Breasts - ramblings and questions

Well, it's been a year since my surgery, I have lost over 100 lbs and am almost to my goal weight. Took me almost this whole year to actually see the difference in the mirror, but I do now. I feel more comfortable and confident.

It's been a wild year that's for sure! I feel like I lost about 6 months due to the many complications I went through from August - Dec. I don't think I started really feeling better until towards the end of January. However, I now just get better and better. I am healthier than I was prior to surgery. For awhile I didn't think that would happen. :)

Now with clothes on I look far better than I did. It's the without clothes that was really bothering me. So one day I just bit the bullet and spent quite bit of time in front of the mirror studying my body. I tried to be objective - I realize we are our own worst critc. Let me tell ya... this was not a job for the weak at heart. lol

Bottom line, I came to terms with most of my body. However, I just can not deal with my breasts. Prior to surgery they were my best feature. I have lost all the fullness of them and they just sag. Even in a bra - a good bra - they just are there. All flat, listless and wrinkled up. I'm 49 and have the breasts of an 80 year old.

My husband has been tremendously supportive through all of this and loves me regardless of how I look. But when we talked about it even he admitted that he really missed the girls and feels like it has even decreased our sex life a bit. Not on his end... on mine. I'm just too aware of how flabby and flat they are. He hates that it bothers me so much.

So, with his support, I've decided to have breast surgery. Plastics is something totally new to me. Prior to surgery I was a 42DD sometimes DDD depending on the bra. Got measured at VS the other day for the correct bra. She told me I was a B, maybe a C. I told her that I didn't think so. Sure enough, by the time I left I walked out with a 34DD. So I guess the cup size is the same but it sure doesn't look like it. 

I don't know exactly what I want or if Tricare Prime may pay for any of it. I still want the same size breasts that I had so I guess a reduction wouldn't be right. I don't want them to sag but also want the fullness back so I guess that rules out just a lift. That wouldn't fix the fullness part I'm guessing.

Anyone here have breast surgery? Do you mind sharing what you had done and the cost?
Is there a big difference in the feeling? Both in how your breasts feel and in your ability to feel sensations?

Thanks for any advice you can give me!

Toni

Bonus question! ;)

I have never changed my profile pic. I try but everytime I upload a pic I just get a message telling me that the picture is too large. I have tried many different ways of making it smaller and have tried different pictures.

Any advice?

I had mine done in Thailand (I lived in Asia at the time) so my experience will be different to yours but the only caution I would make is don't go TOO big!   At a certain time of our lives (I am the same age as you) - huge Hollywood boobs can tend to look a bit matronly - more librarian than sexpot!  (sorry librarians).  You don't want them to look like bolt ons!

When I went for a consult, my surgeon asked me if I wanted American or rest of the world breasts LOL (and I am English!)  When I asked the difference, he said Americans always wanted them BIG.  I chose to have a D cup and you can't even FEEL the implant unless you fiddle around!   I had silicone implants (when they were still banned here) and they look completely natural.

Good luck - I'm glad I had mine done and I'm sure you will too!

 My advice would be to see, at least, a few different plastic surgeons for consults. You can start with the referrals of people here, on OH, who have had breast lifts/augmentations. Doing plastics on people who have lost large amounts of weight is different than someone just wanting to change their breast size.  I had a lift and silicone implants (submuscular) 6 yrs ago and don't even think about the fact that they are implants anymore. I ended up to be a 36DD but don't look so big...I think I have a really wide chest wall.  You will be very happy with the results, for sure.  Insurance rarely (if ever??) will pay for this surgery---it is definitely reconstructive, but they deem it as medically unnecessary and cosmetic. :-(   good luck!

Pop over to the Plastics forum here.
Very nice people with alot of experience.

I've been hanging out there as I prepare for my plastics...3 weeks from today!!!

I also second the idea of having a few plastics consults. Some doctors do them free; some charge a fee which they will then subtract from your surgical costs, should you book with them. The doctor should be able to advise you on the size your breasts will be after sugery with NO implant and then what size you should aim for (based on your body type) for a natural look should you need an implant.

I had a breast lift, based on my surgeon's belief that I would have a full C cup afterward....and he was right. I love the look of my breasts now; prior to surgery, they  looked like deflated balloons. I can even get away without a bra, although I don't do it often 'cuz I don't want them to sag again.

Sorry, I can't remember how much the surgery costs, 'cuz it was bundled with my TT and scar revision. That whole package cost around $15,00....although I got a discount of about $1500 for being a nurse, so I paid $13,500. It included EVERYTHING except pre-op blood work, including one overnight at the surgicenter.

Another consideration? You need to ask your surgeon how the surgery will affect your nipple sensation. Mine was nerve sparing, and I do still have nipple sensation. But even 15 months post op my breasts are still VERY sensitive; I don't allow anyone to touch them! But it is getting better; I was even able to tolerate my mamogram in May, which I was very anxious about.

I started as 40-42 DD-DDD and end up with 36 DD.. I went to a great doc and he was able to make my new boobs 36D, without doing any implants. He molded my existing tissue (it was enough of it) and now I have nice size (not too big, not to small,) nice and perky new breast. In US that cost me - all inclusive, app $5500. (including follow up care and some minor redo in his office - one got little lower - so he fixed that)
I like them now,  and can even go easily with no bra... Have not lost any sensitivity.