I had a breast reduction and uplift, as well as upper tummy liposuction (I'm planning on a tummy tuck in a few months and this jump-started that). I went from a size DD+ to a perfect size C and I could not be happier! Dr. Short and her staff are very thorough in giving out instructions on how to prepare for surgery and what supplements and medications to take to help the healing process and now I barely have any scars.... and they're still fading!! Everyone was SO helpful and answered every question I had......and I had MANY of them. My husband still can't get over how much better I look and feel. I can't wait to go back and get my tummy tuck!
Hi! I have been following this site ever since I seriously started looking into breast augmentation. I wasn't planning on posting my story here, but I alost feel that would be selfish of me to not give back! I also think it will be nice to be able to share with others who are in the same boat as me as I don't know anyone personally that has had a breast augmentation. I was never very gifted in the chest department aside from when I was full of milk, and have halfway joked around about fixing that for a long time! I also am very active and try to keep my body in decent shape, so about a month ago I decided I was tired of being pretty comfortable in my body aside from those little bags up there! I searched for about a week pretty extensively until I came on the Gillian Institute website. After looking at every before/after photo and reading about Dr. Short herself I knew she was the one! I actually booked my surgery and did my preoperative at the consultation for less than 2 weeks later! I had my surgery this morning, and so far I could not be more pleased! Everyone was so nice and helpful and answered any questions I have or concerns. I was so nervous about the surgery, and it was so easy I am still in shock! I am feeling pretty good right now, although I know that could change. I am going to stay on top of my meds through Saturday at least and then see how it goes from there. My kids are 9, 8, 3, and 2 so I need to heal up quick and easy as possible! I am 32 years old, 123-125 pounds and 5'3". My husband said they told him I should be a good C cup with Mentor HP. I thought I might want to go a little larger, but they decided in surgery that a C looked better than a D on my frame and I trust them! So excited to take a peek at then this evening before bed! I didn't take any before pics, but I'm sure I have some in a bikini top or something. I am more than welcome to any suggestions for anything anyone has to help speed the healing process along or make it more bearable or any hints or hacks of stuff for the kids to do, etc.XOXO Updated on 29 May 2016: So far recovery hasn't been near as bad as I was anticipating. I'm really hoping it stays that way and doesn't get worse over time! I was able to shower by myself today and I also started my massages. Those are a tiny bit painful so hopefully they do their job. I started cutting back on pain meds yesterday so I could be a little more present. I've really been out of it since I've been home. I found a before picture to post, and I'll post after pics soon. I haven't taken any pics so far since they look so scary. From what I've read that's normal. I just can't wait for them to start softening up a bit. I've been icing a few times a day and taking arnica tablets 4 times a day. If anyone has any othere suggestions to help the swelling go down faster I would try it! I I also started hearing those weird gurgling sounds only on my left side, but have read that's normal too. Does anyone know how long that usually lasts? XOXO Updated on 1 Jun 2016: I went for my first post op appointment yesterday and the doctor said everything looked great! They were impressed with my progress of how they are softening up and said my incisions looked great, so all of that was a relief. I got to get rid of my ace bandage I have had on top since surgery, super excited about that! I haven't been cleared to wear a bra yet, but she said I could do bralettes and such so of course I stopped at VS on the way home and picked one up in a medium. I also got a 34C sports bra since they were on sale. I will just keep the tags on until I know if it is going to fit okay in the end. I really hate doing my massages. I thought they hurt bad enough before, but apparently I wasn't even doing them right. They showed me the right way yesterday, which is much more aggressive and hurts even more. I forgot to ask how long I have to do them. Anyone have any insight on that? Overall I'm so happy. I just cannot wait until everything drops into place and softens up and my muscles aren't so sore. Updated on 2 Jun 2016: Oh my gosh. What a day. I had to drive 45 minutes both ways to take all four kids to their cleaning appointment at the dentist. I swore it was on Friday, which my husband always has off, so I don't know what happened there. He works in the town where our dental office is, so he was able to meet me there to help, but I am completely exhausted now, and so sore. I took a pain pill as soon as we got home and am planning to spend the rest of the afternoon on the couch. Hoping I will feel better this evening for our oldest's ball game.???? I do feel like I'm a little bit softer every day, so that is a plus. I absolutely dread massaging each of the 10 times I have to do it every day. It's got to get less painful at some point, I hope. I also am back to pre surgery weight as of this morning, so that was a relief too. I can't wait to be able to get back into my workouts. Overall I can't believe it's been one whole week, and just hoping recovery continues going as smooth as possible, and the time flies by for myself and you all as well!XOXO Updated on 5 Jun 2016: Just wanted to post a quick update on the healing process. Friday morning after my shower I was patting my right incision site dry and noticed a small amount of yellowish discharge on the towel. I had my husband remove the tape, as it was already loosened up, and there was a little discharge on the tape as well. My PS had instructed me at last week's appointment that any discharge at this time she would need to be aware of, so I called to speak with the nurses. We all agreed since it was not painful, hot, or actively leaking that we would keep anot eye on it, and if there was any more discharge before my next appointment on Tuesday the 7th to let them know. Around 9:00 PM I checked the tape and it was wet, so I called the on call nurse, which luckily was the same nurse I spoke to earlier, and sent her some pictures, which she forwarded to my PS, and she wanted to see me Saturday morning to check on it to be on the safe side. Well, silly me, I have a small opening in my incision. They cleaned it up, and taped the hell out if it, and I am instructed to slow down. It should be fine as long as I keep it clean and dry and don't develop any infection. As she said, if stuff can come out, stuff can get in. As a work from home mother of four, it is so hard to take it easy. For any of the rest of you reading this, just please do as little as you can at least those first couple weeks. Now I'm going to be down longer than I would have if I would have just listened in the first place. We've always taught our kids to be pretty self sufficient and they do have responsibilities, and of course pick up after themselves for the most part, but when it comes to sweeping, vacuuming, dishes, laundry, cooking, etc. I just do it all only because I'm so OCD I can't let it be done any way other than my own or not done at all! Lol Last night I taught my 8 year old how to wipe down the kitchen counters and table and chairs, and my 9 year old how to sweep the kitchen floor. Super hard stuff for me to watch! This is going to be rough! Lol Anyway, anyone else get me? I can't be the only one having trouble delegating my daily responsibilities. I would love any suggestions anyone's got for me, and please say a prayer for my sanity....and health too, if you have a second to spare!????Best wishes to you all. XOXO Updated on 9 Jun 2016: Today is 2 weeks post-op for me. I'm a big ball of emotions right now since I was looking forward to this point to get cleared to do a lot more and that's not the case now with my little setback. I had a checkup on Tuesday, and the gap in my incision is looking a ton better, so I'm on the right path, just testing my patience, which I already don't have a ton of. I am to send a picture to my PS tomorrow, and as long as everything looks okay, I have a checkup on Monday. Right now we have it covered with gauze with the hopes that a little air will help with the healing process at this point. The tape was starting to irritate it a little bit. I'm glad she's giving me a break on Friday since we live 2 1/2 hours away. It's been really staining finding someone to drive me and someone to take care of the kids for all these trips. I'm trying to just keep positive and follow all of my instructions for healing. Just dreaming of bra shopping, going to the pool, boating, working out, even sweeping and vacuuming my own house. Lol
Awful experience. Please stay away. The followup and aftercare is terrible and you are nothing but a dollar sign to them. There is absolutley nothing good I can say. Please shop around and save yourself the heartache.
I am a 36 year old mother to an 11 year old and a 6 month old. I am extremely active, and love to lift weights. I have been into exercising on a daily basis for over 2.5 years, and lifted up until I was 38 weeks pregnant. I was 120 lbs pre-prego, gained 48 lbs during pregnancy (168) , and now sit at 138 six months later. I quit breastfeeding a month ago. I was one of those unlucky women who DIDNT LOSE weight from breastfeeding, but was best for my kiddo. I loved the size and shape of my boobs while nursing, and now that they are back to the small A cup, its a little sad:-( My ab muscles are noticeably separated, and there is no amount of diet or exercise that can fix that. So i scheduled a mommy makeover with Dr. Short at the Gillian Institute in Indianapolis. Surgery is on March 27, and I am a bit nervous. I'm a pretty shy person, but I think sharing my story is important, because there are probably a lot of women out there that feel the same way I do about their bodies. I have posted a few pics, first is me pre-pregnancy (to get idea of my body type) and the last two were taken this morning (6 months after giving birth). I have my pre-op appointment on Monday (3/12) and will update with more information then. Thanks for reading! Updated on 17 Mar 2018: Everything went pretty standard at the pre-op appointment on 3/12. The only thing that may put a hiccup in the plan is that some milk is still coming out of my nipples. I quit breastfeeding Feb 2, but apparently some women can continue to lactate months after breastfeeding. Anyhow, due to the restrictions on most medications that I can take before surgery (antihistamines in particular- that might dry up my supply) I am putting cabbage leaves on my boobs day and night. Dr. Short will not do a breast augmentation if any lactating is happening, as this may cause conjecture? Sp? So I will not know until day of surgery if I can do breast augmentation or not. On a happier note, I weighed in at 135 this morning. My ideal weight before surgery is 134, so I’m almost there! I don’t know if I mentioned this before, but I’m at around 5’5-5’6” tall. My ideal weight after all is said and done is 130, as I lift heavy weights. Anyhow. I will update if anything else comes up between now and the day of surgery. Thanks for reading! Updated on 10 Apr 2018: So, I had my tummy tuck with lipo on the flanks, as well as breast augmentation on 3/27. I’m not going to lie, the first 5 days were rough! I wouldn’t have gotten through it if I didn’t have the amount of help and support that I did. It has been difficult not being able to lift my 7 month old as much as he likes, but we are getting through it. I can lift him much better than I could even a few days ago. Anyhow, Dr. Short has done amazing work. Her and Jackie her nurse have been wonderful throughout the whole process. If anyone who is reading this has any questions about this procedure, especially if you have little ones to care for, please feel free to message me. I would highly recommend Dr. Short at the Gillian Institute in Indianapolis. You will not be disappointed! I’ve added some photos, first 2 are before, second 2 are from today (2 weeks post-op). I will try and post updates as I continue with the healing process.