I've gotten so much help from all your stories, and now it's my turn to contribute :) My surgery is scheduled for tomorrow, July 30th at 2 pm. I'm planning to go for 325 cc HP, my PS recommended this is the largest I can do without getting the side boob fake look. I completely agree with my PS and I trust that he will make the right decisions for me.
I'm more nervous about the post op care more than the actual surgery itself. I spent all day prepping, setting up the couch, cooking meals for the week, bringing everything I'll need around the house down to waist level, laying out clothes for the week, etc.
My PS provides Vivanta, which helps prep my body for surgery and provides supplements for post op. I've quit smoking 3 weeks ago, and have been using nicotine gum to curb my cravings, which has been helping a lot. I've always wanted to quit smoking, getting a BA is great motivation to ditch the cancer sticks.
Now time to shower for the night and get some rest for tomorrow, eep!
Updated on 31 Jul 2019:
I did it :) Had my operation today. The anesthesiologist, nurses, and my PS were all so friendly and made me feel comfortable. My PS seemed so alive in the surgery suite, I guess I normally see him sitting down in the consultations. He marked me up with sharpie, and reminded me that my right boob is slightly larger than my left, weird since I'm right handed. We still ended up putting the same 325 cc volume implants in both breasts, though, which I felt fine with.
As soon as I was put out, I woke up in recovery :) I felt like I just woke up in the morning, my voice was a little raspy. My chest felt crazy tight, and I was having some sharp pains in my right boob. Surprisingly I could dress myself and had a few sips of water. I felt a little woozy, as if I had several alcoholic drinks in the morning.
I felt nauseous on the drive home, but was able to make the 30 minute drive clean. I immediately took a Tylenol 3 and ate some popcorn...a few moments later I was GOLDEN. Felt like myself, no pain whatsoever, just tightness in my chest. I was able to warm up dinner for myself, open water bottles, and go to the bathroom just fine. HELPFUL TIP -- Use ziploc bags to store everything, such as medicine (avoid twisting those finicky medicine bottles) as well as all the prepped meals.
Since Tylenol 3 contains caffeine, I slept pretty poorly. I've been sleeping for about an hour every 4 hours. I'm going to ask my PS for some caffeine free pills or try to take the same dosage in just acetaminophen.
Going to leave in about an hour to get my bandages taken off :)
Updated on 1 Aug 2019:
I got my bandages off yesterday....oh my are the girls bruised and bloodied! My right side is clearly more swollen than my left. The PS said this is normal, as long as it doesn't get larger over the next couple of days. It has been about 24 hours since I last saw him and thankfully it seems to be the same size, if not smaller. I am loving my left side, it is so perfect! Currently, nipples are numb..I may have noticed a tiny bit of sensation returning, but still too early to tell.
I would like to say I have been extremely lucky with this recovery.... I listened to all of the preop do's and don'ts, as well as eating lots of fruits, veggies and protein a month prior to surgery and exercising. I read a review that appreciated her core workouts during recovery....I fully understand this now. Getting up without using your arms means using your core and legs...sometimes an elbow, though ;)
Currently I am on over the counter acetaminophen. I feel this is much better.. I can still feel the tightness in my chest, but no pains from the surgery. Feeling the tightness is a good gauge for how I am exerting my body. The prescribed painkillers were just too overkill for me, and I felt like I was over exerting my body because I felt nothing at all.
I got a bit restless today, so I decided to go on a 20 minute walk to the bus stop and get a haircut. It felt so good to go outside and walk for a bit...I felt like I was getting too bloated just lying around the house.
Overall recovery is going great, I loooooove the size of my breasts, I'm happy with 325 cc in my frame, it is exactly what I imagined it to be like. Can't wait to see how they'll change everyday :)
Updated on 14 Aug 2019:
So many updates...
Day 4 - flew on a 7 hour flight across the country for a conference. Overall it went well, I've had people help me with my checked luggage, and I was able to lift my practically empty backpack into the overhead bins in the plane.
Day 7 - bruising going down, still have lots of swelling in right breast
Day 8 - hit my right breast with the car door...yes this is the swollen breast...not having very good luck :/
Day 10 - flew back home. By now sensation to my nipples have returned. In fact, both of my breasts are insanely sensitive. Not just the nipples, but the entire breast...as if I can feel each strand of my hair that fell on my breasts. Sensitivity makes everything uncomfortable, almost painful...I took a couple of pain meds to get some relief from it.
Day 14 - Finally saw my PS since the surgery. I wasn't able to go in for my 1 week visit since I was on my trip. My appointment was in the morning, and I was scheduled for surgery that afternoon! My PS wanted to drain the hematoma from my right breast. Went in for surgery at 2:30 pm and woke up in recovery at 4 pm, with a drainage bulb attached to me. He reopened only a portion of the stitch to drain out the fluids....but I woke up with sharp pains to my nipple. I'd say the pain was worse than when I woke up with implants. It was a sharp pain, probably since my boobs were already uber sensitive.
Day 15 - went back to the office to get the drainage bulb removed. I only emptied it once that previous night, a total of 30 mL. My PS said he removed about 50 mL during surgery. I am really happy having no excess fluids in my breast, they look much more even now. In fact, it now looks smaller than my left breast, but I think it just needs to catch up since my left breast is already starting to drop.
I've been really tired today, took today off work to just relax and recover. My next appt with the PS is next week Friday :) I can elaborate more if you have questions, just wanted to give a brief update since so many things has happened...gong to get some rest now before I return to work tomorrow.
Updated on 29 May 2020:
I love my boobs, one of the best decisions I'be made:) Glad I listened to my PS on sizing, they really know best! I do have a bit of animation deformity, but it is definitely getting better over time. I can't wait to see what they'll look like on my anniversary!