“Change of Plans-Raleigh, NC (Full TT, Breast Lift/Aug. on Sept. 6th) 5 Weeks PO!”

I am a 27 year old mommy of three girls. I have a wonderful family and am very blessed and happy. However, though I would do it 100 times over, pregnancy and breast feeding have not been kind to my body and has definately left their marks. Lots of them! I am currently just trying to get my ducks in a row and do my research before i jump into this. We are done having babies, but i will have to wait a few mnths before I feel comfortable going through with the surgery due to the fact that my youngest just stopped nursing a couple of weeks ago. I think it will take a little time to see whats left of my poor girls. Really considered nursing this last one till she was 12 (just kidding). I am currently 135 lbs and 5'4", so only about 10 lbs from my goal weight. Hoping to reach that as well before I begin this mommy makeover journey. Definately know that I have 3 problem areas: Breasts, Tummy, and upper thighs. I've not had a consultation yet but I have a pretty good idea of the procedures that are offered. I am sooo excited about finally doing something for myself and have been looking forward to this since the birth of my first child. I would really appriciate any advice and am very excited about finding a community of other moms who have been here.

Thanks, CCC's Mommy

P.S. I looked at a general cost list and combined the totals of the procedures that I am interested in to come up with the cost. It wouldn't allow me to leave it blank!

Updated on 11 Feb 2011:
Just wanted to add a few details about my weight loss journey. My girls are ages 6, 5, and 14months. I was always a pretty healthy weight through highschool, 5'4" and around 130 lbs. I married my highschool sweetheart in 2003 and 6 weeks later became pregnant with twins. What a surprise, unfortunately we lost the babies at 16 weeks. I had already put on a few pounds and really started putting it on after the loss due to depression. Became pregnant with my oldest daughter a few months later and topped out at 230 lbs by the time I delivered. I had just started to loose and had made it down to 185 when I became pregnant with my second daughter. Back into the 200's! My girls are only 17 months apart. It was after my experience with gestational diabetes, that I regained control of my weight. I never want to experience insulin shots again and it was an eye opening experience for me. I was able to make it to 140 lbs and kept it off for over a year when I became pregnant with baby girl # 3. This last pregnancy was much healthier and after the delivery, I was able to snap back much faster. Currently, I am 5'4" and 135 lbs. I would really like to loose about 10 more lbs before my surgery, but I feel like my weight is pretty stable and healthy. I just stopped nursing my 1 year old and am trying to give my body some time before I have my makeover, but I wanted to share my experience. I feel like the more details people know about me, the better they can relate. I hope this wasn't too much information, just felt like sharing!

Updated on 14 Feb 2011:
Well, the process is started... I have three consultations scheduled over the next couple of weeks. My first one will be this Wednesday. Sooo excited. I am currently making a list of questions, so if anybody has anything that I should add to that list, please advise. They are all board certified, I know this was emphasized by everyone. Thanks ladies! I will be adding my before photo's soon although I'll be honest, pregnancy has been far from kind and it's not pretty...

Updated on 18 Feb 2011:
Had my first consult Wednesday. I liked the doctor and it wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as I had imagined. It was exciting to hear his opinion...He suggested a donut lift, implants that would make me a large C. A full tummy tuck. And a medial thigh lift. I was very excited about the donut lift, as it has less scarring than the lolly pop. He did say I had pretty major seperation in my abdominal muscles and he would be able to fix that with the abdominal plasty and could remove most of my stretch marks, the rest would be much lower and less noticeable. As far as the thigh lift, he said he expected pretty good results because it's just small pockets of skin on my inner thighs and the scars would be in my panty line. He seemed to think that all of these procedures could be performed in one surgery and I probably wouldn't require an over night stay, but it was an option if I needed it. His quoted price without the overnight stay and with saline implants was $15,300. For silicone implants it would go up $1000. Does anyone have a preference between the 2? He didn't give me much detail as to one over the other. I have two more consults scheduled with other doctors over the next two weeks. So, I will update as this process moves along...

Updated on 6 Jul 2011:
Wow. I haven't updated in quite a while! We have been super busy and had to change our plans around. My husband got transfered with his job quite unexpectedly, so that has been sort of all consuming. I was planning to have my surgery in Nashville, this past May. However we have had to move to North Carolina for my husbands job, so once again everything else was put on the back burner. I had 3 consults in Nashville and had chosen a surgeon that I felt pretty good about. However, now if I have surgery in Nashville, I have the added expence and inconvenience of traveling. I think anyone with small children can relate to how well that scenario would work out (not). So, I have started my process over again here in Raleigh, NC. My 3rd and final consult is in a month and I feel pretty confident that this will all work out. I will not be deterred, I have wanted this for sooo long! So, my new projected time frame for surgery is this coming November. That gives me 4 months to get all the kinks worked out, find a surgeon, and make a plan. Part of me wants to just get it over with already, but I know that going into this without doing the proper research and making informed decisions would be dangerous and stupid. I believe that everything happens for a reason, so I'm just trying not to get too frustrated by all the delays and changes in plans. And on a positive, I really like it here! Thanks all for listening, I will update after my last consult and let ya know what I've decided.

Updated on 9 Aug 2011:
I am sooo frustrated! I can not seem to find a surgeon... I've read from a lot of the stories on here that when you find the right doctor, you just know! Well, I found a surgeon in Nashville that I was pretty confident with, but then life happened. My husband had to move for work to North Carolina and so I started the search here. I have had three consults here. Two were no goes and the last had a lot of potential, until his office called back with a quote. He wants to break my procedures up into 2 seperate surgeries. Just for an Lift/Aug, Tummy tuck, and armpit lipo, $21,700. He told me the day before that he could lipo my flanks and outer thighs at the same time as my tt, but now his office manager says that he changed his mind and feels that those procedures can be performed later with a medial thigh lift, which by the way, she didn't have a quote on. I feel jerked around... I have paid for 6 consults now alltogether and still feel as lost as a ball in tall weeds... Would appriciate any advice!`

Updated on 20 Aug 2011:
Wow! Yesterday was huge! Went for another consult and finally clicked with a doctor. Within 5 minutes of talking to her, I knew she was the one. Yay! Loved her, loved her staff, we were on the same page with the procedures and the price was reasonable... In fact, I felt so confident, that I booked my surgery for Sept., 6th. OMG, that is in 18 days! I am sooo excited... Having a doughnut lift, implants, full tt, and lipo of the flanks and outer thighs. I will be having a medial thigh lift at a later date. Afraid that too many ouches in too many places at one time would just be too much. Now that I feel like this is really coming together, I feel compfortable enough to post my before pics. I think in order to get a true feel for my journey, I'm going to post a pic of me at my heaviest. But, the only fat pics that I didn't throw out, are the ones with my babies in them, Lol! I am also considering doing a video, but I haven't decided yet...

Updated on 23 Aug 2011:
O.k. drummm rolll! Here are my before photo's! It's not pretty ladies... So, consider yourself warned.

Updated on 26 Aug 2011:
Holy Cow, I am having surgery in less than 2 weeks... It's just starting to sink in! I am nesting like crazy and trying to think out every scenario possible. I am a slight over preparer! Trying to plan out menu's and child care. Hope I don't drive myself or my family crazy in the meantime! If hurricane Irene doesn't interfeer, I will be having my pre-op on Monday. So, until then....

Updated on 29 Aug 2011:
Had my pre op today... I am soo excited. One week from tomorrow, I will have my resteration and upgrades lol. All supplies are bought, scripts are filled, and the surgery is paid for, now just the wait! Was really hoping that they would send me home after surgery, but looks like I will be staying the night at the surgery center instead. They said it would be safer and they would be able to manage my pain better anyway. My husband went with me today and met my PS and got to see the surgery center and meet all the staff. I think this really helped to put him at ease. My only hesitation at this point is implant size... I am a pretty small person. 5'4.5" 129lbs (size 3 pants), I don't want big ladies. Was really hoping for the whole package look, instead of those being an overbearing presence. I have had 7 consultations in all and the one thing that all the surgeons were pretty constant on was the implants... 330 to 360cc's moderate plus. I'm pretty small but my chest and shoulders are wide and I have tons of loose skin and almost no volume left (barely an A). This whole size thing is really freaking my husband out too. He doesn't like very large boobs. He's really afraid that a full C is going to be too much. Currently the plan is 350cc moderate plus silicone, subglandular... Any advice?

Updated on 7 Sep 2011:
24 hours post-op and all I can say is what have I gotten myself into? Seriously underestimated the pain! On my own in the morning since hubby has to go back to work... I hope this will all be worth it. Right now I just have a lot of ouches and a bad case of the blues! Will update with pics in a few days.

Updated on 8 Sep 2011:
Had my first shower tonight! Oh, it was glorious. Unfortunately, I had to see all of my body and wow, I just wasn't prepared for what I saw. I'm posting pics now. Do my boobs look normal? The implants are up to my collar bone and my boobs are underneath. The ps said this was normal, but it's sort of unsettleing anyway. Wow, just feeling kind of down!

Updated on 10 Sep 2011:
Day 4 PO

I am doing a lot better than I had anticipated. The day of surgery and my first day PO, I was thinking "Why did I let someone do this to me, and even worse, I paid them to beat me up like this." Thankfully, I have turned the corner and actually feel like I'm recovering. I actually feel well enough to stay alone with my 3 girls today. My 7 and 5 year olds are a big help, and as long as I cover up with a pillow, my 20 month old can lay in my lap. Cuddling with my baby = happy baby and happy mommy. Not holding her has been the worst. She is such a mommy's girl!

I stayed the first night at the surgery center and that actually turned out to be a good thing. But I have been on my own during the day since day 2 and have done fine. They sent me home in a sports bra and velcro binder. I have found that ace bandages are my bff's. I wear them over my bra and binder some during the day and they really give me some extra support. Makes it a lot easier to get up and around. I don't feel like my binder is tight enough sometimes. I take motrin twice a day and this helps with pain control until the evening. I usually take a pain pill in the evening and sometimes another before bed. For some reason the evenings are when I feel stiff and sore. So far, I have had one bm on day 3. I have taken stool softeners religiously since day 1 and took mom for 2 days to get things moving. I had no trouble at all with the deed! Anyway, gonna take everything off again tomorrow: wash my binder, sponge bath, and get some pics. Hoping my implants have dropped a little more, but I doubt it. I looked online and found some other ladies who had the same issue with riding high and their's looked amazing once they settled. Makes me feel a little less panicy lol!

Also wanted to let you ladies know that I appriciate your support so much. We recently moved out of state, so we are away from all our family and friends. This situation would be pretty lonely for me if I didn't have this blog. So, thanks again for all your support and advice. XOXO

Updated on 13 Sep 2011:
Day 7 PO

Well, I feel good physically. Am getting back in the swing of taking the kids to and from school. Bumming around the house, picking up some. Other than that, taking it pretty easy. Thought I was on the mend, till I woke up this morning to find that my left breast is inflamed and tender. Looks like it's sun burned in patches. Noticed it wasn't exactly right yesterday evening, but figured it was just par for the course. Like maybe I had just overdone it or something. But, this morning I could feel a difference. I called the PS office and they put me on a stronger anti biotic for infection. I go in tomorrow for my first PO visit, so she told me to trace the inflammation with a marker, so that she could see if the redness was spreading.
After reading about implant infections and their repercussions, I just feel like crying! Please pray for me. The last thing I need is to have more surgery and expence.

Went ahead and took 1 week pics anyway, will post in a bit...

Updated on 14 Sep 2011:
Day 8 PO

Went to see my PS today and it went pretty well. She feels like my infection is not severe and that the anti biotics will work fine. Also, she said that my implants will adventually drop and look great. She is having me use an ace bandage across my chest to encourage them a little south. Also, has me starting massage. And, she removed my right drain! (OUCH!) But so glad that thing is gone. Also she removed my belly button stitches. Love my new BB! The old one looked like a butt, LOL! I go back on Monday to have the other drain removed, and give her a chance to check on my infection. So, here is hoping to a smooth recovery from here on out!

Also, wanted to take a minute to say thank you soo much ladies for all you support and encouraging words! It means so much!!! XOXO

Updated on 15 Sep 2011:
Ladies, I have an announcement! After just 24 hours of wearing the compression strap, my right boob has settled nicely and the left one is on its way! They aren't exactly even, but I know they will be. Oh I am sooo excited. No more square boobs... I see all these post-op pics of the pretty round boobs, wake up from surgery thinking thats what I got and about have a heart attack when I see square bricks instead. So happy! Just had to share! Attaching photo's...

Updated on 16 Sep 2011:
Feeling pretty good today. Took the kids to school, straightened up the house a bit, and made a pot of chili... Wish I could push the fast forward button to Monday, so I could hurry up and get this last drain out. I feel like once this drain is out, I will be free! Also, my left boob has dropped a little more. I am very happy with the girls! I added a new pic...

Updated on 20 Sep 2011:
2 Week PO

Well, its been a ride, but totally worth it. Went to see the PS yesterday and got my second drain out, good riddance! Feels amazing to be drain free! Also, had all my steri strips replaced. Was so impresses with my incisions, very thin and colorless. PS said that breasts still had a lot of dropping and fluffing to do and that it may be up to another 6 weeks or so, but not to be discouraged that they were fine. Told me to massage often and wear my strap to help push them down, she also said that I could go braless some. Also, she recommended that I wear the binder another 4 weeks inorder to obtain maximum results. Hate it, but can live with anything if it helps me obtain great results. I find the binder very itchy and difficult to get on and off, so wearing it in combination with the spanx is too difficult at potty time since I have to remove the binder to get the spanx pulled down. But I love the feel of a compression garmet underneath the binder. So, I have discovered a shaping cami that is working great underneath. The line is called Marilyn Monroe. They sale it here at Rugged Warehouse for $7.99. The cami is super long, the compression is perfect, and it isn't tight in the bust. So, that is where I am. No major issues. Pain, swelling, and pottying are all fine. I feel blessed! Will post pics this evening...

Updated on 28 Sep 2011:
3 Weeks PO

I was 3 weeks yesterday. It seems like it's been longer than that. This is definately the slowest heeling that I have ever experienced. I feel pretty good most days. Swollen and tired at night, but nothing major. Still waiting on my boobs to settle. My implants haven't dropped into their pockets yet, so they are riding pretty high and I won't see the full results of my lift until they drop. Atleast that is what my PS and a few other women who have experienced the same issue keep telling me. Patience I suppose. In the mean time, life goes on. I have to hold myself back a lot of times because I feel good enough to do some of the things that I am not supposed to yet. I would say that I don't look much different than I did a week ago. I guess the biggest thing for me so far is that yesterday, my PS said that I could start sleeping in just my spanx without that itchy binder. It felt glorious and I didn't wake up at all last night. First full nights sleep since surgery!!!

Updated on 12 Oct 2011:
5 Weeks PO

I actually feel mostly normal now. Doing most everything that I was before surgery except hitting the gym. I don't plan to go back till I'm 3 months PO. I know myself, and I will over do it, so I'm just waiting till I'm clear for all my workouts. I stay pretty active running after my 3 kids, so that is fine for now. I have discovered that as long as I stay away from all processed foods, I don't swell much. During the beginning of my recovery, I had to depend on convenience foods to get by, but now I'm back at clean eating. All that processed junk was making me sick, no wonder I was swelling. I wear spanx in combination with my post partum belt, only when I'm going to be very active or on my feet a long time. The support makes me feel better. But just hanging around the house or sleeping, I don't need anything. Still trying to be patient with my breast lift. I go back to see my PS at 7 weeks PO for a check up and if they aren't much improved, I will be having a revision! My tt scar looks pretty good. I noticed that it's redder and going through it's "angry" phase, but even with all that, it's still thin. I'm using palmers oil on my scars and it seems to keep them moisturized and the massaging keeps them soft. So, all in all, pretty good!