Nicole: The Days Before My Breast Augmentation
Surgery
I scheduled my surgery for a Wednesday morning, January 28, 1998, at
7:00 a.m. so that I would be the doctor’s first case. Coincidentally, one of my
cousins had already had her surgery on Monday of that week and was coming in the day of my
surgery to have her bandages removed.
My other cousin scheduled her surgery the same day as me, right
after mine. I decided to get a C cup. My doctor thought I could carry this well. I am
5’4" tall, about 115 lbs. in shape and wear a size 5. I was sure this was a good
switch because I was a 34A and wanted a very full chest. Nothing like a go-go dancer or
Pamela Lee - but a nice chest.
For days and weeks before the surgery, I agonized over whether
getting breast implants was the right thing to do.
Am I crazy to take this risk? Am I crazy to be so vain? You, too
have probably asked yourself all of these questions.
In the end, I decided that I knew all of the risks and could live
with them.
People take risks when they smoke, drink, drive, fly, etc. The
really big exposure of the risks of this surgery are so high-profile because it is a
voluntary procedure done for reasons of vanity and because of its sexual connotation.
Given the high risks of driving and flying in planes, you would
expect people all over to be trumpeting the dangers. They don’t because
transportation is a "necessary" evil. For those who don’t understand how
you and I feel (or felt) about ourselves, cosmetic surgery is not necessary and therefore,
the risks are not reasonable.
Weigh the benefits to you against the risks you perceive as being
true and likely risks; then decide. I resolved that I wasn't going to try on another
bathing suit, formal dress or tank top and feel embarrassed or masculine.
And that was that.
