I had Kybella and Juvederm done. This was my first time having any kind of cosmetic procedure and I really appreciate how compassionate and thorough Liz was with me. I had a rare side effect from the Kybella and Liz was unbelievably available to me in the aftermath; even going so far as to text with me over the course of several hours on the evening of Thanksgiving to discuss my options and write me a prescription. The next time I need anything done, I will definitely be coming back to Liz. Updated on 15 Jul 2020: I've come to see Liz twice now for Juvederm and I'm so happy with the results. I look like myself and totally natural. She really takes time to understand the desired result and then uses the product in ways you might not always expect, but that get you exactly what you're looking for. She's also notably compassionate and very accessible to her patients. I wish I could give her six stars.
I attended the Modern House of Beauty in Seattle and had the privilege of having Botox injections with Nurse Pinky Elliot. I have been receiving Botox injections for approx 8 yrs now and frequently have difficulty with my 11’s, they are never completely smooth, (I figured I just have very stubborn 11’s), as well as a bit of a Dr. Spock look and my eyes looking smaller. I heard great things about Nurse Pinky and was looking forward being injected by her but definitely did not expect my results to turn out as well as they did. She asked what I was wanting as well as offered her expertise and suggestions and all I can say is WOW!! I am so thrilled and pleased with my results. She helped create a smooth natural look that I have not been able to obtain with other injectors in a very long time. Expertise really does make a difference. She was very easy to talk to, knowledgeable and skilled such an amazing experience. We treated my forehead, bunny lines (which no one else ever has), crow lines, slight upper lip lift and small amount on the chin. I feel the results are subtle, natural and have really made a difference. I am so excited to have found her as my new injector :) BTW My after pics are after a long week at work. I am tired but still able to pull it off due to the Botox lolI received this complimentary treatment at the RealSelf House of Modern Beauty. Updated on 23 Nov 2019: It has been a month since I received my Botox injection by Pinky. I am still absolutely loving the results and the smoothness of my 11’s as well as the slight upturn on my upper lip line.
I am so excited to have been to the House of Modern Beauty Event in Seattle at The Riveter. Ashleigh was so nice and helpful when I had questions about the different services provided. I had my botox completed by Pinky Elliot and she is so patient and explains things so well. I hope Real Self does another even like this soon! I received this complimentary treatment at the RealSelf House of Modern Beauty.
I've had TMJ since my teens and only recently learned the benefits of Botox for Jaw slimming plus relief. I'd been feeling self conscious about my ever growing squared jaw (especially as I'm a slim and small person) so I finally did my research and went to SkinSpirit in Seattle. Best experience and best decision. It's been 4 weeks and I'm slowly seeing the results in my face shape. Here's hoping for more progress in the next 2 (heard it takes p to 6 weeks to see optimal results!). Updated on 8 Jul 2017: Included pictures of before, 3-week, and 6-week progress (first pic: left to right, second pic: before on top, 3-week left, 6-week right). Hope this helps!
I got lip injections to add volume to my lips as well as create a more symmetrical shape (the right side "pinched", the left was more rounded). I also wanted to have a little bit more top lip when I smiled. Thankfully, my doctor achieved all of the above for me. I already had a good lip shape and fullness, and I think that helped in my candidacy to achieve a natural look. Since this was my first time and I had no idea what to expect, I only got half a syringe (0.5 mL) of Juvederm Ultra Plus, which cost me $315.00. Supposedly, this is more firm than Juvederm Ultra. My doctor used a cannula needle for the injections (not sure about the anesthetic). The injecting of the numbing agent was what hurt the most. I have a pretty high pain tolerance, and yowza, it hurt! He injected it into three areas, but it was over quickly, and the numbing began immediately. When he injected my lips with the Juvederm UP, I could feel the needle in my lip, but it didn't hurt at all. The whole process took about 45 minutes. The only thing that I had to eat before the procedure was a jam biscuit, and apparently you should eat a meal before doing this. I got hot, rush-headed and started to "brown out" and had to sit in their waiting area for about 10 minutes after nearly blacking out at the front desk when I was trying to pay. Not trying to scare anyone, but it definitely scared me so make sure you eat before the procedure! I had ZERO bruising, which I believe can be attributed to the cannula needle. The swelling was minimal and seemed to go away within a couple of days. While I did talk a little funny, I went out into public the rest of the day like totally normal and didn't feel like some obvious plastic surgery [RS bleep]. I definitely dealt with some "lumps" and was constantly massaging my lips to try to get them to go away. It took about a week for my lips to feel normal. One area was pretty significant, which was the area with the most injected into it (top right), and was noticeable (kind of like a cold sore- no discoloration though). Three weeks later, I can still feel the bump, but it has gone down significantly. I knew that was expected, but I'll definitely chat with my doctor next time I get them done about avoiding that (perhaps it's because I got UP?). I also developed mysterious tiny white bumps along the top lip, but I don't know why nor what they were and they are now gone... It is now three weeks post-procedure, and the swelling is all gone, and I feel as if my lips look the same size, just with slightly more volume and symmetrical. It is definitely a natural look, and not even my mother noticed. I'm so happy I did it, and I'm pretty sure this procedure is with me for life- I can't wait to get it again. Since I was wanting something a little bit more noticeable and significant, I will definitely be getting a full syringe next time as the half syringe wasn't quite enough. I really love Kylie Jenner's shape, which has been a work in progress, so that is what I would like to achieve over time. For anyone in the area, I would definitely recommend Dr. George Baxter-Holder at SkinSpirit University Village and Bellevue. He is an artist, takes pride in his work, and your satisfaction is important to him. He was also completely pressure free.
I have been thinking about getting implants for > 20 years, ever since I hit puberty and did not develop. I have VERY LITTLE breast tissue. My breasts have always been my biggest disappointment and dislike about my body. I don't if I have hit an age where I no longer care what other people think, or if I'm running out of things to want, or what, but I finally just decided to stop dreaming about this and go for it. For years, fear of general anesthesia and scary stories about silicone have held me back, but I'm tired of choosing inaction out of fear--that is no way to live!--and I am tired of hating my breasts. My breasts are so tiny and ugly, I don't even like my husband to look at them. Again, that's no way to live, right?! I consulted with two doctors and chose Dr. Baxter. I heard of him from this website and from Skin Spirit in Seattle. He's the doctor in charge there, and I have been going there for years for IPL and laser hair removal. Dr. Baxter and his staff (Robin and Lori are great!) made me feel very comfortable and confident about the process and the surgery itself. They really spent a lot of time talking with me. I talked with Robin (nurse) for an hour about every little question I had, then spent another hour with her and Dr. Baxter to do measurements, 3D imaging, and (back with Robin only) implant try-on. My impression is that Dr. Baxter will bring the right combination of skill and artistry to the table. And his bedside manner is excellent. I also feel extremely comfortable with him because he's been in practice for so many years--I trust his experience, and that of his anesthesiologist (25 years!). He uses a nurse anesthesiologist rather than an MD, which I have some misgivings about since my biggest fear about this entire process is going under general anesthesia. I have never done it before and it terrifies me. But fundamentally, I trust the years of experience more than the technical credential, and that has calmed me down a lot. I still have a lot of thinking and researching to do before my 12/15/16 pre-op appointment in order to pick my final implant type. Dr. Baxter suggested either a silicone round of 275 ccs or a form stable silicone implant if I wanted to go up to 300 ccs. I'd like to be a full C or small D. Any bigger and I'm afraid I'll just look chubby (my build is somehow petite and thick at the same time, and I'm very short-waisted, so I'm prone to looking "boxy"). I want my breasts to be round and sexy, and balance out my rear end, but not be ridiculous or "overdone." I am a mid-career professional and don't want my breasts to be the 1st thing people notice about me. I have virtually no breast tissue whatsoever; there is no way I'm even an A-cup, currently, and I'm relatively athletic for my age, so I have pecs and not a lot of tissue to cover up an implant. Dr. Baxter uses a split-muscle technique to minimize the likelihood of animation deformities and I am stoked about going that way. If anyone has input for me on round smooth v. form stable (which are all textured, as I understand it), I'd love to hear it. I would be all for the form stable ones (lower capsular contracture and "rupture" risks), but I have two concerns: 1) are they so solid and in a fixed position that I couldn't create cleavage with a bra and 2) since they're firmer, will I be constantly aware of them, like two foreign objects stuck to my body. I'd particularly love feedback/comments on form stable implants from anyone who has them! Updated on 7 Dec 2016: I am afraid both of going too big and too small. I want to go big enough that it really makes an impact, and I don't want to have the typical "boob greed" after and end up having them upsized. But I apparently have a relatively small base to put an implant into, and since I'm short-waisted, might just look chubby if I go too big. I'm thinking a C will be good, but then when I look at other people's before and after pics, it looks like they're (a) starting w/ more breast tissue and (b) using larger implants than what I'm looking at (265-300 cc range) and often look about the size I want to go, which makes me think either I want to go bigger than I realized or the implants might not be large enough to get the look I want. Tough decisions! Updated on 9 Dec 2016: I have to say how great it is that this site is available. I have been really grateful that over the past few months I've been able to read so many other people's stories so that this process could be de-mystified for me. I have been thinking about getting implants for decades and then after the FDA moratorium just figured "well, that's out, never going to happen," but started looking into it again after any tiny boobs I had just disintegrated into my base fat layer after having my second child. This site has really "normalized" the process and made it less scary, and has been imperative to making me comfortable proceeding with a BA myself. I just know after I get mine done I'm going to ask myself "Jeez, why did I spend so many more years than I had to having ugly non-breasts?" I am not looking forward to the recovery but other than that, I am SO EXCITED. On the issue of recovery, I am having surgery on a Friday and don't have to be back in the office until the following Friday. I just can't be on pain pills by then because I am a lawyer and have to be in court! I would love to hear from others if a week is enough to be off any fog-inducing pain meds (over-the-counter pills like Advil won't impact my court performance). I'm adding some wish boob pics that I've borrowed from other people's posts! Updated on 10 Dec 2016: I tried the "rice test" to simulate 300 ccs and up. I am afraid 300 ccs will be not different enough! Or maybe the rice test is not very accurate, because when I tried 300 cc implants inside my bra at my first appointment, that sure seemed big enough. In any event, I've emailed my doc about whether I can up the ccs and he said we can explore larger options at my preop next week. Updated on 12 Dec 2016: I've basically hit the point in this process where I'm obsessively looking at this site and before and after pics, and I am dreaming about surgery and boobs every night. LOL. My pre-op is on Thursday and I am STOKED. I'm mostly excited but do get little waves of anxiety about the actual procedure. I've never been under GA before and although I've heard going under is probably safer than riding in a car, it still freaks me out a bit. I have two little kids and the worst thing in the world is to imagine dying on the operating table, leaving my babies motherless, in the pursuit of better boobs. And yet I don't want live my life making decisions based on fear. I have wanted boobs my entire life; I don't want to NOT pursue what I want because of a really low, but still there risk. Updated on 15 Dec 2016: My pre-op is this afternoon! I'm so excited! I will post another update and pics w/ sizers after my pre-op. I unfortunately have a cold and am feeling rather terrible. Hopefully that isn't a problem. In my mind, that makes it less likely that I'll be sick on the date of surgery, 12/30. I'm getting the cold that's going around out of the way and out of my system well in advance...hopefully. Updated on 16 Dec 2016: I had my pre-op yesterday! I was there for at least 2.5 hours. I love that Dr. Baxter and his staff (had nurse Janet this time, who, like Robin, is wonderful) really took their time answering every single last question I had. I am going with form stable 300 cc HP Sientra implants. My boob "base" is oval (wider than it is tall) so the doc thinks this will give me more ccs for my small space than smooth round, and will look more natural on someone like me who has virtually no breast tissue to smooth out/disguise a round implant. I am feeling really good about my choice. It's not a ton of ccs, and after looking at other people's beautiful bigger boobs and wish boob pics, I thought maybe I wanted to go bigger. But after trying on everything again yesterday, I thought even 339 ccs looked too big on me. I tried a 286 cc, and 304 (in round, for sizing examples only) and both looked about right to me, so went with the slightly higher end with 300. I love the look of bigger breasts on other people but on me, more than 300 ccs just didn't look great. I think I'm too short waisted and prone to looking chubby to pull off anything much bigger. I also have a short nipple-to-crease distance so going bigger would present more issues, potentially, with moving the crease and making sure my nipples end up in the right spot. This size is also exactly where I ended up when consulting with a different doc who I'm not using--he had me at 285-300 ccs, and didn't recommend anything above 350. He also didn't suggest form stable but I am super glad that Dr. Baxter did, and that that is what I'm doing. My hope is that they will look more natural on my small frame. Added bonus is that they don't really do through the D&F process like round implants, which, from reading other people's profiles, seems agonizingly long. Form stable implants are textured and will be put in basically where they're going to be. They will soften over time based on my surrounding tissue healing and the gradual reduction of inflammation post-op. I'm feeling really good about my decision. I did not take any pictures yesterday, in all the excitement! Updated on 26 Dec 2016: Since I'm getting my implants on 12/30, and basically can't exercise (for at least 3 weeks) or drink (while on pain pills), I figured that January is a PERFECT time to do a diet/nutrition "reset," so I am doing the Whole30 diet (basically, no dairy, no grains, no alcohol, no processed ANYTHING). Since I can't exercise anyways, I think I'll have the mental energy to focus on what I eat. And it's January, so it's a perfect time for this kind of "health month" diet. I have a serious flab layer that I could sure stand to reduce, especially after the holidays, so I'm hoping that kicking wine and grains will help me with that. I am a person who always feels like if I just lost 10 lbs., I'd be totally happy, but the last 10 lbs. is SO HARD. My body really wants to keep that 10 lbs. I don't know how all the rail-thin women on this website do it; my body just does not want to be give up the fat layer. It's a total struggle. I have fluctuated a lot weight-wise, so I've definitely been 30 lbs. heavier and a good 25 lbs thinner than I am now, so I speak with some experience when I say that it's easier (for me, anyways) to lose 20 lbs. when you're 30 lbs overweight than it is to lose the last 10 lbs. I swear to God. In any event, after my BA, I'll be curvier and that will look better. If I manage to whittle down some of my holiday weight from eating right (even 5 lbs. off--I'd take it!), my boobs will pop more and I'll look all the better. I am seriously excited for the big day. THIS FRIDAY. I wish I could just skip the next two weeks and be past the procedure and the worst of the recovery. Updated on 29 Dec 2016: I picked up my prescriptions yesterday and my surgery is TOMORROW. Check-in is at 8:30 am, thank God, because I don't think I could make it through any longer of a wait without food or, more importantly, coffee. Is it ridiculous that my biggest worry about coming out of the GA fog is that I'll have a hideous headache because of lack of caffeine? I should be awake and leaving, they tell me, around 11:30 am, and 4 hours of being awake without caffeine is INSANE in my world. I am of course also worried about the procedure going perfectly, not having any adverse reactions to the GA, and what my mobility will be like when I'm done, etc. I have been so worried and so focused on this procedure for weeks, though, that I can't wait to be done. I just want to be on the other side so that I can stop worrying about it and know what kind of post-op soreness, etc., I'm dealing with. I feel like the anticipation is worse than whatever the recovery will throw at me! But ask me that tomorrow. Haha. Here are some final before pics so that the internet world can revel in my absolute tiny-ness in area where boobs should be and my complete lack of any kind of lower-pole fullness. There's simply nothing there in the bottom of the breast. I'm pretty sure that's what makes the form stable ("gummy bear") implants the better option for me. I can't wait for my new boobs!!! One more thing: I'm having an Exparel injection, which is a local anesthetic that supposedly keeps you numb in the boob-region for THREE DAYS, and which should help me get over the really terrible first few days of pain. I'll let you all know my review of it. I'm hoping that it will permit me to avoid my Percocets altogether so that I can have some Champagne on New Year's Eve! I'm doing the Whole30 diet starting 1/1, and alcohol is one of the many things that will be off the menu. I feel like since I'm getting new boobs, I need to maximize my investment by losing 10 lbs. Haha. Updated on 30 Dec 2016: I'm post-op!! Everyone at Dr. Baxter's office was amazing and took such excellent care of me. I don't remember anything past the nurse anesthetist telling me she was my guardian angel and would be taking good care of me. I don't even remember Dr. Baxter coming into the OR (I do remember him marking me in an adjoining room). I'm back at home resting but not sleeping, engaging in the most indulgent possible lady time: watching Breakfast at Tiffany's and reading a fashion magazine. Everything went perfectly this morning. I was super sleepy in the car ride home, but grabbed a cup of my beloved coffee on the way home and now feel shockingly normal. I'm not sure I'll even nap, but we'll see. I have only peaked at my boobs in my surgical bra and I already love them. I think they're going to be awesome and just the right size for my frame. I've gently placed my hands on them a few times and have to remind myself it's not a mountain of padding I'm touching! I'll post pics the next time I get up. My pain level is pretty modest--it's achey, not acute, and just feels like the worst possible sore muscle pain. That must be the Exparel working. I just took a Percocet, so that hasn't even kicked in yet. Moving my arms to do anything is really hard because of the soreness in my pecs, but I can still sit up and down in bed on my own. However, things like pillow adjustments and working the seatbelt in the car are difficult and VERY slow going. In all, I could not possible ask for a better start to my recovery. I'm so happy! Updated on 30 Dec 2016: Tried to post this earlier but it didn't work for some reason. Pic of me sitting up in bed. I already just love them!! I can't wait for the grand "unveiling" when I go back to the doctor's office to get my stitches out. That's fast compared to what I'm seeing on other people's profiles, but I'm all for it. I love, love, LOVE them so far. I just napped for 30 minutes. Am now back awake and feel normal as long as I'm not moving. LOL. Some slight pain in my left breast, by my armpit, but nothing major. I am feeling so good that I'm afraid this is just the Exparel working and I'll be in bad shape after it wears off, 72 hours post-op! Updated on 31 Dec 2016: I managed to sleep from about 11 pm last night to 5 am this morning, dutifully laying on my back and hardly moving a muscle all night. I took a perc around 1:45 am. At 5 am, I woke up in extreme discomfort and had to wake my husband to help me get up (which still hurt) because my leg was asleep. I don't know if this is the dreaded morning boob or if my pain meds wore off, or what. It's surprising that pain would be worse on day 2 than day 1! I took two Percocets after waking and am already feeling much better, although the soreness is definitely ever-present and I'm trying to keep my upper body as stationary as possible, including minimizing the use of my arms. Amazingly, tasks as simple as opening the refrigerator or making coffee must be done very slowly and with a lot of thought to minimize pressure from pushing/pulling. I also look quite bloated today. I feel fine in that department, but just look super fat in the mirror. Maybe it's actually all the Christmas candy I ate catching up with me. Updated on 31 Dec 2016: I am so bloated it's ridiculous. I just spent a few minutes reading doctors' responses to questions about post-op bloating, and many say it takes "weeks" to go away. Arg!! It's really awful. I'm going to have to wear a mumu when I next leave the house. Also, I'm itchy, either as a side-effect of Percocet or because my skin is straining at the seams from all the water retention. Or perhaps I'm itchy because I can't shower and it's my own dead skin and filth bothering me. In summary, the recovery process kind of sucks. But in a couple weeks I know I'll feel and look awesome, so it'll all be worth it. And I think I might have turned a corner on pain. I'm feeling better this evening than I have all day. I hope to God I'm on the upswing because today was intense, pain-wise. Updated on 1 Jan 2017: Day 3: I'm feeling a lot better today than yesterday, so far. I am only on Tylenol and I'd say my pain level is about a 3. Totally manageable. I was also able to take a shallow bath for my lower half and washed my hair by getting on my hands and knees and putting my head under the faucet. I don't think I could have physically done that yesterday. After bathing I also put on make-up and real clothes rather than jammies, so I'm feeling quite human! I'm hoping that if I am able to stick to Tylenol today, rather than Percocet, my bloat will start to diminish some. My belly feels like I'm five months pregnant! I'm trying to drink as much water as possible to help flush it out. Updated on 2 Jan 2017: I was fine all day yesterday on just Tylenol. I would have little episodes when my sutures felt like they were on fire, but overall my pain was about a 3 all day yesterday. Right now I'd say I'm a 2, and I'm on one 325 tab of Tylenol. That's it. Last night I was able to sleep flat on my back with some pillows on either side supporting my arms, and was comfortable and pain-free enough to sleep from 10 pm to 7 am, only waking once at 2:30 am to take Tylenol (and that was a good 2 hours after my most recent dose would have expired, so clearly I am not experiencing a lot of pain at this stage, even on no meds). It is so fantastic to NOT sleep propped up like the Elephant Man. My bloating is also starting to go away. I banished all sugar, grains, and dairy as of yesterday (I started the Whole30 diet), and that has undoubtedly helped. I also pooped this morning for the first time since Thursday (so like, 4 days). Rarely have I been so thrilled to take a dump, but there you go. All in all, I'm really pleased at how my recovery is going so far. At 3:30 pm today I'm seeing Dr. Baxter again to get my stiches out and to see my new boobs outside of a bra for the first time! Yeah! I'll post pictures. I'm really hoping I'm cleared to take a shower. Updated on 2 Jan 2017: I'm doing great today. Tylenol only and minimal pain. I feel like I'm able to do a lot more things without pain, too, as long as I'm not lifting or pushing/pulling on anything heavy. I got my stitches out this afternoon, which was a fast and painless process. Now I have a line of tape and my surgical bra on. I was able to shower (YEAH!!) and pull my favorite cozy hooded sweatshirt on over my head. Things are good. I'm going to add some after shots of my boobs. They're a little franken-boobish because I still have surgical mark and my skin crease-to-nipple needs to stretch some, and I'm swollen and bloated. But, this is not that far off what they're going to look like. I had absolutely no lower pole fullness to start with and I don't think I'll have an actual "crease" when I'm all healed, either, because of constraints of my anatomy. I'm uploading two more "before" shots for comparison. I'm glad I didn't go bigger. The size of these implants feels perfectly suitable for me. Updated on 2 Jan 2017: I am very glad I had this done and Dr. Baxter and his nursing staff are all fantastic. He gave me honest answers to my questions and brought decades of experience and artistry to the table. I couldn't be happier with his care and recommendations re: size and implant type. Updated on 4 Jan 2017: Day 6 and I'm feeling really good. I can do most activities of daily living normally or almost normally. I.e., I can blow dry my hair and get dressed, but go slowly with pullover shirts. I can unload the dishwasher, but lift only light dishes and go slowly when I need to raise my hands above shoulder height to put things away. Yesterday I started driving again, and was fine but went slower than usual (esp. when turning) to avoid having to make sudden movements/maneuvers. I probably drove people behind me nuts. Next time I'm driving behind a car taking way too long to make a turn I'll try not to have road rage because maybe the driver is recovering from a boob job. Haha. I slept through the night without needing to wake up for Tylenol. I also was able to sleep slightly twisted to the side (~ 45 degrees, supported by pillows). I'm very happy with my recovery progress so far! I played dress-up a little bit and think my old clothes will still fit me, but now I'll actually fill out the chest! My upper pole swelling is subsiding. I'm not great at taking pictures; my boobs look better in person. They protrude out and don't move like I'm the Venus de milo. That doesn't exactly sound natural, I know, but I still LOVE it. In clothes, I could see not even bothering with a bra after I'm done with the surgical bra. These babies look beautiful and stay put, like they were carved in marble. In a good way! Updated on 7 Jan 2017: Day 8--feeling almost normal. When I have pain, it actually just feels like I'm wearing the most uncomfortable underwire bra in the universe (instead of my no-wire, obvs, surgical bra). So, my incisions feel irritated sometimes. I also have some muscle pains/tension, mostly near the armpits. In spite of feeling good, I am trying to take it as easy as possible and not do too much. I'm definitely trying to observe the 5 lb. weight limit, but I think some activities that can't be avoided (like opening a car door) technically violate the "don't lift/pull/push more than 5 lbs." rule, but I find myself doing some of these things before I can stop myself. I am on no pain meds at the moment. I have only taken Tylenol since Day 3, and haven't even taken Tylenol since waking around 5:45 am today, so it's definitely long since worn off now. I should mention that my feeling in both breasts (on the skin and nipples) seems totally normal. I may have some numbness on the bottom; that area is still pretty sensitive, and I avoid coming near my incisions at all costs, so I'm not sure about it. Both breasts are still really firm, almost like one of those yellow playground balls we all played with as kids, but I honestly think they're already softening some (probably because of reduced swelling post-op, my skin just isn't being pushed quite to the absolute max anymore). Updated on 8 Jan 2017: For some reason these pictures didn't post yesterday, so I'm trying it again. Realself wants me to add more characters but I don't have anything new to say. I'm fine today. No pain meds of any kind since yesterday. Updated on 17 Jan 2017: READ BELOW MY NARRATIVE UPDATE FOR A "FINAL" SUMMARY. Yesterday, Day 17, I had what is likely my final appointment. My steristrips are off, my incisions are thin lines and healing nicely. I feel basically normal. Dr. Baxter said I could wear other bras now (including underwire), so I went straight from his office to Nordstrom to be sized. I am a 34D. Holy cow, I had no idea these babies were D-cups. I thought I was maybe a B. Dr. Baxter also gave me the OK to start exercising, but slowly/easing in, and especially to go easy with upper body work. I think it will still be a couple of weeks before I feel like seeing if I can do a push-up. However, I'm not sure whether it's because Dr. Baxter used his split-muscle technique or if this is a luck-of-the-draw issue, but I haven't had any muscle pain since about the 1st week. And I can flex/activate my pecs with no problem. Some final thoughts on form stable implants: I think they look very natural, in spite of being HP. I also LOVE that I did not have to wear a strap, there is no massaging, and there is no agonizing D&F process. They were put in and they pretty much were how they were going to be. I'm really glad I went with these implants. SUMMARY: my stats: 36, 2 kids, 130 lbs. Petite "swimmer's build." Pre-Op Size: A or AA cup Post-Op Size: 34D Implants: Sientra HP form stable ("gummy"), textured, 300 ccs Dr.: Richard Baxter, Mountlake Terrace, WA (highly recommend) Anesthesia: general, w/ a nurse anesthetist Post-Op Drugs: Exparel post-op, antibiotics (5 days), Percocets, 2 days, Tylenol only after that, NO meds after Day 8. Post-Op Care: Stitches out on Day 4, replaced w/ steristrips. NO strap, NO Massage. Just wore a surgical bra until Day 17. Activities During Recovery: was puttering around the house as of Day 1 (surgery day), making simple meals on Day 2, OK to shower on Day 4, was driving Day 6, back to work day 7 (sedentary job), took the bus to work (w/ semi-brisk walking and carrying two bags) around Day 12, cleared to exercise and wear other bras Day 17. I'm still watching how much I lift (i.e., not picking up my 2-year-old). My recovery has been great, and I couldn't be happier with my implants and with Dr. Baxter's work. I wish I'd done this 10 years ago! Updated on 17 Jan 2017: I just want to post some pics that I forgot to post earlier. One is of an incision site, one is a view from below, and two show what normal bras look like on now. Again, I'm very pleased, and I would say pretty much fully recovered, just over 2-weeks post-op. Updated on 5 Feb 2017: I wanted to post this video of me squishing my boobs, 1-month post-op, so anyone interested in form stable implants can get a sense of what they're like at this stage. I also show my incisions, which are healing very nicely. The implants are still very firm compared to what I imagine natural breasts feel like, but (a) they have softened considerably since I got them on 12/30, (b) I expect them to soften up quite a bit more and (c) even if they didn't soften up any more at all and just stayed exactly as they are, they are SUCH a huge improvement over my natural breasts, so I am and would remain over-the-moon happy that I had this done. I can't believe I wasted so many years hating my breasts. This past week I started working out and am building steadily back to where I was. I have started running some, and with the right bra, there's no issue whatsoever. I took 3 weeks off from exercising and had to reduce my dumbbell weights (by 2-5 lbs, depending on the exercise) when weight-lifting, but I'll get it back. The only thing I still have trouble with is chatarunga when doing yoga and I haven't tried push-ups yet. One more observation: immediately after surgery, I was like "I'm so glad I didn't go bigger, this is my max, any bigger would have been ridiculous, etc. etc." I still think my breasts are perfectly fine for my body size (and they're not so big that my boobs are the first thing people notice, AND people don't even really notice a change since I used to pad my bra anyways, which I like). But now that I'm 100% used to them, they do not seem big AT ALL. They seem totally normal. So, I think I could have gone a bit bigger and been happy, even though when I tried on bigger ones for sizing, I was like "no way, that's too huge" even at ~350 ccs. It's amazing how quickly you get used to them. If I ever have to replace these implants I would consider going up to 400 ccs. But hopefully these implants will be with me for years and that is not something that I'll have to think about any time soon! Updated on 6 Feb 2017: I'm trying to post my video again. It's displaying in the add photos/videos box w/ a green check-mark, so maybe that is a good sign that it'll work this time. Realself is making me type additional characters before I can post this message. Sigh. Updated on 13 Feb 2017: I messaged Real Self about videos not posting and they said they were having a problem that they believe they've now corrected, so to try to post it again. My prior video was old enough that it no longer made sense to post, so I took a new one yesterday. The point of this video is to show that my implants have softened up considerably at just 6 weeks and my final results are, I believe, VERY natural looking. What do you think? My incisions are small and narrow and healing perfectly. I HIGHLY recommend Emu Oil (get it on Amazon or directly from the source--I recommend the Montana brand). It is fabulous on scars. Work-out update: I am back to doing everything I could do pre-op except that I can't quite do push-ups. I can either do them girly style or half-up/half down if I'm on my toes. I actually hate push-ups anyways, and they've always been hard for me (no matter how many I try to do, month after month, to increase my strength), so I know I'll build back the little strength I had before to do push-ups, but I'm really not concerned about it regardless. Yesterday I dropped $400 on lingerie at one of the best Seattle Lingerie shops (Bellefleur in Fremont) for myself and for, ahem, Valentine's day. In the brands they offer, I am wearing a 32E (not a 34D that Nordstrom had me in) and I have to say I love the fit. The bras I bought there are more comfortable than what I ended up with at Nordstrom (the ones I got at Nordstrom are lovely, but the wires dig in on the sides and middle some, so maybe the D-cup ISN'T big enough after all). This seem shocking because my breasts do not look huge, at all. Can't believe they're D/Es. They look totally proportionate on me and anyone seeing me walk down the street would probably guess I'm a B or C, I swear! Anyways, overall, I am feeling fantastic and am loving my new boobs.