Ina's breast augmentation story

[Ina]

Introduction


I guess my journey towards breast implants started mostly in the manner of many others'. At some point of my puberty I was looking at myself in the mirror, so happy I was starting to sprout breasts, and a few years later I was in front of the mirror looking at those breast sprouts and realizing they weren't going to grow into sunflowers. I wore black sweaters to hide the shape of my body ashamed of feeling breastless. At some point it started to look like my breasts just might be growing a tiny bit more... Until I realized that my butt was growing a lot faster than my breasts. I had gained weight - my breasts were a nice size but the rest of me wasn't! So eventually I lost the weight and mourned over my breasts, not wanting to admit the bras seemed empty again. This continued through a few weight yoyos until.

Yes, until. At the age of 20 I was done with high school and I moved away from my friends and family, away from my country actually. I had received some money as a graduation present and I was supposed to be working in a hotel but alas, despite having sent a photo they did not realize my face was full of piercings at the time, so I got fired after a mere two hours on the job. I lived on my savings for a few months until I needed to pay the rent. A friend jokingly suggested stripping and I laughed. After the money became really tight and another friend suggested dancing too I went around knocking on doors in the seedy parts of the town.

Every club said no save for the last one. On the last club I went to I was hired on spot. I felt pale and flabby and breastless starting at my new line of work... Then again, another world of opportunities arose before me. Breast implants.

These girls had all sorts of implants. Some were obviously fake and balloonish, others were of more natural shapes. One girl in particular was very friendly and open with me about breast augmentation, and none of them hid it from me of course. Ever since I was a teenager I had thought breast implants were only for Hollywood and porn stars. Granted, strippers weren't that far off the porn star stamp, but these were all regular normal fine-willed women once you got to know them. Nobody had turned into an air-headed bimbo because of the implants and nobody was a slutty drug addict of a subhuman. We worked on a strictly no-contact, no drugs club where most girls went home to their husbands and children with a chunk of cash in their pockets at the end of the night.


The decision and consult


Time went forward by a couple of years. I had been considering the implants on and off since I realized my breasts were not about to grow a couple of cup sizes more but at the club I realized it was actually a real proper opportunity. And then on a faithful day in beautiful May 2006 I googled for breast implant information. And lo and behold, I came across justbreastimplants.com and their forums. I was hooked.

Finding this forum really expanded my view and knowledge of breast implants. I've been here for soon a year and I could probably count every adult industry starlet on the forum with one hands' fingers. If you count in the part time or has been exotic dancers it's still way less than two dozen that I know of, having been here for that year (and the forum having over 2200 members as I'm writing this, with many more that visited the forum when we still had the old format before September '06). It was all normal women and it would not make me a freak for wanting this done.

Well, as I said the JBI forums were the spark that really got me going. I had been vaguely looking into plastic surgeons before but not having a lot of knowledge on the subject I didn't really even spot the differences. I probably did the dumbest thing - ever since I came across one surgeon's website I just knew it would be him. Why? Because the page was full of correct info and had everything I needed to know right there rather than vague quotes from here and there and "come see us and we'll discuss it." I wanted a surgeon who was open about everything.

I knew I wanted the surgery to happen in January '07 so I had quite a bit of waiting to do. I booked a consult for September, a week after getting married, because after the wedding was over I was even more enthusiastic about a new bosom. Me and my husband agreed that we should spend most of our wedding present money on the breast implants because it would be a lasting present for the both of us. So we split the money so he could buy himself something nice that he wanted and saved up the rest for my BA.

Based on the information I had found on the JBI forums and website I was partial towards silicone implants and over the muscle placement. Being a dancer I did not want the implants to distort every time I heaved my body upside down on the pole. I settled on silicone after reading countless of studies for example by the FDA and the Independent Review Group which stated that there was no conclusive evidence of silicone implants causing autoimmune disorders and with the new cohesive gel implants there were no cases of silicone migration found. No evidence linked silicone to cancer either. Plus of course, silicone was the preferred option in the EU and I had only ever met one person with saline implants, everybody else had silicone. That gave me some sense of comfort as well.

Since May and deciding on getting breast implants I had also started losing weight. Again I loved my breast size of 36D but nothing else about my body at 172lbs (I'm 5'6" tall). By my consult at the end of September I had shed about 20lbs and informed the consultant that I was still going to lose a bit further weight. She asked how much, I said 10lbs more and she didn't seem to think it'd make that big of a difference in the end result and hoped I would lose the weight before the surgery. I had a separate consultant and I did not meet my PS yet.

The consultant asked me what bra size did I wear (36B at that point), asked me what breast size would I want, what did I have in mind for myself. I basically told her I wanted silicone and as big as possible. She said they could probably use an implant somewhere in the 350-400 range and it should get me up to a D. I was a bit dissappointed, I had anywhere between 400-600cc in mind. She said probably 400 and I thought it sounded good enough. After all, they were the experts, and I didn't want anything larger than what would comfortably fit crammed in me possibly causing symmastia or bottoming out or just unsightly results. Seeing as I had good breast tissue she recommended over the muscle placement and textured silicone implants (she did say that there was no conclusive evidence on whether textured implants reduce CC or not but that the PS felt that if there was anything he could do to reduce the chances of CC he'd try it as long as it isn't proven harmful).

She asked if I wanted anatomical or round ones, and I said round. I told her I was looking for a bit obvious results and that I didn't want to pay all this money to end up with moderate results only. Also, having lost weight my left breast was sagging (I was asymmetrical). I wanted to fill them out to a round form rather than the cone-shaped breasts I originally had. I was also told I might need a crescent lift on my left breast but that the surgeon would decide on it later seeing that I had the tendency to form raised scarring. For the same reason they recommended the crease incision rather than areolar one, if I did get raised scars they'd be more readily hidden by the breast crease. I asked about transax (TUBA not being an option for silicones) and was told it might be possible with smaller implants but the PS did not feel comfortable performing the transax incision with implants as large as mine so I left it at that.

[Ina]

Pre-op and surgery


It was quite a long way until my surgery in January. After my consult I was asked to phone them again in November to set a surgery date. I did, and my date was set for January 3rd. Now all I had to do was wait!

Come January I had lost a few pounds more (despite the ones I had gained on Christmas) and I had dropped a band size but not any volume apparently. I was a 34C when I went in for surgery. I travelled to my PS with my husband driving the car. My mother took care of the dog. She did not know I was going to get breast implants though - for all she knew we were going on our honeymoon trip a bit late!

I met with my PS for a pre-op right before surgery. I had gone to a local private clinic to get my bloodwork and mammograms done the week before. He asked to see the results, confirmed that everything was in order and then we discussed my surgery. I had brought in the agreement we had made at the consult which said that I wanted implants as large as I can go and a crease incision with a possible crescent lift on the left. My PS inspected me, confirmed that the implant would be in the 400 range and said he probably would not do the crescent lift because of my scarring tendency. I was a bit dissappointed because I really wanted my breasts to match!

So I walked into the surgery room, my anesthesiologist introduced himself, just chatted something about the surgery while he stuck the IV in my left arm and I saw my PS approach right before I went into the la la land.

I woke up in the recovery room with huge bandages on my chest. My feet were cold and drowsily I put my surgical slippers back on. I probably should not have being so out of it. The nurses told me to just lay still and that they'd take me back to my room shortly. After having woken up properly I was wheeled back into my room where my husband was waiting. In an hour I was served a meal. I felt a bit queasy but I did manage to eat all of it. After eating the quasy feeling passed too, it must've been partially because I was so hungry not having been allowed to eat in the morning.

After eating the pain started to make itself known so I called for a nurse. I've never been happier about being stuck in the butt with a needle let me tell you that! I lay in bed watching telly for the rest of the night, browsing JBI on my cellphone. I stayed for the night with my husband being a doll and taking care of me (fetching water and so forth).

In the morning I was to take a pain killer suppository at 6 AM and shower at 7. And surely enough a nurse showed up a bit before 7 to unwrap my bandages and help me into the shower. I felt woozy and I actually had to shower sitting on the floor to avoid fainting. I collapsed on the bed still wet unable to dry myself because I was feeling so sore. Thank God I had washed my hair and braided it before going into the hospital! While taking a shower I took a peek in the mirror and boy these suckers were HUGE! I kept wondering what on earth had I done to myself.


Post-op


I had breakfast and a post-op visit by my PS after the shower. I was given a support bra and sent home after everything seemed to be fine. My PS told me he had put 450cc implants in me... "Well, because they fit." No wonder they looked huge! For a while I wondered if I should've just asked for 350 instead of the biggest possible.

Well, me and my husband left and on the way home stopped by to have a steak. Boy was I hungry! I had a bit of a case of stomach upset though. I was expecting to be constipated from the anesthesia and meds but instead my stomach full on cramped and I really did not like having to go to the bathroom constantly because the wiping was really uncomfortable. When I got home I researched my meds online and found that the painkillers I was prescribed sometimes cause stomach cramps and internal bleeding, and that I should stop taking them immediately if cramps occurred. Fine, got it. Lucky I had asked if I could use the codeine and paracetamol pills I had at home and the PS had said yes so that's what I did.

I stayed in bed for the second day. The third day I was already grocery shopping, also, I tried on a few sports bras to see if I'd find something a little more comfortable than the post-surgical bra I was supplied with (I was told it would be OK and actually I should shop for sports bras for after). My husband carried all the groceries. He was really eyeing me up and saying a sheepish "yes dear" to everything I said while staring at my bust! So eventually on day 3 we had careful sex as well. My PS never forbid us from doing that but I was told to be careful.

The healing really went uneventfully looking back at it now but back then it was a rollercoaster of emotions. At first they were bruised up and ugly. I had blisters on my breasts from an allergic reaction to the tape adhesive. My nipples were pointing in different directions. For the first two weeks I felt like crying because I was too big. Then I got scared I had symmastia (I emailed pics to my PS and I was assured I was fine). I got my stitches removed on day 8 (after which I started using silicone strips on my scars), quit using codeine on day 5 and went on paracetamol alone until day 9. No painkillers after that. I had many post-surgical protein shakes.

Then after week 2 I started feeling better. Next I worried about bottoming out because I could feel the pressure whenever I forgot and took a few running steps while playing with my dog. Then I was starting to think my breasts were too small and was already asking my husband if he'd be terribly upset if I wanted a redo to go bigger next year (he said he would NOT be upset with a big grin on his face and a glassy eyes). By 3,5 weeks I was already back on stage although dressed all in black and covered up like a nun and being careful to avoid pole tricks. My incisions felt tight, too.

By 1,5 months my breasts already felt like mine. Nothing felt strange anymore and I had gotten used to them. I was happy with the size and despite my breasts still being a bit lopsided I was actually happy my PS had decided against the crescent lift. Looking at my crease scars heal I could tell I would be a lot less pleased having to go through that on a more visible part of my breasts too. I could get a proper lift one day once I really started to sag but until then it was better this way.

It's soon been four months since my surgery and I don't really even think about it anymore. I'm marvelling at how well they're bouncing already and I am still in love with my breasts. I wouldn't have them any other way and it has been one of the best things I've done for myself so far. I can't wait for them to age with the rest of me and for them to really become mine with a few wrinkles and a little sag.

Right now I'm probably a 34DD in US sizes. I have a few 34DD UK size bras that are a bit tight for me so for UK sizes I would probably need an E. Bra sizes are difficult to measure, anyway. They seem to fit into my body really well though and all in all I'm very pleased with what I got.


Well I hope somebody out there found this helpful. Any questions, feel free to ask, I probably forgot a lot seeing that it's been a while since the surgery now too! Any words of advice, find out what you can and research until you are comfortable making a decision for yourself. Also just because someone you respect or admire did certain choices it doesn't mean they'd be the right choices for you concerning unders vs. overs, silicone vs. saline and so forth. Be educated because that's your best weapon. Good luck everyone!

[Ali]

Really enjoyed that story Ina. I assume your not going to bother with a redo next year now you've fallen in love with the twins? Do they feel heavy and cumbersome when you're dancing or just naturally part of you?

Ali

[Ina]

I'm not going for a redo until they really start to sag if even then. They feel like a part of me and are not cumbersome in any way.

[Ali]

Thats really good. I just started back running yesterday (6 weeks post) and mine feel pretty heavy and they're only 300's. I had gotten used to them in ordinary life but running I'm very concsious of them. I suppose time and a good sports bra is the solution. You must be very body confident to be a dancer. It would frighten the life out of me. People are so judgemental about womens bodies in general even with their clothes on! I'm glad you're pleased with 450. Saves you opening up the scars again if you're not a great healer

Ali

[Jen]

What an amazing story, thank you so much for sharing. It was very nice that the doctors office had you stay and cared for you as much as they did. I was personally just ready to come home and crash after my surgery but it is nice to know that there are offices out there that continue care for longer.

You also seem to have a very loving husband, lucky for you and thank you for putting your story together so well with information for others, I would surely have found this very enlightning prior to my surgery.

thank you.

[Charliece]

Thank you so much, that was a fantastic story and i really appreciate your sharing it with us in so much detail. I'm sure I'll be combing back over it many times before my BA to familiarise myself with the whole process and know what to expect. Thanks so much

[hortongirl]

Great tale...I'm sure the pre BA ladies are going to find this extremely helpful.

[M&M]

Great story! Thank you so much for sharing. I'd be interested to know how you decided to move to Finland! (Where are you from originally?)

[Ina]

Originally Posted by M&M

Great story! Thank you so much for sharing. I'd be interested to know how you decided to move to Finland! (Where are you from originally?)

I'm Finnish originally but when I started dancing I lived in Sweden

[Ina]

Originally Posted by Jen

What an amazing story, thank you so much for sharing. It was very nice that the doctors office had you stay and cared for you as much as they did. I was personally just ready to come home and crash after my surgery but it is nice to know that there are offices out there that continue care for longer.

Yea, my doctor makes everyone who goes under stay for the night in observation. If you have a procedure under local anesthetic alone you can leave during the same day. He includes it in the price quote and won't make exceptions. It really was a blessing!

[freakylizard]

Thanks for sharing your story. I always enjoy reading your posts.