Mommy Makeover-Mom of Two boys 8 & 12

I’m having a mommy makeover by Dr. Tattelbaum Wednesday May 2, 2018. So, far so good. I picked Dr. Tattelbaum because he was very informative, providing so much information that I barely had any questions left. I had a hard time picking the implants because I didn’t want to go to big. But, I was able to go in for a lady minute sizing to make sure I was comfortable with the implant size. The size I’m choosing 425 cc high profile. I’m 5’5 and about 154 pounds and currently a size 34 A, I think. I really don’t know because I always wear padded bra’s. The only thing stressing me 2 days before the procedure is that although I have the date of the surgery, I will not know the time of the surgery until tomorrow, a day before the surgery. Also, I will not receive further pre-op instructions until tomorrow as well. I want to be prepared so getting this information at the last minute is anxiety inducing. I’m looking forward to a great outcome. I’ll post the before pictures. Please Ignore the fact that my underwear I was wearing when I decided to take pictures are fairly ugly. Also, the sports bra I’m wearing is mildly padded.

Ok, so I’m going to be very honest about my experience, because I want anyone reading this to know what to possibly expect. But, everyone’s body is different so each individual may have a different experience.
Dr. T and everyone supporting him in the surgery center was great! I was really impressed with the anesthesiologist she was very kind, caring and on top of her game. There was a hiccup, my wallet was lost or stolen in a parking lot the night before. So, they needed ID and want your insurance card info before the surgery. Luckily, they were able to use my passport and they moved forward without my health insurance card. In addition, some type of way the wrong implants were ordered. Instead of silicone, Dr. T showed me saline implants. So, I told him those weren’t the right ones and that his assistant must have ordered the wrong ones...not sure how this happened. So, he got me the right silicone implants that I wanted, but they cost an additional $1,000.00. Would have been no problem, but I canceled and put some cards on hold because my wallet was lost or stolen the night before. So, I called my bank to lift the hold, but because of security purposes I was still unable to use my debit card. Luckily, Bonnie stepped in, another assistant there and she told me they could accept a check. So, it worked out I didn’t have to reschedule. I am grateful that Dr. T showed me the implants before he put them in to confirm I had the correct implants. Therefore, I recommend making sure you double check to make sure the implants are correct right before surgery.
Ok, so the surgery...I felt nothing I was out like a light within a matter of seconds and had no side effects from the anesthesia. I was unable to urinate after surgery so I had a catheter put in. I went home within a matter of hours. The pain, I felt virtually no pain for the BA. The TT was painful as hell. Even on pain meds it was still painful. I became nauseous and dizzy all the time. Dr. T continued to follow-up with me after surgery to make sure I was alright so that was nice. I did a check up the following week, I still couldn’t take my drain out and still felt miserable. I came back a couple of days later because I just wasn’t feeling right. I was getting mad dizzy every time I would stand. I felt like I would pass out. Dr. T was in Annapolis and worked it out so I could see his colleague Dr. Yang to make sure everything was ok. Dr. T was working in Annapolis that day and I’m in Rockville. All my vitals were fine and Dr. Yang was great. The nurse Ferra on the other hand was horrible. I never mentioned her before because I wanted to keep it positive and not let one person over shadow an overall nice office. So, Ferra is one of the nurses upstairs, she is not in the surgery center, so you won’t have to deal with her the day of surgery. I’ve had bad experiences with her before. She got hostile with me in front of my sister about 4 days before surgery because I just wanted to confirm the implants. She complained about me coming in and wanting to try the two different size implants so close to the surgery and she thought that Dr. T should have been there for that. She told me she wouldn’t be answering any questions and left me and my sister in the room with the implants. She said I could only try on the one implants because Dr. T wasn’t there. I actually apologized and said sorry I didn’t know that. I wasn’t able to make it in when Dr. T was there because I had an event with my children that I could not cancel, my children come first. Pei tried her best to fit me in.
Anyway, Ferra after surgery was still awful with her sarcasm I wasn’t trying to hear it after being in so much pain. So, when I went in to see Dr. Yang...she was like you must really like it here coming to see us again. She said you know Dr. T isn’t here, right. I say yes I know. Then she takes my blood pressure. She pricks my finger for my blood glucose level, she had an issue getting the blood out. She said she had to go and Dr. Yang did another test himself checking for anemia, he had no issue pricking my finger and getting the blood out which was needed for testing. He also checked my urine. He said my vitals were good and that I should lighten up on pain meds, get plenty of protein, and stay hydrated. Ok, so after Dr. Yang leaves my mom gets a call from my Aunt who is a nurse practitioner, she wanted to know what all my vitals were. So, my mom asks the nurse for this information, Ferra gets upset and let’s my mother know that she will not be giving her that information because Dr. Yang has my file. Then my mom asks if Dr. Yang can take my blood pressure standing up because that could explain why I was feeling off. She laughed and told my mother, “no” doctor’s don’t take blood pressure, I do. My mother just meant and thought that the doctor had to approve her taking my blood pressure. She did end up taking my blood pressure standing up. And she said from what she recalled my blood pressure is close to the same standing up. In any rate, she was rude to my mother, so I finally complained to Pei and she told Dr. Tattelbaum. Dr. T called me directly and apologized for Ferra.
So, I think the dizziness and issues I was having was due to my period starting a couple of weeks early. After the doctor’s office visit a couple of ours later my period started. I read that the stress of surgery can change your hormonal balance making your period come late or even earlier.
Anyway, I am 12 days post op and I’m feeling much better. Still in pain though. I started taking ASEA and it has been a miracle worker, I highly recommend it. Many celebrities take this after surgery from my understanding if that matters to you. Also, a very popular health and wellness organization in Florida (Hippocrates Health Institute) recommends it. I’ve noticed a difference, I’m able to have bowel movements with and have more energy. Yes, you get very constipated after surgery which can add to your pain. For me nothing else worked, not stool softeners, not laxatives, not fiber supplements only ASEA really made a noticeable difference.

I had my drain taken out today and it went well. I was worried about the pain or discomfort involved with taking it out. But, there was virtually no discomfort at all. Dr. T was great as usual and Ferra was actually really nice today. So, maybe she just had a couple of bad days before. It feels so much better having the drain out.
I was told I can start wearing a more supportive bra and the full body compression garments. Dr. T just said make sure the garments aren’t too tight. Any recommendations for bras or compression garments?
I’m feeling much better today. Still getting nauseous a lot, but pain has went down. Im excited about getting closer to recovering and moving around with my boys!