Altine

Why did you want your procedure?

I was confident in myself, however I felt like I couldn’t dress how I liked because my boobs were not the size I wanted. I also found that I was constantly wearing padded bras and when I went clothes shopping, I would always base my outfits on clothing I know I can fit a bra under which was frustrating at times. They also shrunk after I had a child and I found myself comparing my body to others more so I knew I had to do something about it.

Why is being Body honest important to you?

Being body honest is important to me now more than ever living in a world of social media where there are so many unrealistic expectations set on how you should look and what the standard of beauty is. I think sharing my story and results is a great way for people to see how a 30+-year-old working mum changed her life for herself for the better, and the positivity that came after that. My confidence excelled following my procedure and it pushes me to also want to stay in shape by going to the gym and that boosts my mental and physical health. I have had times where it’s not being the case, but being body honest is also part of that journey which is great for people to see.

How was your consultation with your surgeon?

The consultation with my surgeon was great. He (Dr Mahdi) was straight to the point about what he could achieve with my physic and what would look good for me. He explained what CCs were and the difference between over the muscle, partially and under. He explained the different implants and what he wanted to use, and I had a list of questions that he was more than happy to answer, and he didn’t make me feel like I was asking anything stupid.

How did you prepare for surgery?

 I prepared by braiding my hair so I didn’t have to think about it, I brought button up and zip tops so I can change without having to lift my arms. I had two Macom bras that I could switch between while I healed. I had a pregnancy pillow which helped. I stayed with family so I can be looked after and booked two weeks off work to aid recovery. I made sure my room was stocked with snacks and drinks so I didn’t have to move all the time.

How was your recovery?

My recovery was fairly straightforward. It took probably three months before I felt like myself. The first week was painful, the second week was more aches rather than pain and then if I moved suddenly in the third and for a few weeks after that I had pain, but I did not take pain medication so it was manageable. I used the pregnancy pillow for about a month when sleeping as I found this comfortable while initially healing. I wore the Macom bra religiously for probably the first three months and I continued to wear it to bed until my boobs were around 6 or 7 months.

What advice would you give someone looking into having the same procedure as you?

• Research – It’s important to have a good set of opinions from surgeons, and those who have had the procedure so that you’re making an informed decision before going ahead.

•  Do it for you – I can’t stress this enough. Don’t have the surgery so that the person you like will value you more/change their opinion on how they feel about you. Putting that pressure on yourself will not help, and you may live to regret it.

• Patience – It wakes a while to heal, for your boobs to drop and fluff and for you to resume normal activities. It took me about 3 months before I felt like I could do as I wanted without the niggling pains and everything that comes along with having surgery. You have to adjust mentally to your new body, and you’ll love it when you’re healed.  

• Boob envy can is real! You will look at someone else’s results and think why don’t mine look like that but everybody’s body is different and results will vary even if you have the same CC as someone else.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions and also be excited. You’re not bad or seeking attention for wanting bigger boobs, if it’s going to make you happy and boost your confidence, go for it! Even if you are doing it for attention, it’s still for you anyways so forget the haters!

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