11 days to go to my augmentation surgery!!!!

Augmentation surgery booked!!!!!!

I went to see Mr Russo today. He is very pleased with the way my boobies are healing and with the result of the uplift surgery. He measured; and my nipples are - apparently - perfectly even (he measures from place where collar bones meet down to each nipple).

He is now happy to perform part two of the procedure. I am booked in for 10th January.

I had hoped to have the augmentation done just before Christmas, to fit in with my having a quiet time in my business diary, but the surgery slots were all taken for then. I was initially disappointed.  Having had time to reflect, however, I am now thinking that is probably for the best. I am exhausted,  and have not had a break from work (other than the two weeks post-op recovery in the summer and an occasional weekend day off) since last Christmas.

The last op took much more recovering from than I anticipated and I need a proper rest. I will get one over Christmas (I adore being at home and taking care of everything and everyone there).  I will then be nice and rested going into the second op.

I'm not hoping for my breasts to be massive - I'm looking for a bit more volume and a rounder shape (particularly up top).   Mr Russo said he can definitely deliver that and he is confident my final result will be lovely 😊.





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18 weeks post surgery

16 weeks post-surgery............

............and mostly I am unaware of my breasts.  If I bash my boobs or my chocolate lab stands on one of them (you'll be surprised how regularly that occurs) it hurts and probably more than pre-op but that's not surprising.  My nipples are still somewhat numb and certainly nowhere near pre-op sensation levels.

I love the fact that I can go braless around the house and that my chest remains where it should.

16 weeks post-op

side view

11.5 weeks post surgery........

......and all is well in the boobie department.

I have been wearing underwired bras, during the day, for a little over a week.  I bought three new bras sized 34E but have realised many of my pre-uplift bras (34F) also fit so I will be fine until after my augmentation when I will get fitted properly.

I'm still wearing the MACOM bras at night and sports bras for lounging but am relieved to be back in 'normal' bras for work.  They give me a much better silhouette and enable me to wear clothes that simply did not work with a sports bra underneath.

11.5 weeks post-surgery

side view

Over 9 weeks post surgery.........

9.5 weeks post-op

.....and I'm almost pain free, my breasts are still a little tender when 'squished' and laying on my right side (or on my front) is uncomfortable but other than that all is pretty much as before.  I am able to run (not that I do - but I could if I wanted to), the car is no longer a boobie torture chamber (hurrah) and my tittys are fully 'operational' in my sex life (whoop!).

The last of the scabs have come away and the scars are healing and fading well.  I am massaging the scars twice daily, applying firm pressure, and doing so seems to be having a positive effect on the boob crease scars that were becoming quite raised.

close up of scars

side view

8 weeks post-surgery.......

......and - for the most part - the pain has finally gone.  I can drive without pain - yay!  I can hug hubby without pain - yay!  My dog can have a proper cuddle - yay!

I am even having sex without a bra on (shockingly brazen of me I know!!)

I am not able to lie comfortably on my right side yet; although laying on left side with support of a pillow is fine.  My boob-crease incision is tender (particularly at the outside edge) and I have a couple of scabs remaining. 

My scars are healing really well - especially the vertical scar which is very pleasing.

8 weeks post-op

Perky :)

Bath time :)

My first bath in almost 8 weeks.  Bliss!!

"Hello old friend"

Review appointment with Mr Russo......

...........has left me feeling a little deflated; our meeting lasted less than 5 minutes and was, largely, an opportunity for Mr Russo to admire his work.  If I had known what the appointment would entail I certainly would not have rushed away from the conference I was speaking at this morning to attend it.

I have not got a date for my second surgery as I had hoped.  That surgery will not be scheduled for a number of months. At my initial consultation I definitely heard Mr Russo say that he would be willing to perform the second operation as little as six weeks after the first. I am not sure if I misheard or simply misunderstood but today he was talking in terms of 6 months, not weeks.

On the plus side Mr Russo is totally thrilled with the results thus far and is very happy with the way I am healing.

When I arrived at the clinic I was taken straight in to see Mr Russo.  He gave me a hug and kisses on each cheek hello, and asked if he could have a look at my breasts.  I, of course, said he could and I removed my top and bra.  He looked simply delighted with his 'work' and said the result could not have been better. He had a bit of a squeeze and prod and then took some photos for his records.

I asked about the potential timing of the second op and he said for me to come back and see him in early January and that, if the scars were well enough healed, we would schedule for late January.

He said he was now certain doing the procedure in two stages was definitely the right decision for me and that the scarring will be minimal and my final result will be "just lovely".

He scrunched my right breast - ouchie - to push the tissue upwards and said the implants would give me that look and asked if that was what I was hoping for.  I agreed that it was.

I got dressed and asked if he would be willing to meet with me in early December and discuss the possibility of surgery later that month.  I explained that December is a quiet month for my business and scheduling surgery and time to recover will be much easier than in January.  He agreed and said he would have to see how my scars are healing at that point but that he would certainly consider it.

He again said how pleased he was with the way I am healing :)

He said I can bathe and swim and do anything else I have been avoiding (I can't think what he is referring to!)

To be honest the way Mr Russo handled my boobies today has given me a lot of confidence to let hubby have free reign with them.  Hubby would never be so rough with my breasts and if my surgeon is happy to handle them without concern of causing damage/harm I don't think there is any reason to treat them as if they are made of glass any longer :D.

Review appointment later today.....

I have a 5pm meeting with Mr Russo at my local Hospital Group clinic.

I'm feeling unaccountably anxious about it.  Maybe because my boobies associate him with sadistic torture ;)??  Also, I guess, I am hoping he will be happy with the results and will be willing to discuss the implants and the timing of such.

I am very keen to get a date for phase two of my tittification process into my diary. Booking work into my diary is difficult - but essential -  when I don't know when my second operation is going to take place.

I'm not fully confident that getting the second operation (which I have already paid for) will be all that straightforward. The process of booking the date for the first operation happened before I paid the balance. I hope my lack of confidence is not founded and that this evening I will be able to post and confirm the date of my second procedure :)

6 weeks post surgery......

........and I'm feeling properly like me again :)

My boobies are still very tender and indeed painful at times (bumps in the road whilst driving and the occasional head-butt from my beloved lab seeking cuddles are especially 'ouchie') and I have slept on my back - and only on my back - for seven weeks and my back hurts every morning as a result; but I've regained my pre-op energy levels and for much of the time I am not aware of my breasts.

6 weeks post-op

side view

Update on incisions

Scabs remain at the top and bottom of each vertical scar; but they are drying up well and I am confident that they will come away soon to reveal nice new skin underneath.

I am very pleased with how well the scars are knitting together and how faded the vertical scar is already [see pics below].

close-up of vertical scar - Righty

close-up of vertical scar - Lefty 

5 weeks post surgery........

..........today.

5 weeks post-op

side view

delayed healing of section on left breast

I have a small section on my left breast - where the boob crease suture line meets the vertical incision - that has been weeping for a week or so [see picture].

I have no symptoms associated with infection and, for the most part, I'm not overly concerned.  Wish it would get a blooming move on and heal though.

It's been 5 weeks!  I have been patient.  Just want to be fully healed now......

Punched myself in the breast.......

..........it hurt A LOT; I don't recommend it.

I was making pizza for my family this evening.  The passata, that I needed for the sauce, was in a small tin, shrink wrapped to 11 other such tins, in my kitchen cupboard.  The considerable force with which I was pulling on the plastic wrapping was transferred into the punch I gave my left tit when the wrapping finally gave way!!

Ouchie!!!

30 days post surgery.......

........and I'm struggling with lack of energy and with back pain.  Sleeping on my back for the past month, and not moving much during the night, is causing my back to be sorer and sorer each morning.  My breasts are still too tender to allow me to comfortably lie on my side.

Tomorrow will be one calendar month since I went under the knife.  I am surprised by how tired I am still feeling - especially in the mid to late afternoon.  I was not at all prepared for the length of time it would take me to heal from the surgery.

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Booby update:

My breasts are feeling less and less sore with each passing day :).  Most of the scabs have now fallen off and the skin on my breasts is much less dry and itchy.

In the past two days the suture lines have become much redder and I have had a little weeping from a couple of areas: on my left breast where the vertical incision meets the boob crease incision and on my right breast where the vertical incision meets the areola.  Both sites appear to have suture thread poking out and I am sure there is nothing to concern about just delayed healing. 

30 days post-op

left side 

right side

27 days post surgery.......

..........and all is well :)

I am 4 weeks post-op tomorrow and my boobies are healing well.  They are still very sensitive and ache after a long day (especially one that involves a lot of driving) but actual pain has all but gone (YAY!!)

27 days post-op

My nipples are beginning to look like they are properly attached to my breasts (phew).....

Itchy dry skin is being soothed by regular showers, using moisturising body wash, and then lots of body lotion applied and allowed to soak in before I get dressed.

Such a relief to be able to use body lotion to ease dry skin (not directly on the suture lines)

Finally decided on names for my titties and........

........mere hours later they received their first correspondence [see pics below].  They are considering employing a PA to deal with their personal admin ;)

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Without further ado I have great pleasure in announcing that my boobies, shall from this day forward, be referred to as:  

Scrumpy (righty) and Ale (lefty).

They are named after my hubby's favourite tipples - both of which he finds hard to resist, enjoys enormously and associates with pleasure, relaxation and good times :)

An envelope, addressed to my titties, lay atop the sofa............

I hurried to open it.  It was a card :).............

From my darling hufband <3

24 days post surgery......

.........and I'm feeling just fine.  The discomfort / pain has reduced a lot in the past few days - hurrah!!

Hugs (careful ones) have been reinstated - WHOOP!!  It is sooooo good to be able to hold hubby and be held by him.

Skin is feeling itchy; not the suture lines themselves, the skin all over my breasts and chest.  I get the best relief from having a shower, putting on body lotion (avoiding wounds) and sitting braless for while (letting air get to my skin).

24 days post-op

side view

This is a good look - I predict a fashion revolution.....

...........NOT!!!

I might have looked like a moron with two compression bras worn over my dress but it made a big difference to the level of pain/discomfort I was in whilst driving.  

I drove 10 minutes of the journey without the extra bras to ascertain, if the lack of discomfort was due to my being a few days more healed than the last time I was driving or, if the bras were making a significant difference: they absolutely were.

7.5 hours in a car today made much more physically bearable by three bra combo

Lots of driving ahead of me today, I'm getting prepared.....

.........for a day of pain.

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I am looking at a round trip of 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 hours today (Friday afternoon on M25 and over QEII Bridge so who knows??)

Driving quite simply hurts.  The vibrations cause my breasts to move (internally and a little externally) and the suture lines to rub against the inside of my bra - ouchie, ouchie, ouchie!!

Where roads are badly maintained, with potholes or speed humps my car turns into a boobie torture chamber!!

Yesterday I postponed a work commitment that required me to drive for a few hours.  Today that simply isn't possible.

I am planning to utilise Hippo to hold the seatbelt in a more comfortable position and to wear sports bra done up as tightly as I can bear AND to add additional support (and I think glamor ;) ) I will wear a compression bra (maybe two) over my clothes whilst I am actually in the car.

Note to self:  must remember to remove compression bra before I get out of the car......

my motto for today

22 days post surgery......

.......and swelling / bruising has almost gone.

Three weeks on from surgery and I am starting to feel almost back to my usual self in terms of energy levels.  Although I remain frustrated at my inability to do a lot of things; e.g. lifting, heavier housework, lay on my side, tolerate anything coming into contact with my breasts, drive without significant discomfort and so forth.

22 days post-op

appearance of the suture lines & bruising is improving each day

Three week tittiversary and a major milestone........

......... moments, even minutes, without pain/discomfort/awareness of 'ouchies'!!

A while ago I was sitting here, getting on with some business admin, when I became conscious of the fact that I was unaware of my breasts.  

No pain, no discomfort, no aching - nothing!

Even when I brought my attention to my chest I could not feel the suture lines - it was as if the cuts were not there at all.  For the fist time in three weeks I was entirely pain free :D

Bliss.........

I moved and the wounds made themselves known to me again but - not to worry - I experienced another episode of the absence of discomfort a few minutes later.  

The relief is heady.......... 

It wasn't until I was without pain that I fully appreciated how much it has been a constant companion; the first thing I noticed when I came round from the anaesthetic and again upon waking every morning since.

Appointment with nurse - feeling reassured :)

Having spoken to Caroline (the nurse who I saw at my second wound appointment) over the phone on Thursday, about the weeping from the wound on my right breast, I went in to see her today. 

Over the weekend my left breast has also been weeping - on and off - from the same place (where the vertical scar meets areola scar). 

Caroline examined me this afternoon and said all is well: no sign of infection.

She said the point where I am experiencing the weeping is a weak point on the suture lines and that what I am experiencing is just delayed healing. She looked at my wounds and said she suspected I was not reacting very well to the dissolvable thread used to create the suture line (internal stitches) and that I was healing more slowly as a result. 

She also explained the reason the skin on my breasts is so dry, and flaky, is down to the post-op swelling having stretched the skin and resulted in dehydration after the swelling subsided.

Once the scabs have all fallen off the suture lines I can begin massaging the scars to improve their appearance. They are still feeling much too sore for me to relish that thought at the moment though!

20 days post-surgery.........

...........and I'm getting there slowly!!

20 days post-op

left side

right side

The skin on my breasts is very dry and itchy.  Being encased in bras made from manmade fabric 24/7 is not the best skincare regime I can tell you!!

18 days post surgery..........

........and I'm feeling better and better hour on hour.

I am not yet at pre-op energy levels but I'm getting there :)

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Booby update:

1. My wounds are looking less horrific (phew!).  
2. I am now getting oozing from lefty (the same spot as on righty) I will see the nurse on Tuesday just for reassurance that all is well.  When I spoke to her on Thursday she said the point where vertical incision meets the areola is a 'weak point' as it is where all of the wounds meet and there is a lot of pressure on that 'junction'.
3. Showering is very much helping with the aesthetic improvement of the wounds - the dried bits of blood and the remaining adhesive from the dressings is being washed away with each shower.  There is a very stubborn bit of adhesive just above my right areola that is irritating me.
4. The bruising on my lefty is taking its sweet time to improve.
5. The skin on my breasts very dry and starting to flake off - tiny bits of dried skin are on the inside of my bra whenever I remove in - I have boobdruff - I am using mosturising shower cream/gel but with little effect.

Day 18 post-op

side view

incisions on righty

incisions on lefty

Driving and sex (not at the same time)........

Driving, even short distances, causes my boobies to hurt. Uneven roads, and especially potholes, are especially painful. There are moments, whilst I am driving, when I fear my wounds might be opening up because that is what it feels like :(

It is more bearable as a passenger because I can secure my breasts with my hands / arms (especially when I see a bump or hole in the road ahead) and that decreases the pain. 

I am so relieved that I planned my surgery for late July. August is a quiet month for my business and the amount I will be travelling around the country is significantly less than any other month. No travel at all until the end of next week :) - yay!

In the past two days, mercifully, I have found a way of making the seatbelt more bearable to wear [see pic below]. I had tried pillows of various sizes and the commercially available seatbelt cushioners but neither had worked anywhere near as well as Hippo :). He is just fat enough to hold the belt an ideal distance from my chest, and his chin is perfect for holding the belt firmly in place.  Thanks Hippo ('Potty Mouse' to his friends - because he is a Hippo-potty-mouse).

Hippo helping to make the seatbelt less 'ouchie' to wear

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I've stated before, on this blog, that when I decided to write it I was determined to be as candid as I can bear and to write about my experience of breast surgery and recovery in as truthful way as possible.  I am therefore going to share my thoughts about sex.  Those relevant to my breast surgery at least ;)!   

Sex is very relevant, and important, to my breast surgery journey.  It was the prominent consideration in my decision to have surgery; because my loathing of those sagging pendulous breasts, that disappeared under my arms when I lay down, was beginning to affect my sex life.  If hubby went to touch my breasts, when I wasn't wearing a bra, I would find myself tensing and wanting to push his hands away.  I hated the fact that I did that; and although I knew that hubby wasn't bothered about my far from perfect boobies I very much was.

Despite sex being a major factor in my decision to have surgery, bizarrely, prior to surgery I had not considered the short-term post-op implications for hubby and my sex life.

In addition to the practical considerations (i.e. the fact that my chest has felt incredibly tender and raw, and my inability to lie in any position except on my back) there was the fact that my breasts look(ed) like something out of a horror movie in their mutilated state - I was really not rocking 'the allure' I can tell you!  I was also very concerned about what would happen if/when I became sexually aroused: would my breasts / nipples even work (i.e. respond to arousal)  and if they did would I be in pain??

I have really missed being intimate with my hubby and he has been a total grumpy bear (bless him).   In the almost 13 years that we have been together we have never gone so long without having sex! 

Last night (16 whole days and 17 nights post surgery) we decided it was time to try [no pic attached].  Sports bra on and no direct contact with my breasts obviously.    I am very pleased to report all was well (incredible infact ;) ).

My nipples and breasts did respond to arousal (yay - they still work!!) and it was a little uncomfortable but the pleasure elsewhere more than overshadowed that.  The discomfort increased and, I guess, became pain when I reached orgasm but at that point - to be perfectly frank - I couldn't have cared less.

Bring on the sexing :)...................

What a difference a day makes.......

.........I'm feeling much better today; and my boobies are looking like they are actually getting on with the business of healing :D - about time too!!

Hubby says I am looking and sounding better too.

The bruising has almost disappeared on my right breast and the incisions are visibly improved when compared to a couple of days ago.  My energy levels are increasing and I am less achey everywhere but my breasts (which are still sore but improving).

Day 16 post-op

Left side
Bathed in evening sunshine........

Close up of right breast where wound was oozing

The wound that was oozing on my "righty" (where the vertical scar meets the areola) is healing well.  

The adhesive that remains on both breasts is slowly being washed away. 

Showers rock!! 

My skin is starting to get dry and flaky; I'm looking forward to being healed enough to use moisturiser on my boobies.