Treatment Provider

Joseph Mele, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
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Two Week Update

It's been 16 days since my surgery. I had my second post op appointment yesterday and my doc said everything looks great. He removed the surgical tape and I got to see my new nipples for the first time. They are still a little puckered and scary, but the doc said they will smooth out over time. My nipples are still super sensitive; it kills to touch them. I'm supposed to start moisturizing and massaging them to help smooth the scars and help with the hypersensitivity.

I'm feeling almost back to normal. I don't have any pain, but I still don't have full range of motion and there are certain motions that are very uncomfortable. I've been working this week and riding public transportation and haven't had any real issues.

I'm really happy with the size and shape so far. All the shirts I've tried still fit and I don't feel that it's a noticeable difference in clothes. Someone would probably just think that I bought a great bra, lol.

I am cleared to do lower body exercise and cardio. I am also cleared to buy a non underwire bra, but I think I'm going to try to wait a while since my size may change.

I took some updated pictures to give an idea of how they are settling.

One Week Post Op

Well technically it was one week last night, but it's close enough. I am starting to feel human again. I went to work yesterday. It was only about six hours and mostly sitting at my desk, but it was exhausting. I started to feel faint after too much time on my feet. I figured that I tried to do too much and took today off.

It seems like my incisions are healing well. I still haven't actually seen them because the surgical tape is still attached. I'm kind of afraid to see what they look like. I know that it's normal for them to look a little crazy at first, but it's easier to not freak out if I don't actually look.

I'm having more pain and trouble with moving my left side, which isn't too surprising considering that my right was slightly bigger to start.

I went to my first post op appointment on Monday and my doc said that everything looks great so far. He told me to start doing massage, but only pressing the implants inward for a few seconds ten times several times a day. It's supposed to keep the inner side of the pocket loose and prevent the implants from falling towards my armpits.

I have a second appointment next Wednesday and my doctor is going to remove the surgical tape if it hasn't fallen off on its own by then.

I have a bunch of new stretch marks and my skin is itchy, especially on the underside of my breast. I don't particularly care about the stretch marks, I already had a bunch from puberty and my skin is quite fair, so they won't show badly once they've healed.

Like many of you ladies have said, it's all about patience and trusting in my body to do its job.

Post Op Day Five

I am finally starting to feel better. I was able to shower and dress myself without help today for the first time. Friday was the worst day for sure. I way overdid it, visiting my sister and sitting in two hours of traffic. I got super sick and spent the day being miserable and throwing up while my family ate delicious Thanksgiving leftovers.

Yesterday I just rested all day. I haven't taken any Percoset since Friday night, which is a relief. I really hated the loopy feeling it gave me. I could hardy stay awake to finish one TV show.

This morning I was able to walk my dog around the outside of my apartment for a few minutes, but it's still difficult to manage holding the leash and opening the security doors. I have no arm strength at all. Getting the fridge open is about the max I can handle. My range of motion is slowly getting better though.

I took a shower and changed my clothes. I almost didn't want to take off my bra to shower, my breasts feel so heavy without the support. I can't wait to go to my post op tomorrow and have my doctor look at my incisions and see if I can stop wearing this horrible strap. It's so uncomfortable.

I definitely notice new stretch marks on the underside of my breasts, but I don't usually scar badly and I already had stretch marks so it's not a big deal to me. So far so good.

Provider Review

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
130 La Casa Via, Walnut Creek, California
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