Look at my boobs and tell me what you think.
Unbuckling my bra, I stand before her, totally exposed.
What are you talking about?
Kayla Johnson/Stocksy
After years of self-critiquing, I wasnt convinced.
Those with breasts that align with this archetype may consider their boobs a source of #freethenipple empowerment.
Some have embraced a kind of it-is-what-it-is booby ambivalence.
This dress was impossible for me to wear without a bra before, now they sit perfectly without any support.
Its coincided with the arrival ofOzempic, forcing womenand myselfinto the same societally-constructed conundrum.
Small, saggy breasts brought on by weight loss?
I dont want implants.
I just want a lift.
We’re forced into a societally-constructed conundrum.
Small, saggy breasts brought on by weight loss?
The more weight someone losesand the quicker they lose itthe more impact that has on the skin.
When I first consulted with Dr. Rowe for abreast lift, he sketched the anchor-like incision required.
This would not create cleavage or add fullness.
For that, he emphasized, you need an implant.
(Upper poles is how plastic surgeons refer to the breast tissue above the nipple.)
Patients often come in without realizing the limitation of a breast lift, says Dr. Rowe.
There is a misconception among patients of what a lift is.
I fit into the latter group, or so I thought.
Like Dr. Rowe, I was struggling to understand my expectations.
Due to their generally higher placement, my nipples would be raised only an inch.
Was it worth going through all of this, just for slightly smaller tits with slightly higher nipples?
Would I be satisfied with, well, a slight difference?
This was also plaguing Dr. Rowe, who responded to my initial consultation with multiple surgical plans.
Was it worth going through all of this, just for slightly smaller tits with slightly higher nipples?
Would I be satisfied?
Still, the promise of built-in cleavage was tempting.
I wanted to go braless without insecurity.
Wear plunging dresses without experimenting with endless sticky cutlets.
I didnt want to tug up my breasts in tight tops.
My heart just wasnt in the implants.
Thats where Galaflex came in.
Think of it as a hammock, says Dr. Rowe.
It goes underneath the implant [around existing breast tissue] and keeps it from descending over time.
You have your own sling.
While the internal bra itself is gone, its impact remains.
While I was assured the results of an internal bra are not permanentDr.
The first several days require heavy reliance on another person.
Through my tears, I revealed my new, bruised breasts to Dr. Rowe.
Upon inspecting his work, the surgeon concluded he was very happy with the results.
You’re trying to make their soul better, he explains of cosmetic surgery.
And sometimes to them, it’s life and death.
Honestly, down deep, I’m a fixer.
Seeing a problem and getting a solution, a good solution, it’s gratifying.
I didnt look at my breasts for the first weeka mostly unconscious choice.
For as long as I remember, I have avoided looking at my breasts entirely.
Eight days after surgery, I unzipped my surgical bra and inspected the result for the first time.
The anchor-shaped incision was sutured with almost invisible stitches.
I was looking at boobs I had only seen on screen, or on my most genetically-blessed friends.
I turn away from the mirror.
The change might seem slight to some, but to me, mastopexy had made a world of difference.
Tell me what you think, I say to my boyfriend.
Theyre perfect, he responds.
This time, I believed the beholder.
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