Ponte Vedra Plastic Surgery - Ponte Vedra

Before getting my BA I was a size 34B. When I went to see Dr. Bates I knew I wanted my breasts done but I didn’t know what would look best on me. I had an idea of things that I liked and he sat with me and discussed all of my options with me. I liked the way the 385cc and the 415cc sizers looked although Dr. Bates told me to go with the bigger one since it would be a little more flat once it was under the muscle. I felt totally comfortable and in good hands so I told him to choose whichever size looked best to get me to my goal and that’s exactly what he did. While I was under they tried several different sizes and ended up going with the 415cc implant. I have never felt better about myself. My experience was so seamless and easy. I had hardly any pain at all and only soreness for a couple of weeks after. I was adamant about all my after care and stayed on top of the soreness with Tylenol. Sleeping sitting up was the hardest thing to get used to since I’m a side sleeper but after the first month I was able to start sleeping more comfortably. Overall I would do it all over again. The staff was amazing and so helpful with all my questions and concerns. 10/10

Last phase! I have done a 360 TT (2018) then arm lift (2020) and now it's time for the absolute 100% just for me, cosmetic only, breast lift with implants. I have had major weight loss (150+ lbs) so this is the last stop on really just tailoring my skin to my new body.

I lift weights 3 days a week + run 2 days and eat whatever I want in small portions. I've kept my weight stab since 2016.

My pre-op is 34 DD or 36 D depending on the brand. My goal was to stay a 34 DD and just fill out my cup with breast, not all the skin rolled and folded, and pulled in.

I sent some wish pics and showed the surgeon my favorite bra (like how I look in it). Goal is to still wear that bra but have my breasts stay up when I take it off!! He took one look, didn't read the label and said, that's a DD. The man knows his bras. Hahaha

After surgery the tags I was given say SFC 605, which scares me!! They look huge and I am super swollen but I trust the doc and hope they come out beautiful!!

***because of the weight loss I had a lot of loose skin on the my sides so he extended the horizontal incision up to my arm lift incision to address that per my request.

Updated on 26 Jun 2022:
After surgery I slept all the rest of the day. The day after I slept most of the day. Finally on day day 2 after I stayed awake. I watched TV, talked with some friends, walked around the house (even on the days I slept I made sure to get up and walk). I also walked down the block to my friend’s house to hang out. Over did it. Back to bed. Started with the nerve zingers in right breast. Soooo much fun.

Morning of my third day and I have officially showered. Lots of fun, my husband helped. My lovely daughter gave me a dry brush and lotioned me up.

Plan is to relax, so my little arm movements and watch more trash TV.

I’ve read in other reviews If you love them on day 5 you’ll have on week/month 5 so I’m guessing these frankenboobs are gonna be awesome ????. Still worried they look big but trusting the doctor and the process.

Updated on 26 Jun 2022:
I meant If you LOVE them on day 5 you’ll hate week / month 5.

If you HATE them on day 5 you’ll love week/month 5.

Updated on 27 Jun 2022:
You know we’re always better about posting early on before real life resumes.

I will say I’m a little surprised. I’m not having much “pain” but I do get very tired and even a little dizzy. I’ve been sleeping a lot. I honestly thought the recovery would be easier based on some other reviews.

I quasi tried on the bra I showed the doctor. The bottom of the cups are empty and the tops are full. So once the “drop and fluff” happens it should be just what I asked for. Whew!

Anyway, here’s today’s post shower pics.

Updated on 30 Jun 2022:
1 week POD saw the post op nurse. Had my stitches trimmed (not removed) and my tape changed. She says I’m very swollen. Not surprised, I typically have a very strong “swell response“ to every surgery.
I am patiently waiting on the drop…. Well impatiently.
Photos without tape included.
***at the top of my cleavage where it looks like they’re weirdly attached, that’s just where the blood dried together, they do separate there!

Updated on 6 Jul 2022:
Hey there…. Almost 2 weeks out and I knew something wasn’t right. Way too swollen and tight. I had a seroma with my TT so that means I am more likely to have another one.

I was right! I called the PS office and asked to come in, which they immediately accommodated. My PS is out of the country on vacation so one of his colleagues saw me and sure enough I developed a seroma under each arm.

80cc out of the left and 20cc out of the right.

While he was with me he took a look at the incisions and said I’m healing beautifully, no bruising and nice soft pink nipples.

Since I had mastoplexy + implants he put me on antibiotics for 3 days as a caution but no signs of infection.

He did say that he sees seroma pretty commonly in patients that do the extended lift (under the arm) to remove that excess skin there.

Soooo happy that I go to an amazing practice that takes such good care of their patients.

Follow up appointment next week and I’m in an ace bandage for extra compression to help with keeping the area from refilling with fluid.


Updated on 6 Jul 2022:
This is the pic from that morning when I was sure they were too swollen for almost 2 weeks POD and I could see that the left was much more swollen than the right….

When the nurse palpated the sides they gurgled…. Audibly could here it when they had me lay back and push on it you could see the fluid move.

Again, so thankful for the great team there. I had three nurses taking care of me and the PS that helped since mine was OOO came straight from the surgery wing when he was done to examine and drain me.


Updated on 7 Jul 2022:
Looking so much better getting all that fluid drained! Feeling better too. It was creating so much pressure.

Updated on 11 Jul 2022:
Body continues to heal from seroma and the compression, antibiotic, and new anti-inflammatory pain killer seems to be doing the trick.

I am wearing an ace wrap with AC bandages over the area where the seromas were to create additional compression. (Hence the impressions on my skin in the photos!)

Seeing PS for 3 week check in on Thursday, I’ll update then!

Updated on 15 Jul 2022:
Finally feeling like myself again and energy back (as well as a clear brain!).

The seromas resolved and my stitches are dissolving. I am out of the ace bandage and back in sports or post-op bras.

Updated healing pics. I don’t really see them “dropping” but it’s week 3 early days The PS was happy with current placement at this stage and gave me some “massages” to help with the drop but assured me I’m going to be very happy in a few weeks…. Not that I’m not happy already. ????

They gave me a scar cream/gel to use.

Updated on 19 Jul 2022:
I bought this top Pre-op and it didn’t support my pre-surgery breasts (too much skin). I had luck with a different triangle top so I was going to rerun this one but since I had until September figured I’d wait to see post op how it worked.

They’re still “high and tight” not in their final position but I just might keep it!

Updated on 26 Jul 2022:
Swelling on the left one continues…. How amazing is my PS? When I woke up Sunday morning my left one was swollen, still red, and some fluid was coming out of the incision under my nipple (which had been closed?)

I called the on-call number and my PS himself called me at 7:30 am on a Sunday. Not a nurse. I was shocked. He went down a check list of questions, had me send him a photo and determined it was not infection just part of the seroma lingering, some fluid had made its way to the surface and out. I was already on antibiotics so I am all good.

I saw him the next day in the office, not enough fluid to drain but he spent a lot of time inspecting and checking to make sure the breast was ok and fluid was resolving.

Updated on 5 Aug 2022:
Finally starting a little drop…. They’re still “square” at the top, right angles at the armpits…

I don’t think I really anticipated how much healing time would be needed. They’re still uncomfortable, not really “painful”. They don’t feel like they’re part of me yet either. Still these things on my chest. I expect as they shape out and the uncomfortableness lessens that will come.

I don’t regret my decision at all, just getting a little impatient!

As a seasons PS patient I am fully aware that it is a process and takes time to heal and get to the final result. But this patient as no patience.

Technically I can resume normal activities at 6 weeks (accept for pec specific workout) but I’m icing myself a little grace since I had the seroma.

Updated on 5 Aug 2022:
The left continues to heal slower than the right, but that is the one that had the seroma so that’s expected.

Closer view of each one!

Updated on 15 Sep 2022:
It’s been a journey but finally feeling like me again. Excited to get back to my normal gym routine (no pecs for 12 weeks!!).

They’re getting softer and they look natural in clothes. Scars are starting to fade and I have full confidence that they will be white soon enough.

I’ll post an update at 19 weeks since they’re not fully “drop and fluff” yet.

Lefty has caught up with the right, or at least it’s close enough I can’t really tell a difference!

Updated on 16 Sep 2022:

Use to be a full D but sue to genetics and over production of milk when pregnant, I turned into a saggy B. I’m 38, 5’2” 120lbs. The Dr placed 295cc in each breast. I also had a little lipo of inner thighs $18,900 total for both. The cost seemed insane but I loved the Dr

Updated on 30 Jan 2022:
The pictures I took in the office were terrible but you get the point. I wanted to see what it looked like under the tape …..before surgery my right hung lower then my left (I know this is natural but I was hoping they would be symmetrical after the surgery). My shoulder neck muscles get really tight so I’m unsure if this may correct over time. I’m currently 3.5 weeks out. But I think they will look great and my husband will love them regardless

The overall surgery was a breeze. No pain meds needed after, no drain etc

Updated on 6 Feb 2022:
The pictures I took in the office were terrible but you get the point. I wanted to see what it looked like under the tape …..before surgery my right hung lower then my left (I know this is natural but I was hoping they would be symmetrical after the surgery). My shoulder neck muscles get really tight so I’m unsure if this may correct over time. I’m currently 3.5 weeks out. But I think they will look great and my husband will love them regardless

Went for my 1st consult on March 2021. Insurance approved my procedure in May 2021. Dr Bates at PVPS did my breast reduction on 7.13.21. Insurance required 750 grams be removed from each breast. He took 755 from one and 759 from the other. I started eating strictly keto to lost 20 lbs before surgery. At my consult in March I was 235, by my surgery day I was 213-215.

Surgery went really well. It was expected to last 4 hours, but it was done in 3 or 3 half hours. I could not have guest with me because of covid restrictions. Feel free to ask questions. Background: 4 children; 38 years old; Wish I would have done this sooner. I plan to have a tummy tuck the end of Feb 2022.



Updated on 19 Jul 2021:
The beige bra is 2 days post op. Still swollen and a bit nervous about taking it off and putting back on.
The black bra is 5 days post op. My 5th day came with depression. My surgery office gave me info about it. But I still wasn't prepared for the depression. Thank God it passed quickly and I talked to my husband and doctor about it.
The pictures of my scars were for 6 days post op. Doctor says my scars are healing very well. I have glue on the incision, just tape around the nipples.
Loving my results and I cannot wait for the next few months to see how they change for the better.