Breast Augmentation - my experience

[Denise]

Hi all. 

Since I was 12 (43 years ago) I've longed for breasts.  I would pray to any Deity that would listen to me.  "Come on, there has got to be a little extra breast fat lying around somewhere you could give me!"  I was ignored until two weeks ago tomorrow.  My loving surgeon found some extra silicone in a jar somewhere and stuffed it under my chest muscle.

My experience with all of this:
1) My insurance covered it.  (Yeah.  If it hadn't it would have been about $5500 US)
2) I had Silicone under the muscle with the incision below the breast line.
3) I'm 5'7" at 140 pounds.  I wear a 36-inch bra and was an A cup and didn't fill it at all.
4) I talked to the surgeon and I wanted 36C.  He and I independently came up with 375CC +/- 25.
5) He knew what I wanted and during the surgery, I'm told I was lifted up to check the size and ended up with 395cc.
6) I woke up and the pain across my chest due to the muscle stretching was .... let's say more than I expected.
7) I've not felt more than an itching sensation from the incision
My arms were useless for about 7-10 days.  Even after 14 days a lot of motions hurt.
9) after two weeks (tonight) I finally took off the torture device (surgical bra) and replaced it with a sports bra,
10) I feel much better.

Emotions I went through
Pre-op - elation, fear (of not getting what I had hoped for)

immediately after: pain, wondering if it was worth it (duh!)

3 days later: in the dr office they took off the bra, which was the first time I had seen my girls.  I almost fainted and not from good thoughts.  They looked like two suction cups plastered on my chest.  (Swelling and muscles needing to relax.)  I also felt they were not big enough.

A week post-op: ready to go back to work but still not happy with the results, thinking they are too small, wish I had gone bigger, not happy with the shape etc..

Two weeks post-op: Put on a sports bra tonight and everything looks way better.  Shape, size, the "view from above".

One thing - SLEEPING STINKS.  it helped for 10-12 days to sleep in a recliner or with a ton of pillows.  You can not roll over in bed and you definitely can not sit up from lying flat for a few days.

I guess I'm posting this so others can know what I experienced.  There are a lot more details if anyone wants more details on any one of the items (or something I missed entirely).

Bottom line - after 2 weeks of discomfort and another 3 or 4 yet to come I would do it again.  I might go for 420cc instead of 395cc - BUT I may not be done growing naturally so maybe I'm at the right spot,

[Sarah.VanDistel]

Hi Denise!

Congratulations on your BA and I am glad that so far things have been evolving positively! [emoji4] May I ask for how long had you been on HRT (anti-A + E) before your BA? How did you come up with that size - is it 100% subjective or is there some guideline or range, perhaps ratio breast-to-chest diameter or something else?...

I'm asking this because I anticipate that I may also need BA in a not too distant future. I'm at 9 months HRT and my plastic surgeon (Dr. Doornaert, in Belgium) advised me to wait at least 1,5 years under HRT (preferably 2) before deciding because significant breast development, if it occurs, will be mostly along that time frame. I started from an almost flat chest and now comfortably fill a B cup, so there may still be some room for natural growth, but I suspect that it will never be enough to become really natural female-looking, at least in proportion to my chest... [emoji848]

Anyways, thanks beforehand for your thoughts!

Hugs, Sarah

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[rmaddy]

Congratulations on your BA, Denise.

I'm almost 2 months post op now, and I still have some daily discomfort, especially when not adequately supported.  It's not enough to warrant even tylenol, but it's still noticeable.   I think it's mostly ongoing skin/muscle stretch at this point.  My implants don't seem to be dropping anymore, and really haven't since about a month post op.  You can tell that they are dropping if your incisions seems to "climb up" higher on the lower surface of your breast, away from the chest wall.

I'd be interested in those a bit further into recovery how long it took things to settle down completely and for the implants to feel more "part of you."  I think I'm getting there, but it's a process, not an event.

[HappyMoni]

I'm looking ahead to this so I read all the info I can find.
Moni

[Denise]

Hi Denise!

Congratulations on your BA and I am glad that so far things have been evolving ...

Sarah,

Blockers for 14 months
Injections for E for exactly one year

As to the size and how to determine. For me I went through a few hundred before/after pictures that indicated body size, implant size, implant type and procedure used.  I found a few that matched me and my desires and they ranged from 350 to 400. 

The surgeon used his experience.

Update:. I switched to a sports bra yesterday.  The view in the mirror was exactly what I wanted.  Glad I didn't go bigger.
Also my chest must swell while sleeping.  I woke up in agony. Apparently the surgical bra, although tighter, stretched easier.

Oh one more thing... I'm back on E now that it's two weeks post.  Yippee!!!

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[Jailyn]

Thanks for posting this!!! I think not having anyone around me that has done a BA stinks. So I cannot ask friends or family. This helpful when I decide to do it. I will be totally a baby probably too, lol.

[rmaddy]

The view in the mirror was exactly what I wanted.  Glad I didn't go bigger.

I know, right?  Even if you aren't going for a really large size, the changes are so instantaneous that they can be a bit shocking at first.

I'm really happy that you got what you wanted.

[Kendra]

Denise, thank you for this information.  I'm very interested because we are similar build (I am also 5'7") and I'm trying to guess where to dial mine in.  My BA is scheduled May 2018 with Dr. Ley at Toby Meltzer's.

[Bari Jo]

Great information.  Thanks for posting and ykur followups.  It'll help slot of us decide what to do if we go the BA route.  I know I'm going to naturally be small, so do I or don't I.

Did anybody ask, how you girl it covered by insurance?  No?  Now someone has:)

Bari Jo

[Denise]

Great information.  [Thanks, That's what I was going for]

Did anybody ask, how you girl it covered by insurance?  No?  Now someone has:)

Bari Jo

As for insurance, my policy covers transgender services.  Apparently, without a fight, that covers BA and GCS (looking at 2019 for that).  So I really didn't need to do anything except work for a great company that has great medical coverage.  HOWEVER - I'm fighting with BSBC now about FFS.  ALL of it was rejected. Now I've got others fighting for me on this one.

UPDATE:  I received an EMAIL from the Doctor yesterday. I can stop wearing a bra completely at night but keep a sports bra on during the day.  NO underwire for 6 weeks.  However, I had purchased a 38C sports bra over the weekend and it made sleeping possible.  (The 36C actually was PAINFUL in the middle of the night.)

Now I'm sleeping through the night now and I feel like a million buck.  So it took exactly 2 weeks before I felt almost normal.  There are a few things that are still painful, specifically lateral movements with my arms (Shifting into first gear in a stick shift, for example) But it's getting better every day.

[Denise]

Three weeks post op update...

I had a check up with the surgeon yesterday.  All looks good and more and more I agree.  There doctor suggested Vitamin E cream and scar strips to reduce the visible scarring.  Also I need to massage them to relax them.  They are starting to take on the shape I imagined for 4 decades.

   I actually looked at the incisions they are only 1/2 the length I expected.  They are about 2 inches (5cm) under the breast.  I expected closer to 4.

I still can't lift heavy stuff but I did carry a 16 pound (+7kg) turkey last week.

I can't sleep in my stomach yet but I keep trying in my sleep... Naughty me.

I did wear a nice LBD (little black dress) to a formal this weekend which I filled out well.  [emoji4]

At this point I'm almost back to normal, I'm feeling great both physically and mentally.  So for those of you who are going to do the same, you have some idea of what it will take.  Do not be alone for the first few days.

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[Josilyn]

Congrats on your surgery Denise!  You and I are both 3 weeks post op - I had my surgery on Oct. 30.  I went with 590cc and came out perfect..  Right now measuring at a C cup and they look so natural.  I also had submuscular and I was surprised that I didn't have any pain right after surgery.  I planned 12 days off from work and I went back in 6.

I used to be a stomach sleeper, but I think that is no longer an option as I am afraid to rupture my implants.  As of about a week ago I was finally able to sleep on my side with no pain, but I have noticed that switching sides is a much more complicated affair.. 

I was so worried before the surgery that I was going to hate my breasts, but now 3 weeks later I am soooo happy when I look down or in the mirror and see them.

Please keep us updated on your progress..  I enjoy seeing others progress so I can know what to expect in the future.

Josilyn❤️

[Denise]

Congrats on your surgery Denise!  You and I are both 3 weeks post op - I had my surgery on Oct. 30.  I went with 590cc and came out perfect..  Right now measuring at a C cup and they look so natural.  I also had submuscular and I was surprised that I didn't have any pain right after surgery.  I planned 12 days off from work and I went back in 6.

I used to be a stomach sleeper, but I think that is no longer an option as I am afraid to rupture my implants.  As of about a week ago I was finally able to sleep on my side with no pain, but I have noticed that switching sides is a much more complicated affair.. 

I was so worried before the surgery that I was going to hate my breasts, but now 3 weeks later I am soooo happy when I look down or in the mirror and see them.

Please keep us updated on your progress..  I enjoy seeing others progress so I can know what to expect in the future.

Josilyn[emoji173]️

No pain?  Nice.  My chest muscles were killing me for two weeks.  What size band/cup are you now.

My surgery was Halloween (31 Oct).  I'm actually really happy with them. 

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[Josilyn]

No pain?  Nice.  My chest muscles were killing me for two weeks.  What size band/cup are you now.

My surgery was Halloween (31 Oct).  I'm actually really happy with them. 

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I am pretty tall and "husky" so right now I am measuring at 42-44C. 

I surprised my Dr. when I told her I was not in pain.  She was going to refill my Norco and I told her I still had a full bottle.  She told me that most women are still in a lot of pain at this stage.

My Dr was awesome, so if anyone lives near SLC and wants a recommendation, please pm me and I will give you her information.

Josilyn❤️

[Denise]

I am pretty tall and "husky" so right now I am measuring at 42-44C. 

I surprised my Dr. when I told her I was not in pain.  She was going to refill my Norco and I told her I still had a full bottle.  She told me that most women are still in a lot of pain at this stage.

My Dr was awesome, so if anyone lives near SLC and wants a recommendation, please pm me and I will give you her information.

Josilyn[emoji173]️

I took narco a few times per day for 5 or 6 days.  Then took Tylenol in the morning and while sleeping for 3 or 4 days.  The pain is mostly gone now. 

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[Denise]

I was chatting with another Susan's member and they asked me to keep this thread updated if anything changes or I notice/remember something.

The psychological aspects of having breasts that I've always (4+ decades) wanted is interesting to me.  There's an old joke that if you want to ruin the world, give breasts to all the men.  They'll never come out of their bedroom.  BUT I remember reading a lot of posts about 2 years ago about MtF who had BA or were successful on HRT.  The posts were answering the question "what's it like?"  Last night I went out with someone who wants to start HRT but for a number of reasons can't (yet) who asked the same thing - What's it like?

Of all aspects of transition, this surprised me the most (so far).  I don't think about them.  Really, it's such a natural thing for me to have boobs on my chest that I think about them about as often as I think about my elbow - never, unless I smack them on something. 

Now full disclosure - I was prepping food for Thanksgiving tonight in a skin-tight top with a sports bra and I caught a glimpse down of some pretty sweet cleavage to which I thought "Finally the view I've always felt was right."

Then I went back to my mixing.

One thing that I have noticed is how close to things I tended to be such as opening doors, bending over a table. For those of you on HRT have you accidentally smacked your breast buds?  Imagine having C cups and how many times you get close.

As usual - if you have any questions ASK (PM if you want to personal response on the subject.)  I'm not an expert but I can speak about MY experience.

[rmaddy]

Breasts are something women have.  It's nice to see them in the mirror, but in general, "we go on".

[HappyMoni]

Desire for boobs doesn't have that much to do with  what I will do with them, it is more about feeling right with myself. That is an every day thing that will be made better.
Moni

[Denise]

Desire for boobs doesn't have that much to do with  what I will do with them, it is more about feeling right with myself. That is an every day thing that will be made better.
Moni

Moni, I couldn't agree with you more.  I'm starting to feel good about my physical self.  The mental part was "fixed" as soon as I started HRT.

Now it's time to work on the physical and the BA has gone a long way in doing that.

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[Denise]

Six week update (well close enough)

After 6 weeks I'll be "off all restrictions".  To be honest I've not really held back on physical activities for about 2 or 3 weeks.  The one restriction that the Dr was very insistent on was No underwire bras for 6 weeks.  Okay - they're uncomfortable anyway.  So I have a bunch of sports bras that work and honestly, I don't really need them for support.  The girls are self-supporting .

The shape is getting better as time goes on.  I don't feel that they are "glued on" like I felt at day 3.  The swelling is gone.

I feel GREAT.  I would do it exactly the same again with one small change.   I might have asked for slightly bigger.  I asked for 36 C - that's what I got.  No complaints and I'm happy.  I might have asked for 36C + 25cc more.  Just to be slightly bigger.  I'm not sure what that would do for a bra fitting but I should have asked.  Again - I'm EXCITED and happy with the results.

Every night I put on some vitamin E cream (Dr orders) and during the day I put on scar strips (they are 6" strips of rubber that stick to the skin and reduce scarring.  It takes a LOT of time for the scars to go away.  I'll probably wear the scar strips for months and use the vitamin E for months.  But even in the few weeks, I've noticed a difference

On the "wow - I didn't expect this" category my areolas have increased in size (30%? since surgery) and my nipples are always erect and SUPER sensitive to touch.  Not in a sexual way.  Raw might be a better description.  Going without a bra is not an option (for long).

The one thing that surprises me a lot it is that I don't think about them.  I thought it would be totally distracted by FINALLY having the chest I want.  On the contrary.  I think about it almost never.  Where before HRT/Surgery I thought about it all the time.