Why is augmentation taboo when it takes care of Pain?

by ajohnson | Jul 2, 2019 | Blog, Health

Sometimes things in life should have to be explained as much as they do.

Alas, here I am going to explain one of the taboo topics that are usually only standard operating procedure in Hollywood, not small town USA.

My decision to get a breast reduction and lift without getting an implant as well.

Why is augmentation taboo when it takes care of Pain?

Now, this may seem like an everyday thing where I live now, but people I know from back home, don’t seem to understand the need or reason behind it. So here goes.

All of my life, I’ve had big boobs. In 6th grade was the last time I was smaller than a C cup. No matter what diet or exercise plan I went on, they never got smaller. They were big, never fit into anything. And I always felt so self consciously about them. And that’s not even mentioning the pain that can cause on your body. I could have washboard abs and toned and shaped everything. But because I has such large breasts my back and neck always had ‘knots’ in them.

When I got pregnant, I would balloon, literally. And with both of my pregnancies my sciatic nerve would cause so much discomfort and pain that I ended up at the chiropractors office at minimum 2 times a week just so I could walk. My body didn’t do well with all the extra volume and weight.

After pregnancy and nursing both of the girls, the girls were just sad and putting new pressure in different spots of my body. My pain moved from the top of my shoulders to the middle of my back and was constant. I could never get an adjustment from the chiropractor to stay longer than a day or so.

Now, I was not a huge size by any means, I was a size that some people get implants to achieve.

But my size 34 DDD (or at least that’s what they measured me at at Victoria’s Secret) wasn’t fitting into the cute, barely-there bras that are so popular today. And I had a hard time finding something not requiring special order or that would make my boobs super pointy instead of rounded and normal.

I would overflow in all of my bras and have what I call fluff when wearing shirts — you know the extra boob that hangs out on the sides of the bra and looks funny in a t shirt? Always had that and always felt uncomfortable and not confident in myself. I found myself not being me anymore. I would buy baggier and baggier clothing that was clearly the wrong size for me, just in case I would look like I was falling out up top.

Without a bra, I literally had zero midsection..

The girls would sag so low I didn’t know if my abs or stomach existed. And for someone who puts in the work, I’d like to see the results. I felt like I was in my 60s and gravity wasn’t being nice to me. I didn’t want to wear a swim suit or go on vacation — which I love a good beach vacation any day of the week.

It was affecting the interactions I have with my girls. I literally wouldn’t go swimming with them. And I know that raising girls to be confident in their own skin basically felt like a lie because I didn’t myself.

I expressed all of these concerns to Steve and even went to consultations without him because I knew that if I wanted something, I was the first person I’d have to convince to do it.

Getting over the fear of the needle for the IV was the biggest hurdle. The rest was a piece of cake.

As a guy, Steve wanted them to be bigger and stay bigger. But because he loves and supports me, he agreed to let me get the reduction and lift. Mostly because he knew I’d never stop talking about it until it was done.. but because he knew/knows how much pain my body was having and would have to rub the knots out when they got so bad.

A huge piece of advice is to go with your gut when choosing a surgeon.

I first met with a male doctor in this fancy office and they gave me a gift bag, showed me the movie about what procedure I was wanting (probably first mistake for someone who doesn’t want to know anything when it comes to needles and such), and tried to wow me. But then didn’t listen to my concerns and tried to push an implant in addition to a lift and reduction. As well as literally making me only ONE size smaller.

He was one of the best in the valley and came highly referred by all the reviews and people who wanted bigger, perkier breasts.

Then somewhere out of the blue, this other female surgeon started following me on Instagram and was showing the process on her page and seemed like an actual person behind all of the medical terms. I sent her page a message and she asked me to call and ask for the gals who would set up a consult.

When I went in for the consult, I mentioned that I only had 15 minutes because I forgot Leila had a half day. So I needed to pick her up. The doctor came direct from surgery because she knew how important meeting with a potential patient was. And honestly, I appreciated it more than she will know.

In that 15 minutes, she did an exam, answered all my questions, brought up concerns I didn’t know I had. And assured me that she was the surgeon for me, without me telling her so.

I related to her on a personal level because we have girls close in age. She was a working mom. And she is on a mission to help women live a better life and gives back by mentoring and providing a scholarship to women in scientific majors.

From the time I met with Dr. Patti Flint the first time for a consult to the date of my surgery, it was less than a month give or take a few days.

She made me feel comfortable and heard from the moment I was in her care. And her staff is amazing, which makes the rest of the process incredible.

When I was in the office with the first doctor, I felt icky and that I didn’t belong. I felt shame. I felt wrong for being there. And when I met the doctor, the shame and guilt continued. The longer I sat in his office and consult with him, the more I felt I needed more things done to my body. Which I don’t and didn’t and Dr. Flint confirmed that for me as well.

If you take anything from this, know that my experience was way better with a female as my doctor. But you may feel more comfortable with a male. Just listen to your body and what your gut is telling you during the whole process. Every experience is different and knowing what you want going into the consult/procedure and standing by that will help so so much in the process.

I had someone tell me I should just go to Hollywood and get the surgery by one of the well known doctors out there, which I’ve seen on tv. My gut and heart were telling me no and I’m so glad I listened to them instead.

Don’t give up on you. You are the only one who can advocate and truly know how and what you are feeling.

If you are considering a reduction/lift or any other procedure and have questions, I’d be happy to answer them for you or point you in the direction of my surgeon if you’d like. She is happy to answer questions and help educate.

You can research Dr. Patti Flint here: Instagram, Website