Mom of 3 grown children, 52 years old and ready for my new look!

I really wanted to post a follow up of my experience at 18 month post op!
Time has truly flown by and t this point I feel pretty much adjusted to my implants.
There are many things that have changed about my breast and how I function with them so I thought I would share so that those who are researching their options can read about my experience and I hope I will help you to be more informed as you make your decisions!
To begin with I would definitely do this again! I love the aesthetic look of m breast and I can honestly say that I feel more comfortable in my body than I did prior to the surgery!
I love how my clothes fit and I love how my breast fit on my body. I would definitely not have wished to go an larger.
I feel they are sexy and my husband loves them!
I am comfortable sleeping with them and they move on my chest as real breast would. They’re also soft and squishy as a real breast! I compared the feeling of them to my 30 year old daughters breast and they were very similar!
There are a few not so positive things about them to me as well.
At 18 months I’m still lacking sensation on my nipples although by are reactive. I am also numb a good inch on either side of my incision. Sometimes I get a small pain in the upper part of the breast that just goes away on its own.
I cannot bend over without a bra on! I cannot really describe the sensation but I am just not comfortable bending over without support. I’m also most comfortable with a bra on and I sleep in one every night. I can go braless for about 8 hours and then I am just not comfortable anymore.
I am pleased with my scars and I did no real scar therapy. I wore surgical tape on my incision for 3 months and after that I just use bio oil on them morning and night. The scars are completely flat. They’re mostly a white line now but the line gets red when I get hot or take a hot shower.
I resumed all physical activity at 6 weeks however I did give up directly working on my chest so no push ups, chest press or flies. Dr said it could displace the implant from the pocket.
I haven’t had my mammogram yet because I was scared it would hurt but I do plan on doing that soon!
If I have left out any information that you would find helpful please just let me know!
If you are in the Atlanta area I would still highly recommend Dr McNeel! I’m very happy with my results!

Still so happy with my decision to have BL/ BA!
In the early days of recovery, I couldn’t imagine that a day would go by that I wouldn’t be focused on taking care of my boobies! But I am happy to say that at this point it’s no longer taking my attention!
I went for a follow up with Dr McNeel t 13 weeks. He was pleased with my results and told me no more tape and nothing else was required for scar therapy! How simple is that!!
My scars are in the pink phase but I would not describe them as angry as others have.
The incisions around my nipples are almost completely invisible however they are the most tender. They still feel bruised but Dr McNeel says healing takes a year so I’m not worried!
I’m still a bit numb below the nipple and he said that the nerves that were cut regenerate sooooo slow! So I’ll worry about that later! However my left nipple is still pretty numb as well but it is reactive, he said if I don’t regain sensation in the next 8 weeks I probably won’t. That’s a scary thought! It’s a risk I took and I would still says it was worth it!
Back to normal at the gym! I’m close to lifting the weight I was before surgery! It feel really weird when my pectoral muscles contract and Dr McNeel said that is normal and the strange feeling is not wrong, he said I will get used to it! But no direct chest exercises such as push ups, flys or presses anymore. I do miss that but I knew beforehand I would be required to give it up.
Got measured at Victoria Secret and I’m a 32D. Dr McNeel thought I looked like a C cup which is what I requested and He nailed it! VS runs small so I expected to be a D cup there.
If you’re in the Atlanta area and researching plastic surgeons, don’t make a decision until you see Dr McNeel! He is a super talented surgeon with an artistic eye! He listened to what I wanted and made the best decisions for me! I would trust him again and highly recommend him to anyone!

Just a quick update on how my recovery at 10 weeks has been
There are so many aspects of recovery with a bl / ba don’t you think?
I feel like I am finally feeling stronger and having more endurance at the gym! Now for the most part if I am working lower body I do not feel uncomfortable, but anything upper body I am still being cautious! Slowly increasing weight and having more mobility. Do not directly work my chest in any way and when I do work it indirectly (especially working back) it feels really weird! I’m feeling less sore after upper body workouts now. Fully back to doing high impact training with jumps etc and enjoying it!
Still taping my incisions every 5 days I change it for 2 more weeks. Putting vaseline on incisions and letting it sit for 30 minute to remove excess adhesive left on my skin. Then I rub alcohol on them to try and get the remainder of adhesive off. It works ok. If I don’t it will build up and then pull my skin next time I remove the tapes.
Still in sports bras 24/7 cause doctor says I should do this permanently to avoid future sagging
Finally sleeping more comfortably on my side but not all night. Even the weight of the implant is uncomfortable on the cleavage inside of my boobs when laying on my side.
Sexually I would say that my implants so far are a hindrance unfortunately! From the nipple down I am still pretty numb. One nipple has sensation the other doesn’t. Kind of a bummer in this department! I always thought if I looked better then sex would be better but honestly that’s not the case so far. Having feeling is pretty important when you’re having sex! So hopefully this area will improve! Hubby likes them so it’s not been a problem for him!!
Going for a check up in 2 weeks so I will update then!