Lift, implant exchange & areola reduction - 300cc under muscle to 400cc

I am starting to get nervous!! I am 10 days out from surgery.

My current implants were placed 14 years ago. They are 300cc and placed under the muscle.

I have breastfed two kids and lost a bit of weight. Because of those reasons my breasts are a little lack lustre to say the least.

I have some animation when I flex my pecs (have since the moment I got them done in 2009), major rippling on the top and sides, a sharp corner that pokes out at times, (Dr Ball thinks the implant is folding) and I feel I could use a lift.

I am definitely nervous about the lift because I really don’t want the scars. But from the reviews I have read and friends that I have talked to everyone has reassured me that it is the right choice. Dr Ball also reccomended reducing the size of my aereolas- so I am ok with that too. My last surgery cut around my nipples so I am used to the smile scars already.

I want to go bigger but not look like a porn star haha. Choosing size was the hardest part. I showed Dr Ball some wish pics and told him my concerns. He reccomended upsizing to 375 or 400cc. I figure why not go for it- so I chose 400. We will confirm that surgery day.

His nurse Jane is absolutely amazing!!! She told me to take two weeks off of work and that they would write me a note. I asked her what I should tell my kids as they are old enough to kind of know what’s going on. She laughed and told me to tell them- they wrecked them so now I’m gonna fix them back up. She is so easy to talk to and answered everyone of my questions.

My last surgery I didn’t take before pictures so this time I am!! I have really enjoyed reading reviews on here so I thought I’d return the favor.

Follow along with me :)

Today was the day!!!

I arrived at the surgical suite at 7:00. The staff were very friendly. After waiting about 45 mins Dr Ball came in and marked me up and asked if I had any last min questions. Then I was off to the OR.

I think my surgery lasted just under two hours. I woke up in the recovery room. I felt pretty good. No major pain just tightness and achy. I rated my pain a 6 out of 10. I couldn’t focus on the clock to tell the time, I wasn’t sick just felt very sleepy and tired. The staff called my mom to come and pick me up.

Around 11:00my mom came and got me. I felt very woozy on my feet getting from the bed to the wheelchair. They told me I could have coffee. So we went and got Tim hortons. I got a coffee and a bowl of chicken noodle soup- then we headed back to the hotel.

I have a little bit of burning on the sides and my nipples but it’s tolerable. Took one tramadol to try and stay on top of pain so it doesn’t get too bad.

I had to take a peak at the new girls. So took my bra and the bandages off. They are definitely odd shaped (to be expected)- riding high and a little coney. Slightly panicked about the incisions as I was and still am worried about the scars from the lift.

The other thing I noticed was the space between my breasts. The skin is raised away from my chest wall and it looks kind of uni-boob ish. Assuming this is normal- just that the skin is so tight. I also feel like my left breast looks a little higher than the right. So hopefully that levels out when they drop and fluff.

I go back to the surgical suite tomorrow morning for a quick check up and dressing change. Then I will be on my way home.

2 full days post op. It’s been kind of rough. I dont remember this much pain and uncertainty with my first BA 14 years ago.

The first night my left breast was definitely higher and seemed more swollen than my right. I called Dr Ball to see if I should be concerned. He asked me to send him pictures. He texted me back that night and told me things looked ok and that he wasn’t too concerned. The next morning he called me to check in again and said he was thinking about what might have happened. He figures maybe a stitch in the inside came undone on the right side and that’s why it is lower. He said if that is the case there is nothing we would do now that we will just give it time and see how they heal.

I went to the surgical suite the day after and the nurse checked me over and changed my bandages before we headed home. I have not been in too much pain and have just been mostly taking Tramadol at night time to help me sleep with Tylenol and Advil in between.

I have not had a bowel movement now for two days and my stomach is so bloated and hard. I also started my period today so I’ve got the triple whammy.

There is so much pressure and swelling. I am concerned about tenting between my breasts and on the bottom (band area)as my skin is pulled away from my sternum. There isn’t that much bruising so that’s a good thing I guess. My only other concern is on my left breast the vertical lift scar is fairly puckered. Dr Ball informed me that it should flatten over time once the implant drops down. He also told me the tenting is just due to swelling right now and the fact that we went bigger by 25% this time as well as tightened up pockets.

It’s hard not to panic. I have searched so many reviews on Real Self and there aren’t too many pictures in these early post op days showing concerns such as I am having. So I want to share my journey.

Here’s hoping things settle down soon. I go back to see Dr Ball at the one week mark.