“Getting So Nervous! - Dallas, TX”

I am 36 years old and have a 3 and 5 year old. I have always had small breasts, but it seems like they became even more non-existent after breastfeeding both kids. I had a belly button ring in college and after removing it and having 2 pregnancies I had some ugly stretch marks and scarring around my belly button as well as it's herniated.

I'm 5'4" and 126 lbs. I have a small amount of extra skin that makes a muffin top over my jeans. So, I've elected for a mommy makeover (tummy tuck with lipo of hips and breast augmentation with nipple reduction). My nipples have always been slightly pointier than the average...I've always had to wear padded bras and swimsuit just so my nipples don't show...they seem to stay constantly erect (I've always thought of them as pencil erasers).

I'm scared to death of the surgery and recovery and keep going back and forth being excited and feeling like I want to back out. My biggest concerns are not being able to perform my duties as mommy. I will have my mom here for about a week and my husband can help some, but he works a lot. I also feel really guilty for spending so much money on myself. My husband had given me the permission for the breast implants as my birthday present back in October. But during the consultation I asked about tummy tucks, too, just to get the info for "later". Well, after much deliberation, we decided it would save money and recovery time by combining them. I feel like my husband is regretting ever giving me that gift, as it exploded into a huge deal and twice as much money. He's excited about the finished product, too...mostly the boobs.

Anyway, it's almost here!! I'm so glad I found this site so I can read about everyone else's experiences and calm my fears some. I am scared about all the swelling issues after tummy tuck that I've read about lasting for several months. I work as a physical therapist in a hospital and am planning to return to work in 3 weeks. I do have to lift on patients sometimes and am scared that I may not be able to return as quickly as I'd hoped. Anyone else out there have a more physical job like me and how soon did you return to work? I'll try to post some pictures this week.

Updated on 22 Jan 2012:
Ok, surgery was thurs at 7 am...it is now sunday. It was very rough in the beginning! Hubby lifting me,etc. I had to go for a one day post op and that was horrible. The car ride sucked...luckily i didn't have a drain, but they did send me home on a catheter for the first night. At first i hated the idea, but it was truly a GODSEND!!! It didn't hurt getting it out, but during the dressing changes i passed out twice and the nurses were waving smelling salts under my nose. My blood pressure was really low. Things are strating to get better now. I can get myself in and out of bed on my own. Still no BM...hoping that will happen today. Seeing my boobs for the first time yesterday was CRAZY!!! They are HUGE! Hopefully they will shink when the swelling goes down or I may have to find a new profession as a stripper :)

Updated on 25 Jan 2012:
WooHoo have finally been able to poop on my own. I finally had an enema on Sunday night. Wow...that was interesting. Picture this (or not...): me in my lovely "garment" which is a black corset thingy that goes all the way down both thighs and has lace (why do you need lace, like you're trying to be sexy?)...anyway, they are also crotchless. The pictures on the enema box show some interesting poses that I'm supposed to try to get into. So, I choose to try the all fours with my butt sticking up in the air (keep in mind weird crotchless garmet is on). My mom is making hilarious comments, not really on purpose, but we're both laughing so hard and I'm starting to cry since it hurts SO bad to laugh. So, then my husband comes in to "help" and he starts laughing. So we are all cracking up with me in this horrible position in this horrible garment. Well, the enema worked, but it was definitely not one of my finer moments :) I know this may be a little "TMI", but just wanted to warn you if you are thinking of having this done, this is an actual scenario that could happen. Thank God for my sense of humor about all of this.
Each day is much better. I'm really thinking I won't go back to work for 5 weeks instead of 3.
I'm excited about the new body even though it's pretty beat up right now. I'll post pics once I can shower better...right now it's in and out as quickly as possible.
I do think at this point it was worth it though!

Updated on 17 Feb 2012:
Well, it was 4 weeks yesterday and what a difference a week makes! I would say it was a good 3-3 1/2 weeks before I felt anywhere close to "good". I'm still taking it easy, about 50% of my old self and having low back pain everyday by late afternoon. My scars are healing nicely and I'm so pleased with my breasts! I've finally included some "after" photos taken today. My belly button has a little area of whitish-scab in it that looks kind-of gross and there is a lot of redness around my belly button from an allergic reaction to the tape, but I think with time it will look good! I've gone to a massage therapist that my Dr recommends and she is Wonderful!!! Very gentle and it helps tremendously with "loosening" up the tight belly, getting rid of fluid and she has helped my back feel better. I know it sounds like the last thing you would want is having someone rub on your sore areas, but it feels awesome! She actually said when she saw my breasts "Oh, you went small!" I thought that was so funny because going from an A cup to a full C, I feel like they are Huge!!