I had my breast lift done on 8/6. I am a mother of two who has always had large breasts. Overall, I love how high and round my breasts are, but of course I have my concerns. My surgeon used staples to close my vertical and horizontal incisions, so I am a little concern about scarring. Also my right breast is a little mishapened and I appear to have the "boxy" look. But, I know that it is still really early and am excited to see my final results. Updated on 11 Aug 2018: Day 5 post op. The pain is more or less gone but the itching around my incisions is intense (but that means I'm healing yay). I've had some worry about dark spots on my nipple but I still have full sensenation and nothing is worse so I'm hoping I'm in the clear of necrosis. Not fully in love with the shape (boxy, nipples seem close to the bottom of my breast), but they are sooo much better than before and I still have a lot of time left to heal. Overall, no regrets! Each day is exciting because I get to see the ladies heal more and more. I still can't believe I did this after wanting to for many many years. Omg!!! ???????????? Updated on 12 Aug 2018: First day I woke up with minimal soreness. No pain medicine today other than acetaminophen and that was for a headache. I’m starting to like the shape of my breasts. It seems like they settle a little each day. My staples are a little uncomfortable, so I can’t wait to get them out in a couple of days. Updated on 13 Aug 2018: Each day I love the shape more. The staples are still irritating and now one is poking me. Just need to get through tomorrow and then they’ll be gone. I’m so happy I went through with this.
Today I had a total capsulectomy with implant removal for my second set of 250 cc silicone over-the-muscle implants. Surgery lasted about 2 hours with general anesthesia. I was at the surgery center for about 4.5 hours. I was happy with my implants, which took me from 32A to 32C. But, let's face it, at my age, having big, round books just doesn't look natural. They were soft, but I was still anxious about hugging people because they were so "out there." Also, I had a rupture scare, which turned out to be a false alarm. In retrospect, tha t is probably a good thing because it helped me not be tempted to replace rather remove. I'd like to think I am past "needing" the implants to feel okay about my body. Still not sure, though. I guess we'll see when the wrap comes off. I've got some photos to most but have already lost this once trying to add them, so I'll do it separately. Updated on 9 Jun 2017: Pre-op, items I've been using to condition my skin, post-op . I hope the photos don't post upside down. ..having trouble importing them. Pain isn't too bad. I peeked into the dressings and wondered what the little red thing on my breastfeeding was. Then I realized it was my nipple. GAAAH! Updated on 9 Jun 2017: I had implants so long that I couldn't remember what I looked like before. Not a whole lot there, but I don't see any major dents or wrinkles. Am hoping my nipples perk up a bit. Could be better but it could be worse, so I can't complain. Pain is tolerable. Am hating the drains. Updated on 10 Jun 2017: I'm still in a fair amount of pain, most of which is in the upper pole area and moving out toward my armpits. It isn't excruciating pain, but I definitely feel discomfort, especially when lifting or reaching for something. There is very little coming out of the drains and I'm hoping I can get them out early next week instead of waiting until Thursday, which is my scheduled post-op. I switched out of the Ace bandage and am now wearing a surgical bra I purchased on Amazon. My incisions look okay, but it is hard to tell for sure because of the steri-strips. As for appearance, I haven't seen much change between yesterday and today. One thing is for sure, though, I'm flatter than I was expecting. No wonder I felt the need to get implants in the first place. Am hoping they fluff a bit after I stop wearing compression 24/7. Does anyone know how long the drains are (inside)? Along the cleavage area, I feel a hard-ish line of something, I hope it is the drain rather than left over scar tissue. My husband got his first look at the new me. He was supportive and said all the right things, but I can't imagine he is as okay with it as he says he is. Or maybe I am projecting my own insecurities into him. Updated on 11 Jun 2017: Pain along upper pole and toward armpits is starting to diminish, but now I am more aware of discomfort along the incision site. I am starting to use acetaminophen instead of Norco for pain. Also, I removed the Scopolamine patch intended to reduce nausea from anesthesia and pain meds. I don't see much difference in appearance today although my right side is starting to look less squashed and pancake-y. On the right side (which had more scar tissue and ripples in it from contracture with my first pair of implants) there is a a slight crease running from the outer side in toward the nipple. That nipple is slightly sunken and seems "stuck" to the chest wall. I am wondering if massage will help with that. Not much fluid going into the drains anymore. I can't wait to get the drains out so I can sleep on my side. Updated on 12 Jun 2017: I continue to have trouble with photos. ..they are correctly oriented in my device gallery but when I try to upload them, they rotate. I know how helpful pictures are so will post them anyhow. I'm still sore in the chest wall, but the pain is diminishing little by little. I'm taking an hour break from compression, which feels wonderful. Incision and drain sites are very sensitive. There are still lumpy and swollen spots within each breast but I feel like the tissue is starting to firm up a bit. My skin is less wrinkly than it was at first. I think the right side will eventually settle into a nicely shaped A cup boob. The left side...not so much. There are a few horizontal lines that seem to have no underlying tissue, The nipple seems to collapse inward due to lack of tissue beneath. Am still getting 2.5-5.0 cc of fluid out of the drains each time I empty them (3x/day.) Updated on 13 Jun 2017: Still plenty sore though it is easier to move my arms/reach for things. The photo shows my compression Ace bandage hack. I put fluffy socks along the incision line before wrapping . Also, since gravity pulls down on the wrap and the last thing I need is to further flatten myself, I ran a bandana along my (former) cleavage and tied it around my neck for a bit of uplift. Not much change in appearance. I notice that when I flex my pectoral muscles, the creases are more obvious. I'm using a variety of essential oils 2 or 3 times a day. Updated on 14 Jun 2017: Rough night last night. Incisions are starting to itch, which I know is part of the healing process, but it sure kept me awake. Originally, I was going to take only one week off of work, but then decided to go with 10 days. Even though my work isn't physical, I don't think I'd be ready to go back tomorrow. Updated on 15 Jun 2017: I am so, so glad to not have those goat balls swinging around my waist!! I had been wondering how long the drains are and if the hard ridge I felt long my cleavage on both sides was drain or scar tissue. Well, it was drain. My surgeon peeled back the anchoring tape, clipped the stitch holding the drain in place, and then pulled it out. The tape removal hurt, the drain removal felt more creepy than painful. I took a pain pill before the appointment, and that helped. The steri strips on my incision (crease) are allowed to come off naturally. I can shower tomorrow, though my PS said to make it warm, not hot. What do people do for incision care once stitches dissolve? When do people start with Mederma, scar sheets, or massage? Updated on 16 Jun 2017: More discomfort than I expected today...was expecting drain removal to make more of a difference. Don't get me wrong, losing the drains was huge, but skin under the drain tape is irritated. Incision skin doesn't seem to have the same issue with steri-strips Chest wall is still a bit sore, kind of like it feels after a heavy pectoral muscle work out. The bruising on the left side is slowly resolving. Breast tissue firms up a tiny bit ever day. The dents are slowly filling in, one side more so than the other. Updated on 17 Jun 2017: (Whine alert...) I went out into the world today and, unfortunately, caught myself noticing that everyone has bigger boobs than I now do. Also tried to find a molded cup sports bra to wear tomorrow at an event...trying to "step down" from my implanted look but still have a little contour. I looked at types that weren't band size/cup size, instead looking at those marked "small." My right side filled it the cup fine, but not the left side. The left side has always been more problematic, but I wasn't expecting this my asymmetry. Then, I happened to bend over and pick something up off the floor when I didn't have a wrap or bra on. Boobs look distorted and poochy. Not loving that for sure. I know it is normal to have ups and downs with recovery. I guess today is just one of those low points. So, I guess I'll wallow in it a bit and then shake it off. No other alternative... Updated on 18 Jun 2017: Today was the first day I woke up and didn't immediately think about physical discomfort. The skin previously under the drain tape is still red but I'm not consumed with itchiness/sensitivity. It is still there, but so much improved. I didn't wear as tight a compression last night/today. Maybe that helped. I'm going to wrap up tonight and see what happens. My range of reach has improved a lot. IMagine that is a slower process for under the muscle placement gals. Being gone most of the day probably helped, too. DIstracted, so no time to overthink the situation. LOL. Updated on 26 Jun 2017: Healing continues. The bruise on my left side is almost gone. I'm still sore along upper pole and cleavage area but it improves little by little. Not ready to go braless or even to move away from my fairly tight sports bra. I wear that over an almost-antique tube top from the 80s. It has seen me through 3 surgeries and helps cushion the bra band against incisions. I've held on to it over the years in anticipation of an explant. After this, I'm getting rid of it! Incisions are still covered with sterile strips and I can see some sutures still in there. I'll wait until the end of the week and then peel off the tape. It is getting pretty grizzly- looking. I've got a follow up appointment on July 6, which my psychological said I could cancel if I did not have any questions or concerns. Not sure yet if I'll keep the appointment. It is only an hour away and I suppose it is important for doctors to see how things resolved for patients in order to be better help future patients know what to expect. Updated on 10 Jul 2017: No significant changes in appearance though I definitely think my breasts are becoming somewhat more dense. When I massage, I feel "more" substance than I did a few months ago. My left side is still a bit misshapen, but my right side looks really good. I'm surprised by the extent to which I am still sore, especially if I don't wear a super supportive sports bra. I pretty much live in the zip front Jockey bra. Tried to sleep without a bra and also with a less supportive bra. Not good. I was quite sore the next day. There is some numbness of the skin along medial surface of both sides. Nipple sensation is pretty much the same as it was pre-explant. Both my nipples seem to be permanently erect. Hope that resolves with time.
I don't know why I waited so long to have this done! I don't even need to go into details about how amazing my lips look now. Just look at the before and afters! Totally, 100% worth it. I've always had a really thin top lip, with an over pronounced cupid's bow (very, very "M" shaped). I always felt self conscious about it. Lately I've seen a lot about lip fillers in the media, so I figured why not. Worst case scenario they would have to inject the counteractive to the Volbella. This is a full vial. About 90% of it went into my top lip. I love my lips so much now, and I hope they last close to a year like promised with Volbella. Updated on 25 Jan 2017: I ended up having another full syringe of Juvederm to add more structure to my lips. I had that done two weeks ago.
