Patient Diary

DIARY OF A BREAST AUGMENTATION PATIENT

"That night at home, I felt pretty tired. I did experience some discomfort but it wasn't really actual pain.They had told me about bruising ahead of time but I was a little surprised when I first saw the bruises under my breasts. They did give me pain medication but it upset my stomach a little bit so I stopped after two days. I looked at myself for the first time on Friday and went 'yikes…they look big.' I also couldn't see my nipples because of the tape so I thought my breasts looked a little weird. I felt a sense of pressure around my chest for the first couple of days but then it went away. The 'hand grenades' had to be emptied a couple of times before they were removed.

At 1 ½ days, the nurse removed the tape around my breasts along with the drainage tubes. I was very relieved when they were removed because they were starting to make me nervous. When she took them off, I felt a pulling sensation and a slight burning but then I felt relieved and 'free.' They put on an elastic band and a sports bra which I was instructed to wear for three weeks.

They told me to plan my activities based upon how I felt and what I felt comfortable doing. By Sunday, I could pick up and hold my daughter. I probably could have gone to work on Monday, but since I had the day off, I took it.

The incisions were made in the nipple area with dissolving stitches. They became a little itchy and I did have to sleep on my back for over a week. But I'm sure you won't be able to see any scars once that area is fully healed.

I saw the Doctor again one week after the surgery. He asked me questions about my recovery, examined my breasts and removed the dressings from the incision sites. He reminded me again that the stitches would dissolve on their own and instructed me to schedule another appointment with him in one month. After that, I will see him at six months and one year.

I'm so glad I took this step. I feel much better about myself already. I wish I could have skipped the recovery part but looking back now, it wasn't so bad and certainly worth every second of it. My fiancé and I are delighted with the results. I was also very pleased to discover that all sensitivity in my breasts has been fully restored.

I just tried on some tank tops and halters that I wore during my pregnancy and they fit perfectly. My overall appearance is much more proportionate than before.

The people at work and my friends were a little surprised because they had different ideas of what my outcome would be…huge and unnatural. That's not the look I wanted…it is the fullness I care about. Going up too many sizes would look very unnatural on my small size. Anyway, I did this for me."