Our new series, No Apologies, highlights women who unabashedly own their decision to get plastic surgery and aren’t afraid to talk about it.
Amy is a 35-year-old woman from St. Louis Park, Minnesota. After years of being mistaken for a child and feeling uncomfortable in her body, she got a breast augmentation—despite a surgical tragedy in her family’s past. This is her story, told to Melanie Rud, edited for length and clarity.
I’d wanted to have bigger breasts for as long as I could remember. Being short—I’m only 4’10”—and flat-chested meant I was constantly being mistaken for a child. I’d get called out in all kinds of situations, like not being able to get into an R-rated movie. I remember playing with my niece at a playground once and thinking that I shouldn’t have worn a T-shirt, because it made me look even more like one of the kids than a responsible adult. In fact, someone did think I was a child that day. I’m also in the corporate world, and anytime I went in for an interview and didn’t get the job, I was convinced it was because I looked so childish. I get it—no one wants an executive whose age and experience are in question.
About 18 months ago, after thinking about it for years—and with the support of my boyfriend, who encouraged me to do what I felt was best for me—I finally decided to book a breast augmentation consultation. Despite the fact that I’d thought about getting a boob job for years, the idea of the actual surgery always scared me; my dad had passed away while under anesthesia. But I figured there was no harm in at least meeting with a doctor and giving it some more serious thought.
I had several friends who had gone to and highly recommended Dr. Joe Gryskiewicz. He also happened to be the only doctor in Minneapolis who was putting silicone implants in through the armpit—and I knew I wanted my implants done that way, to minimize visible scarring. Meeting with him and his amazing team of nurses and physician’s assistants made me feel so much more comfortable. Still, it took me another nine months before I was finally ready to have the procedure.
I didn’t say anything to my family during this time. I knew they would make a big deal out of it because of what had happened to my dad. I did tell some friends and co-workers—and quickly learned that everyone has an opinion on the subject. A lot of people were super-supportive, but there were some that would say things like “You look fine the way you are” or “I hate that you’re becoming one of those girls” or “You’re only doing this because a guy told you to.” But none of them understood what I’d gone through my whole life. I was doing this because I wanted to, and it was entirely my decision.
Once I’d decided that I was in fact going to have the surgery, Dr. Gryskiewicz and his staff were extremely helpful in figuring out which implants to go with. We decided on a MENTOR® MemoryGel® silicone implant for its natural look and feel. Prior to the surgery, I had a moment of panic when I read about some implants that were being recalled in Ireland. I called the doctor’s office and the staff immediately reassured me that those weren’t Mentor implants and that the ones I was getting were completely safe and made in the USA, which made me feel a lot better. My doctor was also great at helping me pick out the right size. Because I’m so short, I wanted to make sure I didn’t end up looking too top-heavy. We ended up going with 275cc Mentor MemoryGel high-profile implants, which took me from an A cup to a C cup.
I finally had the surgery last November, and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It’s boosted my confidence 100 times over, in every aspect of my life. I love how natural my implants look—both in clothes and when I’m naked—and how soft they feel. My clothes fit better, I look better in photos, and I feel like I walk with my head held just a little bit higher. It’s like I’ve gotten a new lease on life. If anything, my only regret is that I didn’t do this sooner.
The response from people now has been overwhelmingly positive, and I’ve even had two other friends go to the same doctor and get Mentor implants as well. My advice for anyone out there who might be considering getting their breasts done? Make your own decision. Everyone is going to have an opinion and want to give you advice, but at the end of the day, no one else lives in your body or knows what you’re going through. You have to do what’s right for you and what’s going to make you the happiest.
