Breast lift without implants - my journey -

I am 35 years old, 157 lbs and 5'9". I have had two kids and a lot of weight loss/gain over the past 12+ years, so my breasts had lost their former glory, becoming sagged, ptotic and heavy. It has been the cause of the low self-esteem and I often just dreaded taking my clothes off, because the sight was not pretty.

After years of longing for a fix, I finally started with my research. I have to say, this site has been of great help and assistance - all your stories, comments, the Q&A sections, photos - it gave me the courage and hope that even I would have a possibility for a better life with nicer breasts.

I picked my doctor after a two-month research for his experience in the field - I have to say I was a bit scared, but he quickly dismissed my fears and assured that I would be a perfect candidate for this procedure. He did right away mention that my breast tissue is sufficient for building up a natural-looking breast without implants. I had dreaded the implants question, as it seems that a lot of women choose them for upper pole fullness. Whereas I know that the end result will not be as "perfect", I believe minimising risks is a good idea - one less thing for me to worry about. After all, it's all a matter of personal preference and what makes someone happy. Right?

I had the procedure on 9/9/2013 with a anchor lift. My areola size was adjusted and they were moved higher. Everything went smoothly, other than my veins from the IV line being a bit bruised - I wonder if the anesthesiologist squeezed my hand or sat on it :p

Minimal pain and fever a couple of days after surgery, and right now as I am writing this I still get those weird "pangs" of pain as if someone randomly stabs my breast, but I am off any painkillers (only took paracetamol post surgery, anyway). Arnica + D6 for the bruising and continuing with my vitamin C intake as usual.

As far as I can see from the photos I've taken, there is an improvement already with the shape setting a bit better. As my right breast was nearly a cup size bigger, it seems also that now the nipples aren't on the exact same height - I did know that there's slightly less tissue to adjust on the left side but I hope that the difference will not be very visible at the end. In the current sports bra, there's little to no difference in the breast volume and the bra sits equally well. Oh, for statistics sake - I was 75 E/F for the past 5-6 years, going up or down in between the cups if I went more than 20 lbs up or down in weight. Right now I am wearing a support bra size 85 B, and it seems to exactly fit, for now. Interested in seeing how the cup size changes once the breasts finally "set" in their rightful place.

I have my first post-op scheduled for 17/09/2013, so hopefully I can get rid of the old gunky steri-strips and the overall look will be better.

So, just back from my first post-op and I am so happy! I got rid of all the tape and the dirty steri-strips. The stitches will apparently "fall out" on their own with time, so there's no need to touch them.

I was a bit scared (you know, it actually hurts a bit!) when doc pulled the tapes off, but all the discomfort went away when I saw my nipples. They actually look like nipples now! I'm really impressed. I know that there's still asymmetry between the two breasts but I agreed to it already before that no perfect harmony can always be achieved, and the two breasts were rather different to begin with. Of course, I would like to have it even out a bit more, but we shall see.

I have no nipple sensitivity left whatsoever, but my PS said that you never know, it may even return after a year. I didn't have much sensitivity before, but I'm hoping I'll be at least able to feel hot and cold. Not that I'll go stick my nipples in ice, he hee. Anyone who has similar experience/loss of sensitivity in the nipple - your comments are more than welcome!

Adding two photos - front without the ugly steri-strips and stickytape, and one closeup on the breast for the incisions. Seems like it has been healing real well?

New appointment set in three months, so now it's a waiting game. PS said they're still very swollen so I can expect them to drop to more natural shape. I hope it doesn't mean they drop into droopiness again. Got a scar cream that I need to apply now twice a day, so it's time to start treating them cuts properly.

Also, a minor update with sleeping - I can _almost_ sleep on my left side now, right is still too sore. Can't wait until I can properly do it, sleeping on my back is killing me :p

.. And it is a bit rough. I have a desk job, but sitting 8 hours in a rather upright position where you can't adjust your clothing according to "tingling sensations going around in your chest area" is tough. Obviously, don't want everyone to know what was done so I've kept it very quiet. Somehow sitting at home is so much safer and less painful.

Not to mention I managed to bang my wrist against the edge of the table at work (the IV drip hand). I have bulgy and very painful areas around the veins, I had two long brown-ish bruises running along the vein like 4-5 inches on my arm, they've disappeared. But the pain stayed. The PS said during the check-up that it'll get better, but right now, honestly the arm/wrist hurts more than the boobs, hah! I guess keeping ice on it helps, as I do not seem to have any other allergic/bad kind of a reaction to anything that was done. Just banged-up veins that I've never experienced before (and oh boy I've had plenty of IV drips in my life).

The scars (especially at the centre of the anchor cut under the breast seem a bit redder than normal - I guess that's the workday strain? I"m hoping to recover enough for Monday, so I could get through the full work week.

/feeling a bit exhausted and under the weather