25 Years Old, Small Slightly Tuberous Breasts, Breat Lift No Implants on 12/11- Annapolis, MD

So, after years and years of wanting one, I finally had my breast lift done on 12/11, 9 days ago. So far the experience for someone who has never had surgery before has been an interesting one. The first week of recovery had it's ups and downs. My mental state was pretty low because I am not used to being in constant discomfort. However, I was off pain medicine by day 3 (although briefly considered going back on day 5), and back at work by day 6.

Currently, I'm on day 9 and I'm feeling pretty good. My breasts (the right one in particular) are still a bit swollen and sore and the incision lines are very tender, but I am able to move around without too much difficulty. I am finally able to sleep not on an inclined, so my back (which had been hurting terribly) is finally starting to feel better. The PS took the tape off at my 1-week post op appt and the incision lines, which were initially blood red, look like they're healing very nicely.

Emotionally, I have had my ups and downs. Seeing after pictures of breast lifts on other people are one thing, but seeing the results on your own body is quite another. I do have to admit I got emotional the first time I saw what I call my "Frankenboobs." I logically know that they will look much much better in just a few weeks time, but it's hard not to feel slightly depressed about it.

What i'm most concerned about now is the shape. My left breast has dropped but I still feel like it is cone-shaped. I am hoping as it continues to drop this will lessen. My right breast still has almost no lower pole and the underneath of the breast is wrinkly, so we will see how that goes. My breasts were much higher when they were taped so I'm a little worried about the different in sag now that the tape is off. I also wish my PS had made my areolas slightly smaller (he used a 42 mm cookie cutter, but I feel like that is slightly too large for my breasts). My areolas pre-surgery were probably about 3-4 inches in diameter, though, so I'm not sure they could go much smaller without some puckering/pleating effect on the skin.

Unfortunately I have no "before" pictures, but they looked like typical mild tuberous breasts with very large areolas and no lower poles whatsoever.

All in all, I absolutely hated my pre-BL breasts so I am glad I did it. It's nice to have breasts that are a normal shape. Now it is just a waiting game to see what the final results will be.

I am now 14 days post BL and I am feeling much better than I was at 7 days PO. My right breast is still more swollen than the left, but it seems to have gone down a bit. The pain is much left - still sore but not nearly as much. However, the entire skin of both breasts are incredibly sensitive, so there's an added level of discomfort that wasn't there before.

I have now taken to wearing a bra during the day but sleeping without one (which my PS says is fine). My breasts are too small to move around a lot more without a bra, and it feels very good having pressure off the bottom incisions, which any bra cause because I have a fairly wide rib cage for the size of my breasts.

I am VERY happy with how the incisions are healing. They looks bloody and raw at week 1, and now they look more like scabs. I actually purchased some steri-strips to put just around the vertical and anchor incisions since I heard they are good for wound support and I am going braless sometimes.

Things I am still not as happy with: My right areola doesn't contract easily and it is definitely bigger than the left. My areolas are still puffy, particularly the bottoms, which protrude outward from the breast. The lower pole has not dropped as much as I want, so they still look cone-shaped to me - this could either be part of the healing process or just what they will look like (even if they stay like that it is still 100% an improvement from where they were, but I hope they round out as time goes on).

So, we will see! Overall I am really enjoying the result and am VERY happy with how I am healing, and hopefully my breast shape will continue to soften and improve with time.

I'm about 25 days post op now and I can really feel the difference in terms of comfort level from week 2 to week 3. Week two I could move around well but I was very sore and very "aware" of my breasts at all times. At week three, while I still have some sore moments, when I'm sitting down or lying still, or even walking gently, I'm not aware of my breasts at all (which is a good thing!). I am also able to wear a more normal bra now as opposed to a sport or soft one; it has foam cups but no underwire so it doesn't irritate the inframammory scars.

Healing wise, things are progressing well I think. I saw my PS at Week 3 for a follow up and he said things look good. He said the incisions are healed and I should now start moisturizing and scar massage. I have to say I'm not a huge fan of the scar massage because it is uncomfortable and it makes the incisions very red afterwards. I am moisturizing with coconut oil and using biocorneum, which is a silicone gel that the PS office gave me for free. After the biocorneum dries, I am taping with 3M micropore paper tape. The incisions are actually starting to look worse now that the scabs have fallen off (very red), but I've ready that's part of the healing process so I'm not too concerned. The incisions are also very tight an lumpy (especially the ones underneath the breast) - so I'm hoping that smooths out.

As for the results, I'm still where I was - I like my breasts much better, but I can't say I love them. I really wish my areolas were smaller, but at this point I'm not willing to have another surgery to correct it (maybe after I have kids if they stretch out a lot). Honestly I feel like my PS didn't really take my wishes into consideration in this - he said he makes basically all areolas 42 mm, but it seems weird to have them be the same for extremely large and small breasts.

I also don't love the shape of the areola on my right breast, it's a bit asymmetrical. What I have also come to realize about myself is I really like the look of breasts that are...more wide and flat, whereas mine are very projected and somewhat conical. I am sure that is just my anatomy and many people have told me they look great, but it's still hard for me to see them and think they look 'great', especially since being conical is one of the things about them in the first place. That being said - I HATED them the way they were before, so going from HATE to being okay with them is still a huge improvement in my book. I am also aware that they aren't nearly done healing yet and the shape will probably change. I am most hoping that the skin underneath of the right breast loosens up - it is much tighter and makes the areola/nipple project out funny (at least, to me).

Even more sensation has returned to the right nipple, but not nearly as much as the left (which, as far as I can tell has returned to normal). I can sense touch but not temperature. I'm really hoping that comes back eventually. There are areas of my breasts and areaolas that are numb as well, but sensation is gradually returning.

So all in all, I have good days and bad days. I did go shopping the other day and being able to try on clothes without a bra and have my breasts look normally shaped was really awesome! That definitely made me feel good.

I think Dr. Buhrer did a very good job but I think if I was going to have another procedure I would go to a surgeon who didn't seem so rushed every time I met with him. All 3 of my post op appts have been less than 5 minutes and I never really feel like I have time to answer questions or express my thoughts. But, as my mother always says, it is what it is! I'm just glad I didn't have any complications.