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True Life Stories > Melissa's Story

True Life Stories

Melissa's Story

My name is Melissa, and I had breast augmentation about five weeks ago. I am 36 years old, weigh about 125lb and am about 5'8" tall. Before my surgery, I wore a 34A. Now I am a full 34C. I had 330cc moderate profile smooth round Mentor implants placed sub-muscular with my incision underneath the breast. I am very active and live in Florida. I am always in workout clothes or a swimsuit, and that helped to encourage me to have my surgery. When I was nineteen, I knew I wanted breast implants someday. Thankfully, I finally did it.

Before I had twins at the age of 34, I wore a 34B size bra, (probably to make myself feel good). After I nursed and lost weight down to l18lb, I became almost concave in my chest and could wear a 34AA! I knew once my boys were several years old that I was going to have my breast surgery finally. A family member recommended my Dr. to me, and I made arrangements for someone to help me with the boys the first two weeks.

I researched thoroughly all the different procedures used to place the implants in the breasts, and I picked the brains of all my friends that I knew had implants. I have friends with over and under the muscle, so I searched for all the pros and cons. Initially, I always thought I would have mine placed over the muscle, but I ended up going under the muscle for many reasons I am more comfortable with now. Mentally, I prepared myself to be "down" for a period of time, because I knew I would not be able to do the things physically that I normally do for up to six weeks.

Once I had my surgery scheduled, I was so excited and could not wait until that day. My consultation was the day before my surgery, since I was having mine in a town where I did not live. Before the consultation, I received an extremely thorough book explaining the day of the surgery, things I should do to prepare before the surgery, complications that could arise, and recovery procedures. I wrote questions and underlined important things for me to remember in this book. My mom and aunt went with me along with my twin boys to the consultation. They waited in the lobby of course. During the consultation, I tried on the implants to get an idea of what I wanted to be. I thought around 350cc would be good. The Dr. measured me for 330cc, and he said he would try to fill me up to 350-360cc. I am tall, but I am very small framed in my upper body, so I went with 330cc to be safe. Everyone was very professional during my consultation, and I felt good returning the next day for my surgery.

My surgery was scheduled for 4:00 p.m., so I had to quit eating and drinking at 8:00 a.m. that morning. It wasn't hard, because my adrenaline was on the go by this time, and I knew I did not want to get sick after I woke up from the anesthesia. Prior to the surgery, I upped my vitamin intake as recommended by the Dr. Prior to the surgery, I had my pain pills, antibiotics, and something for nausea filled. I thought to myself I would never take all of these meds!

I arrived at his office at 3:30 p.m.with my mom, aunt, and 2 1/2 year old identical twin boys. I went in by myself to the waiting area and had to wait a while, because the Dr. was still in another surgery. Finally, the nurse called me back and began to prep me for the surgery. She was extremely sweet and gentle. The nurse took before photos of me in a swimsuit top and without a swimsuit top. She started an IV in me and gave me magazines to read while I waited. All the thoughts did go through my mind about something going wrong while under the anesthesia, so I prepared by praying and having others to pray for me too! I had been under before for minor procedures, and I knew in this case that I would not be asleep with the anesthesia for very long also. The Dr. came in to see me before the surgery and to confirm what we were going to do. After he left, the anesthesiologist came in to meet me and start prepping me for the operating room. Things began to move very quickly, and I was in the OR lying down on a table. Within minutes, I was out. I vaguely remember them wheeling me out and sitting me up. The surgery took about 45 minutes. The nurse began to talk to me, and I felt the pain! It jolted me awake, which I was very glad of actually. I was happy to know I was awake again. The nurse asked how I felt, and I was getting a little nauseous. She brought me ice, and it helped tremendously. The anesthesiologist checked on me. The nurse opened my gown, and there they were. Wow! She quickly put my sports bra on me, and this actually helped relieve the muscle pain I was feeling. The nurse told me NOT to try and use my arms to lift myself up. She helped me dress and wheeled me out of the office in a wheel chair to my car. People were talking to me, and all I wanted to do was to get some crackers and sprite in my stomach so I could take a pain pill.

I was spending the night with my family, so on the way we stopped and bought crackers and sprite. I was glad it was evening, because I knew my boys would be going to bed, and I could also lie down and sleep. When I arrived at the house, I took a pain pill and a Valium, and I went to bed. Getting in and out of bed was not a real problem for me, and by the following morning I felt much better. I took one pain pill the following morning, and I had to go for a checkup with the Dr. I actually felt great, and I was in very little pain. I believe that was the last pain pill I took, and I did not even have to take Tylenol that was recommended to switch to once I did not need the pain medicine. I had very little bruising and just a little swelling. I slept on my back with a sports bra for two weeks or a little more.

I had started the antibiotics, and by the third day they made me really sick. It scared me when I got sick from the antibiotics, so I started thinking, "Why did I do this?"

Once I came off of them and got them out of my system, I felt much better.

I followed the Dr.'s advice about physical activity. I started fast walking after two weeks. After three weeks, I started back to the gym to work my lower body. Now, I have started jogging, spinning, and step aerobics gradually. After six weeks, I will see how I feel working my upper body. I did start lifting my boys as necessary, being very careful, after two weeks, and I have felt fine. Being that I went under the muscle which adds support and that I did not go too big, I believe helps me to feel comfortable being physically active at such an early stage.

I am thrilled with the results. My breasts are truly pretty now! I look so much better in my swimsuits and my workout clothes. My clothes all fit me the way they are supposed to fit now, and I do not have to wear thick padded bras. I am so glad I did it, and I feel like my new breasts have been with me all the time. I would tell others to talk to everyone you know who has had breast augmentation and to talk to people who have used the Dr. that you are going to use. Go with what the Dr. says will be best along with what you want your results to be. In hindsight, I do wish I had let him try to fill my implants up with 20 or 30 more cc's like he suggested because I am tall. However, I am thrilled with going from an A cup to a full 34C cup. I look very normal and not "top heavy." I would tell others to do it and not to wait! Follow the Dr.'s directions, and your recovery will go well. I am so happy with the results, and I love my new breasts!

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