47-Year-Old...Breast Lift Only, No Implants, No Children...Can't Wipe the Smile off my Face - Destin, FL

Now 5-1/2 months postop and 3 weeks from my trip to Jamaica. My trip was amazing. I did not wear a bra all week. I didn't have to tie my bathing suit around my neck so tight that it left red marks to keep my breasts up. Still very happy with my results and would absolutely do it again.

For years I have wanted to have a mastopexy. My husband, up until this year, just did not share my enthusiasm for wanting the procedure. I had put this on the back burner until he approached me one day and told me that he supported me if I wanted to have a breast lift done, and while he loved me the way I was, he wanted me to be happy and have good self-confidence.

Years ago it seemed like I woke up one day and realized that if I was on my back my breasts would head east and west and if I stood up they headed south. I really hated to look at them and it got to the point where I didn't want my husband to touch my breasts because I felt bad about the way they looked.

This year is our 25th wedding anniversary and I have recently lost 30 pounds so it seemed like a wonderful time to do this.

I did a ton of research and had two consults. Timing was important to me because we have our 25th anniversary vacation scheduled for December. I was comfortable with both plastic surgeons I consulted with; however, I chose Dr. William Burden in Destin, FL. I had grade 3 ptosis and while I don't have any before shots right now, I will get the before photos along with my 3 month after photos from Dr. Burden's office in October when I go for my 3-month followup. I don't have any personal before photos to share because I hated the way my breasts looked and just didn't want to see them at all. Dr. Burden felt I had enough breast tissue that he could work with and that I did not need implants. I think he was right on the money. I was wearing a 34DD or 36DD prior to surgery. I could wear a D cup but I would spill out at the top. I am 5' 3" tall. We scheduled my surgery 19 weeks prior to my trip so that I could make sure I had plenty of time to heal. An issue that we had to take into consideration was the fact that I have rheumatoid arthritis and I am on medications to suppress my immune system and we had to be concerned with healing and how that would come into play with my RA meds.

I had my surgery on 8/2/17 at Destin Plastic Surgery and the entire procedure was amazing. I did take bromelain prior to the procedure for 3 days and took arnica montana for the past three weeks for bruising. I only needed 3 or 4 Percocet the first couple days after the surgery. I felt very good and had to reign myself in activity wise.

I saw Dr. Burden's nurse, Joan, the day after surgery for an incision check. I was so happy that I had nipple sensitivity. Everything looked good.

I saw Dr. Burden and Joan 1 week postop and they were pleased with my progress at that point.

The last two weeks (now 3 weeks postop) have been a piece of cake recovery wise. I still have some swelling on my right side/axilla and some squareness on the bottom and you can see the end of the suture line in my cleavage area on one side in particular but overall I am extremely pleased. I do still have some skin numbness especially on the bottom half of my breasts but normal sensation is gradually coming back.

I had my 3 week postop checkup today and Dr. Burden and Joan were pleased with my incisions. I have to confess compared to some incisions I have seen at 3 weeks posted on this site I am pleased, too. I have been released to wear an underwire bra now if it is comfortable for me. I just need to make sure whatever bra I wear it is supportive and takes tension off the incisions. I can exercise now, just not high impact but light hand weights, elliptical, etc.

I'm slowly getting back to all my normal activities. Dr. Burden and Joan told me to expect that my breasts will continue to remodel and that my swelling will go down some more. I am looking forward to the next few months. I tried my bras on this afternoon after my appointment and I still wear the same size as I did preop.

Dr. Burden is an excellent surgeon. I think he is also a bit of a magician and artist, too. I can't believe how far my breasts have come in such a short time.

I have enjoyed reading the experiences posted here on RealSelf. If anyone has any questions, I would be happy to try to answer them based on my experience.