So ever since I was in high school I've had larger than average breasts for my age. This was tolerable (albeit annoying when it came to gym class or buying bras) until I hit 21 and my breasts grew again, and with vigor. I never thought about having surgery until one day I put on one of my well fitting bras and it didn't fit. My breasts overflowed from their containers and it made me so upset and unhappy. My husband was actually the
person to suggest I see someone about it. So I did! I was terribly worried about the cost so
I went online to my insurance provider to see if they could help. Unfortunately I couldn't find any information on the criteria for having a BR covered by insurance, even after 2 telephone calls to them.
Undeterred, I made an appointment with a plastic surgeon near me, Dr Parker from Parker Plastic Surgery. It all happened so fast!
Updated on 4 May 2017:
My surgery was May 2nd but I wanted to write about my experiences leading up to the surgery as well so that hopefully someone can find it useful!! Here are some pictures of my 34J breasts pre-op ! Pendulous and very heavy/dense tissue
Updated on 4 May 2017:
The pictures I uploaded are from pre-op not post!
Updated on 5 May 2017:
Just got back from my post op appointment. They removed the drains!!!! I am so happy. It didn't even hurt at all (he just snipped them and that was it?) Husband was sitting in the chair across from me so he got to see the undersides of the breasts and He said they looked good- so that made me happy! Unfortunately when I got home I had a searing pain in my right breast - felt like someone was twisting a knife in there. Thankfully some painkillers and ice solved that. Hopefully nothing is wrong there, it just felt like one of the nerves awoke and was not a happy bunny. Anyway, they didn't change my surgical bra but instead said that I can now shower (but not scrub) so I should do that today and change into the other clean surgical bra. I've added 2 pics that I just took. I'm semi lying down so not an accurate portrayal, just more of a documentation of stitches
Updated on 5 May 2017:
So my drains were taken out earlier today and the nurse said I was welcome to take a shower provided I remove the tape and gauze. At the time I definitely did not feel like taking a shower! I was nauseous and weak. However fast forward 6 hours and I feel energetic and happy again so I decided, with the help of my husband, to take a shower and change into my other surgical bra. So I took off all the gauze and tape and everything and my boobs were free! They still felt stapled to my chest but anyway, into the shower I went. Hubby washed my legs and my arms and my back with anti bacterial soap on a loofa which felt amazing. Hadn't realized how itchy that bra was lol. I let water run on my breasts but didn't soap them or touch them. Next, he washed my hair with shampoo and conditioner which felt really good. I then had the difficulty of getting dried and into the clean bra with new gauze but we managed it. Horray!! Pics shortly ....
Updated on 5 May 2017:
Updated on 5 May 2017:
So this evening my body decided that it would provide a bout of hiccups to accompany me on my restful journey to full health. SURPRISINGLY it didn't hurt too bad- but maybe that's from the 2 pain pills I had to take earlier after I got back from the post op appointment with my PS...... still.... uncomfortable to have them bouncing all over. Talking of excess gas.... wow the bloating!! I had no idea. People say it's the IV fluids and the pain meds which makes sense I suppose. It's like I'm constantly on my period with the amount of bloat-y-ness that's happening. Phew! Anyway, I've been enjoying an excellent diet of mostly meat and green beans, and have sent the hubby shopping to buy some prune juice which should help. He's been so supportive and helpful and dedicated - makes me feel so grateful. So my last question... how long did y'all wear the surgical bra for? My instructions sheet says 2 weeks.
Updated on 7 May 2017:
So I'm 6 days post op, still feeling tight up there but I'm entirely off the pain meds and I'm not in any pain which is excellent. I still have my anti biotics to take till Monday to prevent infection, but I'm okay with that. Now that I'm off the pain meds, certain things have started happening. Firstly, the bloating has gone (huxah!), secondly, I started noticing pain in my back from sitting in the recliner too much (so have moved back to my temperpedic bed which I love), thirdly, I am a little less "cavalier" about life (as to be expected when you come off narcotics). However there is one problem I'm having. Accompanied with the tightness in my chest , I also have numbness around my underarms, to about half way down my arm. I can't feel anything if I poke there and it makes shoulder mobility quite difficult. Does anyone have any experience with this? I may call my PS and get him to check it
Updated on 10 May 2017:
I have my second post op follow up tomorrow with my PS. I definitely have some questions for him; namely 1) when can I raise my arms above my head? Because I wanna wash my own hair! 2) why do I have swollen boobs on my side? It means I can't put my arms by my side which is very awkward for driving and walking. 3) when can I get out of the surgical bras? Many questions for him! Anyway, I've been feeling good, upbeat, less bruising and swelling. I like to open my surgical bra once a day and just relax for 10 mins. Feels so good. I went back to work early today and it tired me out quite a bit so I came home and rested and read a book for a few hours which seemed to help.
Updated on 12 May 2017:
So I had my second post-op review with my surgeon and he drained some excess pus/fluid from the sides of my breasts. That immediately helped because now I can (sort of) relax my arms to my sides- something I couldn't do after my surgery. It also enabled me to lie in my side later on that day which felt heavenly!! He said that I can switch out of the surgical bras (yay!!) and start raising my arms higher than my shoulders. I was so happy and felt much better after that second appointment. I rushed out to the shops and bought a non-underwire pretty bra in a very large size because I'm still quite swollen. It doesn't provide any support, but at least I can now wear t-shirts without the humugous bra poking through. I am looking forward to them "dropping" a bit more and to not be so high up on my underarms!
Updated on 12 May 2017:
Updated on 16 May 2017:
Today is 2 weeks since my surgery! Horray!
I had some difficulties today with stiffness and swollen-ness on my right side so I now have an ice pack under my arm. I'm still walking round like a gorilla because I don't feel I can close my arms to my sides at all. Which is very unfortunate and not what I had anticipated.
I also left work early today due to the uncomfortableness and I felt very exhausted and fatigued. It didn't help that my boss yelled at me which caused me a great deal of stress. I feel like I took 3 step back in terms of my recovery. .....Thanks stress/work.....
I am still wearing my surgical bra, but that's mostly because I haven't found anything other bra that protects and supports them as efficiently as the surgical bra.
The stitches, on the other hand, are looking fantastic. They have healed really well and closed up nicely. I'm very pleased with the work Dr Parker did there.
We will see what happens in the next week!
Updated on 23 May 2017:
Hi guys! 3 weeks post op here - doing good, getting back full mobility of my arms and torso which is fantastic! I am a little nervous about going through airport security on Thursday and I've read some horror stories on here about being patted down harshly. Ah well!!!
Scars are healing nicely, scabs are falling off leaving light pink scars which is good.
I have a small amount of smelly discharge coming from my right boob underneath so I will ask my surgeon today about that.
Otherwise... bring on the scar cream!
Updated on 29 May 2017:
Hi guys!!
I'm checking in at one month post op! I'm back at work, doing the usual things (minus heavy lifting), feeling much better.
I've been able to put my left arm by my side, but not my right arm due to the swelling. My right breast has not changed much in shape unfortunately, meaning I still have breast up in my armpit and all around the side. Very annoying.
The left one has been much better and is starting to feel and look like a boob should do!
I have a little leakage out of my stitch where it ends, but nothing dramatic.
I can lift my arms almost to full length upwards, and it seemed good enough for the security gate at the airport!!!!!! Was worried about that lol.
I have noticed that my energy still gets sapped super quickly which I know is frustrating for me and my family. We were on vacation with hubbys extended family and I just couldn't keep up with all the events and obligations. I simply had to say "no I can't. I just had surgery and I need to rest now". Frustrations.
Anyway! I'll check back in a week!
Updated on 4 Jul 2017:
Boobs are feeling fantastic. Have full range of motion on my arms and chest. Still very numb on the sides and under arms.
Loving wearing no bra or wire free bras