Surgery Notes: Gina’s Customized Surgery
August 6th, 2009
Gina’s surgery was different than the vast majority of breast reduction surgeries. She did not have severe nipple ptosis (sagging) like most women seeking breast reduction. She also did not choose to have the resulting larger scars commonly associated with breast reduction surgery. For these reasons, we chose to approach her surgery in a more custom fashion.
Gina’s surgery design was based on my extensive experience with breast enlargement, even though it was a reduction procedure. It seems counter intuitive, I know. When sub-glandular breast enlargement surgery is done, the breast tissue is elevated off of the underlying pectoralis muscle. An implant is then placed in the breast pocket to increase breast size. We did just the opposite with her surgery. Breast tissue was sculpted and removed from the under surface of the breast unilaterally or on one side only. The reduction was, in effect, the reverse of traditional sub-glandular breast enlargement. The only incision that was necessary to accomplish this surgery was a small inch long incision beneath Gina’s left breast. The resulting scar will heal to be almost unnoticed. This type of customized plastic surgery is one aspect of new advances in cosmetic surgery.
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.
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