Patient Stories

I think everyone who has a small or no bust at all has wished at some point that they had bigger breasts. I have always had a small bust. On a good day, I could barely fill an A cup.

I’ve never had trouble finding boyfriends, nor has this ever affected my mental well-being. It wasn’t external pressure that made me want to enhance my breasts, either.

I simply like well-shaped, nicely proportioned breasts. I can’t say I’ve always wanted surgery—I wasn’t always aware that it was an option. When breast augmentation started getting media attention, I began to toy with the idea, but I never took it seriously enough to consider surgery. My initial reaction was, “Sure, the breasts get bigger, but what about the risks? The cost? And what will everyone else think of me?”

However, the thoughts kept growing stronger, and I became somewhat fixated on breasts. I constantly talked about breasts with my friends, asked them about their sizes, and looked at other women to see what was considered “normal.” Still, I didn’t quite dare to openly say that I wanted surgery. I thought it would somehow make me seem weak, as if I’d given in to vanity. I was afraid it would change how people saw me.

I had also always been the one to criticize people who had surgery. When Baywatch was on, my usual comment was, “I could look like that too if I had the money and was willing to have surgery—but I’m not that crazy.” So it felt a bit hypocritical to criticize women with implants and then go get them myself!
Still, I began to systematically read every magazine I could find to get a balanced perspective. Anytime there was a segment on TV about it, I’d be glued to the screen. Eventually, I asked myself if I was serious about these thoughts, and I finally realized I was. Many different thoughts and events ultimately led me to want breast augmentation, but two were the tipping points:
First, my collection of bra padding. I had purple, blue, black, beige—large, small. One day, as I looked at that bag, I realized something wasn’t right. I shouldn’t have to go through the hassle of stuffing my bras.
The second, and the worst, was shopping for a bikini for the summer.

End of the secrecy

When I finally got tired of my own secrecy and realized that what mattered most was what I wanted, not what others thought, I felt it was time to take a step forward and tell my friends what I truly felt and thought.

It may sound like I made my decision in just a few months, but I had actually been thinking about this for many, many years before that. I never realized that I would actually have the opportunity to do this. Once I made up my mind, the sometimes daunting programs didn’t seem so scary anymore. I watched and listened carefully; it was like preparation. If I was going to do this, I was going to do it properly, meaning avoiding unnecessary risks. When I told my friends, their reaction was positive, not at all what I expected. It turned out they were in agreement that they wished they were actually stronger so they could have breast augmentation too. I thought they would feel the opposite, but I was wrong. They didn’t try to talk me out of it. They knew me and understood that I had been thinking about this for so long that I probably knew what I was doing. They felt that if this was truly what I wanted, they were happy for me. The only thing they wanted was for me to contact the best surgeon, etc. My sister’s reaction was, “I want one too.” I thought it wouldn’t be easy since she is my older sister, but I was wrong there as well. As for my employer, I felt that it was none of their business to interfere in my life; this was simply too private. Since I knew I wanted a B/C cup and not larger, it would hardly make any difference in regular clothes, but in a bikini, though!

Research

I knew I wanted to have the surgery, but I still wanted to be very sure about what I was getting into.

I started reading even more articles. Everything I could find about breast surgery, books, and browsing the internet. I read and absorbed both positive and negative articles. Since the media often exaggerates, I filtered out the best and the worst and tried to assess the risks. In the end, I felt saturated; there was nothing new I could read in the magazines that I didn’t already know.

Then the thought came, – what if I have the surgery and regret it? But I read an article about a woman who had done it, and she said that once you make such a decision, you should never look back, and that felt right. I decided that I was so tired of myself, pretending that I had decided not to have surgery. I would give up all push-ups since they, in my case, created false illusions that led me to want larger breasts, and then everything was set in motion again. Then I gave myself a period to truly consider the idea of having surgery. It would be strange to want to go back to small breasts once I had large ones.

After those two weeks, I could only conclude that I wanted larger breasts, I could afford it, and I felt good. When I truly made up my mind, it felt like I was walking on clouds; my wish was about to come true! It felt so real. It was as if I had already had the surgery.

I mentioned that the risks worried me, and it’s no coincidence that I recently made this decision, as now we have better implants available.

As I have concluded from all the magazines, there are three types of implants: saline, silicone, and so-called gummy bear implants. Silicone was ruled out immediately, as I thought if something were to leak, it should be saline. On the other hand, I didn’t want two plastic bags filled with water—what if they burst and I became completely flat all at once? That wouldn’t feel good if I had to walk around worrying. I know many say that saline is the best, but once you’ve seen these implants and felt them, you realize that they can’t be the best. Both silicone and saline do not provide the same beautiful shape for the breasts as gummy bear implants do. There are also other disadvantages. I’ve seen pictures, and the difference is enormous. I read various articles online where doctors discussed this. What scared me a bit was that the scars tend to be a little larger with gummy bears, but since the final effect would be so much better, it was worth it anyway. Now, after the surgery, I realize that the scars actually turned out to be smaller than I expected.

Gummy Bear Style 410 implants, on the other hand, look natural, do not require massaging, and the material feels more authentic and stronger.

First contact

I booked an appointment with a surgeon, and the meeting went well,

It was primarily a bit intimidating to enter the small waiting room and wait to be called in behind the large, illuminated doors. I felt a bit vulnerable. The surgeon I met didn’t provide much more information than I already had. He also didn’t think it mattered which implant was used. For me, that was crucial in deciding whether or not to have the surgery, and since he didn’t fully agree with me, it didn’t feel right.

I didn’t get clear answers when I asked certain questions, and after the visit, I decided to postpone the surgery. I still intended to go through with it, but this particular interaction didn’t feel right. Perhaps he didn’t know if I really wanted the surgery or not, which is why he wasn’t fully committed. However, I believe that if I’m paying for a consultation, I expect to receive good advice and a thorough examination, whether or not I decide to have the surgery.

A month went by, and I got in touch with Victoriakliniken. This time, I was able to speak with the doctor right away over the phone. In that brief conversation, I learned more than I did during the hour-long visit with the first surgeon. We talked about general topics, and the doctor, Charles Randquist, quickly explained how he worked and which implants he believed provided the best results. After that, we scheduled a time for an examination. In the meantime, we communicated via email and phone. The reason I decided to meet with Charles was that we shared the same opinion about the implants, and he sounded very determined and confident, which I believe a surgeon must be. No doubt, just action and guidance.

The examination

I met Charles in the newly renovated facilities, and I must say it didn’t feel like a hospital.

Everything was decorated in wood and light linen colors. It felt more like being in a spa than in a clinic. For me, the whole package was important. Sure, I was going to undergo surgery, but I didn’t just want to walk into a hospital and have my breasts enlarged. This was something I had dreamed about for most of my life. For me, it was a dream come true, and nothing else. I wanted to feel well taken care of, pampered. I wanted those performing the surgery to be as committed as I was. Breast augmentation is not a cheap endeavor, and I simply wanted to feel a bit of luxury. The waiting area was spacious and open, with comfortable and stylish furniture—even the sound of birds chirping! Beautiful, fragrant flowers, perfume in the restrooms, and freshly squeezed juice. I can’t say anything other than that I felt like a movie star.

After a while, Charles and his assistant Ann came in with cheerful smiles. We sat on the couch for a moment before moving into the examination room. I first had a chat with Ann. We talked generally about surgeries and what people say. Then she discussed the implants and their appearance, asking me why I wanted to have surgery, what my boyfriend thought, and so on. I didn’t have to answer anything if I didn’t want to, so it felt okay.
After a while, Charles returned, and I must say I thought he looked a bit young to be a surgeon with such a good reputation. What felt so good was that everyone here understood my situation; it didn’t feel like they were looking down on me as if I were an insecure person wanting to change myself. They listened, shared information, and were very understanding.
Charles then explained the procedure in more detail, sketching a bit and so on. I showed him pictures of breasts I thought were beautiful and others I didn’t like as much. He continued to explain the entire process of the surgery, as well as his perspective on breasts and how they should look. He also shared what he could envision doing and what he couldn’t or didn’t want to do.
Then we went to the mirrors to look at my breasts. I had always thought my right breast was smaller than the other, but here I learned otherwise. Charles explained that my ribcage is sunken on the right side, which is due to my spine being curved. All of this just from feeling my breasts! So, in reality, my breasts were the same size—what a shock. He squeezed and felt, moving back and forth, measuring, etc. At the same time, we talked about size. I wasn’t quite sure whether I should go for a B or C cup. Charles explained that it’s silly to talk in cup sizes because a so-called B cup can look bigger or smaller depending on whether one is tall or short, for example.

Implant size

Since I wasn’t sure what size I wanted, Charles suggested I try the “rice test”—putting rice in bags and placing them in my bra. It was tricky because the rice spilled, and it felt heavy and strange, but it gave me an idea of what I was looking for. According to Charles, I could go with either 270 ml or 310 ml, so I chose 310 ml. He showed me how much space there would be between my breasts and explained that I’d have more fullness on top. I had been so anxious about choosing the right size, but with his guidance, it became clear. We decided on Style 410 gummy bear implants, 310 grams.
It’s so tempting to think, “Well, if I’m paying for this, I might as well go as big as possible,” but I knew the risks increase with size. Plus, I didn’t want my breasts to arrive before I did when walking down the street!

It was amusing when Charles described how he thought a pair of breasts should look. I had never seen a man so engaged in a pair of breasts. They should be soft and feminine, slightly wider at the sides, etc. I was worried about how I would explain what I wanted, but it ended up with him finishing my sentences. It felt completely perfect.
Charles also mentioned that I would experience more pain because I was having the surgery under the breast muscle and that he would place my scars a bit higher since I had a “hanging tendency,” meaning my skin would sag, and the scars would be visible. I wondered how this man could keep track of all these details. Suddenly, my anxiety about not being operated on as I wanted faded away. It felt as if he was going to decide everything. I knew it would turn out great, no matter how he did it, because he really had a handle on the situation. Questions like: would you prefer them to be a little, little too big or a little, little too small, along with other detailed questions, gave me more and more confidence in Charles.

I mentioned earlier that I had looked at so many pictures and thought some breasts were prettier than others. What I realized now was that, for the most part, the result depended on what kind of breasts you had before the surgery. If you had very small breasts and chose implants that were too large, it didn’t always look good. If you had a wide space between your breasts before, it would remain that way after the surgery as well.

I thought that if I showed a picture, my breasts could look like that. But after seeing so many before-and-after pictures, I realized that the breasts you have beforehand will largely determine what they will look like afterward, just larger. You can influence the outcome to a certain extent, but not too much. That was partly why I felt that some breasts weren’t “perfect.” It’s quite charming because you retain the character of your breasts; they just look like they’ve grown a bit.

Happy in spirit, I went home, but I felt a bit down when Charles pointed to the picture I had shown and said that I couldn’t have breasts like that. However, it felt good because now I had all the advantages and disadvantages laid out on the table—no more questions.

On the train, I suddenly felt a bit down. As long as I was talking to Charles, the dream was alive, but as soon as I wasn’t, I didn’t quite understand that it was actually going to happen. In any case, Charles and I kept in touch while waiting for the surgery, and a week before, he decided on the size of the implants. When he emailed me that he was about to order the 310s, it felt real.

The days before

It felt like an eternity from the end of June to the end of August. But suddenly, it was tomorrow when I would have the surgery. Charles called a few days before and the day before the operation to check in and remind me about the fasting. Then the anesthesiologist called, and I had to answer a few questions. He wanted to ensure that I was doing well and that I could tolerate antibiotics, etc.
Typical of me, I caught a cold two weeks before the surgery, and I got my period on the day of the operation. It didn’t feel entirely right, but I didn’t feel unwell in any way. Everyone called to ask how I felt, but strangely enough, I didn’t feel anything; I was quite paralyzed. It felt a bit unreal. Everyone was curious and wanted me to call right after the surgery.

The day of the surgery

I woke up very early; it felt very real now, and I knew it was finally happening. I felt no fear. It just felt right, incredibly good. A bit dazed, I took a proper shower and took the train in. It was nice that Victoriakliniken wasn’t located in the city center; that would have been too much. As I approached the clinic, I remembered Charles saying that I would probably feel unwell and might vomit after the surgery due to the anesthesia. I hadn’t had breakfast, so I was pretty hungry and weak when I arrived. I thought to myself that I didn’t need anesthesia to feel nauseous; just not having breakfast was enough.
When I entered the clinic, I met a nurse who showed me to my room. She mentioned that Charles would be coming shortly. I sat in the room, put on the gown and slippers, and sat on the bed, silently screaming to myself, “Ahhhhhh, I’m going to have surgery now!” I was very overwhelmed, but there was no hesitation; it just felt good to get this done.

Charles came in smiling, looked at me, and said, “It’s happening now—how does it feel?” It was such a great moment because he seemed just as excited as I was. We chatted a bit, and he explained what would happen. He mentioned I’d be in a lot of pain initially and would need to take it easy for the first few days. He told me he wouldn’t be there when I woke up since I’d probably just want to sleep, but that he’d call me a little later. Then he took photos from every angle and started marking me up. I didn’t dare look and tried not to move, afraid it might come out uneven.
When he was finished marking, the anesthesiologist came in and gave me an injection in my hip—one of the things I’d feared most—and then I got some suppositories. After about 15 minutes, I was taken to the operating room, still feeling wide awake. I lay down on the operating table and looked up at the lights. Charles came in with his surgical cap on, gave me a thumbs-up, and held my feet, signaling, “This is going to go great; don’t worry.” It was incredibly comforting to see his face.

The nurses took care of me while I was waiting, and they also mentioned how “well-marked” I was—a further testament to Charles’s meticulousness, I thought. The anesthesiologist hooked up the IV, and then the anesthesia started. I breathed in, one, two, three… suddenly, I was semi-awake, hearing voices and feeling people lifting me into my bed. I opened one eye halfway, saw Charles smiling, and then drifted back to sleep. I kept hearing voices as the nurses looked after me.
When I finally woke up, it was 3:30 p.m., and the surgery had started at 9:00 a.m. The first thing that came to mind was, “Oh no, I’ve been lying on my back for so long; I’ll have a big swirl in my hair at the back—I should pull my hair up.” But it wasn’t that easy; I couldn’t lift more than a finger. I could barely move my upper body at all.
A nurse came by, checked on me, looked at my chest, and said it looked great. All I saw were two swollen mounds. I felt too stiff to move, so they helped me sit up, but I had to take painkillers before I could even go to the bathroom. At first, I felt so stiff and sore that I couldn’t imagine moving anytime soon, yet half an hour later, I was already heading to the bathroom. The anesthesia and painkillers made me feel extremely drowsy, though—I was practically falling asleep on my feet.

My friend came to pick me up a little later; I said hello and then fell asleep again. That’s how I spent the whole day. I managed to talk a little, eat a little, but then I had to sleep again. I thought it was nice that Charles wasn’t there because I would have felt pressured to seem alert, but that was completely impossible. I was sweaty, tired, weak, thirsty, and couldn’t manage to talk to anyone. Additionally, I had difficulty putting on my underwear after using the bathroom. When you feel so weak and fragile, it’s comforting to have someone take care of you.
I had tea and toast before the nurses let me go. I found it incredible that just an hour ago, I had been immobile, and now I was on my way home. It was also reassuring to know that there were hotels at the clinic, so if someone felt weak or didn’t want to go home, they could stay and be pampered a little longer.
In the evening, not much else happened. I ate some food, took pain relief, and lay down to sleep. I was too tired even to look at my breasts. I knew they were swollen and that they wouldn’t look like that in a few days. I called Charles to say that I was home and feeling well. He asked how the size felt, and I replied that it felt good, but I was just tired and in pain. I was also dazed and dizzy.

The Day After Surgery

I had a bit of trouble getting out of bed and needed help to get up. I managed to wash myself lightly and make breakfast, being careful to avoid sudden movements. I was also able to brush my hair and get dressed. However, I felt my breasts all the time. It was okay as long as I sat or stood still, but standing up or bending down was painful. The breasts were still swollen, but I dared to look at them anyway. You would think they would look strange, but aside from being a bit swollen and pointy, they looked pretty normal.
Sometimes during the day, I forgot that I had just had surgery, but that was probably due to the medication. Still tired and dazed, I could only manage to stay home and watch TV. On the first day, I couldn’t put on my sports bra because it felt too tight. But the next day was better. I have a pretty loose sports bra, which feels a bit more comfortable. As soon as I feel better, I plan to go into town and buy a really good, supportive sports bra. But I still don’t feel any rush of happiness over having larger breasts. It feels nice that the surgery is over, but I can hardly wait until I can go buy that new bra…

Day 2

No difference from day one; still sore and swollen, I can’t do much. But I feel that I can move around much more without pain. I think many people, like me, don’t understand that it’s a real surgery you undergo, and even if you handle the pain well, you are disabled for a few days afterward. You have to realize that you need help both physically and emotionally. I have a strong mind, but it was challenging with the anesthesia and pain relief. Many thoughts go through your head. I thought, “Oh my God, now I’m operated on; what if something happens?” It was comforting to know that I could talk to Charles or Ann at any time; I know I called Ann several times.

Day 3

I can feel that the swelling is starting to go down, and I also sense that I have feeling in my nipple. I’m still hesitant to take a proper shower; it’s difficult to wash my hair, so I let my sister do it for me. I got dressed and felt really lively. I decided to go into town and buy a bra. I went in with a friend who would help me put on the bra, which can be a bit tricky when you’re feeling a little stiff.
It felt nice to be out again, but I felt a bit socially anxious because I was afraid of running into people. I waited out all the crowds wherever I went so that I wouldn’t risk getting an elbow to the breast. However, when my handbag, which isn’t particularly heavy, started to feel like it weighed 5 kg, it was time to head home again.

Day 7

Yay! I have large breasts, and I’m so happy. I’ve tried on all my old bras to see that they’re definitely too small, haha! A week has passed since the surgery, and I feel that I no longer need pain relief, but I still have some discomfort. It doesn’t feel strange to have something inside me; it actually feels real, as if my breasts have suddenly grown. It’s a bit annoying to only be able to sleep on my back all the time.
Today, I was back at the clinic, and Charles checked my breasts to make sure everything was okay, and it was. We—meaning Ann, Charles, and I—were all very pleased with the result. Now I would wait another two weeks before the stitches would be removed. I can move around quite freely but still can’t lift heavy things, and my motor skills aren’t the best. No quick turns backward to adjust the pillow, for example.

The funny thing now is that for a few days, everything was improving, but suddenly I started feeling more pain and became worried. You would think the pain should be decreasing. It felt like really intense muscle soreness along with some stinging. It was a bit uncomfortable to wear a tight bra. I asked about this during my first follow-up appointment. According to Charles, it makes sense that when I take pain relief, I move around more. Then, when I don’t take anything the following day, I feel more pain because I’ve been more active the day before, similar to muscle soreness.

Suture removal

Today, three weeks after the surgery, I am going to remove the stitches. Since I live in London and can’t come to Sweden for this, I’ve been allowed to remove them myself. I called Ann to make sure I was doing it correctly. Since I had never removed stitches before, I was actually quite nervous.

Both Charles and Ann assured me that it would be easy. But when I stood in front of the mirror, my hands were shaking. I started pulling on one end of the thread and exhaled. I thought I had made it a centimeter without feeling any resistance, so now the tough part must be coming. I began to pull but realized that the thread was gone. I had already pulled it out before I even thought I had started. I laughed to myself, amazed at how easy it was, especially since I had been so nervous. So far, everything has gone as we wanted; it felt wonderful.
The other day, I slept on my side and thought, “Now my breasts must be standing straight out,” but when I looked down at them, I saw that they had fallen just like they did before the surgery, completely naturally. The breasts are still a bit tender, including the nipples. But now they look really nice. I still have surgical tape on the scars; it feels safer and more comfortable.

Follow-up visit

About six months after the surgery, it was time for the follow-up visit. Charles took after photos and showed me the picture we took before the surgery. I can say it was hard to see that; it didn’t feel like my body back then. I thought, “This is how I should have looked from the start.” Charles squeezed a bit and confirmed that they were perfect!

The breasts feel great; I don’t feel them at all. Most importantly, they feel incredibly real and have such a nice shape. No one has noticed that I’ve had surgery, which is really nice. But when I go out and dress up, I can choose freely between all sorts of outfits. The other day, I compared breasts with my friends, and they felt the same. Everyone thinks they look very natural.

“Wise Words”

In short, I could say that it took three days for the swelling to go down, and a week for the pain to subside. It was another month before I could lift heavier objects. I waited an additional two months before I started training properly, but I was able to jog after two months. I thought I would feel them when I ran, but I felt nothing. So, I can say that it took me three months to feel fully recovered.

I realize now that if you’re small to begin with, you shouldn’t go for breasts that are too large; you still want to live normally. I am really happy with my size—not too big and not too small. Most importantly, I get positive reactions from both guys and girls about my size. I realize that people find it easier to accept breast augmentation if it’s not exaggerated, even those who have always been against breast enlargement. My boyfriend’s friends, who always said I should go for really large breasts, have only given me compliments and said that I did the right thing by not going bigger. I now understand that perhaps it’s not breast augmentation itself that some people oppose, but rather the size.

It feels strange that something I had longed for and waited to do was now over. I must say that you need help during the first few days; you are very sensitive, and it’s not pleasant if you can’t manage on your own and have no one to assist you. However, I think you could manage alone; it’s just that you feel a bit lazy and tender, and you feel sorry for yourself because you’re in pain. I know my sister brushed my hair on the second or third day, even though I could have done it myself the day after! I felt a bit sorry for myself. I probably thought it wouldn’t hurt as long as it did. It was partly my fault for not taking all the medication I was supposed to.
So here’s a tip: take everything Charles gives you and don’t wait until you feel pain again. It’s just unnecessary suffering; I don’t know what I was thinking, that I was some sort of superwoman or something.

I hope everything goes well for you!

/Sara

When I decided to get a breast augmentation, I searched extensively online for information—how does the procedure work? What does it cost? Which clinics are recommended?

I quickly became interested in Victoriakliniken. They had great recommendations and felt trustworthy.

I booked an appointment for an initial consultation.

At the consultation, I met Dr. Randquist and shared my goals and how I wanted my breasts to look. Dr. Randquist explained the breast augmentation procedure, discussed the materials used, and helped me choose a size that would suit me.

The first meeting felt very good right away, and I decided on the spot to set a date for a breast augmentation. I also took out insurance for capsular contracture. The insurance cost an additional 3,000 SEK, and I thought that in this context, it is such a small amount to pay for peace of mind in case something like that were to happen.

First operation

The first operation went very well. Both the nurses, the anesthesiologist, and Dr. Randquist continuously provided detailed information about what was happening and what would happen next. I felt calm and secure the entire time. I wasn’t even nervous when I was wheeled into the operating room and received my anesthesia. All the doctors and nurses were so kind and instilled such a sense of calm.

In addition, the stay at the clinic felt almost like a cozy hotel experience with top-notch service—and that certainly didn’t make things any worse.

After the first operation, I obviously had quite a bit of pain and felt tightness in my chest muscles—which is completely normal after a breast augmentation.

I was instructed to do stretching exercises daily to help loosen up the chest muscles.

Before my first operation, I had of course searched online and read a bit about capsular contracture, but not many clinics provide much information specifically about this. What I understood was that about 5% of those who undergo surgery are affected by it.

“Ah, 5% is very low, and besides, I have good healing ability,” I thought. I simply believed that I wouldn’t be in any “risk zone” for developing capsular contracture. I thought I was being careful after the first operation—but I was definitely not as careful as I should have been.

I found it a bit difficult to ask for help carrying things, for example. This was something I had chosen to do—”self-inflicted”—and I hadn’t told everyone at work about the operation I had undergone. So, I carried grocery bags and other items just like usual, even after just a couple of weeks.

I also didn’t want to be away from work “unnecessarily.” I work in an office and thought, “Of course I can handle going to work just a few days after—I don’t have a job that requires heavy lifting.” Just a couple of days after the operation, I was back at the office sitting at my computer. I definitely felt some pain in my chest muscles from holding my arms at a 90-degree angle and typing, and I noticed that I got tired quickly in the afternoon, but I thought that was just part of it. I managed the fatigue by skipping the painkillers I had been given—I just felt extra tired from them.

Just four weeks after the operation, I was out on my first run. I had bought a really good sports bra, and besides, you could start LIGHT exercise after about a month (I didn’t think too much about whether my running counted as “light” or not).

When I was back at the clinic and they removed my stitches, I found it very painful. The stitches were stuck (???) Should they really be taken out now??!!!

The pain in my chest muscles/breasts didn’t go away. Even after four months, I was still in pain and couldn’t press on my breasts or sleep on my side. It felt like lying on a tennis ball when I lay on my side in bed.

I also didn’t think my breasts became as soft as I had hoped—they were still rock hard after four months, to be completely honest.

I also didn’t think the scars faded as nicely as I had read they would. They were still swollen and red.

A little worry arose in my mind—could I have developed capsular contracture?

I dismissed the thought, though; I still thought my breasts looked nice in shape—even if they were as hard as stone.

First check-up

After six months, I was back at Victoriakliniken for my six-month check-up.

Dr. Randquist immediately confirmed that I had capsular contracture in BOTH BREASTS.

What I had feared but didn’t want to think about turned out to be true.

Dr. Randquist asked if I had taken out the insurance and explained that since I had the insurance, I could redo the operation at no cost. He also said that I could wait and think about how I wanted to proceed—having the operation redone did not guarantee that I wouldn’t develop capsular contracture again.

At that moment, sitting there with Dr. Randquist and receiving the news, I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t think of any questions and, most importantly, I didn’t know if I wanted to go through the surgery again. I hadn’t expected to receive such disappointing news. I had only hoped to have the six-month check-up, find out that everything looked normal, and then go home.

When I got home later that evening, my head was spinning with questions. I really wanted my breasts to be soft and beautiful, and I didn’t want to be in pain, but what if my breasts ended up worse and possibly deformed after another surgery? How would the scars look after another operation—wouldn’t they become larger? Was it possible that my breasts, which were rock hard now after six months, could become soft in a few months? Could I perhaps “massage them soft” in some way? I really didn’t want to have to go through all of this again…

Jag skrev, dagen eThe day after, I wrote a long email to Dr. Randquist with all my thoughts and questions.fter, ett långt mail till Dr. Randquist med alla mina funderingar och frågor.

Dr. Randquist called me the very next day and answered all my questions and concerns.

I now understood that my breasts becoming softer on their own over time or through massage was not something that would happen.

After considering for a couple of weeks and consulting with my family and close friends (who knew I had undergone a breast augmentation), I finally decided to use the insurance I had taken out and redo the operation. I thought that if things didn’t improve after this surgery, I would remove the implants entirely. However, I sincerely hoped that I wouldn’t have to do that; I had truly come to love my new breasts over the past six months. I enjoyed looking at myself in the mirror and seeing that I actually HAD BREASTS, beautiful breasts (even if they were as hard as tennis balls).

I decided that this time I would be much more careful, listen to my body and the doctor, and take all the medications I was given. I resolved not to rush back to work, not to go out running right away, and above all, to NOT LIFT ANYTHING AT ALL!

Second operation

The day of my second surgery/reoperation arrived, and just like the last time, I wasn’t nervous at all. Everyone at the clinic was so friendly, and Dr. Randquist and all the others explained, just as they had during the previous surgery, what would happen and how everything would proceed.

Everything felt good, and I wasn’t the least bit worried. It felt just as secure to be at the clinic as it had the last time.

I had decided to stay home and take two weeks off work after the operation. Even though it costs to be at home and sick, I think it’s a small price compared to what an additional surgery might cost.

I had prepared everything at home so that nothing would be too high up and that I wouldn’t have to lift anything at all. I know I was probably TOO cautious in some situations, but as I said, I had decided that this time I would do everything differently.

During the first week, I mostly lay or sat in the sofa/bed. I took all the medications I had been given at the clinic, and whenever I felt tired from a pill, I just slept.

I had expected to have the same pain and tightness in my chest muscles as I did after the first operation, but I didn’t have that at all!

I had been informed by the nurses at the clinic that I didn’t need to do daily stretching exercises this time either. I understood that my chest muscles were already stretched. It felt incredibly nice to be able to move my arms freely this time—even though, as I mentioned, I was still extremely careful with large arm movements and not reaching too much after my second operation.

Back at the clinic to have my stitches removed, I was a bit worried that it would hurt just as much as last time. I lay on the examination table, prepared for the sting when the nurse took out the stitches—but I barely even noticed what she was doing before the stitches were gone!

In hindsight, I realized that when I had my stitches removed the first time, I had probably experienced some bleeding or something similar at the stitches—due to lifting, carrying, and generally being careless—and that the stitches had likely “stuck” in coagulated blood. That’s my personal guess (maybe a doctor would explain it differently, but I know for sure that it hurt to remove the stitches the first time because I hadn’t taken care of myself after the surgery as I should have).

Right after the nurse removed the stitches, I got to see in a mirror what it looked like where the stitches had been. I was incredibly surprised and very relieved to see that the scars already looked really nice and were not red, swollen, or larger in any way.

The great sports bra I had bought after my first operation I now used as an “everyday top.” It provided excellent support on the days when I was back at work after my two weeks of sick leave and was walking around (I was careful to WALK SLOWLY and not run for anything). I also wore a good sports bra at night that provided good support for my breasts.

After the second operation, I wasn’t ashamed to ask for help or to say that I couldn’t do certain things. It was MY body at stake, and I wanted my breasts to heal and become beautiful and soft, with scars that were hardly visible unless you knew they were there. Just as it should be after a normal healing process.

I quickly noticed that my breasts this time actually became softer over time, and the scars faded rapidly. It felt so good and motivated me even more to continue taking it easy and not lift anything heavy.

Now I could also lie on my side and sleep in bed without any pain or discomfort.

Second 6-month check-up

After six months, I was back at the clinic again. I didn’t feel any real worry this time. My breasts felt so much better and softer this time, and they also looked better and more “normal.” The scars were barely visible anymore. In short, everything was exactly as it should be six months after a breast augmentation, and that was precisely the message I received from Dr. Randquist when he saw the results after the six-month healing period this time.

It felt incredibly good to receive that news.

I absolutely do not regret choosing to have a breast augmentation, despite experiencing double capsular contracture and having to undergo another surgery with all that it entails. I also do not discourage others from getting a breast augmentation. The most important thing is that it is something one has thought through thoroughly before deciding to do it, and that it is something one does for ONESELF.

However, there are two things I want to advise everyone who is considering a breast augmentation:

▪ Take out insurance! Capsular contracture is not common, BUT it CAN happen to you. Insurance provides peace of mind in case something like that occurs.

Listen to your doctor and follow all the instructions you receive from your clinic!
Take all the medications you are prescribed, and above all; TAKE IT EASY AND LIFT NOTHING HEAVY!
/Eva

I am 49 years old and have struggled with my breasts for over 20 years. The first time I came into contact with Victoriakliniken was 10 years ago. I had a consultation with Dr. Charles Randquist for a breast augmentation. I was treated very well, and the environment was fantastic. Due to events in my life, I didn’t have the surgery then. But I thought that if I were ever to have breast surgery, there was only one place to go, and that was Victoriakliniken. So in January 2021, after a total of four pregnancies, I felt that the time had come for the breast surgery.

I was able to have a new consultation, this time with Dr. Marie Jaeger. I felt just as welcome and well-received. We scheduled a date for the surgery three weeks later. I was excited and nervous. My biggest fear was being anesthetized since I had never experienced it before. I knew the results would be better than they were.

The day before the operation, the anesthesiologist called me and went through everything, joked with me, and helped me feel calm. In the car on the morning of the surgery, I felt quite calm but excited. Once at Victoriakliniken in Saltsjöbaden, I was taken care of right away. It was quiet, still, and harmonious in the room where I waited for my turn to be operated on. The anesthesiologist came in and talked to me, which made me feel at ease.

When I woke up after the operation, the amazing nurses were there taking care of me. I had to stay for a day, and in the evening, both Dr. Charles Randquist and Dr. Marie Jaeger came to check on me. They told me about the surgery, and I was able to ask questions, which felt very reassuring.

What makes Victoriakliniken so special is their expertise, safety, and the wonderful people who work there. They are truly there for me and everyone else, to take care of us. The feeling you get is calm, and you feel seen and valued. They genuinely work from the heart, and the warmth is real. If you have questions or concerns, both before and after the surgery, they are there to help. For a while, it felt like I was bombarding them with emails after my second operation, but it was absolutely no problem. You really feel like an important client after the surgery as well, which I think is very important.

I am so incredibly satisfied with my breast surgery. For me, it was important that the breasts looked natural, and they really do. The only thing I might regret is not having the surgery done earlier. But everything has its time.

Dr. Charles Randquist also performed a tummy tuck on me last spring, during which my separated abdominal muscles were sewn back together. That surgery has truly changed my life. After suffering from lower back pain for 15-20 years, it is completely gone. I previously had to adapt my life and training around my painful back. But now I can train as I wish, I can sit in a regular chair for more than 15 minutes without pain, I can garden, and I sleep without discomfort.
In other words, I have been given a new life, and I am eternally grateful for that! I can also add: After having many negative thoughts about my own body every day for at least 15 years, they are gone. It is very important to love oneself in order to feel good, and I do now.

I highly recommend Victoriakliniken because they are professional, serious, and compassionate. Would I consider Victoriakliniken again? Absolutely, without a doubt!
I truly recommend Victoriakliniken because they are professional, serious, and compassionate. Would I consider Victoriakliniken again? Absolutely, without a doubt!

Thank you to all the wonderful people at Victoriakliniken; you are worth your weight in gold!

I want to start by saying thank you. Thank you, Victoriakliniken, thank you, Charles!

Thank you for making my confidence so indescribably better.

I had been bothered by my nose since I was 11 years old. It was different, not as straight and small as the others. Since I was somewhat different and stood out, I was also teased, which had a significant impact on me during my upbringing.

I have often wondered whether it was because I was called “witch” due to the bump on my nose or if I simply didn’t like how my nose looked regardless of what anyone else thought.

I really don’t know, but it doesn’t matter much because I was unhappy with my nose. I didn’t feel like it represented me. I wanted the bump gone, I wanted a straight nose like everyone else. I felt somewhat unique and special in how I looked before, but I never wanted to be in photos, and I felt sick every time I walked into a fitting room with mirrors where I could see my profile. Every day was a battle against myself and all the mean things I thought about my appearance. As soon as I knew someone could see my nose from the side, my heart would race, and I was afraid someone would think I looked strange, that I looked like a witch.

The decision

I decided at the age of 13 that I would have surgery; there was nothing to discuss, even though my family and relatives thought it was very superficial of me, as I am a pretty girl who doesn’t have any trouble getting boys or compliments. But no one could understand, no one could see what I saw. I saw a big bump, something really ugly and, in my eyes, vulgar. I rarely dared to stand my ground when I got into an argument because I was afraid the comment would come: “Well, just look at how you look, your nose.” I would get shivers just from the thought.

I didn’t want anyone to see what I saw, and my friends often told me, “But it’s just in your head, you’re really pretty.” But then a boy in class said I looked like a witch, and all the hours spent encouraging me felt wasted.

I heard comments about my nose three times during my school years. Once when I was 11, once when I was 14, and once when I was 16. Each time it was from different people who didn’t know each other. I broke down in tears every time. When I heard it the last time, I held back my tears after crying and said, “This was the last time. No one will ever make me feel insecure about being good enough as I am.”

Why Victoriakliniken

I had decided since I was little that I would wait until I turned 18 before having surgery, no matter what. If I were to live with a new nose for the rest of my life, I had to be able to wait until I turned 18 in case I ever changed my mind after the operation and thought I had made an immature and hasty decision. But I never hesitated for a second from the time I was 13 to 18.

I was only uncertain about which clinic and surgeon I could trust. There are so many different options, and if you don’t know anyone personally who has had surgery, it can be difficult to know.

My advice is to trust your gut feeling.

My mom had her breasts operated on at Victoriakliniken and had a lot of trust in Charles, and she had also heard that he was a specialist in noses. I read a lot of forums on the internet and debated back and forth. Should I dare to have it done somewhere with a slightly lower price? I didn’t have any savings or income since I had just graduated from high school.

After many long conversations with my mom and dad, they eventually gave in. I was allowed to take the money they had saved for an emergency fund for me. They had heard my wish for a different nose for so many years, so they knew what it would mean for me—a new beginning.

I wanted to have the surgery early so I could live with confidence as soon as possible.

I explained before the surgery that I was happy with my appearance otherwise, but I absolutely hated my nose. I said that I didn’t want to look different in my face except in profile. I didn’t want to look like a Barbie doll; I had no desire for a “perfect” appearance.

I just wanted to feel comfortable.

The operation – and after

I walked into the operating room with an enormous sense of security.

I knew that now I would be free, free from all the negative thoughts I had to deal with every day.

When I woke up, I was very nervous and nauseous. I don’t remember much from the early time after the surgery except that all the staff were very caring, but once everything healed and the bruising and swelling subsided, I have truly never been so happy before.

My confidence is better than ever, and I’ve never been asked if I look operated on; some acquaintances don’t even notice any difference.

My close ones have seen that the bump is gone, but they say I look like myself; there’s no significant difference to anyone else. But for me, life truly began after my surgery, and the pain I felt when I woke up, the nausea, and the days immediately after—I would relive them 100 times for the result. Choosing to have my nose operated on was the best decision I ever made.

So once again, thank you! I can’t say it enough. Thanks to you, I can live life to the fullest with confidence like never before.

/Lena

It took a long time before I even became aware of what my problem really was. When you are born with a body you are not comfortable with and cannot change, you simply adapt and come up with anything to dampen the anxiety you feel.

In my case, my surroundings made me aware, in every possible way, that there was something wrong with me. And since it started very early, in middle school, I simply adapted to the situation I found myself in.

And so it went year after year—years of constant stress. There came a time when my mom and I talked a bit about cosmetic surgery, somewhat seriously. But I never thought that I could actually do something about it. I constantly told myself: I don’t care what they say about my nose; I am actually a pretty girl after all. But that didn’t change the fact that I didn’t feel good about myself. And that made me “even more” unattractive—my bad energy resulting from my low self-esteem. Sure, I had always been an open, friendly, and sweet girl toward others, but also partly because I let others do what they wanted with me. I was like a gofer for them. Sometimes I would disappear into my unhappiness so much that I didn’t even want to go out. My unhappiness led me down many bad paths that shaped my life in a negative direction.

The turning point came when I met my boyfriend. After never wanting to let him see me from the side or get really close to me so he could look at me, he was the one who finally said to me: “Have you ever thought about getting a nose job?” I thought I hadn’t heard him correctly.

After thinking and pondering for about a year about whether this was really the right thing, I decided to look for someone who could perform a nose job.

It didn’t take long before I found and gained trust in Victoriakliniken. It felt so right to get in touch with this clinic, so I scheduled an appointment for a consultation.

In December 2009, I went to the clinic for a consultation. I was impressed by the beautiful area where the clinic was located, and I felt a sense of calm when I arrived. But deep down, I wasn’t ready.

When I was finally with Charles and he looked at me, all the anxiety and frustration came to the surface. I stood in front of the mirror and had to observe myself from several different angles, and I felt completely dizzy. I had avoided mirrors for so many years that I was now completely shocked. In the end, I left without booking a date for surgery. I simply didn’t feel ready. The idea needed to mature, and I needed time to process my visit with Charles.

It wasn’t until six months later, in June, that I scheduled a second consultation. In August, when I got the appointment, I also decided to go through with the surgery. Now I couldn’t wait to undergo the operation. After so many years of suffering and with my realization that everything was due to my nose, I wanted to get it done as soon as possible.

So after three weeks, the time had come. I was really looking forward to being on the operating table.

I woke up quite early on the morning of the surgery, thoroughly showered with the disinfecting soap, and put on clean clothes just as instructed. My dad drove me to the clinic, and I felt that this day was the biggest day of my life. I thought, “Here I am, do what you need to do!”

The entire time I spent at the clinic, looking back, was just wonderful. First of all, I am so grateful that the clinic was built with the goodwill to help people feel better in their lives and that everything in the clinic radiated professionalism, care, and safety. I didn’t feel afraid; instead, I felt happy while I was there. Of course, the surgery wasn’t pain-free. Personally, I found it to be mostly uncomfortable. It felt like I had received a solid punch to the face, and as a result, my entire face had swollen up.

I stayed home from work for a few weeks and rested. Every movement I made made me tired, and all my energy was needed to heal my nose and recover. Gradually, I started to feel better, and after about three weeks, I returned to work. The swelling was still there, and it took some time for it to completely subside.

The best part of all was that it didn’t show that I had undergone surgery. My nose turned out just as I had hoped and imagined—it became really beautiful and suited me perfectly!

Almost no one commented on my appearance. They just thought: This girl has changed for the better! And that was true. It felt like I had been given new lungs to breathe with—clean, light, and healthy. The most important thing was that I had a completely different aura because I felt harmonious within myself.

Not all problems are solved just by undergoing a cosmetic surgery. In my case, I realized that many of my other problems had been so inflated and exaggerated, and now they were much easier to solve since my biggest and most real problem had been resolved! My nose had truly been a real energy thief!

For the first time, I felt nervous. “What if I wake up in the middle of the anesthesia and you aren’t finished?” The anesthesiologist calmly replied that it was not unusual for me to be nervous, but he also guaranteed that I would not wake up during the anesthesia. So at 7:30 AM on December 16, 2002, I finally fell asleep.

I woke up much later feeling a bit dazed. As soon as I opened my eyes, the nurse was there: “How are you? You’re all done with the surgery and back in your bed.” I felt dizzy and disoriented, having no sense of time or space. It was as if I had been at a party for three days and woke up with the worst headache and a dazed look. “I’ve been better,” was my response, as I allowed myself a little laugh. Aside from feeling very disoriented and battered, it didn’t feel catastrophically difficult. My nose was in a cast, and I had large cotton balls in my nostrils. Additionally, there was a bit of blood dripping from my nose. The nurse placed a collecting pad under my nose and secured it with tape. I had to change it regularly. My voice was very nasal, and breathing through my nose was extremely limited. My head throbbed, and there was a tight feeling around my forehead and eyes.

Despite the circumstances, I felt an overwhelming hunger starting to set in. My stomach was empty since I hadn’t eaten since the night before. According to the instructions, I couldn’t eat anything after midnight on the day before the surgery, and of course, I had followed all the instructions to the letter. I asked one of the nurses if I could have something to eat, but she replied that I should wait a bit since I had just come from the operating room. My stomach was truly screaming for food.

I thought I would try to sleep a little longer. With the help of the pain medication drip, I felt very drowsy, so I rested a bit and fell asleep again after a while. I woke up again, and there was always a nurse there asking how I was doing and if everything was okay. Eventually, I managed to nag my way into getting some cold juice. It was a wonderful feeling to have the cold drink flow down my throat and into my empty stomach. Because of the cast on my nose, I had to use a straw. But it wasn’t long before I felt the urge to vomit. And my hunger became even more pronounced.

The nurse came with new cotton dressings to attach as a collection pad under my nose. Then she brought bags of frozen peas wrapped in a towel. “Put these on your forehead to help reduce the swelling.” There I was in the hospital bed with frozen pea bags that I changed out regularly, feeling my empty stomach scream even more for food. They let me try drinking some juice again, but the same thing happened; nothing stayed down. Despite it all, I was in good spirits and felt happy. The surgery was over, and I had done what I had been thinking about for so long—a cosmetic surgery on my nose!

The examination

It all started when my friend, who had undergone a breast surgery in April 2002, managed to persuade me to book an appointment for a consultation with Charles at Victoriakliniken. She spoke very highly of the doctor, felt so well taken care of at the clinic, and, most importantly, was very satisfied with the final result. I had seen the results of her surgery, the look in her eyes, the pride and joy of finally having breasts that made her feel feminine. Not that I had ever thought about the fact that my friend had small breasts. But after the surgery, I realized that the new breasts actually suited her body better. Most importantly, I saw how she had a different posture, a different happy expression.

On May 11, I had an appointment for a consultation with Charles. I borrowed my friend’s car and drove out to the clinic in Uttran/Tumba. I was warmly welcomed at the clinic and immediately felt comfortable in the fresh and calm surroundings. I filled out a form with personal information. A little nervous, I went into Charles’ room. I told him in a trembling voice that I wanted to have a nose surgery. He asked why I wanted to have the surgery right now, asked questions about my job, and whether I had recently gone through a divorce or if anything else significant had happened in my life. This was because he didn’t want me to undergo surgery for the wrong reasons. He took me to his little “mirror corner.” It was difficult to stand there with another person and look at my nose in profile, something I had always tried to avoid. “Yes, you have a big nose, especially in relation to your small face and chin.” Yikes… that remark would have made me break down if anyone else had said it. But right there and in this context, it felt good; he understands me! “Yaa… I squeaked out.” It was truly liberating that he dared to say what I thought and felt, and what I knew many others thought but never said. I had to turn around, and we looked at my nose from different angles. Charles examined my nose from underneath in the light of a strong lamp. It was tough; I had to bite my lip to keep from bursting into tears.

After that, we went back to Charles’ desk. I asked if he could do a computer image. I had seen on TV that this was done. I thought it would be good to know how I would look later if I decided to go through with the surgery. Charles explained that he didn’t work with computer images; he had done it in the past but had stopped. His explanation was that it’s very difficult to give an exact indication of what the result will be, and I found that explanation to be very logical. Instead, he drew. With a pencil, he sketched my nose from the front and in profile. He then drew slanted lines on the upper part of the nose, the part he wanted to change. He drew a few small arrows up to symbolize that he would lift the tip of my nose a little, and he drew some slanted lines parallel to the nose to illustrate that he wanted to narrow it a bit. It sounded reasonable. He explained how he envisioned the result and how he planned to achieve it. Of course, it was difficult for me to visualize the outcome, but as I said, it sounded reasonable.

“Do you want to schedule a surgery for June already?” Jesus, I thought, now he must be crazy. I hadn’t really made up my mind yet; I was just there for the consultation. “No, I don’t know yet if I want to have surgery; I need to think about it. Surely you don’t have an opening that quickly?” Charles replied, “I actually think you’ve already made up your mind. It’s my clinic, and I decide who and when I operate on. If you want an appointment before the summer, I can arrange that; if you want to wait, that’s fine too. I would be happy to perform a nose surgery on you; I truly believe I could make you very satisfied. You’re also old enough and have thought this over, so I don’t have any doubts about your decision.” Charles also gave me a price quote of 36,000 SEK, which included removing any potential blood vessels. That was a big fear of mine—that instead of a large ugly nose, I would end up with a small red bulbous nose.

Even though I spent a short time in his room, a very good feeling settled in my stomach. He maintained a professional distance, and to some extent, he felt a bit “American” in his impersonal approach, but he was very, very serious and knowledgeable. I answered his questions and realized that he chose his patients. He had enough work to be selective about patients who came for the wrong reasons. I thought it was a good attitude; only a professional doctor can afford to think that way. I left the clinic with many thoughts on my mind.

Surgery or not?

After that followed many months of thoughts—should I or shouldn’t I? What did a big nose really matter in the grand scheme of things? I had an academic education, a good job, many friends, my family, hobbies, and had never had trouble meeting guys. In my social circle, I was known for being cheerful, funny, and creative. Few people knew that I suffered from having a big nose. My dad was from Greece, and it was his family nose that I had inherited—a large nose with a bump. I think that even at the age of 8 or 9, I understood that I was different; I didn’t look like everyone else. My appearance was unique. Not only did I have brown hair and dark features, but I didn’t have a typical look. The teenage years were the worst—a real ordeal. As a girl, you want to be pretty and attractive. I compensated with humor and quick wit; I always had a comeback. I charmed friends and guys, becoming a popular girl among my peers because I could speak well, was intelligent, and did well in school. I believe this was my salvation in that I was never a victim of bullying. At the age of 9, comments about my nose started to emerge—Gonzo, Eagle Nose, Palm Nose, Witch, “The Eagle has landed.” Those comments followed me into my teenage years. Those are harsh words for a child and a girl in her teens who wants to be pretty and liked by the boys. Not that someone commented on my nose every day, but it happened often enough.

I developed various behaviors to avoid situations where I knew I was most likely to be targeted. I would switch sides on the street if a class of children was coming. I chose to stand in a different part of the subway if a group of drunk teenage boys approached. I never stood in profile in front of a mirror. I walked with my head facing the audience if I needed to cross the aisle in the movie theater and pass through the light of the screen. It may seem absurd. But those who have never felt the pain of the comments cannot understand.

After the visit with Charles, many months of ruminating followed. Should I or shouldn’t I? I involved some of my best friends to get their advice and to hear my own arguments spoken aloud. What spoke in favor of the surgery was that I would finally do something I had been considering since I was fifteen. When I was eighteen, I called a plastic surgeon in Gothenburg anonymously, just to find out what it entailed and what it would cost. He told me I needed to be a bit older so that my body and legs had fully developed, and he also mentioned a sum of 25,000 SEK. Since then, the dream had been there.

But the years rolled on, and I convinced myself that my nose wasn’t a big problem and that I had a good life anyway. Deep down, I really wanted to have the surgery, but my biggest fear was how everyone else would react. What if the surgery and the result didn’t turn out well? Would people laugh behind my back? Another nightmare was that a number of blood vessels in my nose would burst during the procedure and that afterward I would have a bright red nose. Then it would still be a nose that everyone would look at. What if there were complications during the surgery, infections? How would I respond to all the acquaintances’ questions, “Oh, has this been a problem for you?” I had never shown signs of suffering from my big nose. Suddenly, I would completely expose myself and reveal that I had been suffering, and everyone would of course talk about it. Yes, now in hindsight, having gained some distance from all these thoughts, I can mostly smile at it. My thoughts and fears were truly exaggerated.

The hours after

The hours after the surgery felt good, and the staff at Victoriakliniken were there taking care of me the entire time. Charles came in a few hours after I woke up. He shook his head and said, “That was the hardest nose surgery I’ve ever done.” Charles explained that my nasal bone was incredibly hard and that they needed two hands to “shave off” pieces of bone from the bridge of my nose. Additionally, there was a fracture in the nasal bone, which meant that at some point I had broken my nose. I don’t really remember, but it was probably when I was about 17 or 18 that I took a very hard soccer shot straight to my nose. Since I never wanted any fuss around my nose, I pretended nothing happened and tried to hide how much it hurt. Charles also said that my nose was very crooked, with the cartilage positioned in the middle of one nostril, significantly thickened and damaged. Normally, a nose surgery takes about 1.5 hours, but mine had taken 3.5 hours! Charles had, on two occasions, thought he was finished and had “put the nose back together” but then changed his mind. He really wanted the result to be just right. An additional complicating factor was that my skin is thin. So if any detail was misplaced when putting the nose back together, it would show through the skin.

After the surgery, I spoke with both the anesthesiologist and the nurses. They smiled and shook their heads at Charles, saying, “He is just so incredibly meticulous and stubborn.” Hooo… a troubling feeling spread in my stomach. My surgery was the hardest ever. A hundred thoughts raced through my mind, and the thought that my nose could turn out to be a disaster came to mind from time to time.

New frozen pea bags were delivered, and late, late in the evening on the day of the surgery, I could finally have a small amount of drink. Normally, patients go home the same day as the nose surgery is performed. But since my surgery had taken so long and I hadn’t been able to eat all day, it was decided that I would stay overnight. I truly felt well taken care of. I didn’t sleep much, dozing off and waking up again. In the bed next to me was a girl who had had breast surgery; she requested more pain relief during the night. I personally didn’t have much pain. The hardest part was the breathing—not being able to breathe through my nose. In the morning, I had a lovely breakfast and enjoyed the feeling of being full again. A friend came to pick me up by car, and we decided that I would stay at her place for a few nights to avoid being completely alone.

Finally home

Once I was home at my friend’s place, I tried to rest while she was at work. I was instructed to keep my head elevated while lying in bed so that the blood wouldn’t flow back through my nose. I was allowed to get up and move around, with the restriction of not leaning my head or body forward. I tried to sleep and rest as much as possible, but it was completely impossible. Imagine having the worst cold, with your nose blocked from the congestion. As soon as I fell asleep, I would wake up again because my mouth got dry and I couldn’t breathe through my nose. The pattern repeated itself: I dozed off, my breathing got caught in my throat, I jolted awake again. Just like at Victoriakliniken, I took out bags of frozen peas, wrapped them in a dry towel, and placed them on my forehead. The pulsing around my eyes had accelerated. By Tuesday, the swelling around my eyes had increased, and my normally large brown eyes were reduced to just two slits, with the color around them being a lovely purple and blue. My entire face was swollen; I looked round as a ball and very colorful. Days two and three were the worst, and I was on the verge of tears from exhaustion. I had been instructed to remove the cotton balls from my nose on the morning of day three. Early in the morning, I rushed to the bathroom to free myself from these breathing obstacles. I thought, now, finally, I’ll be able to breathe again. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that removing the cotton balls helped very little. My nose was so swollen inside that even without the cotton balls, it was virtually impossible to get any air through my nose.

My appetite was normal, and I could eat and drink as usual. Throughout the first week, I slept at a friend’s place; it felt reassuring to have someone with me when I wasn’t feeling well. My friend said I looked like a Rumpnisse from Astrid Lindgren’s Ronja Rövardotter. My nostrils with the cast were sticking straight up, and my face was round. Many thoughts raced through my head that first week, and I wondered if I had really made the right decision. All the while, I felt a tremendous sense of security in knowing that Charles seemed to be a serious doctor and that everyone had talked about how meticulous and detail-oriented he was. Despite the words about a difficult surgery swirling in my mind, I kept trying to think, “It will be fine, it will be fine, he is skilled and serious.” The first week passed with only a few hours of sleep per day and a face that peaked in swelling and color on day three. After that, things got better, and the colors started to fade to yellow. I was only outside for two brief occasions. An enormous cold had spread across Stockholm, and it felt highly inappropriate to risk frostbite on my nose.

Suture removal

Follow-up visit the week after the surgery. Charles removed the cast and the stitches. He looked deep into my nose with a light and said it looked good. He pressed down on the bridge of my nose with enormous force… oh wow, it hurt. I thought it was a strength test, but afterward, I realized he was trying to shape the bone around my nose a little more. Then Charles asked if I wanted to see what it looked like before he applied new tape. I walked up to the mirror, feeling that I had no high expectations, thinking that my nose could be blue, red, crooked, and strange in every way; after all, only a week had passed. So there I stood, looking at my nose. It was beautiful. It looked almost completely normal; it still had my previous length but was straight and entirely normal. “You could just as well have been born with that nose,” Charles said. My eyes teared up, and I had to hold back from bursting into tears. So many emotions all at once. I had to hop back onto the examination table; Charles wanted to try pressing a little more on the bone around my nose. My tears began to roll down my cheeks. When the appointment was over, we said goodbye, and we’d see each other again in a week. My tears continued to flow uncontrollably. Charles became worried that I was not satisfied with the result and that was why I was upset. The pain mixed with my anxiety from the first week and my accumulated worries from 15 years, along with the sleeplessness, relief, and joy, became just too much.

Christmas came, and I went to Helsingborg, where I grew up and have my family. It was an extremely cold Christmas, with temperatures around minus 10-15 degrees. I had to stay indoors most of the time. With the tape, I could see roughly the shape of my nose and could sense that it was probably going to be good after all. During the Christmas week, I started calling some of my friends to tell them that I had had a nose surgery. Most were surprised and wondered how long I had been considering it. I received praise for my courage and got to share the story of the surgery over and over again. The week went by, and my breathing was somewhat better but far from good. I was still advised to sleep with my head elevated. The swelling was going down, and the bruises around my eyes had almost disappeared, with just a few yellow spots left on my cheeks. Every time I had the opportunity to look in the mirror, I studied my nose in detail—from the side, underneath, from the other side, and straight on. I was so curious. I really wanted to just rip off that tape.

The weeks after

At the follow-up visit the week after, Charles removed the tape. Ohhhh… my nose still looked nice. It was long and defined but felt very natural and beautiful. That same evening, I decided to invite a few friends over for cheese, crackers, and wine. My friend, with whom I had stayed during the first week, was in shock. She couldn’t understand how I could “look completely normal” in just two weeks, considering how I looked on days two and three. My other friends were full of admiration. The comments I received were, “You don’t look particularly changed,” “Your nose feels completely natural,” “You have no scars!” “You can’t see anything!” “The nose blends nicely into your face.”

That was true. My “new” nose looked completely natural, and Charles had really managed to shape a nose that fit well into the overall picture. The new nose was significantly smaller but still defined. I hadn’t ended up with a completely different nose, like a tiny button nose with the nostrils turned up, which was my thought when I still had the cast on.

I chose to take another week off work and then worked remotely for a week. During those two weeks, I sometimes woke up at night feeling anxious. I had to get up and look in the mirror to see that my nose hadn’t changed in any strange way. I went to stores a lot and picked out clothes to try on. I stood there, looking at my nose from different angles with the help of the many mirrors in the fitting rooms. I wanted to know how I looked, for real. I studied noses on the subway and compared whether one or the other was similar to mine. For over 30 years, I had had an identity that had now changed to some extent. It was a strange feeling. It felt good to have some time for myself to process and reflect. When I finally returned to work about four weeks after the surgery, I felt very secure and satisfied with the result. Therefore, all my meetings with colleagues were very uneventful.

Follow-up visit

At my follow-up visit after six months, Charles noticed that there were scar tissues inside my nose. A few days later, I received a new appointment for surgery. That surgery only took twenty minutes and went very smoothly, according to Charles. Once again, I was treated extremely well by the staff at Victoriakliniken; there were no problems, just very good service. After the second surgery, my breathing returned to normal. During the first six months, I had a nasal tone in my voice and experienced dry mouth because my nasal breathing was not fully functional. I kept thinking that it would probably clear up after a while, which is why I didn’t reach out myself before my six-month follow-up.

Now, nine months after my surgery, I study my nose almost every day and think about how satisfied I am with my decision to undergo the operation. I have a really beautiful nose! It’s not perfect, and my cartilage is still a bit crooked, but that’s not something others notice. Given how my nose looked before, I am truly pleased with what Charles has achieved. Before my surgery, I didn’t read much about rhinoplasty, and I chose not to tell more than a handful of people I know. In a way, it was my decision, and I felt I didn’t want to know too much from different articles or gather information from other people that might make me change my mind. After the surgery, however, I wanted to know as much as possible, and I searched for and read everything I could find online to confirm that I had a natural healing process.

My fears about other people’s opinions and reactions were extremely exaggerated. When I finally decided to call and schedule a time for surgery, and a few days later received confirmation that I had an appointment for surgery on December 16, a great weight was lifted from my heart. At that moment, I knew I had made the right decision. A sense of relief and security settled in. Right then, I was sure that this was what I wanted, and at the same time, I decided not to care about what others would say or think afterward. My conclusion is that other people haven’t just seen my big nose. About 65% of the people I meet don’t even notice that I’ve had surgery until I tell them! When I do tell them, they say it looks great and wonder how I looked before. Some remember, and others don’t quite recall. The bottom line is that I have a nose that looks natural and fits my face. Moreover, I had a distorted image of my previous large nose being as central to other people as it was to me, which was completely wrong. The best part is my inner feeling and the calmness that has settled in. Now I don’t have to think about whether to have surgery or not; it’s done!

“Wise Words”

My advice to you who are considering surgery:

– Feel confident in your decision.

– If you have other issues, maybe you should address them first. A nose surgery will not change your life or eliminate your other problems. I personally saw a psychologist during a period of my life to sort out my relationship with my mom and dad and their complicated divorce, which happened when I was 15 years old.

– Don’t think too much about what others will think; some people won’t even notice that you’ve had surgery.

– Choose a doctor you feel 100% comfortable with. You need that sense of security, especially when you feel uncertain during the first few weeks.

– Especially the first week is tough, so be prepared for that. But it gets better!

– Don’t choose a doctor based on price. A good or bad result cannot be measured in money. This is your body, and you should take care of it.

– Clarify what is included in the price.

– If you want to have the surgery, save money and borrow the rest if you need to. You can cut back on some clothes and a few trips instead.

– Have the surgery for your own sake! Not because your mom, friend, or boyfriend thinks you should. Is it a problem for them, or is it a problem for you?

– If you have the surgery in the winter, be mindful of the risk of frostbite.

– You need to be extra cautious during the first year. You may have to give up certain activities where you risk impacts to your nose (such as floorball, soccer, ice hockey, etc.).

– Have realistic expectations.

I would never hesitate to make the same decision to undergo surgery again. My choice of doctor and clinic would also be clear. For me, Victoriakliniken’s professionalism has given me an inner sense of security during the tough times, assuring me that everything would work out. It has definitely been worth the money and the challenging days!

/Pernilla

ME, who isn’t even particularly vain, have done THIS!?

It all started when one of my best friends got her nose done. She has always been very beautiful, but now she became even more attractive, if possible. She found Victoriakliniken online and was very satisfied with the entire experience, from the first visit to the last.

Since I had always considered having my nose operated on throughout my adult life, I felt that it was finally time to go for it. I have never liked my nose—big and crooked (after a hard hit in childhood that I don’t even remember)—and with a length that isn’t exactly beautiful. But money and the extensive nature of a nose surgery had kept me from going through with it until now.

But now it was time. The money was available, and a consultation was booked. The meeting with the clinic staff felt good. I knew what I wanted; Dr. Randquist was straightforward, objective, and concrete. The surgery date was scheduled, and the procedure took place in November 2012. It turned out to be a more complicated operation than expected, as my once-broken nose was quite badly crushed. But everything went very well, and the healing process was faster than I had anticipated. The result was exactly what I wanted. I still look like myself, just a little more attractive, with a straight, slightly narrower, and slightly shorter nose. Do I regret anything? That I didn’t do this twenty-five years ago.

In conjunction with this procedure, I also considered asking about what I had previously thought was the only surgery I could imagine having: eyelid reduction.

So, the six-month follow-up after the nose surgery also turned into a consultation.

The thing is, I neither look my age nor behave like a person of my age (whatever that means), and I think I am attractive enough as it is. However, age will soon start to take its toll, with reduced skin elasticity, deeper wrinkles, and all that. So, during this six-month follow-up that turned into a consultation, I boldly asked what it would entail to do “the Full Monty,” i.e., in addition to the eyelid surgery, a complete facelift. After all, I reasoned, if I was going to do one thing, I might as well do it all at once, and I didn’t want to come back in again. So why not do everything at the same time?! Just like with my nose, I didn’t want to look like anyone other than myself or look younger for that matter; I just wanted to lift certain areas, tighten the jawline, and generally push the aging process as far off as possible. And thereby look generally fresher for longer. Dr. Randquist explained that it would involve a brow lift, mid-face lift, and facelift. He detailed what he would do and how the results would turn out.

I decided right there during the consultation. The surgery date was booked for December 2013. For various reasons, I had to postpone this date by a year, but then in December 2014, it finally happened.

Once I had made the decision to go through with something, I focus on making sure it goes well. I appreciate Dr. Randquist’s absolute confidence, which borders on arrogance, but I feel completely secure in his very capable hands. And it’s probably a good thing, because I didn’t fully realize what a massive procedure I had decided to undertake until after the surgery and in the days that followed.

The day of the surgery began with settling into the room upon arrival, waiting for the pre-op examination and the “mapping” where Dr. Randquist marked on my face how and where the incisions would be made. As someone who refuses to use Botox and artificial fillers, a site to take body fat from was also sought to fill out my thin lower lip a bit, to address the deeper lines in my face, and to fill out sunken areas. It turned out not to be easy since I am “fairly” fit and don’t have much subcutaneous fat to speak of. After some searching, a small fat deposit was found on the inside of my knees (!) where it was decided that the fat would be taken from. Back to the room and waiting for the anesthesiologist, which was quickly taken care of.

The surgery took around three hours, and after waking up, I was not much use. The only other time I had been anesthetized was during my nose surgery, and I didn’t have any issues then (except for feeling incredibly cold upon waking up), but this time I couldn’t keep anything in my stomach, not even a drop of water, no matter how thirsty I was. It was not pleasant. And when I felt my tightly bandaged head, which was twice the size of normal, I quietly wondered what the heck I had actually done.

The day after the surgery, I felt strangely euphoric and couldn’t help but laugh, even though it hurt a lot to do so, laughing at the totally absurd procedure I had put my body—or more specifically, my face—through. When I looked in the mirror, I realized I looked like I had gone twelve rounds with Mike Tyson—and lost. Completely crazy. Regret was not on the map; what was done was done, but the extent of the procedure and the absurdity of it all hit me with full force. And I could do nothing but laugh.

ME, who isn’t even particularly vain, have done THIS!!!

I spent two nights at the clinic, which is standard practice for such a major procedure, and the following five nights until my first follow-up visit were spent at the nearby hotel*, within walking distance of the clinic. It felt safe since I don’t live close to the clinic or even in Sweden on a daily basis. The two nights at the clinic were as they should be, as I had no complications whatsoever. Well, except for the surgery day when I couldn’t keep anything in my stomach. The days rolled by pleasantly with regular “pop-in-and-check-if-everything-is-OK” visits from the staff and daily visits from Dr. Randquist.

The discharge day, with the removal of the bandages and a hair wash, was wonderful.

The following five hotel nights also passed pleasantly, with short walks around the surroundings starting on the second day. I probably startled the hotel staff and other guests, the poor souls I encountered during my walks and the staff at the Station Café, which I visited daily. The only one brave enough to ask what had happened was the “local drunk” at the Thai restaurant where I had my last meal during this visit to Saltsjöbaden (the hotel restaurant had only four main dishes on the menu, and I had eaten through all of them). I assured her that I hadn’t been beaten, although it took some convincing.

The only difficult thing during that week was that I couldn’t use the bathroom properly for five days. For someone who typically has a very regular and healthy bowel movement at least once a day, it was quite a trial. Fortunately, things returned to normal on the fifth day, but it was a struggle—especially since I wasn’t particularly willing to push hard with stitches around my entire head…

The first follow-up visit a week after the procedure went excellently. The stitches on my eyelids were removed, and the healing of everything else was on schedule or even ahead of it, so even though my face and neck had some interesting colors, the swelling was almost completely gone. The only area that actually hurt was, interestingly enough, the spot at/behind my knees where the liposuction had been done. My face was numb from the temples down over my jaw and was tender to the touch (and that takes time to return). I left with two knots and staples about a centimeter inside the hairline above my forehead (these were the ends of the threads from the brow lift that had been pulled beneath the skin), four staples a centimeter inside the hairline on either side along the temples (from the mid-face lift), and tiny stitches from the temples down along the ear edges and up behind half of my ear (from the facelift). All of this would be removed at the second follow-up visit, two weeks after the surgery.

Two weeks after the procedure, I was up and about more or less as usual, minus active sports. The bruises faded day by day, and my face was still tender to the touch and numb all around, but there was no pain—well, except for my knees, of course!

The second follow-up visit, two weeks after the surgery, went splendidly. It was a relief to have the stitches removed; they had started to itch quite a bit. The swelling was virtually gone, with only the lymph nodes in my neck still a bit fluid-filled, which takes time to resolve. Dr. Randquist was very pleased with the results, and I was (and still am) too. I had another week off work, followed by some time off for the holidays, so I didn’t return to my “normal” life until four weeks after the surgery, which felt like the perfect recovery time.

By the third week after the surgery, I started to run lightly again: I am an active person and train often and regularly. More than two weeks of inactivity—if you don’t count walking—is torture for me. So even though it might not be recommended—it’s completely individual—I laced up my running shoes after fourteen days and began running small laps every other day after that. And my face didn’t fall off.

As I write this, it has been just over four months since the procedure was done. I went through a period of “was it really worth it? I look just the same as before,” and I could have bought a (very nice) new car for the money instead… but now, after some more time, I’m starting to grow into my face, and I really look damn fresh!!! I have been training as usual for the past three months, and everything feels great!

I don’t look lifted at all, just like myself, but better, just as I wanted to achieve. And that’s exactly what I’ve been hearing from friends and colleagues around me: wow, you just look better and better. But I don’t think anyone can guess that I’ve had a facelift; even if I didn’t deny it, I would still get asked. I have nothing to be ashamed of!

Conclusion: I cannot thank Dr. Randquist and Victoriakliniken enough for their excellent work. From the very beginning, I felt completely secure in his very capable hands. With his straightforward, no-nonsense attitude and very sound philosophy, I know that Dr. Randquist and the staff do everything to ensure that the entire experience is the very best. I highly and warmly recommend Victoriakliniken.

. //S.

I am 54 years old and have been somewhat bothered by my heavy, drooping eyelids for the past 15-20 years. Bothered to the extent that I simply thought they looked unattractive. I have also often been told that I look tired, even though I definitely wasn’t.

Off and on, I have touched on the thought of plastic surgery, but I always dismissed it with the notion that only public figures do such things! If I hadn’t done it before, then there’s no point in doing it now? In any case, the thoughts of surgery returned with increasing frequency (every time I looked in the mirror, actually!).

One day, I gathered my courage and contacted Victoriakliniken (which is not located in the middle of Stockholm, but just outside in a quiet, secluded area). I received information over the phone and scheduled a consultation for just a week later.

In the time leading up to the appointment, I was nervous and uncertain. Should I really do this? At my age? Etc. I went there at the scheduled time, anyway. The first thing that struck me was the environment at Victoriakliniken. It was so calm and relaxing. The facilities were bright, airy, and tastefully decorated, with the sound of birds chirping and bubbling water discreetly in the background. It was as far from a hospital environment as one could get!

Dr. Charles Randquist welcomed me and showed me into his office. He was factual, straightforward, and honest in a friendly and relaxed manner as he described what he could and couldn’t do with my eyelids. I immediately felt that this man doesn’t promise anything he can’t deliver. It felt very reassuring. I trusted him.

Five weeks later, it was time for the surgery. I arrived early in the morning and was once again warmly welcomed by a nurse who showed me to my bed. I changed into the clinic’s clothes and snuggled under the blanket. Somewhere above me, I heard the birds chirping again, and I completely relaxed and felt utterly luxurious!

After a little while, Charles came in. He asked how I was feeling, helped me with my robe, and took me into his office, where the photography and planning began. The planning involved Charles, with great concentration, drawing and marking on my eyelids how he would perform the surgery.

Half an hour later, I was taken by Jennifer, and we walked into the operating room. The anesthesiologist explained everything he was going to do and why. I understood that nothing was left to chance here, and I felt completely secure. I fell asleep right away while Jennifer stood by, gently patting my cheek.

What felt like two minutes later, I woke up in my bed. Everything was done. Just like that!

The strange thing was that I never felt any pain at all, or even nausea. When I was discharged a couple of hours after the surgery, I was given a number of painkillers that I could take a maximum of three times a day, in combination with Alvedon. I took one Alvedon the first evening to ensure I could sleep undisturbed that night. I never needed more than that.

And the result? Yes, I am more than satisfied! There was a significant difference, but in a natural and discreet way. I am still me, without looking altered. I just look a bit more awake, and I feel prettier and happier! I find it hard to believe that anyone could have done it better.

For me, my eyelid surgery at Victoriakliniken was an entirely positive experience. Much of this was thanks to the warm, personal way in which all the staff at the clinic, not least the surgeon himself, welcomed me. You can feel that they care and that they do their utmost to ensure you feel good, no matter who you are or where you come from.

/Anita

Forehead Lift – Not Just a Surgery for Older People.

I am now 22 years old, and I was 17-18 when I started feeling bad about my heavy, drooping eyelids. It began with me placing tea bags on my eyes in hopes that it would improve. Of course, it didn’t. I quickly decided that I would have the excess skin removed from my eyelids.

Once I made up my mind, I started searching for the best clinic. I was very particular that it should be a serious and professional surgeon, and I was willing to pay more for that. After much research, I finally settled on Victoriakliniken. I booked my first consultation with Dr. Charles Randquist, and he quickly identified that the issue primarily lay not in my eyelids but in my heavily drooping eyebrows.

I looked in the mirror, and Dr. Charles explained that I wouldn’t achieve the result I was after if I only removed the excess skin.

We agreed that I would undergo a forehead lift as well as upper eyelid surgery to achieve the best results. At first, I thought a forehead lift sounded like a very big and scary procedure. But I can say today that it is absolutely not. Of course, it was more expensive than if I had only done the eyelids, but it was worth every penny.

I am incredibly happy, grateful, and proud of myself for doing this. I only listened to myself and knew that I would feel better if I went through with it.

The surgery went perfectly. I arrived early at the clinic on a Tuesday morning when the operation was scheduled to take place. The strange thing was that I wasn’t particularly nervous at all. I was now in their hands, and it felt safe. I had made up my mind to go through with this.

After I had been marked up, I got to rest in the recovery room with an IV, and the nurses checked on me frequently.

Then it was my turn. I walked into the operating room, lay down on the table, and received my anesthesia. I woke up what felt like 2 seconds later in the recovery room back in my bed. I felt quite nauseous after the anesthesia but didn’t have any real pain otherwise. I spent the night at the clinic. Of course, it was a bit stiff and swollen the first night, but I received a cold mask for my eyes so that I could sleep well. I went home the following morning and took it very easy for the first few days. On day 3, I was at my most swollen, but then it progressed very quickly. Everything healed well, and I felt much more energized. After 2 weeks, all the stitches were out, and I could return to my job without any problems.

Today, six months after the surgery, a lot has changed with my eyes. I have regained my big eyes as they looked before they started to droop heavily. I couldn’t be more satisfied. My quality of life has gone from 5 to 10. Today, I love doing my makeup, which I almost never did before. I didn’t see the point since all the makeup would just smudge.

You definitely don’t need to be 50+ to undergo this type of surgery. It can just as easily be genetic, as is the case for me.

It was nice to be taken seriously and treated with respect despite being 22 years old and wanting to undergo a procedure that might be more common among older individuals. I felt 100% secure with Dr. Charles. He understood what I wanted to achieve with this surgery, and he was going to help me with that. The result of my eyelids is incredibly natural and well done. I am still me, and no one would ever guess that I had surgery unless they knew, while at the same time, there is a huge difference.

/Marika

I never thought in my life that I would undergo plastic surgery. Because it’s not just about looking good on the surface; much can stem from other problems and issues. But I’ve had my problem for my entire 28 years of life. Or rather, you could say that it was during my teenage years that I realized what a problem it was for me. And we’re talking about problems, discomfort, and even pain sometimes. My inner labia. They were asymmetrical, one longer than the other, and it was rubbing and just causing discomfort. I thought: am I the only one who has a problem with this? I felt so uncomfortable.

After Googling this, I realized that many women have this problem. It’s not just me. Sure, all women look different down there, but one shouldn’t have to endure discomfort. For me, it was about getting rid of this issue, so why shouldn’t I have this surgery when there were options available? People should be allowed to do what they want. That’s why I didn’t tell many people about this problem. I felt ashamed and considered myself disgusting and unnatural. But in retrospect, I have been able to share this with my closest friends, and some were surprised and raised their eyebrows, but I no longer feel ashamed since the problem has been resolved.

How did I find the right plastic surgeon? I searched for images, before and after photos, and read about how to fix this because I really didn’t want to live with it. Sure, it felt embarrassing to bring up this issue and show myself to the surgeon, but he was going to help me. That’s what he does—help others—and I shouldn’t have to feel ashamed. I thought more about what would come after the surgery: being free from discomfort! I Googled which clinic could help me with this. Wow, I searched and read for several months. But my choice was not difficult. Dr. Charles Randquist and Victoriakliniken were my choice. I only read positive recommendations and reviews.

When I arrived there for the first time, I was so nervous, but as soon as I walked into the clinic, I was greeted with warmth and security. The staff welcomed me with a smile, and the waiting room didn’t feel like a hospital; it had beautiful decor and style, lit candles, and soothing spa music in the background. With Dr. Randquist, I received a positive reception. He understood my problem immediately, and it took no more than two weeks until it was time for the surgery.

Now, in hindsight, I can say that I am satisfied with my appearance down there, everything is symmetrical, and my labia are short and cause me absolutely no discomfort at all. I am so pleased, and I am so happy that I did this!

I don’t think people should judge plastic surgeries. It makes me so angry. It’s not just about the outside; there are also discomforts and problems that can be addressed. I will definitely recommend Dr. Charles Randquist and Victoriakliniken to everyone.

”Elli ”