I’ve wanted to get my “boobs done” since I was around 13. I didn’t exactly know what getting my “boobs done” entailed, but I knew from a young age I was really unhappy with the shape and look of my breasts. Although medically they are not tuberous breasts, I was later told they do have a tubular shape which has made me insecure since puberty. It got so bad that it stopped me from wanting to be intimate with partners, and some days I struggled to look in the mirror. I’ve gone back and forth over the years on whether I should go for it, but this year, I decided it was finally time to pluck up the courage to make serious enquiries. I Googled ‘tuberous breast specialists’ in January and Marc Pacifico was one of the first search results. His particular interest in tuberous breasts made him stick out to me.
I ended up having a few consultations with Mr Pacifico. His attentiveness, expertise and qualifications made him an obvious choice. He is extremely talented and knowledgable yet I could tell he really cared about me as an individual. On our first consult, before I even had the chance to bring it up, we discussed Black skin and its potential predisposition to keloid scarring; his breadth of expertise spoke for itself.
The team at Purity Bridge were lovely and great to work with. I wasn’t able to physically come to the clinic for some appointments but they all made themselves readily available to me and were extremely caring. I even changed my mind (twice!) about the procedure I wanted 4 days pre-op yet Marc and the team were so gracious.
Getting my “boobs done” required a lollipop style mastopexy and I opted to get lipofilling/fat grafting too to get a better shape (and lose some inches around my waist!) I’m so happy I’ve done this for myself and I’m extremely excited to be more comfortable with my body.
Updated on 2 Aug 2023:
I woke up anxious but excited for my surgery, I got to the clinic about 20 minutes early which Dr Pacifico thanked me for because he said it gives him more time to think whilst he’s marking me up with pen. I was so curious about what general anaesthesia would be like, the nurses were right when they said you close your eyes, a second passes and you’re awake again. I felt really groggy after surgery and apparently I urinated everywhere as soon as I woke up hahahaha but I have 0 recollection of anything, it’s really still crazy to me how GA works.
My lipo wounds leaked a bit more fluid than I expected, I went to the toilet and felt wet all over my faja; I assumed it was sweat but it was fluid from my lipo sites, we had to switch them a couple of times and change the gauze around 3 times, but apparently this is normal.
I remember waking up in the recovery room and looking at my lipoed stomach and saying “I look the same?!” Hahaha apparently it’s just all the swelling; I’m really excited about my post op stomach, I hope I end up looking snatched like I asked.
After the recovery room, I went to a room to sit and eat a sandwich and spent some time with the OAP (operating assistant practitioner I think), his name was Bob and his bedside manner was fantastic. He made me feel extremely comfortable and made the whole experience so much better
I’m day-of post-op now. My teeth were non stop chattering after surgery so I got some medication for that, but aside from that and painkillers, that was all the medication I’ve had. I don’t feel a lot of pain, I feel a bit sore, and I’m trying not to carry anything heavy or reach too high for things to keep my sutures intact. Overall the pain (with the codeine) is a 3/10, it feels like I’ve been punched in the stomach a bit. My stomach slightly hurts more than my breasts but overall the pain is very mild
To be transparent, and to get my thoughts down so I can reflect on them as I heal: I am slightly concerned about my fat grafting. I know Dr Pacifico is an expert so I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about as I only just got my procedure done today, but I have noticed my left breast is bigger and has more cleavage than my right. This (asymmetry) is a concern I voiced prior to surgery which actually prompted me to change my surgery to just a mastopexy, with no fat graft, but I eventually changed my mind back. I’m hoping the unevenness in cleavage is just swelling and will settle as I heal and become more symmetrical in time. I’m really excited to see my new boobs !!
Updated on 11 Aug 2023:
Day 2
I’m not really in pain, probably a 4/10. I’m lucky to have a close family member who is a nurse so they have been carefully monitoring me and giving me advice. The painkillers are known to constipate you, so I’ve been taking painkillers and laxatives as well as fibre pills. I’m trying to eat whole foods and lots of foods and vegetables to aid recovery. I’ve been instructed to not act like I’m sick and to go about daily life, just with more caution. I’ve been trying to get up and walk around every hour to improve circulation and help with healing.
I’ve been on Skinade as recommended by my surgeon, it’s a pre and post op supplement package. As someone who is scared of poor healing/scarring, I’ve been taking the medications religiously, I hope they help! As well as this, my doctor is recommending extended Micropore taping before we switch to silicone
I had my first shower today and it was a bit of a palaver, I tried to keep my incisions as dry as possible, my mum wrapped me up in cling film and I had a gentle shower. She then put lotion on me and helped me change my lipo plasters and gauze. I would really advise you have someone to help you for these types of things if you get this procedure done, especially in the first week; idk what I would do if I had to go through this alone
I had a concern about a stitch coming out of my right breast, I emailed the team at Purity Bridge and got an answer within half an hour: it’s a stitch knot and nothing to worry about. Their responsiveness and care is second to none
Day 3
I woke up in a bit more pain this morning, I’d give it a 7/10. I’m very wary of straining my wounds and trying to be careful. I keep on being reminded to walk upright as the pain is making me hunch a bit and avoid getting up but I’m forcing myself to get up and go for walks
I have a lot of bruising from the lipo, there are black marks all over my torso that are tender to touch
I would HIGHLY recommend taking medication to avoid constipation. The dihydrocodeine and anaesthesia can really make it difficult to use the bathroom and straining hard after surgery is just not ideal. I used the Fibre + dissolvable tablets from Holland and Barrett as well as a tablespoon of lactulose every time I took a painkiller.
I’m going to try and ween myself off of dihydrocodeine by the end of the week and survive off of just ibruprofen
I had a wash today instead of a shower and it was soooo much better
Updated on 11 Aug 2023:
Days 5&6 have been good, I’m not feeling much pain at all.
I feel a bit silly as I do think I’ve been stretching my arms and reaching for things a bit too much. On day 3/4 there was something I needed to get under my bed and I got on the floor to stretch and reach for it. Looking back, it was silly and I should have just asked for help, considering tension is the main cause of bad scarring and bad scarring is my main concern !! Anyways, I can’t change it now, I’m just trying to take it easy from now on
I’m looking into scar treatments, my doctor is making me be taped up for an extended amount of time- I think standard time is 2 weeks but I’ll be taped for 3/4 due to my worry about hypertrophic/keloid scarring. After that, I think I’m going to undergo a strict regimen of either silagen or kelo-cote twice a day, bio oil massages in the evenings and then silicone tape at night. I’d like to use mederma intense overnight serum at some point, idk when or how it would fit in my routine but it was really effective for me when I got a burn last year, the burn isn’t even visible now. Maybe I’ll alternate between bio oil massages and mederma massages
Oh also I’m bruising really hard all over my torso. I’m really nervous to see how my lipo turns out, I’m a bit worried that my surgeon didn’t do enough lipo on my abdomen or contour my flanks in the way I wanted, I’ll have to wait 3 months to see!
Day 9
I had my 1 week post op today. I got my lipo band aids off and I’ve been instructed to start massaging them in 24 hours w bio oil. I saw the lymphatic drainage masseuse and she was so lovely, she noticed I’m really swollen and put kineology tape on me to help with drainage.
Due to being afro-Caribbean and having a higher likelihood to develop hypertrophic/keloid scars, Dr Pacifico has recommended extended taping of my breasts for up to 6 weeks. I’ll get my tapes replaced next week, I’m really excited to see what my boobs look like
Updated on 11 Aug 2023:
I got my tapes changed today and I got to see my new breasts for the first time. It’s so surreal to me that this is my body now, I’m so in awe and in love and I can’t stop walking around naked and taking pictures of myself!! I’ve never felt more confident in my body.
Updated on 11 Aug 2023:
I got my tapes changed today and I got to see my new breasts for the first time. It’s so surreal to me that this is my body now, I’m so in awe and in love and I can’t stop walking around naked and taking pictures of myself!! I’ve never felt more confident in my body.
Updated on 11 Aug 2023:
The before and after photo really helped me put things into perspective. Dr Pacifico said we’re not aiming for perfection, we’re aiming for improvement. When I first saw my boobs there was a bit of a dysmorphic feeling, but the before and after picture really helped bring me back to earth
Updated on 27 Nov 2023:
I’ve been using scar creams and taping really regularly. I’m really really happy; this surgery was 100% the right decision.
My breasts have lost a little volume as expected, but I still have amazing cleavage.