9 days post uplift and BA - looking a bit uneven!!

Hi

I'm a newbie. I had a breast uplift and augmentation last Friday 14th Jan. I am still very swollen, bruised and sore. I saw my consultant yesterday when he took the dressings off and he seemed happy and said that I could now take my sports bra off to shower.

So...I saw my new boobies for the first time today and one of them is noticeably bigger than the other! My left was always slightly bigger than the right but it was such a subtle difference that it was barely noticeable. My consultant said before my op that it was not worth having different size implants for such a miniscule size difference. My right boob also looks a slightly different shape now - the left one is nice and round and is already starting to soften a bit - the right one is still like a rock and is very swollen and sore at the side (I can feel it bulging under my arm) with less volume at the top. In profile it doesn't look exactly like the left one.

Is this normal??!!!

I booked my op back in July and planned it for winter because I thought it would be easier to hide a sports bra then. I wish I'd found this forum earlier.

If anyone can tell me how long it will be before my boobs "settle" I'd be really grateful. My consultant said it would take about 3-4 months for the swelling to go and for them to completely soften because I've had a mastopexy as well as implants. I've had the full anchor lift.

Oh and what is "fluffing"?

Hi Soutty! Welcome to the forum. :-)

Can't really answer from my own experience as I haven't had my BA/uplift yet - but from what I've read about other people - 9 days is really really early. I wouldn't panic yet, particularly as you say your leftie has softened a bit and your rightie hasn't caught up. Give it some time - but if you're really worried, speak to your PS. Do you have a checkup booked soon-ish?

Well I only saw him yesterday and I hadn't taken my bra off at that point (been bathing with bra on and washing hair over bath with shower attachment). My next appointment is meant to be on 26 Feb which is 6 weeks post op but my surgeon said he'd like to see in about 3 weeks when I'm 4 weeks post op ideally so I'm going to see if they can make me an appointment any earlier.

Hi hun, I've only had a BA, but I can tell you that 9 days is very early. It can take up to a year for boobs to fully settle. It is totally normal for your boobs to look totally different at this stage, they will go through a lot of changes over the weeks and months ahead. You have to treat it as 2 seperate operations, so they can heal at different rates because one may have needed more work etc
I see fluffing as, when you initially have the breast augmentation the implants can sit quite high on your chest no matter whether you have overs/partials or full under the muscle placement. They are very firm during this time. Over the weeks and months the skin stretches and the muscle relaxes (if partial /under placement) the implants drop into a more natural looking position and the breast softens for a more natural feel. During the course of these changes which can seem to happen overnight or over a few days on some occasions where they seem to be high one day and the next one or both implants seem to change all of a sudden. The changes can result in fluffing also known as a sudden increase in bra size, one day your bra fits perfect the next it's uncomfortable or leaving red marks over the cups. It can take a year or so to see the full and final result of a BA. So sometimes they don't seem to change for a few months and you think they are done, then your bra becomes tight and you've fluffed up another size.

How interesting. I thought they'd get smaller in time rather than bigger. I don't know what size implants I ended up with I remember that he was taking 3 sizes with him and 300cc would be the biggest he brought along.

I was an empty saggy 34c. I am now filling a 34E sports bra but was expecting to end up a 34dd. I am very happy with the size I have to say - it's just that the right boob looks a little weird. It's reassuring to know that it's nothing to worry about so early on.

I agree with the advice already given hun, 9 days is very early to be worrying, you have alot of settling to do yet. So don't worry hun. xxx

Hey hon....where did you get them done. They will look completely different at this early stage as to how they will settle. If you have any concerns ring clinic to discuss. Your PS seems good that he is seeing you so much. x

Hi

I had them done at MyBreast. My surgeon is Prashant Govilkar who does a lot of reconstructions so I figure he knows what he's doing.

I just feel a little bit down for some reason. I expected to be feeling fine by now and looking great but I am still really bruised and sore and tired and just feeling a bit fed up really. Going back to work tomorrow - I think that will be good as I'm going mad being stuck indoors.

Hi hun, welcome to the forum!

Like the girls have said, its early days yet. Let everything settle for a while xx

Soutty123 wrote:Hi

I just feel a little bit down for some reason. I expected to be feeling fine by now and looking great but I am still really bruised and sore and tired and just feeling a bit fed up really. Going back to work tomorrow - I think that will be good as I'm going mad being stuck indoors.

We all expect to feel great as soon as we get our new boobs, but we have to remember the whole operation and the GA takes it's toll on us. I was terribly down after my op, it took me a couple of weeks before I felt okay. Hopefully going back to work will be good for you hun, you'll have other things to think about instead of just boobs. Take care and don't worry.

Will be 2 weeks post op tomorrow. Am still sore and still sleeping upright but have been at work all week and feel ok. Boobs are starting to feel a little softer, especially the left one. The right one is still quite hard and there's sort of a bulge under my arm while not much fullness in the cleavage area but I guess it will all fluff out eventually.

To any of you ladies thinking about having this op - it does hurt I'm not gonna lie to you! But for me looking at how I look in my dressing gown with no bra on compared to how I looked in it 2 weeks ago definitely makes it worthwhile, even if my right boob never quite matches the left one exactly.

I can't wait to be able to wear skimpy non wired bras sometimes - although I will be wearing my big granny sports bras as often as possible because I want them to stay perky!

To those of you who've had this op - when will I be really back to normal ie back in the gym rowing and doing weights? When will my boobies feel like they're mine instead of a heavy dead weight strapped to my chest?

Hey huni I just had my uplift and Implants on the 24th The pain has been ok but I feel the same as you about the heavy dead weight strapped to my chest Id love to know how long it takes for this to go away? Im so fed up with sleeping upright but I slipped down on my back last night and my back and chest was in agony Ive been quite sore at the side of my boobs aswell and feel quite swollen here aswell but im sure its all just part and parcle what profile of Implant did you get huni xx

Hi

I am still really sore, particularly at the side of my boobs which are still swollen and sometimes I get stabbing pains in my nipples which isn't all that pleasant. Getting so fed up with it now! I've had 2 c sections and I was off pain killers and living a normal life after a week both times. Was told this was less invasive surgery but the healing process is a lot slower.

I had a high profile implants over the muscle I think. I don't know exactly what size they are - my surgeon was bringing in 3 sizes and I think 300 was going to be the biggest - he told me that above about 350cc would mean a lift every 5 years - did not fancy that thanks very much!!

Aww sweetie, I am so sorry you are feeling down- I hope everything is much much better now. These ladies are right- anesthesia takes a HUGE toll on our bodies and sometimes I think we go in thinking when we wake up everything will be fabulous and no healing time. I guess the best way to move forward into a BA would be to expect things are def. not going to be perfect for quite some time. In fact, I am reading over some of these stories wondering how I am going to make it back to work- I only get 4 days off, and then I resume back to work doing surgeries on other people. :( Hmmm, hope things worl out for all of us!!

Soutty123 - just wondering how you were making out today and if they were evening out.. getting mine shortly and wondering what im for for...

leslie512 - hopefully the surgeries you do arent too in depth because i seen on here some people cant even drive for a week afterwards.. ill keep my fingers crossed that you heal fast and arent sore so your return to work is a good one :o) can you use sick days if you need a few more days off???

Hiya

3 weeks post op today. My boobies are still tender but they don't ache (except first thing in the morning). My left one looks great and feels softish but my right one is still rock hard and sore at the side. It looks a bit smaller than the left one and a different shape - it seems less round and there is a bulge at the side where it is really tender and hard. Hopefully that bulge will round out the whole breast when it softens up. Seeing my consultant on 19th Feb and will discuss it with him then. The size difference is not obvious in clothing and it's not as if my bra is baggy over the right boob so I think it's more of a shape difference which I hope will resolve over time. Since I had the op the right one has given me more pain than the left and has always been more bruised for some reason.

To those of you who've had this op - when will I be really back to normal ie back in the gym rowing and doing weights? When will my boobies feel like they're mine instead of a heavy dead weight strapped to my chest?

Not for a while yet hunnie. At my one month post op check up I asked the nurse if I could return to the gym and the answer was an emphatic no - and I would have to wait at least until my 3 month check up to see if the surgeon would give his OK. However she did say that walking was good, so I asked her if I could go to the gym and just use the treadmill and bicycle and although she wouldn't say I could, she left it up to me to decide. But she did say definitely no weights or upper body exercise.
xx

Hi Soutty,

Mybreast are v good for aftercare so you are in good hands.

I had mine in June 09 with them but am now experiencing sagging so maybe in for a lift in the near future :(

I would return to your PS and get him to look at the righty. I'm sure it is fine and just taking longer to settle but as you are feeling anxious I would return for peace of mind, they really won't mind.

Congratulations on your new boobies though. All the discomfort will be worth it in the summer when you can wear those lovely bikinis and strappy dresses......xxxxxx

I am slightly concerned about the right boob - I am definitely going to ask my surgeon about it at my next appointment in a couple of a weeks' time. He did say to expect them to take a while to settle because of the scar tissue as a result of the mastopexy but the left one looks and feels great. I wonder if massaging the right breast would help.

please let us know what they say, im going for one in 4 days and would love to know what happens, thanks

...according to my husband anyway. 4 weeks post op today.

Left boob looking lovely, right boob still looks weird, no volume around the cleavage - this part feels soft but I think that's because it's my real breast. All the volume is at the side of my boob practically under my arm and this is the part that feels hard and tender to the touch even though the bruising has gone now.

Spoke to my PS last night. He sounded concerned and has arranged for me to see a colleague of his in Beckenham on Saturday as he can't fit me in at Fawkham Manor. His colleague will examine me, scan the boob if necessary and either reassure me in which case I can see my PS on 18 Feb as planned or else I will have to see my PS sooner.

To say that I am worried/hacked off is a major understatement. I have 2 small kids, a part time job plus a poorly78 year old father who is moving from miles away to round the corner next week and will need a lot of hand holding for some time while he settles in. I need complications and a re-op like I need a hole in the head.

Will keep you posted but right now I'm feeling about as low as it's possible to feel. I just didn't expect this. It's taken me a lot longer to recover than I expected. It's been barely a week since I've been off paracetamol and able to lift up my 3 year old son. The thought of more surgery makes me feel physically sick. Wish I'd just put up with my real ones tbh.

Soutty123 wrote:...according to my husband anyway. 4 weeks post op today.

Left boob looking lovely, right boob still looks weird, no volume around the cleavage - this part feels soft but I think that's because it's my real breast. All the volume is at the side of my boob practically under my arm and this is the part that feels hard and tender to the touch even though the bruising has gone now.

Spoke to my PS last night. He sounded concerned and has arranged for me to see a colleague of his in Beckenham on Saturday as he can't fit me in at Fawkham Manor. His colleague will examine me, scan the boob if necessary and either reassure me in which case I can see my PS on 18 Feb as planned or else I will have to see my PS sooner.

To say that I am worried/hacked off is a major understatement. I have 2 small kids, a part time job plus a poorly78 year old father who is moving from miles away to round the corner next week and will need a lot of hand holding for some time while he settles in. I need complications and a re-op like I need a hole in the head.

Will keep you posted but right now I'm feeling about as low as it's possible to feel. I just didn't expect this. It's taken me a lot longer to recover than I expected. It's been barely a week since I've been off paracetamol and able to lift up my 3 year old son. The thought of more surgery makes me feel physically sick. Wish I'd just put up with my real ones tbh.

Sorry to hear this. Speaking as someone who has had some issues I can totally sympathize. Wait and see what he has to say. Also if you do need re-op wait and schedule to a time that is best for you. Often they won't re-op until 6 months. x

Owwwww you poor thing

Good luck on Saturday....if a reop in needed as it has been placed wrong I doubt they'll be any urgency so you can book at a convenient time ie when your dad is settled.....

If it's something more urgent then it's going to be inconvenient for you but it's only one breast you are having probs with so that's half the pain! Also you are still experiencing pain probably as there's a problem with that breast; when it's corrected the pain will ease and the recovery therefore will probably be alot easier than your first time round!

Let us know how you get on xxxxxx

Thanks girls. Yes you are probably right. A re-op would be a pain but nothing like as bad as the first given that it would only be on one boob I suppose. Also no uplift involved.

If the discomfort is linked to the implant being bad then I hope I don't have to wait for 6 months tbh. The Easter holidays would probably be the best time.

Sorry to hear you're having problems hun. I hope you get some answers when you go on Saturday. Please let us know how you go on. xxx