45 Years Old, 3 Kids, 3 C Sections Later (Last Baby Was Just over 1 Year Ago) - Alberta, Canada

Dr. Whidden, Calgary,

Hi There, thank you for your kind comments and yes I would like to contribute by looking at your list of questions.

Hi there, Thanks so much for your kind comments! Regarding the workouts....the TT recovery is slow. I am 2 months post now and maybe do 50% of what I used to do in the gym. I cannot do even 1 sit up, just planks. Weights are greatly reduced. this is mainly because of the TT. But I can workout, I can workout hard and get sweaty and get the job done, even with these limitations. Probably since 6 weeks I can push it (only certain things, movements, and nothing heavy). The BA - I have done full push-ups since the operations, but I can't do many (and I could do a lot before and also pull-ups). Its the strain on the TT however that makes me quit the push-ups, not the BA. I generally do crossfit type training - so hard and heavy at times (well, pre-operation). Yes BA...some wierd feeling there. I did read one PS on this site who says he has gals who are going in to the army and within 3-4 months after the BA's they work themselves up to where they need to be in terms of the training. So that is my inspiration. If they can do it, so can I. I've also read PS's here that say change your workout!! That I will not do! I'm not where I was, but I expect to be. Its a slow recovery. I do not know if smaller implants would make doing things like push-ups and pull-ups easier. I have not attempted any pull-ups yet - not ready for that core intensity and the stretching of the abs and arms so much. I checked out your pictures, you look great in the 405 sizers!! I did get very depressed initially after the surgery, big change, and the pain killers and all. I went back to the PS and told him I made a mistake and I had to have these things out of me and when could I schedule that! While I really wanted them out, I was in so much discomfort from the TT, there is no way I would be going back under the knife so soon! Anyway, I have calmed down, and I am feeling a lot better about them now, and mostly Iike them. In clothes, the look pretty darn good, but for me, with no clothes....they seem to big. Yes, hubby loves them too - that does help! It seems most women on this site are loving them right from the start and you probably will too! I don't know what to tell you about sizing. I think if you are here and looking at postings you probably have a good idea of what your results will look like and what you want. I did not find this site until after and I missed out on some education for the process. And education from PS was lacking I felt. My one advice - go see you PS before if you have any questions, or need reassurances or to go try the sizers on again, or discuss profiles or whatever. DO IT BEFORE! :) You are paying them a lot of money and its not like a sweater you can return. I did find it very hard to pick the size. I will tell you that I have "fooled" most of the people I was wanting to fool. Obviously my husband knows, and my best friend. Other than that...no one. I told people I was having a hernia operation (which i was). For the most part I don't think they look big and in your face. They are not. And people at work, other family, they really have not said anything (although in a bikini they might!) So for me...my 375's...kind of big...but kind of not really. (not sure how helpful this is to you!) BTW I called my stomach "the donut." My trainer was always telling me to pull in my abs... I was! but it was horrible - the more I worked out, the looser the skin got. It took me a while before the light bulb went off and I realized exercise was just not going to fix this. And same...I was an average B 10+ years ago...but then the 3 kids, breast feeding took a pretty big toll. Now "the donut" and "the pancakes" are gone! You will love it. Be well! And feel free to ask me anything. Like you I had 3 c-sections and I thought, "oh I've had 3 c-sections, this will be no problem!" The recovery has been challenging - for me - its not like a c-section!

Sorry for the wall of text! I thought there would be spaces in there...

Thank you so much for your support and advice. Your experience is so similar to mine it's uncanny. I can't wait to start working out again. Slow and steady will be the key I'm sure. But at least this time I will be working towards an actual six pack not a more distended abdomen. : ) and just to reiterate I'm sure we are our own worst critics you look really terrific. I'm hoping I can make a game day decision and go a little smaller on the BA i know it's only tablespoons but I think psychogically I'll always feel 400s are too big. Unfortunately it will have to be game day since I am squeezing in one last family vacation that ends the night before the surgery : /

Thank you, thank you for your compliments! yes, for sure I am not a champion of myself on most days. So thank you, it does feel good to hear it! I'm not sure what to tell you about the sizing. I think making your mind up on game day is no problem. Ultimately, whatever you pick - just try to love it! Sometimes that what I have to tell myself, thinking I chose too large. I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing vacation and you are well rested before your surgery. My best to you! Thanks for your support of me as well.

Hey there, I am 5'3" and 130-135 lbs (depending on the day!) I got 375cc (or 370cc) high profile. I really struggled with the size at first. I even went back to the PS and said "these things have to go! you need to take them out!" I was freaked out and depressed. I have since relaxed a lot about them. Its 3 months now. and yes, they really have dropped a lot. Naked - they don't look "natural." yup, they look fake. But in a dress or a sweater, I think they look good. And naked, well, my husband loves them, so really, not much to complain about. I would say that not one person at work has a clue. I don't flaunt them, I can hide them. But its so nice to finally fill out some pretty lingerie! I was a B a long time ago, 3 kids later I was a 32A at most. Now I am a 32E or 32DDD (depending on brand). I will post more pictures in the next month. Are you happy with your size? You are still fresh, about 2 weeks out? I see you have done some walking. Yes, for the first 5 days I never left the upper floor of our house. Walking the hall for 2 minutes was taxing! It all comes back. I think you are like me- you workout and eat clean. I do crossfit-like workouts, you? It will all come back. I am back to most, but not all movements - have not attempted pull-ups for a few weeks - last time the strain on the tummy just to hang off the bar was too much. I can do push-ups again. I still cannot do even 1 sit up but I am closer. Its all coming back. Have a great long weekend! Take care, you look wonderful!

Hey 4962 , Yes I am a gym rat like you. I am going to go for a walk tonight. I have been getting around well, tried some body weight squats, lunges and some leg lifts. Just for rehabing myself. I bodybuild with pylos ...used to jog lol. yes I can understand your feelings about these new big breast. Mine look good in clothes and my husband says they are fake and fabulous. I had a lift also so the old deflated size D tissue needed to be filled. My PS and I had a goal of athletic and perky. Mine are still swollen so I am getting used to them and going to be patient. I want to be 135 like you...I am 144 right now. Your breast look nateral and beautiful.Its hard for our body image to catch up.Sometimes I say to myself what was I thinking to dare second guess ... My pre boobs were so TRIBAL. I am loving my breasts but want to see if they will go down alitle more. I am 2 weeks 4 days. You are doing great . I hope to do push ups again too. Thank you for sharing :)

PS your breasts fit your frame beautifully.

Thank you so much! I really appreciate that!

Hi There, thank you for your kind comments about my results! I went for "visceral manipulation" recently and I have also been doing a little "gentle" abdominal massage on my own. I think this is finally the answer (I'm hoping). it seems to be helping. I agree with your comment about everything being "tightened up" and affecting the digestive system. The TT really is a trauma to the body and its a lot for the body to recover from. I'm not sure the lipo would help me because its more like daily bulging in my abdomen that come and goes, is better and worse and its a weird hardening of my abdomen. But the good new is the massaging is helping. thanks for your support!

Hi 4962... Glad to hear you are back in the gym. I liked your post about the BA to wait for 4 months to love them. I have these concerns that my BA make me look heavier. They are a D right now. tell me about the viseral manipulation ? Thanks

Hell Suzy, Ya, looking heavier. Well, I don't feel I necessarily look heavier, but I do avoid blousey type loose tops for that purpose. I don't try to flaunt my boobs, but I think that clothes that accentuate my curves are helpful in making me look best. I have a funny story - I had had the same hair dresser for a LONG time (like 30 years...since I was a kid). And she's kind of a strange, grumpy curmudgeon kind of lady, but she does a good job on my hair so I keep going. Anyway, she is really good with the back-handed compliments! I did not tell her about the surgery. When I went back to see her after the surgery for my hair I did wear something looser that day. I don't want her to know- she would be annoying about it. Anyway, I sit down and she tells me "hey are you are looking good, you were too skinny before." So, I had to laugh. So the question - do I look heavier? maybe? I don't feel that I am. And that was definately a big worry for me at the beginning and I do have self-image issues and if I thought I was looking heavy chances are good I would reduce the size of them because it would bother me a lot. I was really depressed after the implants and very unhappy with them at first. Its taken me a long time to not idealize a certain body-type image of women as being beautiful (and I never met that image). I think we all come in all different shapes and sizes and we really are truly beautiful no matter what we look like. The visceral manipulation. It was not really a "massage" - there is no hard kneading of body parts. It was gentle pressure and pushing. So..no pain during the process. She just kind of pushed the abdominals around, and she said that I should do it too whenever, several times a day, whenever I feel the need. So lately when I have felt the bloating coming on I have done that and my stomach is a lot softer when I do this. I saw someone mention that their stomach gets hard like when you are pregnant. And yes, that's what's its been like at times. Very hard and huge - pressing out like i am pregnant, but mostly above the belly button. And it gets uncomfortable. BUT...since this abdominal manipulation...its better. If you google this - you will see some videos. - try it! Just google abdominal massage. if I can find the link of this one instructional video I saw I will send it to you. It was really great. Basically because of the anatomy you want to start on the lower right side and work your way up and then over to the left side of the abdomen and then down. Definately go that direction - you are kind of pushing things along, if you know what I mean. And if your stomach starts gurgling that's a good sign. My stomach is smaller, more comfortable, and bowels are working better since I started doing this. I go back to see this lady in a week or so. She wanted to see my after my cycle for some reason. Do you have issues before your cycle? Since the surgery, I noticed a big change, for the worse, about a week before my cycle in terms of bloating and constipation. Have a great day!

Thank you so much! I've been keeping up with your own journey and you are doing amazing - keeping very active so early on! You are an inspiration.

Thanks…that means a lot:) Honestly…it's more necessity than anything else. I would like nothing more to just sit…but it's the life of a single, full time working mom…no choice…just have to do it…LOL. How do you look these days? You're three months now…How's the swelling? Is it any better? I look to your recovery for information actually. LOL. Thanks:)

BA is continuing to drop so that's good, not sure if I'm just more used to seeing them but my boobs are starting to look "more natural" if that is possible. They probably don't look "natural" but I am liking them more all the time (as this was an issue for me in the beginning). As PS on her said before, they look good at 2 months, and great at 4 months, when talking about BA's in general and the whole dropping thing. So I'm looking forward to 4 months. Yes dropping and softening is still happening. Swelling from the TT- yes better, but not perfect. Improving? Yes. The visceral manipulation has really helped. When I tightened up my abs the other day I could almost see some definition (almost, got a ways to go for sure!)..and my workouts are more minimal/maintenance types right now, but I feel pretty good about that - no more saggy skin covering up all my hard efforts (your userid it great BTW!) I'll post more pictures in a week or 2!

I cannot wait to see you pics:) I've been so busy with work and super tired. I feel so impatient sometimes…but I keep reminding myself the recovery is a lot longer. I can't wait till I get clearance to be back in the gym. I'm so tired of not being able to go. LOL. I feel like I'm getting fat. sigh… How's your week been?