58 Year Old Having Explant and Mastopexy Very Soon - Dallas, TX

Hello. to all of you. I went for my six day post op where Dr. Perry changed the steri-strips and said I looked great. I am bruised, of course, and still swollen which he said will continue to improve over time to where my breasts will be much softer and smaller. He did remove a lot of my own breast tissue at the time of explant which is partly why the bruising is so evident. I could not be any happier. I just keep looking at my chest and wondering why it took me so long to make this important step for my own health and fitness. I can start to exercise again! I can breathe again. I can wear clothes that aren't made for Aunt Bee on the Andy Griffith Show. I can't wait for my life to begin again. Walking around under huge amounts of weight can get anyone down. I have such a weight off my chest now!
I was asked by one of you what Dr. Perry's views on compression were. At the first post op appointment, he had told me I didn't even have to wear a bra as far as he was concerned while I was healing except to hold on bandages. Once he took out the drains, the bandages were not necessary so I spent this whole week braless! It was super. When I asked him about compression today, he explained that it depends on how much tissue was left after explant. If there was a lot of room, there would probably be more fluid and compression might help with that. He said that that person who retained the fluid probably would have with or without the compression but it's always wise to err on the safe side. I simply had plenty of tissue to fill the holes. It's been amazing to go braless.
Also, I don't know if I mentioned before, but the surgery (almost 3 and 1/2 hours) was done without general anesthesia so no intubating. I was not aware of anything but he used local anesthesia and IV sedation. I swear as far as recovery goes, it made it much nicer. General anesthesia is a headache at best.
I wish you all the best, will answer any private messages, but probably won't post here for months again. Let's see what I look like in the beginning of summer!
Take care, all of you wonderful women!

Hi, Guys. I got my drains removed today as I was not producing enough fluid for them to be necessary. I am so delighted with the new me. I feel already so much better. Hope all of you who are undergoing the same thing as me right now are doing great!

My first thought actually upon really waking up and knowing what had occurred was "I can breathe! I can move my lungs!" I guess you don't know what you've had till it's gone! Holy cow, this is wonderful. I have posted graphic pictures but this is what I want you to realize: Most of the bulkiness is bandages - not boob. Secondly, for 18 hours post op, there is very little drainage. Dr. Perry has said that once I only drain 30 (ccs?) in a 24 hour period, he will remove the drains. I have about 6 in the left breast and about 12 in the right. Not bad! Took my pain meds last night and early early am but am now only going to use Advil if I can get away with it. Being very good about ice packs and my dogs are at my daughters' house (no hurling missles). I am so jazzed I cannot begin to say. Once I remove bandages, I will take more pics! Thanks again all of you wonderful supporters! It was so wonderful to 'burn' my huge horrible wired bras. Will only do wireless in the future. Back to my tv! Bored already!