Mommy Makeover: Stories

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NEW PHOTOS 3.5 WEEKS POST OP: tummy tuck & arm lift after April 25 breast lift/augmentation, lipo, and fat transfer to butt

  • posted 1 year ago
  • updated 9 months ago

APRIL 1 Although I have never had kids, my weight...

  • 1 Apr 2012

APRIL 1 Although I have never had kids, my weight gain and loss has given me loose, saggy, dimply skin. My breasts are also droopy. I contacted CosMed Clinic in Tijuana and have my surgery scheduled for April 25. My friend is joining me and getting a breast augmentation and rhinoplasty. Tomorrow I am going for my lab tests. Flights are booked, and I am really excited to get this finally done. My highest weight was 185 pounds in 2006 or so. I lost 35 pounds doing low fat/low carb and got down to 150, which steadily climbed to 165 by 2011. I did the Bernstein diet this past November/December and got down to 143. I am currently at 152. I know, I know, it's really pathetic. Anyway, I am hoping the upcoming surgery helps me.

APRIL 5 Surgery is only 3 weeks away! Three weeks...

  • 5 Apr 2012
APRIL 5
Surgery is only 3 weeks away! Three weeks from today I will have had all my work done and will be recovering in Tijuana! How exciting. I hope I am not dying of pain three weeks from today.

At least I am 150 pounds now. If only I could lose 5 before surgery! I am working out almost daily, really getting my cardio fitness up because I want to be in good shape for surgery. :D

Two days ago (April 17) I had to go in for a...

  • 19 Apr 2012
Two days ago (April 17) I had to go in for a laproscopic gallbladder surgery. Both the gallbladder surgeon and the plastic surgeon assured me that I was okay to have both surgeries within a week of each other, but I am not so sure! I am really bloated and swollen and sore and I only have four more days to recover before I hop on the plane!

Does anyone have any advice as to how to speed up healing? I imagine lots of sleep and not moving the sore parts too much? Every time I get up or move from lying down my stomach burns. I imagine next week's surgery is going to be so much WORSE! But at least I am a little bit prepared now! I keep icing my stomach and it seems to feel a little better as I am doing that.

Feeling a lot better today. Every day does get...

  • 21 Apr 2012
Feeling a lot better today. Every day does get easier, so I am hoping it's the same with the plastic surgery too! Only my stomach muscles and belly button hurt (big incision there).

72 hours from now I'll be under the knife!!!

  • 22 Apr 2012
72 hours from now I'll be under the knife!!!

Surgery in 1 hour and 15 minutes! At Cosmed in...

  • 25 Apr 2012
Surgery in 1 hour and 15 minutes! At Cosmed in Tijuana. Dr. Quiroz is amazing and I am scared of surgery but very excited to see what he can do for me! I will update as soon as I can after surgery. So nervous!

Thanks everyone! The only problem was Dr. Quiroz...

  • 27 Apr 2012
Thanks everyone! The only problem was Dr. Quiroz coudn't do the tummy tuck because of a wound I had from the gallbladder surgery the week before. I am a bit disappointed but it's okay. This is enough to recover from! Dr. Quiroz is amazing, I don't have enough nice things to say about him for both my procedures and my friend's. No doctor could have been kinder or made me feel better. He has visited us in our Recovery Boutique twice and we will be seeing him again tomorrow before we go back to San Diego.

I'll write more later. Still very sore and tired.
xoxoxxoxoxo

TWO WEEKS TOMORROW So I am going to see my GP...

  • 8 May 2012
TWO WEEKS TOMORROW

So I am going to see my GP tomorrow to get my stitches out and the tape off my nipples. I tried taking off a piece of tape myself and the first one went okay. Then I took the second one off and it looked like a chunk of my nipple went with it, so I panicked and put it back! I am scared for tomorrow.

I am thinking of re-booking the tummy tuck for early July. Going to call CosMed tomorrow and see if I can book. I spoke to surgeon yesterday and he said my swelling should be 60% gone by now. I am looking forward to the other 40% going away! I weigh the same as I did right before surgery. Oh well, I look better I think!

List Pros & Cons, Advice you can offer others

  • 11 May 2012
List Pros & Cons, Advice you can offer others

List Pros & Cons, Advice you can offer others

  • 11 May 2012
List Pros & Cons, Advice you can offer others

I have called Cosmed to book the tummy tuck for...

  • 16 May 2012
I have called Cosmed to book the tummy tuck for end of August. Not looking forward to having to do this all over again!

I have scheduled the tummy tuck and an arm lift...

  • 24 May 2012
I have scheduled the tummy tuck and an arm lift for July 17. Woo hoo!

Tummy tuck and arm lift scheduled for July 17. So...

  • 24 Jun 2012
Tummy tuck and arm lift scheduled for July 17. So scared! But at least By September I'll be completely done all the hard part.

I don't know if there is liposuction involved and hope there isn't because it was the worst part of my last surgery, but I guess it's for the best if there is. My back is still sore from the lipo on April 25 - that was two months ago! Still a bit numb back there as well. Breasts have healed a lot.

I am looking forward to getting this DONE.

I forgot but I am also getting an arm lift on July 17.

  • 26 Jun 2012
I forgot but I am also getting an arm lift on July 17.

My friend who was supposed to come with me can't...

  • 10 Jul 2012
My friend who was supposed to come with me can't now, as she had a death in the family. So I will be going through this all alone! Sad and a little scared but oh well. One week from now I'll be finally getting my tummy tuck!

All right well 24 hours from now I will be going...

  • 15 Jul 2012
All right well 24 hours from now I will be going to bed and waking up super early to go to Tijuana!

Did it. In hospital will add day 2 pics

  • 18 Jul 2012
Did it. In hospital will add day 2 pics

Day two post op. Not as painful as I'd expected...

  • 19 Jul 2012
Day two post op. Not as painful as I'd expected this time around, though can barely keep my eyes open for more than 5 mins at a time. Stomach looks ridiculous - all lumpy and bumpy, so impossible to imagine how it will look. Thanks for the support. I can barely type. Gotta lie down. Thanks. Posted new photos.

Back at home in San Diego, thank God. Extremely...

  • 20 Jul 2012
Back at home in San Diego, thank God. Extremely tired, worried that my drain is plugged, really sore hot knife feeling on my one right side that Dr. Quiroz said is likely a suture. Need to nap every 15 mins. I'm a big bore. A big bloody bore! :)

I am usually a happy, optimistic, positive,...

  • 24 Jul 2012
I am usually a happy, optimistic, positive, easygoing person. Seriously. But after waking up at 3 AM in the most pain I have EVER felt, nearly a week after surgery, I must say I feel completely depressed. I cried and cried, admonishing myself for being so vain. For putting myself through such torture. For basically being a completely vain MORON. I wouldn't mind dying in my sleep right now. Every nerve is on fire. I regret the whole thing and am furious at the doctor for zero follow-up calls, not sending me home with any prescription medication, and basically not giving a crap about me. It is NOT FAIR.

Just wanted to let you all know that I have a...

  • 29 Jul 2012
Just wanted to let you all know that I have a serious infection from the tummy tuck as well as significant pain from the butt fat injections. I have been hospitalized since Thursday on IV antibiotics and painkillers and it's been a terrible ordeal. I've been very sick for a week now (that's about when the infection started, pain of course since surgery).

Complications can and do happen!
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Dr Quiroz is a good surgeon but he sent me home twice without any prescription pain medication and I suffered horribly. I had to pay $120 to go to an urgent care centre 6 days after my second surgery and get a prescription for percocets. I cried and cried due to pain and have no idea why he won't give his patients pain medication post-surgery. I finally got ahold of him THREE days later (on the 4th day) and he called in a prescription for vicodin to a pharmacy in SD. The doc in San Diego said, after I showed him my vicodin prescription, "Yeah this isn't going to do anything for you." and then I landed in the hospital and my team her says the antibiotics he gave me are useless. I am fighting a serious infection!

Comments (121)

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Burning_the_past 8 Dec 2012
Oh gosh I'm so sad you had such a bad experience. Glad to hear you recovered.
wrknonit 20 Nov 2012
How are you doing?
Katie6030 2 Mar 2013
Sorry I haven't logged on in ages. I feel like I have PTSD from that whole experience, this is the first time I have been brave enough to come back to this site since September. I am much better but still numb and swollen. It pains me to reread my posts! Thanks for the support everyone. :D
Katie6030 7 Sep 2012
i am way better! i am still swollen and numb and yucky. i hope you are doing okay. :D
mak46 24 Aug 2012
I have a necrosis that is healing now, and was just seeing if anyone I was chatting with was in the same boat. The fact that you asked, means thankfully this is 1 thing you didnt have to deal with. How are you btw? I really hope things have improved vastly for you :)!
mak46 11 Aug 2012
Katie, did you by chance have any wounds on tt incision? I have one and it is a serious downer.
Katie6030 24 Aug 2012
i'm sorry, what do you mean by wounds on the incision?
MalloryW 11 Aug 2012
Glad to see your hanging in there and things are getting better!
PiinkyS 7 Aug 2012
Yay glad to hear your doing so much better!!:))
Thank you for sharing all this with us, now I'm afraid of going to TJ for a TT:(
What's your opinion on this whole ordeal?
Katie6030 11 Aug 2012
I don't think it's TJ that's the problem... I think it's just a risky procedure. I would find out from your plastic surgeon what kinds of antibiotics you'll be on.
AshBlea 7 Aug 2012
Katy.. Now that the infection is controlled and pain somewhat controlled how do u feel about the whole thing? Are u happy with results? U look great. Would u recommend?
Katie6030 11 Aug 2012
Yes, of course now that I am way better, I am very happy with my FLAT stomach. I have a lot of swelling under the belly button, but that's common of course.
Katie6030 4 Aug 2012
Thank you so much everyone! I have been SOOOOO sick. I was so sick (vomiting) off some oral antibiotics they had me on. Thank goodness they took me off those Thursday. I still have to go at 8 pm every night for IV antibiotics til at least Aug 15. It's not fun. I really appreciate the prayers/support, I NEED IT.
Blonde in bluffton (RealFriend) 4 Aug 2012

Oh man that's rough. I think about u every day! How are you feeling now? Any better? Sending positive thoughts your way!
Katie6030 7 Aug 2012
yes i feel sooooo much better. now that i am off the nauseating antibiotics. i need t3s usually in the middle of the night... i think sleeping hurts because of the position. but otherwise, i am SO much better!!!! thanks for all your concern. it's been a bad ordeal.
mak46 7 Aug 2012
It's so good to hear that you are turning a corner, or at least peeking around it :))!! We were worried about you, that was a BAD ordeal for sure!
PiinkyS 1 Aug 2012
Thinking about you everyday! I pray your doing much better!!:)
mak46 1 Aug 2012
Sweet Katie, how are you feeling/healing today? More prayers your way.
estell 1 Aug 2012
Praying for you.
Angiemcc (Community Manager) 31 Jul 2012

Sending healing vibes your way! This so isn't fair. Virtual hugs.

something4me 31 Jul 2012
I'm so sorry to hear you are not doing well. I am praying for your speedy recovery.
mak46 30 Jul 2012
Prayed for you now sending a big air hug! So glad you are not by yourself and have the right meds to heal now.
AshBlea 30 Jul 2012
Did u have sepsis? Geez ur lucky they were able to control the infection. Keep us posted thinking about u!!
Katie6030 4 Aug 2012
i am not sure... i will have to google that
Katie6030 4 Aug 2012
oh dear god no i didn't not have that but i think they thought i could have... but thank GOODNESS i didn't have that.

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