Meeting the Plastic Surgeon

by Suzanne of  TwentyFourAtHeart

Last Saturday I had an appointment for a consultation with a well-thought of plastic surgeon here in Orange County.  I made the appointment with him because a) My orthopedic surgeon feels a breast reduction is mandatory for me b) A girlfriend used this particular doctor for a breast reduction and is extremely happy with the results and c) He uses a method common in France and Brazil which involves much less cutting/scarring than the method used by most American doctors.

I did a lot of research before my visit and read everything I possibly could ahead of time.  I’m neurotic like that.

The friendliness and warmth of the staff was impossible not to respond to.  Everyone was HAPPY and BEAUTIFUL and SO GLAD TO SEE ME.  I felt like I was at a fancy spa.  I expected posters of air-brushed super models on the walls to make me feel (more) inadequate, but there were no super models to be found.

Word of my car accident and my “situation” had traveled through the staff before my arrival.  I imagine I’m unusual for them.  Most women (and men) visiting their office are there to hang onto their youth or grasp at beauty in any fashion they can.  I’m all for youth and beauty, don’t get me wrong.  It just isn’t what prompted my visit.

First I met with a consultant.  I asked her how old she is and she informed me she is 57.  She looks way younger than I do and I’m in my forties.  Over the course of my visit, it became apparent she’s had a lot of “work” done.   She looked good; she did not look like warped plastic like a lot of the OC women do.  Her face was not pulled overly tight, her breasts were obviously fake (done years ago and not by this plastic surgeon), she admitted openly to a face-lift, liposuction, breast augmentation and a host of other surgeries.  If I met her on the street I would assume fake boobs and maybe some botox.  She’s had a lot done, but she doesn’t look like she’s had a lot done.

Why do some women have plastic surgery and look terrible, while others look okay?  Is it a result of the surgeon?  Or is it how much surgery the woman/patient chooses to have done?  Personally, I have enough wrinkles, fat, and cellulite for the 57 year old “consultant” and myself.  I’m happy to share since I’m sure she misses having any of her own.

After meeting with the consultant, she ushered me back to an examination room.  She chatted with me for awhile longer and then went to retrieve the doctor.  While she was gone, I removed my shirt and bra and put on a hospital gown.  My nipples might have blushed a little at the thought of being seen by a stranger.

The doc entered and I have to admit, I liked him a lot.  He spent a lot of time just talking to me about the car accident, the disability it has caused, and what it has meant for my life.  He asked me to stand and show him how far I’m able to lift my arm and what my limitations are so he could understand.  We discussed what DD breasts do to a shoulder, and in my case, a shoulder missing ligaments, bone, tendons and a host of other shoulder necessities.  All of that, while my boobs were completely covered.

The doctor was intrigued by Twenty Four At Heart, and didn’t mind in the least when I told him I’d be writing about my experience with him.  He had a lot of questions about blogging and Internet writing.  We talked for a long, long, time.  He also measured my breasts.  And touched them.  And handled them.  But it was okay and strangely not as embarrassing or awkward as I’d worried it might be.  The actual physical exam was very short.

I had a curious urge to blurt out inappropriate things as he examined my breasts.  Like, “So are they the biggest ones you’ve ever seen?”  Or, “Aren’t they soft and pretty?”  Or, “What would you think of The Girls if you’d met them under different circumstances?”  Or, “Hey doc, have you ever had a Buttery Nipple?”

I managed to control myself and say nothing.

I wonder what thoughts were going through his head as he examined me?  Purely doctor thoughts?  Do Doctor Thoughts preclude Man Thoughts?

His hands were a little cold.

I realize a lot of you are anti-plastic surgery no matter what the situation.  I, however, have decided to have a breast reduction done.  After researching this extensively, I agree with my orthopedic surgeon and believe having a few less pounds pulling my damaged shoulder forward will lessen my pain.  I told the doc I want to get it done and over with as soon as possible.  I’ve got a busy summer planned and I don’t want to spend it recuperating.

• I will go from size DD breasts to C.
• I will have really perky breasts.  (yay!)
• I will lose a few pounds of breast tissue from my chest.
• I will be able to wear button up shirts for the first time since I was 11 years old.
• I will NOT have to hide my breasts with the clothes I select anymore.
• I will have to take a break from PT and my recovery will regress somewhat as a result.
• I will have one vertical linear scar on the underside of each breast.
• The scar should fade to a very faint white line in 6 months to a year.
• I won’t have the other scars which are traditional with an American breast reduction because this doctor doesn’t use the traditional method of surgery.
• The good news is the worst of the recovery is completed after a week, although technically it is a 4 – 6 week recovery period.  The discomfort should be mild compared to what I’ve been through with the car accident surgeries.
• The bad news is it’s a long surgery time-wise and I hate to be under anesthesia.  The doc did inform me, however, that the anesthesia used is much lighter than what was used for my intense car accident surgeries.
• I’m waiting to hear on an exact date and will let you know as this whole thing progresses.  The goal when I left was to try and get it scheduled in the next ten days so I can enjoy my summer.

Oh, and one other thing ….  I bought a box of Latisse on my way out.  They sold all sorts of skin care and cosmetic products there.  Latisse is a product (prescribed by a doctor) that you put on your eyelashes each night before bed.  It is applied just like eyeliner.  It makes eyelashes grow longer and lusher.  I figure bigger eyelashes will make up for smaller boobs.