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excited about my mommy makeover on dec 23, 2010! - Sacramento, CA

Worth It
Spent: $11,000 in Sacramento, CA

Comments (154)

Updated 2 Feb 2011

Posted 12 Dec 2010

I have 3 kids and they are now grown. I got married right out of high school and had them really early in life, so you can say that we grew up together.:)

I stay pretty active with cardio Kickboxing classes, spin, I like to lift and to run. I really enjoy working out and watch my diet. The problem is that I have to be really good, not stop and be consistent in order to achieve the results I like. I'm blessed that I can look the way I look after having had 3 kids. I believe that since I had them so early in life, my body was able to bounce back to normal after 3 pregnancies.

My problem area is my tummy because I do have to be extra good with exercise and diet for it to stay small, notice I say small, not completely flat. I also got stretch marks after my first pregnancy. The stretch marks are there, but not too noticeable. I do want to remove that part of my tummy with TT. When things come up that keep me from working out, that is when the buldge appears, it drives me crazy because I do work out hard to look good! That is why I decided to help myself by having a tummy tuck. As for my BA, I have always wanted to have a BA to have larger, funner breasts:) Plus it is my b-day on Jan 5th and I am treating myself!:) I always try to do something special for myself right before my b-day and this will do wonders for me as I go into the next decade!! So excited, yet so nervous about the scar....I know I am trading stretch marks for a flat tummy with a scar on it and frankly, I rather have the scar that I can hide with my undies/bikini bottoms than to have a tummy with stretch marks!

My dr does wonderful work and I have seen other patients scars and they are not bad at all. Their TT scars are very "clean" looking scars that are not very visible! Let's just hope mine will heal as good as theirs have! As far as BA work, he is truly amazing also! I can't wait to have it all done, though I know the first months into it, my scar will not be pretty. I am not looking forward to the drains hanging out of my belly. I will keep you guys updated. Any body else having theirs done this month?

Updated on 28 Dec 2010:
Let me tell you that it is not a bad procedure to have....not at all. At least for me it has been a good experience and think that I should have done it sooner. I have not seen the final results since my breast are still swollen and I have a ways to go to before I heal completely, but I am referring to the way that I have been feeling during my recovery. Yes, I have had some rough times due to the soreness that I have, but it hasn't been unbearable. The soreness is in my abdomen and breast. My abs feel like I did 500 sit-ups and of course my breast are swollen and sore.
The Dr put my implants through my belly button and we went with 550ccs - I was a small C before and I went a little bigger (was thinking originally of going with 500ccs). We decided to go in through the belly button since we were doing the tummy tuck and I am soooo glad we did because I don't have any scars on or around my breast.

He tightened my ab muscles by sewing them together and did lipo on my flanks. :) I have seen other patients of his who have had the same procedure done and their TT scar is not bad looking at all. That really helped me in my decision to have my procedure with him. I was already very impressed with his BA work and how beautiful everybody's breast looked after he got done with them. I wanted the same results and I did a lot of research before I found him.

I live in Northern California and found my Dr in Southern California. That worked for me because I am from So Cal and do have a lot of family in So Cal, so I am recuperating here at my sister's house and she has been here along with my mom, my nieces. I am so grateful to have them here because they have been extremely helpful!
It is my fifth day since my procedure and i am feeling really good. I haven't really experienced much pain at all. Tomorrow I see my Dr for and my drains will come out. I don't have a whole lot of fluid coming out anymore. I will love it when the drains are no longer in me.

The one thing I did not realize prior to my surgery is that I was going to need so much help laying down, getting out of bed, getting up when sitting down, during the first days I even needed help pulling up and down my pants. The Dr did not want me doing a whole lot with my arms, so yes I needed a lot of help. Just today I am able to lay myself down very slowly with minimal help.

I started massaging my breast on the 3rd day and my right breast hurt the first day I massaged it, but I am okay now. I have to massage 3 times a day the first month. I am wearing a sports bra and that is all I will be wearing for a while.

I will update you guys tomorrow after I go have my drains taken out.

Updated on 2 Feb 2011:
Finally I have started working out! :)
I have been patiently waiting to start and at the same time dreading it out of fear that it might hurt some how. To my surprise I did very well, better than expected. It has been 6 weeks since I had my surgery and my Dr said to wait until 6 weeks after surgery to start working out again and I did. He said I could go back to spin after 4 weeks, but I wanted to wait. Well, last night I did a 45 minute workout of the Brazilian butt lift workout and it was grrrrrrrreat! It will target the areas that I need work on! I also did 30 minutes of TKB (cardio kickboxing). So it is on, I am back to working out and shedding off whatever has been accumulating since the last time I worked out before my surgery and that last workout was exactly 6 weeks ago today! :)
I am amazed at how much I can do and how well I can jump back in and get my workout on!!
Of course that I am being careful, I am not about to over do it and injure myself.

I did notice a little swelling around my TT incision after I got done working out and I also noticed that my scar got darker immediately after I was done. I wonder why?

I will continue to update you guys. My Brazilian butt lift work out is a 60 day work out to get my bottom in amazing shape. I will also go back to the gym this weekend! So happy!!

This review is the subjective opinion of a RealSelf member and not of RealSelf, Inc.

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My Doctor: David E. Kim, MD

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Comments (154)

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Tom at RealSelf (Community Manager) 12 Dec 2010

hi Luvfitness- did we get the right doctor assigned to your posting? Is he based in Beverly Hills?

LUVFITNESS 13 Dec 2010
Yes, you have the right Dr. That is my awesome Dr!!! :) :) :) :)

Thanks!
trena 12 Dec 2010
hello we sound the same from your comments. I go for my surgery on Dec 22 day before yours, I'm excited and nervous and all the other stuff that goes with it. The only thing for me I had natural child birth and I have never been under the knife ever so I don't know what to expect. So I'm thinking the pain is going to kill me think the worse the see what happens. I paid my big bill last Wednesday and there is not turning back now, no money back at all so reality is here to stay. So keep in touch we will get through this together.
LUVFITNESS 13 Dec 2010
Sunshine and Trena! Oh-my-Gosh!!
This will be great!! LOL
I a sooo excited, but nervous just to think that he will be cutting part of my skin off! Yikes!!
That is the scary part, but I am glad that we will go through this together!! :)
I will be faxing in my cc# today to cover the cost! :)
Just emailed my pharmacy unfo.
Sunshine627 13 Dec 2010
Very exciting... I too paid for my surgery today. I also had my pre-op visit and now I am beside myself with both fear and excitement!! No worries ladies because we will all get through this together. Just ont forget about me when you ladies are all done and Im just going in... I hate being the last one but at least I can learn from you all! :-)
Sunshine627 12 Dec 2010
YEY! You started a review... very happy and can't wait to see your pictures. Its great to know that there are others going through the same experience all at the same time. Can't wait to share this journey with you guys!
LUVFITNESS 13 Dec 2010
Sunshine, I replied to up above...check it out. :)
LUVFITNESS 14 Dec 2010
Are you taking anything to prepare you for the procedure? What drugs did your Dr prescribe?
I have mine waiting to be picked up. I'm still out of town in Phoenix, but I will be back home on Friday. I will pick them up then. Are you getting a pain pump?
How about the garment you wear after the surgery? Will your Dr get that for you? I wonder how swollen we can get? I will be off for 10 days and after that I am returning to work. I should be ok as long as I take it easy. :)
When will you return to work?
trena 14 Dec 2010
luvfitness I got my drugs today and I'm getting oxycodone and acetaminophen with codeine and a antibiotic. as far as I know no pain pump and he is giving me a binder to wear after. I work from home so I can take as much time off as I want. Do you know what drugs your getting?
Sunshine627 14 Dec 2010
Hey Luv! I am not taking anything to prepare for the procedure but I will be calling my PS tomorrow to ask about Arnica and Bromelin for the pain after lipo. I see the other girls talking about it and I am curious.

I was prescribed Dilaudid for pain, Phenegrin for nausea, Keflex for antibiotic, Robaxin as a muscle relaxer and I was also given a prescription for a blood thinner (injection) that I need to take after the surgery because of the Lipo. I asked for the pain pump but he doesn;t use it anymore because he says that he had too many issues with it emptying too fast.

I will be taking 14 days of after surgery and I hope it will be long enough. I spend my day getting in and out of the car... we shall see! Do you have a desk job or are you on your feet all day?
trena 13 Dec 2010
hey now sunshine we will never forget you at all and you know that, we are like family from all over the world. Luv fitness and I only a 6 days ahead of you so we can complain together and keep each other upbeat, so keep your chin up it's going to be fine.
daffy173 (RealFriend) 14 Dec 2010
You girls are funny- nobody will forget you - we're all sisters here!

Luv- are you brave enough to share some headless "before" pics? It's really great to see where we all start and how truly awesome we look after.
trena 15 Dec 2010
Luv did you get your pain pill yet?
I got mine yesterday and I only got 3 days worth of the oyxodone I don't think that is going to be enough I hope I get more later. I'm getting scared now since I don't have drugs to keep the pain down. 7 days omg!!!!
Ivette1210 21 Dec 2010
Trena, I never felt the pain of my TT or breast. I asked them to do a nerve block not to feel the pain. It works really well.
trena 21 Dec 2010
Ivette I hope I'm ok for the pain. I have never heard of a nerve block I'll will have to ask tomorrow morning.10 hours to go :)
Ivette1210 22 Dec 2010
I ask them and it is easier if you are only having one procedure. For a tummy tuck, they block the nerves through your spine. I have lumbar herniated disks and my anesthesiologist told me I was planning to do the breast and I said, why not the tt? Besides I had a morphine pump at the hospital, too? I had three procedures and the most painful was the Lipoma removed area. My breast and tt still don't hurt. I know is wearing off because all the sensitivity that I experienced on my left side this week.
Angiemcc (Community Manager) 20 Dec 2010

Only 3 more days! Will you be posting before and after photos?

LUVFITNESS 29 Dec 2010
Hi Angie,

I will be posting pictures as soon as I get home. I am recuperating at my sisters and don't have all my gear with me. I will probably do it this coming weekend:)
Stay tunned lol
I have not really looked at my full body completely naked....not yet. Looking at my scar makes me really weak and the thought of looking at my new belly button makes me want to pass out!! LOL
daffy173 (RealFriend) 29 Dec 2010
Luv- you sound just like me. I had my husband take a picture of me at the first post op appointment so I could look at it later when I wouldn't risk fainting. I couldn't look at all of me for at least two weeks!

My steri strips are finally coming off and today I noticed I have a piece of stitching left at the end of my incision and it gives me the willies. I'll have to see if the doc can snip it for me. I covered it with a little bandaid so I can't see it.

I know some of the ladies on this site are in the medical field....not me! I'd be a basket case!
Ivette1210 29 Dec 2010
Daffy, I still not use to look at all my incisions. When I shower, I just pad all the areas and let the water run over all the incisions. I still washing with the dial soap and using the Bacitracin. You are not alone. I have to keep telling myself that this will pass and the incisions will look better. Thank you for posting those feelings.
Sunshine627 21 Dec 2010
Hey Luvfitness... how are you doing? Only 2 more days for you! ?Are you hanging in there>
LUVFITNESS 26 Dec 2010
Sunshine, Trena, Daffy123, Yvette1210, Angiemcc,
I owe all of you an apology because I have been out of touch for about a week and a half.
When I was posting I was in Phoenix on a business trip and then went home for a few days and on the 22nd of Dec I flew to So Cal to have my procedure done and it is done! I had my mommy makeover on 12/23/10. Please forgive me my sisters for being out of touch.

Let me tell you about my journey. It has been 4 days now since I had my procedure done and I must say that it is not that bad. I have not experienced a lot of pain- hardly any at all. I have had soreness on my breast (No pain there because I had BA through belly button so they are just sore due to the swelling.)
As for my TT incision, I can’t even tell that it is there. It has not given me any problems. The one thing that has kept me busy are my drains. I have to empty them twice a day and they are coming out of my tummy and are pinned to my garment, so I have to make sure that they are not tangle or that I don’t pull o them when I go to the restroom. I am not having a whole lot of fluid come out anymore. I had a post appt the very next day and my dr removed the bandages around my breast and I got to see them for the first time. I was a 36C and he gave me 550ccs, Right before my surgery I told him that I did not want to have regrets after the swelling goes down and the drop. Most women say they regret not going bigger, so I wanted to avoid that and make sure that I ended up with the correct size for me We were supposed to go with 500ccs, but he gave me 550ccs.  I was afraid that I might be too big, but I can tell I will be fine,

Let me tell you that you must keep from using your arms as much as possible because that can cause problems with your BA and It might cause a bit of pain. I do a lot with my legs, pull yourself up and down with your legs and use your arms to balance yourself, but not to pull yourself. It helps when people pull you from your shoulders to help you up or hold you from the shoulders to help you sit down. Assume a squatting position when going to sit down and also when you are going to get up from a sitting down position. Put all your weight on your legs. (Helps a lot if you have been working out prior to surgery.)

I have been taking stool softeners and nothing yet. I am hopeful though. I know it took Daffy 5 days to go after her TT. I have not had much of an appetite. I have been having yougurt, jello, oatmeal, eggs, apple and pineapple juice and a little bit of Mexican food since it is the holidays, My mom made me chicken soup with veggies yesterday, so that is what I will having today. It has been wonderful having so much help. I am staying at my sisters and my nieces are here and so is my mom. I will be flying home on The 1st. I have to go back to see my Dr on the 29th and that is when he will remove the drains. I am so looking forward to that!

Well, I am going to post this before it somehow disappears! It has happened twice already or else you would have heard from me sooner. 

Let me know how you are all doing. Sunshine you are now 2 days away! How exciting!!!!
Ivette1210 26 Dec 2010
Wow, you sound really good and I am glad is over. From now it will be better and better. It seems like your drains are ready to come out. Once you get them out, you will feel so good. I still have pain on the arm (lipoma removed). My breast implants are small and no pains. I am so happy to hear from you and apology accepted. Please keep on posting; I love to hear the comments.
LUVFITNESS 26 Dec 2010
Yvette, I can't wait to have my drains out. I am running low on pain meds and I need to wait until tomorrow to have my Dr authorize another refill, so I have not been taking my pain med every 4 hours. I took one at 4:00am just took & another one at 6:00pm. I started to feel a little bit of pain, so I remembered that I still need them, just not every 4 hours.
I need to ask you about your arm. You mentioned that you had pain on your arm and that you had lipoma removed. What was that?
You said your implants are small. How many ccs did you get and what size were you before?
You mentioned that you were told at your Drs that you should continue wearing your garment and that you should wear it kind of fitted but not too tight. I am wearing the same garment that I got from my doctor. It is a wrap around "binder" garment that provides targeted compression to my abdomen and flank area. Since I got a TT, had lipo on flanks and the Dr tightened my ab muscles I think this garment works good for me, but I want to get another one that i can continue wearing once I get my drains are removed and go back to work.
I have to go massage my breasts for the 2nd time today. talk to you later! (Please ignore the typos...I am on drugs!)
Ivette1210 26 Dec 2010
after the first week, i was asked to take the pain meds every 6-8 hours. What I did was take a half a pill instead of the whole. I try to stop the meds and I felt intense pain. Right now I am feeling my incisions. The Lipoma was a fat deposit that was growing on the back of my arm going under the arm pitt; it had to come out. It looked like a big ball of fat. After the removal was the drains, they gave me the panty girdle that you see on the picture. Now it's getting loose and they told me to put the binder on top of the girdle. I dont remember what size are my implants. I chose the gel implants. I was a size 36 D and they look like a C now. How do you massage your breast? My implants are on top.

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