To Implant or Not to Implant

September 26, 2017

Hi Idws, wishing you the very best! You’re great hands with Dr. Vath! He did my surgery also; and I couldn’t be more pleased. Doing it in two stages sounds like a great idea. And I agree sweetlady44 is a perfect example of how great his breast lifts are without implants. I look forward to following your progress… :-)

September 26, 2017

Thanks that was very kind.

September 30, 2017

Hi again, just read your message above and sorry to hear you ‘re stressing about your surgery. I know it’s so easy to get stressed right before surgery. It’s very normal reaction to have. Btw, I sent you a private message. :-)

September 28, 2017

Welcome aboard to the Dr. Vath journey! I had a BL, implants and TT with Dr. Vath, he’s such an amazing surgeon and person!! You won’t be disappointed!! :)

You are so right, an implant without a lift is a disaster waiting to happen!! A lot of people around my area do this (implants with no lift) and you just won’t get long lasting results with that, not to mention the lift is what makes them so pretty!! I’m sure if you wanted you could do a low profile implant in a small size like 150/200cc range. Just curious what you’ve discussed with Dr. Vath?? I’m thinking you could even do the lift, and if you decide you still want a slight bit more volume you could then go back under for the small implant?? Have you guys discussed this? :)

Best of luck!! You’re in great hands!!

September 30, 2017

Well Thanks! It's like 2:00 in the am and I'm totally stressing out about surgery Monday. I can't sleep so I decided to check my account and saw your comment. At the last minute Wednesday I decided to tell Kari I wanted to go with a small saline implant which is kind of what I had in mind in the very beginning but it seemed too last minute so then Thursday at my pre op I changed back to no implant. So I'm probably one of the only patients to irritate Dr. Vath bc he was a little short with me bc I think he doesn't like to give his opinion and I keep asking for it. So then I had second thoughts about even having surgery. I got my period the next morning ( sorry if that's TMI) but I think I was feeling extra emotional! That's why I changed back to no implant bc I've learned not to make important decisions right at that time. Like I'm not emotional enough and then I have to be at the height of PMS for my pre op. I was also 5 lbs more than usual which is always kind of a bummer. But I feel better seeing people 's positive posts. I feel so stressed about surgery. I think I'll feel better when it's all over with. If I get good results I'll feel better!

October 3, 2017

Aww, I am so sorry. I think somethings been up with the Realself website, I wasn’t getting notifications. I’m so sorry that you were feeling this way. Based on my personal experience, Dr. Vath didn’t suggest an implant size to me either (if that helps any) I felt like I was getting the cold shoulder at first but then after talking with Kari (my patient counselor) and talking to Dr. Vath again, I realized that he didn’t want to influence my decision. You’re right in that it’s best not to make last minute decisions. Infact I am curious now, why the consideration for saline? No judgement here! Just curious! :) I had Mentor saline moderate profile implants, then these ridiculous ultra high profile implants (I didn’t ask for UHP) that were Natrelle silicone and now I have Mentor HP silicone. Saline were so hard and fake feeling. Like I could feel the sack of bagged water inside, natrelle were more firm and Mentor silicone seem to be the softest. However I will make note that you have much more natural breast tissue than I did to begin with, so that will also contribute to your overall feel if you did decide to go with saline.

September 30, 2017

Idws, I left you a message down below but in case your missed just wanted to say good luck with your surgery this Monday. I’m sure everything will go great! Btw I know how easy it is to get stressed right before surgery. I’ve been there myself. Also I want you to know that I sent you a private message. :-)

UPDATED FROM ldws

Day of treatment

Surgery done!

ldwsOctober 2, 2017

Well I'm glad that's over! I freaked out and almost didn't go through with it. I had all kinds of crazy dreams last night. I dreamt my husband forgot to come home to drive me. Then I dreamt the nurse whispered to me not to go through with it bc it wasn't safe. The nurses were nice though and one named had a cap on with a bunch of cats on it and I'm a cat person too so that kind of made me feel better. I have a little bit of a sore throat but besides that I feel ok, a little tired though. Dr Vath said he thinks I'll get a good result and he doubts I'll be back for an implant . I dont have any befores but I think I could get one at my post op. Tomorrow I will post some afters when I take a shower. I am curious to see the results! Thanks for everyones support!

Replies (2)

October 3, 2017

Congrats on your surgery! Sounds like things went really well, especially if Dr. Vath doubts you’ll be back for an implant. That’s great news. Btw to get your “before” pics they usually require you fill out a release form and have Dr. Vath, sign it. Also if you want the pics emailed to you there’s another form you need to fill out. I found the best time to ask him to sign any kind of release form is during the appointment. Otherwise some people have found it sometimes takes a little reminding. Good luck and happy healing. I look forward to following your progress… :-)

October 3, 2017

Hey there!! Congrats on going through with surgery and making it to the other side!! I so wish I had seen your other comment sooner. :( it is sooooo natural to have these extreme feelings of doubt! I’ve had it every single time I am about to go under for surgery. So please know it’s so normal, and I’m confident you made a good decision. I’m actually happy to hear you went with no implant (no quick harsh decisions) because once you are all healed up if you sill decide you want just a slight bit of volume you can always go back for that which would be an easy thing to do, rather than undoing it.

I am so very excited for you and cannot wait to see the magic Dr. Vath has worked on you. Happy healing!!

UPDATED FROM ldws

2 days post

ldwsOctober 4, 2017

I haven't mastered the boob selfie but this pic is 2 days post. I'm having a hard time getting a pic without my face. Dr. Vath called yesterday to check up on me which I thought was nice. Never in a million years did I think I would post boobs on the internet but it's only fair bc I looked at everyone else's pictures.

Replies (17)

October 4, 2017

Wow! You looks amazing, especially for only two days PO. Are you pleased? Regarding taking pics without your face in them: I usually take the pic and then crop my face out of it after the fact. Are you using a cell phone camera? If so they usually have editing (cropping) tools built right into them. If you’re using a computer there are a number of free editing tools available online.

I know it takes a bit of a learning curve to figure this kind of stuff out. I think being a realself member (and having reviews here) has turned me into a professional photo editor. LOL Good luck and happy healing!

October 4, 2017

Thanks! Yes I'm pleased. I don't feel much smaller. I hope a lot of it isn't swelling. I feel like I look the same in clothes which is what I was hoping for. I didn't have a problem with the size, just the shape but I didn't want to be too much smaller in clothes.

October 4, 2017

Yeah I think people don’t usually lose size, if anything they may appear larger because everything is in the correct place and visually looks better because of the correct placement and ratio. You made a safe decision erring on the side of caution. ;-) I look forward to following your journey.

October 4, 2017

Whoops! I thought I was responding to your reply on my comment! Lol my apologies

October 4, 2017

Wow.. you look fantastic already!! They will take on a different shape over the next few weeks as things settle a bit. You really do look great! How are you feeling pain wise, your decision to only get the lift and with how they look??

October 4, 2017

So I do like the results. If they stay around this size I'll be fine with no implant. The pain is not too bad. Yesterday I took one pain pill in the am and one in the pm. This morning I just took half of one. If I take a whole pill I'm knocked out for a few hours. It is kind of boring not being able to do anything.

October 4, 2017

That’s great! It sounds like you are doing well :) those pain pills are no joke, they knock me on my butt too.

October 4, 2017

Charm, no need for apologies. I was going to say the exact same thing, so you save me a few words. Lol.

Idws, to add I think probably the best example for you to look at would be sweetlady44 since she has no implants. If you could compare her 17 day/one month postop photos to her 9 month photos for example you’ll see as her shape changed and she actually appears to be larger. The areolas raise a little as the lower pole fullness increases giving the breast a rounder fuller shape. The same thing pretty much happened to me as well. Hope this is helpful.