Today is my first tittiversary

One year ago today I was in Dolan Park Hospital having my mastopexy operation.  

I've taken some pics (see below):

One year post mastopexy

One year post mastopexy

One year post mastopexy

9½ months post mastopexy (uplift)..........

...................and scarring is fading well :)

16 weeks post augmentation / 9½  months post mastopexy

15 weeks post augmentation..........

...........and things are improving.

Apologies for having been 'absent' from this blog.  I have been inordinately busy with my business but also trying not to obsess about righty.  Just leaving my breasts alone to do their thing seemed like a good idea.

A number of people have contacted me asking for an update, and recent pictures, to see how righty is shaping up.  I have taken some snaps this morning and have included them in this post.

Looking at the pics I took at 7 weeks I can definitely see improvement (especially in righty).  

Although righty is clearly smaller than lefty (this is especially irritating as righty was the breast that was reduced in the first op), the issue with the underside of my right breast forming a 'w' shape instead of a 'u' shape is - thankfully - resolving :).  

With regard to the size difference I have deliberately gained weight to see if that would even out the two breasts (I know women who have breast reduction ops are often disappointed that - with weight gain - their breasts accumulate fat most readily and regain size easily) .  For me gaining weight did not result in an evening out of size between righty and lefty; and I am now busy getting that weight off again (Mexico holiday booked 28th June so I'm working hard!)

The size and shape difference is more noticeable in the photos than in 'real life' (if that makes sense).  I guess because they are being 'framed' and observed face on.  I had to point out to husband the issue.  He hadn't noticed (despite spending a lot of time studying my new boobies!!!)

15 weeks post augmentation

left side

right side

All in all I am chuffed to bits with my new boobies.  The scars are healing better than I could ever have hoped.  I love being able to go braless and the fact that when I remove my bra my breasts remain up on my chest!

Oh yes........!

I am still wearing a MACOM bra at night and I probably always will.  I want to 'protect' my new boobies from sagging prematurely (again!!); and supporting them close to my body as I sleep seems like a precaution that might assist with that.  I also religiously wear sports bras when I do any exercise (shamefully I never bothered with them before).   I even strapped myself in when I did a few hours gardening the other day :).

I am now permitted to wear underwired bras and it is such a joy to be back in lovely lingerie.  Happily my size is 34F/G so a lot of the many, many bras I have from pre-op fit me well.

I have absolutely no pain (have not had any since a few weeks after the augmentation op) and nipple sensation is continuing to increase/return.

Almost 7 weeks post augmentation.......

7 weeks post augmentation

Side view

Scarring 7 weeks post augmentation

Lefty

Righty

Praying that implants will drop..........

....I don't like the shape of my breasts at the moment.  Righty is slowly improving with regard to the deformity in the lower curve; it is still a 'w' shape rather than a 'u' but less pronounced than a week ago.

But even if I try to ignore the deformity in righty, I still don't like the shape.  I am also unhappy with the lack of symmetry with regard to both shape and size.

I'm not liking shape or lack of symmetry :(

If the implants were to drop [see diagram below] I think (hope) that would help to improve the appearance and shape of my breasts.










If I hold my arms above my head the shape of my breasts improves; I am hopeful that if the implants 'drop' this is more the shape I will have.

I'm seeing Mr Russo tomorrow I hope he can reassure me.  I am very much regretting the augmentation at this point :(.

My breasts have better shape and symmetry with my arms above my head.

23 days post augmentation

23 days post augmentation

side view - lefty

side view - righty

Nurse agrees that my right breast is not okay......

..........and will need revision surgery to correct the issue.

I had review appointment with Louise, nurse at my local THG clinic, this morning.  She removed the dressings and said the incisions are healing beautifully.  I told her my concerns about righty and she initially (when I was lying down) said she was sure that time would rectify the issue.  

When I stood up and showed her the 'deformity' that the suture line problem creates she agreed that it was not okay.  She said she had never seen anything like the issue I have.

I explained that, as the suture line heals, the 'W' shape at the bottom of my right breast becomes more (not less) pronounced.

Louise said I need to see Mr Russo and that, in her opinion, I will need further surgery.  I asked if I would have to pay for that.  She said I would not have to pay anything more.  Particularly as I am so soon post-surgery.  She added that she knew Mr Russo would want me to me happy with the result and clearly I am not.

I am not being 'pernickety' my right breast is deformed as a result of how the incision is healing :(

I have made an appointment to see Mr Russo on Monday (3rd February).  I am hopeful he will be willing to operate sooner rather than later.  I will be very upset if I have to wait another 6 months to heal fully from this op before he will revise the problem with righty. 

Ho hum........

Although I hate looking at them I've taken a few snaps of my breasts today.

18 days post augmentation

side view lefty

incisions

Deformation in my right breast is becoming worse as the suture line heals!

Having taken photos today with the dressings and steri-strips removed I am able to compare it to photo taken a week ago when dressings were changed the first time.

incisions 7 days post augmentation

incisions 15 days post augmentation

I think the deformation of the suture line is becoming more pronounced as it heals.  I am very upset about this.  Hope I can get some reassurance from the nurse on Tuesday.  Either that it can/will resolve or that Mr Russo will correct it.

15 days post augmentation........

...........and I have changed my dressings and steri-strips today.  The suture lines are healing well but the incision on the right breast is causing the breast to heal in a deformed way.  As the incision heals this is getting more pronounced.

I'm gutted :(

15 days post augmentation

incisions

underside of righty

underside of lefty

Eight days post augmentation........

........and I am feeling sore and a bit 'out of sorts'.

My skin, where the old dressings have been removed, is a tad sore (I guess I have a slight allergy to the adhesive) and the incisions on both breasts are feeling a bit raw too.  I'm sure that's due to them having been 'disturbed' by the nurse yesterday.

I am also suffering with constipation caused, I realise too late, by the codeine in the co-codamol painkillers I took in the first few days post-surgery.   

All in all I'm feeling a bit yukky.

eight days post augmentation

side view - lefty

side view - righty

Back from review appointment with nurse........

..........and all is well.

Martina, the nurse, was adorable.  She was very gentle (no "ouchie, ouchie, pulley, pulley" today) and  she was reassuring too.

The incisions are healing very well and, although the right breast incision line is clearly kinked I think it is slowly evening out and looking better each day.  

Martina stressed that before the three month mark most augmented breasts will appear distorted (to a greater or lesser extent and for more or less periods of time) and that the majority end up absolutely perfect in terms of shape.

She removed the dressings and steri-strips and I took a couple of snaps [see below].  She has put fresh steri-strips and dressings in their place.  I'm very pleased about that.  I like the extra protection they afford in these early days.

I need to continue to keep suture lines dry as Mr Russo is very much of the opinion that bacteria in water is the cause of most infections and, as a result, worse scarring.  I'm fine with that.  I went longer than two weeks post-op without a shower last time.  I'm bathing daily (with water only filled to reach my belly button) and washing my hair every other day so not struggling with feeling grubby.

I wipe my breasts down with flannel when I bathe and I use wet wipes to clean near and around the dressings a couple of times a day.  I'm changing my compression bra daily too.

one week post augmentation

incision righty

incision lefty

my first sight of the incisions post augmentation

I am very impressed with how small, neat and true to the original scar line Mr Russo has made the incisions.  

Next week:

I am unable to get to the clinic next week, for the dressings and strips changing again, as I'm working long hours each day (mostly away from home).  Martina agreed I could change the dressings myself and she gave me the materials I will need to do so and instructed me on what to do.

I will then see the nurse (Louise) the following week.  

'supplies' provided by nurse for me to change dressing and steri-strips next week

Six days post augmentation.........

...............and I think I can see some evidence of the implants beginning to drop into place :).  I'm certainly liking the shape of lefty better.

The suture line on righty is still a serious concern to me but I'm not able to do anything to affect that right now so I've decided not to waste my time stressing about it.  I emailed Mr Russo on Monday with my concerns and, as yet, received no response. 

I have my wound-check appointment with the nurse at my local clinic tomorrow.  The dressings will be removed and I am hopeful that will give me a better idea of what is going on to cause the suture line to be so wonky.  I will also be able to ask the nurse's opinion as to whether the breast will heal in a deformed way and what to do about the lack of response from Mr Russo.

six days post-augmentation

side view - lefty

underside view - lefty

side view - righty

underside view - righty

Five days post augmentation.....

......and I cannot see any changes in how my breasts are looking.  I am getting more used to them looking this way though so it is less distressing to look at righty.

Five days post augmentation

I sat up late last night and was online reading lots and lots of women and surgeons reiterating what I already know (but am struggling to hold onto) that it is very early days for me to despair; and most women's implants will settle into the 'pouch' the surgeon created for them 6weeks - 6months post surgery.

Most women have implants sitting way too high in their breast for the first few weeks/months - I certainly have that and, although, I was hoping for more fullness at the top of my breast I can see that when the implants settle the shape of both breasts will be so much more natural and easy on the eye.

I am keen to avoid further surgery but do know that if the suture line on my right breast does heal in that shape that revision surgery would be an option.

side view - lefty

side view - righty

More thoughts:

I need to be patient and stop stressing about the current shape of my right breast.

I think the fact that I had started to adore my pre-op titties, after the horrors of how they had looked at points in my original post-op experience, is adding to my distress.  I looked back over this blog earlier and reminded myself that my titties looked like this eight days post mastopexy:

How my breasts looked eight days post mastopexy - posted today to remind myself that time really is a great healer!

And a mere 5 months later they were looking like this:

5 months on from the last photo my breasts were looking like this!

Four days post augmentation.......

..............and I am still stressing about the deformation in my right breast.  I know I need to wait and let the implants soften and settle but......

I am trying to focus on the positives.  I am feeling remarkably well and discomfort is minimal.  Driving is not the titty-torture that I experienced post-mastopexy and I am not struggling, as many women do, to do simple things like brush my hair as I can easily hold my arms straight above my head.  My breasts are softening as the swelling reduces and in a compression bra, under clothes, they look absolutely fine (thank goodness); but then again my breasts at the very start of this process looked absolutely fine in a bra and under clothes!

I will be gutted to have invested this much money, time, effort and pain to end up with a deformed right breast!  Actually even if I hadn't invested any of those things I would be gutted to have a deformed right breast - the fact that I have paid (in so many ways) for this makes it more awful.

I am beginning to wish I hadn't had the augmentation surgery and that I had, instead, stuck with my uplifted boobies.

Each time I take off my bra to have a look I am hoping the incision line on the right breast will have evened out, at least a little, and that the implant will have dropped down to a position more similar to the left (at the moment the curve of my left breast is around an inch lower than the right).

My left breast (after the first op) has always been a little bigger than the right but now.............!

Four days post-augmentation 

side view lefty

underside of lefty

side view righty

underside of righty