Angel Rodriguez

READ PART 1 HERE

So you know those lines they draw on the people on those surgical shows where they are going make the incisions? Totally… true. They do that. With rulers and a sharpie.

You’d think it would be something more official. And then you’re knocked out for a few hours (in my case, four) and you wake up and you’re confused as to why parts of your body have been neatly hacked off.

The nurses understand. They give you the comfort that you need, in the form of graham crackers and ginger ale. They give you ice water and let you sleep some of the anesthesia off. Then they help you get dressed, put you in a wheelchair and escort you to your car as if you’re Drake after his knee injury.

Now you’re going to sleep sitting up. For a long time. I’ve been recovering for a week, and I’m still sitting up. It’s annoying and my butt hurts. Luckily you’re going to have a little help! In the form of really strong painkillers and antibiotics. You’re pretty much going to sleep for three days, if not more. Do not make plans. I repeat, DO NOT MAKE PLANS. Even going to the bathroom and getting back in bed is going to exhaust you.

Oh, and another unpleasant thing that happens with a lot of people who have breast reductions- sometimes they put drains to catch the extra fluid that will be leaking from your chest (yes, gross, I know.) In my case, the drains went through a hole through my armpits. They are usually removed between 24 – 48 hours, and they have to be emptied. They aren’t painful (you have pills for that!) just awkward.

One of the side effects I experienced with the painkillers was loss of appetite. My mother made sure I still ate, but I did manage to lose some weight over the past week. My diet consisted of a lot of fiber (because sometimes the painkillers stop you up, if you know what I mean) and lots of fluids.

After a while you take a shower with some liquid anti-bacterial soap (bars leave too much soap scum), when you feel strong enough. The catch is, you have to make sure you don’t lift your arms. That will hurt. Also, you have to make sure you don’t face the water because it will be too much pressure on your new breasts.

The doctor might give you a special bra to use, but after a while you can start wearing other bras, just make sure you use some padding to protect the incisions if it has underwire. Once you have more energy, you’ll start trying on all your clothes and realize that things fit better, that you look more proportioned. And you’ll realize that your back has never felt better.

It takes a while to get used to the changes. You will look in the mirror and barely recognize yourself. It will take some getting used to. But most people are happy with the change, myself included. It’s the same me, just new and improved, and with cuter bras! I hope Victoria’s Secret has a sale soon…