Considering Plastic Surgery
Michelle, a 26 year old teacher, had been unhappy with her small, drooping breasts for a long time. "I always hated my breasts," she recalls, "they were small and tubular - I never felt comfortable taking my shirt off." She tried everything to enhance her breasts, including silicone padding - sometimes called "chicken cutlets" - and doubling up on padded bras. Ultimately, she still felt uncomfortable and resorted to wearing baggier, less revealing tops.
When her cousin started thinking about breast enlargement/augmentation on Long Island, Michelle told her "If you do it, I'll do it!" Michelle's cousin scheduled a consultation with Dr. James Romanelli, and Michelle went with her for support and to gather information. After carefully considering her options, Michelle's cousin scheduled her surgery.
Making an Informed Choice
Seeing her cousin's results solidified Michelle's decision to undergo breast enhancement in New York. She went for a consultation with a plastic surgeon that was recommended to her, and waited over two hours before being seen. This consultation did not inspire confidence, but Michelle had a more positive experience when she met with Dr. Romanelli. He took time to answer her questions and he went over implant options on Long Island thoroughly.
Michelle ultimately chose saline-filled implants that would take her from an "almost B" cup to a full C cup. Although she knows that silicone gel filled implants are safer and more reliable than ever before, she was most comfortable with saline. "I wear contacts, so I use saline in my eyes all the time. If it's safe for my eyes, I feel comfortable putting it in my body."
Through her consultation with Dr. Romanelli, she also decided to undergo a breast lift on Long Island to elevate her breasts, which had begun to sag. Since she had only a small degree of sagging, she was able to have a "donut" lift, which removes a small circle of tissue from around the nipple. Through this procedure, Michelle also had her areolas - which she felt were too large - made smaller.
Surgery, Recovery, and Results
On the day of her surgery, Michelle was a little bit nervous. Her sister drove her to Dr. Romanelli's office, where surgeries are performed in his on-site surgical suite. Michelle was relieved that she could undergo her breast enhancement in New York in a more private, intimate setting, rather than in a hospital environment. She recalls that chatting with the nurses and Dr. Romanelli helped her to relax before undergoing general anesthesia, and before she knew it, she was waking up after her surgery.
"When I woke up, I felt pressure on my chest, and I was a little nauseous from the anesthesia," recalls Michelle. Her sister took her home, where she slept for the majority of the day. She took prescription pain medication to manage her discomfort, but found that she could do without it after just a day or so. She felt what she describes as "pressure" on her chest for 3 or 4 days, and says that for her, the biggest problem was trying to sleep, since she normally sleeps on her stomach.
Michelle returned to work after only 3 or 4 days, without anyone suspecting that she had undergone breast augmentation. "I had been wearing baggy clothes and padded bras, so no one could tell at work." She kept her decision to have plastic surgery private, only telling her closest friends and loved ones. Those close to Michelle have noticed, though, that she looks and feels more self-assured.
"I absolutely feel more confident," says Michelle, who admits to changes in her wardrobe and lifestyle. "I love shopping for tops now, and not having to wear a bra!" And, after her breast augmentation in April, Michelle was ready to show off her enhanced figure just in time for summer.
Advice to Others
Michelle is very satisfied with her breast enlargement overall, which she attributes to the information gathering that she did ahead of time. Having consultations with different surgeons helped Michelle to make comparisons and weigh her options. She says that she would advise other women to do the same: "Do the research, and find out if the surgeon and the procedure is the right fit for you." This preparation helped Michelle to have a positive experience that has changed her life for the better.
