Ralph W. Bashioum, MD

I've always been totally fine with my breasts. In fact, if anything I would have wanted them smaller because I like to run and be active and smaller was more practical. But after 3 kids and turning 43 years old, I understood all the boob hype. My "meat" was gone and my girls were saggy and lifeless. I looked fine in a clothes but couldn't fill out my bras or swimsuits and really disliked the way I looked naked. I'm married and wished my breasts looked better during sex. I have friends with implants and they looked GREAT. But I couldn't mentally get comfortable with a foreign object in my body. Also - I've had 3 c-sections, ankle surgery, and foot surgery and have no desire to sign up for something that will require another surgery down the road. And even though I'm relatively fit, I have plenty of excess fat that I wouldn't mind parting with.
My surgery happened today and I'm currently about 3 hours post. I feel good-ish! I'm groggy and sore in the liposuction areas but nothing unexpected or super painful so far. It's FAR better than a c-section. Or ankle surgery where I couldn't walk for 6 weeks. But I am taking pain meds and resting with torso and feet elevated.
The doctor put in 590 CC's in each breast. My dream, unrealistic goal was/is 425cc to stick around. I know that won't happen but liked the way the 425 implant falsies looked when I tried them on.
Prior to kids and middle age, I was a 32C. Maybe a 32B is some brands of bras. During pregnancy and breastfeeding I was HUGE - a G or H cup size. Immediately prior to surgery I would put my cup size at maybe a small B. Hard to say because I couldn't fill out any bra - they were just too droopy.
I should say that I have 3 kids - ages 6, 4, and 2. I stopped breastfeeding about 1.5 years ago. ( BTW my doctor says not to blame the breastfeeding - just the pregnancies.)
My measurements prior to surgery were as follows. I haven't measured since but will soon and will update:
Fullest part of bust: 35" when I'm leaning over. 33" when I'm standing straight up
Band under boobs: 31"
Fullest part of butt: 37.5"
Widest party of right thigh: 22"
Widest party of left thigh: 21.25"
Around knees: 14"
My doctor took fat from my back flanks, my stomach, my upper thigh sides (saddle bags is the name?), and the inner part of my knee. I don't have post-op lipo pics yet but will post in the future when I can take my bandages off.
This site's reviews were SO helpful to me, so I'm here to pay it forward. Happy to answer any questions you might have!

Updated on 23 Jul 2020:
Posting side boobs pics before and after.

My busy measurement before surgery was 33". The day of surgery it was 39" and today - 1 day post-op - it's 38".

Today is the day after surgery and it's a lot rougher than yesterday. I'm sore and taking Percocet for the pain, but the drugs make me super groggy and give me a headache. Tonight I'm moving to Extra Strength Tylenol to see if that works well enough for the pain that I can lay off the narcotics.

Sleeping is tough. I loooove sleeping and would have relished kicking back and watching Netflix l napping for 3 days straight. But it's too uncomfortable. I nap in 30-min increments and did one stretch of 2.5 hours.

I'm moving around quite well and agree with others who say it feels good to move - it really does!

Peeing in a garment us such a weird experience because your brain is like no, I'm not going to pee while fully dressed and you're like no, there's a hole there, it's fine! Your brain will take a while to get on board with the situation.

Updated on 27 Jul 2020:
Day 5 after surgery and things are finally looking up. Days 2-4 were ROUGH. My breasts have very little pain and are hardly bruised so no complaints there. And my lipo'd areas are certainly sore and need to be treated with care. But that palea next to the giant headache I've had, as well as the nausea. A headache that wakes up because of the pain. My doctor had recommended more narcotics - and they did seem to dull the headache for a while - but ultimately I think the Percocet was making them worse. So on the morning of day 4 I switched from Percocet to Extra Strength Tylenol + Ibuprofen. I still get the overall pain relief I need but also my nausea is gone and my headache is 6000 times better.
Last night I was able to sleep for than 2 or 3 hours straight for the first time. It was amazing! And I've been napping all day as well. Finally feel like I'm giving myself that rest that everyone says you should be getting on days 1-3.
My breasts look amazing. I fully expect them to decrease by half in size but in the meantime I'm surprised at how much I like them.
I haven't removed my garment long enough to really check out the lipo'd areas but I think it will be a while before I get a sense of the final result. On day 3 I was up 14 lbs from my pre-sugery weight. Today I'm up 9 lbs. There's a lot of swelling going on so I'll have to be patient re: the final result.
Doctor appointment with the surgeon is in 3 days and I'll update again then.

Updated on 1 Aug 2020:
I'm 10 days post-op and feeling really good! Headache and nausea totally gone and no longer taking any pain meds. My lipo'd areas are sore to the touch but not overly bothersome. My breasts don't hurt at all.

My weight is down to only 3 lbs heavier than it was pre-op (instead of the extra 14 lbs I had right after surgery).

My waist is 1" smaller than pre-op. My bust measured 33" across pre-sugery. Immediately after it was 39", and now it's 36.5". So the swelling has really improved.

I'm still a little black and blue, but my surgeon thinks that will resolve within a week.

If I had to do it again, I wouldn't do it on the summer - the garment is hot to wear outside and because I can't wear a bra, I always want to pull on a hoodie or something, which is no fun in the heat.

I tried on some d maternity bras just for fun. Currently the E cup fits nicely. Previously I was probably a small B. I know they'll get significantly smaller but it's nice to have a frame of reference.

Updated on 2 Aug 2020:
Like everyone else says, I want to keep these new boobs and will be sad to see them decrease in size.

As a plus, I'm really liking the liposuction results. I have more of a waist and my hips look curvier in a really pretty way. I'm still swollen and black and blue, but it's already a nice improvement.

I know I'll lose a ton of breast fat sometime between now and 4 months from now, and dang that's gonna make me sad. I really love them right now.

Updated on 23 Aug 2020:
I'm still happy at 4.5 weeks. My liposuction areas are underwhelming. I definitely think the doctor took out minimal fat for sculpting purposes, which is understandable considering this is a breast procedure. But I wish he would have taken out more fat as long as he was in there - even if he couldn't transfer all of it to my breasts.

I have many lumps in my stomach but am hopeful they'll eventually disappear.

My breasts are still measuring 36.5" across - up from 33" pre-sugery. C cup bras are way too small. DD still fits well, but my breasts seem to be a little less fill them they were at 10 days.

My waist lost about 1", my thighs lost 1.5," and my knees lost 1" too. Overall I lost 2.5 lbs of fat in my body. Which is great but not significantly noticeable, as you can see from the photos.

I'm still not exercising, although I walk 3 miles every day. Am eating like a horse too. Really looking forward to more activity, which my doctor says can start at 6 weeks.

I generally don't wear a bra yet but have on occasion when I need to be around people. Still sleeping primarily on my back but sometimes spend time on my sides.

My breasts are droopy and I'll never be a swimsuit model but I'm still very happy about the results. I have way more volume than I used to have, and they feel great too.

Crossing my fingers that most of the volume stays for good!

Updated on 23 Oct 2020:
I'm 3.5 months (13.5 weeks) out from my surgery and am still quote happy. Here are my before and after stats:

Weight: from 123-128 lbs (eating like crazy and had broken foot)
Bust: from 33"-36"
Band below bust: remains at 31"
Cup size: from small B to full D
Waist: from 29"-28"
Fullest part of thighs: from 22"-21"

So I managed to gain 5 lbs and have my clothes fit better and my boobs look sexier - super satisfied with that.

Now would I go bigger - yep. Sure would. It's really a modest change that most people won't notice on me, especially because I have a wider waist and I'm still 43 years old with 3 pregnancies so they droop of course. But it's a big overall improvement that I notice and appreciate every day. Husband too. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Updated on 23 Oct 2020:
Wanted to add two more before and after pics. And also mention that I did zero massage or supplements or anything else. All bruising and puckering and everything went away on their own. I wouldn't waste money or time on any of that stuff. My doctor said to sleep on my back for a few weeks, wear the garment for a couple weeks and not work out or wear a bra for about a month and that's literally all I did. Easy peasy.

Updated on 2 Feb 2021:
Updating to say that my weight, measurements, and results are exactly the same as they were at the 3.5-month mark. I have gained (an unfortunate) 5 lbs since my surgery, but I've never looked this good at this weight - my breasts are full and my legs are slimmer than they would otherwise be.

I'm still a full D (maybe even a DD) cup size, and I'm measuring 36" across (up from 33" and a small B). My lipo scars are barely visible (a relief because I tend to form keloid scars), and I have no lumps. Although my breasts sag the way you'd expect them to (I did not have a lift), they are full and pretty and I'm really really happy with them.

I would do it all over again for sure.

I had a closed rhinoplasty one year ago. I waited an entire year to write my review to share my end results online in this review. I have to say that I LOVE my nose. I've gained a new confidence in my appearance not to mention a renewed self-esteem. Dr. Bashioum is patient and kind, even when I walked him through numerous photos of wish noses. The office staff is friendly and always remembers my name. Bashioum Cosmetics is truly a top notch cosmetic organization.

Dr Bashioum and his staff, especially Sandy (coordinator) and Jennifer (scrub nurse) are great. Seeing a plastic surgeon about a cosmetic procedure can be very uncomfortable and embarrassing, but they made me feel at ease. They also check up on you after your procedure and are always available. Everyone is professional and genuine! I love my results. I have had 3 procedures by Dr Bashioum and I recommend him to anyone who is looking for a great surgeon.

I was one of those women who could not make up their mind on what size to get - I went in three times to try on bras but the friendly staff always made you feel welcomed and they didn't mind. I decided on 375cc ( I was a 34 B pre surgery) I could tell when I met Dr. Bashioum he was for me- he was honest and wasn't trying to sell me the procedure. I went from a B cup to D cup and I am in my 5th month post op. They look very natural and the scarring is minimal. Of course it is nerve racking going into surgery but they take great care of you and the after care is unique and quick! The icing is so worth it and before you know it you are semi back to normal!

I specifically went to see Dr. Bashioum for my breast augmentation because I basically wanted a refill... I had lost a significant amount of breast fluffiness and tissue from breastfeeding, and wanted to fill my breasts back up to their original splendor (like when I was 15). I chose Dr. Bashioum because as a former exotic dancer I had seen the results thousands of breast augmentations, and 3 out of my four favorite pairs were done by Dr. Bashioum. Dr. Bashioum is somehow able to make breasts look very natural (even when they are enormous). I know that some women prefer a less natural look, which I am sure he could do if one so desired, but if you are wanting people to wonder, and not KNOW that your boobs are fake, pick him as your plastic surgeon. He is fantastic.

The staff was great, they are patient, and helpful in getting questions answered. They make you feel comfortable right away, and always remember your name and little details about you when you come in for follow ups.

Dr. Bashioum will allow you to reach him by cell phone and even at his home number should you have a question following surgery or a concern. The nurses will also sneak you out the side door and into the underground parking garage following surgery so no one will even know you were there getting work done :)

I am planning to see him again for rhinoplasty in the fall. FANTASTIC, and I got exactly what I had asked for, size and shape-wise... I couldn't be more pleased...

-side bar- other doctors will do preops at their office before surgery, and he refuses to. This is actually a good thing because the doctor offering to do the preop physical is not actually concerned about your general health, he just wants to make some money... Your regular doctor knows your health history and can better judge whether now is a good time for surgery for you and if you are healthy enough or not... Additionally I had a small breast lump that I was 99% certain was hormonal (which it ended up to be normal tissue :) ), and he wouldn't operate until I had it completely investigated... this proved that he had my best interests in mind, ahead of any financial gain, and further instilled confidence in me that I had selected the right plastic surgeon...

One of the Best Decisions I Ever Made - Wayzata, MN

I've been asking questions and following people's experiences on here. Its so comforting to see other ladies going through similar things and to not feel so alone.

Im 18 years old i had my daughter very young at 16 . Im struggling with the changes in my body at such a young age, i was shocked when i gained 90 pounds and lost it all but unlike the rest of these young girls my body stayed stretched out and full of stretch marks! They say young skin is more elastic and the body adapts better, but im living proof that is nonsense.

So ive decided to get a Tummy tuck & Saline Breast implants. Ive gone to consultations and researched alot and im done dreading my body im so young and life is to short to hate your body! I get so discouraged when i see people my age wearing bikinis and cropped shirts. Ive lost all confidence i had and cant seem to cope with the "Mommy tummy". My breast were 34DD's before i got pregnant and are now a sad pathetic floppy C that has no breast tissue !

I worked out did Zumba right after my pregnancy and lost all the weight in about 5 months. Ive tried Insanity, Running a mile every morning, and working out at the gym. NOTHING WORKS.

I went from 145 to 220 . and my daughter was only 7pounds 9 ounces !

I will update when i get things set in writing and have a procedure date. Ill be posting pics to if anyone's interested in seeing my progress throughout being a mother.



Updated on 22 Dec 2012:
by the way i had a c section also and for those of you who have had one know that horrible "pouch" you get with it !

Updated on 13 Jan 2013:
Tomorrow i have my consultation with a new PS that has good reviews & post op pics on here. So excited & nervous to hear what he tells me ! Im hoping the cost wont be too crazy either :O wish me luck !

Updated on 14 Jan 2013:
Just had my consultation and the ps literally wont do the tummy tuck on me !! He said with my age and the fact that I may have kids in the future I would really have to convince him to do it :( also try the quotes the other ladies on here got were wayyy cheaper than mine?? Dont know if I got screwed over because he didnt want me to have it done or what ... all it is is extra skin !!! Ugh so upset

Updated on 15 Jan 2013:
WENT FROM ORIGINALLY GETTING A TUMMY TUCK & IMPLANTS TO A BREAST LIFT FOR NOW.
The doctor really wants me to wait and think about it because if i have kids again there could be complications and it would be a waste of money . . so im taking his advice and getting just a breast lift. He said i have enough tissue where i dont need implants if i dont want to go bigger. I can always come back and get the fat transfer or implants down the road.
so ill take it for now !
Guess its back to dreadful working out with no progress on my loose skin :/

Updated on 15 Jan 2013:
date is set to may 22nd the countdown begins !

Updated on 1 Mar 2013:
Ive been so back and forth with this whole new transformation and have FINALLY DECIDED ON: A breast lift with implants. Im getting 375cc and im currently a deflated C so im hoping ill be a nice full D cup. Date is still may 22nd. oooweee im ready!

Updated on 19 Jun 2013:
I wish i knew how to delete all the crap ive been talking out loud about before oh man what a mess haha !

Updated on 19 Jun 2013:
This morning around 11 a.m i was given saline implants ( left 350cc) (right 400cc) smooth moderate profile. AND a lovely anchor style breast lift -_-

Things went smooth ! I havent puked i ate a chicken salad and milkshake within an hour after leaving the recovery room...
Im on vicodin and ice shifts this first night its crazy how you cant even feel the coldness of the ice !

Im excited to be able to shower and see my scars tomorrow yay me . But man oh man they are riding HIGH . I was a 36c before aurgery hoping to come out with a full d-dd when im all dropped and healed ! Anyone else have similar measurements and implants ???
Also i gained 6 pounds since this morning and feel like a COW im looking to still loose 15-20 pounds of fat replaced with muscle by the end of the summer without ruining these suckers !!

If i get any further comments i can go into more detail about pre surgery stuff and post surgery stuff i just feel like i wasnt loyal to this site so not many even know or care to know at this point hehe !

Updated on 20 Jun 2013:
Feeeling a little concerned it looks like the scars are very wide and there pointy seams in the middle along with a tiny pin hole which i pray doesnt open up ! Other than that i can finally pull my pants up on my own, hold up my water bottle, shower and carry my 4 pound yorkie around ;p

Updated on 20 Jun 2013:
1 day post op

I am a young looking 41 year old wife and mother. I have always been busty, 34D, but due to having kids, gravity, and weight loss, my breasts lost their fullness. I decided to get implants to restore them to a more youthful look. I wasn't sure if I would also need a lift, and thankfully my PS said I didn't need one.

Just a few stats about me: I am 5'1", 125 lbs. I was a 34D prior to surgery. I went with Mentor, Smooth Moderate at 475cc on both sides. I had my surgery on October 11, 2012.

My surgery went well. I am now 3 weeks and 1 day post Op. The hardest thing for me has been sleeping. It has been very uncomfortable and I wake up very stiff and sore. I am also wondering why my implants seem so firm when I am sleeping and wake up in the morning. does anyone else have this issue? They do soften up after I start to move around, so that's reassuring. My left side has been more bothersome than my right, which has been consistent from day 1. My right side has been perfect! So my left is still a little more swollen and seems to be more sore than the right if I do too much. Is this normal?

It's hard waiting for them to drop. I worry that they either won't, or that they will be uneven. My doctor didn't wrap me after surgery and does not recommend massage either. He says he has found it doesn't make a difference in the recovery process. He says it's better to leave them alone and let nature take it's course. I do worry though because it seems that most doctors are the opposite. Any thoughts?

I am going through a little depression now. I don't have any regrets, it's just hard to wait to look "normal" again. It's also hard hiding my condition because I haven't really told anyone.



Updated on 8 Nov 2012:
Okay, sorry I haven't posted an update! After talking to my PS's nurse, I decided to just wait to see the doctor at my 6 week check-up like originally planned. I talked over the concerns I was having and she said as long as I didn't have any sudden swelling, redness/rashes, sudden pain, and no fever, that there wasn't anything to be alarmed about. I am exactly 4 weeks post-op today, and the nurse said that since I was displaying any of those symptoms, the doc wouldn't be able to do anything. I am still too early in my recovery and he doesn't do any corrective surgeries until after 4-6 months of recovery. I guess it takes that long for things to heal and settle. It's so hard waiting!!! But I am feeling better everyday, and I FINALLY feel like I am back to my pre-surgery self, as far as sleeping and being able to regular daily things. I'm still trying not to over-do, as I'm still healing and I don't want to "ruin" anything or cause problems. I really feel like 3 1/2 weeks was the turning point for me. I can now tell that they are starting to settle down more into place and they are starting to soften up. They also don't seen to be as high at the end of the day. I realize that at 1 month of recovery, I just need to relax and let nature takes its course. I also have noticed that being more active is helping them drop and soften up.


Updated on 12 Nov 2012:
Today I finally found a bra that is comfortable. My husband wasn't very thrilled because I chose comfort over looks. He understands though and is just happy that I am finally more comfortable, and now I am able to start wearing more things. I am anxious to see my PS this Friday for my 5/6 week check-up. I have MANY questions!


Updated on 27 Nov 2012:
According to my PS, about 80% of women who have a BA, wish they had gone bigger. I NEVER thought I would say this, but now that they have settled more and pretty much all the swelling has gone down, I wish had done 500cc. I know it's crazy! I was sorta of scared going up to 475cc from my original plan of 400-425cc. I guess it's just nerve wracking not really knowing exactly how they will turn out. It's not like a blowing up a balloon where you can easily just let the air out if it gets too big. Oh well, I am still VERY happy with my results and would rather not look like a freak. LOL!


Updated on 30 Nov 2012:
7 wks Post-Op

So my update is this: I feel like I someone is poking my nipples with a thousand needles! Not really, of course. Apparently I am at the point of recovery when the nerves in and around my nips are starting to "wake up". I have had most of the feeling back in them since about week #2, but now it seems the rest is coming back. It's not a constant pain, it comes and goes, but it definitely is not pleasant. Yesterday we were at the Mall of America and it started, so I was nonchalantly trying to "hold" my left breast as we shopped. LOL! I'm still numb on the lower part of each breast, but it doesn't bother me, just is kinda weird. I'm just happy i have feeling back in both my nips. That's more important, right!?! LOL!!! Needless to say, this boob recovery thing is very interesting. I hope everyone else is doing well! :)


Updated on 2 Dec 2012:
So, I know that every style of bra is different, and this may change the size needed for that type of bra. I was wondering though if anyone else feels like they are getting bigger as they drop and fluff. I think this is happening to me, and I really don't want them to get much bigger! YIKES!!!!!!!


Updated on 2 Dec 2012:
I am 7 1/2 weeks post op and the incision site under my left implant started to itch a lot in the last 2 days. There doesn't seem to be any redness and it looks fully healed to me. I have not had any issues with it in the past. Should I be worried? What could it be?


Updated on 16 Dec 2012:
I am now just over 2 months post-op and everyday I am more happy about my decision to get implants. The uncomfortable recovery is soooo worth it. I decided to take the plunge and post a pic so everyone can really see my results so far.

Updated on 18 Dec 2012:
So, I asked my PS to send me the pictures that were taken right before I had my surgery. I am grossed out and embarrassed that I even looked like that before surgery! I didn't realize how bad I looked. I really don't want anyone to see, but I know that it might help someone else with their own surgery decision.

I am 36, 5'8" and 150 lbs. I've been bothered by my belly ever since I had my daughter at a young age. I exercise, watch what I eat and work hard to be as healthy as possible. Despite all my efforts my belly just won't go away. I've decided to have a tt because I want my outward body to look as healthy as I feel. Like many of you, this isn't about anyone but me. I am doing this for myself only. I want to be proud of my body and I want to better see the results of my healthy lifestyle. My husband doesn't understand, but is supportive, which is all I can ask for and expect. July 2nd is just around the corner and I'm really looking forward to my new body. 47 days to go!



Updated on 30 May 2012:
I am a month away from my tt surgery. I made the decision to move forward with the surgery in late March and have been anticipating my new look ever since. I started out obsessing about every detail, and since then have been able to find a happy place. I've scheduled my pre-op physical, scheduled the money transfer from my savings to my checking account, and I've even wrote out the check. I'm two weeks away from sending my payment in full, and I'm not having any second thoughts. I'm so ready to go through with this. I'm grateful to have this resource for sharing stories, hopes and fears. I will post photos once my surgery date is a little closer.

Updated on 5 Jun 2012:
Taking these pictures really reinforced my decision. They made feel self conscious, and fat :-(. I hope that my ps can get most of my stretch marks below my belly button. I posted some photos in some pants that I'd like to wear after surgery. I typically wear a size 8, and these pants are a size 6. I hate how my tummy above my bb goes over EVERYTHING I wear. I can't wait to wear clothes without that concern.

Updated on 10 Jun 2012:
I've noticed that a lot of tummy tuckers post their height and weight, and their before and after photos, but not measurements. I'm very curious to see how my measurements change. I thought others that are considering a tt may be interested too. So, here are my before measurements.

My ribs just below my breasts: 32"
The smallest part of my waist (about 2" above my bb): 31 3/4"
Right at my bb: 37 1/2"
Widest part of my hips: 40 1/4"

I am currently about a size 8. I carry nearly all my "fat weight" in my belly. I have very athletic legs, that are pretty lean. It should be interesting to see how a tt impacts my overall look, including my measurements.

Updated on 16 Jun 2012:
Well my tt is completely paid for and time is flying by. I'll have a flat belly in 15 days.

Updated on 28 Jun 2012:
Only 3 days and 4 nights to go. My surgery is at 7:30 a.m. on July 2. I need to arrive at the PS office by 6:45 a.m. on Monday. I am leaving to go out of town with my husband tomorrow morning and won't be back until some time Sunday afternoon. The next few days are going to fly by, and that's exactly what I need at this point in time.

I had my pre-op physical on Tuesday and was told that I'm healthy enough for surgery. Which is exactly what I expected. I'm excited and can't wait to have a flat tummy.

I asked the PS office what I should wear for undergarments and they told me nothing. I'm not the kind of girl that typically goes commando :-). Is that what everyone else did?

Updated on 5 Jul 2012:
I was excited going into the PS office on Monday morning. It was a whirlwind of a morning. They took pre-op photos, I had a consult with the PS and he drew on my tummy, I talked with the anesthesiologist, and the nurse. My mom and I got all the post-op instructions at that time. After my consults I walked into the surgery center and laid down on a padded surgical table. They strapped down my arms and legs and started an IV. They asked me questions about myself an kept the conversation light. Before I knew it I was waking up in recovery. They had me in a bed that converted to chair, the nurse slowly raised the back of chair and talked to me as I was waking up. Once I was more awake I felt a lot of pressure in my abdomen, the nurse brought me into the bathroom, but it was a false alarm. She said they drained my bladder during surgery and that it's normal to have pressure. I was feeling gassy and nauseous and started retching, which was really painful. After my nausea passed they wheeled me down to my mom's car and she took me home. Once I got home, I got settled into bed and was able to rest. That night I did get sick one more time, but it didn't hurt. I was feeling really gassy again, and after getting sick I felt much better. I also had some seeping from my incision and it went into my control garment and sweat pants. I had to change out the padding and went back to bed.

The next day I did really well. I washed my yucky sweat pants and other clothes. I took a shower, and put on fresh clothes. I felt like a new person. I got up and walked around and when I got tired I slept. I spent most of the day resting, and continued to take celebrex and vicodin. The vicodin has been giving me really wild dreams.

Yesterday went really well too. I took the sheets off my bed and washed them. When my husband got home from work I rinsed out my yucky control garment and he washed it for me while I was in the shower. While waiting for the undergarment to finish washing I iced my tummy to reduce the swelling. I had a lot of swelling and pressure in my abdomen yesterday. I prefer wearing the control garment.

Today is a good day. I stopped taking the vicodin this morning. I've been up and more active today. I feel good and I'm happy that I'm recovering quickly. I've been nervous that I'll be walking around like an old lady forever.

My honest assessment, I'm not sure how I feel about the results. I look slimmer and the big bulge above my bb is gone. My tummy looks lumpy, but I'm assuming that's the swelling. I am certain that the appearance of my tummy will improve over the next few days, so I haven't been to critical about how it looks. Once I'm able to put on regular clothes I'll be able to get a sense of what the end result will be. I'll post pictures once I can find my camera.

Updated on 9 Jul 2012:
It's been one week since my surgery and I'm doing well. I've been instructed to walk hunched over until I see my PS tomorrow for my first post op appointment (they want me to protect my incision, so no pulling or tugging from standing up straight). I get swollen and puffy, as you can see from the photos, but overall I'm pretty comfortable. The only discomfort I have is from my control garment, my low back gets sore from being hunched over, and my incision sometimes bugs me because it sits right where my control garment ends. I took the pain meds for four days, they gave me crazy dreams. So, no more meds, just healing.

What I'm looking forward to: standing up straight, no control garment, sleeping in a normal position, wearing normal clothes, getting out of the house (right now I'm still walking hunched over and I don't want to be seen in public ), sex, and exercise.

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Updated on 9 Jul 2012:
I forgot to add, I'm down four pounds from my pre-surgery weight. I will update my measurements once my swelling has gone down and I can stand up straight.

Also, looking at the before and after photos of myself just solidifies my decision. I have curves in the RIGHT places now :-)

Updated on 17 Jul 2012:
I am now jnto my 3rd week post op. I worked from home for days 7-10, and returned to work in the office on day 11. I worked for two days and then had the weekend to recover. So this is my first whole week back in the office. I'm very swollen at the end of the day. I'm icing my tummy while writing this. I bought a hook and eye style "corset" at Macy's to replace the control garment my PS gave me. I'm so glad I did this even though my PS said that I only needed to wear the control garment for two weeks. It helps me stay comfortable as I get more swollen throughout the day, and is way more comfortable then my original control garment. I had no idea the swelling would be as bad as it is. I thought that with the skin removal and lipo I'd be able to wear the same clothes I always wear, even with the swelling, boy was I wrong! I am wearing dresses and clothes that are usually way too big for me. I'm going to run out of things to wear to work. I'm getting around pretty good, and I'm able to stand up straighter, I'm just bummed that I'm so swollen. The swelling was way less during my first and second week when I spent more time at home. I am really glad I was able to see my tummy with less swelling so that I was able to gauge the results of my surgery, because now it's much harder to see. One last thing, my incision was glued shut (no stitches) and the glue has started to come off. My scar is looking pretty thin. I don't see any value in posting pictures at the moment, so I'm going to wait until my swelling reduces and the glue come off my incision, then you'll be able to see more progress. Hopefully this is sooner rather than later. Happy healing to everyone!

I am so glad I found this site! I have been reading reviews, tips, pictures and well wishes galore for a month now. It is so helpful because I don't know anyone personally whose had a BA. I have been wanting to feel more feminine and confident since I was about 20. Things happen in life where you just don't get around to doing something about it. I have finally got myself a great guy who loves me for who I am (small boobs and all) but will also support me and my decision to get a BA. He said he will also be my "nurse" while I recover. I have also a wonderful 14 year old son who is very supportive as well. I thought he would be weirded out about it when I told him but all he said was,"if that will make you happy". So that said, I am 38 years old, 5'5" and 115 lbs. I had my consultation May 3rd and knew I wanted Dr Bashioum to do my surgery after I thoroughly looked at his site and before and after pics then meeting with him and his staff. They are all very nice and professional. He is double board certified and also well known here in Minneapolis. FYI..if you mention you heard of him through 92.5 KQRS you will get a 15% discount! I decided on Saline 400cc, which will go up to 425cc beacause I'm going under the muscle, inframammary incision. My surgery is scheduled for June 5th at 6:45am. I have to have a mammogram first because of my age to make sure I'm healthy enough in there to have the procedure. I would be devastated if it turns out I'm not. I'm sure it'll be fine though. I've had no issues and no one in my family with breast cancer that I know of. I guess thats it for now. My count down has started. More updates as they come. Have a great day!



Updated on 30 May 2012:
I passed my physical with flying colors and my mammogram was negative for cancer. Yay! I had my pre-op yesterday and tried on sizers again. I am now leaning toward 450cc. I did the rice test and well whats 50 more cc's really. The nurse and my mom said the 450's look good. Not too big and they really even out my lower half. Hello Marilyn! I am sooo excited! only 6 more days left.

Updated on 7 Jun 2012:
Day 3 post op
My BA was a success. I went with 425cc high profile saline Mentor implants. My nurse said I was a very good patient and she wished all her patients were as easy as me. :) So I guess I didn't throw up on anyone which is good. The last thing I remember before surgery was the anesthesiologist telling me he was putting in the medication. I woke up a few minutes before they wheeled me out to go home. I was given a script for Celexa and told to take extra strength Tylenol. The Tylenol wasn't doing anything so I called the office and asked for a script for Vicodin. My new girls are still sitting high and in my armpits. Currently they feel like they are on fire and I am getting stabbing pains. I ice them constantly. Ice is my new best friend. I have been taking it VERY easy. It hurts to wipe after I pee so i figure it would be best not to do anything crazy. My boyfriend has been taking such good care of me. He has been setting his alarm at night and getting up every 4 hours to give me my meds and ice and help me to the bathroom. He didn't leave my side for 48 hours. He went back to work today and he felt bad. He is the best. I am not going to work until the 12th and its only a 4 hour shift. I am an HHA but there is no lifting with this client.

Helpful hints I haven't yet read on this site are....
1) use a shower chair.. I sat on it and my boyfriend washed my hair and my back and I was able to wash everything else while sitting comfortably
2) use a wedge.. I propped up in bed with that instead of having to sleep in the recliner and i used extra pillows to prop up my legs and a pillow under each arm and a neck pillow. Very comfy!

My mom had those from a previous surgery so I borrowed them from her. Thanks mom!

I will post pics soon

Updated on 7 Jun 2012:
*Celebrex not Celexa :P

Updated on 9 Jun 2012:
5 days PO today and I am feeling much better. I took my last Celebrex last night and am off the Vicodin. My boobs (I have BOOBS!) have finally decided to move out of my arm pits. Not completely but at least I can have my arms at my sides now. They are still sitting high but I think when they drop they will look fabulous. They are still pretty tight and I don't know if its my imagination or not but I think I can feel them moving around. Up and out mostly. I am still icing them regularly and taking it easy. My boyfriend, bless his heart, is still taking care of me and making sure I don't over stress myself. We are going over to my moms today for a BBQ. 92 degrees here today...bikini time I love it!