Breast lift no implants; Samui, Thailand

I'm booked into Bangkok International Samui Hospital (perhaps confusingly not in Bangkok at all but on the lovely, tropical island of Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand) and I'm struggling to fall asleep as I'm excited/nervous. Mostly excited!

I first started considering this and doing my online reading about six months ago, and after sending photos to the surgeon in Thailand (I'm based in Sydney, Australia), we/he/I decided on a breast lift with no implants and no reduction. I'm pretty happy with the actual size of my boobs, just wildly unhappy with their droopiness. This has come about because of weight gain/loss/gain/loss over the years as well as time/gravity - I turn forty in two weeks time and this is my birthday present to myself. I'm single, and I feel that my boobs have been causing me to feel embarrassed to start anything with a new partner - I had a brief liaison just before Christmas last year and, honestly, I felt so shy about getting naked in front of another human being that I thought, hell, if **I** don't find myself sexy, how can expect anyone else to find me sexy?! And so I decided to do something about it. And now it's tomorrow. Eeeek, but also aaaaah. Pics to follow!

I arrived at 7.30, as planned. Lots of hanging about - signing all manner of forms, tested for this and that (chest x ray, blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate, weight, height, etc). Then we were off into the back room, where they had me change into a pale blue gown (Thai size XL but truly enormous, no problem - someone had said this was a concern with Thai hospitals, but this mob are clearly used to working with Westerners). Then they set up an IV in my hand - painful - for a drip. Then the surgeon came back and wanted to see me standing, naked, to check again what he was going to do. Same time - 'before' pictures taken by a nurse (no face in the pics).

The surgeon, who looks like tintin and is much gigglier than you would expect from a medical professional, also touched my tummy roll and said 'this too must do', smiling. I said 'next time', also smiling. It was a friendly little exchange, not critical.

Then an orderly arrived and I was wheeled out to the OT - amazing and weird to be conscious in there while they were setting up. Anaesthesiologist - lovely pregnant woman in purple scrubs - explained about antibiotics and pain meds after. Then I was standing, robe off, while an older lady nurse fashioned a sarong for me, low on my hips and attached with masking tape. Then, lying on the gurney, arms strapped down, and they started putting anaesthetic thru the drip hole in my hand, so so painful - so they gave up and gave me gas in a mask. And I was out.

Woozy waking up. All a bit of a blur. No idea where I was. Not in the OT but somewhere else. Woozy. Then wheeled to my room - very nice, right down to the towel shaped like a swan, as if this is a fancy hotel. I have a private room, air con that gets a bit over enthusiastic and cold, and I keep asking them to make it a bit warmer (ironic, in such a warm island - but they set it to cold). I have my own bathroom, a tv on the wall, tons of natural light (a whole wall is windows), and a bed that reclines or sits with a button. I also have a call-for-help button, and a sofa, side lamp, little table etc - it is a luxurious setup indeed.

I feel basically ok. I threw up a bit earlier. The tip of my tongue is numb. I can lie on either side or my back. I'm a bit queasy but not too bad, considering. Contrary to what I'd thought/been told, I can lift my arms about my head and my mobility is mainly limited by my IV drip and wooziness rather than any real pain. I guess I'm on some pretty strong pain meds, as well as antibiotics as a precaution in case of infection.

My boobs feel very tightly packed. Like they're compression wrapped. I have no idea what they look like in there as I'm swaddled in bandages.

Nice conversation with night nurse. - I asked if she always works nights, no sometimes days. She asked - how many times you peepee? Two. Poopoo? Zero. Hilarious combo of medical professional and cutesy thai girl - one of the other nurses has a winnie the pooh pen around her neck. Then she said - you no pain? Hmm, a little bit. She said: like you no pain, no fever, you fine. Very good, very strong girl. Nice. In Western medical systems, being a bit overweight is always scorned; here, it seems to be a sign of being a bit stronger. Quite a breath of fresh air, really.

The purple pen with which the surgeon drew on a whole bunch of lines and measurements, and then the iodine/betadine scrub immediately pre op.