48 & decided it's time - Newport Beach, CA

Thank u!

Thank u for sending those links! Sad to hear people don't get support, even from their spouses! Mine can't wait. :) I'm definitely doing this for me, but want to be sure my sons understand. There's no way they won't notice. I'm ready to discuss with them now.

Hi MLC45 - thanks for reaching out! After three consults, what do you think? I only have one lined up so far with Dr Lavinia Chong. She comes so highly recommended I hate to look elsewhere, but I know I should. I met her 6 years ago when I originally decided to get BA, but some health issues forced me to wait until now. Who have you consulted with?

OC48 appreciate the response. I have had now four consults including today. ( I think I'm done for now) Luu Doan in HB, my hairdresser just had her BA from him 6 weeks ago. I didn't like his demeanor. Got bent out of shape when I asked a few intelligent questions. Steven Ip in Newport, recommended by a close friend who had work from him. Too pretentious (his dog was in the office and he takes the dog everywhere, not my gig). Michael Sundine, recommended by a friend who is a PS but does not do cosmetic work. Great education, experience and super bedside manner. He was also the only provider who opened the discussion asking if I did self breast exams for cancer. I think that was telling and made an impression on me. Andrew Smith today because he has the Vectra 3d modeling. And although not fully accurate a fun thing to check out. Great education, credentials, and his office staff was warm. Every rating I can find on this guy is great. Like both Smith and Sundine. Today, leaning towards Smith. I have worked in the medical field for 25 years, now at KP. I asked some form of the following questions during all my consults. How long have you been in practice? How many BAs have you done? (I don't want to be the first 50 :o) ) What are your revision rates? What brand implants do you use and why? (I don't care if he is a diamond user because he churns and burns BAs all day long) Sientra has best outcome rates. What dissection techniques do you use? What percent of your practice is cosmetic and what is reconstructive? If I called the OR team what would they say about you? An [RS bleep] in the OR is an [RS bleep] out of the OR and I don't want them cutting on me. I also read about Chong and considered a consult from her and when I reviewed her photo gallery didn't really like what I saw as examples. I think you should get at least one more opinion (especially if it is a free consult, only your time). Looking forward to reading about your progress. If I go for it I'm planning sometime in late September or Early October.

All great info. Thanks for providing so much detail. I'm definitely going to get another consult or two. How did their prices compare? Do u need a lift too? I don't know why but I want a woman to do it. I'm afraid a male doc will make me look like a stripper! Dumb, I know, but ...? My timing would be same as yours. Fall or winter seems best. My son needs knee surgery so that comes first. :) Please keep in touch! Good luck!!

Hope you son does well. I think the prices for PS in Newport are higher, its like going to Beverly Hills. They have to pay for the real estate too. My husband said please don't make your decision on price :o). Here's the things to consider that will impact the price. This is all formed based on my own opinion somewhere in my brain. Type of implant saline or silicon. Silicon run about 1K more than saline. Does the surgeon use an outside surgery center or do they have their own OR. If they have to use an outside surgery center then two charges add into figure the Operating Room and the Anesthesia. My best estimates for OR is about 1K to 1200.00 and for Anesthesia $500 to $700. This is also dependent on the time spent on the case. One doctor told me he completes in like a half hour that was scary. Another told me it takes about 1.5. I think 1-1.5 for basic BA should be on target as long no bleeding or anesthesia complications. And the last cost is the surgeons time. The price quotes I received for cash ranged from $5500 to $7500. Also most of these do not include pre op labs and prescriptions. The low end quote was for someone who had their own OR so they were not using an outside facility. I also don't want to look like a stripper and don't care female or male, although I think that men look at boobs all day and that might help :o). Glad to hear that you are going to go for another consult or two. Let me know how it works out.

Thanks again for all the info. I need to have my first consult as a baseline I guess and go from there. I also need to stop reading all the horror stories about CC, infections and explants. Very unnerving to me! Have u made a final decision yet?

I added a second consult today. Both are in August. Anxious to talk to an expert. Posts make me more & more leery, but then I look at my chest and realize I really want to look better, more feminine. I'm working out hard too. How is your decision process going?

OC48 TGIF. Glad to hear that you have a couple of consults set up. You don't have to make any drastic decisions. My husband and I are not doing well so the stress is killing me. So if you ask me today I'm doing my boobs, my butt, and my face :o). Still making decisions. If I go for it I still like Andrew Smith. Probably will go try on sizers again and use the vectra machine. On the fence with moderate and high profile. This site is worse than FB I'm addicted at looking at boobs lol. Don't get to hung up. Understand the risk versus benefit and see if the risk is work taking for your situation. Who are consults with?

Hey MLC46. Sorry to hear things aren't great at home. Probably not the best time to decide on major surgery? From what I read people get depressed initially, post-surgery, even when they r happy with results. Hope things improve. Keep your chin up! I'll post after my consults in August.

Great news with the endocrinologist. Looking forward to hearing about your consults. Is this major surgery? LOL.

Hi SWFL, I'm anxious to put all the Q&A behind me and just talk to a PS. Tired of looking at breasts too! I have 3 consults in Aug. I plan to have the surgery - if I decide to do it - in Sept. I have only told my husband and best friend. When I decide to act I'll tell my 21 year old. She doesn't live at home anymore and I think she'll say "Hey, I want BA, too!" All the women in my family are "under endowed" sadly. But I will encourage her to wait post-kiss. I keep wondering, "Can I really pull this off?" Big boobs require a certain mindset, I think. I'm proud of my brains too! But I know I'll feel sexier and look better. 50 is baring down on me - I want to retire, travel and look my best. It's my time now! Best of luck to you!!

Post-kids, I meant!! :))))

Me too, but also worried I might leave there with even more questions! I have 2 scheduled this Thursday; since I'm having to take the day off I'm going to see if I can squeeze in another one as well. I'm just getting so confused reading other profiles and seeing pics of other women with similar stats and before breast sizes getting such a wide range of cc's but with completely different results! The horror stories are not helping me much either! My aunt and Grandmother were well endowed; but they were also heavy set women as well. My mom got her boobs done with I was 13 yrs old. Asian women tend to be very small chested. I highly agree that your daughter should wait until after she's done having kids .. I don't think these young girls realize what our bodies go through during pregnancy, child birth etc.! I know my 24 year old wants a BA. She already has 2 kids and went from a C to AA. But financially it's not going to happen for her for some time to come. I really don't have anyone in my life outside of my kids, my dad and my bff so there's no one to really tell. My one negative about getting them is men. A lot of women tend to get BA for men (whether they realize it or not). I can't stand when men look me up and down like I'm some piece of meat! Like you I believe myself to be a strong intelligent woman and expect to be treated as such. I want to look beautiful for me and only me. Honestly, I wonder if I'll actually dress more on the conservative side after BA. Does that sound weird? So these rice sizers (300 cc) look huge in a sports bra that usually flattens me to nothing; but once I put clothes on it's not that big ... maybe I should go bigger? But I live in Florida so bikini time ... hmmm I don't want to be self conscious that I'm too big. Geez I'm just rambling on and on. I hate being indecisive. I'm a black and white type of person. Right or Wrong .... Good or Bad. I don't do well with grey areas lol I was looking at Oct 1st .. (I'll be 47) my birthday. But my helper that covers my Sarasota/Venice area tells me he may be doing contract work for the government starting is Sept. Also our season starts kicking in October so I need to make sure I'm completely healed by then. With my Sarasota helper possibly leaving; I'm thinking I have to do this before September or wait until after May of next year. Ugg not having control of my own life and business is so frustrating. I'm sure you'll have amazing results. We'll both hang in there together. I believe things tend to work out the way they are supposed to :)