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Carol's Breast Augmentation

Stats:
I am 49 years old, 5'6" 130lbs
Pre: small 34C
Post-op: 34 D
Implants: Mentor, anatomical, 395cc cohesive gels
Incision: Crease
Surgeon: Dr. Berger
Surgery Date: Aug 22nd

September 28th, 2003
Aug. 4th, 2003
Thanks to Kathy, I got off the research mode and the never ending merry-go-round of looking for a good PS and now I have my consult and surgery scheduled. I have been hoping to be able to get the final result I am looking for with overs and cohesive gels. Hopefully Dr. Berger will help me to find a realistic goal. I really have high expectations!!

With the rice test I only need about 220cc's and I am already looking for more. I figure I have been waiting sooo long to bite the bullet and do this, I might as well do it right. I will take the advise of the surgeon. Well, maybe I will fuss a little bit. If he can handle Kathy's bossiness I am sure he can handle mine. I truly am a control freak.

I have several pictures of both overs and unders that I like. After he takes a good look at me I hope he can tell me how to be the best I can be!! I dread the thought of going under. I am seriously too active to handle that. I have a horse breeding farm and it is a one person operation. Right now I have 10 horses. I am training a neighborhood woman to care for them while I am away. I have never been away from home, so that is a nerve racking problem all to itself.

Now lets add to that the smoking! Today I start wearing the dreaded patch.

After struggling for two weeks to find horse sitters and get my farm ready for me to leave for 10 days, I was on the road again. Off to Kathy B's house. On my first trip to get my surgery it got called off at the last minute. McGhan closed their study the day before. GRRRRR! Back home to wait another week for the Mentor implants!!

What a disappointment!! I had to find a new person to take care of my farm. This is why I can never take a vacation. Can't find reliable help!!! My husband and son have offered to take care of the horses. At the last minute I have hired a helper that will relieve the boys during the week! I pre-signed my house closing papers- of coarse that got delayed also!!

On the road again, another 4 hour trip to Kathy's house!!! Did I mention, during this time I was scrambling to get all my rechecks done again. It seems I have a new growth in my breast. The ultra sound and compression show a
ghost image. My regular doc wants me to see a specialist! That fellow wants to do a biopsy, or I can wait 6 months and re-check. I opt for the re-check later. I am getting my implants!! Not to say I don't take this seriously. I do! this is just the 20th time I have had them be concerned and do double and triple checking. I have fibrous breasts. I have had 2 other professional opinions state that they are not concerned. I am getting a third when I get to the PS. I shipped all my films to his specialists, they see that the other radiologist missed the fact I DID have this little shadow
on previous films. We did compression tests in the same area just to be really sure!!

I have to tell you, it is great at Kathy's house! What a sweetheart!! With all the stress and mess I have had, it was wonderful to have her to oversee my recovery. She took the day off and drove me to the PS's surgi-center, while I was drugged out of my mind!!! My PS is great! He gives you a Berger cocktail the night before so you are well rested and another one before you leave for your surgury! I didn't have to worry about a thing!!!

I was out of it both before and after the surgery. I don't think I remember a thing but grumbling at my nurse that she was never around when I had to go to the bathroom!! I went two or three times dragging my IV bottle. I guess you could say I was not the model patient. HAHAHA!

Kathy picked me up after the surgery and tucked me into bed, the infamous nest of pillows!!! She was great!! She took care of my every need. I don't remember a thing about the first day. I do know that I was very lucky, I had
very little swelling and minor pain compared to some of the ladies. But I will tell you my breasts were huge!!! The PS told me he had to go a little bigger to get me the best result. I told him he did the right thing, but wow!!! I won't have to worry that I went to small!!!

I was a little hyperactive, I'm afraid I drove Kathy up the wall, I could not seem to sleep more than 3 or 4 hours. I was rambling around the house at all hours of the night! She wanted to knock me out!!! When we went for my 24hour check up, the PS told me to take Benadryl. It really did work, I was sleeping at least 5 hours now!!

By day 2 I was weaning off the pain pills. I was sore but it was not worth the side effects of the pain pills. Even my Senna tea was having a hard time breaking the dam!! I had to go to my parents house to visit. I have not been to their house for over 8 years. My mother would never let me hear the end of it if I didn't come!! She ended up having the perfect little pill for my problem, the suppository!!

By day 4 I had enough and hopped into my little Z3 and drove back to Kathy's house. I could not get comfortable at night without my wonderful nest. It is great to have someone that has gone through this experience. I was never worried about anything. Kathy was right there so how could anything go wrong!!!

One Week Post
I was re-checked by the PS, the stitches were taken out, and I was given my instructions. No bra for one full year, no heavy activity for 2 weeks and regular activities after 6 weeks. My regular activities include horse wrestling with my 900 pound 3 year old stud colt. Gosh I miss him. He is my favorite, I have 9 other horses!!

I must say one of the hardest things for me was to slow down. I am a very active person by nature. I had so many things to do. I ended up packing up and heading back to the homestead. I was truly worried about the horses. I stayed away from the barn my first two days, I knew if I went over there I would end up doing something I shouldn't.

17 Days Post
I am back doing light work. It is so hard to be careful. I still can't get comfortable in bed. I sleep on the leather couch with a couple pillows to elevate me. I still wake up with sore breasts. But it is getting better! It was truly was worth waiting for!!!

-Carol

Before & After Photos