Tell me about breast augmentation

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’ve wanted bigger breasts for a long time and it’s finally time to get breast augmentation. I’ve selected the (board certified) surgeon and will be going in for my initial consultation next month (with surgery to follow in June). For the record, I’m an “A” cup right now and I’m planning on going up to a “C” cup.

My self-esteem issues are fine and this is something that I’m doing just for me (no outside pressure). What I’m looking for is advice from other female Dopers who have had this procedure done. What was your recovery time like? Will a week off from work be long enough? I walk five miles a day – do I really have to sit idle for three weeks while I heal? If not walking, how about yoga during the recovery period? And what about pain – will I be popping Vicodin after surgery? Anything else that I should know about ahead of time? I’ve done my Internet research and will be talking to my plastic surgeon, but would appreciate the wisdom/experience of any Dopers who have been through this.

2

I’m envying you at the same time I’m restraining myself from trying to talk you out of it.
I haven’t had it done but at the time I was thinking of it, one of the things I heard was that every 10 years or so you have to go have it done again.

3

When I woke up I actually woke up in a bad mood,which is an absolute first for me. I looked down at my chest and saw this thick bandaging and was angry because I thought they hadn’t done anything. I got some help from the nurses to put my clothes on, be sure to wear giant, simple comfortable clothing for when you go home. They have you come out of the anesthesia kind of quick to make sure you are up and ready to go. When they wheeled me out to my friends car, I felt like I was still half asleep and in some serious uncomfortable pain. Getting in the vehicle was no picnic, getting the seat belt on was worse since my friend messed up and the belt snapped back onto my new breasts- super ouch.

I got home and had some pillows arranged in a big pile and slept for the rest of the afternoon half sitting up. I recommend checking out the website by Nicole about BA’s (their term, might want to get use to it). Im not a techinical genius so I dont know how to link but its pretty popular. You can also sign up to a support group depending on the month in which you’ll have your surgery.

I had twinging pain for several months afterwords, kind of like sudden sharp pain which is probably nerves regenerating. The day after you get the bandages removed, your breasts are so swollen they resemble torpedoes. Depending on which incision you get, you will have ridiculously tiny bandages over them. I was off for 9 days including the weekend and went directly on a business trip afterwards. I only had trouble getting my luggage into an overhead bin. My doctor had me quit all medications 30 days prior to the surgery date. **Don’t ** forget to register your implants, so that you can get the warranty set up. You might not feel like doing yoga for about a couple of weeks, stretching is not a priority versus being free of pain. But in the end, and this can take months to happen, if you did it for the right reasons (namely, for yourself) you will be happy with the results.

4

I realize your OP said female dopers, but with your (hoped) permission, I’ll add this from MizP. She did this almost 10 years ago, and has no regrets. C to D+ (if it matters). Periodic exams by MD & OB docs show all is well (and should be OK for a long time). I can only speak for “our” experience, but I think 10 yr span is way conservative. Oddly, the only regret expressed by the missus, has been wishing she’d pressed the doc for a larger size.
Apologies if you wanted the guys to stay out of this, but I hoped the “view” from 10 years hence might be useful.

Pullin

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I have a friend who had it done over 20 years ago, and hers are perky, natural and quite beautiful. I think the “10 year lifespan” may be for girls who go gigantic. Gravity will take its toll, just like with the natural version.

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Thank you all for your input!

Nvme77: the post-surgery details are appreciated – now I know what to expect.

Dung Beetle, oddly enough, I received a similar comment from a girlfriend (i.e., “envying you at the same time I’m restraining myself from trying to talk you out of it.”)

pullin, glad that you checked in and pleased to hear that you and MizP have no regrets.

**Kalhoun: ** hearing that I can look forward to having “perky, natural and quite beautiful” breasts in twenty years time made my day.

7

Best of luck to you! I know it’s kind of scarey, but I don’t believe you will regret it. I had breast augmentation surgery almost 4 years ago. I had undergone 3 surgeries to remove lumps that, thank God, had turned out to be nothing, but left me scared and uneven…on top of the fact that I breast fed my daughter, who is now 19, and my twins sons (for a short period of time) who are now 15. When I leaned over forward, I honestly felt like the “utter” woman. I have been very pleased with my decision. I will assume by the fact that you are currently an “A” cup and are going (or have already gone - sorry, I’m just signing on) to a “C” cup, that you, like myself, are a fairly small framed woman. I too went to a “C” cup and felt good about not going overboard. I have certainly seen that! My breast now fit my size in a noticable good way. Now, the actual surgery. I won’t tell you it’s a picnic. You will be surprised when you try to move … your arms, your head and most any part of your body, how many muscles are actually attached to those things. Ouch! I was told that I could have this done on Friday and be back at work on Monday. That was not comfortable at all and I wished I had taken more time. I believe that a week “should” be sufficient. You will still be a little sore, but it will be bearable enough to carry on with your daily routine. No major bouncing, but you will probably be advised by your doctor to wear a sports bra for about 6 weeks. It’s a pain, but worth it in the long run and you should be able to walk your 5 miles without much trouble. The pain pills? I’d use them when you need them, but try not to bet to dependant on them. Hope I’ve been able to share some experience, strength and hope. Good luck…and ENJOY the new you!!

8

wow, I can’t believe nobody has done this yet…

But as a Board Certified Lech and Cad, I’m afraid I’m gonna need some pics (both before and after) to assure that you’ve done a good thing.

Pics. Hehehehe…

9

My boob job is one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself. I love them.

My first advice is to make sure you get a really good doctor. Take a look at his before and after pics, and don’t be afraid to visit two or three until you find the right one.

That said, the surgery is no fun. I was extremely sore the first day, and even though the Vicodin took the edge off, I was still in pain. I pretty much counted down the hours until I could take more.

I never really had trouble lifting my arms up or anything. But my chest felt really weird and stayed bandaged for three days (I think). I just remember seeing them for the first time and going “What the hell did I do to myself?” Don’t freak out. The swelling will go down.

Since you have such small breasts it will take quite a while for the implants to “drop.” They’ll probably look fine, but will sit kind of high for a while. It’s good that you’re not going too big. People who go from an A to a DD look like they have grapefruits sitting on their chests. I was lucky, I had a C before I went in, and my implants look like natural breasts. Many times people don’t even know they’re fake ( I was a dancer, so lots of people saw them).

It’s funny too, because for the first year or so I couldn’t stop touching them. I’d be driving along and get the urge to feel myself up. I guess it was because they were so cool and they felt really good. I don’t do that as much now. :smiley:

It’s been six years for me, and I have no reason to believe I’ll need to replace them anytime soon.

Good luck! I’m sure you will be very happy with your results.

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Lemme tell ya man, I was >–< that close to saying it…:wink:

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Singer T: Thanks so much for the encouragement. Just reading your reply titled “It’s Worth It!” made me all the more determined to go through with the procedure.

Tristan: Me too - I can’t believe that no one else has asked for before & after pics (I figured someone would yell “Cite!” regarding my “A” to a “C” cup plan). Yes, pictures shall be forthcoming.

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blink…they will???

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Since, as a male, I can’t stay away from any thread that has to do with breasts, I went through the thread on why women wear bras. It seems like most of the posters with large ones on that thread thought they were a pain, whereas on this thread everyone wants/is happy to be larger, even those who wear a C, which I consider pretty good sized.

It’s too bad these things aren’t removable modules, so that women could exchange them at will. When I become God…

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**patiently gets in line. I’m a sucker for pics… Mail addy is in profile… or will be by the time the day is up… **

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How did I know you’d be in this thread? :wink:

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Please make sure you’re going to a board-certified plastic surgeon. Any doc can be “board certified” in something – but plastic and reconstructive is the specialty you want. Check out the American Board of Medical Specialties and make sure your doc is listed. Check with your state medical licensing board to see if there are any complaints. Check with your friends, coworkers, etc.

Sometimes these things encapsulate (i.e., scar tissue grows around them) and they become hard as rocks. Everyone is different and you may not have to worry about this, but you might have to have these things redone every 10 years or so. I don’t think the docs can tell in advance who will encapsulate or not.

I presume (since you haven’t had this done before) that your doc is going to use saline implants instead of silicone. I don’t think docs are allowed to use silicone on new patients, but silicone can be used on replacements (this sounds like I’m talking about auto parts). You might want to read up on saline implants at one of the medical web sites, if you haven’t done that already. And ask the doc what will be used. The doc should show you samples of the implants.

Is your doc going to put the implants under the muscle or on top? If he/she is going to put the implants completely or partially under the muscle, you’re going to be a lot more sore than if they are on top of the muscle – and will probably have to have general anesthetic, rather than just a whole bunch of Valium dripping into your hand. Ask your doc about the type of anesthesia to be used and who will be administering the anesthesia – a board-certified anesthesiologist or a CRNA (who is not an MD)? I think anesthesia is a lot scarier than the surgery.

If you haven’t had a mamogram, talk to your OB/Gyn and see if he/she would recommend having one done before the augmentation as a baseline. Sometimes it’s difficult for the radiologists to see through the implants. If they encapsulate on you, a mamogram in the future is going to be pretty uncomfortable.

Before I had this done, I was as flat as an ironing board (and just hated it) and went from an A to a B (not a major leap) and have never regretted it, but I’m thin and the skin was stretched pretty tight after the first surgery and it took a while for the skin to stretch out to accomodate them – and it hurt like hell for the first 24 hours. I had to sleep sitting up for a while because it hurt too much to raise myself from a lying position on the bed. The second time I had it done, the surgery was on Thursday and I was back at work on Monday – but this was with the implants on top of the muscle. I had to sleep sitting up for a while with this one, too. I think the recovery time is going to be longer with them under the muscle. I first had it done in 1983, and I’m getting ready to get my 3rd set (under the muscle – which, apparently, is now the way the docs like to do things) because of the encapsulation. You’re going to want the Vicodin.

I’d go for it, but just be very level-headed about what you’re getting into.

17

I’ve nothing to add, but was wondering if those who’ve had it done could tell me how bad the scarring is.

18

I had silicone implants (went from a AA to a C cup) done 3 years ago Amberlei, and after the surgery was left with just over an inch long (approximately) incisions underneath each breast. These have now faded and I actually couldn’t find them when I tried to look for them the other day. :slight_smile:

Of Cabbages and Kings - I hope they turn out to be everything you’d hoped for - I know I’ve never regretted having mine done for a second! :slight_smile:

19

Thanks again to everyone for all the great advice. holland, I’ll make sure that my surgeon is a bona-fide board-certified plastic surgeon.

For those of you waiting patiently for the pics…um, I won’t be having the surgery until June. However, I will take tasteful before & after bikini pictures and post them on my SO’s website (and will post a link to the website here). Apparently I’ll have plenty of time to pose for pics while I’m popping Vicodin… :smiley: