Vacation!

It's been 5 months since my BA and my husband and I recently took a vacation to Mexico. This was my first time in a bathing suit with my new girls and boy was it fun. Well, let me back up - bathing suit shopping was the most fun I have ever had n my entire life! Every suit I tried on looked good and I had a hard time deciding! That has never happened - I've always settled for whatever suit I could find - never being truly happy. The funny thing was that most of the cute suits were not in the shops in January b/c it was off season so the pickings were slim and I still love my new suits! I can't wait to buy more when the spring suits come out!

I felt so comfortable wearing my bathing suit at the pool-never once feeling embarrased and wanting to hide behind my towel! We went out every night dancing and I so loved dressing up - all of the cute dresses I always longed to wear finally look good - my first trip ever where I had brought more clothes than I could ever wear b/c I just couldn't pick a few things to wear! Having this surgery was the best thing ever - it has boosted my confidence in myself to levels I never thought imagined! It can only get better!

Bra Shopping

I thought I would talk about my bra shopping experiences. It has been very interesting buying bras since my BA. My first trip out I went to VS and was fitted. The girl I worked with told me I was a 36D and gave me a bunch of different styles to try on. I picked 3 out and happily went home to try them on again. When I got home and tried them on, they felt different and a bit uncomfortable. The next day I went to a VS in a different mall and actually began talking to another associate who had a BA a few years ago. She told me and showed me how the bra I was fitted for (also at VS) was too small and not the right fit for me. She told me I should actually be wearing a 36DD and totally different styles. She suggested the styles that she was most comfortable in and they were so much better. VS had some great non underwire bras that I liked, however they didn't care them in a DD! I have read from others before that finding large bra sizes is a bit hard and I am finding that to be true. VS sizing does run differently as I found a comfortable bra at Kohl's and it is a 36D and it fits. The key is finding a bra that is comfortable and don't focus so much on the size. When the associate at VS first told me I was a DD, I was shocked as I didn't want to be a DD! But it is what it is and I am still thrilled with the results.
I guess the most important thing I learned was if being fitted for a bra, it might be helpful for the person fitting you to know that you have implants. Our breasts are different than a natural breast so fitting should also be different. The underwire was a bit uncomfortable at first but now I'm fine with it. I usually don't wear them more than 2 days in a row so I can give the girls a rest.
For those of you thinking of a BA, it's the best thing ever, however just be prepared for bra shopping afterwards. Once you figure it out-everything is great!

Almost 4 Months!

Wow, I can't believe it's almost 4 months since my BA and I haven't blogged since Oct! Time flies when you are happy! Things have been going great for the past few months. I did go in for a follow up in November and Dr. Pousti said everything looked great. He gave me free reign to do and wear whatever I like. I still had my right side that was a bit higher than the left but I have seen that noticeably chance in the past 2 months. My next follow up will be at the beginning of February! I could not be happier with my results. I enjoy getting dressed in the mornings and do feel more confident about myself and the way I look. I have gone on a few shopping trips recently and the worst part about them is that EVERYTHING fits! I used to avoid shopping b/c it was so depressing — now I try to avoid it b/c we will be bankrupt if I keep shopping! It's so nice to be able to put on a shirt and have it fit the way it is supposed to. Having this BA was the best decision I have ever made for myself. I don't even notice the implants as they truly feel a part of my body now. I tell those that ask about my decision that I don't regret the surgery at all — I just regret not doing it sooner! A good friend of mine is going in a few weeks for her consult w/Dr. Pousti so I am hoping all goes well and she joins in on the fun of having boobs!

Finally a Halloween Party!

I haven't been to a costume party in years! We are invited every year to a friend's party, however I never wanted to put on costume because I knew I would always end up standing next to the girl with the big breasts that looked great! Well, this year I can finally say, that was me! It was so much fun to dress up and show off "the girls" in a playful and fun way! I still can't believe I wore this outfit!
While at the party, somehow I started talking to another lady about "the girls" and she tells that she also had a BA about a year and a half ago. After talking for awhile, it turns out she also had her surgery done by Dr. Pousti! What a small world - we live almost 2 hours from him and yet I managed to find someone else who went to him. She raved about him and her breasts looked incredible!
All in all, it was a great time and I know my husband was proud! I can't wait to do it again next year!

Free at Last!

Yesterday was my one month post op appt - I still can't believe it's been a month. My appointment went great. I first met with one of his staff who checked my breasts, incisions etc and she said everything looked great. Then Dr. Pousti came in and said the magical words "you can now burn your bra". I was thrilled to hear it. As I had mentioned in a previous post, my left side has settled better than the right so he suggested more massaging on the right as well as massaging the whole breast for both sides to help them continue to get softer. He said I needed to wear a very supportive non underwire bra for now, something like a sports bra. I also asked him about exercising my arms again - he said that I could start back with light weights-but that my body would tell me what I could and could not handle. He said in about 2 weeks I will be back to normal in that I should be able to do everything that I was doing prior to my surgery.
He then asked me if I would "share" my experience with some other patients he had in his office - I said of course. So in walked 5 women, all there for consults with him. It is a big strange showing your breasts to strangers, but I remember just a short while ago being in their shoes and how scared I was. If I can help just one person feel comfortable about the procedure while telling them how wondering Dr. Pousti and his staff are, then it's all worth it!
I left my appointment feeling great and raced home to take off the surgical bra to put on my normal clothes again! I am very happy with my results and am looking forward to watching them settle more and more every day. I go back to see Dr. Pousti in a month on Nov 17th!

Almost One Month PO!

Well, I've almost reached that one month mark-I can't believe how fast the month has gone. I see Dr. Pousti on Monday and I can't wait! I am still wearing the bra and strap, however every couple of days I have taken it off for a few hours and worn a regular bra just to help myself feel normal again. I've been wearing the same 5 shirts for a month now and I so desperately want to wear normal clothes again. Today I actually wore my new bra all day - it wasn't too bad but I was sad to say I felt better once I put the old bra and strap back on!
Sometimes I actually feel more swollen after wearing the bra and strap all day. I am suppose to be massaging throughout the day but it is very hard to fit into my daily schedule of shuffling kids around. By the end of the day, when I finally do sit down to massage, it feels so much better and I can notice the difference.
Overall, I am still happy - my left side is settling in perfectly, my right side is a bit slower. I did read somewhere that it can be normal since we use our right hand so much more. Not sure if that's true but it sounds good! Having 3 kids under the age of 7 keeps me busy. We are constantly on the go and not much time to rest and relax like I should be. I'm hoping it won't affect my healing, just maybe prolong it. You can see the swelling more so in my picture on my right side and you an also see my nipple lower than the left side. It stands out to me because I'm nit picky like that - my husband said he didn't notice until I told him so that made me feel better. Well, I'm hoping for some good news on Monday - I'm ready to be set free!

Exercising Again!

After feeling bloated and sluggish for a few weeks, I have finally begun exercising again and am so excited! Dr. Pousti told me at the end of last week I could begin doing my treadmill again, walking and leg weights - basically lower extremity workouts. So Friday, I jumped on my treadmill for the first time in about 2 1/2 weeks. The day of my surgery I felt I was in the best shape I had been in, in the last 10 years. I felt great and was happy with my body (except for my breasts). Well, doing absolutely no exercise for that period of time has gotten me down a bit-some of the areas that I had worked hard to tone were becoming a bit less toned so it was important for me to get back exercising again. I've been doing the treadmill now every day since Friday - a much slower pace than I'm used to but the fact that I'm doing something is all that matters. Today I'm going to take a break but will start up again tomorrow. Dr. Pousti told me that in about 4-6 weeks I can begin lifting light weights again (5-10lbs).
I have a few extra pounds that are lingering that I gained during surgery time. I know the implants are extra weight but these pounds are on top of that! It's really important for me to try to lose those again. However it is kind of funny, finally having your body proportionate, you don't seem to notice the few extra pounds like I did before the surgery! My breasts are very slimming! LOL
Just in the few days I've been exercising I am feeling better. Hoping I can get back to where I was fairly quickly! Yeah!