Julie's Breast Augmentation Story

Hello everyone, my name is Julie, I am 24 years old, and had my BA surgery on April 19, 2002.  TUBA, under the muscle, Mentor.

It all started in high school, when I wasn't developing as fast as other girls.  I was (and still am) 5'4' and weighed anywhere between 86-92 lbs.  I knew my breasts were small, but I was never ashamed or embarrassed about them because I thought that they were at least proportional with my body, being that I was so skinny.

That all changed after I had kids.

I was put on bed rest when I was 7 months pregnant with my daughter.  I was already 3 cm dilated, and my doctor did not even want me to go outside to check the mail or cook anything more complex than a basic sandwich.  I was to lie down all the time, and I went in almost twice a week until my 38 th week to get steroid shots in case my daughter did want to surprise us.  So what do you do when you're at home and no longer working and restricted to the bed?  You watch TV all day, and when you watch TV all day, you eat all day (especially junk).  Then after all that junk, you sleep, which is exactly what I did for 3 months straight.  I went from 100 lbs to 160 in a matter of weeks.  But at least I was able to use the excuse But I'm pregnant and on bed rest!  I can't exercise!

And after my daughter was born, it was But I'm breastfeeding!  I'm not allowed to diet yet, I still need the extra calories for my daughter's milk!  I had only dropped 20 lbs total, and I was still 140 lbs for a few years.  Now, I know that's not a lot, but compare it to suddenly gaining 60 lbs in a few months, and still being 40 lbs heavier than you normally are everyday.  So I was depressed about my weight at first, but slowly accepted it.  I took my body for what it was worth and tried to watch what I ate and started exercising. (I never exercised before in my life, except during basic training in the Air Force.  Unlike the other branches, they weren't really strict about an exercise program.  Just as long as you were under your maximum weight) I started to run 2 miles a day during lunch, dropped the weight and got to 115 lbs.  I was ecstatic!  But with the weight loss, I really got to see how much my breasts shrunk.  I was the same size as I was in high school when I was so skinny!  Yet this time around, they looked even smaller because I had gained weight since then.  It wasn't proportional.  I could take care of my body to lose the weight, but you can't grow boobs.  So I thought about getting implants but we didn't really have the money, and I wanted to wait until I had my second child (which I knew I would have someday) before I seriously even considered it.  So I tried not to let myself obsess over something that was so out of reach.  I still felt insecure about the things I wore, so I never left the house unpadded.  Even with the padding, I barely filled out a B cup bra.  I just hated the fact that I was in my early 20's which is supposedly when women are in the prime of their womanly figure, and here I was, sagging like a 70-year-old woman.

Then it happened.  I found out I was pregnant with my son.  Fortunately this time, the pregnancy was pretty uneventful, I was relieved.  But having learned my lesson from my last pregnancy, I watched what I ate and still exercised regularly.  Up until my 6th month, I still had a flat stomach, and was able to wear tight jeans and midriff tops.  I loved how my breasts looked with my slim waist.  But I knew that it wouldn't be long until my belly filled out and I would soon be in the same position as before.  So after my son was born, I breast fed for as long as I could.  As soon as I stopped, my breasts shrunk down again.  Once again, I was left at 140 lbs with barely a B cup.  Knowing that my breasts would shrink even more as time passed and the milk completely dried up, I looked into breast augmentation.  I remembered 3 women I knew a few years ago (but have since lost touch) that had their breasts done by the same doctor (they didn't know each other).  I saw what a great job Dr. Friedman did.  Their breasts were beautiful and did not look fake.  I did some research on him, and although he had a negative comment on his record, I had so much faith in him.  I toyed with the idea of even scheduling for an initial consult and kind of hinted it to my husband.  I had told him for years that I would like to get my breasts enlarged because I was so unhappy with them.  He was never excited about it, per se, but was supportive.  Finally, my husband gave me the go ahead to schedule a consult.  ( He's the family budgeter).  I couldn't believe it!  Could it really be that I could do it?  Now it was just a matter of finding a PS and scheduling.  I looked around for PS's and got referrals.  But for some reason, I kept Dr. Friedman in the back of my head.  So I called to make an appointment to meet with him.   He was supposedly one of the pioneers of the belly button approach in Northern California and did thousands of them (he averages 4 TUBA BA's a day excluding Mondays and Tuesdays)

Between then and actually meeting him, I did a lot of research on the internet and learned a lot of things that I was totally oblivious to regarding breast implants and the surgery and recovery.  I felt I was well prepared when I walked into his office that morning.  But I guess I wasn't.  While in the waiting room, they played this tape in the VCR.  It's a recording of Dr. Friedman, maybe 20 minutes long, explaining the procedure, risks, potential complications, and what to expect after.  After the tape (in case its overwhelming to take in all that info) they gave me a folder full of the same information on paper.  I was led into a room, where I waited to meet Dr. Friedman.  I was still fully dressed.  He came in and was so nice.  He had a gentle tone and was very professional.  He asked how I was, why I wanted surgery, and what I expected as far as the outcome.  Then he left the room while I took off my top.  He examined my chest.  We discussed size and I decided on a mid C cup.  After he explained that the one complaint he gets from women is that they wish they'd gone bigger, I kept my mind open to a "mid to full C" size.  I just knew that I definitely did not want a full C.  It was too big!  So I talked with his Patient rep, who explained payment options and such.  It was $5,425.00 for the whole procedure.  If I wanted to finance, it would be $5,675.00, plus the finance charges.  To schedule a date, I would need to deposit $200.00 to hold it.  I couldn't schedule since I didn't work out the details with my husband about taking time off, who would watch the kids, etc.  So I told them I would call back.  My husband and I decided to both take a week off, so that he could help with the kids.  I called the surgery center back and set a date for April 19 and mailed them my check for $200.00.

I went in for my pre-op appointment two weeks before surgery, and I met with another patient rep (she was very nice).  She and I discussed the size and I opted for the mid to full C.  I chose Mentor over McGhan.  She gave me a list of medicines I couldn't take 1 week prior to surgery and 2 weeks after.  I signed all the forms and bought $50.00 worth of pills, including a 2 week supply of antibiotics, Arnica, 15 Percocet, and about 50 Vicodin pills (now that's what I call generous!)   I paid the full balance with a cashier's check, money that I had withdrawn from our line of equity credit.  I left feeling relieved that I was just one step away from the perfect boobs.

The night before surgery, I slept fairly well.  I woke up at 5 a.m. to get ready.  I had to take a shower with the funky smelling antibacterial soap they had provided.  We got the kids ready and dropped them off at daycare, and left by 6:30 since I was due at the surgery center at 8:00 (surgery scheduled at 9).  But there was no traffic, and I made it to the center by 7:15.  I took all my pills that I was supposed to take at 7:00.  I waited until 9:30 and was taken to the OR.  I just remember lying down, the doctor came in and marked me up, and I told him I did want to go to a full C/small D because I wanted to lose 30 lbs over the next year.  (Remember the full C was too big for me?) Then I was out. 

I woke up in recovery like I was drunk!  I didn't feel any pain, but I could not talk.  Everything I said came out mumbled.  The nurses tried to talk to me (telling me that they were going to dress me, try to go to the bathroom, etc).  I just wanted to tell them to be quiet and let me go back to sleep!!!  I slept the whole way home, fell asleep in the recliner at home, woke up, took a percocet, and fell asleep again.  I slept until 6:00, and then I had some soup, and went to sleep again.  Luckily, I wasn't nauseous because of something they put in my I.V. earlier.  I slept all night and woke up in the morning sooooo stiff!  I felt like I had done about 500 push-ups or something!  I remember trying to look down, and my chin bumped my chest.  I was so swollen that I couldn't feel my collarbone!  I got up to look in the mirror, and I was black and blue everywhere.  It was scary!  My gauze that covered my belly button was bloody and the stitches looked so gross.  My abdomen was wrapped in a binder and ace bandage, and my breasts were wrapped in two bras and an ace bandage.  I wanted to see how my breasts looked, but I was scared.  I was able to walk around a little, but not much more.  The second day, I was allowed to take off one bra, and I saw my boobies.  They were huge!  But I could tell that they would look nice as soon as the swelling goes down and they drop.  I stopped taking pain medications entirely after the third day.  I was still sore, but not in anymore pain.  My breasts were numb from the nipples down to the upper ribs.

I had my 1 week follow up last week.  Doc says they look good and showed my how to do the exercise.  I have to do it once a day everyday for life. 

I just bought my first un-padded, no wire bra that I plan to wear as soon as I'm allowed out of my surgical bra next week.  It's a 36 D.  Even though I wanted a D because I plan to lose weight, I hope they don't shrink and stay a D even after the weight loss. I'm back to work now, but have not had the courage to wear anything tighter than a sweater.  But I love my womanly breasts!  When I get used to them I'll definitely go back to my regular wardrobe.  But for now, I'll secretly admire them from here.

Julie

 

 

 

 

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