If you’ve been following along over on Instagram Stories, you know that back in May, I opted to get a breast augmentation with the folks at Bruno | Brown Plastic Surgery. And so far, I am 100% happy with this decision! My body changed pretty drastically after gaining 20 pounds over the last year, and this is something I’ve been contemplating for a while now.
A full disclaimer before I dive into this post: if you’re considering plastic surgery, you should do it for you and only you. There’s no need to try to conform to society’s unrealistic standards of beauty! However, if you believe that undergoing a cosmetic procedure will improve your self-esteem and self-confidence, then by all means: go for it.
Today, I’m going to break down some of the most frequently asked questions about my breast augmentation experience with Bruno | Brown Plastic Surgery. And also, share a before and after, so make sure to keep reading!
Me at my final post-op appointment
Why’d You Do your Breast Augmentation?
After I gained weight this past year, my body has been a little out of whack. I’m not going to lie: the weight gain initially took a toll on my self-esteem. But over time, I started to embrace my new shape. I went up a couple of sizes, and I had to rebuild my wardrobe. This spring, I had a breakthrough, and finally just took all of my size two pieces to my local consignment shop, and started to love my new curves.
However, one unexpected result of my weight gain? My breasts were two different sizes. As much as I preached body positivity, this is one thing that drove me crazy, day after day. And to be completely candid, I am carrying most of my weight in my stomach and thighs, and I didn’t love the way I looked in clothes. I wanted to even out the size of my breasts, and I also opted to go a bit larger.
How Did You Decide to Go with Bruno | Brown Plastic Surgery for your Breast Augmentation?
The folks at Bruno|Brown reached out to me last fall for a potential collaboration. I’m going to be completely candid: I took me a while to respond. I wanted to do my homework and make sure that I was partnering with someone reputable.
When I was researching, I read dozens of reviews online and in local magazines, and I ensured that the surgeons were board-certified and asked the doctors about their experience with breast augmentation. If you’re thinking about getting any type of cosmetic procedure done, make sure to ask your doctor(s) how many years of experience they have, how they trained for the procedure, and how many times they’ve performed said procedure.
I had three pre-op office visits before the surgery and was able to get a feel for the staff and the office environment, and I loved how friendly and helpful everyone was. I also loved that the doctors and staff were always available to answer any questions I had. I felt like they prepared me very well for the surgery, and I knew what to expect. After the surgery, both doctors were on call to assist in any way necessary. I had my surgery right before Memorial Day Weekend, and both doctors called to check in on me throughout the weekend — even though it was a holiday. I called them at 8:30 AM on a Saturday since I had a question about medication, and I was able to get an instant response. I was shocked!
It’s also essential to learn where your surgery will be taking place. During my second visit, I learned that my procedure would take place at Sibley Memorial Hospital, which is owned and operated by Johns Hopkins Medicine. Everyone in the D.C./Baltimore area knows that Johns Hopkins’ facilities are some of the best in the area, so I knew that my procedure would be done in a safe, clean environment. Bruno|Brown also have hospital privileges at Suburban Hospital, INOVA Fairfax and Fair Oaks Hospitals, and Baltimore Washington Medical Center.
Overall, I loved my experience with Dr. Bruno and Dr. Brown, and I couldn’t imagine going with any other plastic surgeon in the area. The doctors are incredibly experienced, the staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and the whole experience was flawless. If you’re looking into getting any type of plastic surgery in the area, Bruno|Brown Plastic Surgery would be your best bet. They also offer a wide range of non-invasive procedures as well, including Botox, dermal fillers, laser skin resurfacing, SculpSure, and more.
What Did your Breast Augmentation Cost with Bruno | Brown Plastic Sugery?
The total cost of my procedure was $7,300. This is pretty average for the D.C. area. However, the average price for breast augmentation varies depending on what market you live in.
A breakdown of the cost: the breast augmentation was $5,560, the facility (hospital) fee was $1090, and the anesthesia fee was $650. I paid for 1.5 hours of hospital time, but since my procedure only took an hour, I was refunded a portion of the facility fee. Full disclaimer: Bruno|Brown covered the cost of the breast augmentation in exchange for this review. I paid the facility and anesthesia fees on my own!
What Size Implants Did You Go For?
With the help of Dr. Bruno and Dr. Brown, I decided to get a 250cc implant on the left, and a 220cc implant on the right to even out the size of my breasts. I also opted for a silicone implant based on their recommendation. I went from a 34C to a 34DD.
I was able to try on a bra with the implants in the office to get an idea of what size I preferred. I knew I wanted relatively small implants, but I tried a range of sizes. It was great to try on the bra and know exactly what size I’d end up with!
I know…I look great in this photo, right?
What Was the Breast Augmentation Surgery and Recovery Like?
I had an outpatient procedure at Sibley Memorial Hospital on May 23. The hospital called me so I could pre-register and pay all of my hospital fees before my visit, so the check-in process was a breeze. The receptionist verified the info I had on file, and then I was escorted to the back to change and get prepped.
I ran into no issues, so my procedure only took an hour. They gave me some medication before the surgery to help with the pain, and I honestly felt fine for the rest of the day. They encourage you to get up and walking after the surgery, to a certain extent. I managed to walk over to my apartment’s clubhouse and watch Tom grill some burgers the day of the operation.
Day two, I needed to take some medication to help with the discomfort. I wouldn’t say that I was in a ton of pain; my body was adjusting to the extra weight in front. The doctors told me to remove the surgical bra and wrap the second day and get into an underwire bra. I had to wear an underwire bra around the clock for a few days, and I was pretty swollen for the week after surgery. After four days, I was able to walk around normally and without any issues.
A week later, I had my first post-op appointment. Everything looked great, and the pain was minimal by this point. Four weeks after the surgery, I was cleared to do pretty much everything: exercise, hiking, swimming, you name it! I thought the recovery process was a breeze, and my scars have healed up very nicely!
I had a second post-op appointment last week (6 weeks after the surgery), and I have another post-op visit planned in December. After that, Dr. Bruno and Dr. Brown just asked that I come in once a year to make sure everything is still ok with the implants.
Breast Augmentation Before vs. After
Would You Do your Breast Augmentation Again at Bruno | Brown Plastic Surgery?
100%. I have zero regrets! I know that I chose the best plastic surgeon in the area, and the entire experience was seamless. I’m thrilled with the result, and I think the size I chose fits me perfectly. Since it wasn’t a drastic change, I can still fit into most of the clothes that I own without issue!
Do you have any other breast augmentation questions? Let me know in the comments below!
Thank you to Bruno | Brown for partnering with me on today’s breast augmentation experience post! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Photos by Tom McGovern
