Had my breast augmentation and I feel no pain since the surgery!

Initial review-I am 6 days post surgery

First of all, I am happy I found this site. You gals have helped me a lot sharing your stories. Also, I found my awesome doctor here! I highly recommend him.

I am very happy I found this active Board Certified Plastic Surgeon after my research. Which also consists of having a current license with the State Medical Board. Two requirements not spoken enough on this site. His website has before and afters that are not only impressive, but Dr. West does video presentations for each procedure!

I was impressed by his staff. Gina his Office Mgr and Krystle his nurse who is included in his consultations and is also with you in the operating room. I went on about 2hrs and he was polite answering all my questions I had written down. Not only was Dr. West professional he made sure my concerns were addressed. I had, had horrible experiences with General Anesthesia and he knew how to tackle that. With an anti-nausea med prior and post surgery plus a scope patch. I am currently a chronic pain patient and was worried that this surgery would exacerbate my issues. I am status post 2 C-spine surgeries. He said not necessarily. He also mentioned a Exparel shot that helps with pain right after surgery. (I just had 2 other friends with tummy tucks who had great results, but were in excruciating pain No Exparel shot offered or using a pain pump).

I happily signed on the next day. Aside from answering all my questions and concerns honestly, Dr. West is mid range and that is what I was looking for. He was within my budget. Not cheap. You want cheap, you get cheap.

Surgery day - I was set. Not nervous, because I trusted Dr.West and had a nurse scheduled to pick me up for a 16hr post recovery. Did I think I needed a nurse? At first no, my sister is retired and ready to care for me. She had a successful tummy tuck I thought so why? Dr. West explained that with a family member it’s easier for them to accept not feeling up to doing the walks etc. True. I am so glad I listened!!

The Main Street Surgery Center was great! Love the nurses there! Barbara who is British and from Yorkshire, made me laugh. I told her that my friend is from Manchester, she loved it. The others were just as sweet. I was told I was getting Dr. Perkins as my Anesthesiologist. Apparently, he is a Director there and well liked. Dr. West came in marked me up and I just said, don’t forget my muscle repair! Lol He smiled..and said he wouldn’t. Dr. Perkins came in and we went over things. I told him how sick I get from the Anesthesia. He set me up with the patch and started the injecting the goods. I don’t remember anything else until I woke up over 6hrs later with a nurse saying all went well and my nurse is waiting for me. It had been a long surgery. I feel fine. Not in pain thanks to the Exparel shot. Not sick thanks to the patch and anti-nausea pill, omeprazole pill Dr.West had me take on the way to the surgery center. My nurse was terrific! When you are fresh out of surgery, uncomfortable and highly likely in pain having someone that knows what to do is a godsend. She took me to the hotel I had selected which had a king suite with a refrigerator and microwave. I brought overnight clothes with the items her company recommended such as protein drinks, broth, water and snacks. I requested the 1st floor and was near the hotel market. So anything else needed she went to get it for me. I requested some nuts. So she gave me some options. She was fabulous! So worth it! I selected her company from previous patients that used their services. Luxury Care Of OC. Ana books the nurses. Dr. West called that evening to check on me to see how I was doing, he spoke with Jenna my nurse who had been taking my vitals and writing everything down including my meds and drain amts etc. I extended her time a few hrs! I had my sis arrive before she was set to leave to show how to change out my drains. I get queasy. Unfortunately, so my sisters help is much appreciated. The hotel Mgr Luis was awesome because he made sure I got the 1st floor and when I checked out got a discount! The Hotel Ayers is very reasonable anyways. My first time staying at one. This one is at The City in Orange.

I live in the desert. I would stay at an Ayers again. The rooms are a good size and include a sofa.

I am staying at my sisters until I want to return to my home in the desert. My friend who rents a room from me is looking after my home. I am lucky to be retired in my 50’s so I don’t have to worry about returning to work and can recover slowly and not hurry.

1st day post thru 6th day

I am so grateful and thankful my pain level has been manageable! I had my breast augmentation and I feel no pain since the surgery! However, my tummy tuck I do feel pain, but it’s been manageable! Thank you, Exparel and Dr. West! I am a chronic pain patient so Dr. West rightfully has my pain doc take care of my pain pills. I am on Percocet. Now, I am down to the levels before my surgery and he did allow me 10 Ambien pills to take for sleep post surgery. Side note- I read here people taking pain pills with Valium and asked my pain doc about it.

He said that it’s not a good idea and would never prescribe me those two together. He is one of the best pain docs in Ventura County. I go 3 hrs to see him using a driver. I used to live in Calabasas, I kept him as my pain doc. A good one is hard to find and
he will give me telemedicine appts in combo to in person ones. He has been my pain doc for 10yrs.

1st Pre-Op Appointment

Friday, January 28th

2 days post

I first saw Krstyle who is Dr.West’s nurse and was in the operating room. Besides being cute, she knows her stuff. I had asked if I can bring in my sis because she will be helping me with any changing of dressings, Gina manages the office and payment another Doll, said of course! Being that they follow Covid protocols thankfully! (My sis gave her friend a ride to her ps in Newport who is well known and does not follow any masking protocols! Everyone is unmasked!) She kept hers on!

Krystle checked my dressings changed them and removed my garment making it look easy to do. It isn’t. She said I have a high pain tolerance which I have been told before. My breast augmentation has not yet given me any pain. Thank god!

My sister was impressed with how low my incision is. (I couldn’t see yet, I faint easy) She said mine was so low and well done compared to hers from her doc lol. She said my breasts look good and my belly button looks great! Krystle had stepped out to get Dr. West during this time. He came in and said that a lot of lipo was removed from my flanks and that I should end up with an hour glass figure. I asked how my procedure went, he said it went smoothly and went on as what to avoid doing and to to expect. I will see him again in two weeks. I will see Krystle again tomorrow. Dr.West and his team constantly say call if any questions or concerns.

The aftercare: Outstanding

Complaints here on Realself are usually from the lack of aftercare from their doctors. Not here. It’s the opposite. During my consultation I asked about it because friends later regretting their decision to pick their plastic surgeon because of the lack of aftercare, I didn’t want it to be me. I also turned down a Orthopedic Surgeon from Cedars Sinai
that had authorization to operate on me because his reviews for lack of aftercare were pathetic! He gets by because he is good? Not good enough for me.

There are other spinal surgeons. I decided to forego another surgery even though it was approved and fully paid for. Hard to find a doc with good bedside manners. They don’t teach this in medical school apparently. Sorry…back to this surgery.

Between surgery and present day. I had emailed in the day and evening re: concerns because one drain fell off and another time my tummy seems awfully swollen with fluid. Last Sat one of my drains fell off and my sis who is helping me wasn’t concerned because not much was going into the left drain. I still had one drain in on the right. So I waited until Monday morning to email Gina who quickly responded and didn’t think it was anything to worry about, but would have Krystle call me. Krystle did and no worries. Not much if anything was coming out of that drain. I still have one. Then last night at almost 8:00 I emailed Gina concerned about my swollen tummy. I expect it to be swollen, but it feels filled with fluid? Gina quickly responded to my surprise and said not to worry. It is normal to be swollen with fluid, but she will have Krystle call me in the morning. First thing at 8:00, Krystle called! She told me that it was normal and that the pain I am having from my flanks is from all the lipo that was removed. I am going to see her tomorrow.

I don’t have any bleeding and few bruises.

Last note:

I had trouble downloading pics. Minimizing the photos, so I decided to wait 1 month or 2 and give before and after photos that offer more changes.

Here is a list of helpful items:

A recliner to sleep in the first week

A extra large heating pad for your back
(Being hunched over for days is going to give you a painful backache!) I used a hand massager for my back too

Cough drops for your throat after having that thing down your throat during a long surgery it sure helps soothe it!

A Walker with a seat. Lucky for me a friend just had a T.T. so I borrowed hers. I also borrowed her recliner she bought which was better than the one I had shipped to my sisters. Sometimes buying one on sale is cheaper than renting one.

A walking cane. I used to go to my post op appt.

I used a sports chair that had cup places for drains to shower using a towel underneath.
I used lounge sets that were a bigger size and use large tank tops and tops to safety pin my drain so you can’t see it.

Protein drinks

Soups

Stool softener to start before surgery to prevent constipation from pain pills.

Extra strength Tylenol

Chapstick my lips were really dry after surgery

I am fortunate to have my sister take care of me and cook for me homemade soups. If you cook I would recommend you make soups in advance and freeze them. You will be happy you did or buy hearty can soups with vegetables. You will need to
eat soft foods and foods that will help you go.

Major progress 1 week later!

One week post office visit- I saw Dr. West’s nurse Kystle today. (She was in the operating room with Dr. West). I am progressing well. Fortunately, I still have no pain from the breast augmentation. I had a under muscle procedure with a lift. I was told that
my breasts were constricted with not enough skin underneath, so Dr. West was going to do the best he could giving me cleavage and making my breasts look natural with volume. It looks like he achieved this. They look beautiful, I don’t want to lose any any volume if possible. However, I know they need to drop. My tummy tuck incision looks great and very low. I am very happy about that. Dr. West had me wear and leave on a bikini bottom so he can mark that area before surgery. That works great! My belly button looks very good and natural. I really don’t have any bruises and I didn’t have any bleeding other than my drains which was very little.

Today my drain was removed. The other fell off last Sat but not much or anything was coming out of it. So happy to be rid of my “friend” yay! You feel a sense of freedom from being tied to these drains however, I understand why you have them and would rather have those fluids out. I told Kystle it was so nice to shower unassisted by anything, standing on my own. I still had my one drain this morning so I used a belt Fanny pack to place it in while I showered instead of letting it just hang.

I was concerned about my swollen tummy. The feeling of fluids in there and being so bloated is quite uncomfortable! Kyrstle reassured me that this is natural and the fluids I am feeling is from the lipo who would’ve thought they put in fluids when they do lipo? I didn’t know that! Ok, as long as I understand why I am feeling the way I do. I feel better and not concerned. I have to admit today was the first day I saw myself in the mirror and Knowing my bloated tummy is natural and will go down. I am happy with my results thus far! Things have gone better than I expected. I now need to graduate to a support bra that is recommended for better support of the implants during this stage.

I was provided with the link and I ordered it. My next appointment is not for another month so I am very happy on my progress and the fact that I can go home soon since my next appt is a month away and I have been staying at my sisters who lives 30 mins to Dr. West compared to me, I live 2 hrs away.

I am walking unassisted without a cane or Walker. Pretty much straight. I can’t yet bend and pick up things, but I think I am doing pretty darn good for 1 week post surgery. I sleep in a bed now. Not a recliner. My back is no longer hurting me from being hunched over. I am a chronic pain patient and I actually feel better and need less pain meds than I was taking before surgery. My acid reflux has improved. Dr. West thought it might get worse with tying my tummy muscles, but it didn’t. I think it got better!! The only thing I took daily a month before surgery and restarted that I think helped with my digestive system and maybe recovery was 8Greens it’s a supplement that has a remarkable story to it. Consists of 8 types of Greens. They are gummies and a bit pricey, but I love them!! So I was able to go without issues:)