Frankentits haha

Well, I'm a week out from my first round of plastics (boob lift/implants). In exactly 2 weeks I'll be going in for my fleur de lis tummy tuck and lipo of flanks and hoo-ha.

I think I posted a bit about my chesticles right after the surgery but my memory is sketchy and now that I'm off pain meds, I can evaluate things a bit more clearly. First of all, this surgery was initially harder than I expected. Well, I don't know what I expected. But the first 48 hours SUCKED. I was vomiting nonstop from the pain medication they gave me (doc thinks it was an allergice reaction, switched me to something else), the antibiotic pills I had to take were very large and kept getting stuck halfway down my gullet because my abdomen was swollen, my breasts were square, and my mom made me watch back-to-back episodes of Keeping Up With The Kardashians with her (though I can't really judge I guess, I'm addicted to Nancy Grace).

My surgeon, Dr Pratt, saw me for a followup yesterday and said things look great. I developed quite a lot of bruising so if you look at my most recent pics from today that I just posted in my profile album, I look like one of the victims from CSI. It doesn't really hurt though, nothing sharp. Just soreness and fatigue. My nipples are super sensitive and I have to tape little gauze pads over them so they don't touch anything. Now I have to wear a firm strap over the tops of my breasts (you'll see in the pics) to help push the implants back down into the breast pocket. I'm supposed to wear it 24/7. I've heard that it bothers other people a lot but I really don't mind it, the pressure feels kind of nice. I asked Dr Pratt "Why didn't you just put the implant right down into my breast? Why'd you put them above?" and he said "I did put them in your breast! They're under the muscle and your muscle naturally pushed them upwards out of the breast pocket. The muscle has to relax and stretch over time to allow them to heal down into the breast. The strap will help." My right breast is higher and more swollen because that's my dominant side, that muscle is stronger and more stubborn.

No bra for me, no compression, nothing. Just the strap. Doc said nothing supportive, I need to get those implants settled downwards. When I bend over I have to put my arm across my chest to hold the girls in place. No more pain meds, I do take an occasional valium if I feel my chest muscles starting to spasm or tighten up (usually if I've tried to reach for something too high or lift something a bit too heavy- 5lb is the limit). The refrigerator door is huge and has very heavy suction so I can't open it by myself, I have to ask someone else every time I want something. I would starve if left alone with nothing but a fridge full of food. Everyone thinks it's soooo funny.

I'm sleeping in a recliner, at a 45 degree angle, it really helps keep the swelling down. I spent one night propped up on 2 pillows in my bed and when I woke up the swelling was out of control and I'd rolled over slightly onto one breast, which made it hurt all day long. So the recliner is gonna be my new home for the next few months, with my TT coming up.

I found a GREAT youtube video showing the stages of breast implant healing, how the shape changes over time and softens out. I can absolutely see my breasts going through the same stages in the video. I'm already really happy with my breasts, but it helped reassure me that they will indeed look soft, round, and natural in about 2-3 months.
Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIUBs4iqNwA

I can't get over how SMALL my nipples are! They were dinnerplates before. Now they're like little buttons! One is always 'out', one is always 'in'. Yes, I'm oversharing. But we're all in this together, right?

I still don't know what size I'll end up being. I think band-size will still be 34, cup size will be at least a D, maybe a DD (???). I'll know more when the implant is actually IN my breast, not halfway above it. But they don't seem to look enormously huge on me, in my opinion. I'm tall and have broad shoulders and have more than my fair share of junk in the trunk.

I already feel so much better about my body, even with my purple frankentits. I don't want to pressure ladies one way or the other. I'm all for self-acceptance, and small boobs are just as good as big boobs. With that said, if you're on the fence.... I say, GO FOR IT.

I want SO badly to plan a trip back east just so I can "run into" my ex-boyfriend and show him what he's missing out on.

Reminder, my album pics are friends-only. Send me a friend request and I'll accept, no questions asked. I think everyone can benefit from sharing their experiences here. It's just one little layer of protection I like having in place.

I'm going to be doing before pics and measurements for my tummy soon. Now THAT is gonna be harrowing. God grant me courage!

Thanks for oversharing (in works and pics), it's really, really helpful.

b

Ouch!!  I am tall too but I miss my boobs a lot.. I was DDD now a D because of the skin thing.. I swear I look like a A or B cup.. I was told you can select your nipple size.. I think I would like to keep  my original size nipple..

I was told they put the implant under the muscle when there isnt enough breast tissue/mass to disguise the implant.

I want to get my boobs done.. these deflated things are not so great..


Thanks for sharing..

Michelle

Yes you're correct, they do prefer to go under the muscle when there isn't enough breast tissue left to sufficiently cover the implant. Otherwise they'd look perfectly round, that "glued-on fruit bowl" look. I was a 44DD and after, at a 34B/C I had NOTHING but skin. I almost asked the surgeon to leave my nipples bigger, but then I looked again at all of his work, and all of his breasts looked fantastic, so I thought, I'll just trust his judgment and let him do what he thinks will be good, he's the expert. They would have been fine larger too, I'm sure. I'm just glad they still have sensation!

If you get your boobs done you'll probably need a lift too, and that will take away a lot of the extra skin, so that would have to be taken into account when choosing implant size. You wouldn't really be starting from a D, you'd be starting from more of a B probably because of the skin that'd be taken away. But like I said, GO FOR IT. Save up, find a good surgeon who has consistently good results. You'll be so happy.

Hey Lizzy, one more questions. Do you heal fast from bruising.. I have had the same bruise on my back for 6 mos. I wonder if my bruising will resolve from the surgery as slow?

Michelle

Honestly, my bruising is resolving verrrrry slowly. I can see subtle differences day to day but there is still a lot of purple. I can see the purple slowly migrating across my breast, the yellow spreads, overall it's getting a little lighter but the change is very slow. It's all about blood flow and lymphatic flow. The breast is very compressed and tight with all the swelling, so there's not a lot of movement of fluids, therefore the dead blood that makes up the dark part of the bruise is going to stick around for quite a while.

So if your bruises tend to last, then it's probably safe to say that your breasts will also tend to stay bruised for a while. I can't imagine it lasting 6 months though. At the rate mine are improving, I'd say maybe a month. I'll keep posting pics every week so you can check in and see the progress for yourself.

It's so worth it though! My bruising isn't even on the top of my breasts, it's all on the bottom and right underneath. So if I felt like wearing a v-neck, I could probably do so. (If my boobs weren't square haha)

I'm glad your posting again.  You make me laugh.  Your  boobs look great, except for the bruising.  How do you wear the strap under clothes?

Aw thanks ;)

The strap is a pain because it goes across so high up, and prevents the natural valley between my breasts from showing under clothes. So I just look like I'm either on steroids or smuggling a pizza box under my shirt. I'm able to get loose t-shirts on now with assistance so I just wear those because of the high collar, covered up by a baggy sweatshirt or sweater (it's now cool enough in seattle to justify one, thank goodness). I don't wear anything form-fitting. And no bra. I just wear the strap, along with two gauze pads taped over my little button nips. I complete the look by wearing absolutely no make-up, letting my hair go into birds-nest mode, and wearing my horrible crocs. With socks. That way at least I look like a person who just plain doesn't give a cr@p and the whole package is unappealing, so nobody will pay any attention to the weird chest area.

Just today on another forum I read a good tip from someone about wearing the strap. It tends to irritate the area under the armpit from digging in, and because it's kinda stiff. They recommended cutting the end off of a sock so it forms a tube and sliding it over the band where it's under the armpit, as a cushion. I did that today with 2 socks and it does help a bit.

What a great visual of you with the sox in your pits.  It really completes that sexy image of birds-nest and crocs!  :)

Thanks for sharing.  I had implants along with lift and tt with pani last Monday.  My chest is more sore than anything (along with my back killing me).  I have been itching where the tape is on my breasts and in one spot on top the tap made blisters and they busted when I was trying to rub (scratch) them last night.  The itching is driving me bonkers.  I have a rash from the binder and the tape/gauze - again more so around the breasts than anywhere.  I don't go for my follow up appointment until Wednesday - I hope I can make it that long - lol.

BTW...You look great!  Thanks for posting the video - I'm going to check it out now.

Take care!