All throughout her adolescent years, 24-year old Veronika (membername: veronika_7) watched enviously as her friends developed. Like any young woman, she wanted to be able to feel comfortable in a bathing suit and to be able to fill out a dress. Veronika always felt self-conscious about her 34AAA breasts and at the age of 16, she decided that one day she will reward herself with a pair of new breasts after her college graduation.
Like a true scholar, Veronika explored the idea of a breast augmentation by visiting Make Me Heal and the plastic surgery message boards, as well as seeing breast implant pictures and other internet resources. She knew exactly what she wanted from the type of incision to the type of implants she wanted. As many women undergoing breast augmentation, Veronika relied on the expertise of her Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Sean Rice in North York, Toronto, to choose the size of her breast implants. With 400 cc’s added into each breast, Veronika’s 34AAA breasts transformed into super sexy 34D’s. Veronica got her breast augmentation on April 2007.
Veronika’s advice to anyone contemplating a breast augmentation is:
“My advice is to do it for yourself and yourself only. If there is even 20% of you doing it for someone else, then you should wait until it is all for you.”
Please join Make Me Heal in this touching interview:
Make Me Heal: When did you first have the idea to have your procedure?
Veronika: Since I was probably 16 years old, everyone had developed and I never did. Of course I knew I could not have the procedure done until I was older, but it was always in the back of my mind. I was always completely flat and could not fill out clothes or bras or bathing suits. I always knew one day I would do it so when I graduated from university, it was my gift to myself.
Make Me Heal: What were your motivations behind your decision to have the procedure?
Veronika: My motivations were to feel more confident in myself. I have never been insecure about anything in regards to my appearance besides my lack of breast tissue. I knew this was something I could not work hard in the gym for, the only way to increase the size was through surgery. Basically, I wanted to feel good about myself when I wore a bathing suit and be able to fill out a dress. I wanted to feel feminine and womanly and have breasts because I always felt less feminine because I did not have them.
Make Me Heal: How long did it take you to make a decision and was it an easy or difficult one to make?
Veronika: Once I had my consultation with Dr. Rice, I knew he was the surgeon for me and I booked the surgery the same day. It was very easy for me to make this decision because not only was it something I had wanted for a long time, but I had also done extensive research on breast augmentation and felt confident that I knew all of the benefits and risks of the procedure.
Make Me Heal: Did your family, friends, and any other people in your close circle give you support, opposition, or did you make this decision without considering them?
Veronika: I got support from my family and my friends. My mom, my friends and my boyfriend have always known how much my lack of breasts has affected my self esteem and they were supportive of my decision.
Make Me Heal: How did you research the procedure and come to decide on this particular procedure?
Veronika: I did extensive research online on several different websites focused solely on breast augmentation. I even researched the implant manufacturers’ sites to read about the statistics, risks etc… I felt very confident in my decision because of all of the research I did. The sites that were the most helpful to me were: www.canadaba.ca, www.jusbreastimplants.com, www.implantinfo.com, and www.implant411.com.
I also used Make Me Heal’s message board forums on two of these sites for support and to interact with other women who had breast augmentations.
Make Me Heal: How did you come to choose your doctor?
Veronika: I only consulted with Dr. Rice. My mom works at the same hospital as Dr. Rice and has witnessed his skill and he was recommended to me by her. As soon as I met him, I knew he was the surgeon for me and I am thrilled with my results.
Make Me Heal: Please discuss if you have any role in deciding the type of technique used for your surgery by the doctor?
Veronika: I definitely knew what I wanted when I went to my consultation. I knew the placement and incision I wanted, my surgeon and I just had to decide on the implant type and the size of the implant. I knew I wanted the new cohesive gel implants and my surgeon recommended the High Profile implants. We did not decide on size until my second consultation and I told my surgeon to bring in both 375’s and 400’s and decide in the OR which on fit my body the best.
Make Me Heal: How did you prepare for the surgery?
Veronika: I had just graduated from my post graduate program in university, so I did not have a job so it was the perfect time for me to get the surgery as I would have ample recovery time. Basically to prepare, I picked up my medications in advance and made sure my room was clean so I would not have to worry about that after surgery. I did not buy any special foods or products because I was not told to. I was given a surgical bra after surgery and then I just bought my own sports bras to wear afterwards.
Make Me Heal: How were you feeling the night before the surgery and on the moments before the surgery itself?
Veronika: The night before surgery I was excited. I was more nervous the two weeks before the surgery but the night before I was completely at peace with my decision and I was just so excited that I was finally doing this for myself. Of course I said a little prayer before I went to sleep but overall, I felt surprisingly calm.
Make Me Heal: How was the recovery process?
Veronika: I had a very rapid recovery. Day two I went to the mall for an hour or so. I was able to open my own car doors and put on my own seat belt. I was able to eat normally and walk around. I did feel more tired and did have problems with constipation from the pain medication, but once I stopped taking the pain meds (about day 4) I began to feel much better and got “back to normal”. I lived at home so my mom was there to help me with whatever I needed and I had friends who would help me out also. I tried not to lay around in bed a lot and get up and moving because this helped me recover more quickly. I found when I laid around too long, I felt stiff and sore, the more I moved around, the better I felt.
Make Me Heal: Please discuss the pain or discomfort you experienced during the recovery?
Veronika: The only time I felt pain was when I woke up from surgery, but you get morphine as much as you need it so that went away very quickly. I would not describe a breast augmentation as painful, it is more so uncomfortable. The only time I felt truly sore was getting our of bed in the morning, when you wake up you feel kind of sore and tight, but it goes away once you get moving.
Make Me Heal: How well prepared were you for the recovery from physical, emotional, and mental respects?
Veronika: I definitely utilized message boards to make my recovery smoother. It was so amazing to have access to these huge networks of women who had all gone through what you are going through. I also had a very accessible surgeon and if I had questions or concerns, he would contact me right away.
Make Me Heal: What are your top recovery tips to other patients?
Veronika: I would definitely stress that the recovery from the surgery is more of an emotional than a physical process and that it is 100% normal to feel emotional. This is something I went through myself and I knew that it was normal after surgery to feel overcome with emotion.
I used lots of pillows to prop myself up in bed which helped me sleep and be comfortable when I rested.
This one is icky, but make sure you have stool softeners or laxatives around because the pain meds make it hard to go, and that can be more uncomfortable than your surgery.
My last tip is to get moving. Try to do some things on your own and don’t just lay in bed resting. Getting up and out of the house for a little while will help you get back to normal faster. Don’t lift anything heavy or do anything too strenuous, but try to get up and take a walk or prepare a simple meal for yourself.
Make Me Heal: How long did you take off from work? What did you tell your co-workers about taking this time off? Did anyone notice your cosmetic procedures at work and what did you tell them if they asked about it?
Veronika: I was a student so I did not have to take time off of school because I had my surgery the day after I finished my program. I was comfortable sharing my surgery with most of my peers.
Make Me Heal: How happy are you with the results?
Veronika: I am more than happy- I am thrilled. My breasts really look proportionate to my height and they really make me feel womanly and feminine. I love the way I fill our clothes now and don’t have to wear padded bras or put socks in my bra (yes. I’ve done it!). The shape of my breasts is wonderful. My surgeon did such an amazing job at giving me what I asked for that I am just amazed at the results. My results are above and beyond my expectations.
Make Me Heal: How has your makeover impacted your life from personal, social, career, and other respects?
Veronika: I did this for myself, so for me, it was like a right of passage. I finally felt like I was complete. Its hard for some people to understand, but when you are a woman and you never develop breasts, it feels as though something about you is missing…one of the things that inherently makes you female is just not there, and once you get it, it is just life changing.
I can now wear bathing suits and feel amazing, I can wear sexy lingerie and feel hot! I am no longer embarrassed or insecure about taking my shirt or bra off during intimate moments. I just have a very peaceful relationship with my body. Most of all, my insecurities and low self esteem in regards to my breasts have completely gone away. I feel more natural now than I ever did before. Before I felt like I was fake because I didn’t have breasts…and even though I have implants now, I finally feel real because I feel that these are the breasts my body is supposed to have.
Make Me Heal: Would you have done anything differently if you had the chance?
Veronika: The only thing I would do differently is not stress so much about it! My biggest stress was the size (amount of cc’s) of the implant and I kept second guessing going too big or too small. I am glad my surgeon chose the 400cc’s (pre authorized by me) and I wish I hadn’t worried so much because they are perfect. Also, take everything you rea
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