A long overdue blog post that I’ve debated on sharing for years. I finally feel comfortable publicly sharing all of the details around my breast augmentation I got in 2018. In full transparency, I’ve been apprehensive to share in depth details about the surgery on social (which I’ve mentioned many times) because I never want to influence others to feel like they need plastic surgery. I feel so strongly that this needs to be a personal decision not based off any external factors like societal pressure, friends or family - the list goes on.

Let me start by saying my experience was incredible; I couldn’t have imaged it being more seamless. Despite it’s popularity, this is still a serious surgery so please don’t let my experience solely dictate your decision either way. My goal is to provide transparent details and insight around the process, procedure and share all the tips that worked for me.

Whether you are planning on getting a breast augmentation or simply just considering it in the near future, please do your research and make sure that it is a decision simply for yourself and not anyone else. It’s your body, do not let people pressure or judge you either way.

PRE BOOBS

Let’s chat about leading up to the surgery - I had boobs for a hot minute in high school and college but they would fluctuate in size, at their peak they were maybe a small B but that was with the help of a good bra. They were fine and didn’t really bother me too much but I had always thought maybe I’d get a boob job when I could afford it. Fast forward to 2017 post college graduation, when I started really prioritizing my fitness routine; I was lifting way heavier, doing more strength workouts and eating far healthier than I did in college. My boobs literally evaporated. There was nothing left and I personally felt like I lost a sense of my own femininity. That’s the moment when I started really considering getting a breast augmentation - I couldn’t fill out my bras or bikinis so I would usually add in padding and I kept thinking to myself “How nice would it be to not compensate with padding?” Living in California, I’m in a sports bra, crop top or a bikini 90% of the time so I just wanted to take the work out of it. I basically wanted to trade in all the extra work for a long-term solution.

THE RESEARCH

I began booking preliminary consultations with local doctors to get a sense of what the procedure was like, the cost and just learn more about the surgery. I spent a ton of time on RealSelf and ended up just bookmarking it on my computer. I would read through verified reviews, rankings of the area's top surgeons and just gather as much free information as I could about the surgery in general. I did SO much research for about 8-10 months while I was simultaneously saving up money from every paycheck.

Typically, you have to pay a consultation fee at your initial appointment, especially if you’re seeing a highly sought after doctor, but this cost should go towards the surgery if you move forward with them. It is absolutely worth it to pay these consultation fees to see multiple doctors so you can really get a feel for their work and meet them in person. I went to three consultations before choosing Dr. Sanjay Grover in Newport Beach, CA. I remember going back and forth between two doctors - Dr. Grover was by far my number one but was also the most expensive (of course lol) so I contemplated going to the next best option who was also very qualified and slightly cheaper. At the end of the day, it came down to who I trusted the most based off their bedside manner, reviews and just the overall feel when you meet with them. I went with my gut and decided it was worth it to spend the extra money. I can’t tell you how much of a relief it is the days leading up to the surgery, knowing you fully trust your doctor as well as their staff, nurses and anesthesiologist.

THE MONEY HONEY

The cost of the surgery varies based on location and doctor but on average it was around $8-11k in OC back in 2018. Plastic surgeons offer various payment options including financing with affordable monthly payments. I looked into this and think it can be a really great option - many people I know have gone this route. I ultimately decided that I wanted to just write a check and be done with it. I had been saving for almost a year and honestly felt like a baller walking into the office handing them a fat check for new boobs lmao. I paid for this surgery all by myself and it felt like an accomplishment. I wanted to go into it being excited and with no financial burden post operation. Totally a personal preference but I’m really glad I paid in full prior to the surgery.

CHAMELEON BOOBS - SIZE, SHAPE & LOOK

Anyway, let’s get down to the procedure details. I always tell people that my goal was to get chameleon boobs - like they can look BIG if I wear the right bra but I can also tuck them away and no one would know. “Does she have a boob job or does she not? I’m not sure?” is the look I was going for. The doctor and I decided on 345 CC Silicone Gummy Bear Implant with an inframammary incision under the muscle.

Size and CC look different on everyone so you need to talk through the look you are really going for. 345 CC can look like a B on one person and a D on someone else since it’s do dependent on your bone structure, body type, etc. My doctor used a 3D simulation machine that created a realistic prediction of what they would look like which was really helpful and surprisingly accurate. Silicone tends to look and feel more natural, which is why I decided on that instead of saline.

From my experience, a great plastic surgeon will be very honest with you and provide consultative feedback around the look you’re going for. This is definitely not a one size fits all procedure so it is crucial to talk through all possible options, pros and cons, etc.

HOW I PREPPED

I prepped hardcore for this. I can’t be entirely sure, but I’m convinced my diligent prep is what helped me with such a speedy recovery. I stopped taking all medications a month prior to surgery not even Advil. I refrained from eating any processed foods, refined sugar and alcohol for 30 days prior as well. I really prioritized exercising and essentially had the mindset of training my body to be in its best physical and mental shape going into the surgery. I wanted to be the healthiest version of myself walking into that hospital.

The doctor will give you a whole breakdown of the do’s and dont’s leading up to the surgery. You must follow all of this to a tee. Be sure to pick up all of your medications a head of time as well.

PROCEDURE + RECOVERY

The procedure was around 7am in the morning and took a couple hours. I was extremely nervous the morning of since it was my first time going under the knife. Once I got to the the hospital I met with the Doctor to ease some of the nerves, got anesthesia and next thing I knew I woke up with boobs.

The recovery was a cake walk for me. You basically just lay in bed sitting upright and take it easy. From leaving the hospital to all of my follow up appointments, everything went smoothly. There were a few times I was in pain but it was mostly just the first morning after. I got my surgery on a Thursday and was at Fashion Island shopping for shoes with my mom on Friday evening. I went back to work the following Monday (desk job so not much arm movement required). Don’t get me wrong, I was definitely in pain and my range of movement was limited but it really wasn’t bad. It is crucial that you have someone taking care of you for a week or so after the surgery as it’s nearly impossible to lift your arms - think brushing your teeth, washing your hair - you definitely need help from someone to do some mundane tasks.

WORKOUT ROUTINE

In terms of getting back to my workout routine, I started going on walks after a week, doing low impact workouts after about 3 weeks and was back to the gym in 6 weeks or so. It took me a while longer to feel 100% comfortable with upper body and chest workouts again. However, my mobility and form with push ups is still a bit challenging even today.

3 months post-op

This photo was taken about three months post surgery for reference.

I hope this was helpful. I know it’s a ton of information but I would rather overshare my experience so it is relevant and can hopefully help you in your decision or the procedure itself.

As always, let me know if you have any questions. Here to help!

Xo, Jo

*We are in no way affiliated with this Doctor and are not receiving any compensation in exchange for sharing his information. All information and opinions are our own based purely on personal experience.