Dr. Shaw and all of his staff, are amazing! They have explained everything to me, and held my hand the entire journey. They all really care about how you are and feel. I received a breast reduction, and I could not be happier. He did an outstanding job. I am so happy with the results, and the care i received before and after the sugary from the entire staff. If you are needing plastic Surgery in any way, this is the place to go. Dr. Shaw has the best bedside manner, really listens to understand. I wish I could give more than 5 Stars. A big shout out to: Dr. Shaw, Dr. Austin, Nick, Colin, Kristen and Pam. You all are absolutely awesome, thank you for being the best of the best. I would never want to go to any other place.
I have wanted this surgery for at least ten years and I finally did it. I am thrilled with the results. Dr Shaw did an amazing job! My goal was to have normal proportioned breasts that fit my body size and Dr. Shaw nailed it! He is extremely personable and his kind mannerisms and patience put my mind to ease before and after surgery. Thank you Dr. Shaw, your work is truly a work of art and has given me a sense of confidence and pride in my appearance!
I have two kids that I gained a lot of weight with and now I've lost 67 pounds. The excess skin and fat have made me insecure for years so I decided to make the jump. My surgery was completed on August 17 and I'm extremely excited to see my results. I never really do anything for myself so I'm happy that I've taken the step to get this done Updated on 19 Aug 2016: The pain hasn't been too bad yet. I think the binder is helping and I've been taking my medicine on schedule. Updated on 7 Sep 2016: Loving the results Updated on 17 Sep 2016: It's feeling better every day. I still have swelling but I'm wearing the girdle to keep it down except when showering. I can't wait to see the end result. Updated on 19 Sep 2016: I'm 4 1/2 weeks post op from my abdominoplasty and feel amazing. Dr. Shaw did an excellent job and never makes you feel rushed or unimportant at visits. Everything has been smooth and exactly like he described. Definitely highly recommended. Updated on 24 Sep 2016: It's getting flatter every day. I wish I would've done this 5 years ago. Updated on 17 Dec 2016: I continue to be amazed with the results. I took this picture 4 months post op today. Updated on 7 Jan 2017: Stomach gets flatter every day. So happy I went through this process
I am 23 years old, a full time college student, with 2 little boys at home that I take care of with the help of my amazing boyfriend. Of course, I got these awful battle scars from my children. I had my first right out of high school, I was 18 and gained a total of 65lbs. I went from 140lbs to 205lbs by the end of my pregnancy. I gained 85% of that weight in the last 3 months, leaving me with this nasty tummy! My 2nd pregnancy wasn't as bad, I only gained 35lbs and it was so much easier to lose the weight. I have a small torso as it is, I'm mostly all legs, so when my stomach makes room for a baby, it has to stretch a lot!! I lost all of the weight after both pregnancies, I am now down to 126lbs. My doctor even tells me I'm tiny, so there's not hardly any fat to remove, just excess skin. As the date gets closer, I get more excited, but I also feel a little more guilty. I know saving this money could help pay off my student loans, get a more reliable vehicle, or just take care of my children more securely in general..but I know I deserve to be happy and it's only a one time thing. If I can spend $5,000 on a down payment on a house, just to end up giving it to my ex and moving out of it anyway because of a break up. (Which really did happen.) Isn't this lifelong happiness more worth it? I'm so ready! Updated on 5 Mar 2013: Well, this is it! The night before my surgery. This past month has flown by and every day was more surreal. I still can't believe it's finally happening. I've had dreams about it nearly every night. Either dreaming about something going wrong financially, physically, or just me with an amazing flat bikini body! My head is all wrapped up in it. The only bad thing about it, is that my surgeon doesn't make time appointments, so I just have to wait around from 5:30am-5:30pm on a call so they can tell me when to come in, but I guess that makes it feel even more unreal because I don't know when it's coming. Anxiety! I'm also kind of scared and nervous about being under while they do surgery, just because of the stories about sometimes you get paralyzed from the anesthetic, but can't actually tell them you are still awake and still feel EVERYTHING. I hope that really doesn't happen! I'm sure I'll be back on here after this is all over to let everyone know how it went. Wish me luck:) Updated on 7 Mar 2013: Yesterday was a little more crazy than I was expecting it to be, but I've made it out alive:) First off, I received a call around 1:00pm from a nurse asking why I wasn't at the hospital yet..I answered confusedly, well, a nurse was supposed to call me when I was supposed to come in because they did not set up a time for the appointment. She then said one moment while she talked to my doctor..about 2 minutes later got back on the phone saying they would have to reschedule. I was so frustrated that I flat out told her no way. I hadn't even or drank anything for the past 20 hours, I took off school 2 days earlier than my spring break actually started, and there was no way I could reschedule except for a couple of months away because they only schedule surgeries on wednesdays! Thank the lord that my doctor changed his mind in the end since they realized it was them on fault. Well, when I arrived at the hospital, it was now 1:30pm, they had me waiting in a room for about an hour before calling me back to the room telling me I had to pre-register. I looked at them and said, I called the toll free number to pre-register already last week? She then said, well we do not have your medical history on file and at that point I was just not thinking I was going to to do the surgery because it was already almost 3:00pm. I told her that when I called I asked if they needed my medical history and the nurse said no, we do not need that information from you..thankfully we got to speed through that process since they had everything else about me already on file so I was finally ready to go back into my room. They prepped me for surgery, my doctor reminding me how well it will look and that I would have maybe a little stretch marks not even a quarter inch right about my panties still after the surgery. They gave me so relaxation medicine called versa I believe and then put the mask over me, the next thing I knew, I was out. When I woke up, my doctor told me it well, I had two drains in, and then showed me my new stomach. Well, I was expecting something different that I almost cried in front of the doctor from being disappointed. Before I had the surgery, my stretch marks were not even a half inch above my bellybutton, and after my surgery, the stretch marks are RIGHT at my belly button. Yes, the loose skin is gone but what the hell? Us women who have this, know we want to come back without stretch marks still way up to their belly button! I wanted to be able to wear a bikini and feel self conscious and have something to hide...well looks like I'll still be hiding! As I am really disappointed, I'm still happy the skin is gone, and maybe soon I will just get a colorful tattoo to cover up the thick stretch marks that lead to privates. I'm still laying in the hospital bed right now. It has been 40 hours since Ive had anything to eat still and have no tried to walk because I've been in a constant pain of about 7 and am really nauseas from all the pain meds and no food. On top of that, my catheter doesn't even work right, so I have to wake up like every hour to mess with the hose and drain it myself..I just feel like Cox Hospital wasn't the very best location choice right now! Hopefully I'll be up in a little while moving around..I'll probably post pics later tonight of the results. Updated on 8 Mar 2013: I came home from the hospital yesterday..I am still a little sore and taking oxycodone and my antibiotics right on schedule so I dont get behind in any way. I seem to be draining a lot and that kind of worries me about my hydration state as I always feel really weak. Also, I am very short of breath and I can hardly eat anything without hurting my stomach and feeling even more like I can't breathe. Is this normal? Does it subside over time after my organs are readjusted? I've read a lot of reviews about people who never recover from the shortness of breath and have to have the tt redone and I'm hoping this is at least normal for the first week or so. Updated on 9 Mar 2013: Today has already felt like such a better day than yesterday. I held off on calling my doctor about the shortness of breath because I figured it could have been from the oxycodon. I started taking them at a little later times and the breathing issue has stopped, as has the nausea and dizzyness when Im not under the meds. I think taking the meds is over half the battle of recovering from a tt! So I feel like ive been complaining a lot since Ive gotten this done, mainly because I feel over emotional, swollen, and just HUGE right now. I was expecting an overall feeling of being thin but that hasn't happened yet, i felt like I looked tinier with the skin so far. Last night I took a shower and saw myself in the mirror for the first time before I got in, I looked like a dis proportioned Frankenstein. My fiance still tells me I look better than before and reminds me its only been 2 days, it will get much better, so he has really kept my head up for me. Today I think Im going to try to walk a little more than in the past, its mainly just my back troubles when walking, not much of the stitch pain. Oh and the pulling up the drain tubes! I cant wait to get those suckers out! Thank you all who have given me advice about my shortness of breath. I really appreciate it! And sorry if the pics i uploaded are tmi, it is just not comfortable at all wearing any sort of underwear or pants, im just wearing summer dresses every day lol Updated on 9 Mar 2013: Just weighed myself for the first time since ive been home..im 7lbs heavier than before the operation..and ive hardly eaten anything! thats how swollen i am! lord almighty, i feel like a ripe tomato just needing to be picked already. Updated on 10 Mar 2013: Today was really the first day that I saw improvement in the swelling. I don't feel as huge and my pain is a lot more bearable than before. I also got to eat a huge cheeseburger :) feeling fine! new pics are posted, still really hunched over but i think ill be standing straight in a few days. Updated on 11 Mar 2013: I'm still feeling pretty good! The only thing that really gets me these past few days is the dizzyness and nausea from my meds..which I think Im gonna start switching to tylenol xtra strength to see if that helps any and just take my oxycodone at night time. tomorrow i go to my check up to see if i can get these drain tubes out, im really hoping so because the drainage is just turning into this yellow fluid and hardly any has been coming out since yesterday. i know some people say they have gotten more swollen as days go by, but i have not felt that yet, luckily i just keep getting less and less swollen every day, as with feeling less and less pain. hope everyone is doing good out there! Updated on 12 Mar 2013: Today was the first day i really got out of bed for a couple of hours..but just sitting in the car and going out to eat wore me out. my eyes were bloodshot and drooping on the way back home and i immediately climbed in bed and slept for over 2 hours. i got my drains taken out today, which was not a pleasant experience. just be prepared to almost faint after you get those taken out because your body has been through a lot by this time. i think im already developing a seroma from the fluid build up because the drains are removed which really sucks..my stomach has this huge lump bellow my belly button on my left side making it look even more deformed..so ill probably call back tomorrow to let them know and see if we should wait it out or do anything about it. other than that, my next appt is in 3 weeks and everything has been pretty good. i stand really well the first half of the day but by the end im hunching over my waist again. they also gave me 3 new spanx type garments at the hospital so i can take off the binder now..they go all the way up to my boobs and make it hard to breathe,and even less comfy to sleep in, but looks a lot better under clothes! guess its the trade off. Updated on 12 Mar 2013: on a side not, i really MISS being able to cuddle up with my little ones! didnt know having these few weeks to myself would take such the toll on me. :(( Updated on 13 Mar 2013: Let me tell you I can't wait to the little thingy again without being in pain from it! Like laughing, coughing, stretching, and most of all popping! Sorry if that's too tmi, but I basically have a whole week of food backed up in me! So last night I drank only about 3oz of prune juice and my goodness! I have the bubble guts like crazy! There's no telling how long ill be on that toilet today! I'm sooo glad to finally get a weeks worth of Food out of me but at the same time it hurts sooo much. I've just been in bed wanting to cry about it all:( on top of that, I have this new burning sensation on my left side right above my hip any don't know what it is. It only occurs in like a popping movement when I first get up to walk or when I try to stretch my legs out... hopefully it's nothing.. just strange feeling. Updated on 13 Mar 2013: I know... I just spent thousands and thousands of dollars on my body and I STILL hate the way it looks. Ugh! why in the world do I have to have such an awkwardly shaped torso! It's not normal at all!! My bf justifies trying to make Me feel better by saying* it's what makes you unique and different* ...whaaat?? I don't want to be different like this, I want to be normal! Now that I don't have that extra skin around my sides and it shows the curves of my back more, I think I look worse than before and still don't wanna go out in a bikini.. my hips are like an arms lengths wide with this tiny upper torso right under My boobs so I go from Tiny to as wide as a dump truck with my hips sticking out midway up My back cus it's so freaking short! I just keep crying cus I feel like over accomplished nothing in making myself free better now.. ughhh. Updated on 14 Mar 2013: feeling little better today emotionally, other than a few things that are unrelated to the surgery. i know im a week post op, but i still lay in bed all day and get just as much rest as before because i know it will help for when i have to get back to my daily routine in 3 days. so today i am standing straighter, less sick feeling, and not as much swelling. get to spend a lil more time with my sons every day. think im healing pretty nicely so far. probably will start posting only weekly about my updates now because its all turning the same i think. happy healing! Updated on 23 Mar 2013: So!! Everything has been going pretty good here! I started back to school this past Monday, it was breezy. I took the stairs and everything lol. No afternoon naps afterwards. I usually woke up at around 8am and went to sleep around 1:00am.I have still been taking one oxycodone before bedtime because it helps me not feel the pain from rolling around in my sleep. I only have 4 left though! Hopefully no withdrawals, haha. I started comfortably sleeping on both sides around 3 days ago..I still sleep with 2 pillows under my back and head to relieve the pressure. I had an early appointment with my ps yesterday because I have developed a seroma and he needed to check if he needed to remove the fluid, but he said removing the fluid usually adds more pain and risk of infection, so we're going to wait a week to see if its gone down..if not, then I have to get it drained by a needle! eek. I started my period 3 days ago, and let me tell you, it's not fun! I feel about as swollen and crampy as I was at 5 days p.o these past 3 days, I'm pretty sure its because of the mens. cycle! urgg. My incision is healing okay I guess, it still looks gross to me haha. I have taken the steri-tape off my sides, but left it on in the middle just because the idea of sitting down and having my pants rub against it doesnt go over well in my head. My incision is really high up, even my panties dont cover the very bottom above my pubic area..when he did my tummy tuck, he pulled skin down from my stomach and up from my pubic area, so my hair line starts sooner, leaving me with an even shorter torso than I already had..great huh?! lol. On a happy note, my belly button is starting to look really awesome! no longer lumpy or scabby. So with all this said, I am starting to really like my results. I'm sure it will take much longer for me to feel completely satisfied, just because I feel like after healing now, I need to work on these love handles that are suddenly popping out more after this surgery..its a win lose situation! Until next time. happy easter and good luck to all you tummy tuckers! Updated on 28 Mar 2013: 22 days post op. The swelling has gone down from 17days post op, so im guessing it was just from my period. thank god! im basically standing straight up now and i am 95% feeling like myself. still not allowed to work out, but hopefully by next week. i took off my steri-tape all the way now, it doesnt look as bad as i thought it still would by this time. i think my scar is actually healing really well! i started back up tanning this week...i knooooww, its a "no-no" but i cover up all the way around my scar so the UV rays dont hit it..so im just a little whiter on my stomach than the rest of my body..but thats fine by me, only me and the fiance know :) I think my nerves in my sides are trying to come back now, but only at night time for some reason..its weird. everytime i try to sleep on my side, the opposite side will start having a burning/stinging sensation to where i cant stand it and have to move to my back..i dont know why it happens to the opposite side that im laying on. oh well, just another part of this looong healing process. well i have some new pictures up..good day! Updated on 5 Apr 2013: I had my 4 week postop check up today..he said everything is going great.Just reminded me to put lotsss of lotion on my scar and told me that I can start doing light exercises. yay! I am so ready to try to firm up my this jiggle butt before summer lol. I tried on bikinis today for my boyfriend just to kill some time at the store. It felt so good to be able to wear them with confidence..and the thing is,my scar didnt even look that bad when it was showing. he was so surprised, he told me he wished he could jump on me in the dressing room because im too hott.haha...he's not the father of my two boys, so he didnt know how i looked without all the loose skin, its such a change! well ive been wearing my old clothes again just fine, everything fits,its just the rubbing of the jeans that hurt so i still try to stick with leggings and long summer dressings for the most part. i have to wear this garment for another 2 weeks and then going to have my next check up in 2 months..cant even imagine how different it will look by then. its crazy to think i was so upset over everything right after the surgery, because im thrilled now. all my worries were just caused by swelling and drugs lol. since the swelling has gone down and i am able to stand straight again, the incision isnt actually as high as it was before and my torso doesnt look so lumpy and short like it had before..im so glad all that is over with haha. and i think my boyfriend is too! he probably got tired of hearing about it. oh,and my ps gave me the before and after pictures today, it really shows the difference..ill have to post them sometime. as for now, im going to enjoy the rest of my night with a movie. have a good week! Updated on 21 Apr 2013: It feels like it's been forever since I have been on this thing. I decided I'm not going to add any more pictures until I've reached my weightloss goal of 10lbs lol. Shouldn't be that hard, but with my boyfriend always wanting to eat out, it will be. ahh. So Im actually still pretty swollen under the incision line..it feels hard as a rock, i cant wait until that is gone. Everything else is pretty much in the clear, except after I eat a meal and work out. I started sprinting and doing squats every other day about 2 weeks ago. The sprinting gets me swollen more than anything and I have to sleep right afterwards..that's why I usually save it til night time lol. I am still very happy with the results, there are those few things that I think I will never get over, but I cant describe how thrilled I feel to be able to sit down and not have an immediate skin bulge hanging over my pants. For some reason I like wearing looser shirts than I did before the surgery, which I know, makes no sense!..I don't know why..maybe it's because my self-confidence has risen and I don't feel like I need to prove that I am flat, because now I KNOW I am. And it doesnt bother me to just be comfortable in whatever I wear now. Its so relieving. Well hopefully by next time I update this I will have lost those 10lbs and able to upload pictures..but that means it will have to be like a month from now, so until next time, Good luck and happy healing! Updated on 14 May 2013: Well I'll be 10 weeks post op tomorrow. I said I wouldn't update for about a month, but since I've actually gained 5lbs from muscle and only lost 2lbs of fat, there really is no point to wait until the whole 10lb loss thing lol. I learned to not care what the scale says though! I started this diet thing at 128lbs, and now I am up to 131lbs, with a much more perkier butt! yay! Ive been sprinting uphill one day, and squatting with 50lbs on my back the other days and only eating a 14cal diet..still got a long way to go till i get my dream butt though lol.. as far as the swelling, not much has changed since week 6..i still get really swollen after eating and working out..almost even worse than before. i look like im 4months pregnant almost by the end of the day. seems like its taking forever to go away! i still am waiting to try on more bikinis, not happening until at least mid june because i want a full 2 months of my diet and workout to see results. even though im doing all this stuff to get healthy, at the end of the day i still feel so fat from the swelling, its pretty depressing..can't really tell if you're getting better or worse because all the fluid build up is covering up my results..maybe one day it will all of a sudden just be gone and i'll wake up a changed toned woman..haha..i can dream :)
I am 34 year old mother of 2. My kids are 12 and 10. I've wanted to have this surgery done since having my second child. I am 5'6" and am currently 127 pounds. When I was pregnant with my children I gained about 75 pounds each time. My skin has little to no elasticity and I was left with a lot of extra, sagging skin, as well as a split abdominal wall. About 4 years ago I scheduled a breast augmentation and a tummy tuck. After looking at pictures of the scars, the drainage tubes, and reading about the recovery of the tummy tuck - I chickened out and only did the breast augmentation. So here it is, 4 years later, and my stomach still bothers me beyond words. I can't wear a 2 piece swimsuit and the fold of skin shows through tighter clothes. It also looks like a fat roll above my jeans. I've decided again to schedule a consultation, which is this Friday, February 8. I've spent the weekend reading this sight and I'm starting to get really scared again. The recovery period just seems so long. Not driving for 2 weeks? I'm not sure what I'll do. My boyfriend whom I live with is too busy with his job (he's a physician) to be able to help much with the kids and their dad isn't very involved - so as a stay at home mom it scares me to be out of commission for that long. If anyone has any "I'm so glad I did it" stories, I'd love to hear them. I'll update after my visit on Friday and, hopefully, will have been brave enough to schedule my surgery. Updated on 9 Feb 2013: UPDATE: I had my consultation yesterday with Dr. Shaw. I couldn't sleep the night before, I kept having nightmares about having the surgery and things going wrong. When I got to his office building, I was so nervous that I walked into the mens bathroom instead of the womens! Haha! The appointment went very well. He answered all my questions and concerns, and there were many, very thoroughly and honestly. He showed me where the scar would be (I was concerned about it being too high). He also told me that many of his patients who have had c-sections say the pain/discomfort associated with a TT is not as bad as with the c-section. This made me feel much better. I figure if I can survive 2 c-sections, then I can survive this! He said because I'm physically fit and in good health then I'm an ideal candidate. He also said that despite what I've been told in the past, my muscles are not as "split" as I thought and I won't need much muscle work done. He said that I will have to wait 6 weeks to go back to my spin class (which I'm a little obsessed with) but that's not as long as I was afraid I'd have to wait. The biggest thing he told me was that he wanted to do my surgery in the hospital, rather than his surgery center, and that I would be staying overnight. He said that because I live an hour away and don't really have anyone to "care for me" that night, that he'd prefer it that way. I agreed. I'm all about having a nurse there the first night to make sure I'm not in pain! So surgery is SCHEDULED! March 6!! I'm so excited - I can hardly wait. Scared, excited, nervous, happy - so many emotions. I just have to not psych myself out the next 23 days... Updated on 15 Feb 2013: Made my pre-op appoitment yesterday! Schedule for the Monday before the surgery. They are going to do it over the phone to save me another trip down there. I signed up to be my daughters' teams volleyball coach - and then on the way home realized that I'll be having my surgery during the season. I'm hoping I'll only be "really down" for no more than a week or so - but I guess we'll see. That's also why I'm working out so hard - he said the better shape I'm in, the quicker I will recover. So have been hitting the gym 4 days a week. So excited!!! Hurry up March 6!!! Updated on 22 Feb 2013: Less than 2 weeks!!! I called yesterday and paid the balance - so everything is set and ready to go :) I'm so excited (I know I've over-used that word in this review already, sorry!) All the stores have started putting out swimsuits and, for the first time, I'm looking at 2 pieces. I haven't bought one yet, I want to wait until I can try it on and not grimmace in the mirror - but I'm... wait fot it... so EXCITED! Lol! My son has a big jazz concert that was supposed to be this evening, but due to the bad weather and roads they rescheduled it - to the day after my surgery. I hate that I'm going to miss it. I told him I'd have his grandparents video it. I think it bothers me more than it does him. The recovery is definitely going to suck - missing things, not being able to drive - but I've put it off for long enough - everyone will survive if mom's out of commission a little while, right? Updated on 8 Mar 2013: Ow, ow, ow, OW!!! Had my surgery Wednesday. Surgery went well, although my night in the hospital was a long one. I had to share a room with a woman who had about 10 family members there who stayed and talked all night. Rude didn't begin to describe it. They also had an issue with my blood pressure. Its always low, but since my surgery its been even lower. Like 78/43. Because of this they were very careful about giving me much pain medicine. I'm at my mom's house now but its still low and I'm super lightheaded. The 2 drains I have are so uncomfortable - can't wait to get them out. He said I can take a shower today but to be honest, I'm just not up to it. Its going to have to wait. My back is so sore, I have to walk totally hunched over. He said to expect that for at least the next two weeks. He said he's very "agressive" and took out a lot of skin. He also did have to do muscle repair afterall - which also hurts. Really anxious to look back on all this and say it was totally worth it. But I have a feeling that's a ways out... Updated on 13 Mar 2013: I had my follow-up appointment yesterday morning. He removed my two drains (let me say that was probably one more the most painful parts thus far) and I'm so glad to have them out. He put me in a stage 2 CG. It is SOOOO tight. Like cut me in half, can't breathe, pretty sure I'm going to bruise a rib tight. He said I'll need to wear it 24 hours a day unless showering for at least the next 6 weeks. He said it would help with the swelling, which sucks, just like I had read on here. I can't wait until it quits, but his nurse told me the swelling can come and go for 6 months. The pain has been pretty tolerable. I didn't take my pain meds before bed last night and woke up hurting quite a bit. It kept me up most of the night so tonight I'm going to take it. The spots where my drains were are pretty sore too. The worst part, still, is not being able to stand up straight. He told me again at my visit that he took a bunch of skin out - that if I'm going to go through all this pain, we are going to make sure its tight. I can't wait to be able to lay flat and stand up straight. My lower back is KILLING me! He showed me a picture he took on his iPhone of the skin he took off. Wow - it was a lot! I'll try to take some pics tomorrow and post. I'm happy with how everything looks so far, its just swollen. I did weigh today though and I've lost about 5 pounds. Anxious for the swelling to go away so I can get a more accurate number. Updated on 14 Mar 2013: Well I'm at day 8 PO. I took a shower today and shaved my legs. Since I'm still all hunched over and can't stand for long, I sat on my shower floor and did it. I'm going absolutely insane being stuck at home. I mentioned before that my boyfriend wasn't happy I was having this done, but I guess he was more upset by it than I thought. He hasn't spoken to me since the day of my surgery - and we live together! My mom took care of me the first 5 days or so and then brought me home and he's pretty much ignored me since. So it looks like by having this done I may have sacrificed my relationship... but I guess its better to find out now versus later. Anyway, I posted some pics today from before I got in the shower. Please pardon my dirty mirror - haven't felt like cleaning much! Lol! Updated on 24 Mar 2013: I pulled the tape off my incision in the shower today. I've been putting it off because I felt like if I saw my incision, I'd feel like it hurt worse. And I was right! LOL! I know its all in my head though. I really had hoped that all the stretch marks would be gone, but I know he got all of them that he could. Its already so tight I can't stand up - wouldn't want him to take anymore skin off! I'm concerned about my scar on the sides, there is quite a bit of puckering with the skin. But I'm not going to panic yet - or will try not to panic yet anyway. I know the scar is going to continue to heal and change for the next year so will try to be patient. The swelling is still there - its annoying. I'd really like to wear jeans again, I've been living in leggings. But none of mine fit just yet. Again - trying to be patient. Updated on 3 Apr 2013: I'm 4 weeks PO today! I had my month PO visit yesterday and it went well. Dr. Shaw said everything looks good and is coming along nicely. I got a cold about 4 days ago and have been sneezing and coughing (OUCH!) and I'm sore from that. But he said the incision and everything is good. The puckering is looking better, smoothing out more every day. I'm sure 6 months from now it will be much better. An update on my person life (thank you to all who have checked on me.) I've been job hunting the past few weeks. So far no real luck. I have another interview on Friday and I'm really hoping it works out. I've found an apartment but they need me to have employment before they will approve me. So hopefully next week everything will start to work out and my kids and I will be on our way to a new life. I'll take new pics this weekend and post. Thanks everyone! Updated on 21 May 2013: Sorry its taken me so long to update, life has been pretty crazy. I am almost 3 months post op now - and feeling great. I can finally say, yes, I'm SO happy I had this done. The recovery was tough. Really, really tough. Much more than I ever anticipated. I think mostly due to the muscle repair I had. But I'm so happy with the results and, for the most part, feel back to normal. I still tire a little easier than I used to, but I'm sure that's due in part to not being as active as I used to be. But trying to get back into being active. My weight has regulated to about 118, some days more depending on swelling. My swelling hasn't been as bad lately, so hopefully that portion of the recovery is done. I'm back in my normal jeans, though after all day in the low rise, my incision area sometimes gets sore. My scar is still purple-ish, but has flattened out and I hardly notice it anymore. I've added a few pics for everyone - anxious to go bikini shopping and will post those pics when I get one! Woo hoo!! On a personal note - the kids and I moved out from the boyfriend. Was a tough decision but was the right one. We are currently staying with my parents while I job hunt. Please keep us in your prayers!! Thanks!!
Ive been considering a reduction since puberty. I am 21, 160lbs, 5'5", with a 34DDD/34F. I just had an appointment with my PCP on the 31st, with good news, he gave me the referral I needed! I then had to go get X-Rays of my spine, to prove I have no underlying issues causing me back pain. I heard back from the doctor, and the x-rays came out good, no issues found. I have my consult appointment with Dr. Shaw on 11/13/12, and I am hoping that everything will go well once he sends off my information to insurance for approval. I have UHC. My goal is a B cup, possibly a C but I am leaning towards the B. I struggle with daily back and neck pain, and cannot wear a traditional bra for more than a few hours; I wear sports bras on a daily basis. The procedure costs 8700.00, but if my insurance company approves it I will only have to pay 20% of that. Fingers crossed! Updated on 3 Nov 2012: I uploaded my "before" pics, and here is to hoping there will be "after" ones to follow! Updated on 6 Nov 2012: Today has been awful. I am getting so anxious for my consult ( one Moore week! ) and I am SO nervous I won't get approved. Trying to stay positive, but the nerves are making me on edge! Any ideas to keep my mind off of it for the next week ?! Updated on 7 Nov 2012: 6 more days until the consult.... I ordered a flash drive from eBay so I can make a "Boob" folder and show the surgeon some that I like, dislike, etc. Am I crazy?? I also have a list of questions for him....3 pages long. LOL! They told me the consults usually last 45 minutes, I hope they accounted for my anxious planning! Question for you ladies who had your surgery already - How long until you were allowed to resume normal activity? I am hoping that after the BR I will be able to exercise easier, and hoping to lose 10-15lbs (depending on how much boob weight I loose!) Updated on 7 Nov 2012: Also, I found something from UHC that states if you are removing over 22nd percentile in grams of breast tissue (per breast) that it will most likely be considered reconstructive and be covered. With my height and weight, it came out to just under 500grams needing to be removed per breast to be the best chance for coverage. With my current size (34DDD/34F) and me wanting to be a B cup, do you think 500 grams per breast would be too much? It is SO hard to picture things in grams... Can't wait for my consult after finding that info!! Updated on 7 Nov 2012: My list of questions to ask at my consult.....am I missing anything?!? LOL! What will be expected of me to get the best results from breast reduction surgery? Am I a good candidate for breast reduction? What surgical technique is recommended for me? How many breast reductions have you done? Before & after photos? How long of a recovery period can I expect, and what kind of help will I need during my recovery? What are the risks and complications associated with my breast reduction procedure? How are complications handled? Likelihood of being able to breastfeed? How can I expect my breasts to look over time? After pregnancy? After breastfeeding? What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the outcome? How long after surgery will it be safe to become pregnant? Do I continue BCP or stop the prior to surgery? How much tissue will need to be removed to obtain a B or C cup? How long is the surgery itself? When will my first checkup be? Other post-surgical appointments? Will there be drains following surgery? Will the stitches be dissolving or need to be removed? In the event of a post-surgery emergency, who do I call? Do I go to the ER? When can I expect my breasts to have their new size & shape (no swelling, etc)? When can I resume exercise as normal? What is a predicted timeline for surgery day? When do I go home? Safe to go on cruise/be in the ocean/be in the sun in late May 2013? Likelihood of insurance approving this surgery? Likelihood of being able to do this surgery before January 1, 2013? Updated on 8 Nov 2012: http://www.victoriassecret.com/bras/victorias-secret-pink/pink-flirt-push-up-bra-victorias-secret-pink?ProductID=82136&CatalogueType=OLS SOON!! Updated on 9 Nov 2012: Ok ladies... The next few days are going to be rough! I've been on Provera (hormone pills) for 10 days, and then I am stopping them after today. Supposedly this will induce a period and then I can start birth control, so that I don't get pregnant while planning for surgery. I was on the Depo shot for 2 years, and haven't had a period in almost 3 years, even though I went off the shot in February. My PCP wants me to try to get regulated before surgery so we know everything is OK. But these hormones are making me CRAZY, and I can't imagine the next few days going cold turkey without them!! So, if I become cranky, moody, bitchy, etc. please excuse me and keep me in check!! Lol! 4 days until my consult. I have at least 50-60 "goal" pictures on a flash drive to bring with me. I am so anxious for this appointment I could burst! Updated on 11 Nov 2012: Tuesday is my first consult.... With how anxious I am it's like Tuesday is my surgery!! I can not wait. My shoulders seem to be hurting worse every day now that I am thinking about surgery. I will update you all after my consult. Wish me luck, and good luck to all you ladies who are about to go in or are recovering! Updated on 13 Nov 2012: Well ladies, I am sitting in the waiting room for my appointment. I am so exited/nervous/anxious I may vomit. Update later!! Updated on 14 Nov 2012: I loved the surgeon! He was extremely nice, and answered almost all of my questions before I even had to ask. He does use drains, and likes to keep patients overnight after a breast reduction. I would have the surgery first thing in the morning, before any other operations due to my latex allergy. Then, stay that night in the hospital. Next morning, he will remove the drains and I will be discharged. I am glad I will stay overnight, i was worried about going home so quickly. Insurance approval can take up for 45 days, and they won't be sending my file until 11/20/12, when they get all the records from my PCP and whatnot. The insurance and scheduling girl was very nice, also. I let her know I was hoping to get surgery before Dec 31st, and she said she will try her best to hurry UHC along with the approval. They are not anticipating a denial for me at this time. Both my surgeon and the insurance biller said they have only ever gotten a few denials, and they usually know how to work it to get the insurance company to approve it anyways. In my case they expect approval. YAY! We are anticipating a surgery date between Dec 14 and Jan 14, on a Wednesday morning. Hoping for this year, but the decision from insurance could come as late as January 4th, so it will just depend on them. Dr. Shaw measured me, we took pictures for insurance, etc. He does the anchor incisions, and sometimes uses staples (yikes! still waiting for clarification on when it would be necessary for staples over the incisions) along with dissolving sutures. We went over the risk (nipple loss, nipple sensation loss, scarring, wound healing issues at the T, etc) and decided I would still greatly benefit from this procedure. He said my breasts are very symmetrical now, surprisingly, and that would make surgery much easier. He anticipates removing between 400-500 grams per breast, with an end result of a "big B or small C" which is EXACTLY what I want! Here is to hoping insurance approves me quickly and we do not have to fight. It would be great to have my insurance help with this surgery, but we are prepared to pay for it OOP if we must. Care Credit is GREAT!! Lol. So now I am an anxious mess, waiting for insurance approval. Updated on 15 Nov 2012: I got an email from the scheduler at my PS office today, and I am now scheduled for December 19th! Woo hoo! It is pending my insurance approval, but they do not anticipate my approval taking longer than that to arrive. If for some reason it does, then I will have to cancel. But I am NOT going to think about that until it happens. I am SO EXCITED! eeeeek. Updated on 16 Nov 2012: So, I am NERVOUS. It hit me today that I am having a life changing surgery. Don't get me wrong, I am soooo excited, I just am not excited about anesthesia. I should be having surgery Dec 19th regardless. We will either pay out of pocket or insurance will help out; the only reason it would be delayed is it my insurance hasn't come back with a decision at all, then we will wait and see if there is still a chance they will cover it. Fingers crossed! I guess I need to start shopping for some after surgery items.... Button up PJs, bras? Any other ideas? What are the best post-op bras you all have found out there? And what size do I even buy?! Updated on 18 Nov 2012: One month and a few hours... holy crap. So excited! I keep going back and forth in waves, from super excited to nervousness. Anyone else feel this way?? Again, the nerves aren't about the results but about the surgery itself. I wish I could just wake up and it be done! I guess in a way that is exactly what will happen, huh? :) Updated on 20 Nov 2012: I went to Walmart yesterday.... Bad decision! I spent a good 30 minutes in the "travel" aisle. I got tiny toothpaste, a qtip box, tissues, hand sanitizer, lotion, antibacterial wash, etc. I still have a lot to do to prepare for surgery but I fell good having a start on it! I also have two pairs of button up PJs, I think that's all I will get. I have a ton of sweat pants and zip up jackets I lounge around in anyways that will work perfectly. I'm having a hard time finding bras for after surgery, and I'm so confused on what size to even buy! I got one genie bra, size "medium" so I hope it works out. I think I'm going to try Target tomorrow and see what kind of selection they have. A Walmart employee told me they clearanced most sports bras out a few weeks ago, the selection there was awful!! Hope all you ladies are doing good out there, recovering or waiting. You keep me sane when I feel like a lunatic :) Updated on 21 Nov 2012: Talked with my surgeons office today, the scheduler there is SO nice and patient with me. I have sent her at least 10 emails already with random questions, and she's always gotten back with me within 1-2 business days. I found out they will send me home with two surgical bras, one they put on me and one they give me for when I have to wash. So thats awesome! So really I will just need to buy some for after I stop wearing surgical bras, and I will have time to do that later. I think my genie bra and maybe get a few more genie bras and I should be good. Question for you post-op ladies - How long did you take your pain pills for every day? And how long did you take them for at nighttime? Most of what I heard is taking them all day for 5 days or so after surgery, but at night it varies for everyone? I am getting so excited. We were talking about Christmas today, and my grandma asked me what I wanted. I said hmm... Victorias Secret gift cards?!? Lol! Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving! Updated on 21 Nov 2012: Forgot to mention, I had the most realistic dream last night. I went in for surgery and met the doctor. I was so calm. They gave me a sedative and then started poking me, asking me what it felt like, can I feel it at all, etc... I said to them that it didn't hurt but I could feel pressure, and they started saying "Oh well then you need more margaritas!" Then the PS did my surgery, and I was awake for it but couldn't feel. He had me sit up after he stitched me up and had me walk around to make sure everything looked natural, and my stitches started coming out! So they had me climb back up on the table and he re-did the stitches. Then they put me in a surgical bra and took me to their "recovery" room.... Guess what it was?!? A room full of the cutest bras and button up PJs. They just said "Ok, here you go! Have fun!" LOL! Am I going crazy over here or what?? Updated on 26 Nov 2012: I spoke with my insurance company today. They told me they got my paperwork on 11/24 and I should have an answer withing 15 business days, but typically the decisions do not take more than 5 days. Omg! Updated on 27 Nov 2012: Today I got denied. Depressed.... My PS is going to be talking to the medical director of my insurance company today, for an appeal. Hopefully they can get it worked out so I don't have to pay out of pocket! Even though I can still get it done... I would feel so selfish spending that much money on myself. Will keep you ladies updated. Thanks for the support! Updated on 27 Nov 2012: Omg. I just got an email from my doctor. Guess who WON the appeal?!?!?! I'm freaking out!!! My little moment of depression is gone and now I won't feel guilty at all! Thank you ladies for the words of encouragement during my SHORT denial period! Updated on 28 Nov 2012: Cleaning.. Cleaning.. More cleaning!!! Ever since I found out my surgery date is certain - that's all I can think about! I am in the process of some major cleaning around the house.. I want everything to be nice and clean so I don't worry about it while I'm healing! And so I don't have to look at it... LOL! Updated on 29 Nov 2012: I can't lie.... I kindof had a heart attack waiting on real self to come back up!!! Lol. I'm addicted. Updated on 30 Nov 2012: Question for you ladies. How would you feel not having had the pre-op appointment? My surgeon doesn't need me to have one, and said he won't need to see me until surgery day unless I have more questions for him. Does this sound normal? I'm just so used to reading everyone's story of the pre-op appointment that it seems odd. I am fairly healthy and don't smoke or drink, so maybe this is why? Tell me what you think. Updated on 1 Dec 2012: Today I went and bought a wedge pillow at Bed, Bath, & Beyond. I think I embarrassed the poor cashier... ;) He said "I have to ask why you are buying this, it looks so uncomfortable..." So I just replied "I'm having surgery and wont be able to lay flat comfortably and thought this might help." He continues to check me out, and while waiting on my card to go through he asks, "So why are you having surgery?" And then immediately apologizes for being nosey... So I, being the sweet girl I am and not wanting him to wonder all day, blurt out I'm having a breast reduction. His face turned BEET RED! I couldn't help it, I've been so excited for this surgery my filter was off. And apparently so was his.... So it's not entirely my fault!! Keep in mind, this poor guy was 18 at most. Lol! Updated on 3 Dec 2012: I went to my PS office today to drop off my medical leave form for work..... I only have 16 days left until surgery!! And only work 8 of those days... wow. I'm kind of freaking out. I still have to schedule my pre-admissions appointment, the scheduler mailed me some paperwork last week and it never came (we have issues getting mail...gets lost or something) so when I was in the office I picked up a copy, but the girl gave me the wrong instructions to schedule. So the girl I NORMALLY deal with up there is going to try to mail me another copy, and if I don't get it by Friday I will go pick up the right one this time. I wish she was there when I dropped by so I could just get it over with. I am getting so nervous, excited, anxious; You name it! I'm in a huge nesting phase, lol I still cannot believe this is happening. Ive wanted this for SO long. My husband even text me today, and said "I got you something you will enjoy when you are recovering..." and it is the SOFTEST blanket ever. Lol. He is so sweet! Hope he thinks the same thing of me after I run him to death with errands while I lay in bed healing :) Updated on 5 Dec 2012: Two weeks left!! I'm having a hard time imagining in two weeks , I will be small up top! Woo hoo! I scheduled my pre-admissions for next Wednesday at 3:30, and I have I talk to the anesthesiologist that day as well. That will help me ease my mind a bit, I hope. I was at bed bath and beyond, and I found some genie bras on the "as-is" rack for half price! Box was damaged. So of course I bought a few :) the weird thing is, on one box it says mediums Are for like 34a, 34b, 32d or something, but on the other box it says mediums are good up til like 32DDD?!? So I'm confused. I'm a 34DDD and it sure doesn't fit me now.. Hopefully I guessed at the right size for post-op! Updated on 5 Dec 2012: I just realized the WEIRDEST thing.... I have this little mole on the underneath of my breast; I never see it but I know its there. After surgery, it will be gone! That is extremely weird to think about! Updated on 10 Dec 2012: Do I really only have 9 days left?!? Wow. It's extremely unreal to think in 9 days I am having surgery. How did you ladies deal with this feeling? I'm terrified.. I know when we get to the hospital that morning I am going to be crying... Probably hysterically. I'm not scared for the results, just the actual procedure. And I still don't know if I am staying overnight at the hospital, I keep getting told it depends how I feel. Maybe I will get more information after my pre-op on Wednesday. Ladies, you all are keeping me sane. I am SO grateful I came across this site! Updated on 12 Dec 2012: Today was my pre-admissions appointment at the hospital. I got some much needed reassurance from anesthesiologist about my surgery. I am still scared, don't get me wrong, but he was very reassuring. He did inform me that women, especially younger women, and especially women having breast surgery (triple whammy!) typically will become extremely nauseous after anesthesia, but made sure he included in my file to give me IV anti nausea meds, along with the patch behind my ear, and I will get the anti-nausea meds before, during and after surgery. As of now, my surgery is scheduled to be outpatient, with me going home later in the afternoon. This will all depend on if I am able to keep down my first pain pill after surgery, and keep down fluids. The admissions nurse reassured me that she is 99% sure I will be going home the same day, and they will take great care of me. I will see my surgeon before I am given any sedatives so that we can go over size expectations again, then they will give me my IV with sedatives & anti nausea, and wheel me back to the OR. I will be "awake" but probably not remember anything after the first round of sedatives until I wake up in recovery a few hours later. The nurse also knew my mother, she died in a car accident in 2001, and this nurse knew just from looking at my from my face that I had to be her daughter. Call me crazy, but I think this is a sign from God to show that I will be safe and protected throughout my journey. This post seems kindof ramble-y to me, but I just have SO much going through my mind. It feels good to have a place to write it all down, and have people who know the feeling! I appreciate all you girls SO much. Updated on 14 Dec 2012: I added a picture of me in a swimsuit I purchased.... This is what Im planning to wear on the cruise we are going on in May! Hopefully it looks a lot better then ;-) I look a little busty in it right now! Haha. My anxiety over surgery is gone today. Today has been a "stress out over not having enough storage space in our house and thats why it is so cluttered" type of day. So when my husband gets off work, we are going to Lowes and he is building me some shelves for in our closets :-) Updated on 16 Dec 2012: Surgery in "2 days" basically. I have to be at the hospital at 5:30 AM so I am not really even going to count Wednesday! Im going to have to get up and shower at like 4 am that day, man I am going to be GRUMPY because I guarantee I cant fall asleep early the night before, haha. Still a little unsure about the drain situation. My PS originally told me I would stay overnight and have drains removed before I leave in the morning, but I also think he wasnt aware of my latex allergy at the time so he didnt realize I would be his first surgery of the day! (Latex allergies go first so that there is no risk latex has been used in the OR that day to cause a reaction) I will definitely ask him while he does his artwork on me what he thinks will happen afterwards, because my post-op isnt until 8 days after surgery, and I REALLY dont want the drains in that long; but if he says I have to then I guess I will have no choice will I? Im also going to stress to him how worried Ive been about still having a lot of armpit boob afterwards. I dont ever see girls with a B/C cup that have this awful second set of boobs, so I really want to make sure its out of there! Good luck to all you ladies getting surgery this week - I will be thinking about you in my dream like state on Wednesday :-) And also to you girls recovering. Updated on 17 Dec 2012: I just spoke with my surgeons nurse, she got my pharmacy information and is calling in my prescriptions tomorrow morning. I am getting hydrocodone and Keflex. The Keflex is an antibiotic for afterwards, she said its a 5 day cycle. Hydrocodone is obviously going to be for the pain, eek. I asked her if she had any info on me being outpatient/ the drain situation. She said I might be a "23 hour outpatient" which means I would go home early in the morning on Thursday. This would be so that Dr. Shaw could still remove my drains in the morning, and just keep me for observation in the meantime. She is going to get some more clarification so that I can plan, and call me back later today. I called over to my pharmacy, too, and they are going to call me once the RXs are ready in the morning. I warned them of what was coming because they have a 1 day wait for some medications if they have to order it, but the pharmacist said they have plenty of both to fill my RX. That helps my nerves :-) Besides that, my plan for later is to clean & organize the house more. My husband is going to build me some shelves for in our closet tonight to keep blankets and whatnot on... Just organizing. I want to be able to lay in bed and not be worrying about having blankets everywhere (we have a ton because I like to sleep with like 5!) and to know I have clean blankets and sheets waiting for me :-) I am still freaking out. I feel like I'm going to run away, lol. But I know I can't do that, and if I do I will be so mad at myself! Updated on 19 Dec 2012: Holy crap. I'm on my way to the hospital. And I'm shaking ... I don't want to do this. But I do. No I don't... Wait yes I do. My mind is so jumbled. They better not take long to give me that first round of IV happy meds because I am freaking the heck out!!!! Ill see you ladies on the recovery side later on. If I feel decent I may update today, well see how stuff goes. Good luck to the other several of you having your surgeries today! Updated on 19 Dec 2012: Well ladies, I did it! I had to stay in recovery for 4.5 hours though, and omg have I got a story for you about that. No complications just no beds were available til now. Ill update when I'm home tomorrow. So glad i did this. PS says I'm most likely a c cup. And NO DRAiNS!!! Updated on 19 Dec 2012: Here is a breakdown of my day... 4am wake up, shower 5am leave house 530an arrive at hospital 6am get called back, start IV with saline 630 am get marked up 650am got taken to anesthesia waiting, got happy juice! And anti nausea, Etc 730am surgery started. I remember climbing on the table and seeing two huge lights above me. I got oxygen the. Woke up in recovery! I was in recovery for 4.5 hours. I was only supposed to be there for one hour!! The entire hospital was full and had no beds! I was so upset towards the end... There was a guy in the recovery bed next to me that came in an hour after me and got to leave an hour before me (there was a bed open in a men's room but no women :( ) My left side is hurting way worse than right, it was slightly bigger to start with. Once I finally got into the room the surgeon met me, and showed me my new boobs! They are perfect!! And no drains. I will post pics once I can. In recovery I got all the pain meds I wanted. Now that I am in a room I am getting Percocet pills, 1 every 4 hours, and dilauded through my IV every 4 hours. The iv med is way way better!!! I talk to the surgeon before I leave Tomorrow and I will have to ask him for stronger pain meds, or give me more so I can take 2 at a time or something. Right now I only have a 5 day supply.... But I don't see PS for 8 days after tomo?! Scary. Updated on 20 Dec 2012: I added a pic of my surgery markings. No pics of new boobs yet, maybe I can get one tomorrow when I shower or change my dressings again. They are perfect. Up on my chest where they should be and so much smaller. I thank you ladies for not letting me chicken out!! Once I got the iv played my anxiety went mostly away, because I knew any of the other painful/scary parts I'd be asleep for :) The story from recovery: I almost had to hurt someone!!! This lady (stupidly) came to surgery with no ride home. She knew she was outpatient and wouldn't be staying, and that the hospital will no accept a cab as a "responsible driver" they eve make you sign a paper stating this, and that you'll have an adult with you the first 24-48 hours. She had neither. She was literally screeching that no one loved her, we don't want her here, etc. because of her own mistake.... I told my nurse to shut my blinds because the ruckus was affecting my blood pressure a bit. Finally they sedated her again and took her to a room. They told her she would have to pay for the room out of pocket because Medicaid was only paying for the outpatient procedure... And she kept on being crazy. I think in the end they just kept her sedated in the recovery wing. So annoying! Updated on 20 Dec 2012: Added another photo of my new boobs in the surgical bra. I feel skinny!! Updated on 21 Dec 2012: New pics of me without the surgical bra!! I was going to try to switch to a genie bra but I am not ready yet, so I put on my spare surgical. It is just soooo tight... They look great! Exactly what I imagined!! Updated on 21 Dec 2012: Post op day 2 I can not stop looking at the picture of my new boobs! I feel like I look about 30lbs lighter. I feel proportionate. I feel GREAT! To anyone having second thoughts.... Don't. I was so worried, but I am so so so glad I did this! I can't wait to go bra shopping and to be able to wear different tops. Strapless dresses.... String bikinis... Omg! Updated on 22 Dec 2012: I'm having some AWFUL headaches since yesterday afternoon. I'm okay if I am laying down, but the second I sit up I get a headache that makes my entire head throb. The only thing that has made It go away so far is laying down for another nap... I hope this stops soon. It hurts so bad I feel nauseous! If its still happening tomorrow I might call the PS's on call number to make sure he isn't worried about it like I am. On another note... Lefty has full nipple sensation. Righty however doesnt... At times it feels like she is "vibrating" though, so I wonder if this is the nerves waking up? I'm unsure. I will ask my PS about this as well. Updated on 22 Dec 2012: Girls, be wary of taking the pain meds. My headaches got so bad earlier that I couldn't stop crying, couldn't eat, and just layed on the couch holding my head. My husband called the on call doctor from my PS office and they told him to have me stop taking the narcotic pain medicine because it is known for causing those headaches. I was told to take 3 200mg Ibuprofen instead. I did and went back to sleep. I still havea headache but at least I can function now! The headache should go away once I've not had a pain pill in a day or two. Thank goodness. Updated on 23 Dec 2012: Everything seems to be going good so far, healing up and whatnot. The most painful parts are the ends of the incisions underneath the breast, on the armpit sides. The most ANNOYING part is the itching. I want to rip these steri strips off and just SCRATCH! But I cant do that... My left breast has been the trouble maker since I came out of surgery. It was the only one hurting for the first 6-8 hours, then righty caught up and started hurting. Lefty has had drainage on the gauze every day, but righty has only had drainage today (day 4!) and very little at that. Righty seems to have more bruising. The left nipple is SENSITIVE! Every little thing brings her to attention. Right nipple could really care less.. I had my husband kind of play a "game" so I could make sure it wasn't in my head. I covered my eyes and had him try to wake up my nipple by gently touching it, and I couldn't feel a thing. This is definitely something I will ask about on the 27th (post op #1) I wouldn't be devastated if the sensation in righty doesn't return, but I don't want to lose her all together!! I hope all you ladies are doing okay, whether it be preparing or healing. Updated on 24 Dec 2012: I added a new pic, 5 days post op. more bruising is appearing on my right boob (left in the photo) which is the breast that has no nipple sensation. It is also much more swollen than lefty, although left is still the only one really causing me any pain. Righty's nipple puffs out quite a bit sometimes, especially in the shower, which is extremely weird to see. Lefty stays flat unless she is excited (which is 80% of the time nowadays!) Finally most of the marker is wearing off, except I'm sure there is still some under these steri strips. Man I can not wait for them to come off! They are ITCHY! I've been taking a Benedryl every night to help me not scratch off a nipple in the middle of the night. Lol! Updated on 25 Dec 2012: Of course, my new pic is upside down. Updated on 27 Dec 2012: My first post-op appointment was today, but my PS is on vacation so I just met with his nurse. She said I can take the steri-strips off next Wednesday if they haven't fell off by then. I also got a new RX for Tylenol 3 (Tylenol and codeine) so I have pain pills I can take that do not give me massive headaches. I have had T3's before for dental work and they are mild, but work well for subtle pains. I have to keep wearing my surgical bra 24/7 until next Wednesday, then I can take it off when I sleep if I want to. 2 more weeks of that and then I can wear a normal bra with NO underwire. So with that being mentioned, I went to Victoria's Secret and got sized (I am hoping the size is due to the swelling) and bought two wireless bras, because they were BOGO 50% off, so HOW could I resist?!? I uploaded a photo (and of course it is upside down...who can tell me how to fix that??) of my first bra purchase. Size is 34 D on the bra in the photo....which makes me a little sad because I really wanted a B cup and ended up with a D. I know the doctors can only take out so much safely, but I was really thinking I could get away from the dreaded D cups. I also bought a bra that is a 36 C, and it seems a SLIGHT bit small but, again, high hopes that I am just really swollen and I will end up a C cup. If not, it is still super comfortable and I will still wear it :-) Any thoughts from you all on sizes? I know most of us cant wait to go bra shopping so SOMEONE out there has to know how many cup sizes they lost in swelling. LOL. I am 8 days POST op right now, is there hope I will un-swell down to a small C cup from the D I currently am? I am planning to start exercising and losing weight once the doctor OKs me. So maybe I will lose a cup size with that.... My next appointment in January 22nd, and I will see my surgeon that visit. I will ask him if there was much fatty tissue in there so I know if exercising will possibly decrease my size any more.. We shall see. I am still very happy and very glad I did this, and what I have now is a MILLION times better than what I had. I just wish I was a cup or two smaller.. Updated on 28 Dec 2012: I woke up today and I am so ITCHY. The itch is weird though, because when I go to itch it (oh yeah I'm itching these bad boys.. Er... Bad girls?!?) the skin that is itchy is numb, and it feels really odd to be itching a spot that is numb. I'm going to try to take a Benedryl and get some more sleep, I hardly got any last night. Updated on 28 Dec 2012: Day 9 post-op Dec 28th 2012 Uploaded new photos, and with the help of a RealSelf members advice I now have my photos right-side-up! Thank you SO much amazonia718! Today I am ITCHY. Have been all day, very intense. I have taken two doses of benedryl today to try to calm it down, with no luck. I also developed quite a bit more swelling, and some red/yellow areas around the T and my nipples on both sides. Yesterday was my first post-op, and this wasn't there. I called the on-call doctor for my PS office, as it worried me, and I am going to see him on Monday. My PS is still on vacation. He didn't seem too worried but wanted to check things out for himself. It feels like there is fluid underneath the skin in those areas, just feels "squishy" to me. I have not had drainage since day 4 I think, and this is day 9. I will let you all know what he thinks or if anything changes; please let me know if this looks like anything you've experienced as well. And if anyone has a secret to stop this ITCHING.... Only 5 more days and I can take off the steri-strips (unless the PS says I can when I see him on Monday...) Updated on 29 Dec 2012: So, it's 8am right now. I have not slept all night. I could not get comfortable and I was itching SO badly. I couldn't take it anymore, I got up around 6:30 and I peeled off all my steri strips and picked off some very large piece of glue. (my surgeons nurse said I could do this on Wednesday but I couldn't take it anymore!!) You have no idea how much better this feels!!! Or maybe you do ;-) everywhere that was extremely itchy had a giant blob of glue there, and once it came off I could tell a difference already. The glue came off easily for the most part. I did NOT pick at any scabs even if they were mixed with glue, but some scabs did come off when I removed the steri-strips. One little spot bled like half a drop and that was it. There were a few spots that actually had a stitch knot in them! It was weird, I didn't think I'd see those until much later. And there is a spot about half an inch under the T junction on both sides, with like 3-4 tiny strands sticking out? I guess it's just part of the stitch work being tied off maybe? Who knows. I used a wet washcloth and gently wiped away where the glue was as well, because it left kindof slimy residue behind. Came off easy. There are two spots that the glue is sticky and weird, like when you try to peel a sticker off something lol. I applied polysporin to all of the incisions and covered them with gauze, mostly to protect them from my scratching if I ever do get to sleep today. The only thing itching now is the left nipple, and a little area above (like an inch above incisions?) my right nipple. Totally bearable compared to what I was having!!! I took two Benedryl also and I am going to stay on top of the Benedryl today to try to make the itching stop/keep it under control. And I took a Tylenol 3 because I am a little sore from the tape removal. ----------- Different topic. Lol! I posted on the December check in but I will also post here, did anyone have any nipple discharge after surgery? I had a tiny amount yesterday, maybe the size of a small pea, from one nipple. I showered and then noticed the discharge about 2-3 hours later. Odd consistency, kindof smooth and creamy (disgusting I know) and white. No odor. I will also address this when I go see the PS that's covering for my PS on Monday, but I was curious if anyone else had experienced this. I am now watching netflix and waiting for my medicine coma to hopefully kick in. 2 Benedryl and a pain pill will do that to ya! Updated on 30 Dec 2012: Day 12 POST op I added some photos of the girls without the steri-strips. Yesterday I went and bought benedryl anti-itch spray, and it was a waste of money. I know the itching is normal for healing but it is literally driving me insane. The best thing for the itch is an ice pack, icy cold and right over the boobs. MAN that would have been torture before surgery, all that cold right on there. Now it is like heaven. Sad thing is the itch-relief stops when the ice pack isn't there... It kindof helps control me though, because I think "Okay, I got a good hour of not being itchy. I could get up and go to the store and be OK in public for a little bit..." Then I come home and ice again immediately. Updated on 31 Dec 2012: I have developed cellulitis, it's a bacterial infection. So I will be doing another round of antibiotics and keeping a close eye on all of my incisions... The redness I was having is a sign of this infection and not normal. I am told to call the on call doctor immediately if: - develop a fever - have any breaks/openings in my incisions - the redness grows - the redness does not start shrinking by Thursday/Friday If the redness does not improve by Thursday I am to call and set up an appointment to come back on Friday. Updated on 31 Dec 2012: I'm a little down tonight. Might be post op blues mixed with a little aggravation from getting the infection. I have developed quite a bit more swelling even since seeing the PS this morning (13 hours ago?) the left breast on the inside half of the vertical incision is very swollen, bulging out over the top of the horizontal incision. I will take pics tomorrow, but hopefully by then the swelling has reduced. I am going to ice quite a bit tonight and take a pain pill, the swelling has caused a bit of pain and lots of tenderness. I'd probably rate my pain around a 5-6 for now. Crappy day. Still glad I did this but really bummed out my easy recovery took a turn. Updated on 2 Jan 2013: Still have my infection.... "cellulitis" they call it. Sounds so harmless. Bunch of crap! I am SORE and BURNING. The redness has darkened up and spread a little, just gotten thicker around the horizontal incisions and covers more of my breast below the nipple as well. Last night I noticed some blisters also (on the red skin, around my nipples but not on the incisions) They looked like the small blisters (filled with clear fluid) you get when you have a bad sunburn, I always get those and once they pop I would start "peeling" I was not happy to say the least. Feeling pretty down today... It was my first day back at work and I just did not want to be there at all. I work in a call center (inbound and no sales thankfully) and it was so loud and hectic being back in there. I had to reset every single one of my passwords. I stumbled through my first 5 or 6 phone calls. I got yelled at for not sitting in my "assigned seating area" which was implemented while I was gone and I was not informed. Oh well.... thats what you get for working in a call center! And that is why I am still in school - 2019 and I will be finished and moved on with life. There were some good parts to today, after work. Me and my husband just started our own small company; We got all the paperwork and tax prep info today so we can keep good records. Most likely won't be profitable for a year or so but my husband loves it so I will support him all the way! He has been so good to me the last few months, first with my crazy obsessing over boob pictures and now with my healing process. He deserves this. Okay... rant over. I would upload photos but you cant see the redness in them anyways, photos never do show color the right way when they are of round objects. Lol! Im probably about a DD on one side now, and a D on the other. One side has much more swelling. I know that in time, this will reduce and I will be a nice C or possibly B in some brands. Can not wait for that day! Thanks for putting up with me. I hope all your other post op ladies are doing fantastic, and all you girls still waiting: BREATHE! It will all be over soon! Updated on 3 Jan 2013: I didn't go to work today. I had a really bad night pain-wise and had to end up taking a pain pill around 5am (I work at 7am). I just couldn't take it anymore. I called my surgeons office and spoke with the scheduler that I worked with before surgery, she just happened to answer. I told her I wanted to come in tomorrow and she sounded surprised and said he didn't need to see me back until another 2-3 weeks. So she had no clue about my infection... I told her what happened and that I saw a different doctor in the same office on Monday and she said she hadn't heard at all and she was sorry. She asked what side my infection was on and was even more shocked when I told her its on along every incision. My surgeon is in surgeries today. She said she will text him and let him know what's going on and see if he wants to see me today (and if he has time) and if not I have an appointment with him at 1:30 tomorrow. I hope this goes away soon. I thought by week two I would be pretty much done with all the sucky parts of recovery :-( Updated on 3 Jan 2013: I saw my PS today. This is the first time I have seen him since I left the hospital, as he was on vacation for my post-op. He thinks I might have a slight infection, but he is thinking it is more just a severe allergic reaction to the steri-strips. He is going to have me finish taking the antibiotics the other surgeon gave me, and come back to see him next Tuesday to see if everything is clearing up or not. He wants to give me a steroid cream to use but is holding off on giving it to me yet, because if used too soon after surgery it can make your scars stand up quite a bit. He said it is usually best to wait 4 weeks from surgery but he may give it to me on Tuesday if things have not gotten better. I feel a little better about everything now. Im still pretty blah about the whole thing, just because I want the healing to be going a little better.... but oh well. I will do what he tells me to do and everything will work out in the end, it just takes time. Im very happy with my results and the entire staff at the office is amazing, and that is what really counts! Updated on 3 Jan 2013: OH! And I got the "bill" for my hospital stay today.... haha! This is a summary of what they submitted to my insurance.. Central Supply 163.06 Emergency Dept 61.56 Lab 533.00 Operating Room 19,870.02 Pharmacy 1,300.96 Post Anesthesia 1,093.96 TOTAL 23,022.56 That doesn't even include the surgeon's fees, and the anesthesia itself. I got the bill for anesthesia and it is 1,260.00; my portion of that is $187.20. Insurance hasn't received the claim for the hospital stay or surgeon's fees yet, so I don't know what my responsibility will be. The surgeon thinks my portion of his fees is about $500.00. Total I will not pay more than $2500.00 of it (my out of pocket maximum is 3000.00 and I have already spent my 500.00 deductible last year) SO I think I made out like a bandit. Lol! If I was going to pay cash, they do the surgery at the surgery center and you go home same day, a few hours after surgery. Since insurance agreed to pay, that is why I went to the hospital and why it cost SO much more. Crazy! So far, I have paid 500.00 deductible for my X-rays, 40.00 for my consultation copay, 187.20 for anesthesia, 34.76 for lab fees (havent got a bill but got my EOB from insurance, this was a blood test before discharged I believe) TOTAL Out of pocket is $761.96 (so far) Not bad! Im anxious to see the total I am responsible for of that $23000.00 bill..... Updated on 3 Jan 2013: I uploaded a few pictures to show the redness, but it's so hard to see in photos. It's spread quite a bit and extremely itchy - one of the reasons my surgeon thinks its an allergic reaction. I also uploaded a close up of one boob to try to show the blisters. I don't think it shows very well, they are TINY like a pinhead Updated on 5 Jan 2013: Redness is fading, kindof. It's weird, the redness is more like turning brown? Oh well. Looks a LOT better than it did! And finally some of the bigger chunks of glue are coming off... There's still one spot on one of my vertical incisions that has quite a bit but for the most part the glue is gone! I went bra shopping today, all underwire free of course! I got them all at Soma, and I bought 34D even though a c would fit, because the d was more comfortable on my incisions. I got two of the "Heidi" bras, made from the same material as their pajamas are... SO soft. Definitely worth it!! I got two other wirefree that aren't the prettiest but they were on sale and only $14 each, and I figured they'd be good Tshirt bras for now. I also got three bras with soft cups, they are beautiful. One is even CHEETAH print!! I can't even remember the last time I bought a printed bra... I saw a red bra there and I want- no I NEED it. I told the girl I will be back when underwire is allowed and they'd better have it!! Lol. I didn't want to buy it today and then end up a C cup after swelling and not be able to wear my new red bra! The ones I got today were all on sale so if they end up too big then ill be okay. I will probably still wear the "Heidi" bra though.... They are amazing. Perfect to sleep in! They almost look like a swimsuit top the way they are cut, too cute. I'm planning to model all these beauties later for my husband, and I will make him take pictures to put up for you girls! Updated on 5 Jan 2013: Pics added! Updated on 8 Jan 2013: I saw my plastic surgeon for my follow up today. He said it definite wasn't an infection, just a bad allergic reaction to the steri strips! Redness is almost gone... I have a few stitches spitting but he said not to mess with them and they will just fall out on their own. He also said next week to start massaging the entire breast (ill be 4 weeks post op on the 16th) to soften up the tissue, and that I can start wearing underwire bras already. He removed 516 grams from the left, and 466 from the right. They did test all the tissue, and there is no cancerous tissue in there at all. Good to hear. We took my first set of after photos for his use today... I wish I could show you all those! They had a shadow image of my before pictures, and I stood in the same position, they lined me up with the before and then took the after photo. You could see the shadow image on the actual photo... Omg. What a difference! Up until now I couldn't tell the true difference; I knew they were a lot smaller I just didn't know how much. I am so happy. I go back in March for a follow up again. He said in June or July I will need a mammogram to have a baseline for the future. Updated on 9 Jan 2013: As you may have read, I had an allergic reaction to the steri strips. Anyone else have this happen? I'm wondering because I am now peeling all along my incisions where the redness was. Just started today but you can tell by looking at it that the entire area will peel. It's just the top layer of skin, like a sunburn. It is the absolute craziest feeling having boobs peeling, and it is so odd to have it peel off on a numb area because I can just bARELY feel it. Updated on 20 Jan 2013: I can't believe it's been over a month now since the surgery. I am still loving the new girls; and I can finally sleep on my side comfortably without waking up regretting it! I will upload pictures tomorrow. All the incisions are healing nicely, no openings. Scars look great. I think I got the last piece of glue off today.... Crazy. One nipple still has no sensation, and there are times when parts of my breasts go numb. I know this is normal, because the nerves need time to heal. I am happy with the results regardless of if I get full sensation back or not!
I highly recommend finding out what your out of pocket cost will be for revisions before you choose Dr. Shaw. I regrettably didn't. Also, I should have gone with what I felt I needed instead of putting my trust in his advice. Now, if I want to get what I hoped for in the first place I have to pay again and undergo another surgery. I don't think his priorities are to the client. Obviously his priority is first his pocket book and how fast he can get to his next appointment.
This may be a bit long, but the backstory is part of the complaint which began August 2021 and has not yet concluded today, June 2022. Last year's facelift: Only talked to surgeon about 5 mins. at consult, no details about specifics/what to expect,etc., just "Yeah, I can fix that" -- And after the consult, I could only talk to staff, although I tried to talk to Dr, as I wanted to add eyes. (Couldn't -- had to wait till this year and pay again- this comes in later, too.) With anxiety disorder, I communicate best in writing and prefer to get things in writing. ...repeatedly asked for emails, but staff refused; the nurse even said "I know you wanted emails, but..." as she called to answer questions! I told her then that I wanted to add eyes; she said sure, but again--- I could not to talk to the doctor about it -- just staff, so I didn't. Saw Dr.for second time, maybe 5 minutes, post- procedure. Facelift took a little over an hour, super fast compared to others. Now the real complaint begins, but backstory is part of it- you'll see why. After the surgery, the Dr. gave me a box of Juviderm XC saying "didn't need it -- use it next time you get work." I was bewildered; this had never happened-- wondered why they didn't refund our money, since they underestimated so wildly (again, that had never happened...one syringe, which I was then not charged for-- but never two) but ...I took it home and put it carefully away, as it was worth $1200. For weeks post- lift, spoke to staff about follow-up problems. I mentioned "how nice" it was that I had 2 whole syringes to use sometime later, maybe next year, and staff agreed. . When I was completely healed, the dr. called; we talked about two minutes, saying it was healed okay. ALL THESE CONVERSATIONS AND NO ONE TOLD ME THE JUVIDERM WAS ONLY GOOD FOR SIX MONTHS. I was not even told it HAD an expiration date! Saying "use it next time" when people usually wait at least a year before more work made it worse. Now, to make THAT even worse---Tried to get appt with them this year for eyes. Emailed--they wrote back a stiff, formal email "If you wish to see one of our surgeons at Cox Health, please call main office at......" Emld again saying, "hey, it's me-- I was there last summer. Remember me?" I wanted to ask questions about last year's pics and work this year. Second time, they sent ANOTHER formal email -- "If you wish to...call main office." (This is a huge complex, covering blocks, with a phone tree that would give anyone an anxiety disorder-- and the main office would only transfer me to them) -- they "answered" me as if I was a stranger, rather than a patient they just saw over a period of two months, just months ago. So I made a consult w/ a new dr. for eyes this year. Yesterday I went to consult---and asked if I could use this Juviderm I have--They said "Sure, if it's not expired." I said "WHAT?" (She also said, when I explained, that it was "odd" and "It's just not done that way." I said, "Yeah. I know.") So I went home and looked at the JD box-- It expired last month! If I had only known, I would have used it sooner. It was only good for 6 months and no one told me-- not even that it expires -- even though it was unethical in the first place to charge me for something not used -- either a doctor's error in judgement or a doctor's decision to finish up quickly that day. (I ended up with a version of what is sometimes called "Pixie ears.") 1. He should have given me the $1200 ($600 a syringe, 2 syringes) instead of the box of it! (I don't want it on the credit card; I transferred balances to new cards this year; doubt if is even open.) 2. Even though he unethically did that with the JD (the bill was already $10,000-- for ONE hour, not the usual 2-3), he should have told me-- "But use it soon-- it expires" --.and the "six months" part, too. Instead, he said "Use it next time," when he knows we don't come in for work more than once a year for more work. 3. His nurses, when I talked about "I even have an extra box for next time should have told me "Look for the date on the box" or even just "Are you aware that it expires?" Instead, it was just "Yes!" 4. When I emailed his office, direct to people I had talked with repeatedly less than a year ago, for a span of several weeks, they should have answered me personally instead of sending me a stiff email saying "go through the bureaucracy" -- they know I'm a patient, as of the summer before! So the little time he spent was one thing, being left with "pixie ears" and some loose skin was another-- but I'm not complaining on those because when you go to a new surgeon, it's a crap shoot. I'm not complaining about having to call the hospital the night before to find out what time my appt was and then having to drive all night to make the 4-hour drive to their city to get their by 6 AM, rather than having a regular appointment set for surgery. I overlooked all this. BUT: I AM complaining about what looks like padding the bill (ethics and common sense say don't charge people for something NOT USED/NOT DONE. Would a painter say "Yeah, I finished your house and it didn't need all this paint, but I bought it and charged YOU for it anyway and I'll leave the buckets in your driveway---maybe someday you'll decide to paint with this color again??") If they had refunded the money after the surgery rather than tossing me the box, okay. (By the way, I never got the "free camoflauge concealer pack" promised, either!)If I had gotten a personal email back this year, I could have asked or mentioned "I can bring in last year's Juviderm,' and I might have gotten in somewhere before it expired....okay again. (Of course, if I could have talked to the doctor the year before, I wouldn't have to go to a different dr this year, because I would have had my eyes done.) But they did neither. So this review points out all the problems I had with Cox Health and Dr. Robert Shaw. I'm letting people know that I have complaints out with the BBB and the federal gov's Consumer Finance Protection Board. I also have a complaint written out and ready to send to the state licensing board for physicians.. If I get a check for the $1200 that the (now worthless) Juviderm is/was worth -- money that the doctor CHARGED me which was not part of my operation at all, I will come back and take all the negative points out and write that he swiftly corrected the "error." (as it had to be either a deliberate padding OR a gross error in estimating on his part --either way, he should not have made ME pay for it.) I will even remove the extra details I was not happy with. In the meantime, beware huge, impersonal hospitals, Cox Health, and Dr. Robert Shaw. One star unless this is made right. He knows what to do.
I am a 43 year old mom of 4. I was a late bloomer who prayed (apparently to much) for boobs. When I was 16 they finally started to grow and then they just didn't stop, by the time I was 18 I was a DDD and I have hated them since. Now that my kids are grown and I have time for me I decided it was time for the girls to go! I have lived with back pain and sore ribs from under wire bras that never fit right even though I spend a small fortune on them. I started my journey back in July with my primary physician and it has slowly moved forward from there. I got in to see my PS on September 9th where he agreed that my breast are way to large for my body. They turned in the paperwork to BCBS and I finally got my approval letter for the surgery yesterday! I am excited and nervous all at the same time! I am hoping those that have had surgery already can give me some tips on the thing that will make it easier to recover. The one thing I've read over and over is the awful itching. If any one has things that have helped that would be awesome! My surgery is scheduled for December 28th which seems to be forever from now, it gives me way to much time to think about this, and being the worst case senerio lady that will prove to be challenging! Updated on 13 Dec 2015: I am now two weeks away from my reduction and the nerves are starting to set in. I plan to get all of the thing I need the weekend before my surgery to hell my recovery go okay. My husband and best friend are going to help me out so at least I know I will be in good hands. Updated on 22 Dec 2015: 6 days to go! I'm nervous but so ready for the weight to be lifted of my chest! Updated on 27 Dec 2015: I'm so excited / nervous that I don't think I will be able to sleep. I have wanted to this procedure done for so long and now that is here I am freaking out a little bit. I have to be at the hospital at 6 am and will try to remember to do another update pre and post op. Updated on 28 Dec 2015: I'm getting ready to go back, I'm all marked up and ready to go. Hoping to come out a c cup. Eeek so excited. Updated on 31 Dec 2015: Well the last few days have been pretty rough, not from the reduction but from the pain meds making me terribly sick. I finally called my dr and got a new nausea medication that has done wonders in the last 24 hours. My stomach has finally settled and I feel like I'm on the mend. So now that I feel better I am amazed at how SMALL my chest is, it is fantastic! I still have franken-boobs, but wow what a difference! I cannot wait to see how they take shape over the next couple of months :) Updated on 3 Jan 2016: So I am now 6 days post op and things have been going really well. Pain is pretty minimal, enough so that I am not taking anything for it. I'm still swollen and bruised both of which I expected. I do find that I get tired pretty quick so going back to work tomorrow will be interesting. All in all I am very happy I had this done. Updated on 3 Jan 2016: Updated on 7 Jan 2016: So this week has had is ups and downs, I feel like I'm healing but I am still really swollen. I will be very happy when it finally subsides. Just for kicks I put one of my old bras on and it wasn't as big as I had hoped, :/ I really should have waited because it kind of got to me. I know in a couple of weeks it will be so much better. I just need to get these Updated on 13 Jan 2016: This week has been pretty good. I can tell that there is a lot of internal healing going on, lots of reconnection. It's definitely a weird, funky feeling. Almost like little zaps of electricity. I still feel pretty swollen, especially in the evening hours. I do have one concern about how they are healing, the scars in the center feel pretty thick, does anyone have a suggestion of how I can get them to flatten out? Updated on 13 Jan 2016: Updated on 18 Jan 2016: This past week has been pretty good. My incisions seen to be healing well. Some of my scars are bubbled up more than I would like but I'm sure time will flatten them out. I'm still not quite 100% yet but getting better by the day. Updated on 25 Jan 2016: This week has been good except for I think I've got the beginning of an infection starting on the right side t-junction. I noticed yellow drainage on Saturday night in my bra so I immediately cleaned it and put antibiotic ointment on it. The drainage has stopped but I can see what looks to be a small pocket of puss right at that junction. Im going to continue with the ointment until I see my doctor tomorrow morning. Hopefully keeping it clean and covered will get it bank on track. On a really positive note I tried my old bra on this morning and it is huge! I am absolutely overjoyed about that! I feel a little better everyday now so I think I have turned a good corner in this recovery process. Updated on 1 Feb 2016: This past week has been the best yet. Outside of some zings here and there it has been great. I saw my PS last Tuesday and he said to start massaging them to help reduce what's left of the swelling and to help flatten out the scars. He also told me to go ahead and start wearing underwire bras to kept the "girls" looking good. So after going and getting fitted I am very happy to report I am a C! I am beyond excited about that, on top off that I haven't had to put the girls back in place, they just stay put! I can't remember a time when I didn't have to reach in and pull the back into place several times a day. I am so happy I finally went and had the reduction done. It has been so worth it! Updated on 8 Feb 2016: This week has been really good. I have a couple of concerns, one bring the right sidea t-junction. It is having an issue completely closing, is still has a hole that is about the size of a pencil head. And the other is the thickness of the scar on the left. It feels way thicker than the other scars. I'm concerned that it will not allow the breast to round out around the bottom. I'll see what it does over the next couple of months though and if it doesn't thin out I'll talk to my PS to see what needs to be done with it.
It is always recommended to be at your goal weight before any plastic surgery to excise extra skin. If you have surgery before then you run the risk of having loose skin again.
