I knew Dr. Howard was an excellent surgeon from my years working on a surgical floor. He did my "mommy makeover" tummy tuck with breast lift/augmentation and lipo to flanks/axilla. I couldn't be happier with the result! He was attentive and professional from the get go. His nurse Betty was also very competent and kind. The fees were fair without the nickel and dime coding that goes on in the big health systems. I would recommend Dr. Howard as a trustworthy and skilled surgeon with an excellent bedside manner. Thank you Dr. Howard and Betty!
I have been contemplating BA for atleast 4 years now and after my 2nd child and breastfeading 2 kids, I went from a 34B to a Victoria Secret 34A on left side and AA on right side. I am 38 years old and want to feel like a woman, not a pre-teen. My husband loves me and my body but says if this is what I choose then he supports me and will love me either way, even if I still back out of it. I had received a couple of great plastic surgeon names and had an initial consultation with a Dr Breit first as he works with Avera-my clinic. My appt was only 45 minutes long and it was nothing short of a wham, bam, thank you for supporting my beautiful office and house, waste of time (quoted $8400 for BA and he wanted to do a breast lift additional $800). He never asked what my size goal was, only measured me because I told him I was asymetric, showed me a pamphlet, and said we will see you the day of surgery. Bring pictures with you, look on loveyourlook.com for a video to explain things and any questions I will answer them on the day of surgery. REALLY?????? Oh gosh, is this what I want? I booked a surgery date because all I could think to myself was, I'm just backing out again. I had talked to a friend a week later and she suggested me to go to the 2nd dr for a another opinion. I booked my consult with Dr Howard and although he was running late, it was well worth it. I had mentioned to him I did alot of reading up on BA and he had told me that it was good, however he believes he needs to still inform me of the procedure, types of implants, risks, etc. He went through a checklist that he has, binder, books, as to not miss anything and he tells you why he chooses one way versus another, not using the word "because". He went through this info with us in a conference room, then took me into a room where he measured me, took before pictures and advised me that he did not think a lift, as the other dr suggested, would be advisable. He explained why and that there maybe something else that can be done if needed, after the surgery when everthing settles but we will look at that later. My husband came with me to both consultations and he was really impressed with Dr Howard. One thing my husband said was that Dr Howard reminds woman that each body is different and that my breasts will look different than the woman's next to me, even if I started out almost the same. I'm glad I decided to have 2 different consultations and not just go with the first, although I would be having my BA in two days instead of the 19th. I am much more comfortable and happier knowing I am being cared for (PS, Dr Howard was $3200 less than Dr Breit). Next appt is on the 9th for my pre-op to show pictures and do sizing, etc., something Dr Breit does not do! I was so excited, I paid for the operation before I left the office and the hospital when I got into my car!
I have always wanted larger breasts ever since I can remember. I am small chested 34A possibly small B and after having my daughter a year ago my breast even changed more. Now they are deflated flap jacks. I finally am becoming more serious and deciding to get what I have always wanted. I have been reading tons of reviews online and cant wait to start my journey! I am going to be calling to make an appointment consultation tomorrow. I am still debating between silicone and saline but know all those questions plus more will be answered by my doctor. I would love to get them done in early March, thinking the first week. I plan on taking a week off to recover, but seeing my daughter is only 13 months old I am worried about returning to work and having to get her in and out of the car seat. I cant wait to show off my new boobs. Thats all I have been able to think about!!! Updated on 15 Jan 2013: I booked my initial consultation yesterday! So excited. I got in on February 11th and received my paperwork today! Cant wait. Nurse said its just a typical 2-3 week wait which would be perfect! Updated on 28 Jan 2013: I just got back from a week vacation to the Caribbean. It was an amazing time but now that I look through all my pictures, I sure wish I had the girls before I went on vacation. I look literally flat in every one of my bikini pictures. A little disappointing. On the flip side its only 2 weeks till my first consultation! I cant wait! Updated on 13 Feb 2013: I had my first consultation this past Monday and fell in love with my doctor. He went over everything, answering my questions before I even had a chance to ask them. I feel really comfortable with him and his staff. I told him that I wanted a large C small D depending on my frame and dont want it to look to big for my body. I scheduled my surgery day for March 7th!!! I am beyond excited! Its finally happening. I have one more appointment in two weeks where I have to bring in pictures of what I would like to look like in people comparison to my size/height so that way we can finalize what size I should go. Any one have a good recommendation on sites I can use to get some good pictures? My biggest fear was the down time and lifting my daughter who then will be 15 months. He assured me that I will only be down just a few days, I took off a week just in case and as far as lifting my daughter he can show me modified versions to lift her, but no lifting her for the first few days. I have read so many posts from you ladies on here which seems to help out a lot but I know every body is different and it might be completely different for me. I seriously need to post some pictures soon! Updated on 15 Feb 2013: I need to post some pics but here are my stats for now. 5'3'' and 135lbs medium size build. Is it March 7th yet?! Updated on 19 Feb 2013: I am almost two weeks out from surgery and I dont have my final appointment till next week, but I was wondering if I should start taking anything to help the healing process go quicker? I have read many other ladies that start taking things two weeks out. Any suggestions? Updated on 20 Feb 2013: It looks like a lot of doctors recommend massaging the breast after their done. My doctor said no need to massage as my muscles in the breast area will be doing enough moving to put things into place. Opinions on this? Updated on 26 Feb 2013: Today I have my last appointment to finalize size and pay the $6000 before the big day! The doctor wants me to bring in pictures of breast close to my desired size. I just dont want to make the mistake of going to small and regretting it but also going to big! But really is there such a thing as going to big :) I am so excited and not nervous at all that in 9 days ill have a totally different body. I hope I get to try on sizers today!!! Yay, will update later! Updated on 26 Feb 2013: I just had my sizing appointment and who would have thought I would be going with mentor gel 550cc?! I never did. My goal is to be a D cup. I first tried on the 450cc which looked nice but the 550 just look so much better on. I am so excited! Go big or go home! The doctor and nurse both agreed because I have some curves I can pull this off to look very natural! Wooohoooo! Updated on 1 Mar 2013: Ahhhh less than a week away! I cant wait. Am I crazy for not being nervous, scared or anything? Maybe it will hit me as it gets closer. I still need to go bra shop for a sports bra, get my meds filled and look for Arnica. Wait, wait, wait! Updated on 5 Mar 2013: Ahhh its less then 30 hours until the big surgery! I still have to go bra shopping and get my meds filled, I am such a procrastinator! I celebrated my birthday but also the getting the girls last night! Cant wait. Updated on 6 Mar 2013: Ahhh in 12 hours I will be getting the girls! So crazy to think that after all these years and finally being serious about it a few months ago that tomorrow is the big day! I probably wont get much sleep tonight. I am doing my last minute house cleaning and prepping. Ill update tomorrow!!! Ahhhhh Updated on 7 Mar 2013: I had my breast augmentation today almost 12 hrs post op. everything went very smooth and now I'm just feeling pressure. I'm keeping up on my meds but still difficulty getting up and walking around. I went in at 6am was discharged at 2pm because I have a very weak stomach and kept throwing up. Ill update more details later. Updated on 8 Mar 2013: Today is one day post op and so far not too bad. I slept in the recliner last night and I slept so good, was actually waking up exactly 5 minutes before I needed to take my next round of pain meds. So far as long as I am sitting or not really doing anything they dont hurt at all. Theres slight discomfort when I move around but doctor said the more you move quicker you heal so Im trying to move around just a little bit. Here's how my day went. Arrived at hospital at 6am and was in the surgery room at 730. I laid down a nurse put an IV in my hand and before you know it I was in the recovery room. Couldnt believe how quick things went. I was in and out of surgery within an hour. Doctor went to talk to my husband and at first he didnt think the 550's would fit but he got them in. I was in the first recovery room for over 2 hours all which I slept but it didn't feel like that long at all. They then wanted me to move to the next room and started sitting me up and I started throwing up so I had to rest again and finally got moved to the other room where I again was throwing up. Once I got to see my husband I was like did he get them in and hes like no they only put in 200cc and I was like WHAT?!?! Terrible joke to play on me. I wasn't in too much pain more pressure and my sides of the breast is what hurt the most. Finally once I was able to go home was around 2pm. I have been keeping up taking my pain meds every 4 hours to stay on top of things. I am sooo bloated and gained 4lbs since yesterday morning even though all I ate was cherrios last night. I drank a tonnnn of water and they gave me 3 full bags of saline or whatever so hopefully its just all water weight. I also started putting Anica around my breasts hopefully to prevent bruising and help with the swelling. Question on that, do you apply it over the entire breast? And how often? Ill keep updating but here are some pics. Stats 5'3'' 135lbs 550cc mentor silicone gel. In my one pics I am wearing a Danskin Now 36D bra! Whoop whoop! Updated on 8 Mar 2013: Also forgot to mention the doctor was able to use one of my previous scars under my breast from a prior surgery so I kinda only have 1 new scar :) Updated on 9 Mar 2013: 2 days post op. Not feeling too bad. Definitely woke up with more soreness than yesterday but its manageable. I took a shower today and did that feel great. I would totally feel fine if it wasn't for the meds I have to take. My antibiotic makes me feel so sick and I have to take zofran to feel somewhat normal and forget the muscle relaxer. The pain med doesnt really bother me too much. If it wasn't for having to take them I'm sure I would feel great. Been super lazy today, slept most the day so far. Updated on 10 Mar 2013: Post op day 3 and for the most part the girls feel great but I feel miserable! I feel so nauseous and like doing nothing but wanting to throw up. I think its the meds that Im on. Booo :( Updated on 11 Mar 2013: Post op day 4 I never really thought it would be this difficult at times. I am trying to ween off the pain meds because they dont make me feel good and also make me super tired. So far today I have only taken extra strength Tylenol and my breasts feel so heavy like they did when I was nursing. I'm trying to get up and move around some but then get tired and need to sit down. I am suppose to return back to work on Wednesday but now I am rethinking that. Ugh anything I can do?! I feel like being a lump and doing nothing. Updated on 11 Mar 2013: Still crazy bloated and little/no bowl movement since last Wednesday. I took some exlax so hopefully that does the trick soon... Updated on 13 Mar 2013: Finally I am starting to feel better. This road really hasnt been a pleasant one. I have been off pain meds for almost 24 hours and my breasts just feel so heavy. My left one seems to be a little bigger than the other which I hope settles down and thats the one that also hurts some. I am experiencing the gurgling sound in that breast also which Ive heard is normal. I go back to work on Friday and I hope I can make it through the whole day. I have my first pre op appointment tomorrow. I went to the grocery store today and even just doing that I felt the need to sit down. Ughhh I cant wait to when I feel 100% normal again and I am in love with my breasts because right now yes they look great but I dont feel great. Updated on 14 Mar 2013: Finally I am feeling so much better! Can get up and move around with no problems finally feels like I am getting back to my normal self! yay! I have my first pre op this afternoon and I get my stitches removed, hopefully going to go bra shopping after! Will post some new pics soon. Updated on 21 Mar 2013: I am 2 weeks post op today and I must say I feel great. The girls are slowly dropping, I have no pain in my right breast and just a tiny bit in my left. My right seems to be softening up much faster than the left but I know it takes time. My doctor doesnt want me to do any massaging but I find myself rubbing them just to help speed things along. For those with kiddos I lifted my 15month old whose 23lbs on Monday and no pain or anything. Mostly in and out of her carseat. I only do it when I absolutely have too. Updated on 21 Mar 2013: Forgot to also add I have been sleeping on my side with no problems for the last few nights. The first few days when I went back into the bed I used a body pillow and put it between my legs and then could lay on my side but now no problems now. I was worried because I am a huge side sleeper! Updated on 2 Aug 2013: Sorry its been so long ladies since I last posted, been a busy summer and I have been meaning to update but then forget! The girls are settling wonderfully, I absolutely love them. I love how my clothes fill out and everything. I havent had any complications since my surgery and I fill out a 34D bra quiet nicely. However.... I am starting to get worried about my right breast. It seems to have settled at a MUCH SLOWER rate than the other. Its sill up high, soft but not nearly as soft as the other. When I had my final follow up appointment a month ago, the doctor said its probably because he used an existing scar (I had back surgery where a scar wrapped around close to under my breast) which could be causing it still to be tight and high up. So he recommend I wear this strap for the next two months to help push it down. Well its been a month now and I cant really tell a difference. Its starting to bother me to a point where thats ALL I notice and its starting to be noticeable in clothes, as if my right breast is smaller than the other. So I started googling it, and of course came across the possibility of capsular contracture?!?!?!? And started freaking out??? Do I have this? It doesnt seem like I do but who knows?!?! Ugh I am debating calling the doctor and have him see me before September but maybe my right breast is just that slow?! Any insite? Ill post pics soon so everyone can see. Updated on 2 Aug 2013: Updated on 9 Aug 2013: Well ladies its been confirmed by my ps my one breast has developed a capsular contracture. :( My revision surgery date is set for August 26th. I don't have to pay for the doctors fees but to be put under so 2k. I never thought just 5 months from first getting them done this would be happening. But of course I had to fall into that category. I'm upset but it's life. I just hope recovery is quick. :/ Updated on 28 Mar 2014: Hi Ladies! Been awhile since I've posted on here. Turned out I did have a right breast capsular contracture. Had surgery and it went all smooth. Its been a little over a year since the initial surgery and about 7 months since the one revision and the girls look great. The left breast is perfect, couldn't be any more happy. My right breast isn't perfect sits the same as the left and feels the same just at times bothers me slightly and just isn't 100% perfect like the left but its probably me just noticing the difference. They were slightly different to begin with. The left breast moves a lot more freely then the right, right moves like it should but left has no problems going all over the place :) Overall I LOVE THEM! Best investment ever. Not only do I feel so much more confident, I look more proportioned to my body. I am a 34D sometimes 34DD depending on the bra. I will try and post some pics soon!!!
Having a breast reduction done is something I have wanted to do for years, but never thought too seriously about it, nor talked to my family doctor or a plastic surgeon. I'm not sure why. At least part of the reason was because I was a single mom with 3 kids and even paying co-insurance would have been difficult, if not impossible. Not to mention recovery time. I wasn't huge in high school, although bigger than many friends. Can't remember my bra size for sure, but pretty sure I was a C cup. Then came kids. I grew one cup size with each pregnancy and never went down. Of course, I didn't take off all the pregnancy weight either. Having big breasts has played a huge role in my extremely poor body image. Fast forward to last fall. I've had a lot of neck, shoulder, and upper back pain for a few years and I had gone through a couple weeks where I was having daily headaches. Not bad enough to be considered migraines, but painful and bothersome nonetheless. I was walking and for some reason, the thought hit me, "could my boobs be causing this, or at least making it worse?" Not sure why I had never made that connection before! Doing some actual research, I discovered that my lower back pain and hand tingling could also be explained by large breasts. I talked to my husband and he was on board immediately. He knows very well the psychological impact it's had on me and wasn't surprised in the least at the probable physical impact. Again fast forward, I had my initial consultation on January 18, surgery is scheduled for February 29, and I just found out today that insurance approved it! Full steam ahead! I'm nervous about recovery, it's the most major surgery I've ever had, but so excited for the outcome! I've read so many of your experiences over the last few months and see over and over how thrilled people have been with the results. My PS mentioned shooting for a D cup (DDD now). I was hoping for a C, so I am going to talk to him about it more at my pre-op appointment, but will ultimately defer to him. After all, he's done this more than I have! I know I will have lots of questions as I get closer. You have all been such a help to each other. It was so nice to go to my consultation and not be too surprised by anything he said. Y'all prepared me so well! Updated on 3 Mar 2016: The last couple weeks have just been a blur! I had my surgery on Monday. It went really well. The PS removed almost 3 pounds total! I was surprised that it was so much, but he thinks I'll be a full C. I stayed at the hospital overnight, just for observation, something my PS does as routine. Been doing well at home, sleeping lots! All in all, I'm very happy with how it looks so far, even with the colorful bruising! I will post pictures soon, have to figure out how to get it from my husband's phone to my iPad.
