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Karen B's TUBA Journal

My full name is Karen Borter. I am a 38 year old female, 5'8" tall and probably can't tell you how much I weigh until my pre-op. I don't weigh myself, I go by how my clothes fit (they fit well). I have been thinking about getting a BA for about 10 years or so. This because I had many friends who were exotic dancers at the time. Two of my friends got BA's at the same time and both were about as flat as I am. I remember thinking to myself that I would love to do that but I didn't have the money at the time and both of my friends talked me out of it even if I did have the money. They both said it was so painful and neither one could move for a week. I do recall being jealous and thinking 'great, now when we go out no guys are gonna even look at me'. I was wrong, they still looked, but I guarantee you they all knew what color my eyes were …

10 years later I find myself in a position to do what I have wanted to do. Now more then ever I want this done. I am involved in a lifestyle that affords me the opportunity to be seen by quite a few people … I am not an exotic dancer but I am seen a lot in clothes that are fetish in nature. The vast majority of the women that I hang out with have beautiful breasts and while I have a very high opinion of my looks, I think that the addition of nice breasts will boost my self confidence level to a new plateau. This is my story …

For the past few months I have been joking around with my partner about breast implants. Of course he says that he likes me the way I am and I have noted to him that if breasts were a requirement of his he and I wouldn't be together. I don't have any … well … very little. I have nice areolas and very nice nipples. If only I had larger breasts to accommodate these attributes … So one day, driving to work, I hear an ad for a Doctor in Beverly Hills and I jotted it down in my cell phone. I got to work and tried to look up the website, but didn't have the spelling of the name right so I called his office. The receptionist was very helpful, gave me the website address and offered to send me a video tape. I gave her my address, hung up and checked out the website. Since I had only been actively researching BA's for 2 months I was amazed that a procedure could be done that didn't involve scarring of the nipples or under the armpit. I was further amazed that patients reported that with this TUBA method they were up and about within 2-3 days with normal activity resuming within 2-3 weeks. This was perfect for me as I am in a small office and I rarely take time off for vacations. I could have the procedure done on a Friday and come back to work on Monday. I cruised around the website, found the before and after pictures and then I saw a magical little tab that said "financing" … well, needless to say, I clicked on it. I applied for the loan, more for giggles then anything because my credit isn't that great. And that was that.

The next day, I get a call on my cell phone. It's the doctors office telling me that I had been approved for a $ 6,500 dollar loan. First I said "You're kidding me, right?" she said, "No." I then asked, "How much does the surgery run?" the receptionist said, "$4,500 - $5,500 depending on the size and body structure". I couldn't believe it. Something that I had wanted for about 10 years could now be mine and 100% FINANCED. I immediately called my other half and told him. Please keep in mind that I never mentioned to him that I had gone to look at a doctors website, nor did I tell him that I was serious about getting a BA, and finally, I did not tell him that I had applied for financing. He was very surprised, to say the least. I asked if I could set an appointment for the 9th of February and he said yes and that he would go with me. So I set the appointment.

The 9th rolled around and we got to the appointment at 1045 (it was for 11am). I sat nervously in the office with Andrew and I filled out the paperwork. I noted all the other women in the office and the office staff seemed very happy to be there … and on a SATURDAY. Finally Lisa took us into a room to wait for the doctor. We had been to a magazine store and picked out a few magazines with boobs that I thought I might like to consider and brought the final consideration to this appointment. Dr. Cheski walked in and talked to us. I discussed with him the TUBA procedure and he told me about the other incision sights. After asking a few more questions, he left us alone for a minute so that I could get undressed and he could take a look at my before boobs. At this point, Lisa came back in and asked if we wanted to speak with someone who had gotten her boobs done the day before. Andrew and I looked at one another in disbelief and said "Yes, of course". Here walks in a girl that Andrew and I had observed walking around the office with her little one and husband in tow … we NEVER suspected that this girl had a BA done the day before. So I asked her, "Did it hurt", "How bad did it hurt", "Are you in pain now" etc … she answered "Yes it hurt", "Not that bad, felt like I did about 500 pushups." Just really tight", and "the pain is not too bad now". Well after thanking her she left and I looked over at Andrew and asked him to close his mouth … apparently mine was open as well. Neither one of us could believe that this girl had the surgery done the previous morning. She had the TUBA procedure done as well. Dr. Cheski walked back in and checked my boobs. We all agreed that I could go to a D and carry it off well. There was enough breast tissue and I am tall enough that it wouldn't look out of proportion. I had been concerned with the size and going too big, and at first only wanted to go a Full C. Andrew talked to me about that and I am SO GLAD he did. I love the size now that I have them … but I jump ahead of myself. I thanked him for his time and we went to talk to Marisa, the financial consultant. Well, I have already been approved so all we needed to do was set a date. Dr. Cheski brought some photo albums in for us to look at, all with the TUBA method. Andrew asked Marisa if we could do it the following week LOL. I told him that I couldn't because the week after that I was taking off a day to go to Las Vegas. After a bit of juggling and also trying to figure out when my period was going to start, we decided that Friday March 8th was to be the day. A whole month of waiting. Needless to say I spent a lot of time on the boards and that helped a lot.

On Friday March 1st I went in for my pre-op and got all my prescriptions, signed all the paperwork and confirmed that the money was taken care of, this was at lunch. After work I got my blood drawn. On Saturday March 2nd, I went in for a second talk with the doc to make sure that we were all straight about what I wanted and to bring up any other concerns that I had. All was set, and I was less then a week away. (Note: Significant Others can get pissy and mine and I got into a fight on the 2nd and I stayed at home for the first time in a while LOL)

On Friday March 8th, we woke up early and were told that they wanted me at the office at 9am for my 930 am surgery. We took pictures of my boobs before leaving and I got dressed to leave. Oddly, I wasn't nervous. We got there right on time. Dr. Cheski walked in and told us I could go up to the 4th floor already. I wasn't a bit nervous. I went to the surgery center with Andrew and we filled out some last minute paperwork and then it was 'wham bam' into the back, put on surgical gown and these funky little underwear. I started spotting and brought a tampon with me just in case. They had me put it in for cleanliness. I had a concern cuz I have a body piercing (clitoral hood) and five earrings that cannot be removed without jewelers pliers. The anesthesiologist said that it wasn't a problem cuz they weren't going to use the kind of monitoring probes on me that would be affected by the metal in my body. I kissed Andrew good-bye and he promised he wouldn't go anywhere.

I found myself in my very first operating room and that is when I got scared. They told me to lay down on the table and the assistant started to swab my entire front in Betadine to disinfect me. The whole time I was talking talking talking … just because I was so nervous. The anesthesiologist said not to worry and that I wouldn't feel the needle go in because he would use a pediatric needle. He was right, I didn't feel it go in at all. Then he explained to me that he was going to put in an antibiotic first then the drug to put me out. He said I would know that the drug was introduced, and I sure did. I started to feel really warm and told him that I could feel the drug. The last thing I remember saying to anyone was … "Wow, this is weird, I can feel it in my throat". Then I heard the assistant say "Okay Karen you are done." . Then it was Andrew telling me to breathe deeply … I sorta woke up and tried to speak but something was over my face (later found out an oxygen mask) and I wanted to tell him that I couldn't breathe deeply … every time I tried to, I wanted to cough. There was an EXTRAORDINARY WEIGHT on my chest, but not weight exactly, more of a TIGHTNESS. I kept drifting in and out of sleep and finally heard Andrew asking if I could open my eyes for him. I guess he was being too gentle about it cuz I remember the assistant saying really loudly "Karen open your eyes!" … I opened them then closed them again … I guess I was scaring them, but all I wanted to do was lay there and sleep. Apparently I had been doing just that for quite some time. Finally I had my eyes open and things seemed to move too fast. I looked down at my boobs and asked Andrew if they were bigger. They didn't look any bigger to me. He laughed and informed me not to worry that they were done. I dunno, they looked the same size to me, but I was on drugs so I took his word for it. Next, the assistant asked me what size bra I needed 34 or 36, I mumbled that I didn't know and she said for me to just pick one. I picked 36 because I vaguely remembered that is what I would measure out to. I got help sitting up and next thing I knew I had a bra on me.

Getting up off the table and onto the wheel chair was HORRIBLE and I kept thinking I was going to fall, the ride down the hall and down the elevator was painful in that I felt EVERY LITTLE BUMP on the way. I also felt every bump on the way home … I barely remember that day at all … I do know that I ate a little, my throat hurt so I drank LOT'S of water and Gatorade. Andrew was really good about my meds and making sure that I drank fluids. He helped me get up and lay down and he was really gentle with me … that day was a blur …

The next morning I got up and felt well enough to grab some breakfast. I dressed in overalls and a loose shirt to cover the gauze covering the incision in my belly button (I didn't have drains). I moved very slowly and Andrew drove but I was fine. We took it easy that day and came home soon and I crawled back into bed, slept and relaxed. Sunday, we went to breakfast and a movie. Do I remember what we saw … NO … I have been trying to remember and if anyone can tell me what 'hit' movie was out on March 10th that is probably the one we saw.

healing time, 1 day post-op

Monday was "back to work" time. I drove myself and just took things easy. I work out of someone’s home and my 'heaviest' duty was walking the dog, which I handed over to one of my coworkers. I just couldn't take Luna tugging on the leash (she is still a puppy and a standard poodle). Monday was also my first post op. I had tape under my boobs, to 'hold them up' and Dr. Cheski said that the tape had to stay on till it fell of 'naturally' … he said that I looked great and then he showed me how to massage. OMG did that hurt. Andrew was there and said he would offer assistance …

About day four I had the WORST case of the post op blues. I cried all day long and wondered what I had done and why. I actually said that I preferred my little boobs … but again, Andrew was there and held me as I cried reassuring me that I had done the right thing and I was going to be great … I hated that I couldn’t cuddle with him LOL …

The hardest for me was not being able to sleep on my side for the first 4-6 weeks … I eased back into it and am sleeping on my side now no problem … The other thing that was hard for me was getting used to the ‘feel’ of them. I still ‘feel’ them every once in a while, especially if I haven’t been wearing a bra, but over all they are now part of me.

click on photo for a larger image

Just remember ladies, if you even THINK you want to go bigger, you should … it’s your body … be happy with it …

Email me with questions … but make sure to put in the subject BOOB BOARD … so I don’t delete ya accidentally.

7 mo post-op