40 Years Old with 10 Year Old Son, Encapsulated (Painful) Left Breast and Lots of Extra Skin - Miami, FL

I had my BA done with Dr. Hunsaker 17 years ago (I was 23) in Miami. Mentor, saline 450cc, and they were beautiful. At 30 years old I got pregnant, gained 80 pounds (making me 200 pounds!) and my amazing son was delivered by c-section. I breast fed for a year and during that time I got mastitis (a relatively common infection in my breasts caused by breast feeding). No big deal... if you don't have implants. As you can see from the before photo my left breast looks small and high and generally deformed, it is encapsulated. That is a result of my body's reaction to the infection. So now my breast is now encapsulated and continues to move north. Not only is it unsightly, it is painful. I moved to Eastern Pennsylvania about 9 years ago and over the past few years have been to several plastic surgeons in the state, non of which made me feel like they were a right fit for me. So, I am headed back to Miami to have this mommy-makeover done with the surgeon who made my breasts look beautiful in the first place, Dr. Hunsaker. I am still debating over saline or silicone "gummy bear" implants. I have my pre-op appointment on Monday June 22, 2015 and will make a decision then. The surgery is Thursday June 25, 2015.

I am recovering well 3 days after surgery. I did not sleep at all (I mean nothing at all, not even a little cat nap) the first night because I did not have a comfortable place to sleep. I purchased a wedge pillow for the bed thinking it would be enough of an incline for me to be comfortable. I was wrong. I wound up sitting in a chair all night with my feet up, but it was not a position I could sleep in. The next day I ordered a reclining lift chair from an online rental company and hallelujah, I was able to sleep! If I can spend the money on the surgery then I can spend the extra $200 on the chair to recover comfortably.
Thank God for all the ladies that posted before that posted and recommended stool softeners. I was finally able to move my bowels today (even after taking stool softeners since the night before the surgery) and it was still a bit of a challenge, but because I decided not to get lipo on my stomach and my abdominal muscles were still intact and the Dr did not have to sew them back together or actually do anything in my abdominal cavity, I have no problem pushing a little to go to the bathroom.
Painful? You better believe it! Worth it? Sure is!! The left breast is hurting more than the right (due to the encapsulation). My breasts are hurting me the most. This is a different type of pain than the BA. The BA was more of a tightness and the next day I was actually up and about. Since I had a lift and the encapsulation broken up there is definitely more pain involved because of the multiple incisions. My breast muscles are also sore because my implants (I did go with the silicone this time) are under the muscle and I went a little bigger (although it doesn't look like my breasts are bigger because the implants are still very high (I feel like they are in my almost armpits!) The tummy tuck portion is actually not that bad pain wise. The Dr did some lipo on my love-handles and I am bruised but it doesn't really hurt, just sore. Now at day 3 I am taking ibuprofen 800mg. I still have a few percocet left but I will save them for when/if I am having a rough night.
The first night I bled A LOT. The nurse told me to make sure the person driving me home brought an old towel or blanket just in case I had some bleeding on the way home. I was not prepared for the amount of bleeding that happened. I could not even walk to the bathroom without my mom walking behind me holding a paper towel on each of my thighs to catch the blood. The drain is not that bad, after I learned how to manipulate it while I am emptying it. The first time I emptied it I squeezed the bag & blood came dripping down my leg. Then I realized if I kink the tube while emptying it then the drainage will not get pushed back down the tube. I was instructed to empty the tube at least twice a day or when it is half full. The nurse gave me a paper to keep track of how much I drain, which I have been doing. I have my follow-up tomorrow and I am hoping that I can have the drain removed. I am a little nervous about getting it removed but it can't be worse than the actual pain after surgery.

1. Reclining Lift Chair (you can rent one, look online)
2. Stool Softner
3. Underpads (water-proof moister barrier pads, so that you don't bleed all over your blankets)
4. Lots of Pillows (to have options to get in different positions to make yourself comfortable)
5. Healthy Food (fresh veggies & fruit and protein to give your body the nutrients to recovery quickly)
6. Someone to Care for You (I couldn't do this without my wonderful mommy taking care of me)