Gina’s Blog: The Price of Looking Good!
July 27th, 2009
I am giving up a lot to have this surgery done. The modifications to my life style that will have to be made are many. Let’s start professionally. I teach and train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and during my recovery from surgery, I’ll have another instructor cover my classes for the first week. The following weeks 2- through 5, I will have another instructor helping me with the demonstration portions of class, while I instruct using verbal cues only. As far as my personal training business being affected, I will have to take a few days off. When I return to training my clients, I won’t be able to demonstrate most exercises, because I am not allowed to lift more than 5 lbs for three weeks following surgery. Again, most everything will have to be done through verbal cues alone.
Now let’s hit the personal modifications… and there’s a lot! I usually train 2-3 hrs a day, 6 days a week. I do a variety of things from Jiu-Jitsu, kettle bells, yoga, Pilates, lots of cardio (running & walking), and tons of body weight stuff. Clearly, all of this is going to have to be put on hold while I recover from surgery. Some of it will have to be put on hold a little longer than that.
Dr. Bashioum has cleared me for a slight increase in activity after the first week of surgery; I can start to raise my heart rate again (thank goodness!!) by fast walking and possibly some light jogging, if there’s no pain. Once I hit the 3 week mark, I can start to incorporate things back in to my workout routine… slowly and without pain, of course. This is by far, the hardest thing for me to give up. It’s my life, my profession and my passion.
Giving up all supplements prior to surgery has also been extremely difficult! It has affected my training and recovery time greatly. I realize how much I take my health and physical performance for granted at times. It has once again proven to me how important proper nutrition is for a body to function at its true potential.
The other lifestyle area that will be affected by my surgery is caring and playing with my dogs. We have two Boston Bulldog’s of our own and one foster dog. I will be unable to walk them, hold them, or have them play rough with me. I can have them sit in my lap, provided that I don’t pick them up.
In addition, I will be unable to some of my normal household duties without assistance from my husband and friends because of the 5-lb/3 week rule. I like to do things on my own and in my own way, so this will be challenging for me to have help. It will be interesting couple weeks for us. Although I’m complaining a lot, I will be very happy to have the symmetry of my breasts restored, when this is all over!
I do feel sorry for my husband, Brian, because he is going to have to deal with all of this during my recovery. And I know I won’t be too much fun to be around. I have one final consultation with Dr. Bashioum tomorrow, to answer any last questions that I might have. Please check back for video clips of both my consultation and my actual surgery later this week.
Surgery Notes: Unmatched Pair
July 20th, 2009
Women frequently ask about differences in their breast size. This question always comes up when they are considering some type of breast surgery. Differences are normal. Small differences or asymmetry are a part of normal human beauty. I suggest accepting small differences.
Surgery might be considered when the differences are great in both the eye of the patient and the surgeon. Both the surgeon and the patient must agree that the difference is significant. Once this is agreed, surgery may be considered.
Two different procedures may be considered when a patients breasts are two different sizes. The larger breast can be made smaller or the smaller breast can be made larger. Rarely, one breast is made smaller while the other is made larger. As always, these are personal decisions which depend on your preferences for final sizing. As Gina has mentioned in her blog posting last week, she has decided to make her one breast smaller to match the smaller breast size.
Trying on breast implants in a bra helps patients determine the volume representing their asymmetry, but also what should be done. As ever increasing implant sizes are inserted into the side of the smaller breast, a point will be reached where both breasts look the same size. In Gina’s case, she felt she was symmetric in size when she put a 150 ml implant in the bra on her smaller side. This discovery will serve as a guide during surgery. The surgical plan will be removing 150 ml from her larger breast.
Breast tissue removal is the only way to reduce breast size. Generally this is combined with breast lift surgery. In Gina’s case, she does not want the scars that come with a breast lift surgery. She is comfortable with a possible difference in nipple position, if her breasts are made made more symmetrical in size. I will remove the necessary breast volume through a small incision, much like that used for breast enlargement. I anticipate a nice change for Gina when the surgery is completed.
Another possible option is liposuction. Liposuction can be successful when there is relatively more fat than breast tissue and this technique worked for a few years for Gina, until her fibrocystic condition worsened. It is interesting to note that many men with gynecomastia present with fat and slight breast tissue, when liposuction alone is usually successful in reducing their breast size.
Gina will continue to post her patient diary and video clips of her surgery will be added this week, so please check back.
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