the long and winding road... that leads me to my boobs :)

[foochick_uk]

PRE-OP BLUES

Ever since I was about 12yrs old I have been waiting for my boobs to grow…..

I used to joke with my Mum and ask her what drugs she’d taken when she was pregnant because during my psychology lessons we learnt about a drug that some women took in the 80’s that caused an excess production of testosterone in female embryo’s resulting in women with masculine figures! I must have had it at some point because I am tall, skinny with a straight figure (no curves whatsoever) and no boobs! I’m not hairy though lol!!

I remember going away to Prague on a School trip when I was about 12 and we went to a communal swimming pool. The staff there insisted we strip off naked in the showers before they would let us into the pool (cleanliness thing) but the showers were all out in the open and not cordoned off so we were all huddling over trying to hide our bits from the other girls. Sooooo embarrassing at that self-conscious age. A lot of girls were in tears and I was just humiliated as I looked around and saw them all developing and I felt like I young boy. Where were my boobs?

I used to joke about it with school friends; one friend was rather large so we called ourselves The Alternative Spice Girls – Fatty spice and Flatty spice – quite sad really! My mum was always supportive because, although not as small as me, she has small boobs and couldn’t find bras to fit her at all when she was younger. She said “you’ll grow at 18yrs” then at 18 “you’ll grow at 21yrs” but I kept waiting….. and no growing ever happened.

When I was early-late teens it got me quite depressed; I had to buy bras from ‘little women’ or children’s bras and they all HAD to be padded or gel-filled. The gel-filled ones were so heavy though I called them boulder-holders lol and they were blatantly not real boobs! When I got to the point where I could get intimate with a boy I always freaked out that they would be revolted at my chest or would see me minus the padding and think “where have they gone?”.

I had some friends with small boobs but didn’t know a single person with no breast tissue like I had. I cried myself to sleep some nights and felt I always had to have a boyfriend to assert my femininity.

There were some occasions, even in recent years, where people would ridicule my lack of boobs to my face; Whilst I was at parties when I was 15/16 people used to say things like “who’s that girl with no tits?” or “pretty girl… shame she’s flat as a pancake”. I used to ignore it at the time but inside it tore me apart….. sob sob. Even about 2 years ago I was out with some girls and wearing a lovely halter-neck top that you couldn’t wear a bra with. I went to the bar and could hear 2 blokes whispering next to me. One said “look at those mountain peaks?” referring to my nipples that you could see slightly under the material. The other bloke said “more like bee-stings”. I couldn’t believe that they could talk about me like that and so ignorantly whilst I could hear them. I went into the toilets and actually cried…..


THE DECISION

As I got older and moved away to Uni and grew up I got less depressed about my boobs but they were still always on my mind and I always whinged about them. I don’t know a single person, even my singing teacher, who doesn’t know about my hang-up. Past bf’s have always been supportive and say I am beautiful how I am etc but it never made a difference. I know I’m not unattractive but that wasn’t the point. I felt inadequate, un-feminine and not normal.

I have always considered plastic surgery but always heard horror stories that put me off, or thought I couldn’t afford it or it was the wrong time. I am in a secure job now with a good income, a loving long-term relationship and feel emotionally stable and confident. So in January this year I sat down with my man and said “I’m 25 this year. I would like to buy myself some boobs for my birthday”. He said that whatever I wanted to do he supported me but reiterated that he loved me how I was. It was what I needed to hear; I didn’t want him to try and discourage me. I told some close friends too and they were also all very supportive even if a few were a bit jealous lol!

In Feb I researched a few clinics and opted for The Harley Medical Group due to their excellent reputation and experience. I also chose them for location as they have a clinic 15 minutes from my house.

PRE-OP

I went for an initial consultation with the clinic manager in April-ish. She discussed the motive behind wanting the op, sizes, procedure, costs and everything else I could think of. She left me with all the info and a few dates to consider before I gave the go-ahead. I paid a £500 deposit that month and awaited my consultation with my surgeon Dr Phillip GRAHAM. I researched him on internet and he has years and years of experience in surgery so I felt confident in my choice. When I met him he was very informative and so relaxed about the whole thing that I left feeling even more confident and excited about the surgery.

During my consultation with Dr GRAHAM I tried on a few sizers and said I would like to be roughly a C cup. He examined me and said that he would try and fit 290cc in but that that may be a bit too tight so he would take the 270cc into theatre as well. I was completely happy with this because I did not want to go massive and I did not want to harm myself or put myself at risk unnecessarily. Then it was just a 2 month waiting period of looking longingly in lingerie shop windows and online shopping lol!

THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE (SO FAR)

My BA was on June 21st 2008. I had been advised to be nil-by-mouth from midnight the day before if my time of admission was before 11:30 am. My admission time was 10:30 so I had a light salmon salad at about 23:30 on Friday night and about 2 pints of water before bed. Not that I could sleep; I woke up at about 6am and was too excited and nervous to sleep. I had already packed and re-packed my bag for hospital with toiletries, pj’s, dressing gown, slippers etc so I got up at 8, tried to make myself presentable in baggy clothes with no make-up (very difficult) and left for Highgate Hospital in North London.

The Hospital was lovely but I was slightly annoyed because I had to wait an hr before I could go to my room and by this point I was starving hungry and thirsty. I usually graze and so not eating for that long was maddening. I eventually got to my room and was seen by a nurse who talked me through the procedure etc. He said I probably wouldn’t go into theatre until about 2pm so I got some sleep and my bf sat with me and watched tv.

After a few hrs Dr GRAHAM appeared and reiterated that he would try for the 290cc but had the 270cc on stand-by. He then drew on my chest the implant size and an estimation of where to do the incision (I had no breast crease pre-op so it was an intelligent guess lol). I then met my anaesthetist who explained the procedure to me etc. This was very reassuring as I ahd never had anaesthetic before. Soon after I walked to the pre-op room with another nurse and then lay on the operating table. I chatted and laughed with a lovely lady who took my gown off and wrapped me in a blanket and distracted me whilst the anaesthetist put the I/V into my arm. This felt like a slight scratch. She then said “is it ok if I make you sleepy now”. I said “yes” then “yuck that tastes revolting” because I could feel a really metallic taste in my mouth and then it was lights-out.

I felt like I had been asleep for literally 20 seconds when I heard someone saying my name over and over. I was then awake and the op all done. I had boobs… well some large blobs sticking out of my chest. I chatted with this lady for about 5 mins, I was chatting away like I was on speed or something, I think in hindsight this was the drugs they use to counter-act the anaesthetic kicking in and taking my brain into overdrive. A funny feeling with the two affects going at the same time. Then, once they knew I was awake I was wheeled to my room where my lovely bf was waiting expectantly.

We had a little peek at the new additions (big, hard, numb and pin-cushioned from needles) and then I decided I needed the toilet. I sat up like the nurse had said (no arms allowed, use your tummy muscles), stood up, staggered like I was drunk, sat back down and announced “I’m gonna faint” and then I passed out . I woke up 1 minute later with my bf looking petrified. He told me later that even though he was in the army for 14 years and is not easily worried, he freaked out when I fainted cos I fitted when I was out!!! The nurse came in, took my BP and said it was way too low. So back on the drip I went for another 6 hours and had to constantly sip water and energy drinks to get my blood sugar levels back up…. I found out subsequently that I had been slightly mis-advised re; the nil-by-mouth theory and that I could’ve had some toast and water at about 6am on the day of my surgery and that the fact I went 14 hrs nil-by-mouth was a large factor in my post-op low-blood pressure!!! You live and learn.

I stayed overnight in the hospital, had a lovely dinner off the menu (banana cake with whipped cream is amazing for raising the ol’ blood pressure) and slept really well thanks to my v-shaped pillow and one dose of painkillers at about 3am. I was discharged at about 11 the next day and felt fully awake and sore but not in pain.

POST-OP

My first week I was a bit rubbish; I had to get my bf to pull my trousers down for the first 2 days and I couldn’t get clothes on or off my top half without help. I also felt very restricted by the tubi-grip style bandage that was over my boobs and had to keep rolling it down for relief. I had a sit-down bath the first day and this was way too much activity. I was so tired after that I literally slept all the next day.

What I found even up to 1 week post op was that I got tired so much more easily than before the op. I kept forgetting how much trauma my body had been through and the healing it was doing; A 3 hr trip into town made me faint and spaced out!!! I would advise all you pre-op ladies to rest, rest, rest after your op. Your boobs and body will thank you for it.

ADVICE

I am 3 weeks post-op now and it is surprisingly difficult to remember all the hurdles I have been through; I hope you don’t mind if I write a few things in bullet point form as they come to me:

· Moisturise your whole boob area for a few weeks pre-op to soften the skin and increase elasticity. I used Palmers anti-stretch mark cream with elastin and collagen and this was crucial in fitting my largest implant in!

· Take arnica supplement for 2 weeks pre-op and a week or so post-op to reduce bruising and swelling. (very cheap from chemist).

· Buy a V-shaped pillow. This allowed me to sleep in my bed but upright so not hurting my back or neck or sore boobs.

· Make sure you aren’t allergic to MEPORE.This is the material that the dressings are made from and is meant to be very un-allergic. Sadly not in my case and I got nasty blisters in allergic reaction. The steri-strips were not a prob but the dressing was BAD!

· Use Bio-oil or something else for the incisions and all over the boob for the stretch marks. This softens the skin and reduces any scarring that may occur.

· Take lots of Gatorade or similar isotonic drinks to hospital; they are recommended for getting blood pressure back on track.

· Join a lovely supportive forum such as ‘justbreastimplants’ but don’t get obsessed and don’t start fretting. At the end of the day your surgeon is qualified, experienced and good at his job. They are getting paid enough to make the right decision for you and to take the worries away from you. Trust them, tell them exactly what you want and ask every little question you have.

Enjoy your new boobs, shower them with creams, buy lots and lots of new bikinis and lingerie, show them off as much as you can and tell them you love them! Mine change every day and I can’t stop taking pictures of them. I have even gone up another size since the 1st week. Any questions or feedback please message me.

Love

Foochick

I love my boobs

[SAHGKC]

Congratulations; glad you are happily on the other side!

[JJ1979]

FANTASTIC play by play...great story and fab information for all the girls who have yet to cross over...congrats to you!

[desirae]

Loved reading your story it was very touching. Congrats on your new tatas!

[MASONS GIRL]

Thanks for sharing such a well informed, detailed story of you experience. You look wonderful! Congratulations on the new tatas!

[Charliece]

Wow fantastic story, thanks so much for all the detail, it's so helpful for those of us counting down to our days!

[titangirl]

That was a great story! I love hearing the lingo you use over there vs what we use here...makes the story so much more exciting. too funny! My ex husband use to call me "skeeter" for my boobs so i understand the teasing!

Good Luck with your recovery

[missroxy]

Congrats!!!

[ashleycf]

That was a lovely story, thanks for sharing and I'm sure I don't need to tell you to enjoy your new boobies!!

[kristym]

Congrats glad your happy on this end of the road!

[orika]

What a great story foochick! I really enjoyed reading it. Thanks for sharing

Sounds like you definitely needed the overnight stay! I've been thinking about whether to ask for a day case or not... As I've never had surgery or GA before, I probably should go in for overnight.

Can't wait to see pics!

[foochick_uk]

Originally Posted by afterglowey

What a great story foochick! I really enjoyed reading it. Thanks for sharing

Sounds like you definitely needed the overnight stay! I've been thinking about whether to ask for a day case or not... As I've never had surgery or GA before, I probably should go in for overnight.

Can't wait to see pics!

It's wonderful that you can be in and out within the day but also reasurring that you can stay overnight just 'incase' there are any probs post op. It added to the cost of the procedure but I would definitely stay overnight for any further work I had done. Can't wait to hear how yours goes x

[foochick_uk]

Originally Posted by titangirl

That was a great story! I love hearing the lingo you use over there vs what we use here...makes the story so much more exciting. too funny! My ex husband use to call me "skeeter" for my boobs so i understand the teasing!

Good Luck with your recovery

thanks for your feedback
It took me about an hr to write it... talk about pouring your heart out haha
What words did I use that are different? It's great to hear the differences isn't it? I only know of skeeter from a cartoon called DOUG - I'm guessing that's not the reason for the nick-name?!?!

F x