32 Years Old, Implant Removal and Fat Transfer to the Breast - Charlotte, NC

I have had saline breast implants for 12 years, and had been thinking about removing them for the last few years. They slid to the sides when lying down and honestly I was never 100% satisfied with their appearance. I knew I would have to get them replaced at some point, and while researching explantation I discovered Fat transfer to the breast at the same time. I had a flat chest prior to my implants and I was nervous about going back to having no breasts. After about a year of research I decided to go with Dr. Bednar in Charlotte due to many real self reviews and his years of experience with this procedure. I am very thin and wasn't too excited about the liposuctions portion of the fat transfer procedure as I was extremely nervous I would get lumps and bumps and it would ruin the body I love. BUT, I decided to go for it, trusting the reviews I had read on Dr. Bednar and his many happy patients (including some thin women such as myself).

After surgery i woke up in tears (the affect of the anesthesia I'm sure). I returned to the airnbn condo we had rented in Ballyntine ($80 a night for a beautiful condo-20 minutes away from Dr. Office). Luckily my fiancee is in his last semester of nursing school and was the best caretaker in the world. Unfortuntey once the anesthesia began to wear off I was in miserable awful pain. =( Even with the vicodin I couldn't believe how badly my legs (thighs) were hurting. Luckily after several hours they started to improve a bit. I made sure to get up and shuffle around every couple of hours, this seemed to help. Once that rough bit had passed the pain meds really helped and so did moving around every so often (even throughout the night I took pain meds every 3 hours or so and walked a bit). I think must have a higher tolerance to the pain meds than some and really had to take more. Dr Bednar called to check in on me which was very nice. I had JP drains in place as well since I also had my implants removed at the same time so I was monitoring the drainage from those as well. I had hardy any drainage,

I woke up very sore and stiff, but maintained taking the pain medication 2 per every 3 hours and that seemed to help. My drains were full and not draining properly into the suction portion, but after my fiancee helping me to 'milk" them vigorously (this took several attempts) they began to drain correctly. I drank lots of healthy homemade smoothies (we brought our vitamix), healthy soups from the nearby health food store, and lots of liquids. I had my follow up appointment with Dr. Bednar today to remove the ace bandage. I asked him for more pain meds as well because at the rate I was going I would be out by the next 2 days and I am no good at pain. =( He gave me another prescription thankfully. Here comes the bad part; he removed the ace bandage and my chest looked completely deformed. My breasts didn't resemble breasts at all, just like smashed flat lumpy skin that had been in a tight sock for too long. I did my best to contain my tears but clearly I was in shock. I kept asking Dr. Bednar "what is going on" and is this going to improve and no matter what question I asked he responded with "it will just take time". Up to this point I had felt amazing about this surgery, but at this moment I felt extremely let down. I don't think he had prepared me enough in the expectations department to let me know that I may end up looking like pancake cookie dough. I had no idea this would/could happen at first. Also, when I expressed my concern I felt as if he was blowing me off by not answering me directly and instead just repeating 'it will get better with time'. I left that appointment feeling lower than I ever have. I also think that reading the real self message boards had given me unrealistic expectations of what the first few days after surgery would be like. So many women post pics on days 1 and 2 and look fabulous, and here I was looking deformed. I still have yet to find one picture on realfself that resembles what I looked like. Since I was feeling so low and so unheard by Dr. Bednar that day I called him and luckily he picked up (he is always good about that) and he talked me off the ledge, explaining in a bit more detail (thank goodness) the healing process and that I have nothing to worry about etc, that in fact he was very pleased with my results thus far and he thinks I will have a good result. Sylvia, one of the office nurses, also called me later that day to re-assure me because I think she saw how horrified I was in his office earlier that day. So thank you Sylvia, you are an angel.