Tuberous Breasts: Fat Transfer Only (no previous implants)

I knew something was "wrong" with my breasts pretty early on. Plenty of truth-or-dare games gave me an opportunity to compare myself to other developing bodies, and I found myself to be.. different. My areolas were puffy and out of proportion to the rest of my breast tissue. When my nipples got hard, they looked good, but as soon as they softened again, all the tissue protruded in what I perceived to be an unbecoming way. Every single breast I saw, no matter what the overall shape was - saggy, perky, etc - was rounded on the bottom. Every piece of art, even cartoon boobies, you draw them with a little rounded bottom. But I didn't look like that, and it was devastating. It took many years for me to even find what my 'condition' was called - tuberous breasts.
Obviously, I wanted implants.. immediately. Yesterday. When I finally had the money to even begin considering an operation, research led me down the rabbit hole of what techniques need to be performed to make my breast look "normal," including a circumareolar mastopexy - where they cut around the aerola, trim it a bit, and sew it back on. The pictures of this procedure are truly horrific, being the researcher that I am - I watched YouTube videos, reviewed pictures.. seeing women flayed open like that hurt my heart. My breasts would never look normal (I'm sorry if this is insensitive to anyone who has had the procedure, this is just my experience) and I would obviously look augmented. I just wanted "normal" breasts. They didn't have to be huge, I just wanted the shape to be improved. If I didn't want to go the implant route, they could just lift the nipple and be done with it. I also got mad at the beauty industry for 'requiring' me to look a certain way. It's all a sham after all.
This was enough to scare me away for awhile... I made a lot of peace with myself and my body and traveled the world and matured and fell in love and all these wonderful things. But still.. every time I took my shirt off, unless my nipple were hard, I was disappointed in how I looked. Am. I am. My surgery hasn't happened yet.
One more time I went down the worm hole, and this time, I discovered Breast Implant Illness. I joined Nicole's group on Facebook and listened to the stories there for a week or two before my awakening. I kept going back and forth, there just wasn't enough information about alternatives for tubies. I've literally been told, "Implants are the only option." But with my newfound information, that would mean a new surgery every ten years, at least, potential of complications... and now, sickness? Almost 50,000 women saying that would take it back if they could, that it was the worst decision they ever made, that it robbed them of health and wealth and valuable time.
So I became somewhat desperate to find an alternative. I found a FEW cases of women improving their tuberous breasts with a fat transfer augmentation. The lipo appeared to me pretty brutal though, and the results are so hit or miss... I was on the fence... until I found Dr. Bednar. He doesn't specialize in tuberous breasts but he is the King of Fat Transfer, right behind Dr. Coleman who founded the method, and has since retired. Dr. Coleman had a few case studies of correcting tuberous breasts with FT and they are my dream come true. If I can maintain my nipple shape but increase the lower pole and have a more round breast... I will be the happiest girl in the world.
There really are only a few of us out there.. that's why I feel like it's important to share my story.. and I hope I get desirable enough results that women like me can consider an alternative to implants. We shouldn't be forced to put toxic plastic bags into our bodies and just hope for the best. It just doesn't resonate with me. I've studied nutrition obsessively for the past 15 years, implants would be counter to everything I've ever learned.
ANYWAY...................................... my surgery is in 12-13 days depending on how you count (it's after midnight lol).
I have so much more to say

I'm "waking up" in 3-4 hours for an 8am appointment to get prepped for my surgery. I can't sleep, I'm too excited.

Also... Whoa!!! Thanks for all the amazing feedback on my last review, I literally just read all the comments just now for the first time and recognize how important it is to update.

My mom and I flew across the country Tuesday in Comfort Plus with Delta ($0 to upgrade when you call in advance), so we had tons of leg room. It'll really be nice on the way back. We arrived at 11pm and took an Uber 20 minutes to the hotel ($17ish). We're staying in the Homewood Suites because of the location, free shuttle, and kitchenette ($1400 for seven nights-- whoa!! But free breakfast and those other amenities).

Today I had my first (of three) 90 minute lymphatic drainage massages with Dorothea at Integrative Massage. She was absolutely fabulous and I felt great going the extra mile to make sure I get optimal results. I also ordered a phase two compression garment from her which other patients of Dr. Bednar have raved about being insanely comfortable. They didn't have my size in stock so I was able to choose the color and whether I wanted mid or full length (difference of ~$16). I went with black in full length because it'll be more versatile with tunic dresses etc. I've also heard the mid-calf one can be uncomfortable with the separation of swelling.

We went straight to Dr. Bednar's office from there.. my anxiety was through the roof. It all kind of hit me at once, and it was exhilarating but crushing, it was hard to breathe. I had already signed all my consent forms etc so the paperwork part was very straight forward. We went into the back and they had me strip into a gown and "photo panties." Sou gave us the run down of what to expect, took my blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and chatted a bit while we waited for Dr. Bednar to drop by when he had a free moment.

When he walked into the room and shook my hand, I was overwhelmed with a sense of peace. All the anxiety dissipated, I'm not even kidding. He is such a gentle soul. He did some markings on my left breast and discussed where he would harvest fat and what he hoped to achieve. Cautious optimism is the name of the game. He can't guarantee any type of outcome but he has a vision and I literally started tearing up (kept it to myself haha) when he was talking about releasing the bands of constricted tissue under my breasts. The realization that I'm doing this, finally, and doing it right, no implants, in the best possible hands in the whole country (my opinion).. I'm so glad I learned about FT. That being said, he still said it might take two procedures, we just have to wait and see. He also said it will take 10-14 days for them to settle and with tuberous breasts it can take 3-6 MONTHS for gravity to do its thing and stretch that lower pole, so he emphasized patience.

When we took before and after photos, I had a chance to touch implants for the first time... how fascinating! I actually got mad at them and then felt so empowered I don't have to go that route. Mentally I would never get over having plastic in my body like that, I KNOW I would be one of the ones to get BII. I can't even handle cheap earrings. Anyway!

I left with the weight completely off my shoulders and pure unadulterated excitement for what comes next.

Then my mom and I went to fill my Narco prescription at Walgreens via the shuttle ($6 with my insurance) and to Harris Teeter across the street to stock up on groceries ($108). We got some protein options, berries, kefir, coconut water, vegetables, soup, coffee, eggs, etc. The shuttle picked us up again with all the groceries. Easy as can be!

Got back to the hotel and had some food, practiced making a pillow fort, used my anxious energy to do random things about the room. I can't believe I'm doing to be in the operating room in like five hours. I'm SO EFFING READY!!!! God, bring it onnnn!!! I'm grateful for everything my wonky boobs have taught me but there's nothing left to learn LMAO. I'm 28 and ready for a whole new relationship with that part of my body, and using pure fat.

I'm a little nervous about the catheter, the breathing tube, getting my eyelids taped shut, coming out of anesthesia, etc but I'm not worried about the actual procedure. So much of this is out of my control so I just have to trust that I'll be taken care of and turn the rest over.

Also I've been clean and sober since Oct 16, 2014 so if I take meds it will be the first time in 3.5 years.. so.. I'm doing some work around that and talking with my sponsor. Just adding that bit in case anyone else is on a similar journey.

It has been so cathartic typing all this out! What a great way to spend a semi sleepless night before life changing surgery LOL

It's my impression that if you go into surgery slightly under your normal set point, he can harvest a larger quantity of smaller cells so if you gain weight in the future, the BBs have an advantage. I started keto in May 2017 and lost around 30lbs with diet alone. I started at 5'11 210lbs and probably 32% BF and I'm now around 175-180lbs and 24-26% BF. I started a heavy weight lifting protocol (4x per week) and RIGID macro adherence (no dairy, no nuts).

It was recommended to be that I should go out of ketosis for surgery so I'm not in a fat burning state while I'm fasting for surgery. So I did a heavy carb loaded day Monday, 100% keto Tuesday just I prefer eating that way, and today I had some berries and plenty of nuts and some dairy. I've been eating around 1400-1600 calories (145g protein, 95g fat, 25g carbs for normal days and 170g protein, 105g fat, 25g carbs for training days). I need those numbers UP for post-op, probably the whole three months. Recovering from surgery is not the time to be eating in a deficit!!

I feel like I've learned a ton about my diet in the past year and already dealt with some repercussions of not eating enough protein, so I know the importance just on the day to day, let alone recovery from this procedure.

Anyway, I wanted to include that aspect! I feel like it's important. I'm going to eat mostly low carb, no grains unless I feel like being naughty. Mostly carbs from potatoes and fruits etc. I just feel better eating keto, it really works for my body.