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POSTED UNDER Mommy Makeover REVIEWS

VERY WORTH IT!! (Sep 28th) Tummy Tuck, Lipo of Flanks/ Inner Thighs and Breast Augmentation! - Sacramento, CA

ORIGINAL POST

So here's my story. I'm 28yrs old, married...

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SuperReady
WORTH IT$13,400

So here's my story. I'm 28yrs old, married and mother to a beautiful 5yr old girl (going on 18!). I am a proud active duty member serving with the US Air Force as Security Forces (military cop). I had my daughter two years after joining the military. I went from a petite, physically fit to a GINORMOUS oversized gal. I gained 60lbs for a 7lb baby.. yikes!! Apparently I took the eating for two part above and beyond. Anywho, 5yrs later I've lost most of the weight (can still lose about 10lbs more though) and no matter how many sit ups, planks, Zumba classes I do this belly is staying put! I know I have a strong core but skin not so much! It's all saggy and my belly button kinda droops. It looks like a sad belly button. After much discussion with my husband and a few close friends but mostly finding this AMAZING website I have decided the Mommy Makeover is a great thing for me. Because of my job I was a little bit apprehensive since I knew I would be restricted for quite a bit but thankfully I am getting A LOT of support from everybody! So now I have scheduled my surgery for Sep 28 and I am SO SO excited. Not even nervous.. yet! I was originally just going to get the tummy tuck but the more I thought about it I thought what the heck, might as well throw in the boobs too! My boobs are actually not that bad but figured since I'm going under I would take advantage of it!

Here is how my consultation process went. I want to mention it on here because I think it is so important to pick the right doctor for you! I was deployed when I scheduled my consultations. I scheduled a total of three consultations. Two of the doctors waived the consultation fee and one charged me $60.

First consultation: Drove TWO hours to see this Dr. I found him after reading about him on here and hearing some good stuff about him. The consultation was free. He looked at me, took three pictures and gave me some really basic info on just the tummy tuck absolutely nothing on the breast augmentation. I saw him for maybe 10mins then my husband and I were whisked away to another office where we were given quotes. We drove a total of 4hrs for a 30min appointment.

Second consultation: This doctor was only 30mins away. He was recommended by some friends. Consultation was free. As SOON as we walked into his office the ladies really made me feel comfortable. Filled out some forms and my husband and I were taken to the room where the doctor would be seeing us. First they showed us two videos: one for the tummy tuck and one for the breast augmentation. About 10mins each and really helpful. Then the doctor came in with his assistant. He was AMAZING! He went through EVERYTHING. Pros, cons, side effects, results, goals. I had no questions when he was done because he covered everything. When he walked out the door to let me get dressed, my husband and I looked at each other and we both knew he was the doctor. We were really impressed with his consultation. We were there for almost 2hrs and it was worth it!

Third consultation: Even though I pretty much decided on the second Dr. I thought I would check out the third one just to make sure. Well, the third doctor just confirmed the second doctor was MY doctor! This doctor was also 30mins away. They charged me a $60 consultation fee and they made me wait 30mins after my scheduled appointment. The doctor finally came in looked at me, made me turn around, looked some more then he said "sure, I'll do it." What?! Then he added, you should get lipo on your thighs too, they're kind of big don't you think? I am so glad my job has trained me to remain calm no matter the situation because I just about took this guy out! I just said "sure." I got my price quote and left but not before taking every single candy from their candy bowl! Had to get as much of those $60 back!

Needless to say, I scheduled my surgery with the second doctor. I have my pre-op on the 13th! I'm leaning towards silicone implants right now but I have not fully decided. If I do go with silicone the cost would be $12,800 (it's normally $14,180 but like I said this doctor is awesome!)

All this would not be possible without the help of my more than amazing husband. Although he continues to assure that he loves me just the way I am.. I don't love me. I want my outside to reflect how I feel on the inside. I LOVE my life but I'm still human and my body appearance sometimes makes me a little insecure. My hubby is also active duty so he will be taking some leave to help me out and he will pretty much be single daddy all over again until I am well enough to do things again (I JUST got back from a deployment two weeks ago so he is being a true trooper about being single daddy again! Like I said.. he's awesome!)

Ok, I think I have written and entire novel here. I just want to be as detailed as possible with my experience because I would love to help other people just like some of the gals have already helped me here by sharing their stories.

Here's one thing I would love to hear some opinions about: saline or silicone?! I am currently a 34C. My doctor said the fact that I already have boobs he thinks that most of the implant would be well hidden behind my own breast tissue but he did mention silicone tends to feel more "real" than saline. I get the feeling that he thinks saline would be fine for me but my hubby is scared that they wouldn't feel real enough. Ladies what do you think?!

Oh just in case, for reference: I'm 5'2, 145lbs, 34C (quite comfortable with my weight believe it or not but the Air Force says I'm too fat still! Darn it!) I'll post pictures soon promise!

SuperReady's provider

Richard K. Lee, MD

Richard K. Lee, MD

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

SuperReady

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Replies (5)

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September 12, 2011

Here's a link about saline versus silicone implants. It should give you some good info. You're really getting the works and I'm looking forward to following your journey. Thanks for sharing with us here!

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January 25, 2016
Can you please help me??? I have so many questions in regards of how to get medical clearance for an elective surgery!!
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June 26, 2016
Hi did you get cleared? I'm meeting with my MTF physician on Tuesday to ask permission...
August 15, 2016
Did you guys get permission? How did you do it? What did they say??
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June 26, 2016
Hello and thank you for sharing your journey... I'm active duty as well and my biggest concern through all of this, is will my command deny me permission to get a mommy makeover?? Did you have to get permission?
UPDATED FROM SuperReady
16 days pre

Tomorrow is pre-op appointment and I'm so excited!...

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SuperReady
Tomorrow is pre-op appointment and I'm so excited! Not one ounce of nervousness.. yet! I'll be taking in some shirts to see how I would look with my new boobs! My husband will go with me to ensure I don't go overboard :) Still deciding if I want to silicone or saline! I already told myself that tomorrow I will decide and after that I will not be changing my mind!!!

Replies (2)

September 13, 2011
Love your story! I really feel like ours is the same! My husband feels the same, loves my body, but wants me to be happy. We are both lucky to have amazing men in our lives!

I think you should go with the silicone ones! Are you getting a lift too, or are you breasts not sagging? At first I thought my price was high, but then I have to remember that I'm getting a lift as well as an augmentation. I also gained 60lbs so my breasts went from a B, to a DD and now they're a C, so they're so low. My PS said I wouldn't want to put an implant in, because then I'd just have big, saggy boobs, haha!

I'm so glad you did your research with your doctor, we did that as well and had a similar experience. The first doctor we saw was free and we didn't even get to see the doctor. It was a nurse who went through everything with us and then when we talked price she seemed to negotiate things and if we do this and that maybe we can drop the price and I felt like I was just a number, that they really didn't care about me, that they just wanted to make the most the could!

Well, keep me posted with your pre-op appointment!
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September 15, 2011
Yes, my husband is still being very supportive. We'll see when the day comes..I hope he's the same way too! :)

I ended up choosing the saline implants. My PS said ultimately the decision to get saline/silicone implants was on me but he really believed that for the boobs that I was asking for saline would be the better choice. He said it would give me more of the roundish shape I'm looking for. I'm not having a lift, thankfully the ladies held up really good. They are a little bit low but the implants will be taking care of that.

How many compression garments are you getting? My PS will give me one along with one bra but I am thinking I will get more. Just to be on the safe side! Did they tell you how soon you can shower?
UPDATED FROM SuperReady
13 days pre

Ok I had my pre-op appointment on the 13th and it...

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SuperReady
Ok I had my pre-op appointment on the 13th and it was so much fun! I got to try different sizes of implants and ended up settling for saline 390cc which would make me about a small D cup. I took different shirts and tried them all and it looks like that size would be perfect! My husband was with me and he also got a kick of trying on the different sizes. I also took in undies to make sure that the incision that is being made on my tummy would be hidden by it and he said it would be. And as far as teh compression garment.. ohhhh my! It was a riot just trying to put it on so I can only imagine once I'm swollen and in pain. That's probably why they told me to not take it off for anything for the first week! Not even for a shower! EEK! I got a really long list of medications I should stay away from and other things to expect after the surgery. I also got to pay the remaining balance. Ouch! No worries though because I know I'm going to feel and look AMAZING!! I cannot wait!

Replies (8)

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September 15, 2011
yay pre-op are you ready! Yes I have choosen saline also cause I want the roundness also. I am excited for you are you nervous you got everything ready is your dr near you!
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September 16, 2011
I'm soooo ready! I'm not nervous.. yet! I'm sure when the day starts getting closer though I'll be really nervous! I'm trying to get my house all cleaned up by the time my surgery comes up so I don't have to worry about it and my husband has less to do. My doctor is about a 40min drive so not too bad!
September 15, 2011
Hello my little mommy makeover buddy!! ;) 12 days and counting right?!? Here's hoping for a smooth recovery for the both of us
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September 16, 2011
Less than TWO WEEKS!!! Yayyyyy!!! Since you are different time zone you will be done before me! I'm scheduled for 6hrs. Shoud be able to go home at around 5pm! I'm sure our recovery will be great! I just got me a Victoria's Secret credit card because once my boobs are ready to go I'm only wearing some nice bras! lol
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September 16, 2011
tHATS GREQT NO NOT TO BAD OF a drive!You know I have been looking in to everything. My daughter has a friend whos mom cleans so I think I am going to have her clean 2wice for the first two weeks I am down... I am not going to be home for the first week which is good I cant be around kids and hear them needing things I am a mommy I will get up and help them!
September 16, 2011
Wow - I'm so excited for you as well!!! I'll try to post the night of my surgery so you'll have an idea of what to expect! When I went on Monday I paid all in full - I'll probably never touch that much at one time - god bless my husband - his snowmobile money will be in my chest in a few weeks, lol!

I'm nervous, excited - especially when I was on the floor this morning chasing my 1.5 year old and my skin was drooping - definately know I'm making the right decision - you are too! Good Luck girl!
September 16, 2011
My cleaning lady is scheduled to come during the wo weeks that I'm off cause I'll clean right before I go in and then I'll clean right before I go back, or my mom will!! Good plan to have someone!