POSTED UNDER Breast Implants REVIEWS
Breast Implants Part 1: Clothed Pics ;) - San Antonio, TX
ORIGINAL POST
Greetings fellow boob-enthusiasts! I'm 33 years...
$5,550
Greetings fellow boob-enthusiasts! I'm 33 years old, no kids, and no boobs. Just kidding -- I have boobs -- just not great ones. When I was in college I hit my heaviest weight of 200 pounds, which is almost 60 pounds more than I've weighed in over 10 years. I'm now 140-145 pounds at 5'8", and the boobs are rather deflated and sad looking. I've been to two consultations so far, and the recommendations have varied. The first surgeon suggested TUBA, which is no surprise since that seems to be the bulk of her practice. The second surgeon recommended saline implants, completely under the muscle, with a transaxillary approach and a lift. I was surprised and disappointed that he felt a lift was needed, and I really don't want the scars nor can I afford the additional costs. Fortunately, I have three more consultations scheduled, including one tomorrow morning.
I'm posting some before pictures so you can see what the docs saw. Please keep in mind that I'm 5'8" and have a long torso. My collarbone to nipple measurement was 24", and I'm told 21" is ideal. I think the position of my breasts is proportionate to my overall shape, and again, I'd hate to lift them. The goal is a natural looking result.
UPDATED FROM breastochangeo
23 days pre
So I went to another consultation yesterday, and I...
So I went to another consultation yesterday, and I think I finally found my surgeon. For starters, he does beautiful work, but I especially appreciated the fact that he seemed more like a medical doctor and less like a salesman, if you know what I mean. The first part of the consultation was simply him explaining his technique and the aesthetic he likes to achieve (which was consistent with my vision), and me tapping my feet nervously waiting to hear what he'd say after examining me. Fortunately, he said a lift was an option but not a requirement, and he even showed me before and after pictures of patients with body habitus similar to my own. Interestingly, the measurements he took were different from the last surgeon. I'm not sure why that is, but he and his nurse were confident of the accuracy.
His recommendation was to do the dual plane technique with an inframammary approach, which I'm very comfortable with. The suggested sizes (because I'm as symmetrical to the tune of 45 CCs) were 350 and 375 overfilled to 400 and 425. I tried them on and they seemed HUGE. But then I tried on a smaller pair and they seemed diminutive. He and the nurse suggested I'd most likely be disappointed if I went smaller, and I'm inclined to agree.
Here's where it gets kinda weird... After that, the financial counselor came in, dropped her top, and modeled her implants! The point was to show me what "bigger" looked like since she is more petite than I am (she's 5'3" and I'm 5'8"), but she got 450s. She looked great, but it felt weird ogling her right in front of me versus just seeing some pictures. But don't worry -- I also got to see pictures of his nurse! She pulled up her own before and afters, and they, too, looked great. The only boobs I didn't see we're the receptionist's, but I think that's only because they were real! :-P
So now it's time to decide whether or not to schedule and how big to go. If I proceed, my surgery would likely be in three short weeks! Unfortunately, there's the issue of financing. If only there were a boob fairy...
His recommendation was to do the dual plane technique with an inframammary approach, which I'm very comfortable with. The suggested sizes (because I'm as symmetrical to the tune of 45 CCs) were 350 and 375 overfilled to 400 and 425. I tried them on and they seemed HUGE. But then I tried on a smaller pair and they seemed diminutive. He and the nurse suggested I'd most likely be disappointed if I went smaller, and I'm inclined to agree.
Here's where it gets kinda weird... After that, the financial counselor came in, dropped her top, and modeled her implants! The point was to show me what "bigger" looked like since she is more petite than I am (she's 5'3" and I'm 5'8"), but she got 450s. She looked great, but it felt weird ogling her right in front of me versus just seeing some pictures. But don't worry -- I also got to see pictures of his nurse! She pulled up her own before and afters, and they, too, looked great. The only boobs I didn't see we're the receptionist's, but I think that's only because they were real! :-P
So now it's time to decide whether or not to schedule and how big to go. If I proceed, my surgery would likely be in three short weeks! Unfortunately, there's the issue of financing. If only there were a boob fairy...
Replies (20)
July 18, 2012
I don't think you need necessarily need a full breast lift at all. If cleavage is what you desire then I think an implant with a crescent mastopexy will give you what you desire. That incision is done at the top of the nipple and the implant can then be implanted underneath the muscle while raising the nipple. Hope this helps :-)
July 19, 2012
Thanks, Christina (or is it Dr. O?) I've never heard of that technique, but fortunately my surgeon doesn't think a lift is indicated at this time. :D
July 18, 2012
I chose augmentation without the lift, as did several of my friends on this site. Each person has to do what they feel best about. I didn't want the extra scarring or the fear of how the incisions would look - some doctors are better than others and they sure aren't going to show you the pics of ones that weren't so great. I am older, so a little natural 'sag' is normal at my age. I honestly think it would have looked strange to have high perky breasts on a 50 year old grandma, lol. I also went large, but I have a large, athletic frame (even minus the 15lbs I recently added - yuck!) so I can carry them. I had several consultations as well, and went with the doctor whose "afters" most closely matched what I wanted to look like. I also chose silicon because it is softer and, again, I am older. I won't have the years of mammograms or rupture worries that a younger woman will have. My 30 year old daughter chose saline, which is great for her. She also chose a lift and to be honest, I don't see much perkiness - just a lot of extra scars. Good luck in whatever you decide. Keep in mind that the more the PS does, the more money they make. I don't think it is always about just what is best for the patient Keep searching till you find that just right doctor.
July 19, 2012
Thanks, TC! I definitely want to minimize scarring, so I'm with you. And I WISH I could go with silicon, but it's those pesky MRI bills that put me off :-/
July 19, 2012
You've found your surgeon! That is great. That puts you one step closer to achieving your dream. Financing is always a touchy issue. I wanted to pay cash for mine, but I ended up getting a loan at my credit union because I was impatient and not willing to hand over my savings. I quit smoking so it was easy to justify - I just send the credit union my cigarette money. I found my local bank and the credit union had better terms than the finance company my PS used, but I am sure that varies a lot. At least you know WHO is doing your procedure and what plan of action he will follow. The rest will be worked out in the right time.
July 21, 2012
I'm also checking into a loan from my credit union and their rates are less than half what carecredit offers...but MAN do I hate assuming new debt! I'm going to have to get off the fence sooner or later for sure. :-/
July 19, 2012
Breasto, I do have pics up of before and afters already if you want to see mine, I just need to add more updated ones this week.
July 21, 2012
Dang, woman, look at you! Your figure is incredible! I look forward to seeing your new pics!
July 19, 2012
UPDATED FROM breastochangeo
18 days pre
Soooooo...I scheduled my surgery today! New boobs...
Soooooo...I scheduled my surgery today! New boobs in less than three weeks!!! And my pre-op appointment is tomorrow! I'm still processing the fact that it's really going to happen after all this time I've spent thinking about it. I'm nervous, but mostly just excited. Fortunately, I don't have that much time to stew on it...
Replies (5)
July 23, 2012
When I chose my pics to take in, I looked at hundreds by the way, I tried to get one as close as my before pic with the same build. I found a pic of a lady that was almost identical in build and had the same before boobs. I looked back on the old pic today and he did a great job giving me the size I asked for. It really is a perfect match to that pic I showed him.
July 24, 2012
That's reassuring. I'll show the surgeon my dream boobs at the pre-op appointment tomorrow and see what he thinks. The owner of said boobs actually has a very similar before to my own, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he'll be able to approximate them :)
July 24, 2012
Hey breasto!
Just read your review. Throwing my 2 cents in regarding the size you choose.
1) the sizers will look completely different in your body, and def. smaller once in. I can give you a couple names of people with sizer pics on this site if necessary, who have post op pics along with- and we all agree that they look smaller once in. I have some posted, but not sure how helpful they are.
2) Make yourself some rice sizers just to give yourself a chance to get used to the size and to see what you feel comfortable in. Wear them as much as possible. But this also will let you know what you want to look like under your shirts. I made rice sizers, felt like i found a good size and then get the actual implant a little bigger.
I did that b/c i was freaking out that the size my doc picked was going to look humungous as i didnt look so good in the sizers. I took pics at the appt. and kept looking at them and they always looked horrible. I was so sure I was going to demand he go smaller so i didnt look fat and matronly post surgery. I ended up just having faith and getting that size and BOY am I glad I didnt go smaller!! I think I could have gone about 15-20ccs more even.
So anyways, just thought I'd throw that in as i didnt see that anyone else mentioned it.
Choosing size is always the hardest.
Good luck, i am excited for you!
Just read your review. Throwing my 2 cents in regarding the size you choose.
1) the sizers will look completely different in your body, and def. smaller once in. I can give you a couple names of people with sizer pics on this site if necessary, who have post op pics along with- and we all agree that they look smaller once in. I have some posted, but not sure how helpful they are.
2) Make yourself some rice sizers just to give yourself a chance to get used to the size and to see what you feel comfortable in. Wear them as much as possible. But this also will let you know what you want to look like under your shirts. I made rice sizers, felt like i found a good size and then get the actual implant a little bigger.
I did that b/c i was freaking out that the size my doc picked was going to look humungous as i didnt look so good in the sizers. I took pics at the appt. and kept looking at them and they always looked horrible. I was so sure I was going to demand he go smaller so i didnt look fat and matronly post surgery. I ended up just having faith and getting that size and BOY am I glad I didnt go smaller!! I think I could have gone about 15-20ccs more even.
So anyways, just thought I'd throw that in as i didnt see that anyone else mentioned it.
Choosing size is always the hardest.
Good luck, i am excited for you!
July 25, 2012
Thanks so much, Scrappy! That's really reassuring because the size my surgeon recommends is larger than I anticipated. I do have rice sizers, but they seem so deformed! I probably shouldn't have used reinforced-toe pantyhose, lol.
July 25, 2012
Breasto-
Lol, I used ziploc bags and had to tape down the edges and tried to make it the same shape as the sizers. Mine looked retarded too. and hung low but gave me some time to get used to it and assess it under my shirts. I only wore them at home btw.
And for what its worth, it sounds to me like you went with the better doc. All those options make sense to me based on what your frame looks like.
Did you say what size you were trying to get to, or the look you ultimately want?
I bet your getting super excited.....! =)
Lol, I used ziploc bags and had to tape down the edges and tried to make it the same shape as the sizers. Mine looked retarded too. and hung low but gave me some time to get used to it and assess it under my shirts. I only wore them at home btw.
And for what its worth, it sounds to me like you went with the better doc. All those options make sense to me based on what your frame looks like.
Did you say what size you were trying to get to, or the look you ultimately want?
I bet your getting super excited.....! =)
Replies (6)
I went to consultations to talk about augmentation only, since I didn't realize I needed a lift. But after much research, including talking to patients who'd undergone the same procedure, I decided to do the full lift with augmentation. (Really, the doctor I chose would've done no less because the result would've looked horrible.)Yes, I have the keyhole scars, but apparently I heal really well. They are barely noticeable. You'll have to make your own judgement as to how you usually heal. Of course, underneath the breasts are the major scars, but they also look pretty decent. You won't even normally see those because the breast tissue conceals them.
Yes, it cost a bit more to have the lift in addition to augmentation, but it was completely worth it. Most doctors offer financing through a separate company, so check that out.
As for the recovery, it was hard to judge my pain level of that procedure alone, as I also had some lipo at the same time. I do think the lipo hurt a helluva lot more than the boobs!
At 14 months out, I still have some areas of numbness, but that will continue to get better.
My goal with the procedure was to simply make them look like they used to look. People who don't know I had anything done can't tell, since I didn't go with huge implants.
Some questions to consider: How will a simple augmentation affect a lift should you want one later in life? If you ever want to breastfeed a child, how would each procedure affect that?
Best of luck!