Don't know where to start!!

Hi all, so glad I've found this forum - it's answered lots of my questions already! Ive just turned 40 and have only ever had 36AA's which has bothered me since I was 16 but I've never been brave enough to do anything about it. I'm now "seriously" considering a BA but only to a small C. I really don't want it to look too obvious if that makes sense! How on earth do you go about finding the right surgeon? I've heard the horror stories and seen the documentaries which scares me and puts me off even more! However when I hear you girls chatting when you've had the op and how pleased you all sound it makes me think 'just get on with it!'. I'd love to just have a feminine shape. I'm tall (5'9) and slim and fed up with my boyish frame! Help!!

Hi Scaredycat, welcome to the forum.. I know exactly where you are coming from. I wanted bigger boobs since my teens and what little I had went smaller after my two children! I am 5 foot 8, size 10, my BA size was 32A/small B. I have just had 365cc, overs with Mr Clarke at Transform. I ended up going bigger than I thought I would but absolutely love them! They make me look in proportion now.
As regards finding your surgeon, I did loads of research and I think your gut instinct tells you what is right for you. A friend of mine had her BA with the same surgeon around five months ago and that was the push I needed to get over the nerves! I am 40 next month, and she said this is your time, your 10 year slot! I totally agreed, was on the phone before I knew it!
I have been really happy with Transform, their support and professionalism has been great. Day 3 in the new boobie house for me, and I love them!
I hope this helps, do it, you won't regret it!

Hi

Sorry,not sure why the welcome thing came up 3 times,and now I can't delete them...weird.

Anyway,congratulations on making your first step! I'm having my ba in 7 days,and have wanted it for 13 years (since I was 13!).

Ok,so to find a surgeon,you need to think about what is a priority to you,and where you live,and go from there. All the big companies (Transform,HMG etc) tend to only operate in a few locations (although they have offices everywhere!) so would you travel for it? Or prefer to stay local? You can go with the big main companies,or smaller private ones (ie Spire,and lots of single private hospitals too). There seems to be a price range of between £3000 and £5000 so within that it's just a case of meeting various surgeons and seeing who you are comfortable with! You should always research thouroughly to find word-of-mouth reviews on sites such as this.

Obviously things do go wrong (make sure you look into all the possible complications),but in reality they are reasonably rare. Capsular contracture is the most common,at around 10%,so everything else s an even smaller risk! You only ever hear the horror stories in the news,you don't see the thousands who are in love with their new assets!

I don't know about you,but for me,as soon as I decided that I was 100% going to start saving for a BA I felt better,like I was on my way. I've not had it yet,but the conclusion I came to was thas I would regret NOT having one ten times more than I could regret doing it.

Good luck! xx

Have as many consultations as you can... I had 3 locally then travelled as far as London for one and the west midlands. I chose Harley street in London in the end. You will know when you meet like right surgeon. Get writing your list of questions!

Thanks girlies - I'll get searching PS's and print off some questions. I've had the money put by for what seems like years now so I just needed some encouragement and a shove to get going - you girls are an inspiration and I'm now getting butterflies just thinking what could be - this time next year it could all be sorted!!! Sooner maybe! I don't want to rush in to this but I'm thinking the whole process probably takes 6-8 months by the time you've been around 3-4 consultations plus thinking time etc? Spittingfairy - you're right - regretting not having it done will be far worse - that's how I'm beginning to feel. Totally understand about the 'risks' but as you say there's thousands of girls that have this procedure who are ecstatic with the results. My main concern I guess is embarrassment. I live in a small village, we socialise a lot here and I just don't want to be labelled as "the girl who had the boob job". That's a big thing for me which is why I wouldn't want to go too big. I'm not a vain person,I just enjoy being a 'young 40', trendy mum to my 14 and 17 year old children. I want to do this for myself now, to get some real confidence in my shape (I've been really lucky in staying the same weight/flat tummy straight after both births) but boobs have always been tiny!!!

Samsparkle - what you said - "this is your 10 years now" - I feel exactly the same - if I don't do this now then there's no point thinking about it again!!

I'm even worried what my family willl think of me!! I'm 40 for goodness sake and still scared of what people think! xx

Great advice from the girls! Can't add anything useful apart from I think it's the best thing I've ever done! Best of luck xx

Thanks louisajones82 - am just researching the difference between unders and overs! Lol! Can you tell I'm new to all this! I've learnt so much already though. Would you recommend your surgeon? I do keep hearing good things about Mr Clarke at The Pines though xx

The differences between unders and over are much of a muchness. Both have good sides,and bad sides,it's just a question of how much breast tissue you have right now. If you can pinch less than 3cm from your upper breast then *most* surgeons will recommend unders to give the best chance at hiding the implant.

If you don't want people to notice why don't you start wearing really padded bras/chicken fillets at all times? You won't look so different then once you have it done! x

I went to see 3 surgeons, and decided on Transform - Mr Meleagros (still pre BA though). Transform aftercare and general care seemed a lot better than others.... Alot of information on the website.

All consultations are free, and you can meet however many surgeons until you are happy you have chosen the right one.

Once you have had one consultation, you'll know the drill :) and then it will become easier in deciding and knowing exactly what you want :)

Good luck!! xxx

That's such a good idea with the chicken fillets and padded bras! Wish I'd thought of that!

I would definitely recommend my surgeon, I'm thrilled with my results and think he's done an amazing job. I think with surgeons though, as sweetcarol says, you'll know when you meet the right one and it's a personal matter. I only saw Mr Meleagros - I'm a bad example I guess! - but I felt like he understood exactly what I wanted and I felt very comfortable and really liked him, and after reading lots of good things about him (on here from girls who'd had their ba with him) decided that I was happy to just go with him as my ps without having other consultations. I'm also really impressed with Transform and their aftercare.

I had overs, this is something your surgeon should advise you on as it totally depends on your body! I felt more comfortable understanding the difference before my consultation though, meant I didn't feel like I had to take in too much new stuff at once!! Knowledge is power I guess lol!

xx

Go and see at least three surgeons hun xx you won't regret it xx

Don't rush into things xx it's very easy to get excited and carried away and hand your money over to the first surgeon you see, but try to resist xx

Good Luck xx

You just have to research I guess and get peoples reviews on surgeons, the plastic surgeon and clinic thread on here is brill, I personally only saw Mr Hassan with the hospital group and felt immediately comfortable with him, as with a lot of the other girls on here that saw him, he see's you as an individual and not just another patient wanting a boob job.

Make sure you let them know what it is that you want, definitely check the aftercare policy.

research until u feel comfortable and you'll know when u meet the right ps i had the same ps as louisejane82 and highly recommend him he did an amazing job but make sure u see a few surgeons so u know ur making the right choice xx

I went and saw one surgeon on the back of a personal recommendation and didn't feel comfortable with her.

I went and saw two other companies: Transform and Harley Medical Group and liked them both but HMG made me feel more comfortable at the time.

I booked a consult with Dr Frati at HMG before I had found this forum, I on;y found it when I started researching him.

Having seen lots of feedback here I have now also booked a consult with Dr Meleagros at Transform and also Dr Malik through Highgate directly (have two friends who recommend him).

The downside to HMG is you have a free consult with a nurse but you have to put down £100 to secure a consult with the surgeon.

All of my consults are at the end of Nov as this is about 8 weeks before my surgery date and I am currently on a mission to get to my target pre-op weight before I see them!

I had my first consult at the end of July and I plan to have the op end Jan so that is 6 months but I think you can do it a lot quicker than that if you wanted to. If I didn't have my weightloss target to achieve first and had the time to take off work I would like to have it done sooner.

Thanks girls for the advice - it's all really really useful. I know so much more than I did 24 hours ago - this forum is fab! Have just started the ball rolling and have an appointment with Patient Co-ordinator at my local Transform clinic on Monday! First of many I think!! Am going to be writing my list of questions over the weekend. xx

YOu go girl... You can do this all in your own time but from deciding and having it done for me was only 2 months. I have been considering it for 10years so figured I had waited long enough lol. Good luck and keep us updated x

I know exactly how you feel ScaredyCat!
I've just turned 37 (and had the op 5 days ago)... I've always been a 34AA - even breastfeeding only took me to an A!
I always wanted to do it but never thought I would have the guts to. I was always worried how it might affect the body image of my two girls as they grow up, but I came to the conclusion that I needed to do this for me and if I didnt do it soon it would be too late! As SamSparkle says - its your time now!
Like the other girls have said make sure you find a surgeon you feel understands you... and be wary of what the PCC's tell you (mine kept telling me I should go bigger as she said girls who go for smaller implants regret not going bigger, which I know for some girls is right, but for ME was definitely WRONG! I spent ages looking at Nuts online to get an idea of size and hubbie thought he would be a darling and help with the research LOL!
In July I started thinking about having the op, and 3 months later I've had it done!
GOOD LUCK!

Wow sims - you sound just like me! My other half will enjoy the 'research' I'm sure!! I'll bear everything in mind that you've said. I'm ready for the 'hard sell' from some of these PCC's. I'll only do it when I'm ready. But like you after years and years of it being in the back of your mind I already know i'm 99% sure I want this doing - I just need to find an excellent PS and that will be give me that extra 1% confidence! Who was your PS? Have you had any probs? x

LOl! Yes I dont know how he coped with me looking at boobie pictures for months! and now its all hands off for several weeks! (you'd better warn your other half about that bit as well!)
I had Mr Sulaiman (The Hospital Group), he was the 2nd surgeon I saw - the first I was ok with.. but you dont want to feel 'ok' you want to feel great! So far I'd say its been a very smooth recovery even though Ive had unders (310) as I dont (didnt!) have much breast tissue not a lot of skin - not really pain just some discomfort, I think I'm quite fit for my age, dont smoke, and I think this has a lot to do with how well your body recovers... Hardly anyone knows yet though! Like you, I was worried about what the family would say...I scared my poor Dad as I told him on the phone I had had an op and he was worried something was seriously wrong with me!...when I told him about the BA he said 'thank god for that!' since then he's taken the kids out everyday this week to give me a break!

Ah wow that's excellent - your dad has taken it well. Not sure mine will - no doubt my parents won't understand and will just say 'what a waste of money'!! You sound very happy - hope the recooperation continues to go well. Will let you know how I go!

Sims and scaredycat it's like reading all my thoughts! I worried about my mum and my BF told her after I came through surgery on Sunday! Brave man! She was very shocked and thinks I am barmy! Her words! I think I get where she is coming from now I have chatted to her, I am still her child even at 39 with my own kids, and she sees me as perfect and doesn't see why I would want to change myself.She was bad enough when I got a small tattoo! I have never told her how much I hated having no boobs, how clothes don't fit right and how depressing it is when bras don't always fit, so I think she gets it..
My BF had a great time helping me research!! As you can imagine, we both became a bit boob obsessed!!
I know what you mean about worrying what people will say, I live in a relatively small village, and I am a hairdresser and have worked in this area for the last 24years! I have hardly told anyone, but you know what, now I have had it done I really don't mind who knows as my confidence level is so much higher all ready that I am proud of what I have done!
It really made me sit up and act with the 10 year thing, I am 40 next month and feel this is it now, time to really make the next years count. My kids are growing up and they are settled and ok, my career is going good, Life is for living ladies! Living with bigger happier boobies!!lol!
Scaredycat congreats on making your first appointment, your on your way now..exciting! Xx

Look forward to hearing how you get on Scaredycat! If you want the 'transformation' to be less obvious you could try this!.. I started a new job one week after booking the op, and I really didn't want people knowing, so for the 7 weeks up to my op I wore rice boobies to work everyday! Nuts, I know!

Hope your recovering well SamSparkle!

Hi sims, I am doing great thankyou. Think I have turned a corner today, only had one lot of paracetamol. Just got to not be tempted to start doing to much, can tell when you start pushing it, the Cahooners ache a bit. Enjoying being looked after by my BF and the kids!