Joel Robert Atchison

I have had my implants for a little over a month. I was assymetrical to begin with because of scoliosis and a bit of deformity in my chest wall that was not as noticable as it is now that I have implants.My left breast is 1/2 inch smaller than my right and I think it may be because that part of my chest wall on the right side sits up higher. I like my outcome, but I wish I was more even.Pros are not I finally have something there.Cons are that one breast is still smaller. I did it really for myself to feel more comfortable in my own skin.Can I have just one implant replaced, without replacing both just to get a more even appearance?

Over 14 years ago I had gastric bypass and lost well over 100lbs. In the last five years I started running and really eating healthy. My promise to myself was when I got to the point where I could consistently maintain I would have a tummy tuck and breast implants. I have done it!! 9 years ago I had a bowel obstruction and I now have a vertical scar and a misshaped tummy. That along with the loose skin really makes me self conscience . Spandex is a wonderful thing but can only hold so much in. Doing yoga I am so distracted by the hanging flesh. Private times with my husband are uncomfortable because I am aware of this flapping mess. Through the weight loss my breasts have sagged and gotten smaller. All kinds of emotions have be going through my brain. Excitement and Fear being the biggest. I have done my research and I have complete faith in my surgeon. I am not expecting perfection just improvement. Since I currently have a well healed scar vericially I am not too concerned about having the extra scar. My biggest fear is just the operation it self. Normal pre op nerves. My plan is to prepare my home for my return and healing time. I have a super supportive husband. I am 8 days to surgery and I am hiding from the world just hoping not to get sick. That's also a big fear. Staying healthy until the day. Decided to start this blog because my PS being in such a small town only has one written review from several years ago. (about this procedure) fleur de lis tummy tuck. Updated on 2 Dec 2018: I am really getting excited. I have done all my research. I have managed to avoid catching any nasty bugs...So far so good. Found the perfect hotel for hubby. Next couple of days I will stay busy, finish cleaning, cooking and setting things up for my return. Will continue to avoid people!! Updated on 6 Dec 2018: Out of surgery and doing welll. Very little pain as long as I don’t move. Husband just updated that I was acting loopy. That embarrassed me. But normal,I was just happpy. I love the way my chest looks already! Added bonus!, For years I have had pains off and on in my stomach. Just figured It was old age and something I had to live with. My wonderful PS located and fixed a Hernia!,, Updated on 7 Dec 2018: Rough night. Pain was up and blood pressure was very low. Boy hospitals are horrible places to try and rest. Plenty of bruises. Switch pain meds to Percocet. Should be able to go home this afternoon. Long 3 hour car ride. Yuck Updated on 8 Dec 2018: Slight miscommunication at the hospital made it so we didn’t leave until 5pm. Long drive home. It was cold cloudy and dear sweet husband was tired. We had to stop once so I could use the bathroom. Let’s just say a gas station would have been better than Walmart. That was the most walking I have done and it was slow and I was shaking. Nice Walmart employee asked if I needed help and the assisted me into the bathroom. You can find such kind and careing people. My blood pressure came back up and though there is discomfort it’s not too bad. Love being home. Sitting in my recliner, looking at the Christmas tree and fireplace. Sweet sleep! Review so far. Couldn’t be more pleased with my PS. He and his team have been great. When he checked me over yesterday morning. He was professional and answered all my questions. Put all of my fears to rest. I know the nurses had to call him at least 3 different times during that first night and he was spot on. Skin feels tight and a little itchy. Getting on the scale shows a 13 lb fluid retention. Feel like a cooked sausage. Tight and puffy. It will only get better. Updated on 9 Dec 2018: slept well last night . Still using pain meds every 4 hours. Just finished first shower. Kind of awkward with the drains. Did feel real wiped out by the time the shower was over. Still having just a small amount of nausea. Updated on 14 Dec 2018: Had one very emotional day yesterday. Crying and depressed. I know this is common and so hubby just let me cry it out. Had a nap and felt better after. My binder has caused and itchy rash. Just tired of not being able to do what I want to when I want to. Had followup appointment today and PS is pleased at how things look. Other than the rash. He prescribed me some steroids to calm the rash. I have also started putting the binder over a t shirt and I am taking benadryl. I had to stop taking the Percocets due to real bad nausea. Taking tramadol and Ibuprofen. That seems to be working. So today was 6 hours in the car and my legs swelled up again and by the time I got home I was exhausted. Amazed hat how fast I tire. I am the person that can run a 1/2 marathon. 3-5 miles run/walk a day. Now a simple car ride wipes me out. Cant do anything but get better from here. Updated on 17 Dec 2018: On steroids for the rash and emotionally I have been all over the place. Things are healing and I only needed one pain pill yesterday. Tylenol and ibuprofen are working. This morning I am 5 lbs from my normal weight so much of the excess fluid has left. 2nd drain will be coming out this week and sounds like my local doctor will be able to remove it. That will save us the long car trip. Updated on 22 Dec 2018: I am so impressed with how I am looking. This two week old scar looks better than the 10 year old one that I used to have. Besides still being red the scar is so tiny. Freedom from drains and all stitches have been removed. Given ok to wear support garments instead of the big binder. Still in sports bra 24/7 PS still says l have healing to do. Internal stuff. Been given ok for gentle walking any distance as long as it is gentle. Upper body still has weight limit. Updated on 2 Jan 2019: Doing real well. Still tender but not too bad. Itching is the worst but no rash. Sleeping well in my own bed. Even a little on my side. Have started my walking again. Gentle but managed 5 miles today. The spandex slimmers are ok for trips to town but there is still some swelling and they are too tight around my thighs. I long for the day when I can go bra less. Seriously 4 weeks in a bra! Love the shower! Updated on 26 Jan 2019: 6 week appointment went well. Healing is going well. Given the green light to wear regular bras and panties. Yippee no more tummy wrap. Now the mixed feelings. I am larger in my breasts than I thought I would be. Was looking to be a full C or a D. Victoria Secret has me at a 34 DDD. I know they measure big. I am having some difficulty adjusting to this new size. Is it normal to think this way? It’s like I don’t recognize myself. I am also concerned that people will actually notice. Ohh the conflicting emotions.

After having lap- band surgery in December 2010, I will be having a fleur de lis tummy tuck and breast lift on Jan 15. I have lost 100 lbs and am about 15 lbs from my final goal. I was disappointed with the vertical incision decision, but trust my ps to know what will be the bet outcome for me. I had two consultations with a different dr in a different city that was going to do a straight tummy tuck, but decided on this ps for several reasons. He is closer to home by far, close to my lap band surgeon, and spent more time with me. Updated on 9 Jan 2014: I am beginning to get very nervous about the recovery. It is kind of funny that at first, I was obsessed with how the breast lift would turn out, how the girls would look (perky and not scarred, hopefully!) and the implant/no implant debate. I was not worried about the TT at all, I was completely confident that the scar would be covered by little sexy underwear and that would be perfect. The moment I found out my doctor wanted to do a fleur de lis on me for the best result, I have been nothing but obsessed with picture of the vertical scar. I am going on an important trip as I have said, and it turns out it is the worst possible time for the scar to be noticible in any revealing clothes, about 3 months. I know I should be hoping that I feel we'll enough to travel and participate in my conference and not be too tired! I have almost all of the after care items purchased, the special vitamins from Amazon, a second front closing sports bra. Now debating on a second compression garment. Should I buy one now, order one when I get home and better know my size, blah blah blah. A million things! Of course, work and family go on. Updated on 16 Jan 2014: My TT, breast lift and apparently a little lipo as well (didn't know that was on the plan) went very well yesterday. I have very little pain and they had need keeping me steady on percoset every 2 hours. The day nirse is busier I guess and she told me I will have to reminder her. That didn't make me happy! I liked the every 1 hours without me thinking about it. I can tell we missed a dose, because the pain went from a 1 or 2 to a 6 or so. Dr was just here and said he wants me to shower tomorrow!!! Yeah! I may need to stay a while longer. As my blood pressure keeps dropping low for some reason. My drains are good, the right side is really very little and the left side is about what is expected. I have some pictures from day I pre-op and some of today. I had the vertical incision as well, m it no pain and not look good Ready. The percoset is kicking in, sorry about the typing. O Updated on 17 Jan 2014: Feeling really pretty good. Staying very still,'only walk to bathroom and around the house for 4 minutes. Drainage remains fairly light. My ps follow up is at 11am next Tuesday -still hoping at lease the right side drain comes out. I found out my ps had to call my lapband dr from the or because he couldn't get my port to detach. So he just moved it over 3 inches to the center of my breastbone. It certainly hasn't affected my appetitive or ability to eat. I was worried that it would make my band so tight, but I should t have worried! You can see by the day 2 pictures that the incisions are still quite angry. And I am not really sure about my nipples. They look like hamburger meat -- does anyone have any thoughts?" Updated on 17 Jan 2014: Just a short update. Finally for a shower, it was wonderful even though I had to use the handheld device because the water pressure was killing my sides. Not where the incisions are, it where the skin is tight Now I am kind of wondering g when I should be putting polysporin on the incisions. I have seen too much about where the 't' junction is getting open wound. Don't want that!! I have posted some before and after shots. Happy healing everyone! Updated on 19 Jan 2014: Just took my second shower. It went well. Have a little irritation on the belly skin from something, but not around the incisions. Laughed without my cg on and holy cow it hurts so freaking bad. I need to order another one today, something softer. Anyway. I have don't have hardly any bruising and my incisions look good for 5 days. My belly cover just feel off, so I can see what it looks like. That is kind of freaky. Still have some waves of nausea that comes and goes, but mostly I feel pretty good. Haven't eaten a good meal yet, but I hope today I can get something solid in. Anyway. Here are a couple of pictures just out of the shower. Updated on 23 Jan 2014: Grrrr.... Keep losing text. So hopefully pics will upload. Day 8 post op Updated on 24 Jan 2014: Was excited to have my second drain out today, but my ps said it was borderline and it is better to have it in than deal with the consequences of taking it out too early. So we wait til Monday hopefully! Updated on 31 Jan 2014: Really 16 days, I guess time has flown. Went back to work 3 days ago. The only thing hid g me back was the last drain. As soon as that was out, I felt like a new woman! I tried using just spanks for a while, but had to put the cg back on after an hour. Just not comfortable yet, though I told my. War friend that if I am sti wearing this at 2 months, I need an intervention! If I wanted to wear a binder forever, I wouldn't have had surgery! I read a lot about how some of is get addicted to the feeling. Don't want that and I can't wait to ditch the sports bra in 5 days. Slept in my bed fully laying down and even on sides the last two nights just move cautiously. No pain, but just making sure. I am going this morning to get my stitches out, so that will be the last big event I think. I am moving around just fiine, not tired. I'd say about 90% at 16 days. I have added pictures from yesterday (2 weeks+1 day). I will post more this weekend without stitches. Yeah!!!