Breast enhancement surgery next week - any tips?

[Seahorses26]

Hello everyone

not sure it’s the right place but can’t think of any other board on MN that’s appropriate to discuss the matter.
I’m due to have a boob job next week and was wondering if any of you had any tips to help with the recovery/healing process, or anything you would have liked to know/be able to anticipate when having the surgery. Any DOs/DON’T’s beyond the obvious and the usual doctors’ recommendations? I’m particularly worried about sleep as sleep on my tummy.
Also wondering when you’ve been able to blow dry your hair yourself?

thank you!

NB: Not looking for judgment on the surgery itself - decision’s made and I’m at peace with it. Just after practical advice from those who’ve been there.

Context: I am in my late 40s, used to be a B/C, but flat as a board now, not even filling up an A, after a handful of children and years of breastfeeding. Tall, skinny and breastless, I’ve been hesitating for the past 10 years or so and ready to take the plunge now to feel like me (and a woman) again.

I have had heart surgery and recovery is pretty similar. Loose pyjamas with buttons & kimono tops are great. Mule type slippers & shoes that you don’t need to bend for. I had a pillow that went under my arms and across my chest. It had pockets for ice packs and that took the swelling down very quickly. I also had one that I put on my seatbelt when I was up to going out. It was supposed to be for napping, but I put it on the belt upside down to keep the belt from crushing me. I have put two photos in. I also recommend a wedge to put under your knees so you don’t slip down the upright pillows you need at night time.

Thanks @allthegoldicouldeat and @Francestein I have gathered all the button up tops and PJs I could find in my wardrobe for the next couple of weeks. Also ordered a cushion for the seatbelt as going to have to spend a few hours in a car in the first week.

@Flyingcacti How are you feeling? Hope the pain has remained manageable and you’re able to use your arms.

My operation is first thing tomorrow morning and due to spend one night at hospital.

Good advice!
However, the best advice is Don’t get them done in the first place!
https://www.tiktok.com/@swistunmd/video/6923289672235977990

She specifically asked not to post things about not getting them done as she’d made her mind up! im guessing it’s too late anyway as she’s going in today.

Good luck OP!!!

Good luck!
I had implants 17 years ago (over the muscle). Apart from the first couple of nights of no sleep (I couldn’t sleep propped up), I don’t remember it being that bad (I was 24 though!) I went to a Girls Aloud concert five days post op and was fine, but everyone is different.

I’m booked in to have an explant, uplift and new (much smaller) implants in November, so watching this thread with interest!

I am having mine removed as they are far too big now for my frame (I’ve lost 4 stone and go to the gym a lot, so I’m “top heavy”, plus they’ve sagged slightly. Bear in mind you may need to have them replaced and an uplift in future, especially if you’re going for a bigger implant. I didn’t factor this in and am now having to save furiously for the £12,500 it’s going to cost me!

I’m planning on getting the pregnancy pillow and a wedge pillow to prop myself up with. A table close to your bed with all your essentials (water - bottle with a straw, painkillers, lip balm etc), books and films/programmes to watch. I am also going to book myself into the hairdressers for a couple of wash and blow dries as I don’t think I’ll be able to lift my arms up over my head.

Get some Dulcoease to help with constipation as co codamol will bung you up.

I’ve found TikTok helpful for tips.

Good luck today!

I will be going for a lift (no implants though) in a few years, after I'm done having babies!

Brace yourself. I had my implants when I was 24. Recovery was fairly quick and within a couple of weeks I was back at work and feeling generally ok. I expected similar with my explant uplift and implant.

I don't know whether it's partly the age difference (25 years on) but recovery has been much much longer.

Good luck today @Seahorses26!

I'm ok at the moment, tight and a bit uncomfortable but not painful as such. Wisdom teeth coming out was worse!

My recovery has looked a bit like this:

Sat AM op - got the tube home afterwards as felt like I wanted to walk (felt rough though!)

Sun - did absolutely nothing, in pjs all day

Mon - dropped a Vinted parcel off at corner shop, walked slowly and felt each impact (napped a lot)

Tue - walked DC to school, went back to work (wfh, no calls, mainly admin tasks) - napped over lunch, bit of a struggle

Wed - today, mentally I feel better, I've come
off the codeine and not painful although still tight. I've gone for a coffee and just sat on the sofa. I will be having a nap again!

I feel very tired still. Wondering when the energy comes back as I'll be wfh again tomorrow and Friday and yesterday was a struggle, mentally and physically! I feel bad that I am not doing much around the house given that it's all self inflicted.

What kind of implants are you getting? Size? Shape? Textured? Smooth. I’m very tall and had implants. Honestly I hate mine and think they look ridiculous. They also got recalled because of a link to cancer but mine were already in so they cause me a lot of anxiety.

I had a breast enlargement and up lift at the end of March. I had zero pain following the op, and just took regular paracetamol & codeine for 3 days post op, then just paracetamol for 4 further days.

I had 2 days full bed rest post op at home and then was able to do the school run with the kids. Just no lifting heavy or bulky things for a good few weeks!

everything is healing well, with no concerns from my post op follow ups.

I still try to sleep on my back and am still wearing a sports bra at all times. I went out last week and wore an underwires bra for the evening and just used some silicone tape wear the wire sits to protect the scars underneath and that was fine.

I was also able to wash my own hair (leaning forward in the shower) and dried it with a hair dryer 4 days post op.

so not everyone has all of the issues previously mentioned.

I hope today goes well! Looking forward you your update!

@MsSquiz that sounds like a good recovery and hopefully i'm on a similar trajectory! Can I ask you when you started to feel less tired and when you/if you've been able to start exercising again?

Just for the record implants can last a long time. Mine are 22 years old and still going strong. No problems at all.

Have you had them checked. Mine were about the same age. No issues. When i had them checked they'd actually burst significantly on both sides and affected lymph nodes.

If they're 22 years old they may well be PIP

@Flyingcacti the tiredness probably lasted a week or so. I just made sure I didn’t overdo it. Even with housework, things like pulling and pushing the hoover (DH covered that) or reaching too high in cupboard I just avoided for that first week.

I’m 8 weeks post op on Friday so considering starting exercise again soon but will still be leading with gentler stuff (I’m not particularly a gym bunny!) as I usually do some yoga, dance and cardio rather than weights.

the people I spoke to who had issues in their recovery/post op were the ones who rushed back into exercise or normality too quickly.

I am fully braced! Expecting it to be awful, so anything less than that will be a pleasant surprise!

Done!

The procedure started at 9, got back in my room at 12. The area is sore but it’s only painful when I move, try to sit or stand up and I can breathe OK (had a surgery last year inside the abdomen, and it was horribly painful even when breathing normally). Arms are ok, I can reach out for things without any pain.
There is no local anaesthesia inside, I’m just attached to a paracetamol drip which is probably helping, and a morphine pump which I haven’t used yet but will probably
use it tonight to get some sleep.
Had some sleep when back in the room and feel pretty well/alert now. I even sent a couple of work emails, I couldn’t help…
The only annoying thing is that I have 2 redon drains + bottles to drain the liquid inside which is standard procedure with my surgeon, I hope they can remove them before I go home tomorrow (will depends on whether they keep filling up).

and more importantly… My breasts are uncovered (just a plaster on the side) so I’ve taken a look (and a picture 😉) and they look pretty good already 🤞🏻🤞🏻

Thanks all for your very useful tips - I keep adding stuffs to the list.

@Pyjamatimenow Sorry you don’t like yours… Do you find them too big? How long have you had them for? (Apologies if you
mentioned it further up).
I am quite tall too 5’7 and v skinny (52kg) with an androgynous and sporty look so did not go for something too big as not my personality (280cc, round I think and intermediate profile). I start with a small A (not full) and hope to get to a big B/small C (which I was pre children).

@MsSquiz Your recovery sounds incredible, did you have the implants in front or behind the muscle?
I wish mine will be as good as yours

Mine are 300s, which I was advised wasn’t that big.I’ve had them in about 8 years. I wear a 30 G bra. I liked them at first but over the years they’ve just become a nuisance. Do you know if you’ve got smooth or textured? You really need to ask so you’re aware of the issues with both and what to look out for

Glad the worst is over, OP.
Exciting!

Mine were over the muscles - so that possibly takes away a lot of the pain others have mentioned.

I would just recovery seriously and rest as much as you can. The painkillers will be helping manage the pain so it’s easy to think you’re feeling better than you are. Codeine and paracetamol those first few days really helped me, I believe.

wishing you a speedy recovery, but don’t be a martyr and take the painkillers!

Im getting over the muscle high profile 355cc which my surgeon recommended. High profile as i didnt want a lift. Im currently 36A 5.5 and 140 pounds. As my surgery date nears im having second thoughts about everything! Size placement and iv never had GA before. Im not the healthiest of people , i smoke and probably drink too much alcohol and rarely exercise. I really dont know what to do! I have been miserable with my current breasts since i can remember

Just came back to say that your body will be telling you now to sleep and eat well, to aid your recovery, so do what it tells you.

@trainspotso I was also a smoker (I quit a month before the op on consultant’s say so) I also don’t often exercise (unless I’ve got a holiday coming up!)
mine was an enlargement and a lift to get them back to where they were pre kids. I was a 32D.

it’s honestly boosted my confidence so much already and they’re still just constantly in a sports bra. Even DH commented how happier I am already!

happy to chat if you l want to send me a DM?