39yo, 5’7”, 135#, 450 cc hp, bwd ~13

Dr Richards is clearly highly experienced and extremely talented. The CSA practice is, by far, the most efficiently run office I've ever been to. Because they are more efficient than a train station, scheduling was easy and I never had to wait long to see my provider (nurse, coordinator or Dr Richards, depending on the appointment). Because he is so experienced he has every aspect down to a science. My results are beautiful and I'm very pleased. I know i made the right choice in my decision to go with Dr. Richards. This group is not going to provide much guidance on sizing or personalized approach to how you should expect your own healing process to go relative to the mean. They really stick to the tried and true standards and err on the side of caution so I'm glad I did my homework regarding how size and profile would likely look on my frame and listened to my body through the recovery phase. After surgery I was given personal cell phone numbers should I need to reach out but I didn't need them (plus i am the type that doesn't like to be a bother). I think if i had been having trouble or if there were concerns i would have been more willing to connect but i just really felt like i should wait and see before I became a squeaky wheel. Luckily I progressed well and although i did not follow post op instructions to the letter, everything worked out well.
Dr Richards is kind and knowledgeable; I chose him for 2 reasons: firstly because his work is beautiful and, after all, the objective was aesthetic, and secondly because he took my concerns of having anesthesia allergy seriously and actually spoke intelligently on the subject rather than dismissively as some other surgeons I met had. He is however, exceedingly busy and sees many many patients walk through his doors. Do not expect him to know you by name if you catch his eye in the office hallway...which, let's face it, is not what he's there for. He's there to give you beautiful results, which he will. For what it's worth here is my take on the office staff: Receptionist (sorry i cant recall this beautiful woman's name): exceptional. Organized, friendly, calm, collected and professional. She knows her stuff. Joanne, the coordinator: excellent. A wonderful and friendly face that really sells the place. She is also 100% on top of her game and I was hoping to see her after the second consult for some form of continuity but I did not. She is a good reader of people and saw through my shyness to know enough to bring in the anesthesiologist to speak with me and calm my fears. Nurse: adequate, not as on top of things but did her job well. not able or not confident to deviate from the standard form responses to my questions at follow-ups. Ben (OR): really calmed me down before and after surgery. He was the only person other than my support person (sister) that me feel reassured and comfortable on the day of surgery. I felt I could trust him and therefore I followed his post op instructions to a T. OR staff: all seemed very happy in their work, came across like it was almost assembly line routine which, to me, was comforting. no one seemed unsure. 
All in all, 5 stars for a boob job well done.

I will add a proper update soon but suffice to say life with boobs beats life without. I love them, I wouldn’t say I feel more confident but I do feel the absence of the insecurity that was a constant in my post pubescent years. 450 hp unders were the perfect size for my 135 lb frame and brought me to a 34D once everything settled. They aren’t too big and not too small, just right and very natural looking now. Very pleased overall!

Well I wanted to be mostly healed by my birthday and in general I am. My right is dropping faster than my left but they are softening and beginning to look more like they should. My range of motion is greatly improved thank goodness and I’m back to full steam (low impact) cardio at the gym. I haven’t technically been cleared but I’m being careful and only doing what I can tolerate and no high impact. Today it’s 50 degrees outside and I’m dying for a run but I am still cautious about jostling too much. I’m sticking with the stepmill and spin with a little elliptical as well. Gah it’s boring but hey, at least I’m keeping the holiday baking weight at bay.
I do have mondors cords on both sides and a combo of hypersensitivity and numbness on my right. I’m being as patient as I can while I wait for these things to resolve but they aren’t that bad to be honest.
I’m curious if I’m the only one who suddenly feels like I don’t know how to dress? Everything I used to wear now seems too boobalicious. I wonder if I’ll get used to that in time? The total contrast to that is that not a single person has noticed the change. Not in the gym, not at work, not even my outspoken mother in law. I’m glad for that, I wanted to have roughly the same silhouette as I did pre ba with padded bras but I kinda thought 450 hp would equate to a slightly large chest than I ended up with. Although I know I shouldn’t measure yet since things are still progressing, who among us actually waits?? I measured and I’m a 34b which blows my mind because to me they seem huge but I guess that’s just by comparison. Honestly I have no experience with natural or “typical” boobs so oh well.
I am really loving life after padding. It’s truly fantastic and exactly the 39th birthday present I had hoped to give myself.
One month post op checkup on Tuesday, will post a status update then!