Oh my gosh kimberly Pummill is awesome! I got breast implants in February and they look and feel amazing! I got 415 cc. Mod. I weigh 148 and went from a 34 b to a 34dd! I would recommend her to everyone i know!
I am a 23 year old mother to one sweet 2 year old boy. I sadly started wearing a bra when I was 8 years old and didn't stop growing until I was probably 17. I am currently a 40DDD or 38F (I think...never actually been sized) and very tired of the back and neck pain and difficulty exercising, also of being the girl with big boobs! 3 family members have had reductions and all of them said they wish they had done it when they were younger, so I decided to do it now! My surgery is scheduled for Oct. 22nd! Any tips are appreciated! Updated on 1 Oct 2014: Picked up a few items for recovery, I really want to use tape as it seems like everyone has had good results with it but I haven't talked about it with my PS at all. Bought two kinds just in case...Also picked up a cheap recovery bra that was on sale! Now that I look at it it's probably going to be too big (hopefully) but the other ones just looked so tiny! :) can always exchange I guess. Also here are a few pics... Updated on 3 Oct 2014: I figured adding the long (boring?) part to my story might help somebody out in the future so here goes. I had been thinking about a breast reduction for about a year and then getting too scared and dismissing the whole idea.Finally in the spring of 2013 I asked my doctor for a referral to a PS. He wasn't super thrilled about giving it to me saying maybe I would like to wait until I was older and done having kids so I can try to breastfeed again and when my weight/body shape might be more stable. I took the referral anyway and researched the PS. Turns out I had actually been a patient of his when I was a kid and had a large mole removed. We were not impressed with the results, my scar is twice the size of the mole that was there (but not cancerous which I am thankful for). He also did not have good reviews for breast surgery, according to others he was very rude to women and not empathetic at all. Thinking about what my Dr said combined with my fears I canceled the appointment...and kept thinking and thinking about what life could be like with a smaller chest. In January of this year I went again to my doctor and asked for a referral to a woman PS. I told him that though I would like to breastfeed any future children it would not be a huge loss because I cant nurse with humongous boobs anyway (I tried! It sucked!) and also that I think I will be able to lose weight easier and stay at a healthy weight if I am able to exercise and run without so much neck, back, and shoulder pain. He agreed :) My consultation went well and she said I was a great candidate for a breast reduction, we could schedule surgery as soon as we got an approval from insurance. I was stoked and ready to get it done. Well getting an approval wasn't so easy. I was quickly denied. I have HAP insurance and they require 3 consecutive months of documentation of treatment for breast related issues. SO...I went to 4 weeks of physical therapy, lost 11 lbs at weight watchers, went to the doctor every couple of weeks to document that I still had back and neck pain, headaches, shoulder grooves, and occasional rashes. And then waited. and waited and waited. Finally after many many many calls to my Dr the PS and insurance I received an approval in September and scheduled my surgery for October!!!! Can't wait! Updated on 6 Oct 2014: had my pre-op appt today, kinda makes it seem more real and not just like a dream! I found out that my PS does a double row of dissolvable stitches (internally i think she said) and then uses glue on the outside. So I wont be needing any tape I guess! She also explained to me that when I have my surgery I will be getting shots in my back that will numb my chest so I won't feel any pain when I wake up . Has anyone else had this? Is it like an epidural or something? I don't really understand. Anyway she said she is planning to remove 500g from each breast which will put me at a C or D cup. As the day gets closer I get more and more excited for my new chest! Updated on 9 Oct 2014: WooHoo I cannot wait! I am so scared that I will get sick or something and my surgery will have to be pushed off til another date. My husband has a bad cold and now I feel like I am coming down with it :( If it is the same thing he has then it is mostly sinus stuffiness and no fever or anything. I just hope it's better before next week! I have been looking around for a comfortable button up shirt to wear to surgery and cannot find a reasonably priced one that is long enough (don't want my belly poking out) and also that doesn't look extremely like pjs. What did you guys wear? :) Updated on 11 Oct 2014: I have just been reading on here and realizing that my pre-op appt went a little differently than some other people's have. It was a 20 min appt where she answered all the questions I had and explained where she would make incisions and how much she would remove, how long the surgery and recovery at the hospital would take, and what I needed to do once I get home. Then I was prescribed pain meds, antibiotics, and nausea medicine and scheduled my post op appt. I did not have any sort of a medical clearance or any bloodwork done or anything like that. She did say I need to be at the hospital 2 hours early....is this when they will do more of an exam type pre-op? I am a healthy 23 year old and don't smoke or drink or anything but I'm just worried that this is a crucial step and I somehow missed it? Also I have read sometimes surgeons don't do EKG or other tests they let the anesthesiologists handle all that. I should just call and confirm everything and stop my anxiety but wondered if anyone else had a similar experience?? Updated on 18 Oct 2014: Getting so anxious to have this done with and start recovering!! Hoping I am not missing any important supplies. I need to pick up some gauze and prunes or prune juice (yuck but I might need it) but I think I have everything else... I was told to stop taking my multivitamin but I am still taking just vitamin c drops (hopefully this is ok) so I have some defense against all the colds going around. Every day I get nervous but then I think of how nice it will be to not stuff myself into bras and tight tank tops and shirts anymore! Updated on 21 Oct 2014: Ack! It's here already and I think my back knows it! It has been more sore than it ever has been this last week and I am so ready to relieve that pain! Getting kinda nervous but it really doesn't feel 100% real yet! Gotta be at the hospital at 9 am and surgery is scheduled for 10:30am. If everything goes as planned I am guessing I will be home around 3. Can't wait to be done and not worry about it anymore ;) I will update as soon as I can! Wish me luck!! Updated on 22 Oct 2014: done and home now, feeling pretty good just waitin for pain meds to kick in. Will update more later. Thank you for the well wishes! Updated on 23 Oct 2014: So here is how it went down. I know for me it was comforting to read everyone's details on how the surgery day actually went so I will post mine and feel free to ask any questions! I got to the surgery center at 9am (my surgery was scheduled for 1030) and was brought back by a nurse to get my gown on, IV put in, and then the anesthesiologist gave me a nerve block for my chest and back. They put Versed in my IV first so I would relax for the nerve block and it really helped take the edge off. The block was six separate shots in my back, three on either side of my spine. They felt kinda weird but not painful and then in 30mins or so my chest and upper back were numb. They let my husband sit with me until it was time to go into surgery so that was comforting. Then the PS came in and drew on me and filled out some paperwork and it was time to go into the operating room! My husband went back to the waiting room and they wheeled me into the OR. I got sort of nervous at that point because it all started to feel real and I knew there was no backing out now. The last thing I remember is them putting warm blankets on my arms and telling me to take some deep breaths through the oxygen mask. Then I woke up in a bit of pain like a burning/stinging sensation under and in between my breasts. I felt a little nauseous but not bad and they immediately gave me some meds in my IV for both the pain and the nausea and I felt a lot better after that, just groggy. My throat was raw feeling from the breathing tube and my mouth was so dry! They made me sip some water and eat a few animal crackers. I was in recovery for about an hour and a half and then I got to climb in the car and go home! I took my pain meds right away when I got home (Norco) and slept a few hours. Relaxed most the night on the couch and slept on the reclining love seat with lots and lots of pillows :) Went to the PS's office today for my post op and she said everything looks beautiful! I got to see them for the first time and they are so tiny!!!! So perky and small and I love them! PS said she took 5lbs off total!!!!! was not expecting that much! they are pretty boxy right now but I know that they will begin to take a more natural shape after swelling goes down. Feeling really good today! Thanks to all the lovely ladies on here for sharing your stories and giving me the courage to go through this procedure as well, I am so happy I did! Here are some pics Updated on 24 Oct 2014: Feeling pretty good so far. Pain is manageable with medicine and is mostly just discomfort not anything excruciating! Trying to rest as much as possible, I feel really good on pain meds and start to try and do a lot in the mornings, then by evening I am pretty exhausted. Gotta take it easy! My PS said to change my gauze every day so it is clean and tomorrow I can take a shower. Took a bath today and it felt so good to get clean and shave my legs :) Dry shampoo has been a lifesaver as my hair gets greasy pretty quickly. I noticed more bruising showing up today and still don't have sensation in my nipples. Been getting a few zingers tho so hopefully it will start coming back! I also have had a junky cough that started when I woke up in recovery, today it seems a lil better as I am able to cough stuff up actually and it feels more loose. PS said that lungs get really lazy after anesthesia and I have a inhalation device to prevent infection or pneumonia. Praying for a problem free recovery and am so thankful that everything is going well so far! Updated on 25 Oct 2014: Finally got up the courage to post some pics without a bra on. It has helped me so much to look at everyone else's pictures to know what to expect and also what is normal during healing, so my hope is that my pictures will help others as well! Took a shower today which was sorta scary :) but felt really good to get everything clean. I have been able to go 5 or 6 hours now between pain medicine rather than 4 and last night I slept through the night without taking anything until 10:30 this morning! In the evening yesterday I was feeling really nauseous and had to take a nausea pill, my appetite has been pretty normal but I think taking antibiotics with all the pain meds is messing with my stomach a bit. Forgot to add yesterday that I had my hair washed and trimmed and blow dried at the salon yesterday which felt amazing :) Will update more later! Updated on 28 Oct 2014: 5 days post op and feeling really good! I have been off pain meds for 2 days now and don't really have any pain except the zingers every now and then. They are painful but they only last a few seconds so they are easy to deal with :) I think I am healing pretty well, I don't have any drainage or bleeding (no drains) so far, so I am happy about that! Showering still feels weird and still no nipple sensation :/ My next post op appt is in 2 days and I get to start wearing a normal sports bra after that instead of this surgical bra. My stomach feels a lot better now that I am not taking the pain meds but I have to make sure I eat something substantial with my antibiotics or I for sure get nauseous. I still can't get over how small my chest is now! I have been sticking to my weight watchers diet to try and lose some weight off of my belly, now that I can actually see it from above I realize its not as flat as I had thought :) That's alright tho because that is weight I can actually lose. It was so frustrating to diet and exercise like crazy before and still feel like a big person because of my boobs, now I actually feel like a normal sized person :) So thankful that everything has gone so well so far, resting a ton and hoping for a speedy recovery! Updated on 1 Nov 2014: This pic is exactly one week post op. It is a little past that now and I am feeling super good! My bruising is decreasing not increasing now and swelling happens less each day. I can pretty much do everything I need to do as a stay at home mom. It takes a little more patience as I have to teach my son to do some more things on his own (getting in and out of carseat, pulling pants up ect) that I can't do for him right now. (I accidentally lifted him twice without thinking! Agh!) Sleeping was rough for a bit as I felt restless from laying around all day and it is so weird to sleep on my back. I have been trying to go for walks every day tho and that is helping me to sleep better. My incisions get really itchy when I lay down to go to bed every night and the only thing that helps besides rubbing them gently is laying in front of a fan with no shirt on. I still have no nipple sensation :( they do react to cold however, which is a good sign. My PS said to give it more time it could still come back. I really have been trying to work on my posture as well, it is more comfortable to hunch over but is not flattering! I have another follow up appt in 2 weeks and she said we can start talking about scar treatment then and my weight restraints will be different. After my 1 week appt I do not have to wear the surgical bra anymore which is nice because it was too big and looked hilarious under most shirts. I have been wearing a genie bra that my mom gave me, it is sooo comfy! I have two other bras that I can wear, a sports bra and a front closure one but they are a bit to tight still since I am still swollen and they are not comfortable on my incisions that are on my sides. Hope everyone is doing well! Updated on 1 Nov 2014: Updated on 2 Nov 2014: I have been feeling really really good but today I had 2 tiny spots of blood under my right breast and having some pain there on both sides too :( I think I have just been doing way too much because I felt so good so I need to try n kick back again and relax and hopefully it doesn't get worse! Trying to upload 1 wk pic again... Updated on 8 Nov 2014: So it's now a little over 2 weeks since my surgery and I feel really good! The glue is just starting to flake off and I can see my incision lines a bit now. Just thin pink lines is what it looks like. I haven't been having much pain but sometimes when I sit down after cleaning or a busy day I do feel a bit sore. Motrin usually takes care of that right away. My swelling is definitely going down and they are starting to drop a little, I have a little bit of cleavage now where before I pretty much had none. Also I am noticing less bruising and more mobility as far as reaching and lifting my arms up. Still wearing a thin sports bra and have been using nursing pads instead of gauze, as they are more convenient and comfortable. For a few days I had some yellow and bloody seeping at the T on my right side but that has stopped for now. So happy with my recovery so far and I just hope it continues to get even better! Updated on 12 Nov 2014: 3 weeks post today and feeling almost normal. The glue is starting to flake off and I can see some of my incisions now! I also can see the T of the incisions and a few days ago noticed a yellowish scab there. After a shower the scab came off a bit on the right side and there is a small opening that seeps yellow and bleeds a bit now each day. I called the PS and the nurse said that it is fairly common since there is so much tension at that point. She said as long as they are not hot and red, I don't have a fever, and there is no smelly or huge amounts of drainage it is probably not infection. I have my 3 week check tomorrow morning and am anxious to have the Dr look at it and confirm that it is not infection setting in. The nurse said to put antibiotic cream and fresh gauze on those areas 2X a day until my appt tomorrow. Hoping everything can just heal up and I won't have any further issues! I definitely have a favorite boob now, hopefully the more they heal and settle the more symmetrical they will become, but my right boob seems to be the problem child so far. The nipple on that side is a bit more oval than the left and a bit inverted and the shape is more pancake like than the left which is nice and round. I still do not have nipple sensation but I honestly did not have a ton before due to stretched out nipples and inverted nipples. Overall I am very happy with how they look so far, I think I had realistic expectations and they have exceeded them already. The best part is wearing size medium shirts and button up shirts and feeling like a huge weight is gone off of my neck! They look great in a shirt so I'm not complaining if they aren't perfect underneath it :) Updated on 13 Nov 2014: Just got back from my 3 week check and PS said everything is looking great! I had a low fever last night and today and a very sore throat so I was slightly concerned the fever was from an infection but she assured me it is not. She said the little holes are typical separation and it should heal up just fine with some antibiotic cream everyday. I now have no restrictions at all!!!! I can't believe it! I can finally lift my son and exercise and wear whatever bra I want and sleep on my side! She even said I can do weightlifting now as long as I am comfortable and use good judgement. If I feel sore or anything hurts she just said to back off and wait a lil longer. She also said there is still a chance for nipple sensation to return, yay! Hope everyone is doing well! Now I need to get over this lil flu or whatever I have so I can appreciate being almost back to normal. Updated on 21 Nov 2014: 1 month post now! man time flies! Almost all the glue is off now and I can see my incision lines. My openings are closing up and most of the bruising and swelling has left. I think they will still continue to drop a bit (or i hope) because they are still kinda boxy and stick out a little to the sides. They are still sore but I can do all my normal everyday things now. Working out I just stay away from running and jumping for now but it feels so good to break a sweat again. I bought a 36D bra that was on sale at target for 4 bucks. I know I am not done dropping, swelling ect yet but I thought I would just try it for kicks since it was so cheap and so pretty. I was originally wearing a 40DDD or 40F so yeah a 36 is a little small. I put it on and it fit!!!! The band was a bit tight but I think I am used to all the stretchy sports bras I've been wearing and hopefully I can drop some more pounds and it will fit perfect! Before surgery I weighed 173 and now I am at 166 and losing...yay!
I am a mom to 3 great kids! I nursed my first for 23 months, 2nd for 13 months and the 3rd for 32 months. Which means at the end of that wonderful journey, it left me looking more like a 10 year old again. I am 5'2'' and weigh in at 102. I was a 34AA, if I even bothered to put a bra on, I mostly wore tank undershirts under my clothes. So being petite I knew that I wanted to look the most natural that I could! I meet with a board certified PS and explained what I was looking for and she understood right away. We discussed saline and silicone, the advantages and disadvantages for each. She gave me tons of reading materials and of course I found this site to help answer any questions that I had. After discussing with my husband we decided to go with silicone. They felt the most natural to us, soft and supple, more that breast tissue. We read up on all the current FDA and we felt that the advantages far out weighed the disadvantages. My 3rd visit with my PS, we decided on going with 300cc mod profile silicone implant on my right side. I have two different size breasts so she used a sizer during surgery to find the best possible match. She used 260cc on my left. She went in using the inframmary incision, subpectoral placement. After surgery, I felt only mild discomfort. I felt a little nauseous right after, but the nurse gave me a medicine right in the IV, within a minute or so I felt fine. I have a very high level for pain and except for the ride home, I only felt mild to low pain. I never used any of the pain medicine that she prescribed me. I did use frozen veggies to help with the swelling and when I needed it I only used Tylenol for pain. I did have my mom stay with us for 5 days and by the 5th day I was back to doing everything on my own again, except for vacuuming--that I couldn't do for another week. I am now 11 weeks post op, and we both LOVE my new boobies! They have a nice feel and look to them. If someone didn't know I had surgery it would be hard to tell. Updated on 15 Nov 2014: Today marks 6 months of my BA: I could not be more excited with the way they have turned out. They have settled in real nice and my scars are healing very well. I go and have my check up with my doctor in 2 weeks and I am sure she will be happy with the way they are turning out. I am a perfect C. I wear a vs 32C.
Hi! I am a (yikes!) 39 year old mother of 3 great kids! I breastfed all of them. They are 15, 10 & 21 months. After my oldest 2 my breasts still looked pretty good, I wore maybe a 34c, they could have been a little perkier but they weren't too bad! But after my son, they are basically nonexistent! I'm a saggy 34A :( I've been considering a BA since I stopped nursing Carson. I finally talked to my husband about it a few months ago & told him how unhappy I am with how my boobs look & he said if I want to get it done to go ahead. I worked in a very busy ICU for 15 years before I had my last baby & my hubby is a doctor so we had a pretty good idea of who we did & didn't want to go to see for consults already! I'm 5'5", 118lb, currently like I said a sad 34A! I would like a full c cup, but not too out there! I want to look better for me, but I don't want it to be too obvious to everyone I see. Although with how padded my bras are no one will probably know! Thank God for Victoria's Secret!! I went for my consult in September & I really loved the dr. She made me feel very comfortable, answered all my questions. I tried on a few sizes that day & I'm pretty sure I'm going with 400cc silicone, under the muscle. I actually just happened to stumble across this site the day of my consult when I was looking for more info & I'm so glad I did! It's been so great to be able to read everyones stories, & find out a little more about what to expect. My surgery isn't scheduled until Jan. 9, she could have gotten me in much sooner but we already have a vacation planned. We're taking all 3 kids to Mexico between Xmas & new year & I just didn't feel like that was enough time for me to heal well enough to enjoy the vacation. Not when I know the girls will want to zip line & kayak & stuff like that! I really appreciate anyone's input from your experience! Updated on 10 Jan 2013: Well, I had my surgery yesterday, January 9th and everything went great! I had to be at the surg center @ 7:30. They got my IV started right away, asked some questions, my PS came in & did her drawings on me & everything got started right on time, by 9:00! I woke up in a little bit of pain which of course I expected, also some nausea, which I expected. I'm always nauseated after anesthesia. My RN gave me some dilaudid & zofran right away. Then I ate a couple of cracker & had some ice water so I could take some oral pain meds & go home! I was home by 1:00! Oh, and my surgery also included a scar revision on my right breast from melanoma that I had several years ago. She was able to make my scar look a lot nicer! The dr that did it did a terrible job! Yesterday afternoon I just slept for a while. I'm taking vicodin es, every 4 hrs. She said I can take 2 if I need too, but I'm only taking 1. I'm not in that much pain, I would say discomfort, but I don't want to take niching the first couple of days & have the pain get worse bc then it's harder to get under control. I started my antibiotic last night too. I did get very itchy from the anesthesia, I had to take benadryl last night, I couldn't even sleep! I think sleeping has been the hardest part, I sleep on my tummy or side! I got a big pillow that helps you sit up in bed, but I ended up just using 2 firm pillows & I did have to go slightly on my side! I had a post op appt today, she said they look great! They are pretty swollen, but they do look good, I think when the swelling goes down I'll be very happy! Right now they feel too big! She said the swelling usually peaks at day 4. I did get some pics last night & this morn, I'll get them up as soon as I can! Thanks so much for all the well wishes ladies! Updated on 12 Jan 2013: My recovery has been going really well! Much better than I expected actually, I'm not having any pain, I'm pretty swollen, my PS said that usually peaked about day 4 which is today for me. I'm pret Updated on 13 Jan 2013: I'm not sure what happened to the rse of my post last night! I was saying that I am pretty bruised, but I bruise easily being fair skinned & red headed! They are still so swollen this morning, I got up around 6am to get frozen peas to put on them. No real pain though & the shape looks nice. The hardest part is trying to sleep on my back & not pick up my 2 yr old! I really will try to get pics up today! Updated on 23 Jan 2013: Ok, finally some pics! I only have some from today because for some reason itunes won't let me get them off my phone, so i had to take these with my camera. I'll have to try to figure it out later so I can get my before's & the ones from the first few days up. We're having just a small family birthday party for my little guy tonight, he's 2, so I don't have time to mess with it ;) I'm feeling really good boobie-wise, I got a sinus infection though & was running a temp for a few days & felt awful, but I haven't needed anything for pain since day 2. I saw my PS last Thurs which was day 8 for me & i can wear comfy, unwired bra's, like Genie, or Ahh bra's. I got a couple. They are pretty comfy, but anything is better than that surgical bra! I see her again on monday. I have been doing some light excercising, walking, or using the elliptical & just not using the arm part of it @ a slower pace than usual. She said that was ok. I can't wait to order some swim suits, hubby & i are going to St. Thomas in April! I hope everyone else is healing well that had theirs recently! Updated on 29 Jan 2013: I went back to see my PS yesterday, I will be 3 weeks tomorrow. Everything is looking great! I can start using Mederma (scar treatment gel) on the scar on the top of my breast, the one from the melanoma, beause the surgical glue is almost all gone on that incision. She said I can start using it on my other incisions as the glue wears off. I can workou as I feel comfortable, she said use good judgement. Yay!! I can lift my little boy again! so I got up and got a 45 min workout in this morning before everyone got up! nothing that strenuous though, 30 min on the elliptical (but a lot faster than what I have been doing!) & a 15 ab dvd. Already the scar from the melanoma looks so much better than my old one & it's only been 3 weeks! I'm very happy with how my breast are looking more & more. I knew they would be swollen at first but i kind of thought omg they're too big for a few days there but im very happy now & i know, given a few weeks more time they will look even more like they "belong" to me & the scar will continue to heal! I'm very happy with the work she did! Updated on 6 Feb 2013: I'm 4 weeks today! Very happy with how everything is looking, it seems like my left has dropped down just a little bit more than my right, hopefully righty will catch up! It's still early! The scar from the melanoma repair is looking better every day! I'm so happy about that! I've been working out, pretty much back to my regular routine. I'm so glad i decided to do this! Updated on 22 Feb 2013: So....I went to Victoria's Secret today to get measured & do some shopping! I needed a 32D in the bras that were demi cup, 32C in the regular, fuller coverage cups. I bought 8 new bras! The girl that helped me was great, I got there right after the mall opened so I could get it done while my son was at pre school, so they weren't busy yet, and she had me try on about 12 different bras & different sizes just to be sure what was comfortable. On my way out of the mall I stopped in Macy's, where I had parked & looked for a minute there & found a sports bra that im hoping will keep the girls in place! It's a Champion, made by Bali, & it has a soft wire & seperate cups. I tried it on & I was doing jumping jacks in the dressing room! Thankfully no one was in there, haha! The bounce was significantly less than with the VS that I curently have. They were on sale too, but one get one 75% off, sadly, they only had 1in my size, but I ordered 2 of them & got the sale price so I'll have them in a few days & see how they work. I took pics with the new bras & one in an everday sweater, you can see that in my normal clothes they don't look too big. I'm so happy with how well my scar from the melanoma is healing! Some days I don't think it looks very good, then today when I got on to update my pics I can see how much better it looks from 2 weeks ago! I'm using mederma on it in the morning & at night & vitamin E oil a couple of times a day. I use it on my implant incision scars too & they are healing nicely.
34AA, 135lbs, 5'4", 12.5-13BWD, Inspira 415cc SRF (smooth, hp, round), sub-muscular. Breastfed for 45 months total. +50lb weight loss. Yoga noob. Desperately in need of sun:) Consultation was back in November and I was in between 2 sizes, 385 SRF & 415 SRF. I had originally thought I wanted a moderate profile but after speaking with my doctor and learning more about sizes and profiles, I went with a high profile. I also wanted shaped implants but quickly changed to round after learning about the shifting issues and the post-op drain. Pre-op ~ went in knowing what I wanted and feel completely confident in my decision. I'm all ready for surgery! All thanks to the reviews from women on this site:) Updated on 15 Mar 2017: Made it! In a lot of pain. Trying to rest as much as I can but also making sure I get up every now and then to move around. My frozen peas and I have bonded quite nicely. Updated on 15 Mar 2017: I feel a lot better than I did this morning. Still in a great deal of pain and soreness but only on the sides. I don't remember much before my surgery. I do recall getting myself preparing for the nerve block and hearing the anesthesiologist state that he was going to disinfect my back before the block. The next thing I remember, I was moving to another bed and a mask being put over my face. And then I was waking up from surgery. The pain was pretty intense and made it difficult to breath as moving my chest caused even more pain and pressure. I was sent home about an hour later with my calf compression pumps. They make it a little more difficult to move around as I have to either carry the little machine around with me or undo the sleeves. It's very light but it's uncomfortable to bend over regardless. I've been living in my recliner. My post-op is tomorrow morning. I'm so looking forward to feeling better and increased mobility! Updated on 17 Mar 2017: Feeling much better. Pain is easier to manage now. I avoided the excessive morning swell by sleeping mostly upright in my recliner. My belly is swollen as are my hands. My first post op appt. was yesterday and I finally got to take a good look at my new friends. I have always been small on top. Even after gaining 70+lbs, even while breastfeeding. I much prefer this form :) Updated on 19 Mar 2017: I never had to shop for a bra. The comfy and extremely padded number I previously owned has been around so long, I can't even remember where I bought it. More like 2 little pillows, that bra helped fill out shirts for many years and it should have been tossed a long time ago but I wasn't excited about searching for a replacement. So crying in the middle of Target would be totally expected of someone who doesn't know the first thing about bra shopping. So many options for straps, cups, support levels....can be overwhelming to a boob noob. I've seen other members with particular sports bras that zip in the front so I figured I'd try a few on and be on my way to the other wonders of Target. I was not prepared for the constrictive ways of the front zip closure. Maximum support is painful. Another style I tried seemed too low cut and cut me in half-__- The most comfortable sports bras were medium support and seemed to fit quite lovely...getting out of it was another story. Which one do I buy?! What if I buy the wrong one?! Why all this anxiety over a sports bra?! I decided against the front zip boob crushers and opted for the medium support that requires a little more effort to remove myself from. Still pretty bloated (chubby day pants still tight) left feels tighter but has more sensation. Updated on 1 Apr 2017: I recommend joining the group for your surgery month. I'll check in every few days and read a few comments and discover that my "issues" are typical and what I should expect in my recovery. My group is such a friendly bunch of ladies that are always ready to respond to another's query. Because of them, I didnt worry when my boobs began to molt, I don't stress that one boob looks different than the other and I won't be shocked if I get zaps, zingers or pings. I scoped reviews prior to my BA for picts and stats. Occasionally I'd read thru the story of a fellow breastfeeder of broods, but i mainly gathered statistical data. Personally, i know from experience that I need to avoid unnecessary stress by skipping over the worry of others. However, my group has kept me informed and I highly recommend joining yours. Here are some photos, sorry I can't remember when I took them exactly as I struggle with taking them myself. Maybe 5-6 days ago? I've learned that different angles give me different shape perception. My right has always experienced more swelling and is still pretty numb. They itched for 2 days and then came the molting process. I believe I have Mondors cord as well but I may be predisposed as I have a blood clotting disorder. I found others photos to be so helpful so I will post additional pics after these "best attempt" at self photography:) Updated on 8 Apr 2017: Mondors Cord under right & left breast. Reaching up is difficult. Heating pad & Ibuprofen recommended but I haven't had much luck with either. Hot water beating down from shower head was beyond uncomfortable but I'm able to reach up easier now. Not much else to be done but wait. Hopefully the glue comes off soon as it's suddenly sticky and collecting lint-__- Updated on 11 Apr 2017: Ya I have to start eating better as I still can't fit into my jeans comfortably :/ I can't keep blaming it on retained water from my surgery. 4 weeks tomorrow! Yes I was eating a lot of cookies and other goodies but it was totally worth it and now that I'm moving around more, hopefully I don't have to buy new pants. The surgical glue is gone! Finally! It had become sticky and collected lint so I couldn't wait for it to come off. It turned to goo and I massaged a little extra directly on the scar with my Palmers oil (smells like roses!) and it rolled right off:) I do have the little ends of my stitches poking thru the outer edges of my incisions now but they haven't been a bother. I'm lifting the toddler again which I've missed dearly and close cuddles are so much more comfortable :) Still dealing with Mondors Cord which has become more manageable as don't notice any pain while reaching even tho they still very visible. I do have an uncomfortable sensation down the front of my ribs in certain positions, like while sitting and then resting elbows on tops of thighs. Grateful I found the Cozy Bra (Hanes). I had wanted an inexpensive bra(s) for the post op period but also something comfortable. Works perfect for me because it's available in traditional straps as the racer back style doesn't work with a lot of my tops. I am probably maxing out the stretch of the Cozy (purchased a small) but It doesn't feel tight and doesn't irritate Mordors so I feel like I have some support with the small. You can't try on sizes due to the packaging and reviews state it runs small but it has great stretch. My right side was more swollen but they are evening out but still tight. My left has more sensation over all, still pretty numb in both nipples. 4 weeks has gone by fast! Updated on 29 Apr 2017: Some changes...rounding out and slightly softer. I despise all racerback bras. I still wear the surgical bra to sleep and no bra during the day if I can get away with it :) Right side had the worse end in regards to sensation loss and it is slowly improving. Updated on 11 May 2017: Went to Victoria Secret 1 week ago as my ps stated I could now be sized at my last post op. I had measured myself to get an idea and according to the +4 method (which I now know to be outdated and ridiculous) I would be a 36A -__- same goes for the Victoria Secret sizing method which measures you around at ABOVE your bust for your band size. Huh?! That is like buying shoes based on your thigh measurement :/ Throwing the +4 method back into 1950 where it belongs, I had concluded that my band size is a 32. I walk into Victoria Secret and ask to be sized. I am wearing no bra and she measures me loosely over 2 shirts. Proclaims I'm a 34C and my heart crumbles in disappointment. When she returns to check the fit of the try on 34C, her eyes widen and she quickly states I am more like a 34DD and runs to grab a new try on. I have never been so happy with someone's mistake. With so many different styles and well over an hour to try on what I liked, I did not narrow down my choices yet and I am happy I didn't splurge that day as I now would like to try the 32DDD as the center gore was never laying flat. So here are some poor quality/bad lighting photos of my day of bra shopping. I absolutely love the unlined bras as I could never even dream of wearing them pre op. :) I'm in no rush to select my favorites as Mondors Cord is back and I felt quite sore after trying on all the underwires, but i did enjoy myself!! Updated on 22 May 2017: Everything is great! Mondors Cord seems resolved and I've been wearing the gorgeous unlined bras I just bought at VS a few days ago:) I ended up sizing myself and so glad I did all the crazy research lol:) Body by Victoria Demi in a 32DDD (no pictured) Unlined Demi 32DDD (love their one!) and 2 Pink Unlined Date bras (black one, cloud tie is being shipped) 34DD as the 32 only goes up to DD. They all fit wonderfully and are so comfortable. I really expected the opposite! I prefer the unlined and wish they offered more in this style as the lined bras remind me of padded bras :/ I tried on a few dream angel styles and didn't care for any of them. I also couldn't get a good fit out of the Perfect Shape bra. I burned out on applying anything on my scars and switched to silicone sheets and I'm going to give it some time before I check my scars for improvement:) my right side is catching up but still has a lot of sensation loss but it does itch often so I take that as a good sign:) Updated on 26 May 2017: Finding comparisons of BA before & after the Drop & Fluff can be difficult. Before our surgeries, we scope out before & after BA pics and those are typically taken before the D&F, but once you are in the post op period, there isn't a lot of examples of the changes that will occur. You can search "drop & fluff before and after" but nothing relevant comes up:/ this photo is a still I took from a video. If I find more, I will def share:) Updated on 26 May 2017: 10.5 weeks. I think they completely different when I raise my arms. Updated on 27 May 2017: Zillions of before & after breast augmentation photos, but very few photos of what those boobies look like AFTER settling. Even the after photos are typically taken at 3ish months. Drop & Fluff is a process and takes months no matter how big your boobs are to begin with. But having less tissue to begin with, means a longer process (that's me!). They soften, the different muscles stretch and relax and your implant drops. You lose some upper pole fullness and gain a fuller rounded breast on the bottom. While looking for information, I found that doctors are all over the place when it comes to stating when the process is complete. Some state 4 months, some 9-12. I put these lovely collages together for those (patiently?) waiting.... Updated on 2 Jul 2017: I am a slow person. I don't like to be rushed, I prefer to take my sweet time and I usually arrive late. My boobs are following suit and didn't seem to be making much progress for what seemed to be for-ev-er. I'm now making sure to massage more often (1x day or more) and I try to go braless when I can. Having no working parathyroid glands works against me as it leaves me with a calcium deficiency. Calcium assists in muscular contractions and if I forget a dose or get stressed, calcium blood levels drop and I experience tetany and/or constant whole body muscle contractions :/ For a few weeks I thought my boobs would stay high, stuck up under my muscle forever since all my fellow March surgery girls were way ahead of me as far as dropping and settling goes but like I mentioned, I'm slow:) maybe I can't see my progress because I'm over analyzing.... Finally bought a bralette today! Caught the end of what's left of VS semi annual sale and while there was not a single bra in my size, I did find a bralette that I had been interested in a few weeks ago. No time to try on in store but was relieved when I finally did at home. I was afraid of bralettes because of the size guide as I don't fall into any size category. The medium band fit well on the tightest clasp and the halter neck is adjustable. Win win for $7. Super soft lining and the black lace makes it appear I put some sexy effort in with no actual effort at all;) Sensation has also been slow to return with right behind the left and what I can feel, isn't a pleasant feeling. Scars aren't pretty :/ using silicone scar strips religiously for about 6 weeks? Maybe more. Including photos in my update as I found them so helpful when researching my BA:) Take care and Happy 4th! Updated on 30 Sep 2017: Doing great at 6 months and I love my results. I didn't have much change in D&F until a few weeks ago. All the bras I purchased at 3 & 4 months PO fit differently now. My 32DDD VS Unlined Demi is too tight in the cup and my 34DD Unlined Date bras are too wide in the band but I just latch on the tighter hooks. The 32DDD also has less coverage in the cup. They're squishy but my muscles will tense at times. My right is finally catching up to the left :) So happy!
