BREAST
AUGMENTATION
This is the final chapter in my
transition. When I have GSRS on April 23, 2002, I decided not to have breast
augmentation. The main reason was because I thought that after GSRS my breast
would grow naturally from a size 36 A. Well as the months past it became
obvious that my breasts were not growing. In fact they stayed exactly the same
size. So after consultations with my therapist and primary care physician on
this subject I decided to back to Montreal and have Dr Menard perform breast
augmentation.
I knew that I was very passable without this new operation but somehow I didn’t feel that I was a complete woman without having what I felt were at least average size breasts.
I started making preparations for my trip to Montreal in May and
was scheduled for surgery with Dr Menard on August 25, 2003. I was so pleased
that I was doing something that I (looking back) should have done in 2002.
I did need various lab tests to be done but beyond that I didn’t need any additional documentation, as was the case with GSRS. Below is a day-by-day journey of my surgery and periodic updates weeks after surgery.
I
took a plane from Boston to Montreal and unlike in 2002, the trip was
completely uneventful. I arrived at Dorval Airport, was pickup by the
residency’s limo driver and driven directly to the residence. At the residence
I met several pre and post ops. One thing that I didn’t do in 2002 when I was
at the residence on the two Sundays I has there was visiting the nearby Flea
Market. This time after setting in, I did get to go to the Flea Market all be
it for about 45 minutes. I didn’t buy anything but it was interesting just
looking around. Back at the residence I ate dinner, talked some more with the
girls and watch a video before going to bed. Tomorrow would be a big day for
me.
At
5am the overnight attendant at the residence wake me up. I got up and got ready
for my trip to the Hospital. I was very pleased to see that Dr Menard was going
to drive both myself and another girl (Robin from Vancouver, BC who was there
for GSRS) to the Hospital. After arriving at the Hospital I discovered that I
was the first person of the day scheduled for surgery with Dr Menard. I
completed some paperwork at the admissions desk and then finally I had my
consultation with Dr Menard about my surgery. I’d been researching breast
augmentation for months on the Internet and began peppering the good doctor
with a series of questions. He answered every one of my questions with concise,
understandable answers. My final question to him was what size would the
breasts be. For months I’ve been debating between a size B or C. He said he
would make my breasts “proportional to my body”. That sounded fine to me.
At 7:45 am I was wheeled into the OR and put under general
anesthesia. The next thing I remember was lying in a Hospital bed in my room. I
was in a state of fog. I couldn’t think clearly and drifted in and out of sleep
the rest of that day and through the night.
Nurses kept waking me up every four hours to take my pulse, blood
pressure and administered a shot of morphine.
I did have a roommate who arrived late in the
day on Monday from GSRS but we pretty much kept to ourselves. We were both in
recovery. Sometime during the late afternoon Dr Menard visited me to see how I
was doing. I told him I was fine.
I was pleased that I recognized two overnight
nurses and one of them said she actually remembered me from April 2002. Because
I didn’t have a catheter I could go to the bathroom by myself. I went three
times during the night.
There was no pain to my chest area thanks to the morphine and my
state of fog lifted by the next morning.
One problem that I knew would happen was that
all my life I slept on my stomach, Dr Menard, however, told me not to try
sleeping on my stomach for the first 15 days after surgery. Therefore, I slept on my back. This was very
uncomfortable.
Dr Menard visited me again in the morning to
see how I was. He told me he would drive me back to the residence in the late
afternoon. This was fine with me.
During the day my strength began to return
except for my chest. I eat all the Hospital meals and took walks around the
first floor hallway. The Hospital brought back so many found memories from 2002
that on one hand I didn’t want to leave but on the other I was ready to get on
with my life.
Around 4 pm Dr Menard came to my room and he
and I left the Hospital. I was extremely pleased that Dr Menard was driving me
alone back to the residence because I now had a chance to ask one of the
leading surgeons in the world any question I could think of about sex change surgery.
Believe me I didn’t waste the opportunity to act the role of a reporter. Because we were in rush hour traffic it took
about an hour to get back to the residence. In that time I learned the history
of the residence system he created, the name of the new surgeon who was coming
on board to be with Drs Menard and Bassard and Dr Menard’s future plans (He
doesn’t plan to retire for a good five more years). After the surgery this
drive was the most trilling and exciting experience I have. I was very, very happy.
Once back at the residence Dr Menard said I
could begin to wear a sports bra over the bandages. I actually had three bras
with me. All three were size 36. However, when I tried each one on I quickly
discovered that they were way to tight. I discovered very quickly that I was
now a size 38 probably a full B or small C and didn’t have anything to wear.
Olivia was a girl who lived in Montreal but was
at the residence visiting her friend who was recovering from GSRS. I had met
her on Sunday and at the Hospital on Tuesday and knew she had a car. I
approached her after dinner with the request to have her drive me to a clothing
store so I could purchase a size 38 C bra. Dr Menard said I could not walk the
two miles one way to the nearest clothing store. Diane was kind enough to tell
me she had a 38 C bra at home that she would give me the next day when she
returned.
Wednesday, August 27,2003
I had my first non-Hospital sleep in a bed
overnight on my back. I hated it. I did not have as sound a night’s sleep as I
normally do.
In the morning I began my first of three a day
quarter mile walks. Between the walks I watched some videos and talked to some
of the post-op girls. The routine was quite a bit different then in 2002. There
was no dilating, douche sessions or baths.
One of the girls asked me why I came to
Montreal for my surgery. That was a good question because I could have gone to
half a dozen physicians in the Boston area and had the same operation. The
difference, however, was that in Boston I would have had my operation, spend
two hours or so recovering and then been sent home to recover and yes suffer on
my own. In Montreal I was given two days of first class care at the Hospital
plus two more days of recovery at the residence. And yes the cost at Montreal
was less.
Olivia came through with a size 38 C bra. I
tried it on and it fit to a tee. I never thought before I came for surgery that
I would be so big but I was very, very happy about it.
Thursday, August 28, 2003
Slept a little better on my back. I also took
my first sponge bath. These types of baths are for the birds but at least I’m
clean.
Took my three a day walks, talked some more
with the girls and watched some more videos. As you might tell the residence
have a lot of first class videos.
In the afternoon Dr Menard came to see me. He
took off my bandages. He also answers a few more of my questions. I sure hope
he didn’t mind all the questions I asked him.
Then for the second time in sixteen months I
said goodbye to him. He is a wonderful man and a great surgeon.
Friday, August 29, 2003
I woke up about 6 am feeling pretty good.. I got washed, dressed and said my goodbyes.
I had spent a total of 13 days over 16 months
at the residence and I shall miss the place. Yes, there was pain and discomfort
associated with the place but it also was the place that allowed me to
covalence from the most important decision and execution of that decision in my
life.
I do not expect to ever return in person but I
will always return in memory.
Tuesday, September 8, 2003
It is now two weeks after surgery. I feel
great. The 325cc of saline in each breast makes me look huge. I know my breasts
are still swollen and I still do not have complete arm movement but otherwise I
feel I am far better off then I ever thought.
My breast had some black and blue marks right
after surgery but they are almost completely gone by now.
I am still wearing my bra 24/7; however,
tomorrow night will be the first time I can sleep without one on at night. I’ve
gotten use to sleeping on my back.
I try to walk as often as I can and I have been
doing some lifting but I try to contain myself and not overdo it. I know I
should still baby myself but I feel so normal and happy and my breasts look
great.
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
It is now four week after surgery. There is
still some swollen in the breast area. The black and blue marks are all gone
and I have long ago stopped taking any painkillers. My breasts are very firm
and they stand out straight.
I still am sleeping on my back but occasionally
try sleeping for periods of the night on my side. I’m doing OK.
I guess you can describe my breasts as like two
grapefruits. I can’t wait for the days that I will buy a push-up bra but any
type of bra with under wiring is out for six months. Some of the tighter tops
that I wear make me look down right huge. Needless to say I’m very pleased.
I’ve had no problems of any kind.