First off, I want to say a huge thank you to all who have shared their stories here! You have answered so many question for me, provided tremendous insight, and given me confidence to move forward with my own journey. I figured the least I can do is offer my own story in hopes of helping someone else. I was always slim as a child. Then at age 19 I had a ruptured appendix that turned into an emergency hysterectomy. I don’t know why but ever since then I’ve struggled with a lot of excess skin and fat in my abdomen and waist. Add to this a less than satisfactory liposuction in my late 20s, years of weight gain and loss, and just years in general (I will be 54 at the end of this month) and I am just very uncomfortable in my own skin. I’ve wanted my shape back for so long and it’s finally time to do something about it! My surgery is tomorrow morning. I’m so nervous and excited and scared and hopeful! I doubt if I sleep much. I will post as soon as I can after the surgery and will include some photos. Thank you again! Updated on 14 May 2020: Well I made it through the surgery! Having some pain but much less than I anticipated. So thankful to Dr. D. Heath Stacey, his staff, and all of the folks in the hospital who gave me the best possible care and who were so uplifting! I can already see the difference even with the swelling, bandages and binder. Can’t wait to see the final results. I’ll post a few pictures now. Updated on 21 May 2020: I have passed the 1 week mark and am feeling so much better. I haven't needed anything for pain (not even Tylenol) for at least 4 days now, I'm able to wash my hair in the kitchen sink and shower with a chair and handheld shower. My pain level is minimal; although I am dealing with the extreme numbness and tightness in my abdomen. And I am much more alert, mobile and generally just feel more like myself. I had my drain removed on day 7. Zero pain, didn't even feel it. I did apparently have a pocket of fluid that had collected behind the drain site so that's been slowly and steadily flowing out through the opening which hasn't healed yet. This is not fun. Again, there's no pain, but it just doesn't seem to want to stop. The drainage is dark red, not fresh blood, and my PS nurse says it's nothing to worry about, but ick! Swelling is up and down but my bruising is fading. It's still really hard to tell what the final results will be, but I'm definitely flatter now! I'll post a few pictures shortly. Overall, I'm so happy I did this for myself! Updated on 23 May 2020: To say I am satisfied with my results so far would be a ridiculous understatement. I can’t believe the improvement. And I feel so good. No walker for two days, showering comfortably (still seated), hair and makeup, I’m feeling like me again. I have my two week follow up with the PS on Wednesday. I’ll post before and after pics now. I’m blown away. Still very swollen and tight but I can’t believe the transformation! Updated on 27 May 2020: Had my follow up appointment with PS this morning and it went great! I’m healing well and everything looks good. They removed the glue from my incisions (nerve wrecking but not painful) and gave me a bag of scar and skin care products for the next stage of healing. My incisions look much better now that the glue is gone. And my belly button (which I’m fretting about but trying to be patient) looks a lot better as well. I’m still an outie where I’ve always been a deep innie, but the PS assured me that it will look like my belly button once all of the swelling settles. I also got the green light to start some light exercise and to start sleeping on my side again! Basically I’m good to do anything that doesn’t hurt. Overall it was a great appointment! I’m feeling good again today. I think I’m about to the point where the rapid improvement is over and now just waiting to slowly heal up. I can’t wait for the swelling and tenderness to go down a bit more so I can take this new bod shopping! Updated on 1 Jun 2020: Hello everyone. Just thought I’d give a quick update. Things have been progressing very well. I did have an issue last week; the day after my follow up appointment I woke up with a horrible rash that itched like crazy. It was mainly around my belly button but also along my lower incision. I apparently had an allergic reaction to the remover pads that the nurse used to remove the glue. Miserable!! I emailed the office that afternoon and the nurse advised Benadryl and if not better in the morning she would call in a prescription for a steroid which we did. The itch was completely gone within 24 hours but the skin around my belly button is still bright pinkish red. Otherwise I am feeling better every day. Today I’m standing almost completely straight and I have the energy to do laundry. I’m even catching myself bending at the waist and hips instead of squatting, so my flexibility is returning which is great. I spent some time over the weekend in a Spanx instead of my binder. Looked great but definitely felt less protected. And my swelling seemed worse than with the binder. But it was nice to have the option. No pictures today as there’s not much difference in appearance, except for the blotches from the allergic reaction. Updated on 6 Jun 2020: I can’t believe it’s been almost a month! It’s been a roller coaster physically and emotionally. I’m still so happy that I did this for myself. The rash from a week ago faded and morphed and got worse again. Doc (based on pictures) thought maybe it was a fungal infection so I got new drugs and started over. I’m slowly getting better, thank goodness. I feel like this has set me back at least a week, but today I finally felt great and had energy again. Tonight I am going to attempt to sleep in my own bed with the hubby! Four weeks is a long time to sleep apart! Our bed is very low, and I’m tall, so he’ll probably have to help me up I. The morning. Lol. I ordered a wedge pillow to help keep my head elevated for a bit longer. I will post new pictures tomorrow. I am finally starting to like my belly button. It looked so strange at first but it seems to be settling down now. That’s all for tonight. Have a great evening everyone! Updated on 7 Jun 2020: Took some pics this morning before swelling starts. The rash is faded a LOT. The lines are from the seams of the t I’m wearing under my binder. I’m really happy so far with my results! I’m adding words now so my update will be long enough to post LOL. Updated on 10 Jun 2020: I wanted to post a few pictures of my belly button to show how it has changed in the first four weeks since my surgery. This is something I was very curious about and didn’t find a lot of information on. Hopefully this will be helpful to others. As I mentioned, I was very unhappy at first. I’ve talked to my PS and his nurse and both tell me it will continue to improve in appearance over the next several months. Updated on 27 Jun 2020: It’s been a few weeks since I updated. Overall things have been going really well. I had another follow up with my PS and things look good. Both he and the nurse commented on how tight and swollen I am still. He said it’s normal at this stage but ugh, I hate it! So many things don’t fit. I am very please with my flat stomach and overall appearance but getting dressed can be frustrating. I guess I’m glad that the nurse and doctor commented on the swelling, at least I know this will get better. Patience just isn’t my strength, LOL.
I am almost 5 weeks post-op and I am absolutely in love with my new nose! I've wanted to tweak parts of it for years and am so happy I went to Dr.Stacey and his team to achieve that. Him and his staff made the process and recovery a breeze while also making everything clear and concise.
I am 5 ft, 136lbs and will be 72 this year! I have been following Real Self and reading the experience of others for almost 5 years now. I don't know that I would have ever proceeded but for everyone so unselfishly sharing and posting their photos on this forum. I will post photos later and go into my surgery in detail, but I first wanted to share the detail from the beginning. Puberty introduced itself to me when I was in 8th grade so things had a very normal beginning. By the time I was in 10th grade I weighed 110lbs and wore a 32C bra, and even then I wished I were a B. Twiggy was, after all, the role model for Baby Boomers. While pregnant with my first, though I only gained 26lbs, I swelled something awful and stretched to a 36DD. After 20 hours in labor, my almost 9lb son was born by C-section. I weighed 105lbs, the C-section scar started above the hair line went up to and around my belly button, and my breasts looked like those of my grandmother. I was 19 years old. 6 1/2 years later, my second baby was smaller, and I didn't puff up like the Pillsbury Dough Boy, but I was left even saggier and weighed about 102 due to a second C-section. I had a tubal ligation at that time. I bled for the normal 6 weeks and then no period for 6 months. Menses returned with a vengance! After a 9 year bout with me bleeding more than I didn't every month, having a D&C every year, and terrible migraine headaches, my uterus was finally removed. I took advantage of that insurance-paid surgery to privately pay a plastic surgeon to come in and do a lift. I was so elated about the lift (a perky 32B now) that I barely noticed any pain from my 3rd abdominal surgery. The following 13 years were the best of my life. No debilitating headaches, and I could go braless!!!! Then, at 46, due to continually bursting cysts on my ovaries, they were removed. Though I had no trouble with hot flashes, my eyes were so dry, I could barely stand it, and intercourse was acutely painful. I was prescribed Estrace patches as hormone replacement therapy. My 50th birthday came and went, and I felt and looked great, and I was up to about 112lbs, just 2 pounds more than when I graduated high school. When I was 56, we were offered a "buy out" by our company, and we took early retirement and relocated. When my Estrace Rx ran out, I did not have it refilled. I put on 30 lbs in abut 6 months, all of the brown spots (from living in the sun) came out on my arms and legs, my cholesterol shot up, and my breasts started to grow! I started reading about bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, and resumed HRT as a compounded Tri-Est with Testosterone (2 years after I had stopped the Estrace abruptly). I did lose 10lbs within a month, and my cholesterol came back to normal, but I was still coming out of a 34DD. Fast forward to last week. I weighed in at 136 and was coming out of a 36DDD!! The indentations in my shoulders are 1/2" deep, my neck, arms and back ached. I had been in physical therapy and massage therapy for 10 years and getting worse. Knowing that Medicare was not likely to reimburse, feeling guilty for seeking relief at 71 years old, but having no quality of life, I decided to seek out a plastic surgeon while secretly praying that he/she would not tell me I was too old. My husband, partner and best friend was my biggest cheerleader and has been a 5 star nurse. Today is post-surgery day 9, and I only wish I had done this earlier. I felt immediate relief at the base of my neck and around my shoulder blades in spite of the surgery soreness. I can put on shirts that actually fit my size and button them again. I can pull my shoulders back to a good posture stance and no longer hunch over. (I had always been so proud of my good posture.) I can stand straight with my arms down, pull my hands together above my knees, and not be stopped by my breasts. I am bruised and sore and am no longer held hostage by overgrown appendages. Life is good!!!! Updated on 3 Mar 2018: Shoulders, neck and rashes really pushed me to get the reduction. The relief was felt almost instantly. Both Dr. Stacey's office and the Women's Hospital where my surgery was done are filing with Medicare for me. That is the only insurance I have, and I did not want to wait any longer, especially if they end up denying payment. We paid in advance as required because Medicare bases approval on certain criteria, and part of that is the amount of tissue removed from each breast. I will appeal with statements from my GP, Physical Therapist and Massage Therapist if the first filing is denied along with these photos and photos of the zillions of bras I have purchased trying to get relief. The total cost was $7232.00 (including $625 for HBOT). I took out a loan and will apply anything Medicare pays toward it. I will post the outcome of the Medicare filing when I learn what they decide. Feel free to contact me via Real Self email for details about the GREAT loan company I used. They specialize in medical. Updated on 3 Mar 2018: Day 1: Arrived at the Women's Hospital at 5:30am. Staff was exceptional! I have REALLY bad veins in my hands and was so relieved that the nurse agreed to put the IV in the bend of my arm and got it in with 1 stick. (I am needle phobic and have to take steps occasionally to keep from hyperventilating.) Was offered a sedative before being wheeled in to the O.R., but I declined. Once that IV was in, I was good to go. It's amazing how bright and clear everything is when you don't take that beforehand. I was off the gurney and on the table and out like a light by 7:30am. Have no recollection of being in the recovery room at all until I woke up completely, had the IV out and got dressed (in my Walmart sweats with the shirt cut down the front center and pinned by the nurse with extra large safety I brought). I was in NO pain and just a bit groggy from the anesthesia. Had a 1hr 15min drive home and was home at about 2pm. My hubby/nurse fixed my lunch and tucked me in my new cushy recliner. I woke up for dinner, took 1 pain pill mostly because I wanted to sleep all night. In retrospect, 2 Tylenol would probably have worked since Tylenol is all I have needed since, and only just before bed on a few nights. Day 2: Uneventful. I was still mostly sleeping, watching movies and eating from my recliner. I did take 2 Tylenol at around 4pm and again at 10pm. I had drains which were not painful but uncomfortable. I really did not want them, but once I saw what they accomplished, I was okay with it. Day 3: First follow-up appointment. I got the drains out! It did not hurt at all. (All my worrying for naught!!) When we got home first thing I did was shower. It was wonderful. We had stopped to eat lunch so I was really tired and went back to my recliner. Days 4-8 were pretty much like Day 3, although I did a lot more around the house starting Day 5. Fatigue is the more enduring effect for me, not pain. I didn't use ice at all until 5th day (because I am always cold and was wrapped up in my recliner with 3 very warm throws. I put the ice pack on and off for about 2 hours mostly because of the bruises. Dr. Stacey uses liposuction under the arm area, and that is where I really bruised and was sore to the touch. Day 9: Mostly just itching (intended pun) to get the tape off. Still tiring easily. I tried my own bed but was not comfortable on my back there. I am a side sleeper. I got up in the middle of the night and went back to my recliner. Slept there Day 10, too. Went back to my bed last night. I have a little online business so I am back to it part time today. Not itching so much today after my shower this morning. Things get better every day. My husband's nursing made me feel like I was on the concierge floor. We celebrate 49th anniversary in August. I guess I will keep him. After photos in next post. Updated on 4 Mar 2018: Due to my age mainly (even though I am in better health the last 15 years than when I was younger), I scheduled HBOT treatment pre-surgery. My adult daughter had her 5th MAJOR, MAJOR abdominal surgery in 2014 and had 10 HyperBaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) treatments PRE-surgery. I have been with her through 2 pancreas and 3 small intestine reconstruction surgeries (all 6-7 hrs in duration). This time she was standing erect next to her bed in ICU the day after surgery! I walked at a 90 degree angle for days after my C-sections!! We give the credit to HBOT, so the Monday-Friday before my 2/20/18 surgery, I took a 1hr HBOT treatment (5 total). Both where my daughter went in 2014 and where I went a few weeks ago charged $125.00/hr. These treatments are primarily publicized for POST incident healing treatment and are covered (as far as I know) by insurance ONLY for horrible burns and wounds that won't heal due to diabetes, and then, not by all insurance companies. HBOT requires a prescription. The healing strides being made by the HBOT providers, however, is astonishing. I urge you to research ( Google HBOT-CRALLE and Google OXYGENUNDERPRESSURE for the two I am familiar with and Google HBOT generically for a lot of additional information and other providers), then consult your chosen surgeon for his/her opinion. Other steps I took: I purchased a petite recliner to sleep in post-surgery. Put it next to my bed and am I glad I did that!! I just slept in my bed all night for the first time last night (day 11). I tried at day 9, but ended up getting back in the recliner during the night. I LOVE this little recliner! It is a "Best Home" product. I purchased (on amazon.com) 2 good recuperation bras (hook & eye front closure) with about 1" shoulder and diameter adjustment. I had two pullover sports bras from Target which are great for sleeping after day 4 or so. All of these are size M and are perfect for me while I'm swollen. I purchased a sweatsuit from Walmart and cut the top down the middle to wear home on surgery day. Coconut Oil and a good vitamin regimen helps too. I plan to use pure aloe off my plant to help scars post-surgery. Tomorrow is my 2 week follow-up. Hopefully I am done with tape and itching! :-) Updated on 4 Mar 2018: I have always bruised easily, so don't be alarmed. The black looking lines are from the drawings before surgery. I am VERY happy with my results so far! Updated on 9 Mar 2018: My stitches (only around the nipples) came out day 15, and everthing felt better that day. It did smart on my right one, but left was painless. Days following have been frustrating because of itching which does seem to be subsiding day by day, and more by what I call "zingers" as the nerves come to life. My skin seems to be hypersensitive. Showers are my best friend right now. I am a tub bather as warm water seems to soothe everything, but showers are it until 4 weeks post. I am going to look for a different sports bra today as I think that will help. My post-surgery bras were great, but they have a front, hook-and-eye closure. I think I'm ready for a zipper. I've been back and forth between recliner and bed. Sleeping on my back is easier in the recliner. I am able to sleep some on my side in the bed. I use a small travel pillow to support my breasts. My bruising is almost gone - just a few red/purple spots and faint yellow now. The doctor used glue on the incisions (except nipples), and getting the remnants of that off has been tedious. Itching is better after, though. What I thought was black marks leftover from the doc's drawings turned out to be glue mixed with blood. I have taken only 3 pain pills - the first night to be sure I slept, and the mornings I went to get the drains out and stitches out. They were not really needed probably but I was fearful. Otherwise I have taken 2 Tylenol when I am going to bed at night and when the hypersensativity gets to me. Every day gets better and better. Thanks for the support, ladies. It has made all the difference! Blessings to you all!!!
I'm almost 5 weeks out from surgery & feel fabulous . No more sagging! I was very anxious about having the surgery & now wish I had done it sooner. Dr Stacey is meticulous with his pre-op instructions to insure that u have the best outcome possible. Due to that & his incredible ability as a surgeon, everything went smoothly. VERY LITTLE post-op pain & just after 5 weeks the incisions are barely noticeable .
I had a partial thyroidectomy when I was in my 20's and as a result, along with aging, the skin on my neck was loose and getting more wrinkled every year. It was making me feel old. Dr. Stacy fixed all that and now I feel much better about my appearance and friends and family say it looks great. I also had a lower lid lift or blepharoplasty. No more bags under these eyes. I recently had a check-up with my eye doctor who said, "Dr. Stacy did a great job." And, he should know.
I have been wanting a breast augmentation for a while now, and I could not be more thankful that I chose Dr. Stacey. He was very helpful throughout the entire process. It has been a couple months since I had the procedure and the results are fantastic. Dr. Stacey is an amazing plastic surgeon and I recommend him to everyone!
Dr. Stacey and his staff have been amazing! They have worked with me from day one and have made sure I got all my questions answered before, throughout, and after the procedure process. I'm two weeks post surgery and just got my tape removed from the incisions and I feel amazing!! I can already tell a difference with my back and neck and look forward to not having to worry about the fatigue and pain anymore! I highly recommend this team for this procedure!
I've had a few minor procedures with Dr. Stacy over the years and he never ceases to impress! There are other choices in the area, but the fact that I keep coming back says it all. Amazing staff and a great facility helps too!
After two children, breastfeeding and approaching my fortieth birthday, I had been considering a breast lift and augmentation for several years. I had a wonderful consultation with Dr. Stacey about 2 1/2 years ago and just was not ready. Finally this spring I went to see him again. I felt so heard and understood and cared for by Dr. Stacey and ALL of his staff (who are incredibly warm, open, caring and patient). I was still on the fence up until the morning of my surgery and now... I am SO glad I did it! I told Dr. Stacey that I wanted my same size, I just wanted them UP and looking like they do when I wore my favorite bra (I even wore it to my consultation to show him). I had mainly concerns around them being too big after, scars and 2 separate surgeries (which i didn't have because i was a candidate for a lift and an aug at the same time) and drains (which I didn't even need). The morning of the surgery I felt completely at ease! My recovery was far easier than I expected and BEST of all...my outcome is EXACTLY what I asked for! I could not be happier with the results or my experience. I had a lot of small questions (mostly around healing scars etc) and the entire staff and especially Annie and Becky made me 100% comfortable with asking and with seeing me as needed for follow up and treatment. I am almost a month out and I am thrilled with the scarring. They provide the best products for the skin itself and I am religious with SkinMedica's TNS Recovery Complex and Scar Recovery Gel. I also used TNS PRE surgery. Their team also offers laser further down the road to help as needed with redness and texture of scars. All of these things put my mind at ease and let me to the decision to proceed- and I am so very grateful. Expertise, experience, compassion, kindness, care and the best medicine of all- laughter...all to be expected with Dr. Stacey and the staff at NWACPS!
I had 2 C-sections 14 years ago and had drooping skin hanging over the scar from gaining too much weight and tons of stretching of skin not to mention sagging breasts from breastfeeding 2 babies. I have dreamed about having a tummy tuck for all this time. After losing 100 pounds, and somewhat maintaining my weight for the past few years, I was at the point to consider it, however, I knew no one local that could do it and I was unsure of the cost as I am a broke teacher. A good friend suggested Dr. Stacey and told me he was in Fayetteville and has done great work for others she has seen personally. That was the beginning of the best journey of my life. I met with them, and made up my mind right from the start that he was my guy! I paid for the date and waited patiently for the time to come. I am now 2 weeks out of my surgery and I am already SUPER excited about my results. He and his staff are so helpful and kind. They make you feel special and at ease. He did a fabulous job on my tummy tuck and I even got the bonus of getting my breast lifted. That might be my favorite part. I have my 18 year old boobies back! I can't thank Dr. Stacey and his staff enough for changing my life forever. I am not even close to being healed yet, but with all their help and guidance, and products, I know I will get awesome results! Thank you Dr. Stacey! You are an angel that saves lives!
You will likely need separate fillers - one for each area. Be sure to consult with a board certified physician.
