From 34J to 34D - Finally Got my Dream Breasts!

I had struggled with large breasts since eight grade. Years of back pain, neck pain, and just overall unhappiness and lack of self confidence finally pushed me to the edge at the age of 33. I had lost 90 pounds and my breasts went from a 38I to a 34J. I had trouble with swimsuits and clothes in general. I decided to go for it June 9th 2017. I carefully selected my surgeon after researching doctors that had the specific aesthetic I was looking for. My goal: beautiful, perky breasts that looked plump, soft and proportionate.
I found Dr. John Connors here in RealSelf. I made the first appointment January 2017. His staff photographed me, and took care of getting me approved for insurance. At the consult I was very concerned about losing sensation in my nipples. I didn't want my nipples disconnected. He and his staff assured me they had handled more severe cases (but yeah mine was pretty bad).
Surgery Day:
I went in the morning, my mom took me to the hospital. It was outpatient surgery. I was given Lyrica to take that morning, and once at the hospital I was put under general anesthesia. I was told Dr. Connors was a perfectionist, and I was under a total of four hours. I had severe sagging, and needed a major lift. Right before I went into surgery, Dr. Connors marked me up, and asked me what size I wanted to be. EEK! I wanted to make sure I still had some curves, but I also needed relief. So I went for a D cup. I am 5'2 and ~175 lbs, a size 12. Glad I did that because my new breasts fit me perfectly.
After Surgery:
I was throwing up so much, and I had a hard time with the anesthesia. This is not unusual for me. I remember getting home and just sleeping and sleeping. I propped myself up on pillows, two behind me, two under my arms and a roll under my knees. Dr. Connors asked me to stay hydrated with gatorade. So I drank a ton of that to keep replenished. My new breasts were covered in a plastic film and gauze, and secured in a surgical bra. Pro Tip: wear a shirt that opens in front, you won't be able to raise you arms. I had two drains in each armpit. These were removed three days after surgery. My mom emptied my drains and was careful not to do anything that could contaminate them or put me at risk of infection. We had to write down the drainage amounts.
When the nurses removed my drains, they did both at once (bless them!) and had me take a deep breath in - and when I exhaled they pulled them out. It felt like snakes slithering out from under my skin but it only lasted a few seconds. Not painful, just WEIRD.
Healing: I am a slow healer, like super slow. But I am also a good healer.
I had surgery the same day as a friend of mine and she healed twice as fast. See the attached photos and the dates.
Complications: I had a few blood blisters under my right breast that I kept a very close eye on. The T-Junctions in the anchor incision are the most prone to wound breakdown. The T junction at the bottom of my R wasn't healing very quickly, and I recall having to keep it covered with XEROFORM Petrolatum bandages for a few weeks after surgery. These were a Lifesaver and I found them on Amazon. I got the 1x8 inch and they fit perfectly underneath the breast. They kept the tissues lubricated. I also used a little bit of aquaphor but my incisions got angry so I preferred the sterile XEROFORM gauze instead. As you can see in the pics that R side T junction healed beautifully. High protein diet, lots of fluids, and zinc tablets helped immensely too.
A couple weeks post op I noticed a bruise developing in my left breast. My surgeon concluded this was a small hematoma (a collection of blood - like a blood tumor). He didn't feel that it was in need of draining, and advised it would resolve on its own. You will see in the pics it got ugly before it got better. The left areola appears a tiny bit sunken now from where that hematoma was, but my surgeon says when I go for my tummy tuck they can put a little fat in there to fluff it up - its seriously not noticeable at all, just to me because I am a perfectionist.
Overall: I am SO SO SO GLAD I DID THIS. Dr. Connors is the best. He was kind, patient, and his staff was amazing in particular his PA Maggie. I was emailing her pictures and making sure I was Ok.
I was 33 when I had this and I wish I would've had it sooner. I am almost 10 months out from surgery now, and I wanted to wait until I could share the whole experience. I am so happy with my breasts now. I went from a size Large in tops to a Medium. I sleep better, my breasts don't sink into my armpits, and my quality of life is just better. If you are debating this, pick a reputable surgeon, follow their post op advice, take good care of yourself, and you'll be so happy you did this.
PS: I HAVE FULL SENSATION IN BOTH NIPPLES. THEY FEEL AMAZING, I CAN SLEEP ON MY STOMACH AND WEAR UNDERWIRE BRAS (OR EVEN NO BRA!) MY NIPS APPEAR INVERTED IN SOME PICS THATS BC OF THE SWELLING - THAT WENT AWAY.