even. My biggest fear is not looking natural as I am very petite. My genes run in the ectomorph category so I struggle to gain weight despite my love for food. I do work out 3 days wk/no cardio only strength training so Protein is nothing new to me. Although I can not determine, my goal size is to stay in the single letter sizes (32D max). Updated on 2 Jan 2017: I've researched a lot about boob greed so I decided to check out some ladies with 32d sizes. Some of their frames are similar to mine, and their breasts are amazing with their shape. Updated on 4 Jan 2017: So I stalk this site/app literally all day, everyday and I get more anxious the closer I am to my preop (01/30/17). I plan to schedule my surgery within the week or the following after so it is closing depending on my PS availability. One thing I have noticed is that this surgery does send you through a range of emotions. A lot of ladies mentioned that I would go through a phase of "hating" them, which I have noticed through reading reviews happens during the D & F stage. However, my new fear is concerning boob greed and rippling. My weight is up and down 88-92, even goes up to 105 max. I'm afraid of getting implants that may be small, but also afraid of going to big and seeing rippling. Due to my petite frame, there's a chance I won't have a lot of breast tissue/chest cavity space. Updated on 4 Jan 2017: My obsession with this site and YouTube is growing as the day gets closer, my bf catches me stalking boobs and looking at my own ALL the time haha. I love this site but I really want to follow reviews closer in the date. I have a list of questions for my PS during my preop, as I am sure everyone did. I created a list (yes, it's kinda long :)) of things I wanted to discuss based off of my research. Although many questions can not determined based on the healing process, I still would like to educate myself about any and everything with this surgery. I am doing my procedure differently as I am enrolled in a clinical trial, therefore my preop will be close to 4 hrs. The surgery is free of cost as they are investigating a developing pain medication and it's effectiveness. Being that I am going in as a human guinea pig, I want to discuss EVERYthing possible with my PS. I am not nervous as I have done my research heavily and it will be completed by a board certified surgeon and followed up by a top quality hospital. Happy countdown! Updated on 4 Jan 2017: Forgot to post the pics of my lists. Updated on 4 Jan 2017: Forgot to post the pics of my lists. Updated on 7 Jan 2017: So I've been researching the risks and complications of this surgery to get an idea of what can go wrong....nervous is the least bit of an explanation about how I feel. I am starting to rethink my decision as sad as it may sounds. I was so excited until I began looking into things more. I guess it never occurred to me the potential hazards that can occur over time. I was so worried about the initial process of recovery being my only fragile point....but then I realized that I am inserting a foreign object into my body. This is the same battle I have had with myself over the last 5 years before this current decision. The question of mold never crossed my mind, but knowing this is possible terrifies me the most. I still have my preop questions, except the list is longer now haha. Seems like a lot of ladies feel better once they meet with their PS and ask all questions needed, I am counting down the days in hopes I can kick this anxiety. Until then I will just keep looking at Boob Goals and reading additional experiences. Updated on 11 Jan 2017: *PSA:VENTING!* So I turned 29 this past NYE and decided to book my preop prior to my bday. I figured this could be a late bday gift to myself. I went to Jamaica a few months ago and I never felt so comfortable with my body. For years, I stuffed, padded, and layered my breasts to appear more fuller and I look back to my vacation and realized I always want to feel this way. Although I am very comfortable in my skin, I don't mind a little adjustment to fill out more. While this decision is one I made instantly, I decided to share my journey with my peers despite my initial hesitation. To my surprise, almost everyone was supportive of my decision but the few that were not kind of bothered me. The focus should not be on them, however, it is because I now want them even more. My choice to share this opportunity was not to seek approval but to receive support. And the older I get, the more I notice that some things are better left unsaid to maintain my happiness. It was no one's business to begin with, so why did I make it theirs? I decided to upload some pics from my trip to get a little motivation. I remember I custom ordered one of my bathing suits and had to get the smallest size 32AA to make sure it would fit perfectly. And even while it was being made, I was so nervous about how my breasts would look in the suit with all the cuts. It turned out good but I look forward to the difference my new boobs will make. I'm going to the Dominican Rep. in a few months postop so I can't wait to see how my suits wil l fit then!!! Updated on 11 Jan 2017: Updated on 15 Jan 2017: So I had a syncope (fainting) episode that landed me in the hospital this weekend. Lab results let me know my iron is low unfortunately. I was so scared being my preop is 2 weeks away, but grateful that it wasn't too bad. I'm also happy this happened before my surgery and not after. Now I will spend the next couple of weeks making healthier choices (more water, taking my iron pills, more greens) so I will not have ANY complications following surgery. Wake up call for real! :( Updated on 16 Jan 2017: So I had some free time today and decided to go shopping for postop bras. I know it will be about a good 6 weeks before I can wear a regular bra and I want to have options while I am healing. I went to 2 different discount stores (Fallas Paredes & DD's Discount) and found some really cheap bras (2.99-7.99). They are all made of sports bra material, no wire, and have a clasp on the back with strap adjustments. I bought sizes M and 34C for now and will return them later if they don't fit. I know I'm jumping the gun but I've done so much research I need to be prepared. A young lady suggested that I should be prepared to spend close to $500 on needs outside of surgery costs.....which leads me to narrowing down everything. I try to be as frugile as possible, so I plan on cutting those additional expenses down the best way I can. I bought 4 bras and still have some on the way from VS. I believe I am good in the bra Dept for now, until I get my new size haha. Next thing up is to get some button down pjs and zip up clothing. There's this outside market I love to shop at on weekends, I'm certain they will have plenty of zip up wear for a good deal ($20). This is so exciting, counting did the days :) Updated on 20 Jan 2017: So they said it never rains in Southern CA!! The lies haha. I seem to have caught a cold before my scheduled preop due to this icky weather....I told myself I would not update anymore until then but then my stuffy nose changed those plans. I got a call from the office and they offered me a sooner appt (01/23) but unfortunately I had to decline. I am positive they would decline my participation right now lol. I have to kick this cold and fast, I read Emergen-C is a good source before preop. Thankful for RS, I would usually taken an Aleve or too by now. Updated on 2 Feb 2017: Hi ladies! Just an update on my progress....I have yet to enter Boobieland :(. As I stated before I will be involved in a clinical trial where my surgery/after care is covered. Being that the trial is investigating a pain medication there are stipulations that come with this opportunity. Remember my little episode that sent me to the ER? Well because of the medications I was prescribed (i.e., antibiotics) I have to wait 2-3 weeks for it to be completely flushed out of my system. I was upset at first but then I realized my safety is a concern as they do not want a clash in the meds. Back to the countdown for me, but a 2-week frame is not that bad. Congrats to my fellow ladies that have a new set of twins, I have new boob goals :) Updated on 14 Feb 2017: Had my consultation yesterday and surgery is set for 1 week from today. I'm super nervous as I have a little less than a week to prepare due to my work schedule. Everything went great at the screening and my PS is amazing. Being that the surgery is free, they will be inserting saline implants. This was my only complaint as I wanted silicone but who really complains when such an expensive surgery is free of charge? I will be the first patient so I am scheduled to check in at 4:30am. I work overnight so this is no big deal as I would usually still be at work around that time. We decided on 300cc, high profile, unders...however, he mentioned filling them to 330cc so I will receive the same volume as the sizers. My only concern is rippling (in the future) as I believe my breast tissue is minimal. I trust my PS and look forward to this anxious week I am going to have while I countdown and prepare. Since this is a clinical trial I will not be returning home postop but will be at the hospital until I am discharged on Friday. This is to ensure I have no complications and they will be able to monitor my pain levels and medication intake. The countdown to Boobieland has begun!! :) Updated on 20 Feb 2017: I'm all packed and ready for my journey into boobieville :)!! I am definitely having a mixture of nerves now that it is hours away. Since check in is so early I plan to lay down to get plenty of rest (otherwise I will worry myself to death). I have my toiletries, laptop, cell phone, and discharge clothes all ready for my 4 day, 3 night stay. I went and bought me a new facial mask and bath bombs to use for tonight, hoping for some me time before I turn it in as well. Fasting begins at midnight so I ate a nice dinner and will enjoy the last of my liquids until after surgery. Updated on 21 Feb 2017: I have officially arrived to Boobieville as of 7a this morning. I have to be completely honest, the pain is not something I ever had to experience before. My boobs are very very tight, I feel so much pressure, and it can make breathing harder when my pain levels rise. However, the staff here is amazing and very attentive. This makes it all the better as I feel like I would not have made it through at home. I'm all bandaged up so I chose not to post any pics yet, but once these bandaged come off I will be a professional photographer lol. Updated on 23 Feb 2017: Bandages came off today and my PS cleared me to take a shower once I return home tomorrow. He says he does not want me wearing a bra or doing any housework/heavy lifting yet. Minimal usage of arms over the next week. His office will call me tomorrow about setting an appt for next week and getting a strap. They are high as expected and rock hard but I am satisfied thus far. He says because I am small, it will take a while for me to D & F. I am just so happy I went through with this! The first couple of days were a constant struggle with pain, I vomited once and felt nauseous a few times. However, I believe my lack of appetite mixed with the medications had a lot to do with that. My appetite is back and I am eating/snacking constantly to coat my stomach as I know I still need meds to cope with the pain. On a scale of 1-10, I am around a 5 with most of my pain being the heaviness and my lower back. All in all I do not regret my decision not one bit. I believe once they settle I will achieve that natural look I wanted....not too big or small. Updated on 24 Feb 2017: Was discharged today and got the run around for my prescriptions....since my insurance is private, my medications were not paid for (bummer). Also, I hadn't had any pain meds since 5am and I didn't get to fill my prescriptions until about 4p.m. :-/ My dad and sister picked me up and dropped me off to my boyfriend's house where he's been taking great care of me. It's still hard to move my arms without spasms so he washed me up in the shower and changed my bandages for me. He noticed I had some scratches on my neck and back so I am assuming those are self-inflicted as the hospital meds constantly made me itchy. He also has a puppy and a 5 y.o. Godson that loves to jump on me, so they were a little disappointed when he kept guarding me from them. Especially his godson since he thinks I am his gf too lol. All in all, my back pain is increasing and I'm starting to feel the weight on my incisions more since I am braless. My body must have gotten used to the support of the bandages. I noticed they appeared more pointy and my skin is shiny as I was informed about already. I scheduled my 1 week follow-up appt and got the clearance to return to work next Wednesday. So for now I will just get used to this pampering treatment I have been getting since it will be short lived. Also, my incisions look good but I forgot to snap a pic while changing them, so I will upload those in another post. Happy healing to my fellow February booby ladies! Updated on 26 Feb 2017: Yesterday I had a horrible experience with the Norco, I was sleeping and woke up frightening as I thought I had just been hit with a pillow....turns out no one was there. Also, I tried getting some fresh air and had trouble walking in the house on my own. I decided to stop taking the medication because I had not felt like until after I took my first tabs. Today was much better, I woke up with back pain and chest tightness (of course) but I took a Valium and all was well. My coworker is really into essential oils so she made me a concoction for breast pain and it honestly have done wonders for the stretching. I have yet to take any medications since the muscle relaxer way earlier today. I snapped some more pics prior to my shower and I noticed some changes in the implants already!. Amazed is no other way to describe how I feel right now. I know it is still early but I am so happy with what has progressed thus far. My incisions are a little dark and they still have the surgical glue on there (hence the clear substance) but with time they will lighten up. I am excited to see what Dr. Ruhge has to say at my upcoming 1 wk. post op appt. I am hoping he says I can at least start wearing a bra as I feel like it will help relieve the weight on my incisions somewhat. My left boob and incision is giving me more trouble than the right. I am a lefty so I assumed my dominant side would be the slower one to heal. Overall I am walking more but still need assistance with changing my clothes and opening the doors. I believe by the time I return to work I should be able to function. Updated on 28 Feb 2017: Week 1 is done! I was cleared to not wear any bandages and instructed that the glue will dissolve completely at about 3 weeks. Still can not wear a bra until week 6 as the goal is not to push the implant up but to give them a natural slope. The strap is to been worn 24/7 and I am to massage 5 mins a day/5x. The initial pressure of the strap and massage demonstration was not the friendliest but pain is beauty. I start back work tomorrow so my next challenge is finding a shirt that can cover up this strap. Just an update, I had my first BM yesterday and feel back to my regular schedule. I'm still not comfortable driving so I will get chauffeured back and forth to work this week. My PS still wants me to take it easy with my arms. He also mentioned my right breast was dropping slower which proved me wrong as I thought my left was the problem. Anyways, my results are great I just can't wait until I can start putting some scar gel on my incisions cause they itch like crazy *blah* Updated on 3 Mar 2017: I got a little anxious and wanted to see how the girls would look in my bikini. Boy oh boy the difference some cc's can make. Before my Jamaica vacation, my coworker brought me a box full of goodies (i.e., bathing suits, etc) but all the swim tops were sized M. I figured she thought I was bigger since I wore padded bras, however I definitely needed a S. They were cute so I still wore them but I didn't fill them out due to my lack of cleavage. I took a pic from before and compared it to now with the same tops but just different colors. The results speak for themselves. I know I have more D & F to look forward to but I am excited of how my new size already compliments my shape. It took me years to follow through with a BA as I looked at it as having an insecurity. But the truth is, I have always had an insecurity about my breasts and I realized a boob job was probably the most selfless decision I have ever made. I love me with or without the girls and can say I am surrounded by loved ones who feel the same. All in all, I did this for me and I love how I helped participate in further research. I am in my last yr for grad school so I'm excited for grad dresses and my upcoming vacations. :) Updated on 8 Mar 2017: So they have dropped some more but still have some ways to go. My left is dropping slower and my PS said that could be due to my previous asymmetry before the surgery (I asked was it cause it's my dominant side). He wants me to wear the strap for another week :-/ and showed me how to continue doing my massages. As of now, my nipples are more sensitive than before. I hate having anything touching them, even a thin t-shirt. My boobs are starting to peel a little from the stretching so I've been applying my stretch mark cream and breast oil. My incisions are not as itchy anymore but my back is still hurting from the tightness of the strap. I have finally started sleeping on my side comfortably but only on one side cause if I try my left then my incisions start to hurt. Updated on 18 Mar 2017: They are real! Not so much regretting getting them done but they are not as attractive so I'm blah about it. My right is dropping fine but my left is giving me a hard time. My muscles are still tight so it's a slight amount of pain when I massage my Leftie. My boobs are jiggling when I move them but are not ready to move on their own yet lol. Nipples are still hypersensitive, I hate having anything touching them. Overall, my PS said they are even and finally let me ditch the strap at my 3 week appt. my back feels better now that it's gone. He removed the excess glue and stated I could begin using Mederma if I pleased. He stated I could use silicone strips in about 3 weeks when I begin to wear a bra. My scars look nice thus far although he instructed that they will change and what I see now is not going to be the actual scar. Updated on 24 Mar 2017: I noticed when I wake up in the am I still have slight Frankenboob but after massaging it settles. My nipples are still hypersensitive so I bought some breastfeeding cream from Target and it really helps (especially with clothing). Every time I apply it, I feel like I hear the clouds separate and a harp begins playing. This last week, I noticed that I have been having zingers in my breasts from time to time. They last for a few seconds then disappear but still occur daily. My chest also started gurgling a few days ago and leftie was making a squeaking noise during the massages. This is also my trouble boob as it is higher and firmer, rightie has more squishiness to it. I read that all of this is normal as it is still early in the recovery period. Although it's been a month, I had to realize that this is just the beginning of my changes. I look at my breasts daily and touch them so much, I overload my brain into thinking something is wrong. Im learning that patience is key in cosmetic surgery. I spent so much time preparing for the surgery and following days after, that I convinced myself that my results would be as instant. However, I understand now that it was just the beginning stages and surgery was the easiest thing in this process. Overall, I don't have any pain from the stretching or any trouble using my arms at all. I'm still not clear to do any work outs or wear a bra yet but I will focus on the latter when I seen my PS again at my 6-week appt. I still use my wedge pillow in bed but I am ok to sleep on my side. I don't feel comfortable laying on my stomach so those days are gone for now. TIP: Changes do happen daily so I would suggest letting your body heal at its own pace. Pictures are important to help you notice the differences you may not see...and fellow Real Self members. Happy healing :) Updated on 11 Apr 2017: I'm finally feeling 100% better with absolutely no reminders of the surgery at all. The zingers have stopped and my nipples are no longer hypersensitive. I still choose not to sleep on my stomach as I have grown comfortable being on my side. I use Mederma on my scars sometimes as I often forget to apply it daily. I still massage as I do want them to soften some more. They jiggle and are more squishy but have some more healing to go. My 6 week postop appt was a few days ago and I got cleared to wear bras/resume all activities. I'm an active individual and asked will I be able to continue kickboxing and martial arts. He assured the stability of the implants and stated that I may continue. :) My first bra visit resulted in me being measured a 32D at VS. I tried the C cup but my nipple/cup coverage was not as comforting as the D. I'm aware that many people say do not get measured there but I have been a loyal customer for 12+ yrs so my drawer is full of their items already lol. I do plan to go to Nordstrom soon for an additional measurement as I have to order my vacation bikinis. It does not appear as though I would be a D elsewhere, I believe they are small but a proportionate size for me. I did not want the bigger look so I love the way they fit me. ***Breakdown*** My participation is the research study awarded me $1,100 and a breast augmentation with follow-up appts free of charge. The surgeon participating in the research is compensated but by the company investigating the research. The only thing I ended up paying for was my medication because my insurance is private. And it was only $40 :). Preop Screening Stats: 88 lbs, 32A/AA Day of Surgery Preop Stats: 92 lbs, 32 A/AA Postop Stats: 94 lbs, 32 D (Victoria's Secret) Updated on 5 May 2017: No changes just more dropping. I'll plan to keep posting pics for up to year to help other ladies. Updated on 12 Jul 2017: Here's some progress photos from my vacation. I ordered a size 32C for the green swimsuit and it fit perfectly. I am assuming if I went with a D cup it would have been a little big because of my petite frame. The other suit was an old one I had and it was an XS. All in all no reminders of the surgery at all. I have some bounce to them as well. They are still healing but I love the outcome. Updated on 29 Aug 2018: Loving my girls! Typically zingers still but they are very, very rare. Clothes feel out perfectly and my size is an 32D in VS. I got to keep all my clothes and still wear S of course. No regrets, no boob greed, and I finally feel like a woman. My baby face and small boobs were an insecurity I battled with but never thought I would actuallt go through the procedure. I’m happy I received the opportunity to participate in the trail. The surgeon and after care team were so amazing and made it even more worth it.