Treatment Provider

Mark E. Mason, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
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Five Weeks!

Tomorrow marks five weeks post op! I am overall feeling great! My back has finally adjusted to the new weight and what I assumed might have been the pectoral muscles pulling on or depending on the back muscles to pick up the slack. My incisions to be healing well and are {s l o w l y} moving above the crease, just a bit, which I believe is a good sign that both sides are dropping. It's funny how each week prior is always so much worse than each day in the present. Last week, I didn't think that I would feel this much more healed and good, so I can clearly see why they six weeks in the "golden" mark. I've been still taking it easy, regardless of the fact that I could do light activity. Really, as a mom of an almost two year old and four year old, my "light activity" is probably someone without kids or with older's kid's "moderate" activity. We are a Fitbit family and constantly compete, prior to surgery, I averaged 105,000 steps (that's an average of 14,000 steps/day) a week and smoked them all by a good 15,000 steps weekly. My average since surgery has slowly been increasing closer to 60,000 (which is obviously A LOT less) steps so I am clearly taking them seriously with not being too active. I have returned to the gym but am doing more sitting by the pool (and not sweating) than I am working out. I do about 20-30 minutes on the treadmill, walking, twice a week. BUT, I do have to chase and pin down my 22 month old constantly, so I am still moderately active. I have only lifted my child in emergency situations, no more than twice a day. My husband works from the home and has scheduled his time around helping me get her in and out of her crib and high chair. She uses a stool to climb in the car and up into her carseat and getting her out is easy because I don't have to lift, just carry.

Despite taking very cautious efforts, on Monday morning I woke with a really odd pain. If I pressed in a certain spot, I felt a shooting pain. It was almost like a I had an internal bruise. I had worn my compression band a bit tighter that evening and wondered if that was the cause. I bent over when I got out of bed and the pain shot up towards the top of breast and just lingered. If I pressed, it felt like the same internal bruise. It would sting and throb, especially if I did any type of muscle using task with my arm (ie: squeezing toothpaste), then slowly dissipate. I called into my surgeon and by the time I heard back, it was permanently gone. They said, as well as the surgeon's I asked on here, that I must have over worked it. I took it a little easier this week even though it only lasted about six hours and has been gone ever since. It's just not worth it to create any issues. I have another post-op on Monday, so hopefully I will check out fine and get the all clear.

As far as how I feel, the only thing I notice is that some movements still feel tight. It's always weird things like wiping the countertops, or opening something or all the sudden shooting my hand straight up to catch food flying across the table {insert said toddler}. It's actually more of my armpits rather than breasts, which I think is my skin stretching in that area. My breasts feel as if they are a part of body, especially my right one. I can't feel the implant move at all and think it is completely settled into the pocket and ready to for the next 15 years. My left breast, which has always been more stubborn, is still a little high, not fully dropped, and doesn't have quite the same look as the right, but I think it will eventually. I can feel it moving when I jog up the stairs or even yawn and I am wondering if this is how it will always feel.

I can finally stretch and I keep waking up sleeping on my stomach. WHOOPS! I definitely move but seem to always back up there. I know there is no way that I will be able to get back to yoga for a lot longer than I thought, but it is worth it to heal and recover properly.

All is well here!

Week Five Advice:
1) I sound like a record: go bigger than you think you should. I never would have dreamt 400cc would be right for my body but the more they settle, the more and more they look perfect. I can make it to where you wouldn't know I even have surgery and I can make them look massive (which I reserve for my husband, ha). I can assure you 100% that I would have been disappointed if I went any smaller. Of course, those cc's for me--I just mean if they look slightly too big in the sizers, they will probably be exactly what you want post surgery. My goal was natural and proportionate, although I thought would be way too big judging by the number.

2) Wait until your children are older. My four year old has been totally fine, but it has been very difficult with my almost two year old (who has already hit terrible twos). I would suggest anyone wanting an augmentation to wait until their youngest child is a little more independent. That age can de different for every child, but I would say out of a highchair or crib and able to maneuver stairs well if you have them. NO ONE could have convinced me of this, but if you're on the fence. Wait. If you wait and go to a wonderful surgeon like mine, you'll have a speedy recovery.

Four Weeks Post Op: Full Coverage cups for Women with Needing Small Bands.

Today marks a full MONTH since surgery! I happened to be at Old Navy this week when my eye caught a wireless halter swimsuit top that looked like it had fairly good coverage. No pushup or wire and with small children, that's what I have been looking for. I don't want anything expensive until close to summer when I am able to spend money on something I can wear for awhile. The evolution of the boob is pretty crazy in the first 6 weeks, and I am betting even longer, so VS swimsuits are going to have to wait until they settle! I need some bandeau tops to avoid horrible tan lines!

These halter swim tops have a thick band that TIES under the breast at the band so you can adjust it easier and still have a the appropriate cup size. The few swimsuits that I have tried, the band size will fit but the cup is too small or the cups fits, but the band is way too big. I have been so weary of posting pictures, but these may really help out some of you that

a) wonder what 400cc's look like on a 5'1", petite frame, at 100 pounds (I keep losing weight post surgery, but this usually happens when I stop working out).

b) are looking for fuller coverage tops with a band that can be tighter while the cup is large enough.

Instead of buying any bottoms, I paired them with bottoms I had pre-surgery and they are perfect for these warm Texas months leading up to summer.

The first two pictures, however, are a before and after picture of myself in an underwire bikini top last summer and what it looks like now as well just to see the difference in how I can really "boost" them or "tame" them depending on the type of top (and for the right crowd). :)

I may get all private again and delete soon, so view them before my conscious gets to me again!

Halfway

Halfway to the six-week mark of freedom!!! Things are going great; everything is looking and feeling as I feel it should at this point in time. I have come to realize that bra shopping and swimsuit shopping is going to be very difficult for me in the future. I am not buying anything really right now because my breasts are constantly changing shape and size; it would be a waste of money to do so now. I am buying bralettes, support bras and sports bras because those are necessities, but anything beyond that is impatient vanity. While I know Victoria's Secret is know for their sizing indicating much larger than reality, I couldn't help but to go get prematurely sized for fun. I was shocked to hear 30dd. I am sure that will change over time, but shopping for a 30 (even 32) band is pretty difficult and pair that with a D cup...impossible. Finding a swimsuit will be a mess too. They are all too big in the band but too small in the cup. I am trying to find a couple of cheap tops right now just because it is getting hot here in Texas and it would be nice to sit by the pool.....but right now, no tops fit! We shall over time what their final size ends up being. I probably won't know that for 3-6 months I would guess. They change so much weekly.

I am feeling almost 100%. Having two small kids can give me a backache sometimes, but nothing major anymore. I did 40 minutes of "light" walking on the treadmill this morning, and by light, I mean barely moving and enough to actually take notes in the book I was reading. I know some surgeons have different recommendations, but I don't want to do anything that cause swelling or internal bleeding, so I truly am going to take it very easy. My nipples are ridiculously sore, but fire boob is pretty much a thing of the past. Showering is still uncomfortable for me, but it was that way when I was nursing or engorged too, so that's nothing new.

The third week was a turning point in my recovery and I bet had I figured out that my bra was too tight at the beginning, it would have been even quicker. :)

Provider Review

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
900 E. Southlake Blvd., Southlake, Texas
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Overall rating
Doctor's bedside manner
Answered my questions
After care follow-up
Time spent with me
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Staff professionalism & courtesy
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Dr. Mason and his staff were simply OUTSTANDING. They were prompt, on time, gentle, and always had my best interest at heart. He answered all of my questions thoroughly, never rushed my appointment, and walked me through the procedure and what to expect before, during, and afterwords. Every person was so easy to talk to, but above any other compliment...they are trustworthy; they are going to do their best to cater to your goals and desires!!! I was very comfortable with Dr. Mason and his entire staff. All of the nurses, Kim, and all of the other staff members were simply the best. I have had very little pain since my surgery--towards my armpits, it is sore and uncomfortable, but definitely not painful. GRANTED, they have me on a lot of medication to keep my comfortable. I have full range of motion in my arms which is completely unexpected after everything I had heard. My husband was handed a chart with what times I should take my medication over the next three days. They were very adamant taking medication around the clock to stay ahead of the pain and that they would refill anything as needed. I can't speak any higher of everyone at Southlake Plastic Surgery. Dr. Mason even called both my husband and me today, Saturday, to follow up on my recovery. He is simply outstanding! If you are looking for a surgeon, look no more. He is hands down the best and you'll only be wasting money on your consultations before making your big decision!