Best Thing I've Ever Done For Myself

Ok, so I took FOREVER to write this review because I had so many lingering feelings and questions post-op that I wanted to be sure that I had really settled into my new body before I put it on paper.
About me: female, 29 at time of surgery, no kids, usually wore a 34 A bra.
After doing a ton of research on RealSelf and elsewhere, Dr. Rahban was clearly the only choice for the natural-looking style of breasts I was hoping for. I made a somewhat spur of the moment decision to book a consultation in April, and all of a sudden I was scheduled for surgery in July.
Dr. Rahban's approach to breast size was what sold me. He understands that every body is different, and that most people aren't educated on what bra sizes really are - a D on one person might look like a totally different size on someone else. I definitely wasn't. I came in believing I wanted a C cup. Dr. Rahban's approach means there are no guarantees with the size you're going to come out with, but you are guaranteed to love it.
I had to look through his website and choose breasts that I thought were too big (for myself), too small, and just right. Turns out I was choosing a lot of breasts as "too big" that were actually the same size as the ones I selected as just right, but they were spaced further apart. I had to re-think how I saw breast size, which was an interesting exercise.
The surgery went well, and I went home to recover. It wasn't too painful - I did not take nearly as many of the hard core painkillers as I thought I would have to, mostly just the first few days and at night to sleep. Sleeping sucked. I'm a belly / side sleeper and TBD sleeping sucked for a long time. I bought this big upright support sleeping pillow system on Amazon prior to the surgery and it was a lifesaver. Also thank goodness for my partner being there and helping me keep track of my meds and just being the best. I can't imagine handling it on my own.
I had heard of people returning to work a few days later - I am so glad I didn't have to. I believe I got my surgery on a Wednesday, and I needed a least a full week before I would have been capable of doing anything. Luckily, we were working from home at this point, so I was able to take it really easy for a long time.
The boobs were absolutely giant at first, which Dr. Rahban had told me would happen. Slowly but surely, the swelling went down and they began to look like the natural breasts I had hoped for. I think it took until the 5-6 month mark to settle most of the way.
I had weird nipple pains well into 6 months. It sucked, but buying anti-chafing nipple pads and keeping them moisturized helped. I wish I had figured that out earlier.
I measured myself 6 weeks out, when I was allowed to buy bras, and every measurement site told me I was a 34C. I ordered a zillion bras in the mail, and then cried super hard because 1. I was used to buying pushup bras and now they made me look like a 90's Pam Anderson and 2. C's were too small. I adjusted my approach, bought NO pushups, in size 34D, and suddenly I looked in the mirror and it was like everything I had ever pictured for myself. A total dream come true and indescribable confidence booster.
My last lingering concern was my scars. I was pretty surprised by their size because TBD I couldn't find examples of patients with scars on his site. I had been very diligent about scar cream and taping the whole way through recovery. He assured me at the final post op appointment that in a year they would be almost totally gone. I was a little skeptical, but because I was so so happy with the overall outcome I was like oh well, if I can't wear a bathing suit that shows underboob, no big loss. Since then (I'm now 10 months post-op) they have faded significantly more, and I'm optimistic that they will indeed fade almost entirely.
My only negative feedback about their office was that wait times were insanely long - like always an hour, 3 hours once. And no one ever seemed super apologetic about it. I figured, at the beginning, COVID was a huge factor, but way down the road for my 6th month appointment I was the first patient of the day and I still was seen an hour past my appointment time. Aside from that, the staff were absolutely lovely and I just really really like Dr. Rahban's no-nonsense but nice approach.
My partner was pretty nervous about me doing this. He liked my small breasts, but just wanted me to be happy so was totally supportive of whatever I decided to do. Let's just say - he was once a butt man, and now he's a boob man.
The funny thing is that since I did this during quarantine, I basically was in a hoodie working from home this entire time. I knew summer would come and I'd have to reevaluate my entire closet. That was an exciting journey in and of itself. I never had a silhouette before and now high waisted skirts that were off limits and suddenly incredibly flattering. Also, I learned that I myself had pretty wide set breasts, which changed the style of clothing and type of bra I was looking for. Now it's here, and I've had opportunities to go out in public, wearing something I could never have pulled off before. All I hear from my friends is how incredible my breasts look, and how natural and real they seem. I got my eyebrows done the other day, and we were talking about breast implants. When she found out mine were fake, she said, "That is the most natural looking boob job I have seen in all my life."