New Pics-12 Weeks After I Took the Plunge on March 20th! - Encino, CA

Nursing three children over the course of the last 2 decades took a toll on my breasts. Sagging, stretch marks, other scars and what I would call "puckering" made me really self conscious of my breasts to the point that I concealed them during sex (forget leaving the lights on). And mind you I am a very sexual person.

I completely avoided certain types of tops and purchasing a flattering bathing suit was always a challenge. That said I stocked up on a lot of sexy lingerie. For the most part I have been a high B/Low C and at the height of nursing I got to even an E at one point (huge/engorged). More recently I was "folding" my breast tissue into a size 36C.

I had a full TT 4 years ago and while I contemplated having a BA at that time I still was not certain that it was right for me. After all, with the scars and generally bad skin I figured why would I want to stretch that out. Also, I was having an umbilical hernia fixed with the TT so I knew the recovery was going to be painful to say the least and could not imagine tacking the boobs on at the same time.

Fast forward to last year when my best friend of 36 years got her BA and could not be happier and then another friend of mine got one as part of a mommy makeover in December. I spoke to many of my co-workers (including my boss) that I found had BAs and were happy they had done it. While I received many recommendations and contemplated going back to the surgeon that did my TT (he is in Beverly Hills and I wanted to avoid going over the hill and BH prices), one of my co-workers highly recommended her surgeon, Dr. Saul Berger, in Encino.

I kept his information for some time before finally making an appt. to see him in February. Dr. Berger and his staff were so great from the beginning and his bedside manner, years of experience, ability to convey things in terms that I would understand (to include some great sketches), and his non-BS realistic approach and understanding of my desire to have as natural result as possible really won me over. Within a week from meeting him for the first time I was making my appt. to have surgery on March 20th (pre-op on March 9th).

The postings on this site really helped me prepare for my surgery and gave me a great idea of what to expect and the comfort of knowing that I was one of many who had made this decision in their late 30s. I will say that my teenage children and even my mother was not that supportive of my decision but only because they felt that I was fine just the way I was and imagined "fake". My husband has been SUPER supportive and even though he has always been more of a leg man (thankfully) he is now considering himself more of a boob man.

The kids and mom are coming around....she even took care of me day 2 and 3 (hubby had day 1). My boobs were borderline when it came to needing a lift. The surgeon felt he may be pleasantly surprised upon placing the implant so we knew it would be a game time decision on whether or not he would do a crescent lift (adjacent to the nipple) on both or just one of my breasts (given one sat slightly lower that the other...note that I also have scoliosis). I had seen the results of another crescent lift that I thought turned out really nice so I told him to do what he had to do. Given how I scar, he was trying to avoid any unnecessary incisions. He worked off of photos of what I wanted my outcome to be. I ended up with 425 CCs of cohesive gel implants (silicone) and a crescent on my left breast.

Day one was tolerable with the pain meds and all but day two was a killer with very intense pressure. Yes...like a rhino was sitting on my chest and as a side sleeper...sleeping on my back was no fun. I did not really have to replace my gauze as I did not have any bleeding and by day 3 I was able to take a shower. I will say that on day 2 I took my bra off to inspect the gauze and when I saw how high and big my breasts were I almost fainted and second guessed my decision to have had the surgery. I was thinking please tell me these things are going to settle down...please don't let them stay this way. I seriously got hot, sweaty and light headed.

It passed and I did some research and reminded myself that it was only day two. The thing that I was immediately happy with was how good my skin looked now that it was filled in. Gone was the puckering and even the stretch marks seemed to disappear. Things have settled down and I am wearing a strap to help even my boobs out (the right one is higher) since my first post-op on March 23rd.

My surgeon does not believe in massage which was a bit of a surprise to me as everyone kept asking me when I would start massaging and even offered to help (hehe). His explanation as to why he does not prescribe it made sense to me. I have my next post-op on April 9th. This week marks two weeks post the surgery and the boobs have been taking shape daily. I am hoping my end result will be no more than a D cup. Hope this helps as I really appreciated all of the stories that I read on this site. ;-)

I did not mention in my original post that the implants were placed under the muscle through incisions made in my breast fold. The incision under my right breast is extra sore today. I can't believe that tomorrow is already 2 weeks post-op. Really curious to know when the incisions will fully heal...right now they are totally itchy with the surgical glue slowly flaking off on the edges but still fully covering the incision. I guess next week I will get an update on what I can start putting on the incision/scar site after the glue wears off. I find myself rubbing the nipple (over my clothes) with the crescent lift with my open palm from time to time in reaction to the itchy feeling. I must look like a total perv.

So on day 14 my surgeon called to check in on me at 7:30am. I asked about getting out of the sports bra and he recommended that I purchase a cheap bra (Target) with no underwire but that would give support. He recommended something semi disposable as the breasts will continue to take shape and may shift in size. He was ok with the use of a regular bra as long as I wore it in conjunction with the bandeau (strap) to continue to help my right breast drop (still slightly higher than my left). For the itching around the surgical glue he recommended some hydrocortisone cream around the edges of the glue and some Benadryl at night. I asked him what I could use to minimize scarring now that the glue was starting to come off but he said he would give me his recommendation at my 4/9 post-op visit (he mentioned the name of a cream but it escapes be right now). He mentioned no need for ointments like polysporin. I was really glad he called and took the time to answer my questions.

On Day 15 I called my surgeon's office to talk ask about the scar cream as the glue started to come of the incision under my right breast the night prior and there was now less area with glue than without on that breast. The nurse consulted the Dr. but told me not to worry as long as the incision was closed and that he would go over his recommendation at my next post-op. The incision is actually looking good in my opinion. I can tell that the rest of the glue is going to start falling off soon on my other breast. Although I think most of it will still be on for my upcoming post-op. I am feeling a lot better these days but still need to remind my self that I am still recovering from surgery and in healing mode (whenever I get a twinge of pain). I did take some ibuprofen within the last week for discomfort with my right breast and my back (still sleeping with my head slightly propped and on my back).

Tomorrow is my post-op at 20 days....looking forward to getting his reaction to my healing and how things are settling and will ask when I can get back to the gym....I am getting soft in all the wrong places. ;-) I have posted a couple pictures of the new bra (so comfy) and a picture in an old button down and sweater...I need to go shopping!