I've wanted abdominoplasty since the day my son was born. I saved $20-20 of every paycheck so I can pay for the procedure with cash. I'm an active muscular person with lose abdominal skin. Working at a clinic, I've had pts congratulate me on my pregnancy. My son is 11. No matter how much Pilates, yoga, or diet changes I did, my belly was still big. My coworker recommend the surgeon that changed her body for the best. I researched his work and previous pts cooments. Found out he does lipo with his abdominoplasties to contour the body. I scheduled asap. I'm now on my 5th day post op and I feel like I made the right choice. I'm swollen, bruised, walk with a hunched back, and I'm bored, but I love the 5th day results. I can't wait till I'm fully healed.
I am 35 yrs old and about a size 42G. I am hoping to go down to a large C cup. My BR is on Dec 3rd bright and early in the morning! I am very excited, but nervous at the same time. I have anxiety as well, so I am hoping they can give me something that morning as I am already freaking out. I have had large breast my entire life and have been living in constant pain for so long I don't remember what it feels like to not have some sort of back pain. The last few years I have been having more issues with neck/shoulder pain and headaches as well as all the low back pain I have had since I was 18yrs old. Right now I am struggling with managing my pain before surgery. I was advised not to take any Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Aleve, etc… 2 weeks prior to surgery. I have 6 days to go and have had a headache for 2 days. Today it turned into a migraine and it has been a struggle! I usually take 4 Advil at least once a day to handle my pain. Tylenol is just no cutting it for me! Last week I had my Pre-Op with my regular Dr. and was given 2 thumbs up! This 2 week wait is almost as bad as the end of a pregnancy….just wanting it over for the relief, but the fear of the pain that comes with it! I think I have prepared my husband and kids as much as possible for this! I am most worried about my puppies (ok really they are dogs). My baby thinks she is a 50lb lap dog and doesn’t understand personal space, especially with me!! She is not going to understand why she can’t lay on me. I know she will get over it, but I need something to worry about since everything else seems to be going OK. LOL Dang anxiety makes me find stuff to worry about. I am so glad I found this place! I will make sure I upload before and after pictures soon!Updated on 1 Dec 2012:Wow, 2 days to go! The nerves are in full effect! I can't even tell you what exactly I am nervous about, lol. I tossed and turned all night long, and I have to work my last shift today, then I have 3 Weeks off. I did buy some bandini type bras yesterday! Got my pillow wedge and aired it all out too. Not sure what I will be wearing home for a top yet. I don't own any button up shirts, and only have one zip up sweatshirts. Will I be able to get into a large t-shirt or hoodie type sweatshirt? I am still unsure about how my dogs are going to handle this. My one is already acting out, as I am trying to get her out of habit of needing to be on me in bed or on the couch. What a thing to be worried about huh? LOL. I will get some before pictures up soon!Updated on 2 Dec 2012:Less than 24 hours to go!! I am extremely excited, but nervous as well. I know that is normal though.Updated on 4 Dec 2012:I guess things went well yesterday. I was in surgery only a few minutes past 7:30 and was waking up in recovery around 11am. I woke up in recovery feeling pretty good, When they brought me to my room, I got off the gurney to my bed with only a little help. Morphine was given to me and by the night I had to tell them to stop. It was making me feel horrible! So they switched me to NORCO and that seems to be doing OK. Dr came in this morning to take out my drains and to put me in my bra. He said he took off 5 lbs total and I should be a good D cup. OMG they look so little!! They discharged me and we were home by 11am. I have pretty much slept unless I was eating a meal or using the bathroom. LOL. As for pain.....I am either a baby or it is more painful than what people are saying. haha The underside of each breast and the sides where the lipo was done is the worst. It is like a bad burning sensation. My throat is killing me from the vent and my neck is pretty sore. Back pain is noticeably better though! I just need to relax more and that is hard to do worrying that one of the animals is going to try joining me on the recliner. I have some before pictures that I will put up in a bit. Haven't looked at the boobies after yet, just from the top down. I got really lightheaded during dressing change. We will see how tomorrow goes, maybe the hubby will take some more for me.Updated on 5 Dec 2012:Changed the dressing today for the first time. Dressing 1-0 Dawn 0-1 Yep, I almost passed out! I didn't really see anything either, I think it is just my anxiety that gets the best of me. Thank heavens for my wonderful and awesome hubby!! He was a champ and even took one quick picture for me to look at later. LOL I told him I want to try more next time. I am not very comfy in my surgical bra. It almost seems like it doesn't fit me right...... It was such a relief to have it off for just the few minutes, but I don't think I am ready for a regular sports bra yet.Updated on 7 Dec 2012:Took my first shower and it felt so good! It wasn't very long as I did start getting a little lightheaded. Had the DH take some more pictures too. I noticed the incision on the one side goes much further back that the other side, weird. I plan on taking another shower today and hope I can stay in longer and actually wash up a little bit better. I took a quick trip to Target to pick up a prescription and to just walk around for a minute or two. It wore me out and I took a nice long nap once I got home! Today it is just a relaxing day at home in prep for a bigger outing on Sunday (company's kids Christmas party). Gotta take pictures of all the kids with Santa!Updated on 9 Dec 2012:PO day 6 and I am in a down mood today. Wishing I didn't do this because I am so uncomfortable! I can't sleep worth [RS bleep], the swelling on righty is not going down at all (may have increased a bit), Lefty is still a little swollen, but nothing major. The itching and pain is driving me crazy today, and to top it off everyone is outside have fun and I am stuck in the house in pain. I don't want to wear this stupid surgical bra anymore, but I can't find anything else that fits me. And to think I thought this BR was suppose to make that easier..... I wish I could just wear nothing at all, but I don't trust myself and I think the compression is suppose to be good for the swelling? Maybe I need to wrap myself in an ace bandage or something, I just don't know. Thankfully the kids Christmas party was postponed today because of our snow storm, so that give me an extra week to recover. My youngest was disappointed, but she is having a blast in the snow with family and friends right now.Updated on 14 Dec 2012:Yesterday I was 10 days po and had my first appointment with the surgeon since the surgery. He took all the surgical tape off and said everything looked good. I had one small open spot that was draining a little and he just put a band aid on it and said that is all I need on it until a hard scab forms. It was still normal and he wasn't concerned. After getting home it was draining pretty good and the band aid needed to be changed. As soon as I took it off, it was dripping with......stuff. I ended up putting some gauze on it, thinking I may have just over did things after the appointment (I went and did a little shopping with the hubby). This morning when I took the gauze off, same thing. The dripping started again and the gauze caught a decent amount of drainage too. I guess I will give it the weekend and if it still like this on Monday I will call. I will get some pictures of the spot up soon. PS said I can start using the Palmers Oil on everything except that one area, and I can stop wearing my surgical bra and go into a regular sports bra if I want. Needless to say, that is what my shopping trip was. Picked up 2 front closures from Walmart and they are so much more comfortable than the surgical bra! Now to just get that one spot to heal so I don't freak that I have stuff dripping down my stomach or staining my shirt all the time.Updated on 28 Dec 2012:I am just shy of 4 weeks PO (will be as of Monday). Not sure why I thought I could get away with not being in the small percentage of people who don't have complications....I am just not that lucky. I know it could be much worse than it is, but I can't help questioning stuff. Both breast have openings at the T-junction, but the right side is much worse. I don't have any infection as of right now, but I am not holding my breath! I did see the Dr and he cleaned out both areas (cutting out the yellowish crap that was inside the wound) and pulled out a few stitches that my body was spitting. Told me to put bacitracin on with a bandage until it heals. Last night the end of my incision on the left side is now red, swollen, bleeding, and oozing (where the drain was placed under my armpit area). I am still in some pain, the bottom half of both boobs are still numb, I still have to wear bandages and will for the next who knows how many weeks, and I am itching like crazy! Like I said, I know things could be worse, but to me I just wish I could catch a break and have something go the way it should without any issues! I am just so ready to be over with all this incision care and be thankful and enjoy my smaller boobs, Right now I am hating them and regretting them! I know when everything is over with I will be happy, but I just can't seem to see a light at the end of the tunnel at this point and it is very frustrating!
Hey Ladies! Well, I went from a B to a DD in the 8th grade. I had to wear a minimizer bra for track and field in high school and got so many comments from boys and men. It was embarrassing to be hit on by dirty old men and have men stare at my breasts while I was talking. In college my guy friends would make a game of trying to throw ice down my shirt. I went along with it because I thought it was better to have a sense of humor about my breast size than to get irritated and tell them to stop. That's when I started wanting a BR. My female friends would talk about it too and even my mom (who also has a large chest) would make comments about my breasts. Still, I was over weight and didn't want to have a BR until I had lost the weight. I also didn't have noticeable back or neck pain because my stomach helped hold my breasts up. About 6 years ago I had lost some weight and was at my current weight (170 5'7") but started gaining it back and then some. Of course a lot of it came on in my breasts. Now I have lost 80lbs and hardly any off my chest. I have pain along my whole back from my neck down to my tail bone and I am tired of trying to do ab and core work when it seems like I am not even getting to the abs, just trying not to suffocate while lifting my shoulders off the floor. I'm close to my goal weight and got approved (found out Thursday) for a BR!!!!! So excited. My deductible is very low. I'm a little nervous but mostly excited. Some of my friends can't understand how much I look forward to saying buh-bye to the boobies! My PS was a recommendation to my PCP from a breast surgeon (they do mastectomies etc) and he did an additional 2 year residency at the Mayo Clinic in breast reconstruction. I was nervous because I don't know anyone who has had theirs done by him and the Dr my friends referred to me has retired and is currently in the Himalayas. I had nothing to worry about, the PS was extremely professional and had a nurse in the exam room with us at all times. I never even got to ask my questions because he answered them all during the consult. He did a breast exam and said that he didn't feel anything suspicious (what a relief b/c breast cancer runs in the family) but if there was anything in the tissue it would be sent out for biopsy. He also confirmed what I suspected, I have very fibrous breasts and he doesn't feel that the last 10 lbs would come off my breasts b/c they are mostly tissue. He even knew approximately how much the insurance would say to take off for it to be "reconstructive" and he showed me on me roughly where they would sit. He can't guarantee size, obvs, but he said it will be around a small C when he's done. My aunt (dad's sister) had hers done 8 years ago and she said it was the best thing she's ever done. They took 2.5lbs off each side and she's a B/C now. PS said he would take off approx 600g which is 1.5 lbs per side. It was helpful to talk to my aunt about her BR. She was happy to hear I am staying overnight at the hospital so the nurses will deal with the drains and meds for the 1st night (it's a bedded outpatient procedure) then the PS will come remove the drains, fit my surgical bra and send me home! they're going to call me today or tomorrow to schedule. It will be about 5 weeks from now. I am excited, but cannot even imagine what this will be like! Updated on 23 Mar 2012: Yahoo! I have a surgery date. Monday June 4 at 7:30 am. I have to be at the hospital at 6 am. It was really kind of funny when I talked to the scheduler she went over some details for pre-op and surgery she was VERY specific. "Nothing after midnight. No gum, chewing tobacco, nothing in the mouth at all." Apparently she had had to reschedule someone's surgery because they had been chewing gum or tobacco. The date is about a month later than I anticipated, but I actually think it's great. It gives me a little more time to get my supplies together and meals pre-made and frozen. I am so excited!!!!!! Also, I told the nurse at my PS office about this site and I am emailing the web address to her so she can use it for other clients!! I had to buy yogurt the other day so I went to Target and looked at bras. The straps are so TINY. And sports bras are so colorful. I can't wait until I can wear a sports bra for my yoga-tai chi-pilates classes. And on the elliptical too maybe? I don't know I hear different things from different people, one of my friends says she still wears really good supportive bras for running but I don't run so I might just wear the sports bra anyway. I don't have to decide right now. I'm also glad the date is a few months out because I'm still about 10 lbs from my doctor's goal weight for me (I've lost 80 lbs so far and decided I would have surgery when I was 10 lbs out). Right now I'm 170 at 5'7" and I'm a 38 E. Doc says I'll be around a small C cup when I'm done. That's what my aunt is (she had hers 8 years ago) and she loves it. I'm tripping a little bit about body image, I've had the ta-tas for so long that I'm not sure how I'll look with average sized breasts. Part of me feels like "Oh, I'll look different" and most of me feels like "YES! I'll look different!" I won't miss the gross attention I get for them. That's for sure. I called the hospital too to see how they bill this. I'm staying in the hospital overnight which I'm thrilled about because I cannot imagine wanting to do two car rides right after surgery. I will post some before pics as soon as I can. I welcome any input, questions or feedback. Updated on 1 Apr 2012: HI ladies! Well, I got the pre-op paperwork to take to my PCP in May. I made my pre-op appt with the PS, I see him May 17th. I also had several conversations with the hospital and the insurance company to make sure I know what's covered and what's not. The insurance company has been great and the hospital has been awesome too. My mom emailed me and said that she could come up and stay overnight if it would be helpful and I, of course, accepted. She was asking me about the procedure, but then she said that it was making her queasy and not to talk about it any more. That made me laugh because I can't imagine that she will want to help take care of my incisions. Thankfully, I am staying overnight in the hospital for observation, did any one else do this? How was it? I am feeling like the day will never arrive. I am trying to be patient, but it is so hard to wait! Two months feels like forever. One thing a friend in the medical field told me is that people tend to heal better in the summer (I'm in Minnesota so it's cold and cloudy here a lot) because of the sunshine. And I am glad that it's being done in the summer so I don't have to worry too much about sweaters or coats. I've been applying for new jobs, I'd really rather not go back to the one I have now. I drive to my client's homes and I see between 2 and 4 clients a day, so it's a lot of driving. Well, that's what's new. Any comments or feedback on what was most helpful would be good. I am going to start gathering things for my recovery soon. Updated on 6 Apr 2012: So I feel like June 4 is so far away...until I look at my schedule and realize that it's not so far away! Excited to check off the days. I've started telling my clients that I'll be on medical leave for a couple of weeks and letting them know who they can contact while I'm gone. Starting to think about what to buy. Also exercising regularly (fitness yoga, zumba and elliptical/core exercises) to lose more weight between now and surgery. I'm not going crazy with it because I know my body is oppositionally defiant and if I want it to lose a lot of weight it holds on to it. Updated on 19 Apr 2012: So, I thought a couple weeks ago that time would pass so slowly, but I'm only 6.5 weeks out from surgery. I'm glad time is passing quickly because I am impatient and I hate my job. I'm getting stress headaches from burn out halfway through my first session of the day. I've started applying for any remotely stable jobs that aren't mental health because I need to change up the amount of stress in my life, not just the weight that is literally on my chest. Thanks for all your support and feedback, it's been invaluable. Updated on 22 Apr 2012: Six weeks from tomorrow. Not that I'm counting or anything! Updated on 30 Apr 2012: After a long time of debating and talking with people about it I put in notice at my job. I drive to and from clients' homes all day and a lot of my clients smoke in their homes, etc. So I will be done with my job June 1 and I have surgery June 4. It feels great to know I won't have to go back to a job I am not good at and that I dislike. I am applying for a bunch of jobs in different areas and there is the possibility that I will be moving in the fall. My surgery is 5 weeks from today and I cannot wait! My mom bought me some shirts for after (over the head kind, so a long time after) which I am grateful for. Also, I am realizing that I have always thought of myself as having a large frame, but I don't. When I'm in fitness yoga I can see that my breasts take up a LOT of space. My roommate commented that I will be very long waisted after surgery. And my chiropractor's receptionist brought in her favorite bra (she's not had a BR, but wanted to show me her "pretty, supportive bra") which was nice. I talked to the nurse and asked her to call me if there's a cancellation, but I don't think there will be. I'm ok with that, I am just stoked that this is happening. Updated on 2 May 2012: WAHOO! I got a call from my PS office yesterday and they had a cancellation! I had asked them to call me if this happened. My new date is May 22 and I am ecstatic about it. This makes my last day at my job May 18 and I will have the 21st free all day to get things ready for surgery. Updated on 4 May 2012: Hey ladies, I got my income tax return and am able to get some supplies for post surgery. What was most helpful for you and what did you not use at all? Also, I am hesitant to buy any front closure sports bras because I'm not exactly sure what size I will be. Should I buy the stretchy kind or wait? I would like to buy an extra surgical bra from my PS so I have one to wear and one to wash. Any help would be appreciated. Oh! and I got this great deal on an hour long massage. I scheduled it for the day before surgery so I can go in relaxed and can sleep well the night before. My mom can't come up for the surgery day, but my roommate (and best friend of 11 years) is going to take me in for surgery and wait while I'm in surgery/recovery. I'm not sure if she will stay the night at the hospital or not but it will be nice to have someone there while I am in surgery. Then I have a wedding on the 26th (YIKES) for a very close friend. Luckily it's close to my house and I can come home and take a nap for a while before the reception dinner. Or, not go to the reception at all. Updated on 14 May 2012: One week from tomorrow! Definitely in cleaning/preparation mode. Pre op on Thursday and then cleaning this weekend plus food prep. I am so excited and also nervous. But I have a massage Monday and am getting adjusted at the Chiro today and again next Monday before my massage. Need advice on bras. The ones from kmart...should I just buy the band size or buy one close to my current size? Any other advice would be helpful. Updated on 15 May 2012: One week!!!! In one week I will be peacefully resting in my observation room with pain meds and smaller boobies! I just talked to my aunt who had this done 8 years ago and she really helped me out by sharing her experience. I am excited to be counting down. I saw my PCP today and he had to do a pregnancy test. The medical assistant came back and said "Your PT came back negative. I'm sure that's a real shocker for you." LOL (no sex=no baby). My PcP also said that my neck is very tense. I'm getting a massage Thursday and another on Monday to try to relax. Yay! Updated on 19 May 2012: Hi Ladies!! So I had my pre op on Thursday and am so excited. The doc went over everything with me and said the insurance company stipulated that he has to remove 500g from each side, after that it's up to me. I told him I'm not particularly worried about being too small. I wouldn't mind being a full B or small C. I told him "I'm ready to be done with them" he and the nurse (he always has a nurse in the room with him) laughed at that. I emailed my before/after pics to him and he will go over those before surgery. I am pre-registered at the hospital and I have a friend who is a nurse there, so she might come visit me after her shift is done Wednesday morning. I cannot even believe that I am having this done, it is like a dream come true. I asked the PS a lot of questions. He said not to ice (confirmed by friends who've had this done) as it could be damaging to the tissue. I'm glad because I hate icing anything. Since losing weight (82 lbs!!) I am cold all the time. Everything else is pretty much what everyone on here says. I went to Kmart and bought two front closure sports bras for when I'm washing the surgical bra and for after I'm cleared to be out of the surgical bra. I talked to my aunt who had this done about 8 years ago and she had some good things to say about after the surgery. I'm planning to spend the day cleaning and doing food prep so that I just have food ready to go. I'm feeling like just lying about all day, but I know I won't be at peace unless I've gotten things in order and ready to go. Updated on 21 May 2012: Ok, everything that HAS to be done is done and anything else just won't get done. My massage got cancelled so I got a pedicure instead (those massage chairs do wonders!) and I am eagerly countIng down until my last sleep before my surgery. I still have to pack, but I'm not really taking anything with me. I'm going and returning in what I'm wearing to bed tonight. I got really cute button down PJs at goodwill and I have the necessary food provisions at home. Everything seemed so real until today and all the sudden it's surreal to me. It's like waiting for touchdown on a long awaited vacation. Tomorrow's the day! Excited! Updated on 23 May 2012: Hi Ladies! Well, I am home from the hospital and I am feeling great. So good that my roommate keeps telling me "Don't do that. Let me do that for you." LOL But she's right, I tend to over do things and then regret it later. Here's the way it went. Roommate and I left for the hospital at 5:15 am. Got to the hospital early and waited for the Ambulatory Surgery Center to open. My surgery prep nurse was awesome and she got me all checked in and ready for the surgery. The robes were so comfortable. I'd love one of them for home ;). The nurse anesthetist came and talked to me, then the anesthesiologist. They set the IV, I went pee and then the PS drew on me. We walked to the OR and the last thing I remember is the feel of the oxygen mask on my face. Next thing I knew I was back in the recovery chair and I was in pain (8 out of 10). Apparently I was on dilaudid. It did nothing for the pain and I couldn't keep my eyes open or my head up, I felt drugged and worse than drunk. The nurses said that I was a "lightweight" even when it came to the anesthesia. They let the dilaudid wear off and took me to my hospital room and gave me a vicodin. The hospital bed was so comfortable and the nurses/staff were very helpful. I didn't have to worry about anything. I felt awesome and watched a bunch of TV and ate my regular food. Then it hit me and the vicodin wasn't taking the edge off...I did too much, just sitting at a 45 degree angle in the bed. So they gave me some morphine and I was off to sleep. Oh, I was up and walking around and going to the bathroom and talking and everything which felt amazing. I slept most of the night, after the morphine took care of the pain (incision and back pain where the ace bandage was too tight) then the vicodin has been enough. The nurses came in every couple of hours and stripped my drains and emptied them. I slept all night with the exception of when they came in for vitals. So that's the synopsis, but for real, my shoulders, back and neck feel completely better. There is little to no pain in my back, just where the bandage dug into my muscles in the back. I can see my stomach when I am lying on my back! My ta-tas are so tiny and up high. They took 2.5 pounds total and I am already pleased with the job the PS did. The nurses said that it was refreshing to hear someone come in for surgery and have a realistic idea of what will happen afterwards. I owe that to you ladies and all the info/experience you shared with me. The PS came in this morning at 6:45 and removed the bandage/dressings. He checked the sensation in my nipples and I have feeling there. Things don't look too bad, but I know that the bruising and ugly are on their way now. He showed me how to apply the bacitracin and gauze and put me in this awesome breast reduction bra that hooks and zips. It extends down my ribcage so that the bottom of the bra is around the bottom of my rib cage and away from the incisions. I only had one nursing assistant who was annoying. She would kind of randomly wander into my room and she was chomping on gum, but she was helpful, which is important I guess. The nurses rocked and they put these things on my calves that squeezed them and felt like a massage. Ugh, when I was leaving the hospital I was sitting in the wheel chair and this medical assistant/wheelchair assistant looked at me and said "Oh, you had a baby?" It must be because I am in pajamas and my stomach looks so big and puffy. I guess that's what pilates is for. Ok, well typing this wore me out, so I am going to go rest. I will post pictures later, maybe tomorrow after I shower. Updated on 24 May 2012: Just took my first post surgery shower. It felt so good to have the beast of a bra off, but now it's back on again. I have to say that even though I have seen pictures on here and was semi prepared for what they would look like I was shocked to see my own breasts looking this way. They seem so tiny! and they are asymmetrical right now because the swelling is asymmetrical. That being said I feel no strain on my back, shoulders or neck. I've been sleeping through the night in my own bed (on my back of course) and I am very happy that I have done this. It didn't hurt to shower, except where the soapy water hit the drain spot on my left side under my arm. I am constipated and am using Miralax to try to overcome that. Hopefully it won't be too long since my belly is looking big to me right now. Overall, I feel pretty good for day 3 (considering surgery day as day 1). It's still hard not to do too much since I feel great, but I don't want to delay healing or get increased swelling. Any tips are welcome! Updated on 26 May 2012: Hey Ladies, Well, I decided to take it REALLY easy yesterday and basically watched shows on my laptop and slept. Feel awesome today. I cannot even believe how light everything feels. My shoulders and back feel amazing, no weight or pressure what so ever. I am starting to get the itchies that everyone talks about, which I think means that things are healing. My left nipple was black and blue, but now it's all pink. I really need to post photos which I will take when I change the dressings later today. I have a wedding today and I am going to the ceremony but not the reception. My mom had her consult with a surgeon yesterday. She's not sure if she will go through with it but she is very interested in how I am recovering. I would recommend this to any woman who is thinking about it. Updated on 26 May 2012: Just got home from the wedding. So beautiful. Also got my first post op reaction today. A friend saw me in the entry of the church and said "Whoa, you've lost a TON of weight!" I am grateful that she's honest about what she's thinking because now I know what people will be saying in their heads!! I've added photos from today. I'll add before photos as soon as I get them from the PS office. Updated on 27 May 2012: Day 5 and thoroughly convinced of two things 1) this was totally worth it 2) even doing nothing is doing too much. I'm resolved to spend my time in bed sleeping on and off today. I changed the dressings and saw some green-yellow discharge and some blood - bright red- dribbled out of my right breast from the vertical incisions. called the PS and he said that's normal, just probably pulled off a scab. Very happy with my surgery and also happy to have the time to just rest today. I have started getting the "buzzies" in my left breast. It's so strange, but funny. I guess that's a good sign, right? Well, off to sleep for a bit now. Updated on 29 May 2012: Ok, ladies I am looking for input. I have two front closure ports bras, but the bands come straight across the incisions and they are too small with my swelling. My surgical bra is awesome, but I'd like an option for when I wash it. What are your recommendations? I've looked at bandini and similar bras but I wanted to know if any one tried some of these options. I have also considered getting an ace bandage and just wrapping myself while wash my surgical bra. Aside from that I am doing well. My roommate got me some gauze which is 4 1/2" and is PERFECT. I use half a roll each day and I basically don't even notice that there's anything there. This is nice because the sensation is coming back with a vengeance in both breasts and my nipples are all tingly if I use something other than gauze. I am totally off the vicodin (go the "silver cloud" feeling the other night and decided the vicodin had to go) and using only extra strength Tylenol which works for the incision pain. I feel more alert and am able to sit up and be up for more of the day. I am still sleeping most of the morning after breakfast which is really helpful. I set up my post op appointment for June 14th. I am so happy with my new little boobies. They are starting to soften and fall a little. I measure them today and I'm about an inch down even with the swelling. It is so good to hear other people's experiences because right now my incisions look a little like the edges of a pie crust (you know how they roll and pinch pie crust) so I am glad to hear that they won't always look like that. Well, that's all for today. Updated on 30 May 2012: Today was a good day. Each day that I am off the vicodin is a day that I gain energy and focus. I am still getting pretty tired easily but I am able to do a bit more each day. Today I went to Target to get some thing (roommate drove me) and to try on the bandini because I wanted to know what size I really needed with the swelling. I am an XL which might not seem like a great reduction, but before the BR I would not have even gotten the thing past my shoulders. It fit nicely and I order a pack online because they were on sale. I also got some provisions like cottage cheese, greek yogurt and frozen cherries. I was running low on things and sick of the pre cut fruit I've been eating. Nice thing is my roommate cut up my pineapple for me and I was very excited to eat some today. A friend dropped off a sleeping wedge for me and I am excited to use it tonight. My lower back has been hurting and I am hoping that the wedge will take some pressure off my lumbar curve. And tonight I took a hot bath with bubble bath. I was very careful to keep the incisions well above the water. The bathtup in my apartment doesn't allow for soaking anyway, but I needed some bubble bath time. I was able to gently clean away the drainage, bacitracin and ucky feeling while also soaking my back, feet and legs. My cat, who is terrified of the bathroom (long story) ventured in several times to check things out. She came right up to the bath tub and put her front paws up to look in. She was very confused as to why I was sitting in a tub full of water and she did not like it when I put bubbles on her nose or blew a handful at her. It was funny. Not to sound like a crazy cat lady, but I DO love my cat and she has been a dear through this whole process of healing. Aside from my cat behavior, the bath was awesome. IT was the first bath I have taken as an adult where I didn't have drops of sweat running out from under my breasts, nor did my nipples reach the water line (which was around my navel). It was fantastic to see my nipples pointing at the ceiling. As if that weren't a momentous enough day, I also became un-constipated today. Now, I am NOT one of those people who talks about the elimination of waste with strangers or in public (I don't even like it when I have to ask for directions to the bathroom at a friend's house) but I will tell you that the generic Miralax I used did its job. I think that everything that was inside me came out. I mention this because I have found out that it is possible to go from feeling constipated and bloated to feeling normal in a day's time. Hope that's not TMI! I feel and look normal in the stomach and abdomen again and am happy to report htis because after losing 82 lbs over the past 2 1/4 years I did not like feeling my stomach being that big again. It has helped tremendously with my body image. I am so happy with everything over the past week and I am posting new photos below. Updated on 5 Jun 2012: 2 weeks today! Yay! Things are healing well. You can barely see the vertical incisions. There is still a lot of bruising and the nipple and horizontal incisions aren't completely smooth or healed, but Things are looking really good. I'll post photos later today. I am still having some yellow-greenish drainage from the left breast and a tiny amount of red from the right. I called the PS and his nurse said that's normal. I also asked if I could switch up the bras since my surgical bra has been making my ribs hurt (it comes down the the bottom of my rib cage) and it felt like my breasts needed a little more support underneath and not as much compression. The nurse said that's fine so I'm wearing the Bandini right now and it is SUPER comfortable and gives me enough support underneath. I also bought some camisoles, a cardigan and a t-shirt (mostly from clearance). I have a meeting tonight that I haven't been at since before surgery so I am excited to see people again. I also saw some friends Sunday evening and everyone said I looked awesome. I am absolutely IN LOVE with my new breasts. They are perky, beautiful and I have no back pain. I can't wait to buy a swim suit. I drove myself to the store last night, the first time driving since surgery and it was fine, but I definitely still need a pillow between me and the seat belt. It is wonderful to be able to walk into Target and buy a sports bra or camisole or dress and not worry about whether I'll be spilling out of the top. Thank you so much for the support on here. I'll keep posting photos and updates too. Updated on 11 Jun 2012: Three weeks!! I can't believe that I'm already three weeks out. I'm wearing sports bras (front closure from Kmart, thanks for the recommendation) during the day and the bandini at night. I LOVE my new breasts! That being said, there are a few things I am experiencing that are just strange. Every once in a while I think I am feeling sutures dissolving and letting go. It is a weird sensation. It's like a feeling of tension, then a snapping (like a rubber band) and then a ZING, but inside my breasts. It's kind of relieving because it means less pulling and that things feel a little bit more natural. The other thing that I am experiencing is that my shoulders and back don't know what to do! My shoulders keep creeping up because they are used to working against resistance that isn't there any more. And my right shoulder tends to curve forward. My chiropractor told me these things were happening but now I am aware of them so I am trying to consciously correct when I notice them. The great things is that one of my friends is a post partum doula and she has a video that some of my friends have used after they gave birth. It helps realign the spine and strengthen back muscles. I am also planning to do pilates once I am cleared for exercise. I actually forget that I have incisions at times! I have my next post op appointment on Thursday and am excited to hear what the doctor says. I am feeling more energetic and am able to do most things by myself (except grocery shopping - too much reaching and too heavy of lifting). It feels good to be on this side of it. Over all things are going really well. I tried on a regular bra that other day (over my clothes) and I am a 38B which is what I wanted to be. I know things will adjust and change over the next year and I am excited to see how my body adjusts to the changes. Updated on 15 Jun 2012: Hi ladies! Yesterday was my post op appointment. The doctor said everything was healing so well that I can exercise again and wear whatever was comfortable for me. He also reassured me the the scars will fade and showed me how to massage the tissue so it softens and shapes up nicely. Over all I am loving my new body and tried on about six swimsuits today. It is a huge change to try on suits now that I don't have to worry about my breasts. I have no idea how to dress my body, but I am excited to learn! Loving the new body and so close to goal weight. and now I can start shaping it with exercise again. YAY! Updated on 19 Aug 2012: Whoa, it's been a long time since I've updated. Sorry about that! I am still healing really well. I love that my breasts don't move or fall when I take my bra off and my back feels great (except that I have been neglecting my workouts so that doesn't feel great). today while I was showering I tried to lift my breasts because I am so used to that, but there's nothing to lift! LOL I love my body and I spend so much less time comparing myself to other women. I didn't even realize how much I was doing that until recently when I noticed I wasn't anymore. My incisions are all healed up and my scars are pink. I don't usually scar very much but during the healing process of any cut my skin is bright pink so that's normal for me. for anyone who is considering having this done DO IT! I has been one of the top 3 best decisions i have made about my body in my life. I LOVE IT! Seriously, so much better. I have been wearing mostly sports bras since surgery, but this week i bought my first real, underwire bra. It's by BarelyThere. It plunges so low in the middle, but I have no problem with that now that I don't have to strap anything down any more. I'm a 38 B right now which I am so happy with. And they are BEAUTIFUL! Have a great Sunday. Pictures to follow. Updated on 12 Sep 2012: Hey! I decided I need to update again. I am trying to do this at least once a month to give hope and perspective to those who are not as far along in the healing process. I am now wearing real, underwire bras everyday and they feel great. Sometimes they are a little itchy along the horizontal incisions, but mostly they feel great. I am in love with my new body! I look in the mirror and see that I have a typical looking body and I love it! I didn't realize how uncomfortable I was with my breasts until they were gone. I really thought that the surgery was just for my back pain, but I now know that I was constantly self-conscious and uncomfortable in my own skin. I feel so confident now and don't carry around the same worries about men or embarrassment when I am out in public and I get checked out. And I just started dating someone! He's pretty much amazing and I am confident that he is not with me because of my large breasts. I am able to have conversations with him and he thinks I cute and smart. I would never have talked to him before and would have been worrying that he was looking at my chest all the time while we talk. But he doesn't, he actually looks at my face! (Although he's a normal, straight guy, so it's not like he doesn't check me out too). The best thing about this whole surgery and weight loss ( I am in my maintenance range!!) is the confidence I have gained. It was one of the top 5 best decisions I have ever made in my life. Updated on 1 Oct 2012: Hey Ladies! Just wanted to update my profile again! I am still loving my new, smaller breasts! They are awesome! My mom saw me for the first time since surgery and commented that it changed my whole body shape, which it did, and which I also love. I've added my before pictures below too so that people can see the difference!
Thursday, I had my consultation with Dr. Sam Economu. He sent my insurance which is BCBS of MN a pre authorization letter & told me I have to wait 4-6 weeks to hear back. I'll be a full C cup post op, if insurance does approve me. He also walked me through the procedure. Wish me luck guys :) Hoping to receive my letter a little bit sooner 4-6weeks. Updated on 23 Sep 2014: I had my consultation with my PS almost two weeks ago (sept 11th) Thursday will mark two weeks exactly & I called BCBS & they told me they haven't received any documentation from my plastic surgeon. Should I be concerned? How long does it typically take for a PS to send things over to insurance? I'm just eagerly wanting. Updated on 9 Oct 2014: I reached out to my insurance today to see why I haven't received an approval letter but they said they hadn't reached anything so I called my PS today to figure out why I haven't heard from BCBS about my preauthorization letter. & they told me that physically put my authorization letter in the mail but my insurance company said they don't typicall receive authorization letters via mail but fax so my PS said he'd fax the letter to BCBS & I should know within a week if I'm approved or not. Please pray for me you guys. I really am hoping for an approval letter. Updated on 22 Oct 2014: Finally, I could literally cry! God has been soooo good to me. Finally I received the greatest news of my life. Updated on 4 Dec 2014: I got my Breast reduction Tuesday December 2nd, I had to be at the hospital at 6AM to check in. After all of the questions & things the nurse made me wipe down from shoulder to waist & then I sat & waited for Dr. Economou to come in & make the markings & next thing I remember I was walking into the OR Updated on 6 Dec 2014: I'm still having mild discomfort four days after surgery right under my Breast on the anchor cut & where the drains were which I only had overnight & got them removed Wednesday as I was leaving the hospital. I've been laying in bed all day & my boyfriend took Wednesday off work to sit with me & help they first day out the hospital but returned to work Thursday & Friday so I was home alone but I have about 5 pillows & 8 when my boyfriend isn't in the bed so those have been crazy helpful because I'm not a back sleeper. But I'm currently sleeping with 2 behind my head, one beyond supporting my back, 1 under each arm & 1 under my legs. I can't wait til Im not longer in pain. I have tape over my incisions that stays on til I see my doctor on the 18th I can feel my left nipple but I cannot feel my right nipple at all but Dr Economou said that it should slowly but surely come in.. But in June 2015 I'll be gettin my nipples repierced since I'll be 6 months in the clear. I can't wait until I can massage them & shape em because their a little funny shaped right now. He said I'm a D cup but they look alot smaller than a D
