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Checking in at three months
It’s been just over three months since my surgery, and I thought I’d update one last time.
The recovery has been great, and I’ve followed exactly the path my doctor predicted. At three months, there are still mild twinges of pain now and then. I don’t sleep in any compression, and I usually wake up with my belly feeling tender, but it goes away. I still have swelling late in the day, and sometimes it even feels pretty significant to me, but my doctor says it’s normal for this to continue for a year. I have every reason to ride it out and trust her. I still wear the stiffest Spanx nearly every day—I get a little tender if I don’t. I tried PIlates at the 10-week mark, and it was just too soon—it really was quite sore, so I gave myself one more month to heal, and I hope to start back soon. My breast augmentation pain is next to nothing—the only time I notice it is if I try to lie face down on a hard surface, like the floor (not something I need to do very often anyway!)
I have absolutely NO regrets, and I am delighted with my results. I tuck my shirt in every chance I get, and I’m down 1-2 sizes from pre-surgery (with no real weight change—just shape). Last weekend I went to a reunion and wore a bikini for the first time since my honeymoon! I was a confident person before surgery and never felt like I needed this surgery to be happy or whole, but with my new “reclaimed” body, I feel more like myself than I have in ages. It was a surprise how emotionally freeing it was to let loose of my belly—it was much more of a burden than I realized. I look in the mirror and don’t see a “new” me, I see the “real” me—that one that was a little buried before.
I started this journey terrified of the surgery itself and concerned that I was being overly vain. I’ve come out on this side satisfied that I did something brave and I feel *less* vain than I did before. I don’t think about my body as much now. I like the way I look, and that’s freed me up to not obsess over perceived flaws and think about things that matter so much more. The flat tummy, new swimsuits, and cute clothes are all fun, but those things pale in comparison to the way I feel.
It was all worth it!
The recovery has been great, and I’ve followed exactly the path my doctor predicted. At three months, there are still mild twinges of pain now and then. I don’t sleep in any compression, and I usually wake up with my belly feeling tender, but it goes away. I still have swelling late in the day, and sometimes it even feels pretty significant to me, but my doctor says it’s normal for this to continue for a year. I have every reason to ride it out and trust her. I still wear the stiffest Spanx nearly every day—I get a little tender if I don’t. I tried PIlates at the 10-week mark, and it was just too soon—it really was quite sore, so I gave myself one more month to heal, and I hope to start back soon. My breast augmentation pain is next to nothing—the only time I notice it is if I try to lie face down on a hard surface, like the floor (not something I need to do very often anyway!)
I have absolutely NO regrets, and I am delighted with my results. I tuck my shirt in every chance I get, and I’m down 1-2 sizes from pre-surgery (with no real weight change—just shape). Last weekend I went to a reunion and wore a bikini for the first time since my honeymoon! I was a confident person before surgery and never felt like I needed this surgery to be happy or whole, but with my new “reclaimed” body, I feel more like myself than I have in ages. It was a surprise how emotionally freeing it was to let loose of my belly—it was much more of a burden than I realized. I look in the mirror and don’t see a “new” me, I see the “real” me—that one that was a little buried before.
I started this journey terrified of the surgery itself and concerned that I was being overly vain. I’ve come out on this side satisfied that I did something brave and I feel *less* vain than I did before. I don’t think about my body as much now. I like the way I look, and that’s freed me up to not obsess over perceived flaws and think about things that matter so much more. The flat tummy, new swimsuits, and cute clothes are all fun, but those things pale in comparison to the way I feel.
It was all worth it!
Coming up on 8 weeks—and bronchitis!
Things are going great, overall. My pain level decreases almost daily. I can sometimes half a day without noticing any significant soreness (though not in the late afternoon/evening, when mild soreness ramps up.) Have bronchitis right now, and the coughing hasn’t been pleasant, but nowhere near what the coughing felt like the first couple weeks after surgery! I have tried very (!) gentle ab exercises. I can tell the muscles don’t fire the way they used to, but that will come back with time. Took my son on a college visit this week and walked all over campus for four hours with barely a thought about anything hurting—huge progress!
I feel like the only thing left for true normality is being able to do Pilates. I miss it so much! Leaving on vacation Friday, and I’m hoping when I return (at the almost-10-week mark) to start trying modified Pilates. Fingers crossed!
Can’t stress enough—don’t be scared of this surgery. I was TERRIFIED. Be sure you have the support you need, and have a surgeon you trust, but if you’ve done that—you’re going to be okay!
I feel like the only thing left for true normality is being able to do Pilates. I miss it so much! Leaving on vacation Friday, and I’m hoping when I return (at the almost-10-week mark) to start trying modified Pilates. Fingers crossed!
Can’t stress enough—don’t be scared of this surgery. I was TERRIFIED. Be sure you have the support you need, and have a surgeon you trust, but if you’ve done that—you’re going to be okay!
My new measurements and sizes, 5 1/2 weeks post op
Well, here are some happy numbers! I took measurements the night before my surgery, and here are my new ones:
WAIST
Before: 35
Today 32
AROUND HIP BONE
Before: 39 3/4
Today: 37 1/2
BOTTOM OF RIB CAGE
Before: 34 1/2
Today 31 1/2
BRA LINE (where bra sits under boobs)
Before: 34 1/2
After: 33 (wasn’t expecting to lose inches here—a nice surprise!
OVER NIPPLES
Before: 38 1/2
After: 40 (This number is misleading—it sounds like a small change. Visually, it’s a HUGE change and I’m perfectly pleased. Most of the fullness was added in the top half of my boobs, above my nipples, so I think it doesn’t show up in the number.
My bra size before surgery was a very small B. My cup size now is a D, which is STAGGERING to me, and so exciting. Even in my very biggest days of breastfeeding I was only a C! It looks great and very natural (my implants are 300cc).
Before surgery I wore size 8 pants. Today I’m in a 6, and occasionally a 4. If I could lose five more pounds and lose the swelling, I think I have a real shot at being a 4 in everything. In shirts, my size has remained the same or even gone up (depending on the shirt), because of my boobs. I’ll take it!
Shopping is so much fun now—I’ve gone through my closet and have realized that all of my clothes were designed to hide my belly. Now I’m only shopping for stuff that shows off my trim waist and flat belly!
WAIST
Before: 35
Today 32
AROUND HIP BONE
Before: 39 3/4
Today: 37 1/2
BOTTOM OF RIB CAGE
Before: 34 1/2
Today 31 1/2
BRA LINE (where bra sits under boobs)
Before: 34 1/2
After: 33 (wasn’t expecting to lose inches here—a nice surprise!
OVER NIPPLES
Before: 38 1/2
After: 40 (This number is misleading—it sounds like a small change. Visually, it’s a HUGE change and I’m perfectly pleased. Most of the fullness was added in the top half of my boobs, above my nipples, so I think it doesn’t show up in the number.
My bra size before surgery was a very small B. My cup size now is a D, which is STAGGERING to me, and so exciting. Even in my very biggest days of breastfeeding I was only a C! It looks great and very natural (my implants are 300cc).
Before surgery I wore size 8 pants. Today I’m in a 6, and occasionally a 4. If I could lose five more pounds and lose the swelling, I think I have a real shot at being a 4 in everything. In shirts, my size has remained the same or even gone up (depending on the shirt), because of my boobs. I’ll take it!
Shopping is so much fun now—I’ve gone through my closet and have realized that all of my clothes were designed to hide my belly. Now I’m only shopping for stuff that shows off my trim waist and flat belly!
Provider Review
I have been blown away by Dr. Schiesel. Her bedside manner is absolutely perfect—warm and kind and comforting while still being confident, realistic, and assuring. I felt like I was in perfectly good hands from the first minute I met her—I figured I’d interview other surgeons, but I liked her so much I couldn’t imagine trusting anyone else. She has called me every single day since surgery and even came to my house to bring me an extra binder and look me over on day 3. Who DOES that? I can’t say enough good about her.