7 Days and Counting to Downsize Implants from 34G to 34C!

Once upon a time I was in a relationship with a man who wanted me to have bigger boobs. I thought he was my lobster so went for it. From 34D/DD to 34G, using textured Mentor implants (375HPs). Flash forward not even 3 months post-surgery and, well, turned out no he wasn't.

PSA: Never ever change your body for anyone other than yourself!!!

So - 8.5 yrs later and I am so very pumped to be downsizing! It literally came from watching an episode of Skin Decision where they were talking about taking implants out, and nurse Jamie mentioned having done that but then deciding to put small implants back in for a little oomph.

What else has changed? Well, you'll see in early photos that I've put on some weight. And at almost 56, I'm being told that peri-menopause can result in bigger boobs also. Bottom line, they're just too darn big. I'm a 4 on the bottom and 12+ on top. I'd like to be able to wear dresses, close jackets, and buy bikini tops that don't look like they're designed to be worn next to a spinning pole.

The collage:
* top left is 2 weeks post implants in Jan 2016
* top right is from May 2024. Note the disastrous spray tan that looks like I have been rolling around in gritty dirt - lol! Both breasts are splayed to the sides and the right one has dropped a bit.
* bottom left - wish pic that made my surgeon (v kindly) laugh and point out that it is a picture of a very young woman who has not had kids or (started to) go through menopause
* bottom right - wish pic that is probably more realistic

I'm getting married in October and really wanted to get this done in time to heal for that. I am no longer living in Denver, so just going back to Dr. Vath wasn't a no-brainer. It would have involved flying there and back, staying in hotels, just... but I was 100% ready to do it if I couldn't find a surgeon locally that I liked.

I scoured reviews here (not many for downsizing implants!) and galleries on plastic surgery practice websites. It is frankly surprising when the before/after pictures are actually really unattractive! I paid for 3 consults - one in SC, one to Dr. Vath (my prev surgeon), and one to Dr. Goldman (local surgeon). There was a 4th Dr in CA that wanted something like $400 and wouldn't be able to do a consult for 4 months and then was booking out surgeries in 2025. Took a pass on that one.

All 3 docs had different treatment plans, which I found v interesting. One said he would take the old implants out from under the muscle and put new ones in sub-glandular. Wouldn't do anything about the pocket. Dr. Vath had my old records and now has almost another decade of experience. He said would use the same pocket and cauterize/stitch to tighten it up. Dr. Goldman also said would use the same pocket and tighten it up, as well as do lipo from the "bra fat" area to auto-graft. Is keeping the option of mesh in his back pocket if thinks needed once he gets going.

If you're in Denver, I cannot recommend Dr. Vath more highly. But I am in Ohio, and Dr. Goldman earned my trust and confidence, so that's where I will be in a week. Stay tuned!

So things have definitely changed in the last eight years and I am grateful to this platform that I saw what suturing looks like for a breast reductions. Because otherwise I would’ve been absolutely terrified at what I look like right now. I’m not squeamish, but those are some pretty serious Franken boobies right now - lol! But from what I’ve seen on this platform, all of that puckering smooths out to be almost nothing in terms of a scar line. And since I had so much trouble with scars the first time, I am excited to see how this turns out.

So the pictures are pretty self-explanatory - I shared yes please and no thank you pictures with Dr. G. He was super sweet. Another thing that’s new is that apparently doing some Lipo around the rib cage to get extra breast tissue from under the arms, etc. is part of the drill. Honest to goodness what has hurt the most is the lipo’d area. It is super super swollen. I don’t know why about the sinner, but the compression bra that they have me in has a tight band at the bottom which was super ouchy until I figured out that I could just open that part of the Velcro to release the one line pressure while still keeping plenty of compression.

So – backing up to what the day was like. Was scheduled to arrive at 11 AM and go back to surgery at 1 PM. You’re not allowed to have anyone with you in preop so I brought my iPad and I’m really glad I did because I ended up waiting until about 1:45 before going back. The first nurse got me set up with an IV and dressed and cozy and pictures taken in no time at all. Dr. G came back for marking, and I’ll tell you what, it takes skill to not make a woman feel terrible about her body while being marked up every which way, indicating size and fat and… But Dr. G was super sweet about it, and I did not feel embarrassed at all.

At 1:45 walked to the operating theater where there were before lovely ladies who made me feel very comfortable. Laid down on the table and the Anesthetist said hey I’m gonna give you something to relax you, and 2 seconds later I woke up in recovery.

Dr. G put in 180 mod plus saline implants filled to 210. No mesh necessary, did remove additional tissue from each breast, did the lift and lipo’d around my rib cage. Regards saline versus silicone. You won’t find much information about saline implants out there, but Dr. G recommended it because 1) I have plenty of breast tissue of my own to cover, 2) because saline can sometimes keep more of that high profile effect, and 3) if it ruptures, it’s immediately evident and harmless. I do need to follow up and ask though because the implants show an expiration date of 2028…

Woke up pretty ouchy and couldn’t wait to get home to where I could take something. Slept a couple hours and then was up doing my walking at 10:15p, 11:15p and 12:30midnight. We have a treadmill at home and I learned just how much good exercise shoes actually cushion bounce. I was walking way too much and the incisions were definitely oozing. Decided to take it easier. Both Dr. G and one of his nurses called me to follow up.

I did not think that I would go through all of the strong pain medication, but I am at just under 48 hours and I’ve used it all up. But genuinely it’s been for the lipo area more than the actual boobs. I have some leftover pain meds from another issue, so I’ll be fine.

So that’s it for day two. I’m tired, I’m sore but I’m not in scary pain and because I saw photos on here I’m not freaked out by what the boobs look like. It says you can take a shower at 48 hours, but I think I want my boobs to stop oozing before I do that, so I’ll hang loose a bit longer. Actually might just call and ask for advice on that piece -

Stay tuned!

The pictures are pretty self-explanatory. When I look at the progression, I understand why I was so ouchy that first week -

* the incision lines underneath are still really really ropy, but looking at how they’ve smoothed and flattened on the lollipop part. I am keeping the faith.

* I looked back at 2016 and sure enough right around this time is when Mondor’s Chords showed up so I know not to be scared by them. A bit ouchy if I stretch.

* the left breast is still a bit more red and swollen than the right and Dr. G had me take a second round of antibiotics just to be safe. Literally this morning the left side has softened. It’s funny because it happens in big chunks. Stiff, stiff, stiff and then you wake up one morning and it’s softer -

* Reinforcing the advice to not look at your size for awhile… I was a D/DD before I had implants, and have smaller implants in now so I don’t think I’ll make it down to a C as requested, but if you read the sentence I just wrote it was probably an unrealistic ask in the first place - lol! DD will still be a huge downsize from G/H (DDDD/DDDDD).

* I have been surprised by how much it has hurt this time around, particularly if I don’t wear a supportive bra, even while sleeping. Very glad I had some leftover pain rx in the house. Curious how long it’ll take to be comfortable without one, even if just for sleeping.

* very grateful for the incredible communication and follow up from Dr. G and his staff. Nurse Gina regularly reaches out via text and email and has been super supportive.