Ellen’s Story
by Ellen
September '05 contest winner

I had my first child in 1981 at the ripe old age of 20. I ate everything in sight while pregnant and went from 98lbs to a whopping 165lbs! My breasts had grown quite huge, much to my husband’s pleasure and stayed that way for a couple of months after the birth. I decided to lose weight and started running and doing aerobics. I went back down to my pre-pregnancy weight within 6 months! Needless to say my breasts lost weight too and ended up looking like two very sad wet socks! I was devastated and read books on how to build up your boobs but nothing worked.

I tried not to think about them and considered my appearance permanent as there was nothing that could be done. It really affected my sex life with my husband, as I felt so unattractive. He never once complained and always told me I was beautiful no matter what.

Still it was with me whenever I took of my clothes or he touched me.

Three more children later and 23 years married, I started investigating what to do, as I was miserable this way. I stumbled onto the "Breast Impants 411" web site and read every story and looked at all the before and after pictures. I decided that I really wanted to do something, but I didn't know if my husband would approve.

The last straw came when I went to visit my husband in Hawaii. He is in the military and had a week off so I flew to be with him for New Year 2004. I had been working out at the gym and felt pretty good. I found a bikini with gel cups and it gave me a "boost" where I had none before!

We had a great time and my husband took lots of pictures of me saying he was so proud of me and I looked gorgeous. When we got the pictures developed, we looked at one of me in my bikini. Something was hanging down under the cup. I realized that it was my boob! It had slid under the cup and was hanging down. It looked so gross I just burst into tears and said "That’s it! I want these things fixed"!

My husband was so supportive and when he came back from deployment we both went to visit several plastic surgeons in our area. After much research and interviews we both decided on Dr. Richard Baxter, a plastic surgeon in Mountlake Terrace near Seattle. (His web site is www.baxterplasticsurgery.com) . He was very attentive and professional and his staff made me feel very much at ease.

I was still scared though and I wanted to actually talk to someone who had this surgery, so I talked to Dr. Baxter’s nurse and she put me in touch with a woman who had the very same surgery by Dr. Baxter during the previous year. We met at his office and discussed all my hopes and fears. Then she showed me her new breasts and I was sold! They were beautiful!

I decided to have the surgery done on May 27th 2004. My husband would be out at sea again and I would have no family around me (they all live in Scotland), but I was determined to do it and with my children in their late teens and 20's I was confident that I would be okay. There were some negative responses from friends but once I showed them why I wanted to do this they realized that why I was doing this was not out of vanity, but that I just wanted to look normal again.

Well May 27th came and I had my surgery. Dr. Baxter and I had decided on a Benelli lift along with the implants, as my breasts had been stretched with all the pregnancies and would not look good with just implants. I chose Saline implants, high profiles filled to 425cc's on both sides. I wanted to be at least a full C cup.

I had never had surgery before so I was terrified. A good friend on mine who is also a nurse came with me on my surgery day and helped calm my fears. She was also with me after surgery when I came home for the first week, which was a godsend.

I don't remember anything after I went under. I woke up at home and since Dr. Baxter had placed a "pain pump" in for the first couple of days it took the edge off the pain. By the 3rd day, the pain pump had to come out and then that’s when I felt everything! I was on an emotional rollercoaster for the first couple of weeks wondering if I had made the right choice and I missed my husband so badly.

As the days went by I felt the pain less and less. At about 7 days I had my stitches out and was relieved to see very little scarring. Dr. Baxter applied tape around the areola to keep scarring at a minimum. My breasts were very full and still a little high, but Dr. Baxter assured me that they would drop and soften in the next coming months. I had gone from a droopy 34A to a perky and very full 34D!!

I went to see my husband for our 24th anniversary while he was stationed in Norfolk, VA. It was July and I couldn't wait to show him how I looked in my new bikini! He was blown away! I was happy that he was happy. We had a wonderful time.

Well it's just over a year later. My breasts are beautiful and I have so much more self confidence. Our sex life has heated up as I am no longer hiding my breasts anymore!

We celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary in Scotland this year. We invited all of my old school friends and family. I was able to wear a beautiful low cut dress, no bra or gel inserts needed! The night was one to remember, as friends I hadn't seen for years were telling me that I looked hot and what was my secret to looking so youthful! One guy (an old boyfriend) said I looked like a Movie star!

The highlight though was when my husband sang to me. He had never done that before and especially in front of so many people. The whole room was in tears!

I have continued working out at the gym and have been training with a personal trainer for the past 6 months. I will be entering my first figure competition in April next year in Vancouver, WA, which is something I never dreamed I would ever be able to do. I am also studying to be a personal trainer, as I want to help others reach for their dreams too.

This surgery truly changed my life and I am so glad I made the decision to go for it. I figured after having 4 children and dedicating my life to them for 24 years that it was my time to shine!

Thank you to Dr. Baxter his staff, my husband and all my friends and family who supported me through this very important life decision. Also thank you to Breast Implants 411 for all your very valuable and much needed information. I couldn't have done this without you!