I lost 70 lbs 18 years ago, which even though I was only 19, the dramatic weight loss left my body with a lot of loose and sagging skin. In December 2010, I had a tummy tuck, and, honestly, it was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life for my self esteem. I’ve kept the weight off all this time, and now I am finally to a place in my life where I can afford to have another surgery (in terms of both money and recovery time) and so after consulting with a few doctors, I have decided to go with Dr. Ronald DeMars here in Portland Oregon to have a butt lift and medial thigh lift. My operation is set for this Wednesday (2/13) bright and early, and while I am really excited and trying to stay both realistic and conservative in my expectations of the outcome, today I am mostly very nervous for the procedure itself. I have had both an ACL reconstruction and a tummy tuck, and both recoveries went very smoothly for me. To be honest the ACL was way more painful and much more of a difficult recovery than the tummy tuck. I think at this point, what scares me more than the recovery time and process itself, is the duration of the surgery itself (5 hrs). It’ll be the longest surgery I’ve undergone, and right now it feels quite scary. Anyways, I’ve read the reviews here and found the list of must-have’s for thigh lift surgery very helpful. I feel stocked up with a pillow wedge, a toilet seat riser, and the various sundry mention. But I’d love any support or any other pointers you have out there. Especially any good vibes to send my way for surgery day itself. >eeek! Updated on 13 Feb 2019: Hi everyone, I wanted to post a quick update. My surgery was this morning (probably officially started the surgery part close to 830am) and I’ve been at home since about 2:45. My nurse woke me up just after 1pm, and I felt pretty groggy. But, they wore off with the hour, and I was able to pee before I left, got a wheelchair to my sweetie’s care -and have just been hanging out on the couch since. (Came home to a ton of flowers!- gotta say I’m so beyond lucky.) Anyways, I’ve got to say, I’m in ZERO pain, which... i know it is definitely a temporary state- but geez, I’ll take it! I feel most weird about having lost so many hours, and I feel off in time. (It’s dinner time already?!) The only thing I really felt was a sore throat from the breathing apparatus the anesthesiologist used. Dr. DeMars and staff were so incredible, i really can’t say enough. Dr. DeMars took time to talk to me about why the surgery length for this combo of procedures shouldn’t scare me, and I just really appreciated that so much. He also talked me through where my incisions would be and why. The anesthesiologist and nurses were very friendly and wonderful as well. Right now, I have a pair of crotchless compression shorts on and no drains! I’m keeping up on meds and I’ve been taking little walks around the house all day. I peed... with not too much mess... but we’ll see about my first bm. So far, so good. I’ll post before photos and some photos tomorrow. Sendany questions my way! Updated on 14 Feb 2019: Wanted to post again, for anyone following. I’m 24 hours out from having had surgery, and I feel remarkably ok! I switched to only half a Percocet at about 8pm last night and I’ve only taken half of one so far this today. I can definitely feel all of my incisions and the small area on the outside of both my thighs that the doctor liposuctioned, but really it’s very manageable. I actually prefer it to how I felt on the Percocet. That just made me feel so dizzy, and I worried I was overdoing standing up walking around and sitting down to pee, etc. because I couldn’t feel anything. In other news, I did have a bm today, which I credit to stool softeners and a LOT of water. My girlfriend also got me a really fabulous calendula tea with other herbs meant to move lymph and reduce swelling. Oh- we’ve tried to keep my diet high protein and very low sodium. My only other pointers to share are that I definitely had to take my binder off to have the bm. And that the toilet seat riser is a must have. I think I’ll get to shower tomorrow, and I will take photos to share at that point. I did sneak a peak at my butt when I took the binder down and oooee! It looked so smooth. :sob: Updated on 15 Feb 2019: Quick update here. I didn’t take any pain meds today at all. The nurse said I could take acetaminophen, but honestly, the upset stomach wasn’t worth it to me. I have some ice packs, which do the trick. I did manage to shower, which felt incredible. I also got to see how everything is looking, and so far so good. My incisions are all covered with steri strips, so after the shower I used a tip I saw on this site and used my blow drier on cold to dry them. Then I got all bandaged up and stuffed back in this binder. I think my only real complaints are that the binder is quite tight on my stomach and was causing indigestion. I’ve since begun to wear it with the top open a bit, which has done wonders. My only other complaint is that my neck is sore from sleeping on my sofa, but I’ve got my heat pad on it and I think I’m only a night away from being able to sleep in my bed. Beyond that, I’m just practicing patience. I’m an active person suddenly thrust into inactivity through a decision I made. And i have to sit with that and have compassion for my body while it heals. I’m proud of all my body has done for me, including and especially healing from this. And I’m trying to stay focused on that.
I am a 35 year old mom of two. I’ve worked out for years 4-5 days a week and dieted to my very best but still wasn’t able to get rid of my belly. I was very self conscious about it. After much thought and many years of being uncomfortable, I decided to do something about it. I got a tummy tuck and breast lift done by Dr. Ronald DeMars. Best thing I’ve ever done for myself in my life. I’d do it again in a heartbeat! Updated on 21 Jul 2018: Here are pics from before and 8 weeks after surgery
I had my tummy tuck in April of 2017 with Dr. DeMars. It was the BEST decision. Since this was going to be my first surgery ever, I took my time consulting with other Surgeons in the Portland area. The consultation with Dr. DeMars impressed me the most. I knew he was going to be my surgeon. He was thorough in explaining what to expect, how to prepare, he answered all my questions never rushing through our visit. His staff is just as awesome, his office manager is a total sweetheart so are the Nurses. The day of my surgery I was very nervous but after meeting with the anesthesiologist I knew I'd be in good hands. Dr. DeMars doesn't take any short cuts, his staff is just as professional and comforting as he is! Dr. DeMars gave me my body back; I love my results. I welcome the days I can wear a two piece bikini!! He is my "go-to" surgeon next time I need an upgrade!
I was surprised at his table side manner and I felt comfortable immediately after speaking with him. I went to other consultation with other surgeons but did not walk away feeling like the procedure was explained. I had my breast reduction, lift and liposuction last fall and am very impressed with the results. My only regret was not meeting him and having this procedure done sooner. The scars are healing exceptionally (I was told due to my light skin coloration they would always be visible) and are not very visible anymore. I just feel better.
I had a breast augmentation by Dr. Demars to go from a "barely" A cup to a full C cup. I told him that I did not want large breasts - I just wanted to have something and feel more feminine and confident. We decided on a breast implant type and size and ever since having the surgery I have LOVED my boobs! I always feel great when seeing myself naked, in a bikini, filling out a dress, etc. Dr. DeMars really understood the look I was trying to achieve and he explained the whole process. I showed him pictures of what I did (and didn't) want my results to look like, and he walked me through information regarding implant type, placement, and expected results based on my natural breasts and bone structure. (For example, one breast is naturally slightly higher than the other, and the bottom of my left rib cage juts out a little bit which means that those "a-symmetries" will remain even with the breast implants, which I was fine with.) I was totally nervous about surgery though - I'm the type that freaks out with needles so I had no idea how I was going to fare. But he explained everything to me and reassured me about his practice, the staff, what I'd experience, etc. The anesthesiologist and the whole team were great!!! Amazingly, I didn't freak out at all. I got an IV with medicine right before the surgery, which was so shockingly easy, and then I woke up and everything was done! My healing wasn't too bad - it was a little sore but that's to be expected. I rested for a few days, and went about my normal activities within a week (with the exception of working out.) Anyway - everything about the process was the best it could possibly be, Dr. Demars and his whole team were awesome. And, it's really made me feel so much more confident - overall I'm thrilled and super grateful!
I am a 33 years old mother of four who has wanted breast augmentation since my first child 16 years ago completely deflated my breasts. I am finally done with babies/breastfeeding and actually doing it! I have pretty much known I wanted Dr DeMars since day one. Well, today I had my consult and now I'm super nervous because he said I need a donut lift in addition to the implants. I came home and began researching and WOW... Donut lifts have a really bad reputation! lol I've read that Donut Lifts increase risk for capsular contracture by 34%, have potential for severe scarring, and generally unreliable and unpredictable outcomes. Talk about freaking out! I'd love to hear from some other people on here who've had Donut lifts combined with larger implants. I'm going to contact my PS tomorrow and ask some questions that I didn't know to ask until after I researched the donut lift. Anyway, super excited about new boobs, super nervous about the whole lifting thing. lol And again, if anyone has had the Donut lift and wants to share their experience with me, I'd be grateful. Also open to hearing from anyone who was told they needed one and DIDN'T do it and how you liked the outcome without the Donut lift. Updated on 12 May 2018: I went back to Dr. DeMars to discuss my fears and apprehension about potential complications with Donut lift. He assured me that he has a excellent personal track record with this procedure and has encountered none of the notorious aforementioned complications. They showed me some before and afters of his Benelli/implant combos and he does really fantastic work. He didn't have a ton of examples because he said this procedure isn't something that works for everyone or a lift that the majority of BA patients need. But what he did have was flawless. I feel so much better about it. I'm finally accepting that this needs to happen. I am now focusing on preparing my body for the upcoming surgery and healing process. I am Taking collagen supplements (though I'll have to stop those 2 weeks before surgery), using Tamanu oil on my breasts, eating better, no smoking, etc... Doctor didn't suggest this stuff to be clear, but common sense tells me that a important factor of any successful healing process is optimal health. Anyway, that's where I'm at today. I'm going to keep up on updating my process from well before to well after my procedure so others can see the emotional and physical realities of this process. I know it has helped me to hear from others. Updated on 12 Jun 2018: Hey everyone! I haven't updated in a while but I've made a lot of "progress" emotionally and financially towards surgery since ya'll last heard from me. I paid my non refundable scheduling and facility fees and set "THE DATE." 7/11/2018 I will drift off to dreamland under anesthesia with my deflated, "mom boobs" in tow, and awaken with a new set of larger, fuller, prettier girls! I mean, that's the plan anyways! lol I'm finally on board mentally 100%. I'm more excited than I am nervous for a change. I'm still struggling to quit smoking. I've smoked 3 times today. But I'm not smoking whole cigarettes, I take a couple drags, scold myself, & put it out. By this time next week I'm gonna be DONE. I do not want nipple necrosis and neither do you, trust me... so if you're a smoker preparing for your own surgery, knock that [RS bleep] off. lol I've been eating better. Cut out refined sugars, upped my Protein and veggies to promote optimal healing. Drinking tons of water and bone broth which is AMAZING for facilitating the healing of scars and just healthy skin and tissue in general. If you don't know, I encourage you to google "Bone Broth Benefits" It promotes skin elasticity and collagen production. I lived on it during my recovery from Spinal surgery and I healed very quickly and you can hardly see my scar. I'm trying to be as healthy as I can when I go in. I also got Acetyl L Carnitine to take post surgery for nerve regeneration just in case I lose sensation. It's been clinically proven to reverse nerve damage when taken post operatively. Got my Arnica ready to go too! I'm telling you, I'm set! I'm even deep cleaning my house and starting to practice limited arm movement and move things to a lower level that I can comfortably reach after surgery. I'm going to contact Dr. DeMars office tomorrow and find out if there's anything else I should be doing, buying, or whatever to prepare. I know some places ask you to buy special bras and creams and whatnot ahead of time. He is a really low key doctor though and not into hype or up-selling you all the fancy, unnecessary things. So I doubt he will want me to buy much. Yeah... so that's where I'm at. I feel like I'm nesting. lol Ya know when you're pregnant and preparing for the baby like a total psychopath. I am doing that except this time it's TWINS. lol See what I did there? I'll get my Husband to take some before photos this week. I want to really document this for you guys because it's been really hard for me to find good information and before/afters of this procedure and I know there will be others in the future who will benefit from my photos and experience. Updated on 13 Jun 2018: I realized I forgot to add my current Stats: 5' 4" tall 126 lbs Extremely "deflated" 34C cup 21 cm sternum notch to nipple measurement on right side 22 cm on left side. Updated on 15 Jun 2018: I feel like Saline has developed a recent reputation for being inferior to silicone. For the sake of people making decisions and researching in the future, I want to share MY knowledge and experience for you consider or to go ahead and research these things and make your own informed decision: First I'm going to start with a story. I travel a lot. I was traveling with a friend who had cohesive gel silicone implants. Halfway into our flight, her breasts started popping and crackling. I'm not talking about a little. It was LOUD, almost like a bag of popcorn in the microwave. It was like sitting next to Orville Redenbacher. lol We were both freaked out. She was super embarrassed. To this day we have jokingly named her boobs Jiffy and Pop. I don't need that level of weird in my life. Silently bubbling or sloshing saltwater I can handle. Firecracker [RS bleep]? Not so much. I travel via plane way too often for this kind of high altitude shenanigans. So if you're not aware this can happen with silicone, it's a thing. A loud, disruptive, terrifying for all involved thing. - Saline is firmer. For me, this is a upside. Not a downside. Totally personal preference. I don't mind them looking and feeling what they will be: FAKE. lol Having always had super soft boobs, I actually want that firmness. I'm over jiggle and squish. -Cohesive "gummy bear" silicone is still relatively new in the medical research sense. Remember that testing and data collection takes YEARS. Research doctors go by today is literally based on 15 year old data with anything, not just cosmetic surgery. And two companies specifically that I won't mention because it may be a violation of RS rules, have a pretty long track record of reporting incomplete data and failing to follow up with silicone patients involved in long term studies. In 2011 one company failed to report 80% of data in a study of 40,000 silicone implant patients. That makes me nervous. Not because I think it's a conspiracy or I think they're "hiding" anything. No. It's just that I prefer a Little more research be completely submitted before I commit to silicone. Who knows? Maybe someday I'll feel comfortable with the research and make the switch. - I actually like the idea of knowing immediately if I have a rupture. With Saline it's almost immediately obvious and generally easy-peasy to fix. A silent silicone rupture can become VERY costly to fix in rare cases. As in, more expensive than your original procedure. If silicone ruptures and goes long periods undetected, it can migrate outside the capsule into breast tissue, armpit, or other areas of the body and become complicated to remove. I'm not a lucky enough person to have this NOT happen to me with a rupture. lol I believe I read that silicone always requires a capsule removal too and Saline doesn't unless there's a direct issue with the capsule. Don't quote me on that particular fact though. I haven't fact checked that one myself. Anyway, I just really don't want to walk around feeling like I have a ticking time bomb strapped to my chest. -I have some minor Assemetry. This is more easily corrected with Saline since each breast implant can be filled with a different amount of CC during surgery. -A recent study showed that both patients AND Doctors have difficulty differentiating between Silicone and Saline after Augmentation. Everyone says Saline doesn't look or feel as real, but in the blind study, doctors couldn't always tell the difference. The message this sent me is: I don't think Silicone is 1,000 dollars and a lifetime of my worry better Saline. Again, this is all my personal reasons. I just wanted to share because I know some people are still trying to decide and often just end up going with Silicone because it's what most people are seemingly choosing these days. Well, not everyone! It's okay to go against the mainstream grain if your goals and personal philosophies don't align. Silicone looks fantastic and is a wonderful choice for so many people! Updated on 24 Jun 2018: I am 16 days away from my breast augmentation. It feels surreal considering I have been unhappy with my breast appearance for 16 YEARS. It's hard to believe that in about two weeks, I'll be waking up with new girls. lol Two weeks before surgery I'm supposed to quit taking pretty much everything. My vitamins/supplements, ibuprofen, etc... I think I'm more nervous about that than surgery. I get frequent headaches and have daily back pain so I practically live on ibuprofen. In two days I have to quit depending on it. My pre-op appointment is 7/3/2018, the day before my birthday. I'll report back on how the pre-op goes. Updated on 5 Jul 2018: Man, it's becoming real ya'll! I got all my pre-surgery information: -No eating/drinking past 10PM -Wash that morning with Antibacterial/Antimicrobial soap -Arrive at 6:45 AM 7/11/2018 -Wear zip up or button up shirt and slip on shoes. PS says I won't be able to put on a regular "over the head" shirt for a while and bending to tie shoes will be difficult as well. Other recommendations from his awesome office gal Tammy were: -The days before surgery move everything you use regularly at home DOWN LOW. Think about what you use daily that you have to reach for and move it to a location that someone with "T-Rex arms" could easily reach. lol She's so funny. -She also recommended that I have my prescriptions filled and ready to go in the days BEFORE surgery. I won't be in any condition to go to the pharmacy. My PS expects I will be ready to go home by noon. I was thinking, "Wow! How long is this surgery if I arrive at 6:45 and I am not out till noon?" But I imagine prep time before surgery and recovery after will eat up a chunk of that time. I am finally not smoking. It's so hard. I actually printed out a photo of necrosis nipple and taped it to my cigarette pack. lol I have friends telling me that quitting 8 days before surgery is not enough time to even reduce my risks of nicotine related complications but I have to believe it's better than not quitting at all! Plus, I began to cut down weeks ago. Yesterday was my first day with not even 1 smoke though. I am drinking lots of water too to help flush the nicotine out of my system. I wanted to share this as I haven't seen many people explain the instructions given by their PS for surgery day. I know every PS is a little different in their instructions but something along these lines is what you can expect. I'll try to post before I go under on surgery day! Updated on 10 Jul 2018: Less than 24 hours! It is sooooooo surreal. I don't even know how to describe how I am feeling. I am so excited it's ridiculous. I just want to fast forward through the next 15 hours because it honestly already feels like this day has lasted 20 years. lol Updated on 11 Jul 2018: So I am out of surgery and home. I am in a lot of pain though. I got 550 CC under the muscle so they're pretty large, especially for a first time breast augmentation and my muscles are completely freaking out. They twitch and I can't lift my arms more than breast level without excruciating pain. It's a trip. I just sent my husband to go get some soup for me from my favorite place but when he gets back I'll have him take some photos. I honestly couldn't even take a selfie right now. My phone feels heavy the further away from my body I hold it. lol sad, but true. It is painful but I can already say I am going to LOVE these boobies. Updated on 12 Jul 2018: Day 1 still in surgical bra and band. They are pretty high, swollen and tight. I wanted to post a photo even though it's hard to tell what's going on under the surgical bra. lol They look HUGE. I went bigger than I originally wanted because 85% of people say their only regret was they wish they went bigger. 510cc overfilled to 550cc. Updated on 12 Jul 2018: Updated on 12 Jul 2018: Updated on 13 Jul 2018: Updated on 18 Jul 2018: I went to my post op yesterday. I was exactly 7 days after surgery. Dr. DeMars was like, "Wow! You're going to have a really nice result." And he isn't wrong. lol I am so amazed already. While they are still high and tight, that's expected at one week, especially with my gymnastics background. My muscle is very strong and doesn't wanna let the implant drop. I have to wear a band another 2 weeks to assist gravity forcing them down and continue with the muscle relaxers. Stern strips stay on another 2 weeks as well. Once they're off I'll start the Tamanu oil for scarring. My belly is still swollen but not as bad as it was a few days ago when I really looked pregnant. He said that's totally normal and especially apparent in thin patients for some reason. Should subside fully within 3 weeks post op. If anyone asks if I'm pregnant I'm going to say, "Yeah, with twins." lol I mean, i wouldn't be lying I did just get the twins done. Anyway, Dr. DeMars is a fantastic doctor and I would recommend him to absolutely anyone. I haven't done a official review for him yet because I want to get to my end result. However, so far I have nothing but positive things to say. There's a reason he is known as the best in Portland and a reason people travel from other states to see him. Updated on 19 Jul 2018: Sorry it's not the best angle. I'm not a selfie person. Anyway, this gives you a idea of what they look like. Still relatively high and tight and definitely a bit bruised, but looking a lot better than a week ago. Updated on 21 Jul 2018: I realized that I had never shared my Wish Pics here. These are the photos I gave Dr. DeMars and both are actually quite different shapes. However, I told him that either of these looks would work for me and for him to choose the one he thought best suited MY existing anatomy. Now, to give you a idea of what a artist this Doc is, he says to me, "Well, what do you like best about each of these photos? I can give you the best of both worlds. I have a projector in the surgical suite and I blow these photos up right on the wall during surgery to ensure I create a pocket that forms the shape you want." Talk about sheer artistic talent and wealth of experience. I am only 11 days post op and I can see already that he did give me the "blend" I requested from these two photos. As a side note: I found both these photos on Real Self. Both gals had also had a Benelli and 500+ cc implants. I had planned to link their real self profiles to give them proper credit but for some reason my Wish Pics notebook disappeared. I can no longer find these ladies. Should they see this, You have gorgeous breasts and I am grateful for the inspiration! Feel free to link your own profile in the comments. Updated on 27 Jul 2018: It's been a while since I updated on my progress... which I have had TONS of since my last post. I think my last post was around 8 days Post Op. since then I've had the following progressions: -Major pain decrease. I take a little ibuprofen now. That's it. My only pain is some nerve pain on the side of my right breast and hypersensitivity of both nipples. -Bruising is gone. Although I still feel a little bruised in certain spots, you can't see any bruising anymore and I was REALLY bruised as evidenced by prior photos. -THEY'RE DROPPING!!! Yes, already. They look pretty great actually. I don't expect they'll drop too much more actually. Maybe a little. Not a ton of fluff-age though, but they are getting there. -No longer hard as a stone. They aren't "soft" or again, "fluffy" by any means yet. But they are less hard and tight. They are starting to move a little when I move. I can squeeze them and have them actually form under the compression instead of that stubborn firmness. -Nipples look a couple centimeters higher. I think this could just be sorta like a optical illusion... you know as they drop and soften, it causes the nipple to appear that it's in a more favorable position even though the nipple itself hasn't moved, the implant behind it has. Anyway, why-ever, however, whatever; I'm pretty stoked about it. lol I personally think that my commitment to massage has helped this be such a quick process. Keep in mind, I also have Smooth Saline and I'm told Saline does tend to drop weeks or even months quicker than silicone. Especially when they're smooth/round. I still haven't seen my scars. They're covered with steri-strips until 3 weeks post op. But I suspect a good outcome. When the strips are wet after my shower, you can see the incision line somewhat through them and from what we can tell they look great. I have mixed feelings about wanting to see them, but also wanting to keep the strips on as my security blanket until the end of time. lol Anyway, that's about it. I will do a photo update tonight when my husband gets home to take a photo for me because I'm just not able to take a selfie that does them justice. They're big and it's hard to even fit them in the frame at a reasonable angle that doesn't distort the appearance. I realized that with the last photos I posted. I'd need a selfie stick or something which I don't have. Hahaha! If there is anyone out there who is preparing to have a Benelli/Donut/Circumareolar lift and implants done and you have questions or concerns and want to talk to someone whose recently been through it, feel free to comment or PM me. I wish I had that option when I was filled with questions and terror pre-op. lol It's a hard procedure to find accurate information on. But I'm a open book! That's the entire reason I started this blog. Updated on 29 Jul 2018: So I told ya'll before that I'm about document this process from ugly duckling stage all the way to swan... get ready for some more of that "ugly" we talked about lol This photo clearly demonstrates a couple of the early recovery "downsides" to BL/BA. For one it's next to impossible to shave your armpits. hahaha... seriously though. Sorry about that. Any existing stretch marks you have, will look worse the first couple months. And lastly, Steri strips do NOT get any prettier with time. I cannot wait to have them off in a few days. But hey, the site is called "Real Self" and I'm keeping it real AF for anyone researching and preparing for this procedure or wondering if their recovery is normal. The silver lining of it all though? Look at that side boob!!! Love it! The shape is starting to reveal itself as they drop and swelling subsides. Updated on 29 Jul 2018: Front view of 19 days post: I am really shocked how well 550cc fits my frame. To be honest, it seems like that should be too BIG for a petite body. But its not! It really is true that the same amount of cc will fit every person in a totally different way! I have a wide rib-cage and I think it supports 550cc without looking too big. Updated on 31 Jul 2018: I got to see my incisions today for the very FIRST time and I'm 21 days post op today. They've been covered in Steri strips since surgery and Dr. DeMars insists on a full 3 weeks coverage before removal. You guys I'm impressed. I was trying to manage my expectations as they were being removed... ya know, kinda expecting the worst but hoping for the best. lol I definitely got the "best." The incisions are pencil thin, no areas of wound separation, The Areolas are the size agreed upon before surgery, etc... I tried to post a photo twice so you could all see what the incisions look like, but I'll have to try again later because Real Selfs photo uploads have gone wonky again. So many of you have asked about the healing/scarring/incision process and I promise to get pics up ASAP and update on that every week! I cannot tell you how relieved I am! This lift has caused me so much anxiety because I heard so many horror stories but so far I have no regrets. I think picking the RIGHT SURGEON with oodles of experience is absolutely paramount. That's really the number one factor in having a successful Benelli, especially if you're combining it with larger implants. Tonight I will start alternating Collidial Silver Gel and Tamanu oil for continued healing and scarring. Updated on 31 Jul 2018: First day with bandages and steri strips off the nipples! It's not exactly pretty but if you've ever seen other photos of Benelli/Donut lifts at 20 days post op you know this is a nice result for this early in! I have very, very little "bunching" or puckering & the incisions themselves are super thin. As you can see there is some slight bruising around the areola which I couldn't see when the bandages were on. And there are a couple small patches of redness and irritation around there too which I'm told was a developing reaction to the adhesive on the steri strips. and my skins inability to "breathe" properly. I'm told that will resolve within a couple days now that the nips are free! lol Overall I'm really impressed and happy with the healing. I expected a lot crazier looking incisions this early in the game. I am planning on treating my scars with only natural treatments. I purchased 4 weeks of LED Red Light Therapy, Collidial Silver Gel, & Tamanu oil. I have used these things to heal from a very significant Emergency Spinal decompression/diskectomy surgery and my scar is almost invisible. My daughter also used these treatments with success. I highly recommend them for scarring! I'll keep updating every week or even more often if there's significant progress. Updated on 3 Aug 2018: So I tried on my favorite swimsuit just for fun... this was a little big before my BA. It swallowed my boobs entirely. Now I can barely get it to cover the naughty bits! lol Oh well, it was fun to try it on. I'll Hand it down to my Bestie who has been chomping at the bit for this swimsuit since I got it. Updated on 7 Aug 2018: Just over 3 weeks. Much softer feel now. Dropping nicely. Incisions look better. Really happy so far. Dr. Demars is a wizard... I don't know what kinda sorcery he does in that operating room but I'm tempted to go back to him for more "magic." lol Updated on 10 Aug 2018: So I'm sure most of you have heard of the possibility of "air bubble" sensations post op. I did have that early on and for the most part it resolved very quickly. However, my left breast still has this bizarre thing going where whenever I bend forward (imagine picking something up off the ground) I feel air bubbles at first, then the further into the bend I get the bubbles transition into a "sliding" feeling and it feels like the implant could slide right out. lol It's very odd and rather annoying. I thought for sure it would be resolved by now (4 weeks post op.) Anyway, I wanted to add the experience here in case someone else is going through it. I'm going to ask what it is and how long I can expect to deal with it on Monday and then I'll come back and update. Updated on 10 Aug 2018: I had a couple comments/PM's asking for a better photo my Benelli/Donut lift incisions. This is what they look like at just shy of 4 weeks post op. The little black spot you see is a stitch knot poking out. They are still not pretty to look at, but I'm told that the Benelli scars actually have a tendency to get "redder, thicker, and overall uglier" for the first 4 months. That's just the collagen rebuilding/healing process. After 3-4 months they'll get thinner and lighter daily for another 8 months or so. Overall I can't complain. I think the incisions look pretty good for this early on. I'm massaging my breasts three times a day and massaging the incisions lightly twice daily. It helps the scars heal flat. I know some of you are considering this procedure and you're scared from the horror stories.,. So was I. But I'm SO GLAD I DIDN'T GET A FULL LIFT! The best advice I can give you is, choose a surgeon who is comfortable and expertly experienced with performing THIS exact Lift. Look at their Benelli lift before and after photos. I really think choice of surgeon is of utmost importance in determining a good aesthetic result. Updated on 13 Aug 2018: Hey Everyone! I got a inbox message inquiring further about my post operative massage technique. I figured I'd elaborate here too: My Doctor said to "massage" the breasts for 2-3 minutes at a time, 3 times daily. His massage method consists of GENTLY pushing the breasts upwards, pushing them together, pushing them down, pushing them apart. Squeeze the upper pole, squeeze the lower pole. Then gently massage with two fingers in a circular motion and clockwise direction until you've completed the whole breast. Use a comfortable amount of pressure. It doesn't have to be hard. My breasts are MUCH softer since I started this and they dropped really quickly once I started massage too. As for massaging the scars, it's much more gentle than even the aforementioned gentle breast massage. You don't even really have to use pressure. I apply Tamanu oil to my two fingers (or whatever scar treatment you're using) and lightly massage it into the scar using a circular motion until the entire scar is covered and oil is mostly absorbed. I have noticed this has made a huge improvement in appearance in only a week. NOTE: I was told No scar massage or scar treatment applications should take place until the wound is closed. So Definitely check with your doctor before starting any scar therapy to be sure your incisions are ready. All this said, this was MY instructions. Some doctors have a slightly different method of massage and I've even heard some don't recommend massage at all. I'm certainly not advocating anyone go against their doctor. But if your doctor told you to massage and didn't explain exactly HOW, this was the method I was given. You can probably find instruction videos on YouTube too. Updated on 17 Aug 2018: ... Even at the beach. lol I'm still not comfortable going without supportive tops. But they are starting to fluff and look natural. I'm so happy to finally be back to my active lifestyle. Still not actually "working out" or doing anything too upper body involved, but I'm able to hike, or spend the day at the beach etc... I have a 116lb Wolf Hybrid who I still am not comfortable walking on a leash because I'm afraid it would be too hard for me to control him if he decided to resist or pull. I'm hoping to work back up to our long daily walks starting slowly next week. It's driving me bonkers not being able to do it, but I'm telling you, when you don't use your arms or chest muscles for even just a few weeks, it's amazing how weak And atrophied they start to feel. My Dog probably thinks I've suddenly become the "fun police" lol I won't let him stand on his hind legs and give me hugs anymore either. Poor duder. Updated on 17 Aug 2018: So I promised to do a close-up photo update of the incisions each week. I last posted on the 10th so it's exactly 7 days later. As you can see the incisions look a little thinner and much less red. They're fading to a more pinkish color. Still have a little puckering but I don't think my puckering was too bad to begin with. I was told they would get redder before getting better and perhaps they still will at some point... I think I was told they usually look their reddest and ugliest at around 3 months post op. However, I'm impressed with the healing so far at 37 days post op. As you've heard me say before, I absolutely swear by Tamanu oil for scars. This is why. It's amazing stuff. I think I'm going to start adding some helichrysum oil as well this week. Anyway, I'll get some more topless progress shots up in a day or so and then I'll see ya'll next week for another peek at the Lift incisions! Have a great weekend Real Selfies! Updated on 20 Aug 2018: 41 days post op... incisions look reddish again. They seem to sorta bounce around between almost invisible, pinkish, or straight up red looking. I think it is just dependent upon where my body is at in the healing process on any given day. Overall I’m happy with the procedure and even if they stopped healing right now I wouldn’t complain. They are 10,000 times better shape than what I had pre op. Updated on 23 Aug 2018: So as I stated in a recent post, my lift scars have been sorta bouncing back and fourth between almost non-existent to pinkish/red and itchy. That's normal. When Collagen rushes into a area for repair, it's building "new baby skin"which has a initially high pigmentation. Knowing that our bodies also require zinc for skin regeneration and collagen production, I decided to add Calamine lotion to my scar care... I cannot possibly stress enough what a fantastic idea that has turned out to be! Itching is GONE completely and the incisions have been consistently less red. In addition to being great for skin regeneration & itching; Calamine lotion has antiseptic wound healing properties, is a natural sunblock, and fades scarring with regular use. I definitely wouldn't use it until your wounds are closed without asking your PS first, I waited until about 40 days post op I believe. I bought the kind without additives like lidocaine. I use it at night since it kinda turns the area it's applied white once it dries. But I'm telling you, it works miracles on itching and the next day when you wash it off you'll notice more even coloring. It's dirt cheap too! I think my bottle was 3 bucks! I think the zinc gave my body the boost it needed right now. I'll be wearing it on my incisions from now on even under my clothes when I'm out in the sun as well. Updated on 24 Aug 2018: I tried several times to upload a Vlog of me squeezing and squishing the girls around a little to demonstrate how much they have softened up and started feeling and acting like natural ta ta's. lol But I kept getting upload errors. Oh well. Here's a couple photos anyway. Updated on 29 Aug 2018: 50 days post op today! I'm back to lower body exercises. I normally do a lot of walking, squats, leg presses Pilates and yoga. I'm still staying away from full body Yoga but I'm focusing on easing back into Butt/leg/core stuff. It feels great but it is sincerely amazing how quickly our muscles begin to atrophy without use. It feels like I haven't exercised in 5 years! lol Boobs are great. I am so in love with them and so inexplicably grateful for my results. I have my last Post Op appointment tomorrow (unless I NEED another appointment down the line) I will come back tomorrow and let ya'll know how that goes but I don't anticipate any major news. They're soft, dropped, scars healing, etc... Updated on 30 Aug 2018: I am 51 days post op today and at 10:30am I had my last required Post Op Visit with Dr. DeMars. If I feel like I need or want another visit, I can schedule one (Dr. DeMars time is ALWAYS 100% free to his patients so you never pay for a office visit) but everything is healing so perfectly that I'm free to carry on with business as usual. He said I'm cleared to return to my normal daily life. No more restrictions. Just exercise common sense. I'm cleared to get fitted for regular, normal bras and even gently add the boobies back into "sexy time" within reason. Capsules are soft. They're dropped well. He said I'm one of the lucky women who didn't take months to drop. I am just thrilled and so grateful for how smoothly this has gone. I've added some before/after. It's so hard to believe they're even the same breasts!! lol Happy Healing everyone!! Updated on 30 Aug 2018: Guys, I know it's ridiculous to post more than once a day lol but I forgot to add that while at my doctor I inquired about Lip fillers... My doctor doesn't do it BUT he has a nurse who specializes in it. Her name is Robin Prusse, RN. I will be calling her tomorrow to make a consultation appointment and of course I will keep everyone here updated. Am I supposed to start a seperate review section for this? Idk? Anyway, whatever. That's the scoop. I've added a photo of her Card for anyone in the Portland, OR area who may be looking to have this done. I also added a photo of the Benelli incisions today. I am due for the weekly incisions healing update Just took this photo five minutes ago. Updated on 1 Sep 2018: Since I was just cleared to wear normal bras at my post op yesterday, My husband took me out shopping for Bras today and to be properly fitted. I was so excited! But my excitement quickly turned to confusion and left me feeling a little lost. I went to Victoria Secret and Nordstrom. The problem is, VS measured me at 34DDD and Nordstrom measured me at a 34G! Firstly, I don’t feel like I look THAT big so my husband and I were shocked to see me measured at a G cup which is what prompted me to do’s second measurement at VS. When they said DDD we were still shocked. lol Even weirder yet, both 34G and 34DDD felt tight and uncomfortable to me. My husband suggested that perhaps they only feel uncomfortable because I’ve spent nearly two months wearing only soft, comfortable, sports bras and I have become accustomed to that comfort and simply forgotten how uncomfortable “real” bras are. I hope he is right because if I’m actually somehow bigger than a DDD cup it’s going to be impossible to find bras!!! Anyway, I only ended up buying one from VS. The completely unpadded Dream Angel Demi because it was the only one that didn’t feel like my [RS bleep] were being death squeezed by a Boa constrictor. lol The G’s at Nordstrom we’re equally uncomfortable and ugly to boot. So much for my big shopping spree, huh? ONE bra and I already can’t wait to take it off. lol If any of you have magical tips on bra shopping or proper measurements, do share please!! Also, what do you ladies think? Does this bra look as small and tight as it feels? My gut says it’s probably the wrong size but I just have a hard time logically believing I’m even this big let alone BIGGER. lol They just don’t look that big. My boobs look proportional to my petite 120 lb frame. Where do people shop for sexy bras of larger cup sizes? Updated on 9 Sep 2018: Hey Everyone! I’m overdue for the weekly scar updates I promised. This is what they look like now. Sorry about the “bra lines” in my boobs. I still haven’t found a bra that fits right so every time I take my bra off I have these weird indents for like 15 minutes . Ugh! Anyway, these photos are for the scars anyway. They look pretty good to me. I do think my scar regimen of oils and zinc oxide is helping emmensely. Updated on 7 Nov 2018: I know I haven’t updated the Donut lift/benelli scar as often as I promised but changes are slow. It really is true that it’s going to take a year to fully quit changing. This is the “slow nipple” I know the angle is weird but it shows the nipple best. You can see it looks better than my last post but still has a ways to go. Updated on 27 Feb 2019: Haven’t updated in a while. Wanted to show the progress of a Benelli lift with 550cc implants at 7 months. This is it! Scars aren’t horrible but could use a little laser treatment on the one side for sure. Overall I love them. I can’t complain. So much better than what I had. I would do it all again the same way in a heartbeat if it came to that. Updated on 27 Feb 2019: I totally meant to add this side by side so you all could see what a mess my surgeon was working with lol I was a really tough case and on top of having a difficult anatomy type to work with, damaged/poor skin quality, AND wanting large implants, my surgeon was still able to deliver really nice results that as you can see, look absolutely WORLDS better than what I had before. I cannot stress enough how amazing Dr. DeMars was and the importance of going to the RIGHT SURGEON. Do your research. Especially if you’re needing more than a “simple” breast augmentation.
After having 3 children & getting the weight off I was left with loose skin & no muscle tone. I consulted Dr DeMars about a “tummy tuck”. He was extremely professional & thorough in explaining the procedure, recovery time & what to expect. The results were FAR BETTER then I expected! My scarring is hidden under my swim suit, & healed wonderfully. I’ve been able to get back in the gym & actually feel & see results. I am so happy I saw Dr. DeMars for this procedure, his entire team is wonderful!
I have had a few procedures done by Dr. Demars, over the years. In 2014, he preformed a breast augmentation, along with a breast lift. He was extremely knowledgeable, he listened to my concerns and answered any questions that I had. A year later, I went back to get liposuction preformed on my flanks and stomach. Again, another super positive experience. In both procedures, I found his staff to be very friendly and supportive. I can not say enough great things about this doctor and his team! If you are looking into any cosmetic procedure, he is your guy. Look no more! You have found an artist...
Had arm lift and breast augmentation with lift. Surgery was a breeze( I've had many). Recovery has been pretty much what I expected (I'm an RN and did a lot of surgery). I'm just over a week out and I'm very happy. My surgeon was Dr R Demars in Portland Oregon he and his staff were wonderful. Can't wait till I can see the final result Updated on 5 Mar 2018: Sorry I forgot this part. 48..5'7 165lbs. Had 560cc moderate high implants. I asked for high and perky and got em'. These are 11 days post surgery. I'm wearing my sports bra about 23 hours a day. I take it off for about 30 min am and pm when I'm doing massage and scar treatment. Having a hard time finding a good compression arm garments. The wraps and partial sleeves hit me right in the armpit and are uncomfortable
I’ve hit my three week post op period and am incredibly happy with my results!! I had a breast augmentation from small A-cup, after breastfeeding two kids, and decided to have 435cc’s implanted. They look amazing! I also had a full tummy tuck with abdominal repair and have my goal of a flat tummy!! I’m still wearing a compression garment to better improve my results and help with swelling. Overall I was nervous to have this surgery at first, but meeting with Dr Demars made me feel comfortable and understood! I am so happy with my results and am very excited to see the outcome in the months to come. I never really had any pain, as weird as that sounds, but just soreness and tightness from my stomach. And my breasts feel engorged a lot, which I would compare to a lot like breastfeeding, but massage definitely helps! I can’t wait to get back to exercise and to strengthen back my core! I couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas gift to myself and I know I will benefit from this surgery for YEARS to come. I would highly recommend Dr Demars and his wonderful team! I wish I would have done this procedure sooner, you won’t be disappointed! Now to upload some photos... will be continued.
A breast lift should give you more projection, not less. The breast tissue volume is maintained but rearranged under the skin to give a younger, not flatter, look.
First of all, you appear to be a great candidate for the mommy makeover procedure and when you get that done you are going to love it as you get your youthful body back. But it is a big investment in money as well as time of recovery so you want to optimize your results. You have a lot of roundness in your upper abdomen and a lot of that is due to fat inside the abdomen that cannot be corrected with the surgical procedure. So you will get the most spectacular results when that area is considerable flatter, and that is a BMI closer to 25, your BMI is currently about 34. Most of us will do the surgery for you with a BMI of 30 or lower. That corresponds to a weight of about 170 for you but to get the very best aesthetic results you would want to be down to 150 pounds. Hope this information is of help.
You can probably get a pretty nice result from implants alone without a lift but it really depends on what your goal look is and we have no information on that. Show a surgeon your goal photos and the doctor should be able to give you a good answer. Remember, it is always OK to do an augment now and a lift later if you feel you need it.
I don't understand why your surgeon would be comfortable doing the initial surgery and not the revision which sounds like it is necessary for overdissected pockets. But then again if the surgeon was not able to give you the results you wanted, I'm not sure why you would trust him to do any better job now.
The dual plane breast implant positioning is the preferred technique for most experienced surgeons and does not incur extra fees. . However it has nothing to do with correcting asymmetrical positioning of the nipples or breasts.
