ONE YEAR post-op...Physical Therapy

My first year boobiversary was over two months ago and I've been meaning to post something since then.  The best thing I can say is that I really don't think about my surgery much anymore.  Even better, I don't stress about what I'm going to wear or where I can find a bra that fits.  Don't get me wrong....shopping for bras is still not my favorite thing in the world, but it is so nice to have more than two options.

During my one-year post-op visit with my surgeon, we discussed making an appointment for scar revision.  In earlier posts, I wrote about the folds at the ends of my scars.  After a year, they have flattened out some, but I still have extra skin on my sides.  My sides were also still quite sore.  Doc recommended that I get physical therapy before we proceed with scar revision to make sure that the underlying tissue is completely healed.

Physical therapy turned out to be even more effective than I had hoped.  I was blessed with a great therapist, and she used ultrasound and massage on the areas that were hurting me.  On my first appointment, there were spots that were painful even to light touch.  A month later, I think I was back to normal.  A bit of sensitivity was normal for me before surgery, especially over the ribs under my armpit.  Advice I would give to anyone before they have a breast reduction is to massage all your breast tissue (and surrounding areas) and take notes about sensitive spots, lumps, and whatever else is "normal" for you.  This will really help your expectations for healing after surgery.  The pain I was feeling extended a few inches beyond the end of my scars into my sides almost to my back.  This was not normal for me, and my guess is that the tissue was disrupted during all the swelling I had after surgery (maybe not having tubes wasn't so great afterall??).  I'm sure there were many factors at work since I had a lot of skin removed.  I don't understand ultrasound therapy, but it seems to have helped those areas heal.

I still massage my scar tissue after showers with a blend of jojoba and essential oils.  I find that keeping my scars moisturized feels better.  Though they don't itch anymore like they did when first healing, they can sometimes feel tight if my skin gets too dry.

When I look back over the last year, I am amazed by everything that I went through, BUT I am SO glad I did.  A huge burden has been lifted (both metaphorically AND literally!) and now I have the rest of my life to live with a little more freedom than I had before.  Sure, I still struggle with self-esteem and learning to love my post-baby body, but I definitely feel more at home in my skin.  I know that my happiness depends so much on my expectations.  I guess that leads me to some more advice that I have.  For those of us who bear a heavy burden, it is easy to get fixated on the burden itself and get fooled into thinking that life will magically be perfect after the burden is removed.  We can't forget that much will depend on our own choices and healthy expectations for those things that are out of our control.  Each day will have new struggles.  Personally, I needed the thorn removed from my paw before I could tackle a new day.  Hear me roar :-)