My Breast Augmentation Story

 I have decided to tell my story

(This page is my personal journal of my experience. I don't intend to share it with my friends and family, it's mostly for women, like myself, who searched the web looking for someone else's experience)

Over time I will tell the progress of my healing after breast implants.  I know everyone's story is different and very personal.  I felt that maybe someone out there might benefit from my experience.  Plus, might be searching for a great doctor in the Dallas/Ft Worth area. This is a sensitive story for me and will be quite strange to open up about such a hushed topic.  But, here goes..

My name is Kathryn.  I am a 30 year old mother of 3 kids ranging from 4-8.  I live in the great state of Texas, and have been married for nearly 10 years.  I am a stay at home mom, who also runs my own online baby boutique from home.

Victoria's been keeping my secret for a long time :)

Most of Victorias Secret push up bras have the insert opening for the padding.  I was fortunate to find these lovely gel inserts.  They work very well, as you can see in the above photo. 

What I looked like before babies

I think I was a 36B

When I started having kids, I weighed approx 160 lbs at 5' 10", Strange how I would lose more and more weight after nursing each child.  By the time my youngest of 3 was 10 months old, I weighed 128 lbs, and had absolutely no breast tissue at all.  I currently weigh 135.

The Surgeon I chose

I knew for years that I wanted to get implants, but I didn't start searching for my doctor until about 3 months ago.  I checked out several websites for Doctors in the Dallas/Ft Worth area and Oklahoma.  I was most impressed with Dr. Louis Strock in Ft. Worth. 

http://www.drstrock.com/About-Dr-Strock.aspx

Dr. Strock specializes in transaxillary endoscopic breast augmentation, which means an incision through the arm pit, leaving the breast completely scarless.  Which was something very important to me. 

He is very professional and was very thorough on measurements to provide the correct sizing of breast implants.  I went with the MemoryGel Silicone Breast Implants with 350 cc's, under the muscle.  My goal was to look as proportionate as possible.  I didn't want to look like I had implants.

                              

What it feels like

I really didn't have a lot of pain after the surgery.  I rarely took any of the pain meds that I was perscribed.  Only the pain/muscle relaxers at bed time.  I was propped up on about 5 pillows and it was uncomfortable, but I got through it.  After 2 weeks, I can now sleep on one pillow, but still miss sleeping on my belly.

If you have ever breastfed a baby, then I will compare the discomfort to that.  The skin feels very tight, but is slowly stretching.  Sometimes my muscles spasm a bit, which feels kind of similar to "let down" while nursing a baby.  You feel like you are engorged... which just brings back so many memories.

I've always wondered why women with implants always seem to be nipping.. I do it a lot now and I can't figure out why.  If I wear an unlined bra, I am constantly looking down to make sure they aren't saying hi to everyone.  One nipple is a bit more sensitive than the other, in an irritated kind of way. 

Before and After photos

3 days after surgery

I feel like I got the correct size to fit my body, going from nothing to something huge would've been too much for me.  I don't like drawing a lot of attention to myself.  I am usually a t-shirt and jeans kind of girl.  The tank tops are only for the photos. 

One week after surgery

I was measured at Dillards as a 34D.

(I'm sure I will be a C once the swelling is completely gone)

Spent a few hours at the pool with my hubby and the kids.  Got a few stares from ladies and a 15 year old boy.  I think I'll be looking for a new bathing suit that doesn't show off so much cleavage. 

2 weeks after surgery

I'm so glad I won't have to spend more money on a new wardrobe. 

I have gone from a 32/25/36 measurement

to a 36/25/36.  My clothes fit so much better.

Here is the bra that I was given by my surgeon at my first checkup.  Fits like a glove and so comfortable!  No padding or underwire.  I know... it looks like something grandma would wear, but these girls are sittin' up on their own, I love that! 

2 weeks.. Before and After

(my friend Stacey and I took a lot of before photos)

They are still swollen and gravity hasn't quite kicked in yet

Why I wanted the surgery

To be honest, I don't like seeing the before photos.  They actually look worse than what I thought I looked like.  I always felt like I looked like a 13 year old girl who was just starting puberty.  Don't get me wrong, I felt pretty in clothes and my padded bra, because I wouldn't think about it.  But when I was naked, I was sad.  I wanted to feel like a woman.  Sad, I didn't feel that way at 30.

Only a few people knew what I looked like topless.  Including my mom, my husband, and my best friend.  My mom didn't know until 2 weeks before surgery, when I told her I was having it done.  I was surprised by her reaction of pity when she saw my naked boobs.  Which made me feel even more glad that I was having the surgery.  My best friend didn't see until we took the before photos the day before surgery.  I'm not one of those free spirits that just doesn't care who sees.  I keep myself covered, always.

They still look like they're in a push up bra, but that will change.

I definately don't fit in this black bra anymore. It was a little too big before at a 34B.

Here is the incision from the surgery. 

The incision will fade over time. 

I had a stitch pop in the other armpit that left a small hole (I got a bit carried away trying on clothes too soon). 

It will take a bit more time to heal than this side.

The skin around the incision has been a little tender. I did have some strange muscle pain (when I would turn my head), that I was worried would be permament, but that has gone away.

After 2 1/2 weeks, I still have not told more than 20 people that I had the surgery


3 Weeks After Surgery

My 3 week check up. 

I wanted a photo with my awesome Surgeon.  I've wanted implants for SO long and he has done such an amazing job.  I am so happy with how things have turned out.  HOWEVER... he didn't like my bra selection on the left.  Thought it would not give me enough support in the beginning weeks, so he sent me back for another bra.  The one on the right is the one I purchased, with the help of the Nordstroms fitting ladies.  Who are well aware of Dr. Strock's specific requests for his patients bras.  I guess Dillards is not the place to go to be fitted after a boob job :)