My story from start to finish. Pictures too.

[manda.sassy]

Hello everyone! I just got my breast augmentation, and let me tell you how completely obsessed I have been with researching and reading other people's stories. It has helped me tremendously with coping with recovery and lifting my spirits, as some of you know about the post-op blues. So here I am doing my part and sharing with you my story.

FACTS about me and my breast augmentation:
Age: 28
Height: 5'5"
Weight: 125 lbs., athletic build
Original cup size: Small B

breast augmentation DATE: March 2, 2009
PS: Dr. Cambeiro with Surgispa, Las Vegas, Nevada
Implant type: High Profile Mentor Silicone Gel
Size: 425ccs both left and right
Incision: Crease (under boob)
Muscular placement: Complete under muscle

The start of my story:
I have always wanted larger breasts since I turned about 20. My girlfriends and I would obsess about it in college. At that time, I was a small A. Somehow, when I turned 23, my breasts bloomed and I became a Small B. My weight has been the same for the last 10 years. So since I now had a small handful, I became satisfied and stopped thinking about it. In addition, I was a poor college student living in the Midwest, where no one I knew had a breast augmentation, and it just seemed very out of touch with reality.

Fast forward to 8 years later, I live in Vegas and we all know, women with BAs are more common than natural breasts. I started to think about it again, now that I am at an age where it's affordable and realistic. So I started to research, and MY, how techniques have advanced since my obsession 8 years ago. I was so happy to read about the new advances and options. I did months of research and then started to see doctors. I decided on my doctor because he is warm and welcoming, and so very good at explaining things to me. He made me feel extremely confident. And plus, his credentials speak for themselves, and he has been voted Top Doc by very influential journals several times for 3 years. He's amazing.

That is the start of my story, and now I will post by thread the steps I have taken.

[manda.sassy]

Week/Day before surgery. I had a lot to plan for. I went over my paperwork from my PS over and over and over. I read a million stories online of what to expect. I looked at at least 300 different pictures of before and afters. I shopped for every possible thing I would need for my first week of recovery, which included everything on my PS's checklist, and groceries, and everything. I even made a checklist/schedule of medications for my boyfriend, which I highly recommend for all of you. He was religious about going on that schedule I made him. My boyfriend, who is an angel, prepared his place for my recovery, so we were set to go.

Day of Surgery
My doctor asked if I could come in early because he was running early and since I was on pins and needles, I was happy to. So I got to the surgery center, and the nurses were wonderful. They put me in my prep room where I changed into my gown, and they gave me a warm blankie and leg warmers to wear and asked me all the procedural questions (at least 3 different people will ask you the same procedural questions in prep, just to make sure they got it right). Then she did my IV, which thank goodness was not too traumatic, since I've never been in surgery and didn't what to expect and was scared to death of the idea of an IV. Yes, I'm a chicken. SO, then my doctor came and drew on my to prepare for the surgery. My anesthesiologist came over and introduced himself and asked me the same questions again for the 4th time. LOL. But he was sweet and told me exactly what to expect with the anesthesia experience.

Then they brought me into the surgery room and I laid down. The bed was warmed up for me, and the nurse gave me these massaging leg wraps. WOW. I was so comfortable. Then my doctor and anesthesiologist came in to start. My anesthesiologist said, "Okay Mandy, I am giving you some medicine now and in no time you will wake up in the recovery room, sweet dreams." Up until then I had been pretty calm and things seemed surreal. At that moment, I had a small panic attack, thinking "oh my Gosh, it's really happening!" I felt a tingling in my head, and remember saying "My head feels funny" while trying very hard to think of my sweet boyfriend's face, a muddled reply "that's normal, sweetie" and then....darkness. And seriously, it feels like a split second. No dreams. Nothing.

It's like you close your eyes, and open them and you are in recovery. And I was fuzzy. My nurse was so sweet, and I woke up super mellow, feeling somewhat like a child. My boyfriend had been called and showed up in 5 minutes. I told the nurse I was nauseous, so she injected something into my i.v. I told her I was in pain, she asked what number 1-10, and I said 6, so she injected some demorall. After about half hour, I was wheeled out to the car and on my way home. The next 6 hours were a blur. I was wrapped up so tightly I felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest. I laid in bed propped up at 45 degree angle, drifting in and out of sleep, only to wake up to drink water, take meds, and my boyfriend spoonfed me as much as I could eat. I was so sore, it was awful, but the meds made me really sleepy so that was at least a relief that I was able to sleep that night.

Day 2
I had to go to my post-op that next morning. It was awful. I was still very groggy and did not want to go anywhere, but my bf drove me and when we got there, I was instantly hit with hot flashes and nausea. I had to sit down and they patted me down with ice packs. Then the doc came in and unwrapped me, which made me feel quite better. I looked down at them and asked "oh my Gosh, are they going to stay this pointy?!?!" They seemed to stick straight out. My doctor smiled and said no, to remember that they are going to be oval-shaped right now and stick out quite a bit because they're swollen. I looked in the mirror and thought, "they don't look very big." But yes, they did look completely weird, or in my head at the time, deformed! They were SO oval, and so high up on my chest. It was the weirdest thing. He showed us how to do my massage exercises, they put my sports bra on and I was on my way. As soon as I got home, I took a nausea pill and slept on and off all day again. My back and my chest was so sore. I had to take the pain meds pretty much on schedule just to be somewhat comfortable. I still had to wear the strap, which you wear for 3 weeks, and THAT is so constricting!

Day 3
My bf would force me to get up and walk around, which my doctor told him to do. I hated him at the time for it, but WOW does it really help with the stiffness and soreness. Getting up sucked so bad, but after a few minutes of walking around, your back and chest feel so much better, like pressure relief. I did this a few times and it really helped. My appetite was back to normal at this point and I was eating anything and everything. Probably not so good of an idea, since I still hadn't had a bowel movement.

Day 4
My boyfriend went and got me over the counter laxatives because I still couldn't go and was starting to get uncomfortable. My friends were able to come visit me now and that night I decided not to take a pain med and go out to dinner. Bad idea. I started to get really sore in my back and side of my boobs, and just wanted out of there. By the time we got home, I gulped down a vicodin and a valium and was in tears. My bf had to lay me down in bed, and let me cry a little bit. 15 minutes later I felt much better and in a good mood again. WOW, do NOT skip your pain meds because you're trying to be tough. That's my #1 piece of advice.

Oh and another thing that happened that day. I noticed a blister above the adhesive covering my incision (incision was at creast of breast). I called my doc, and he said it's normal and usually from the adhesive and to wait for blister to pop, then rub some neosporin on it and it should be fine. So I left it alone.

Day 5
For the first 3 hours of my morning, I had a terrible time trying to have a bowel movement. It finally happened, but it was the worst experience EVER. Afterwards, I felt much better. As for the recovering, I felt a million times better and didn't need sleep all day like I had been. BF had to go to work, so I was alone all day. I hadn't taken a pain med that morning, so I was able to drive to the grocery store and pick up a few things. By the time I got home, I felt like I had ran a marathon. So for the rest of the day I sat on the couch and watched TV. Still sore and stiff, but the moving around made me feel that much better. I was taking less pain meds, but still needed them about twice that day.

Day 6
Pretty much the same. But I was back to my normal routine now. I only took one Vicodin later in the day. That morning I drove to my apartment to pick up some things, and I picked up some movies and groceries. That night I made a delicious dinner for me and my BF.

Day 7
I was feeling pretty good. I didn't want to have to go back to work on Monday, but I knew it was going to happen, so I tried not to take any pain meds, and switched to Tylenol, which helped. I was still sore from the strap, but the breasts themselves were fine. I was doing my massaging exercises and there wasn't really any pain. The only disturbing thing was that blister was still there.

[manda.sassy]

WEEK # 2 - Back at work!!

Days 8-10
I have a desk job, thank Goodness. I was very worried about covering up the fact that I had breast augmentation, but it really wasn't that obvious. My breasts weren't as large as I had imagined they would be, and since I always wore padded bras before, there really wasn't a difference. I still moved kind of slow but nothing was noticeable. That Monday I was fine, and as soon as I got home I took a Vicodin. But nothing major. OH, I DID call my doctor back and said the blister was still there and I was kind of freaking out and wanted to come in. He said OF COURSE, you can come in anytime you want to! So the next morning I went in and thank GOODness I did because I was supposed to have pulled off the adhesives covering my incisions on Day 7, but I missed it and my bf missed it in his instructions. Apparently I was allergic to the adhesive. So my PS pulled them off, and cleaned the incision area. NOw I have to put neosporin on it and gauze, and take a new antibiotic for a week. He said it will not affect scarring, which I freaked out about, so that was a relief to hear.

Day 11
So TODAY is day 11 for me. I feel fine, just sore from the strap. I think my breasts are dropping a little bit, but very unnoticeable. I feel a little disappointed and depressed because I don't notice a difference at all with clothes on because I always wore padded bras before. I just thought they would be so much bigger. I did decide I wanted to be a full C, and with the 425cc's, my doctor had said I would be a full C/small D. So to ME, that seems huge, but my breasts just do not seem that big. I know they are still high up, so part of the implant is still on the top portion of my chest, but STILL, LOL. I want to see them big and fabulous NOW!!! LOL. One thing I can say I've learned from this is my complete inability to be patient about things.

I've been poring and poring over pictures of women of my proportions who've gotten 425s, and some seem so large. I know, I have to just wait. My breasts before were very perky and firm, and skin was tight, so I think it will take a little while longer for the d&f to happen. I will continue to post. I have pictures so I will post them as well later this week. Hang in there, ladies!

[JuJuBee1]

Thank you so much for sharing your detailed story. I hope your recovery continues to go well and you're ultimately happy with your breasts!

[SweetBee98]

CONGRATUALATIONS ON YOUR WONDERFUL NEW ADDITIONS!!!

[flgirl2008]

Congratulations!!!

[happywithdecision]

Congrats and welcome to boobieville. Sending a friend request also

[BushBaby]

Thank you for the great story, I enjoyed it thoroughly! Congratulations on being a new member in Boobyville!

[kah]

This was a great story!!! One of the best to read. Congrats on your process. I loved all of the details. These stories definitely help the process.

[BCB83]

I loved your story, all the details are great to include. I know before I got my breast augmentation it REALLY helped reading stories such as yours. Thanks for posting.

[retromom]

thanks for sharing such an insightful story...happy healing!

[misty lu]

Thanks Mucho for the detailed experience...
I hope all goes well,I'm getting 275cc filled to 300 and I'm worried that they'll be tooo small too. But my Dr said that was the biggest he'd put in me. He won't do the fake look,LOL
which is not what I wanted anyhow..
so we'll see :~)

[manda.sassy]

Week 3

Hello ladies! I'm so glad you like my story. That is one thing I LOVED when I was doing research was reading all the details in other people's stories. It just helps you understand your own experience so much better, so I'll try to keep up with the details in my updates.

So I left off at Day 11, which was March 12. So this is now my third week, and not much has changed since Day 11. The implants are still high up on my chest, but they are slowly dropping and I can definitely tell when I compare pictures. I'll post the 3-week pictures up tomorrow. I've been wearing my strap religiously, and then two nights ago, I woke up with a throbbing pain in my left underarm. I had to take the strap off and I didn't wear it all day the next day. I called my doctor and the nurse told me that I should use a sock or gauze as cushion in that spot, and it should be fine. The spot is still a little tender, but that advice helped a lot!!

Another thing I've noticed is I've been so strange with my emotions and moods this week. Up, down, up, down, up, down. I look at my boobs and think, too small, too big, too small, too big. When I last blogged on Day 11, I said I felt they were too small. Well, today, I'm scared they're too big! I don't know what's wrong with me, but after some reading and researching, I guess it's very normal to hit a point where you have such mixed emotions about the huge changes you've made to your body.

Yesterday I went to VS to buy some panties they had on sale, and the girl told me if I tried on a special bra, I'd get $5 off. I had told myself I wouldn't try on bras until at least the 1 month mark, but I was definitely curious, AND I wanted that coupon, so I agreed. I told her to give me a C, and when I tried it on, the underwire definitely dug a little bit into the boob. I kinda freaked out. I was like, OMG, I'm a D!! I've gone way too big!!!!

So I went home and talked to my boyfriend, who was quite overjoyed at the thought of me being a D. LOL. He did a great job cheering me up and reminding me that not more than 5 days ago, I was depressed about not being big enough. So to sum it up: I THINK what I wanted was to LOOK big, but not BE big, and yes I know that makes absolutely NO sense, but hence, the senseless ups and downs and emotional rollercoaster that is this week. I've also found myself to be really tired and worn out all the time. I have no energy and just want to sleep all the time!

So I have 6 more days until I see my PS for my 3-week Post Op and I am SOOOOOO anxious!! I just want to see him and have him tell me things are great and my boobs are going to be fabulous! LOL. My scars seem to be healing well. That blister is slowly peeling away so I think it will be fine in a few weeks. I really have no idea what the scars should be doing, but they seems fine, so I guess we'll see when I go to the doctor.

[manda.sassy]

Originally Posted by misty lu

Thanks Mucho for the detailed experience...
I hope all goes well,I'm getting 275cc filled to 300 and I'm worried that they'll be tooo small too. But my Dr said that was the biggest he'd put in me. He won't do the fake look,LOL
which is not what I wanted anyhow..
so we'll see :~)

Good luck with your breast augmentation! I would trust your PS on your size if you told him exactly what you wanted. You'll probably feel they are too small eventually, since everyone says they feel that after, but I'm sure they will look great and you will love them!

[cubanita]

Manda- I have to say thank you for sharing your experience. It is really helpful to hear all the different moods you are in and how you are tolerating your days. It is one thing to hear about what you may expect for post-op but to hear about someones experience with so much detail it really sheds a different light. Thanks again.

[Excited]

Congrats girlie!!

[Sina]

Congrats on your new boobies and thank you so much for your detailed experience.

[manda.sassy]

Hi everyone! Thank you for all the well-wishes, and congratulations back to all of you! I'm so thankful to have a place like this to share my experience.

So I went to see my doctor yesterday for my 3-week post-op visit. He said I am still swollen. Is this normal for some of you? He said it's normal for some people, especially because my muscle and skin was so tight pre-breast augmentation. I am very athletic so I guess it makes sense. Anyway, he said the scars look good, except that big blister I had in my first week has now scabbed over and looks kind of awful. However, it does look like it is healing very well.

So now I am going to start using Scarguard. I guess it's the scar healing treatment used by most Plastic Surgeons. Since the scars are in the crease, I am taking every precaution to make sure they heal as nicely as possible. I have a new set of massages I have to do, which consist of push down on top, and squeeze on bottom, 3 sets of 10. push, squeeze, push squeeze....lol.

The doctor also said that the implants are still high, so I should keep wearing the strap and just continue with my exercises...So I guess that's it for now. I'll post updated pictures later. I finally put on a bikini top and I do like how it looks! I think once they drop more, they will really look great, and I SOOOO cannot wait!!

[cazthing]

Congratulations!! I just loved reading your stories

[Peace1]

..congratulations to you and the gyrlz! Thank you for posting such a wonderful narrative. Peace