Itchies and small seroma blues, POD 22

I am a mother of three children 10 years old and younger, and physically fit, but have the usual poochy belly from 3 big babies and deflated low hanging breasts. I've been thinking about a tummy tuck for quite some time and when it came time to really think about interviewing plastic surgeons, and thought about what else I might like to have done, I realized that a flat stomach will accentuate the fact that I have a flat chest. So, I decided on the breast augmentation (not going huge though). After interviewing several surgeons, it became apparent that a breast lift was in order as well.

Then, a complaint I have had my whole life is my hips -- rather square due to genetics of big hips (the bones themselves) and overlying fat. I have never enjoyed clothes shopping because of my hips/stomach area, always finding myself in between sizes and never happy with how pants look on me. So I decided to look into liposuction of the hips/flanks region.

One of the plastic surgeons I interviewed mentioned I could consider lipo also of the saddle bag area (true enough) and because I have a flat behind, could use the suctioned fat to do a fat graft to the buttocks. Oh my! I said I didn't know how I felt about a big bum, but after long discussions with my husband and long looks in the mirror, I decided hey -- it's my fat, why not put it where i could use some curves. I am NOT going for a huge bum, however, just a nice natural curve. (If you look at some before and after photos of fat grafting to the buttocks, you can see lots of people are totally going for the J.Lo look, which I am not.). I have had a flat bum my whole life but haven't thought much about it, but with the taking of fat out of other areas, why not transfer it to where it could also enhance the whole picture. So, I went from "I want a flat stomach" to total makeover. I still have pangs of guilt and anxiety over doing all of this, even with the full support of my husband who has never been pushy, only saying that I could do what makes me feel good/happy. Mostly I wonder what people will think if they guess I've had a breast augmentation. My husband says to just assume everyone knows and just own it and feel good about it. Some days I feel like that. I just hope no one calls me out on the carpet at the pool in the middle of a gaggle of moms from the elementary school this summer! I guess I could just own it then too, right? This is the hard part for me -- being willing to be "out there and loving it!" I do look forward to all of this, I guess I just dont want a big neon sign hovering over me everywhere I go saying "look at THESE breasts!!"

I am a low surgical risk, and so I am not afraid of the anesthesia (6 hours), but I do worry about the recovery. If you've read the topic "can I do a Mommy Makeover with a Brazilian Butt lift" on this site (I hate that name, by the way -- let's just call it what it is, a fat graft), you will see there is controversy over whether to do it all at the same time -- that recovery will be quite difficult. Some surgeons say no way, others say "why not do it then -- you can't do it later if you're taking out the fat at the time of the breast augmentation and tummy tuck: (i.e. fat will be gone). I am going into this with my eyes open, will have lots of help at home, and so -- I am going for it. I'll let you know how that pans out!

I had my pre-op appointment today as I am exactly 2 weeks away from my surgery date. I decided on 325/350 cc (left breast is slightly smaller, thus the 2 sizes). I think it looks very natural, so hopefully it will be close to what it looks like in the office trying on sizers. Mostly, the nurse working with me today said that if I give the surgeon "after pictures" of ones that I like, he will do his best to make me look like those photos. I have some saved, but need to do a bit more looking and saving of photos for my final appointment with him the day before surgery.

Today at the pre-op appointment they also recommended Arnica and Bromelain, 2 herbal supplements that supposedly could potentially help with swelling. I have read a study that was done on plastic surgery patients as to whether it actually helps, and the jury is still out (the study basically said there was no true difference in patient's perception of swelling whether they took these 2 herbs or not), but I figure if it could help with swelling, why not try it. I ended up purchasing the supplement they had at the office.

I have learned so much from the Mommy Makeover gals who have posted to the Nov/Dec Mommy Makeover forum site, and so I plan to post as much as I can after surgery to help whoever is out that and wants to hear the scoop on what to expect. I look forward to chatting it up with all the January gals as well!

I was going to post my before pictures this evening, but my DH has fallen asleep! Maybe tomorrow.