5 weeks post op Tummy Tuck and Breast Lift /with Implants - Charlotte, NC

I am 43 years old and just lost 83 lbs this year. This was all done on my own with healthy eating and portion control by weighing and measuring my food to stick to calorie count of no more than 1200 calories a day and some light exercise. I am 5'6 and weigh 145 lbs. I have been as big as a size 18/20 and bra size of 40G and my highest weight reached was 248 lbs but when i was at 228 when i decided it was time to change my life. I decided that whatever i weighed at the end of the year would be the weight i would maintain. My surgery is scheduled exactly one year to the date of my healthy life style change.
I have been married for 24 years and have a 21 year old son.. they have been very supportive of my decision for surgery.
Weight gain and loss have definitely taken a toll on my breast..right now i'm a saggy 36DD and size 8 pants. Although i look and feel good in clothes I know what i look like underneath and i feel i have worked so hard to get where i am that i deserve to treat myself so i can feel even better about myself. I think my boobs will still be a decent size after lift hopefully a perky 36D and looking forward to a flatter stomach. It was a tough decision as to weather or not i should get implants but 3 out of 4 PS said they did not feel i needed it :) They also said i really don't need liposuction . All 4 surgeons were very nice but i chose Dr Liszka because there was just something in each of the other surgeons that made me second guess them. I would definitely recommend consulting with a few PS if possible.
My pre -op is in 2 days on the 19th and my surgery on Jan 2, 2014...As excited as i am, i am equally nervous. I took a leave of absence from work for 18 days( i work in retail) and hope that my incisions and swelling have healed enough to feel comfortable going back in that time frame. The only kind of surgery i have ever had was getting all four wisdom teeth out at one time...so sometimes i think i'm nuts for electing to have surgery, LOL. I have been reading reviews on this site for a few months now and it has really been so helpful in figuring out what to expect and basically i know it's going to be painful and difficult but it does get better. I know i am rambling on on ...sorry but it definitely helps to get it out. I will post again after my pre- op on thursday.

All i can say is i'm not nearly as nervous as i thought i was going to be. The appointment was with the PS Nurse Leslie...and she was great. She really went over all the information so that we would know what to really expect the day of surgery and also recovery. My husband and i are calling it "FrankenBOOBY- BELLY" because of how swollen and boxy i will be for awhile...i find it easier to joke about it. I had to sign a bunch of papers that explain all the things that could happen but that didn't scare as much as i thought it would because of all the research I've already done. Got all my prescriptions filled(4) and bought a multivitamin and vitamin C because they wanted me to start taking that now to help build the immune system and promote better healing. Leslie took my before photos and i had my husband take them too so that i can post them today...Let's just say that the blue panty is not very forgiving, and you can certainly see why a breast lift is absolutely necessary!!!Oh and i can totally use a thigh lift my legs were so heavy and there is just so much loose skin but that's for another time. These pictures are really depressing but it what it is :( I am off for a week before surgery so i will have time to get the house in order and make sure i have everything i will need...all i can do now is count down the days and think positive thoughts :)

So i woke up this morning and i'm only 1/2 lb away from my 85 lbs lost before surgery which is awesome but then i can't help think "are my boobs going to be big enough ?" I really think i will be 36D when done because i'm snug in 36dd and that is definitely a good size. For years i have suffered buying bras and i just want it to be right off the rack 36D but yet i can't help but think should i do a small implant but yet i really don't want implants....I guess i'm going to be driving this crazy train until Jan 2...god help me and my poor hubby :)