Melonie’s Blog: Surgery Today
October 21st, 2009
My pre-op experience today was informative and really put me at ease. I was greeted by Sandy, the Patient Coordinator, who instructed me on what I would be wearing during surgery, informed me of the estimated start time, my estimated time in recovery and who I would be seeing before my surgery began. She then took the “before†photos of my before and after pictures (not at all uncomfortable).
I was then greeted by Dr. Bashioum and asked if I had any last questions before the surgery. I had chosen the 500 cc implant, so Dr. Bashioum confirmed my decision and based on my physical stature, he felt this would be an appropriate size for me. He evaluated the symmetry of the size of my breasts, as it is very common for women have a slight difference in size. I felt that my left was slightly smaller then my right side. After some discussion I felt that 525cc in the left and 500cc in the right would be what I would like to balance out the small size difference. I was curious about the position of the implant, so we discussed placement and how it was determined. He made a few makings on my breasts and then I was to meet with the nurse (Jackie) to go over post-operative instructions. She answered a few questions regarding the after care and then I met with anesthesia. We discussed my past surgeries and how I felt following other surgeries that I might have had. He assured me that he would take every measure to prevent any nausea. Then I was off to surgery.
My surgery is being filmed, so check back later this week to watch actual video clips of my augmentation.
Gina’s Final Blog: Good News
September 25th, 2009
Good news!! I had my final check-up and I was NOT put on an extended time-out! You might recall reading that I didn’t exactly follow my after-instructions perfectly. I must admit that I was half expecting to be put on that longer recovery period after my antics with the dog and the zipline at the playground. But Dr. Bashioum said that I was healing nicely, in spite of my minor transgressions!
I’m around the 3-month mark now during my post-surgery recovery and I am so pleased with the results of the single-sided breast reduction. My breasts are now about as symmetrical as they can be (nothing on the body can ever be perfectly symmetrical) and I no longer have any pain when working out. Running is much more enjoyable and I don’t have to wear two sports bras to minimize the movement of the left breast anymore. I tried doing Jiu Jitsu, but the intense pressure is still too much for the breast that had surgery at this point. Dr. Bashioum has mentioned that I am clear for any activity that does not cause pain, so I’ll have to wait awhile longer to resume my martial arts training.
Before the surgery, I would loathe seeing my left breast. I felt that the asymmetry detracted from all of my hard work training and attempts to achieve the body I was happy with. I definitely feel more confident about my body now. I am wearing shirts and tank tops without baggy sweatshirts over them, which is what I used to do to hide the asymmetry of my breasts. I also enjoy looking at myself in the morning when I am getting dressed for the day. What a nice feeling.
I have been playfully teased by my friends and family with comments like, “What a huge difference the surgery made.†or “All these years I didn’t have the heart to tell you that your boobs didn’t match!†and so on. Most people denied that they noticed the size discrepancy until I pointed it out, but they are surprised to see what a real difference the reduction has made. However the cosmetic surgery has not only corrected the asymmetry of my breasts, but it has also changed the way I feel about myself now; how differently I carry myself and how I actually enjoy the way I look both in and out of my clothes. I have to say that I wasn’t quite expecting this remarkable self-esteem bonus.
This process has been an interesting experience. Thank you for following my story. Readers might be surprised that I have only one regret… that I didn’t have the surgery sooner!
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