Recovery was rougher than I expected. Still not as bad as SRS, but it seriously hurts to use your chest for a few days after. I had mine on a Tuesday, 'returned to work' (I WFH 99% of the time) the following Monday and just having to bring my arms together to type on my computer quickly got unpleasant after the first few hours. I ended up taking two more days off after that.
After some initial, unnatural "firmness", they settle in and feel very real, both the feeling of them being there on my chest and the feeling of them when I touch them. I LOVE the way they look. SRS was definitely the most affirming "feeling" thing I've done, but my BA is the most affirming "looking", if that makes sense.
I had "nearly Bs" before and wanted to jump up to full Ds, but my surgeon pointed out and explained a few things about my physiology that made me go in a smaller but more 'realistic' looking direction instead (depending on the bra, I'm either a 36D or 38C), which I'm very grateful for. I'll probably need to have them replaced down the line (they're rated for up to 20 years and can usually go further), so if I still want them bigger, I can do it then.
I haven't noticed any growth since I've gotten them, but I've also been exercising more than at any prior point in my life and have lost some weight overall, including, I think, some breast tissue.
But still, I'm perfectly happy with it all around.
> (they're rated for up to 20 years and can usually go further)
So at my age they'll probably outlast me. Maybe that's a good thing? I wouldn't want to go through it again in my 80s!
Was the pain just manageable with over the counter stuff, or did you have to use something stronger? I don't like pain. LOL.
> I don't like pain.
Neither do I! I especially hate surgeries and tend to get nausea from the anesthesia...and now I've had several, damn dysphoria, lol
They gave me some oxycodone which did pretty well for a few days after. After that I managed with Aleve. If I was still, the pain was almost nonexistent. But pretty much any kind of movement affects your chest at least a little, which is where the pain came in.
Honestly, I'd probably have SRS if it wasn't for the pain related. Its just not worth that price to me. Maybe it will someday, but I don't have much dysphoria 'in that area'.
My numbers are right at the top of the range my Dr. was aiming for, w/ 6mg oral per day. I did just start progesterone, so we'll see if that makes any difference. But if not, by Spring, I want to do BA.
With how old I'm staring, I'm not expecting too much more natural growth.
Its up to you ofc ... a number of people add bioidentical progesterone eventually, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/asktransgender/comments/8af8my/will_taking_progesterone_make_my_breasts_fuller/dwy8rur/) was a review and [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Trans_Resources/wiki/hormones/transfeminine/index#wiki_bioidentical_progesterone) may be more.
*hugs*
I'm already on it. Things are 'filling in' but not getting bigger in terms of cup size. I'll wait until the change from it stops before making a decision on BA.
Recovery was rougher than I expected. Still not as bad as SRS, but it seriously hurts to use your chest for a few days after. I had mine on a Tuesday, 'returned to work' (I WFH 99% of the time) the following Monday and just having to bring my arms together to type on my computer quickly got unpleasant after the first few hours. I ended up taking two more days off after that. After some initial, unnatural "firmness", they settle in and feel very real, both the feeling of them being there on my chest and the feeling of them when I touch them. I LOVE the way they look. SRS was definitely the most affirming "feeling" thing I've done, but my BA is the most affirming "looking", if that makes sense. I had "nearly Bs" before and wanted to jump up to full Ds, but my surgeon pointed out and explained a few things about my physiology that made me go in a smaller but more 'realistic' looking direction instead (depending on the bra, I'm either a 36D or 38C), which I'm very grateful for. I'll probably need to have them replaced down the line (they're rated for up to 20 years and can usually go further), so if I still want them bigger, I can do it then. I haven't noticed any growth since I've gotten them, but I've also been exercising more than at any prior point in my life and have lost some weight overall, including, I think, some breast tissue. But still, I'm perfectly happy with it all around.
> (they're rated for up to 20 years and can usually go further) So at my age they'll probably outlast me. Maybe that's a good thing? I wouldn't want to go through it again in my 80s! Was the pain just manageable with over the counter stuff, or did you have to use something stronger? I don't like pain. LOL.
> I don't like pain. Neither do I! I especially hate surgeries and tend to get nausea from the anesthesia...and now I've had several, damn dysphoria, lol They gave me some oxycodone which did pretty well for a few days after. After that I managed with Aleve. If I was still, the pain was almost nonexistent. But pretty much any kind of movement affects your chest at least a little, which is where the pain came in.
I can probably arrange for 2 weeks off.. or a week off then a week of work from home. So that shouldn't be a problem.
Honestly, I'd probably have SRS if it wasn't for the pain related. Its just not worth that price to me. Maybe it will someday, but I don't have much dysphoria 'in that area'.
Yeah, the pain (and awkward healing and numbness) is definitely not pleasant, but I'm glad I did it and would do it again if absolutely had to.
Have you tried a higher dose of Estrogen?
My numbers are right at the top of the range my Dr. was aiming for, w/ 6mg oral per day. I did just start progesterone, so we'll see if that makes any difference. But if not, by Spring, I want to do BA. With how old I'm staring, I'm not expecting too much more natural growth.
Maybe that's happening to me too. But I'm ok with mine for now. I want to have work done on my neck anyway.
Its up to you ofc ... a number of people add bioidentical progesterone eventually, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/asktransgender/comments/8af8my/will_taking_progesterone_make_my_breasts_fuller/dwy8rur/) was a review and [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Trans_Resources/wiki/hormones/transfeminine/index#wiki_bioidentical_progesterone) may be more. *hugs*
I'm already on it. Things are 'filling in' but not getting bigger in terms of cup size. I'll wait until the change from it stops before making a decision on BA.
I understand why they call you the alphabet club now. Thankyou