“PostOp Day 10 Mommy Makeover 3/23/12”

I am 36 yo married to a wonderful man 3 beutiful kids (7,5,3). I am 5'1" and currenlty 130 lbs 36B. Prior to getting pregnant with my first I suffer for a couple of years with depression and took meds that actually made me gain 50 lbs. That sure did not help my depression, but I was too young to change docs. Eventually I did get new doc and only took new meds for 3 months. By the time I got pregnant with my first I was 135 lbs (only had lost 25lbs). With having 3 kids in 5 years I struggled with my weight and went up to 175 lbs after the birth of my second child. A year ago I was finally mentally ready to loose the weight and lost 50 lbs in 6 months and have kept most of it off until the holidays (5+). I had talked to my husband for years about wanting a TT and after I lost the weight and looked at my boobs I new I needed more... 6 months ago I began searching for PS going to about 3 consultations until this month when I found my PS and scheduled my MM. I have been reading various reviews on this site and decided to add my own. I am excited and nervous now that I am about 8 weeks away from my MM.

Updated on 24 Jan 2012:
So,I know the price seems a bit high compared to other posts on this site, but everything seems to be more expensive in So Cal. I will be getting a breast lift/saline implants, tummy tuck, lipo on flanks and thighs. Lately, I have been trying to figure out what size implants I want. Currently, I am a 36B and would like to go a bit bigger without looking terribly fake. My husband and I have looked at several b/a pics on this site and have agreed on 400cc. Next month I will have a 2nd consultation so that both my husband and I are present so we can discuss all details with PS. In the meantime, I will continue to work on dropping the 10lbs before 3/23.

Updated on 28 Feb 2012:
Yesterday I had a 2nd consultation with my PS and I brought my hubby with me. I guess I wanted him to be okay with my choice of PS and go over a few details. I had been extremely nervous about having my husband see me naked while PS pointed out all the areas that need work. My hubby was very supportive and reassured me that he loves me just the way I look presently. He said I gave my body to having his 3 kids and I did not need to get a mommy makeover. However, he has always supported my decision because he knows it would make me feel more comfortable with myself. About the details, all my questions were about tummy tuck and all my hubby's were about the breast aug. Now I really know what is important to him :-) After visit I felt excited that my surgery will be in less than 4 weeks. I also realized how lucky I am to have a very supportive husband and thankful that we can afford to have this done. I'll post before pic soon...

Updated on 5 Mar 2012:
Less than 3 weeks to go. I can't stop thinking about it. Will kids and hubby be ok with out me taking care of them? Today I spent all day morning doing chores, taking my oldest to baseball game, and I really had to use bathroom when I got home but dinner had to come first. This is just what Moms are supposed to do I tell myself. Hubby and kids come first so how can my hubby do it all? I have asked my Mother to help at least in the mornings when hubby must work. He will not be putting 40 hr weeks, but he has to be in office at least part of the mornings. The good thing about my Mom's help is that kids and hubby will eat good and healthy meals. My hubby I am worried about handling kids on his own. Our kids get too wild and seem to misbehave often while playing with each other. They get so caught up in their playing that they do not hear us. I guess this may be normal at their age. I'll just have to tell myself that everyone will be just fine while I recover.

Updated on 6 Mar 2012:
Before pic upload...

Updated on 13 Mar 2012:
Had my PreOp last Friday and I feel like my big day will be here very quickly. I have been busy getting all items I will need and trying to keep up with house and kids. Hubby is getting very stressed about work and upcoming surgery. He was hoping to have his assitant be available to help out his department while he helped me during my recovery, but she was put on bed rest a couple of weeks ago. She is only 4.5 months pregant so it was a bit early, but her baby comes first of course. Now, not only is he covering for her but will likely not be able to help me much during my recovery. I have asked my mom to stay with me a bit longer and stay overnight as much as possible. I am sure she will be very helpful. Anyways, I have now chosen to not talk about my surgery at all to my husband because he doesn't really want to hear about it. I wish I could reschedule, but maybe there will never really be a perfect time for this surgery. I have also gained about 7 lbs instead of loosing the 10 lbs I had hoped to 6 weeks ago. It is hard to get excited about the upcoming surgery when I can't even talk about it anymore. On a good note, I have started my period which means I will not have to deal with that until about 3 weeks into my recovery.

On the weight gain, it is all around my tummy where I put on the extra 7 lbs. I wonder if my PS will be able to get rid of that with the lipo??? I have started doing Zumba every night after kids go to bed in hopes that at least I get to 130 which has been my avg weight for about a year. Well, I have to just take it one day at a time...

Updated on 20 Mar 2012:
Friday the 23rd is the big day, I can't stop thinking about it. I have been busy trying to get everything I need for surgery. I am also concern how kids will handle the situation when they see me in pain. I had planned to be downstairs with them but I think it may be more difficult for them to see me and may not understand why I can not do anything with them. I think I will try to stay in my room at least the first couple of days to make it less alarming for kids. I am sure everything at home will be fine and kids will be taken care off well. Now, I have been having so much anxiety I wake up in the middle of the night and can't go back to sleep for at least two hours. I often think about the surgery hoping that it all goes well and I look fantastic after. I have been thinking about implant size and considered going bigger since I've seen some women with great boobs that have chosen over 500ccs. My hubby reminds me of the natural look we want and how my ps did not want me to go over 450 ccs. Well I do hope and pray it all goes well this Friday. I look forward to taking post-op pics for all you to see.

Updated on 21 Mar 2012:
Today has been a very depressing day. I feel sad and alone because since my hubby is too stressed about his work I don't feel his support. I know he will do his part to take care of kids, groceries, baseball practices, etc., but when he is under stress he closes up. I can't talk to him about anything really and so I have also just been keeping all my emotions to myself. It sucks feeling like here I am about to have a huge procedure and be put under for 6 hours and not be able to have the emotional support I was hoping for during this time. I have considered backing out of the MM but I know how bad I have been wanting to do this for myself. It has been years of struggle with my weight and all the emotional issues that brings that I just can't quit now. I need to do this. However, I am worried about how this can affect our marriage. I know a new body appearance will bring lots of good to me like my confidence and maybe a better intimate life. But, what about his lack of emotional support? Well, I may be too early in my judgement? I need to wait to see how he behaves after surgery. I pray this is just temporary and he goes back to his loving ways.

Updated on 27 Mar 2012:
Update from surgery to postoperative 3. I honestly have to say I was not expecting to almost die after MM. After my procedure ended at 2:30 pm on 23rd I was picked up by recovery center nurse which I remember getting in her car, but that is all I member. Next thing I know I was waking up in this beautiful room with an ocean view but in exttreme pain. The nurse was great giving me fluids, soup, and meds; but I couldn't keep anything down. I was in and out of consciousness the entire time. I was able to hear parts of her conversation with ps and it was not good. I was vomiting nonstop, blood pressure dropping, and bleeding from my incisions. At 8pm I told her I needed her to call my husband and have him stay with me. I honestly felt I just needed him to be there because things were getting worse. At 9 blood pressure got a bit better and my husband who was still not with me because it takes over and hour commute ps asked him to go to a pharmacy to get add'l meds to control vomiting. Well, he never got meds he was called 30 min later and was told to go to hospital. Nurse and ps had decided I had lost too much blood and were not able to control bleeding at recovery center. What I remember is nurse trying to sit me up to get me dressed so she could drive me to ER, bur I saw blood all over floor and must have passed out. Next I opened my eyes and I saw 10 men all in black looking at me asking me questions but I do remember spaying this: "please help me I have 3 kids who need their mommy alive.". I honestly believed I may not make it. In ambulance I remember EMT saying "she keeps arching her back she really is in bad shape.". Later I found out that I also ripped out my Iv on way store hospital. Ok well in hospital my veins were collapsing which meant I ended up getting poked about 10 times. I was giving 4 liters of fluids, meds to stop bleeding, and 2 units of blood. My husband tells me he did think I may not survive, I was as white as the ER sheets including my lips, oxygen and tubes all over my body. This was the worse thing I have experienced. Both my recovery center nurse and ps saw me that night and although ps told me how great my boobs and tummy were I truly did not care, I just wanted to stay alive. I was in hospital 3 nights and finally came home yesterday. I had1st post and ps said said how beautiful everything looks and well I will simply have just have to wait. May be I will look at my body and love it.

Updated on 30 Mar 2012:
Day 7 PostOp. I am slowly getting better each day. On postop 3 I was released from hospital and went directly to see PS. He apologized for my the experience I had after surgery, but told me that the results so far looked great. I told him that after what happened to me I expected the MM results to be 100% perfect. I got 2 of the drains removed and bandages for BL were removed so I can wear the bra he provided.
PostOp 4 was good I was able to have BM which I would contribute to having a liquid diet for 4 days, stool softener at day 3, and 2tbs of MOM. I also had 1st shower thanks to hubby's amazing help.
PostOp 5 was more painful around tummy area. I figured out drain was clogged and had to milk it. Increased Vicodin due to pain.
PostOp 6 was exhausting. I was out of house 5 hours 3 of which were just to go see PS. Again I was told how beautiful results look at this point and I am now starting to believe them. I just can't get excited yet because it seems that every time I close my eyes I have flashbacks of the time I was in and out of consciousness after surgery. I look at my kids and swear I will be a better Mom to them. And so yesterday my kids tested my and my Mother's patience. On way back from PS 7 & 5 yr old boys were fighting over a toy while my mother was driving and I was very nauseous. Not only were they screaming and crying but also my 5 yr old was trying to throw punches thru a seatbelt holder hole on side of his carseat. I was so upset internally that my entire tummy was killing me, but I was able to get them to calm down without yelling which is what I would have done before. Anyways not only do I want to be a better Mommy but also the best wife and girlfriend I can possibly be to my hubby. Ok back to MM, PS left 2 drains still because they were draining 30ccs per day. Next appt will be Monday PostOp 10. Today I am feeling alright but very weak. Besides the normal MM recovery pain I am also anemic at this point because of all the blood loss. I am currently taking iron supplements and stool softener because iron clogs you I guess. I will post pics as soon as I can.

Updated on 3 Apr 2012:
PostOp Day 10 was yesterday and had appt with PS. All tapes were replaced and 2 remaining drains were removed. BB stitches were removed and PS gave instructions to begin massaging boobies. PS also asked if I needed add'l Vicodin now that I was out, but I said no cause wanted to manage pain with motrin. Boy I was regretting that later. I walked out of PS office feeling great about my recovery progress. Hubby and I had a nice lunch we talked about all the exciting and fun things we will do together after I recover from MM. This was wonderful because it was 1st time since surgery that we did not talk about horrible 3 days post surgery experience. I realized that i needed to think of all the good there is in my life and stop thinking of how bad things got for me after surgery. Hubby has been very supportive and has absolutely taken care of me along with my Mom's help I would not have been able to get better so quickly. Ok so by the time we were done with lunch I was so ready to be intimate with hubby again. My Mom was out picking kids up from preschool when we got home so although I did not get ok(didn't even think to ask) from PS hubby knew how much I needed it. Let me just say I did not have to remove CG (love that open crotch design) and my very fit hubby had to do all the work but it was FANTASTIC! I am just very happy to be feeling better and can't wait to see final MM results. Will post pics soon.

Updated on 6 Apr 2012:
PostOp 15 I feel much better today than before. After drains were removed on day 10 it seemed like the pressure from the lower abdomen swelling was awful that was difficult to walk. 2 days ago I remembered I had ordered SinEcch homeopathic Arnica Montana to begin taking after surgery but with all the complications I had and additional things to worry about I never began the pill regimen. I had planned on returning the product but thought I would give it try to help reduce swelling and bruising. Well one day 3 pills later and the swelling has sure decreased and I feel more comfortable. The regimen is12 capsules which you take 3 a day so I will continue doing this for the next 3 days and hope swelling stays at a minimum. Today I had enough energy 2 go to grocery store and run a couple of other errands with my 5 and 3 year olds. Which was much better than 1 hour at park with my 7 year old at the park yesterday. I have not been able to really look at my scars since everything is still tapped up. I am curious to see all that although I hope I am not disappointed once I see them. My boobs so far look great and I can hardly keep my huby's eyes and hands of off them. I can't wait to feel 100% well and be able to have enough energy to play with my kids and excercise this better looking body of mine. Happy healing girls!

Updated on 10 Apr 2012:
PostOp day 18-- today i am feeling ok but still plenty of tummy swelling. Yesterday I was my followup visit with PS. Tapes were left alone but minor liquid was removed from right side of tummy. The rest of tummy was very hard and felt it was very swollen which my PS said it may be constipation or internal organs were very used to extra space. Of course i don't like to think that internal organs will be always causing a full tummy look. That is not why I did this. I want a flat tummy damn it! Well, so I came home and made sure I took stool softer and MOM, but nothing yet. I guess iron supplements I am taking do not help this. I am beginning to see the results of surgery and i do like what i see. At this point my boobs look good although I have yet so see areola shape and size. The tape makes it hard to see but size lloks good and symmetrical at this point. The implant size was 430cc on both. Besides the swealling near the actual scar on my tummy I now have a waist which is amazing. I had an extended tummy tuck which prior to surgery PS said he would extended but was not sure how far he would go until actual surgery. Well, he went all the way which then I guess is like a lower body lift. Maybe this is why I had complications and my body could not handle this much work. Well, but my butt looks great and much smaller due to flanks lipo. The outer thigh lipo is hard to see results at this point because thighs are swollen too. I do have a sharp pain on right thigh every now and then. Oh, and I also got arm pit area lipo which is the area near breasts that would hang out if i wore spagetti strap tops. Can't see results there much because implants are still high and area is sore. My energy level is way down since I also became anemic after blood loss. I find it very hard to stay awake during the day and I only take 1 vicodin pill in the middle of the night when pain becomes so strong it wakes me up. Today, I got a call from my surgery nurse to check on me since she had heard I was hospitalized after surfery. She explained to me that all my vitals were good at time I was released to recovery center nurse but did say that they do not check blood levels there at surgery center. She also explained that she has not seen this in the 10 years she has been doing this. Surgery nurse explained that although I had a lot of work done the lipo is usually the procedure that causes the most blood loss. The amount of lipo removed was less than 3 liters and typically 8 liters are the max most surgeons will remove at one time. PS, surgery nurse, ER docs, ER nurses, 2 additional surgeons, 3 nurses who treated me after I was admitted to hospital said that everyone is different and most likely this was just too much for my body to handle at one time. I have come to the conclusion that they are right and I am sorry I put my family thru this ordeal. Thanks to my hubby's support and my Mom's help with my kids and home for 2 weeks I feel 1000 times better than 15 days ago. Every time I see PS I do tell him I am expecting results to be 100% perfect since I now know I will never do this again. On that note I will say that major blood loss is rare, but it is a risk everyone must consider. I wish all you ladies a quick recovery.