5'6" 125lb. Mother of 1, 35 Years Waiting for Boobies and opting for Natrelle Inspira Low-Plus Profile - Palo Alto, CA

I can't believe how much bigger my left is than my right, how much more bruising I have beneath that breast and have even started to notice some brushing on my left lower abdomen (right above my waistband). I haven't required Percocet but really can't wait between doses of ibuprofen, the feeling of the swelling is so hard to ignore, you can feel things expanding, like a balloon is being blown up in your boob ESPECIALLY when you have salt or foods with any amount of sodium. Avoid SALT!! It's a little discouraging, I don't know how long it will take for the swollen side to catch up with the more normal side, it's just so big I can't believe it will be any time soon =(. I'm also still slow to move, need help with most things and showering. Wednesday (3 days from now) will be 1 week, at which point I'm told I can have full range of motion of my arms. All I know is today I flexed my pec doing something and it felt so strange, like a cramp held there for a moment. I don't wanna do that again. Another FYI, it takes a few days before you have a bowel movement (BM, #2) both due to no activity, anesthesia and the Percocet. It took me 3 days and even then it was small. Today I had a little more, but I still feel bloated but at least the cramping has gone away. Back to the office tomorrow and I'm worried because I got so exhausted just leaving the house and walking around yesterday. I wish I had more time off =(.
Lastly, after 4 days of sleeping upright on the couch, I will attempt propping myself up and sleeping in my own bed tonight. My fiancé will be so thankful he doesn't have to endure another night on the couch with me =)

I absolutely needed to stay on top of my prescribed pain medication.  I started with 1 Percocet every 4 hours and had to quickly increase to 2 at 9pm the night of surgery (Wednesday).  I think that was when my pain was the worst, probably because I should have stayed ahead of it more.  My left breast was not only significantly more swollen, it was much more painful and putting out more through the drain.  I could feel it bulging higher though the bandage and wrap, it was throbbing and hurt so bad when I would move.  The right hardly hurt at all and I couldn't notice much swelling with it.  I was so thankful for the tight wrap and bandages to keep things in place, it just felt more secure.  Sleeping upright on the couch with my feet up and plenty of pillows as props kept me comfortable in my short sleeping shifts between pills.  First 24 hours = very hard.  
Post-op day #1 (Thursday), I consistently took my 2 Percocet right on time, leaving no chance for the misery that occurred the night before.  I kept my salt intake very low to decrease chance for increased inflammation and pain, I was instructed to keep my diet to below 1500mg of Sodium per day.  It was easy with unsalted nuts, homemade soup, green smoothies and toast with almond butter.  I still need to sleep upright on the couch, propped up with lots of pillows.  Surprisingly ok comfort-wise.  Continuing to record drainage from drains.  
Post-op day #2 (Friday), Dr. Vistnes' Medical Assistant called to tell me I could start taking Ibuprofen.  I did immediately and what a difference it made!  I was able to decrease my Percocet doses and go longer between doses.  This was my first day out of the house to go to our post-op appointment.  Sadly, only the left drain could be removed because the right was still putting out > 30ml per 24h.  The removal was fairly pain-free, the bandages were removed and I was placed in my post-op bra.  When the bandages were removed, it was confirmed, I have banana boat boobs...especially on the left *unamused face.  The MA said my more swollen left boob is what they both usually look like, and that my right is just coming along exceptionally well.  There will be some yellow and grey bruising to come in the next few days.  Happy news is that I was cleared for a shower!! Yay, and it was the best, that back scrub felt like angel kisses.

Day of surgery was 12/9/2015.  The surgery center was small with only 2 ORs and room to pre-op and recover 2 patients at a time.  I was the second case of the day at 11am, yet I got in quickly without much wait and my surgery started on time.  My anesthesiologist was amazing, very friendly and quick in placing my IV.  I was told I'd be sedated with Versed and Propofol for the procedure, and for pain I would receive Fentanyl and Demerol.  The next thing I remember after saying my goodbye's and I love you's was waking up with a very heavy feeling down the center of my chest.  
In all my years of recovering patients from surgery, I am VERY delighted to announce that I AM my own favorite type of patient when waking up from sedation!  The happy, friendly and not annoying kind =) Haha.  But really...it's a thing.  My neighbor was shouting and moaning and repeating everything, super needy...I am so happy to announce I am not that person LOL.
I woke up with a bulb-suction drain in each breast, the doctor said he had a little more trouble separating the muscle than normal, causing more bleeding than normal.  The drains would be able to come out in my post-op appointment.
In recovery, I received 50mcg of Fentanyl IV which helped to relieve that very heavy feeling on my chest and because I didn't want to have to stay in recovery longer than necessary, I skipped the additional IV meds and asked for the Vicodin pill so that after 30 minutes of monitoring I was cleared to go.  THE ONLY problem I experienced in recovery was very strange and unusual, even in my own experience.  My jaw would not open completely and would pop when attempting to open it all the way, causing a sort of "lock."  I was very worried.  I was instructed not to try opening it all the way, and to rest it.  Luckily after about 2 hours, it resolved completely.