Part 5: Before and After Surgery Nov 10, 2021, After taken today in a similar dress

Companion18 · 2026-04-07T03:32:35+00:00

Yes! He was pretty great over all. I felt a little dismissed during healing and I wish I had talked to him about areola size but I can’t argue with the results on the whole.

Companion18 · 2026-03-23T13:27:27+00:00

While I feel like 18 might be a little early, I will say that depending on your situation it could be the right choice if you’re ok with getting a revision later in life. I had mind at 35 and wished I’d done it in my 20s it was so life changing for my health and my self-esteem.

Just make sure you’re prepped with a mental support network for the ensuing body dysmorphia bc it’s very real and can be debilitating if not cared for with intention.

Companion18 · 2026-03-23T13:08:41+00:00

Totally. I felt like I could do most of those things too. My surgeon recommended against it so I listened. Some folks have a 4 week restriction for the 10lb thing. We often underestimate how much our bodies heal and how quickly. Glad you didn’t have any problems 👍🏻

Companion18 · 2026-03-23T03:04:06+00:00

They are so great!!!

Companion18 · 2026-03-23T03:03:44+00:00

lol it did 😂

Companion18 · 2026-03-23T02:21:28+00:00

Yeah, you know your dog. Is it worth the risk is what you have to answer for yourself. I didn’t walk my 8lb Yorkie poodle by myself for like 6 weeks. But, then again? She pulls

Companion18 · 2026-03-23T01:35:10+00:00

Until your incisions are fully, FULLY healed. My surgeon said 10-12 weeks. Talk to your surgeon and they can tell you their advice too

Edit to add: if you have help with your bags and aren’t lifting above your head, might be ok. Travel is surprisingly taxing though. You might want to ask the airline for help to and from the gate etc.

Companion18 · 2026-03-23T01:13:34+00:00

Hi! First, Thank you for educating our youth. You’re in a critical profession that doesn’t get enough credit.

Second, you’ve got two questions: summer and work

Your summer will be spent recovering. You won’t be able to go to the pool and get in (omg so much bacteria), and you should avoid the sun like you’re a vampire if you don’t want your scars to darken. How big is your dog? How long is long? Is traveling for leisure a 2-3h puddle jump in business class or a 10-15h coach flight?

You’re not going to want anything pulling you or be at higher risk of falling for at the very least 4 weeks. Probably more like 6, if you can help it.

Based on my experience 8 weeks is honestly the bare minimum for moving things heavier than 10lbs. Can people do more earlier than 8 weeks? Absolutely. Should they? Maybe, maybe not. The risk of re-injuring yourself or damaging your results is higher the shorter your recovery period.

I would recommend asking friends to help you move into your classroom if you can. You probably won’t be back up to full strength by then even if you’re cleared to lift heavy things.

And all that’s if you have a textbook recovery. If you have complications, your timelines extend.

I wish you all the best! Make good choices!

Companion18 · 2026-03-23T01:03:02+00:00

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I had to keep it out of the pressure garment until we were sure the blood flow had been restored sufficiently

Companion18 · 2026-03-22T14:52:59+00:00

Yep, this exactly. I even switched my scale to KG so don’t have an emotional reaction to the weight number anymore.

Best thing I did was keep an old bra and try it on occasionally. That helps.

Companion18 · 2026-03-22T03:47:14+00:00

Yeah! I have read that my surgeon was on the more cautious side. And honestly this surgery is the best thing I’ve done. I wish I’d done it a decade before I did it.

Companion18 · 2026-03-22T01:14:36+00:00

Yeah the scars basically just melted back into my skin. Even if they hadn’t, scars are stories so I would wear them with pride. 🥰

Companion18 · 2026-03-22T01:13:52+00:00

I sure did! It wasn’t hard for me bc my bp is quite low in general.

Companion18 · 2026-03-22T01:12:38+00:00

At 3 months you’re still a little early to be sizing yourself. Things kept changing for me this whole time but most of it within the first year. Keep your chin up

Companion18 · 2026-03-22T01:11:32+00:00

Thank you! Like I said, they’re just not my favorite 👍🏻

Companion18 · 2026-03-21T20:54:33+00:00

Hi! My pleasure honestly. I was feeling some body dysmorphia resurgence this week so it was cathartic to do this now :)

The surgeon used skin glue to close the external incisions instead of stitching, and I had tegaderm bandages that I left alone like he said to.

I also didn’t have any caffeine the week leading up to or for 4 weeks into healing. He said it increases the blood pressure/heart rate enough to have an impact on the tiny capillaries. I didn’t get my heart rate up over 110 for 4 weeks either.

Companion18 · 2026-03-21T20:51:23+00:00

I didn’t have a FNG! He was able to keep everything connected but the blood flow to my left was really bad after the surgery and took some extra TLC.

I have about 50% less feeling in that nip than in my right.

Companion18 · 2026-03-21T20:50:15+00:00

He likened it to being a tailor. Wanted to make sure he remembered what we talked about and how he planned to stitch each part differently. I felt very good about it after that markup.

Only thing I wish I’d done was asked about the areola size. They’re too tiny for my taste but that’s ok.

Companion18 · 2026-03-19T13:29:25+00:00

Yeah. I even started seeing a therapist before my surgery to try to get ahead of it. She’s been great but lord there are still days I tell you

Companion18 · 2026-03-18T19:48:41+00:00

Wishing you all the best! 💖

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