Rhonda’s Story
by Rhonda
February Contest Winner

In 1998, I made a decision to have a gastric bypass. I weighed an astonishing 407 lbs. Five years later after a 247 lb weight loss, I decided that I needed to reconstruct myself into a woman of my age.

I decided on a tummy tuck and breast augmentation and I used BreastImplants411 to help me locate several physicians who I consulted with. I used it as a tool to educate myself on the types of implants and the types of procedures. I decided to have the tummy tuck first, followed two months later by the augmentation.

On July 15, 2003 I had an augmentation and a lift with 700cc of silicone from Mentor. My breast shape and size make my body appear incredibly symmetric. My surgeon Mark Kobayashi at the University of California Irvine Medical Center in Orange is incredibly brilliant and talented and sweeter than any candy ever invented. I received the most wonderful nursing care both pre-op and post op from UCI.

My scars will be minimal and they are perfectly shaped and placed. My pain was minimal and I took pain medication for only three days. I never had to apply ice to my breasts, never cried from the discomfort and my breast implants dropped into the correct place within three weeks.

I am incredibly pleased with the procedure, and I feel that after loosing all the weight I am finally looking like the woman I always wanted to be! Dr. Kobayashi has really changed my life. My self esteem is much better and clothes made for my size actually fit me all over instead of being baggy at the top.

A friend that has not seen me in many years ran into me recently and he said, “Wow, have the years been good to you!” Because the proportions are so symmetric, people who look at me cannot tell that they are not the breasts that nature blessed me with; they look and feel very natural.

I did not base my decision on a surgeon because on the price of the procedure, or the photos in a book. I based it on his qualifications and the fact that he assured me that he is a perfectionist and guaranteed me I would look and feel incredible.

I look as beautiful on the outside as I have always been on the inside. I feel now my physical appearance matches all of my spiritual and emotional attributes. Dr Kobayashi knows his business, and he more than surpassed my expectations.

Rhonda