journal

9/10/00 & 9/11/00

Three weeks post op

9/14/00

Four weeks post op

9/28/00

Six Weeks post op

10/21/00

Nine Weeks post op

12/22/00

Four Months post op and beyond!

August 2001

1 Year post op and beyond!

6/27/05

Four plus years post op

Well, this weekend has been fairly interesting... Last week I changed my tapes, and put some paper tape on the incisions, on Saturday I decided to take the tapes off since I was really itchy and sort of burning. Well, lucky me I am still really sensitive to that darn 'hypoallergenic' paper tape... I had a nice 1/4 inch by 1 1/2 inch area that was raw under where that tape was really close to my t-spot incision on my left breast. I think I was mostly just upset since I tried to get some steristrips from my PS's office last week, and it was suggested that I call a couple medical supply stores..... so after calling all day on Friday and being unable to find any, and being the good patient and following the nurses order to keep tape on the incisions...then this happens... But I listened to my brain and decided that it just needed some air and I put a 4X4 on the spot, covered the other incisions with gauze and went to sleep.

I think it will be fine, its already looking lots better, although I hope my steristrips I ordered online will come by the end of the week since I would like to put some of them on the other incisions. I had another area that opened up because of moisture under the old steri-strips and I gave it air and it was totally closed up in 3 days, so I thank God for giving me the ability to heal fast.

Ahhh... another day :-) the spot under my left breast looks A LOT better today, it just looks like a little scratch,

I am not sure if you can even see it in that picture, but its the dark line. I just want to give a little praise to my wonderful husband who told me when I was upset the other night that it really was nothing, and to just relax. I suppose when I read my friends stories about their problems, and truly take for granted how smoothly my healing has gone. Then when something like this happens I get worried and overreact. My husband says that's my nature, and I am sure he is right, and I have to keep reminding myself that I am only 3+ weeks into the healing process, and things like encapsulated stitch's, (an encapsulated stitch is one that does not dissolve and your immune system decides its a foreign body, surrounds it and kicks it out of your body, it sometimes happens at like 3 or more months post op, and can be like a pimple, or a small open area), or reactions to creams, or God forbid something serious can still happen. I need to remember that I have to still take it easy for several more weeks. I may look like I am healing great, and I may feel like I am healing great, but fact of the matter is, I am STILL healing, so I need to still be careful.

Speaking of being careful, I may as well mention today was the first day I had my kids all by myself, ALL day... My husband (God LOVE the Army...lol) went to work at 6 AM and won't be home until 11 PM. I am pretty tired, but the kids have been super today. I took my 3 year old to preschool and I had 4 hours to relax, and my little 12 month old even took a nice 2 hour nap this morning. This afternoon we just stayed inside and played games, and right now they are having a snack and are about to go to bed. I still do not like to carry around my son, but putting him in the car seat and from the car seat to a stroller is about all I have to do. I am REALLY glad he was an early walker so he can walk to the car :-)

I am really healing wonderfully, I feel so blessed in that department :-) the incisions look good, the scars are red, but really scars are not an issue for me unless they are causing more than just visual problems. I never wanted to look at my breasts before, and now I think they are just lovely.All the incisions are closed up and on some are the areas its smooth and you cannot even tell there was a cut other than the red line. some other areas are a bit more raised, but unless you really look close, and inspect, you cannot tell. I am applying Mederma a couple times a day. I have no idea if it will work, but if it does then that's even better. I bought it and I hate to waste it lol

As far as what I feel I can do.... well things like driving and walking are easy. I am even able to pick up my son, although I do not make a habit of it. But who would want to make a habit of picking up 27 lbs of solid 12 months old LOL... well actually my mom liked it. She told me she lost like 10 lbs when she was here, and now has biceps! lol

I do not have the stamina I had before surgery back yet, but I have not had one back ache since the 2nd night home (I was still sleeping on my back, totally not a back sleeper here ha ha), and overall I feel like a new person.

There are some things that I do not feel comfortable doing, one thing is any bouncing. could not tell you what it feels like since I have not done it. I have walked fast a couple times and I did feel my breasts bounce. it was not a painful feeling, but it was not anything I was used to so I have not made a habit of walking fast LOL. I did take a couple miles walk today pushing the double stroller, after spending three hours at my daughter preschool with about 16 three year olds... and I feel tired, but I still feel good, so you KNOW I am slowly getting some stamina back :-), Heck to be honest I did not think if my new breasts once in that three hours. :-)

Another thing I noticed last night about my healing is when I reach far I feel a little pulling. I am not talking about reaching up either. I was unloading the dryer last night and was reaching to the back of the dryer and felt a little pulling, so either things are just tight with the incisions and or I am just still healing. I think its both, but I am not a Dr :-)

My left nipple still has a lot less sensation than my right, and its sort of funny how my right one will 'nip out' and my left will not, (I am sure it looks interesting through my shirts to anyone who catches a glimpse) and I am happy with the sensation, actually I am happy with everything.I still have some residual bruising ont he left side, but its fading VERY SLOWLY, and the area I had that the tape irritated is all healed now. I am still undecided if I want to put the steri-strips on when they arrive. The Dr says to, but his reasoning to is help the scarring. I think the scarring looks fine now. Although some women I have talked to say that at about 8 weeks their scars look more red, so I am yet to decide what I want to do.

I just posted my 4 week pictures, and I have to say I am pleased with them, they may not be perfect but they are mine. I just feel so blessed to have been given this opportunity to have this surgery. I will not lie and say it was all easy, but I would recommend this to anyone I thought was suffering :-)

I went for my routine 6 week follow-up with my PS yesterday, and he was pleased with how things are going! I had a split stitch that had caused a pimple type thing on my left breast, and it would open up and them scab over, and open up and scab over, like everyday for a week! I lady I know who had her surgery in May told me that it could be a split stitch that needs to come out. I agreed with her, and asked the PS about it and sure enough he was able to pluck that stitch right out of there!

I also asked him about how some of my incisions are a little rippley, and he assured me they would even out as well in time. I tell you what... I am just so pleased with everything! :-)

He also gave me the go ahead to do whatever I wish activity wise, but I think I will wait a few more weeks before I start to really push it, but I am going to try to run a little starting next week. I think taking it slow is the key and that's all I can do :-)

I feel great other wise, I an not having any pain to speak of, and not really any discomfort either. I honestly feel like I could do anything I could do before.

If anyone who is reading this and is contemplating having this surgery I would like to tell you how much of a difference it has made in my life. Find a PS you feel comfortable with, and educate yourself. Its wonderful this side of the rainbow!

Nine Weeks post op! Its hard to believe! The healing has gone so well, it feels like a lot longer ago! I do not have any bad scarring problems, although I am using the mederma. Even the place where I had the stitch three weeks ago is all healed, and is looking good! I just feel so very very blessed! I have no dog ears, and developed no infection at anytime. I think some of this had to do with me being a germ freak :-) I really tried hard to keep everything clean, and to not give any germs a chance to settle on a bra's or my towels (washed them daily in odo-ban). Maybe I went overboard, but I cannot complain about anything!

As far as my activity goes, I have been running a bit. That was an incredible experience! I felt so strange not having to hold my breasts while they bounced all over! I still like to wear a good supportive sports bra, although I have been wearing small tank style bras like that shown above, and I have worn underwires a few times. They are not uncomfortable, but I do not need that extra support so I just feel they are pointless. I would much rather wear a comfortable cotton bra.

I feel totally healed, and I have for several weeks. Once that open area from that last stitch closed up I can't help but feel like I have not had surgery. the only time I noticed anything was when I attempted to put on my hiking backpack, and the side straps pressed in on the sides of my breasts. It was not painful, but felt strange, and I decided to wait another month to see if they will chance shape anymore, as I would not want to do anything that caused pressure if I am still healing. :-)

I feel totally healed, I can run, and jump, and play with my kids... I just feel like a new person. Even though I do not like getting my picture taken, When I do I no longer cringe to look at the developed picture in fear of seeing nothing but me being out of proportion.

My Scars although still there, are fading nicely and are not bumpy or raised. My breasts have softened and settled into a small C cup, and I am happier than I can express with how they look. :-)

My Husband is happy with the result and tells me everyday how beautiful I am and how he enjoys our much more active lifestyle now that I feel more comfortable doing the things that before caused me to be uncomfortable. (I mean we ALL have seen the lady jogging down the road with the large breasts that are bouncing all over the place...)

Everything considered I would do this again tomorrow if I needed to. I feel so blessed with everything, and I cannot thank God enough for giving me the ability to do the research to find out about this operation, and for giving me a Plastic Surgeon and staff that are some of the kindest and nicest people out there.

Wow! Here are are in 2005 and I am nearly 5 years post op! It is just amazing to me how time flies. Things are going well with the "girls" :-) I had gained about 30 lbs :-( and then lost about 60, (thank you Dr. Atkins! ha ha!) So things are going well for me. the "Girls" did get a little bigger with the gain, but did not really shrink with the loss. My band size increased to a 38, and now it is back to a comfortable 36. I might be able to wear a 34, but 34 C's are hard to find, and honestly I spent too much time searching for hard to find sizes!

Everything is staying symmetrical and the scars are pretty much invisible still :-)