POSTED UNDER Breast Augmentation REVIEWS
One Week Until My BA and Lift! - Scottsdale, AZ
ORIGINAL POST
I'm so excited to announce my BA with Mastopexy is...
$13,500
I'm so excited to announce my BA with Mastopexy is in 1 short week.
I'm 5ft 2in, I weigh 130-135. I'm active duty military so I'm quite active.
I'm looking to achieve a very full look. Not fake looking, but I do love the round top look. I live in NY and I will be traveling to AZ to get my procedure done. Therefor almost all the information I have gathered is from here among other internet sites. My Pre-Operative appointment is on the 14th and my surgery is set for the 16th of June. I'm excited to finally meet Dr. Cohen and his staff and get to the final decisions of what we will be going with.
In my head I would love to achieve a D-DD cup. I want them full without the "hey look I have super fake boobs" look. I know I want to get textured silicone, sub-muscular. From what I've heard about Dr. Cohen is that he will grant me my wishes to the best of his ability while maintaining what I truly can live with for my body which is perfect.
Does anyone have any last minute advice for me? Surgery prep? Post surgery plans? I have Arnica Montana and Bromelain already.
Thank you in advance and I can't wait to post pre and post photos in one week!!
I'm 5ft 2in, I weigh 130-135. I'm active duty military so I'm quite active.
I'm looking to achieve a very full look. Not fake looking, but I do love the round top look. I live in NY and I will be traveling to AZ to get my procedure done. Therefor almost all the information I have gathered is from here among other internet sites. My Pre-Operative appointment is on the 14th and my surgery is set for the 16th of June. I'm excited to finally meet Dr. Cohen and his staff and get to the final decisions of what we will be going with.
In my head I would love to achieve a D-DD cup. I want them full without the "hey look I have super fake boobs" look. I know I want to get textured silicone, sub-muscular. From what I've heard about Dr. Cohen is that he will grant me my wishes to the best of his ability while maintaining what I truly can live with for my body which is perfect.
Does anyone have any last minute advice for me? Surgery prep? Post surgery plans? I have Arnica Montana and Bromelain already.
Thank you in advance and I can't wait to post pre and post photos in one week!!
Replies (1)
UPDATED FROM geogh
1 day post
I HAVE BOOBS!
Yesterday was my big surgery. I'm so happy it's over. I was told to be in at 10:30am and somehow managed to be waiting until 3:30pm! I was so frustrated and hungry since I wasn't able to eat! But I'm not upset, I know Dr. Cohen is a perfectionist and although my stomach was screaming for food, I'm glad he took his time with his patient before me.
They told me the procedure took a little over 2 hours. Dr. Cohen ended up using 410cc smooth round silicone implants with a circularareaolar(sp?) masteopexy. I am going to see him in just a couple more hours to see how they look. When I was released from the office, they sent me home in just a surgical bra and a strap across the top. Weird thing is, the surgical bra pulls over my head....I would have thought they would give me a front closure bra. Strange in my opinion, especially when I had to pay $55 for this bra! I also thought I would have been in more bandages, but I guess not.
Waking up from my surgery wasn't bad at all. I didn't have much feeling laying down. They gave me some ice chips but when I sat up my poor husband told me I looked like a sheet and I got so nauseous. They took away the ice chips and gave me some crackers and a little bag just in case. They helped me off the stretcher and into the wheelchair. Once in the car I dozed in and out the entire way home. I don't remember walking into the house, but I do remember my husband getting me set on the couch where he fed me some bread and the rest of my meds. I slept until bed time. The first night was a cake walk. I had no trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. I woke up maybe 3 times to use the restroom and take more meds. My husband was a doll and helped me in and out of bed each time.
The way I prepared for my surgery was all thanks to this website. Thank you all for posting your experiences and being so helpful. I went to Target and got a little back pillow to help me stay up, I ordered Arnica Montana and Bromelian. The doc perscribed me nausea meds, pain meds, anxiety meds, and an anti-biotic. They gave me a cute little bag to keep my papers in as well as a water bottle(reusable), ice pack, stool softener, and the warranty information booklet for my brand of implants.
I'll post before and after photos as soon as I'm able to take some afters!!
They told me the procedure took a little over 2 hours. Dr. Cohen ended up using 410cc smooth round silicone implants with a circularareaolar(sp?) masteopexy. I am going to see him in just a couple more hours to see how they look. When I was released from the office, they sent me home in just a surgical bra and a strap across the top. Weird thing is, the surgical bra pulls over my head....I would have thought they would give me a front closure bra. Strange in my opinion, especially when I had to pay $55 for this bra! I also thought I would have been in more bandages, but I guess not.
Waking up from my surgery wasn't bad at all. I didn't have much feeling laying down. They gave me some ice chips but when I sat up my poor husband told me I looked like a sheet and I got so nauseous. They took away the ice chips and gave me some crackers and a little bag just in case. They helped me off the stretcher and into the wheelchair. Once in the car I dozed in and out the entire way home. I don't remember walking into the house, but I do remember my husband getting me set on the couch where he fed me some bread and the rest of my meds. I slept until bed time. The first night was a cake walk. I had no trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. I woke up maybe 3 times to use the restroom and take more meds. My husband was a doll and helped me in and out of bed each time.
The way I prepared for my surgery was all thanks to this website. Thank you all for posting your experiences and being so helpful. I went to Target and got a little back pillow to help me stay up, I ordered Arnica Montana and Bromelian. The doc perscribed me nausea meds, pain meds, anxiety meds, and an anti-biotic. They gave me a cute little bag to keep my papers in as well as a water bottle(reusable), ice pack, stool softener, and the warranty information booklet for my brand of implants.
I'll post before and after photos as soon as I'm able to take some afters!!
Replies (0)
UPDATED FROM geogh
12 days post
Some photos
I can't seem to find my before photos :( I also got the tape removed a week after surgery and have yet to take photos! More to come! Anyone have good recommendations for bras with no underwire?
Replies (7)
July 23, 2016
Hi Geogh,
Congratulations on your beautiful breasts! Also, thank you for your service :) I am sooo happy that I found this post because I'm getting my BA done with a possible circumareolar mastopexy with Dr. Cohen on August 11; I am so excited! I, too live in a different state (Georgia), and I made my decision simply by researching online. I feel much more confident in my decision now to have Dr. Cohen perform my surgery, so thank you for posting your experience (and photos). Nevertheless, your unexpected 5 hour wait sounds like a NIGHTMARE! You are a better person than me, because when I'm hungry-let alone starving- a tiny little monster awakens, lol!
Please let me know how you are recovering. I was surprised to read that your surgical bra was over-the-head. How long do you have to wear it before removing it? I'm confused about that because I heard that it's almost impossible to lift your arms at chest level for the first few days. If you can explain this, I would really appreciate it so that I can be better prepared.
I don't want to overwhelm you with questions, and I'm not assuming that you are going to answer them all (or that you'll even respond to my post. But I would like to know the following:
1. Did Dr. Cohen place any bandages on you or did you leave looking like the photos your posted, with only the steri-strips?
2. Were you able to see your areola clearly, and did the incision scare you? (The areola incisions make me nervous).
3. How soon after surgery did you fly back to New York, and did flying make your breasts so hurt?
4. Are you flying back for your post-opt appointments (I was told there was a 2 week and 8 week post-opt, but that I didn't need to go back; I could email photos and communicate via phone and if something looked "off" that then I would be asked to come in."
5. Did you have to sleep at a 45 degree angle and for how long?
Thanks in advance.
I look forward to seeing your other photos.
Congratulations on your beautiful breasts! Also, thank you for your service :) I am sooo happy that I found this post because I'm getting my BA done with a possible circumareolar mastopexy with Dr. Cohen on August 11; I am so excited! I, too live in a different state (Georgia), and I made my decision simply by researching online. I feel much more confident in my decision now to have Dr. Cohen perform my surgery, so thank you for posting your experience (and photos). Nevertheless, your unexpected 5 hour wait sounds like a NIGHTMARE! You are a better person than me, because when I'm hungry-let alone starving- a tiny little monster awakens, lol!
Please let me know how you are recovering. I was surprised to read that your surgical bra was over-the-head. How long do you have to wear it before removing it? I'm confused about that because I heard that it's almost impossible to lift your arms at chest level for the first few days. If you can explain this, I would really appreciate it so that I can be better prepared.
I don't want to overwhelm you with questions, and I'm not assuming that you are going to answer them all (or that you'll even respond to my post. But I would like to know the following:
1. Did Dr. Cohen place any bandages on you or did you leave looking like the photos your posted, with only the steri-strips?
2. Were you able to see your areola clearly, and did the incision scare you? (The areola incisions make me nervous).
3. How soon after surgery did you fly back to New York, and did flying make your breasts so hurt?
4. Are you flying back for your post-opt appointments (I was told there was a 2 week and 8 week post-opt, but that I didn't need to go back; I could email photos and communicate via phone and if something looked "off" that then I would be asked to come in."
5. Did you have to sleep at a 45 degree angle and for how long?
Thanks in advance.
I look forward to seeing your other photos.
July 23, 2016
Hi, Froggi!
Thank you for all your questions. First, let me assure you, Dr. Cohen is worth the long wait time! If I were to go back in time, I'd still wait, but maybe call ahead and make sure he's running on time so you don't have to wait in the office. The nurse told me to call before my appointments to make sure he was on time, but I didn't think to call the day of surgery. So I'd advise that for sure!
As for recovery, I'm currently just past week 5 and I feel great! I'm not pushing myself too hard though. I've gone to the gym a couple times but I only do legs and abs. If I feel at any time my chest muscles contract, I completely stop whatever I'm doing. I am healing beautifully although I did have 2 little spots on my nipples where two stitches came to the surface before dissolving giving me a little infection. I emailed photos to Dr. Cohen and got a call within a couple hours. They just called me in more anti-biotics and some ointment and I'm back to normal. I did squeeze out the little stitches though. I'm no sore at all and I'm able to sleep on my side and even my stomach if I chose to.
As for the over-the-head bra that I woke up in. I was surprised when I went in the day after my surgery for the first check up and they just pulled it down over my shoulders. So I was completely wrong for getting upset with that. That was all I woke up in though, just the bra. No bandages or anything like I've noticed in other BA reviews. I wore my surgical bra for about a week before I switched to a front zip bra I bought from Walmart. The surgical bra is still my sleep bra most of the time now. I still don't think it was worth the price I paid for it from the office. It's just a thin little $10 bra you can get from Walmart. Not much support. They actually let you try on the same exact bra before the surgery when you try on different sizers in the office, but they don't tell you that.
After surgery I honestly wasn't as sore as I thought I would be. Getting up and down, in and out of bed was he hardest because your body uses a lot of chest muscles that you don't realize until they are sore, lol. By I'd say, day 3 or 4, I felt completely normal. I was up and moving around and completely feeling great, still sore, but great. I also stopped taking the pain meds by the day after my surgery and I was only using Tylenol Extra Strength. Speaking of meds, don't worry about buying stool softener, they give it to you before surgery. They actually give you a cute little goodie bag. I comes with a large ice pack that you can re-use over and over, some stool softener, a cup with straw and lid(like the cute ones from Starbucks, re-usable, washable plastic), gauze, and informational packets. Some things that I did have to purchase were, Aquaphor ointment, I got Arnica Montana(I didn't think it really helped, but whatever), as well as Bromelain(also didn't notice it help at all), I got one of those sit up study pillows($20 at Target and I'll be honest I returned it when I was done, lol shame on me but I didn't want to fly with it home), I also purchased the scar gel that they sell at the office. It was expensive but hopefully worth it, I'll start using it when my infected spots completely heal.
Now to your real questions:
1. I did leave the office with only steri-strips and I think little 4x4 square gauze pads under the thin surgical bra. (side note on those strips...they take them off at week 1 checkup...when I say take off I'm being nice. They tore them suckers off and tore the scabs off underneath them. Hurt like hell and made me bleed. I suppose there is no other way to remove them without taking the scabs off, but still. That's also when you start using the aquaphor)
2. I was SO nervous to get the lift with my areolas! I didn't want my husband to see my boobs being all cut up and weird looking, but honestly they looked amazing after the steri-strips were taken off. The incisions were so clean and neat. Dr. Choen uses dissolve-able(probably not a real word) stitches so you don't look like Frankenstein! You can see your areolas through the steri-strpis, but you'll see the whole areola after the removal at week 1. I would advise to ask about size and shape of your areolas and make sure he knows what you want. I assumed he would make my areolas a little smaller and more round, but I came out with my original size, only they are more oval now. Not a big deal, I just wish I had asked before surgery.
3. I stayed in AZ for 3 weeks after my surgery since we had family so close to stay with, but I'm sure if we flew back two days after, it would have been fine. When I did fly back, I was afraid I would have issues with pain but nothing changed at all. No pain whatsoever from flying.
4. I won't be flying back for any follow ups. I plan on emailing some photos at week 6 and then maybe every few months. Dr. Cohen told me if I had any issues that required me to see a doctor he would recommend someone close to my home so I didn't have to fly back to AZ. I mean, I did just have an infection and they handled it through emails and a couple phone calls. So I feel confident in not needing to fly back.
5. I slept with my back elevated and a pillow under my knees for maybe 4 days. When I went in for my 1 week checkup, she then told me I didn't have to unless I wanted to after that...so I guess I should have done it for a week. Oh well. It's really just to keep the swelling down and make sure the blood is flowing properly.
I really hope this helps you and feel free to ask any more questions you might have. I will do my best to answer them all!! I will try to post more photos this evening if I have time, if not then tomorrow!
Thank you for all your questions. First, let me assure you, Dr. Cohen is worth the long wait time! If I were to go back in time, I'd still wait, but maybe call ahead and make sure he's running on time so you don't have to wait in the office. The nurse told me to call before my appointments to make sure he was on time, but I didn't think to call the day of surgery. So I'd advise that for sure!
As for recovery, I'm currently just past week 5 and I feel great! I'm not pushing myself too hard though. I've gone to the gym a couple times but I only do legs and abs. If I feel at any time my chest muscles contract, I completely stop whatever I'm doing. I am healing beautifully although I did have 2 little spots on my nipples where two stitches came to the surface before dissolving giving me a little infection. I emailed photos to Dr. Cohen and got a call within a couple hours. They just called me in more anti-biotics and some ointment and I'm back to normal. I did squeeze out the little stitches though. I'm no sore at all and I'm able to sleep on my side and even my stomach if I chose to.
As for the over-the-head bra that I woke up in. I was surprised when I went in the day after my surgery for the first check up and they just pulled it down over my shoulders. So I was completely wrong for getting upset with that. That was all I woke up in though, just the bra. No bandages or anything like I've noticed in other BA reviews. I wore my surgical bra for about a week before I switched to a front zip bra I bought from Walmart. The surgical bra is still my sleep bra most of the time now. I still don't think it was worth the price I paid for it from the office. It's just a thin little $10 bra you can get from Walmart. Not much support. They actually let you try on the same exact bra before the surgery when you try on different sizers in the office, but they don't tell you that.
After surgery I honestly wasn't as sore as I thought I would be. Getting up and down, in and out of bed was he hardest because your body uses a lot of chest muscles that you don't realize until they are sore, lol. By I'd say, day 3 or 4, I felt completely normal. I was up and moving around and completely feeling great, still sore, but great. I also stopped taking the pain meds by the day after my surgery and I was only using Tylenol Extra Strength. Speaking of meds, don't worry about buying stool softener, they give it to you before surgery. They actually give you a cute little goodie bag. I comes with a large ice pack that you can re-use over and over, some stool softener, a cup with straw and lid(like the cute ones from Starbucks, re-usable, washable plastic), gauze, and informational packets. Some things that I did have to purchase were, Aquaphor ointment, I got Arnica Montana(I didn't think it really helped, but whatever), as well as Bromelain(also didn't notice it help at all), I got one of those sit up study pillows($20 at Target and I'll be honest I returned it when I was done, lol shame on me but I didn't want to fly with it home), I also purchased the scar gel that they sell at the office. It was expensive but hopefully worth it, I'll start using it when my infected spots completely heal.
Now to your real questions:
1. I did leave the office with only steri-strips and I think little 4x4 square gauze pads under the thin surgical bra. (side note on those strips...they take them off at week 1 checkup...when I say take off I'm being nice. They tore them suckers off and tore the scabs off underneath them. Hurt like hell and made me bleed. I suppose there is no other way to remove them without taking the scabs off, but still. That's also when you start using the aquaphor)
2. I was SO nervous to get the lift with my areolas! I didn't want my husband to see my boobs being all cut up and weird looking, but honestly they looked amazing after the steri-strips were taken off. The incisions were so clean and neat. Dr. Choen uses dissolve-able(probably not a real word) stitches so you don't look like Frankenstein! You can see your areolas through the steri-strpis, but you'll see the whole areola after the removal at week 1. I would advise to ask about size and shape of your areolas and make sure he knows what you want. I assumed he would make my areolas a little smaller and more round, but I came out with my original size, only they are more oval now. Not a big deal, I just wish I had asked before surgery.
3. I stayed in AZ for 3 weeks after my surgery since we had family so close to stay with, but I'm sure if we flew back two days after, it would have been fine. When I did fly back, I was afraid I would have issues with pain but nothing changed at all. No pain whatsoever from flying.
4. I won't be flying back for any follow ups. I plan on emailing some photos at week 6 and then maybe every few months. Dr. Cohen told me if I had any issues that required me to see a doctor he would recommend someone close to my home so I didn't have to fly back to AZ. I mean, I did just have an infection and they handled it through emails and a couple phone calls. So I feel confident in not needing to fly back.
5. I slept with my back elevated and a pillow under my knees for maybe 4 days. When I went in for my 1 week checkup, she then told me I didn't have to unless I wanted to after that...so I guess I should have done it for a week. Oh well. It's really just to keep the swelling down and make sure the blood is flowing properly.
I really hope this helps you and feel free to ask any more questions you might have. I will do my best to answer them all!! I will try to post more photos this evening if I have time, if not then tomorrow!
July 23, 2016
Hi Geogh,
I was so happy to get your response; wow! You went above and beyond. Thank you so much. I laughed when I read the part about the steri-strip removal-thanks for the heads up-but I'm sorry it was so painful :( The info regarding the areola is very helpful. I never would have thought to ask that.
I appreciate you saying that I can ask you more questions if I have any. I'm fairly certain that I may have some questions after my BA, but even if I don't, I will let you know about the results of my surgery.
Thanks again for awesome feedback!
Froggi
I was so happy to get your response; wow! You went above and beyond. Thank you so much. I laughed when I read the part about the steri-strip removal-thanks for the heads up-but I'm sorry it was so painful :( The info regarding the areola is very helpful. I never would have thought to ask that.
I appreciate you saying that I can ask you more questions if I have any. I'm fairly certain that I may have some questions after my BA, but even if I don't, I will let you know about the results of my surgery.
Thanks again for awesome feedback!
Froggi
September 3, 2016
Hey how are your boobs doing? I went to dr. Cohen too (: I'm 11 days post op and feeling great
September 3, 2016
Mine are great! They look beautiful and my husband loves them, lol! My only regret now is not wearing a tighter sports bra during the healing process. My right breast pocket is slightly in my armpit lol but it's totally user error! I'm glad you're feeling great!! I hope the rest of your process goes just as smoothly!
September 5, 2016
Honestly I'm thinking of just wearing the bra they gave me after surgery it's comfortable and tight and thin I like it. But you're right definitely not $55 worth very expensive for how simple the bra is
September 5, 2016
Absolutely do what you feel comfortable with!! They have the same exact bra at Walmart for around $7 so you can get a couple to switch out!
Hey there! Welcome, and thanks for sharing your story with us. I hope you'll get lots of support from the community. Have you chosen the size and brand of your implants yet? Please keep us updated!