Welcoming the ‘New Girls’

Last Thursday I had the expanders removed and the permanent (well…I think they have a ten year life expectancy…but they keep calling them “permanent”…I hope I don’t start getting fidgety over semantics…) implants implanted.

Up until now I’ve been a little regretful over my reconstruction choice.  It was extremely painful and the expanders were still uncomfortable even after all the expanding had been done.  The reconstructed breasts were uneven, poorly shaped and heavily scarred (and did I mention uncomfortable??).  My plastic surgeon assured me that all the problems would be fixed during the final surgery.  Even though I trusted him I had trouble visualizing the final results.

The surgery (as previously noted) went without a hitch.  I had stocked up on oxycontin and was ready to head off the pain, imagining days and days of semi consciousness.  To my surprise I could have managed very well with a few tylenol.  Of course I took some oxycontin just for fun, but had to admit it was like calling in the armed forces to deal with a jay walker.  I don’t actually experience the same kind of “fun” that makes oxycontin so popular on the street, so I gave it up and accepted the fact that I had blown this whole thing out of proportion.  But in all fairness to myself I never expected the original surgery to be the pain nightmare that it was, so on some odd level I guess it all works out.

Back to the breasts, even though they still have “steri strips” (sort of like tape stitches) on, it is clear that much work was done.  First and most important:  the comfort level that I now enjoy with the expanders gone is AMAZING.  Second:  the implants and additional nipping and tucking have accomplished all that my surgeon had promised.

Such sweet relief.

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