30 Years Old, 2 Kids, 5' 4" 150 Lbs. - Very Deflated 36D, Getting a BL/BA - Minneapolis, MN

Well, I am one week out from my surgery. Had I written this review a few days ago, I would have said it is absolutely NOT worth it, because I had SO much pain during the initial recovery period. It is slowly getting better though, and now I am starting to see how my breasts will look once everything drops and settles, and I am glad I did it.

I had my surgery September 3rd, under TIVA anesthesia. It is supposed to help reduce nausea after waking up, as opposed to general anesthesia. (You are still completely under, it's just a different method of administering the drugs). I showed up and got all marked up, took a muscle relaxer that they gave me, and then got my IV. From there it was off to the operating room, and next thing I knew, I was waking up in the recovery room. Upon waking, I immediately starting crying. It hurt SO BAD. The nurse kept telling me she was sure I was uncomfortable, and finally gave me a 1/2 of a Vicodin. I was still bawling and by this point I was becoming nauseous. They kind of rushed me out the door, still crying and trying not to throw up, and I was NOT impressed. Neither was my husband.

We went home, and I spent the next day crying my eyes out and trying not to move at all. I was in such extreme pain, and I called a couple times to tell them that I was hurting and they just said that it would pass, that I needed to move around more. Finally, Friday afternoon they agreed to give me something else for pain. I was finally able to sleep then, and could calm down and start to attempt to recover.

I went for my first post op check on Tuesday, and they took off the clear bandages and gave me large gauze pads to wear inside my bra so that my incisions don't get rubbed. The first day after surgery, I was horrified by how my breasts looked, I was flat and square....it was horrible. As the days go on they are starting to drop and settle towards the middle, and I really think they are going to turn out amazing. The incision marks are almost nonexistent, my PS did a wonderful job.

I went to another checkup yesterday (Thursday) because on Tuesday my PS saw some bruising that worried him, and he wanted to make sure I wasn't developing a hematoma or anything. But it is clearing up nicely, so no worries! I go back again in another week.

Overall, it's been a rough ride. I was expecting to have an easy-ish recovery, after reading the reviews on here. Even though I know everyone is different, I didn't think it would be THAT much different. I was told I would be ok to go back to work at my desk job on Tuesday (my surgery was on a Thursday), and I did, because I didn't have a lot of leave time, but I was MISERABLE. I was also less than thrilled with the treatment I got during the first few days of recovery. I still really like my PS, however, knowing how you are treated right after a procedure is making me rethink going back for any additional procedures (I was thinking of getting a TT later down the road).

As far as "stats" for my surgery - I got a full anchor lift, which made my nipples smaller (yay!) and also got Allergan Silicone Implants, moderate profile, 210cc. I had a lot of my own breast tissue, and I only wanted to go up one cup size at most. My PS chose the size during the procedure, so I had no idea what I would wake up with. I trusted him though, and I think he picked perfectly. Right now I am in a 40D front zip sports bra, but now that they are dropping, I need to go up a size, as it's getting too tight. They are still REALLY swollen and high, but that's to be expected. Overall, I love them so far. I just wish it would stop being so painful! I am totally over this whole recovery. Ugh.

*Just FYI, the blue-ish mark on my right breast is not a bruise, it is a tattoo that I blurred out :)

It's been a rough two weeks. I'm slowly starting to feel better, though my upper chest and in between my breasts still hurts. I still can't put my arms up all the way, and by the end of the day I am pretty much dead, but I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. All you ladies who recover in 2-3 days....you're my hero.

I had another follow up today, and it went amazing. I found out the recovery nurse that treated me no longer works there, so that made me feel loads better. I didn't want to have to deal with her again. Dr. Gervais is awesome, he really is the best PS around. Now that I know my recovery room experience is not the norm, and not something that is acceptable in his practice, I would absolutely come back to do my tummy tuck (eventually....once I forget how much this recovery sucked lol).

Today I also got Botox as part of a promo that Allergan was doing. Botox HURTS. It felt like bees stinging my face. But, it only lasts a few seconds, and I can't wait to see how the results turn out. Dr. Gervais also offered extra Botox at no charge to kind of make up for my recovery room experience. I thought that was pretty awesome.

My breasts are looking better and better. There is a little rippling at the bottom, but it's already softening and fading, so I'm not worried. I'm dying for everything to drop and settle, I want to see how they'll be, it's hard to be patient! Oh, and I took a close up picture so you can see how amazing the incision marks look already. I can see why Dr. Gervais has such a great reputation ????

So, I'm pretty sure I have developed Mondor Cords....lucky me. I guess I know now why it's been so darn painful underneath at the crease. I took some ibuprofen since I'm over 2 weeks post and have a warm compress on them, so hopefully that will help. That's what the treatment seems to be when I googled it. There was one that I think I "broke", I pressed on it and it snapped....I almost threw up, it was gross. But that one feels better now. I'm going to call Dr. Gervais on Monday to make sure there isn't anything else I should be doing, but from what I've read they'll eventually resolve on their own. *sigh* Have I mentioned yet that I am ready for this recovery to be over?