Dr. Maxwell is an amazing doctor and I feel blessed to have had him perform the revision for my breast reconstruction. I had my breast reconstructed after breast cancer/mastectomy in 2000. The original reconstruction by another doctor was never right, but I just made it work (swimsuits and snug tops were an impossible challenge because of the asymmetry which had worsened with age) for many years until I found Dr. Maxwell. After meeting with him and seeing his before and after photos ( truly amazing), I knew he was the doctor for me. I met with several other doctors, but none of them were confident that they could make it any better or had the experience that the situation needed (I'd had radiation which can complicate healing). Dr. Maxwell was highly professional and caring. He really is an artist. I believe he's actually invented devices or products for breast reconstruction. My surgery was several years ago and i'm still thrilled with the results.
Hi, in 2008 I had my 32b-c(?) natural breasts augmented with Naturelle 339cc smooth round moderate Silicone gel, under muscle, insertion through crease. a pocket revision was performed 1 year later to correct implant malposition with internal sutures. Both were performed by an extremely talented doctor here in California. I have a pretty slender body type naturally, but gained a little more weight than normal, due to a medication side effect. I'd estimate about 10-15 pounds more than what is my 5'7 110-120lb average size. Not too major, weight distributed well and body stayed proportionate. Total expense for both procedures was about $15,000.00 My weight has returned to 110-115 after discontinuing medication earlier this year. Breasts hadn't appeared to have increased or decreased with weight changes. In the past few months, I began to notice changes in both breasts which include, denting, shifting, folding, creasing, and unusual shapes in some areas. I've also noticed, what I can only describe as, the implants feel kind of creepy. Both to the touch, as well as, on my chest. Last Monday, I flew to Nashville to consult about a revision. The surgeon is renown for his skills for reconstructions and revisions and has an impeccable reputation. He examined me, both, visually and with the aid of 4D technology. The revision involves removing existing implants, closing the pockets, using a slightly smaller implant, textured, round, cohesive gel, with an added strattice reinforcement for both breasts, and an alternative pocket placement. The surgery will take about 4 hours to complete and I will have drains. Surgery is scheduled for the 12th of next month(August) Total expense(not including expenses for two trips from from Ca to Tn) about $20,000.00 So the grand total when, hopefully, all is said and done will be a pair of boobs worth approximately $35,000.00 in surgery alone. Has anyone experienced anything similar, or have any input I might find helpful? All comments are appreciated and I please encourage any and all opinions, advice, etc shared, as I haven't a clue. My surgeon is Dr Maxwell in Nashville. I know he's the best, but compared to what I've seen others paid it seems kind of pricey. Updated on 27 Aug 2013: It's still a bit early for me to really predict the outcome of my revision, but it's been worth it so far. Surgery was Aug 13, returned to California last Saturday the 24th. Dr Maxwell is a surgical wizard...my girls look more like their, pre-augmented, selves with each passing day. Truly amazing and after coming to terms with not being able to rewind time to get them back, astonishing. I honestly cried when I first looked down and discovered Maxwell must have found a way to rewind. God bless him. Updated on 29 Sep 2013: I am moving along in my recovery, but it is a slow and painful process. With consideration to the extent and length, 7 hours, of the surgical procedure, it would be expected. I went from smooth silicone, submuscular to Sientra textured w/Strattice subglandular. My natural breast tissue was extremely dense, which had complicated the surgery slightly or "a challenge" as Dr Maxwell described it. My left breast is noticeably larger than the right, but I'm not overly concerned as I still have a lot of healing ahead of me. Updated on 2 Jul 2015: It has been, what seems like, a really long recovery. It will be two years, next month, since my surgery. Dr. Maxwell is an excellent surgeon, my breasts are absolutely perfect. They are a bit firm, Sientra cohesive textured overs, and although they felt really foreign for quite a while, I've finally acclimated to them and feel more like they're a part of me with each passing day. I will update with a photo soon. Updated on 2 Jul 2015: Updated on 13 May 2016: I returned to Nashville, last September, for a check up with Dr. Maxwell. The girls are healed and healthy, but he confirmed they are no longer my own. I had been aware my natural breast tissue was extremely dense, but unaware of my high risk of cancer. My nipples and skin are intact and visually, at least, nearly unchanged. My natural breast tissue was removed, biopsied, and cancer free. This review may technically be a reconstruction, not revision category. Regardless, given the results, just reinforces how experienced and knowledgeable Dr Maxwell is in his field. I'm lucky to have chosen him, as my surgeon.
Here we go! My motivation for wanting this MM (mastoplexy, tt, lipo flanks and inner thighs) is to feel and look better. I'm 46, 5' 130 lbs. 3 sons, 12,14, 21 and have a very supportive Husband. I work out 6 days a week, love me some "Hot Yoga" and"Barre Class" Most of my life, I've been happy with my body, never minded looking naked in the mirror, actually would tell myself, yea, you look dang good!! I gained 60-80lbs each baby.. lolol, I know, 5' tall!! It was frightening!! I truly understood what heavier people went through emotionally and physically. Lucky me, I always lost the weight, back to my little hot self at 113 lbs. Then I turned "40". I loved being 40, felt like a grown woman... except the first 5lbs that came with it!? At 43, 8lbs.. now 46 and 16lbs heavier!!!! Oh heck NO! And all stuck to the middle! Backing up I had implants at 31, YAY!! 34 D, what fun!! :)) At 46, 36 DDD..?? Seriously!? Oh, let's not forget this protruding Gut! I look like my Sicilian nana!! (whom I loved dearly, js'n) I just wanted to be back to my normal self. So, scared to death, off to find the PS for me. I had quite a few to choose from... so I thought. Come to find out, because my implants are large on top of the muscle, and sagging, I needed a PS who specializes in this area, not so easy.. but after a lot of research and trust, I found one. I like him. I've had 4 consults with him, he drained the saline from my existing implants (freak out) to see what was left to work with, omg. Very strange at first glance, to say the least, I sent my friend flying out of the room!! But, ladies, after the shock wore off, about 15 minutes, I felt FREE!! I still couldn't see my toes, because my gut was still right there, but just the thought of fitting into normal clothes.. I'm serious it was such a relief! My emotions have gone from shear excitement to utter distraught! I'm so grateful for all the blogs on this site! I've got pretty much everything I've seen on here to get. I'll say, It's been a process, but for me it has gone fast. I had made up my mind, so I took the first opening he had, about 4 weeks out. (That's tomorrow), I'm so glad I did, because I can't sit and obsess any longer. It was enough time to get kids ready for back to school, sports figured out, rides coordinated. My Hubs and Sister will be here to help, and my 21 year old is home to help with anything! Tips.. What I haven't seen on here is.. Make your hair, nail, pedi appointment the day before your procedure... this way it will last. :)) Wish me luck! p.s. I will add photos.. later! I took them, but then deleted them, lolol! Updated on 24 Jul 2012: Ok, It's done! I'm now 6 days post op and barely peeking around the corner! I really didn't want to be a "debbie downer", that's why I haven't shared here for a bit. Am I glad I did it, Yes! Am I glad it's over, Yes! I seriously have to thank my husband, who has fed, bathed, waited on, listened to me cry, scream, yell, half the time at him... I'm to hot, to cold damn it! Scrambled, I said Please!?! Ouch, Ouch, OMG OUCH!! "Did you just pull that drain tube on purpose??, because, I think you did!" This Man has put up with so much in 1 week that I'm already waiting for my payback, :). Oh, and my sweet Sons are NO where in sight! Shocker, not really. lolol! And my sister said, "I forgot my phone at the restaurant last night, I swear.. I'm on the way.."lololol!! I owe my family the world! I'm just glad we can all laugh a lot in between my (episodes) for lack of a better word :). No joke, there is nothing easy about this (these) procedures. Remember to praise those who actually sign on to help you through this!! I have to go now, my other sister has come by to chat, (it's apparently her shift), lolol, what ever, I'll take it!! :)) Updated on 31 Jul 2012: Hi all!! Well, I'm 13 days post op, and uploaded new pictures. So far my experience has been quite normal from what I can tell. Some ups and some downs, but mostly all positive. I'm very happy with my results, especially being only 13 days out and with all I had done!! A full tt, a lot of lipo, and my bl/reduction with fat grafting... I love my little c's and my stomach is flat. The results from the lipo should be evident soon, so all in all, I'm thrilled :))! I understand that laying low for the first weeks is crucial for me, so thats what I am and will continue to do. My hopes are that I'll come out of this a new and improved version of myself, I'll definitely be rested, lolol! I'm so grateful for this site, all of you who seem to genuinely care for everyone else on here, it has and does make all the difference in the world! Also, I must say that my kids have really been heros through this! My oldest has been a taxi for bros, and bros have cooked for me, cleaned and pretty much done everything I've asked of them. I even took a pic of the dinner my 14 year old made me last night, they are such great young men.. so grateful for them :)! Also, the piano is in this room so they come and play beautiful songs for me. Ok, I don't want to start crying, so I'm gonna go for now, but I'll keep posting on your walls, hopefully encouraging messages!! Updated on 4 Aug 2012: Post op day 20. I finally posted a few pre op pics, I got them from the nurse at my appt yesterday, also got my last Drain Out!!!! YAY!!! What a relief!!! (no, it didn't hurt a bit!!) Now I feel like I can really start moving around freely and really begin my journey to the other side of healing! For me, it was a ball and chain not just physically, but mentally, because it was always sore. Oh so Happy!! Happy Healing girls!! Updated on 4 Aug 2012: Post op day 20. I finally posted a few pre op pics, I got them from the nurse at my appt yesterday, also got my last Drain Out!!!! YAY!!! What a relief!!! (no, it didn't hurt a bit!!) Now I feel like I can really start moving around freely and really begin my journey to the other side of healing! For me, it was a ball and chain not just physically, but mentally, because it was always sore. Oh so Happy!! Happy Healing girls!! Updated on 4 Aug 2012: Oops, I am 17 days post op... Not 20 yet, wth? Updated on 24 Aug 2012: Po 5 weeks 2 days. I'll start by saying that this update is about a few bumps in the road, and my growing patience through it all. Also, my PS has been great and his nurses have really been there for me. This journey started off very normal, and calm. it was 1 week po when they took the tape off my incision, below bb was blood red, so we treated it with neosporin and dressings. I had 3 of 4 drains removed which was wonderful. PS wants me back in 4 days to check incision. Changed to silver cream and dressings. 4 more days, now a 5 inch thick dark scab formed along that area. PS debrided, and the next visit as well. Now, It's an open wound and I was taught how to dress (pack) it. Btw, all through this, they are pleased with the progress this wound is making.. still confused, I finally made them tell me exactly what this is... I know they were telling us (hubs and me) enough to calm our fears and keep nursing the wound. What I didn't understand was that it is called a nercrosis. For those who don't know what that is, like myself, it's horrid, plain and simple!! Not uncommon with a MM, but OMG It is a total game changer in the healing process both emotionally and physically! Having an open wound 3"x1"and 1"deep directly below bb seriously messes with your head! Not to mention it can take months to heal closed, this is why you don't see my incision in my pics yet. Now the story of the breast lift "w/o" aug... "Thanks be to God" because if I had any foreign object in there, this part would be a real huge problem! Each time I've gone for my wound care, my PS has carefully examined my left breast and left hip. This is where lots of blood is collecting and the only way to get rid of it is to open an area at the bottom of the incision and mash/pull out all the yuk. The last few days have been exceptionally hard due to having to cut through the blockage of tissue, (HELL) and today PS put a drain through incision of nipple then out the bottom incision of breast for drainage. Everything has been done in the examining room so far, can I say thank heavens for lidocaine! This is a lot of trauma for my body, so i've been laying real low. Sometimes I'm chatty Kathy, and others, depression and fear set in. My situation has been a lack of blood flowing to the right places to heal. So I have 3 issues that I'm dealing with, and I'm not sure, but there must be some reason for it. My Husband has come to every appt because I won't go without him.. sorry, but that extra set of eyes and ears are extremely important in times like this! Honestly, he can't believe I can handle this and he's is one tough man, but said there is no way in hell he could go through this. Tonight was the first time I had to "irrigate" my boob with solution and I was a nervous wreck! Hubs watched as I pushed the syringe in there and flushed it out.. He had a few beers at the Titans game, so the truth serum had set in, and he just starred, and then started laughing with tears rolling.. I asked him, WTH are you laughing at?? He could barely speak, and said "I don't know why, It's a bleeping train wreck!!! Needless to say, I was thankful for the comic relief (sitting in the bath). He kept saying, just give me the thing, I'll do it!.. yea right! His job was to sit there and laugh, that was all I needed :) Well, so hopefully this is under control and I'll be up and running soon. I know I typed a lot, and not a lot of humor in my tone, sorry for that, it's late and I'm tired but I just really wanted to get this out and hopefully not scare but help anyone going through anything like this! There are a few reasons why this can happen.. 1 is smoking and 2nd hand smoke, another diabetes and a few others which I have none, so you never know!! Peace and happy healing :) I will add pics prob tomorrow. Updated on 11 Sep 2012: 8 weeks!! What a ride this has been! So much has happened and yet, in slow motion. I'm happy to say my wounds are healing just like my Dr said they would! S-l-o-w-l-y, (OMG) but surely. Still dressing, not so much packing it. It's down to about the size of my pointer finger. 6 weeks so far with this, Crazy!! I'm so curious as to see how it will actually close and how it will look! Everything else looks really good. My left boob issue is also doing much better. I'm cleared to exercise, YAY!! My butt and thighs were awesome before all this! Boy, I've got some work to do :)! Just thrilled to get up and begin! My swelling started at about 6 weeks, I think that's normal, also my abs are "oh my" so sore, even to the touch in places, normally late in the day. My pants are snug, but my waist is small and my boobs are 1/2 the size they were (that's a good thing)! So I guess I'm where I'm supposed to be :). Updated on 6 Jan 2013: Wow! July 18th was a long time ago, and looking through all my freaky pictures I've taken these months has brought me to a new perspective. I look much better than before my surgery! I guess my healing process has been a bit tainted knowing that I'll have to go through some of it again. I'm not sure exactly what, but my tt incision scar where the necrosis was for sure, (which is the most frightening memory... no words) and my inner thighs, where I had lipo, they're still big. Actually my thighs and butt are larger. I do work out, and realize that fat is gonna land somewhere, just not on my thighs, that's why i had lipo there, ugh. Now..., I can hide all the scars, but I'm barely 5 feet tall, so these big a$$ thighs are what has really held me back from feeling sexy on the outside... (And that just sucks)! Today I took a few picks to compare and I look pretty good. But clearly, I didn't sign up for that, so another fear is having my thighs re-lipo'd. I haven't heard a lot of positives on this and I just want to have non dimply/fat thighs. I'm only 46, I had planned on wearing a cute bathing suit this summer, but right now, I wouldn't wear shorts. It's amazing how a brain works, one day yay, the next, wth!! My swelling has calmed for the most part and that's great news for you girls. I see the beautiful shape my ps had in mind, he's truly an artist. Neither one of us signed on for this, but here we are knowing that in a week or so, we'll have that conversation for real. What to fix, and what to just let be. I'm sure I've left a bunch out, but hopefully next time I won't be not as heavy in my words Updated on 14 Jan 2013: Hi ladies!! Today was my 6 month po appt, and it went really well. My tt incision scar revision can be done easily. With further discussion, I explained my thigh issue. So putting into perspective, these areas were were not done, and should be to make my body more in proportion. This makes sense to me now because I had a lot of stuff done, so lipo-ing outter and behind wasn't addressed, at the time, it wasn't an issue before. So part revision and part new lipo to finish this up! Scheduled for end of Feburary :)! I feel so much better! Now just let the Sun Shine!!!! Updated on 14 Mar 2013: 8 months po- Hi Ladies! Well I'm 2 weeks 2 days po from my revision of tt incision and additional lipo and feeling back to normal, YAY!! Much different from the first go around. Just about 8 months total...still worth it? Yes, still worth it! I had my first lymphatic massage 2 days ago, and i'm gonna say OUCH!! And she went easy, loll! I hope next week my body is healed much more, because I know this helps. I honestly can't believe how different this recovery is from last, don't get me wrong.. 4 liters is a lot and the first 3 days was a living hell... sorry, no better word for it. But starting the 4 day, it was better every day :))! I haven't done much other than teens sports this week, and that's been enough. I am looking forward to Hot Yoga in the next few days, just to be warm, sweat and stretch some.. No Power Vinyasa for a few more weeks, but I'm ready to start gently :)! Thank you all for the encouragement and kind words to keep my chin up through this process. It is, and has been a wild ride for sure, but it's worth it in the end to get it all right :)) Never give up!
I liked Dr. Maxwell's gallery the best of all the ones I looked at in Nashville. After meeting him, I was sold! He was incredibly well studied and understood exactly what I was going for. I'm excited Updated on 17 Mar 2017: Updated on 26 Mar 2017: Going in for my pre op tomorrow morning. The only thing making me nervous right now is the fact I have to get on a plane 48 hours after surgery. I'll discuss it with the surgeon tomorrow and see what he says. Crossing my fingers he doesn't postpone our surgery date. Adding a few more photos so you can see what in starting out with. Updated on 27 Mar 2017: Updated on 27 Mar 2017: Going in tomorrow. Super excited and nervous and just want to get it over with. Feels very surreal at the moment. First ever surgery. Also Dr Maxwell decided today that he's going to lipo a little bit of fat off my waist and transfer it up around my cleavage. Interested to see what happens! Updated on 28 Mar 2017: Home now recovering. Wow I'm sore! Standing is the biggest issue I'm having right now. Mainly because I get so light headed that I almost faint every time. But now I've moved to the couch. My chest is so effing sore haha. Mainly in the center. I think maybe it's because that's where the fat transfer went. I'm in an ace bandage now but I'll take some pictures later. Updated on 29 Mar 2017: Woke up so sore. But luckily sleeping really wasn't hard. Just so everyone knows - we went with Natrelle Allergan 310cc silicone under the muscle in both. Dr. Maxwell also took some fat from my left and right love handles and "feathered" it into my cleavage and some other areas around the breast. I'll get this ace bandage off at my appointment in a few hours so I can finally see them! Updated on 29 Mar 2017: Ahhhhh got that ace bandage off. Feeling better. Going to shower here in a minute. The soreness is still pretty bad. They look so swollen holy crap. Updated on 30 Mar 2017: Well, if any of you were wondering whether or not you should get on a plane 48 hours after surgery...Just hope you don't end up dealing with mega delays like me. I'm hurting. Updated on 30 Mar 2017: Finally back. I'm so bloated from the Norco I'm trying to ween myself off of it and use ibuprofen instead. I've been doing my stretches which hurt but help. Also rubbed some arnica gel on them tonight. You can see they're still very bruised in the photos. Updated on 1 Apr 2017: I've been back at work since 48 hours post op and maybe I'm over doing it? I woke up this morning feeling pretty great after the initial morning boob wore off but as I'm going to bed tonight everything hurts. I'm so sore. Updated on 2 Apr 2017: Officially 5 days post op and here's how they're looking. I took about a two hour break from all my compression binding to go to the pool yesterday and I think that's why I was hurting so badly in the evening. They do have a really pretty slope starting to develop that I love. My cleavage is still a little bit too hard but I think I'm just waiting for the fat in that area to soften? I'm not sure. I've been using the arnica gel religiously and I do think it's helping with the bruising somewhat. Updated on 6 Apr 2017: Took all my binding off at my appt yesterday. They feel SO MUCH BETTER. Was able to curl up on my sides last night when I slept. Here are some progress photos. Updated on 7 Apr 2017: Last night I experienced a weird phenomena. I think I had "fire boob" which I've seen mentioned on here a few times and side boob pain on my right. When I got home, my right boob felt like it had ripples on the bottom side and almost looked lumpy. I decided not to freak out and see if sleep corrected anything. The right one still looks square on the bottom. And it hurts in the circled area. Updated on 11 Apr 2017: Hello! Dropping in to give an update. Two weeks ago today I was being rolled out of surgery. It's incredible how much the body changes in that amount of time. The swelling has definitely decreased and the bruising is almost non existent. I've not done one single massage but have been applying arnica gel religiously and doing my arm exercises three times a day. This size (so far) is so perfectly proportional to my body. I'm still wearing this surgical bra 24/7 but hoping to pick something out a little more flattering this weekend. My sterile strips are still hangin in there so I'm letting them stick until they fall off. My right side lipo area is forming a hard place but I've started to massage it and hopefully it goes away. If anyone out there is reading this pre-opp just know that the first 3-4 days are the WORST but by week 1 things are so much better. Updated on 11 Apr 2017: Not uploading to last post. Here are the other two. Updated on 11 Apr 2017: Not uploading to last post. Here are the other two. Updated on 18 Apr 2017: Almost no pain in boobs anymore, but still getting sharp pains in my sides where lipo was done. I've been massaging the hard lump and it seems to be disapating. Left boob still dropping better than right. Updated on 25 Apr 2017: Only pain at this point is nerve pain. Lipo pain has decreased enormously. Hard lump still on my right side. The girls are SO CLOSE to being where I want them to be. Still a bit lopsided bit honestly it makes them seem more real! Updated on 31 May 2017:
I met with my PS a few weeks ago and got a quote for the full Mommy Makeover to help fill out my breasts which look great as long as I have Vicky's Secret. I went in thinking I needed a Tummy Tuck with corseting and lipo. My background includes scars from a C-section, a vertical scar from a complicated Gallbladder surgery, and port scars from the Gallbladder. I was excited to hear that my PS did not think I needed any corseting and that my core is strong, I just have a lot of loose skin from weight loss. After a lot of thinking I decided to schedule the TT with lipo as planned since I don't have bad breasts and never really planned on changing them. I am scheduled for July 27th and cannot wait! The down side is just having surgery in the summer but I just do not want to wait another minute. Now, I am in need of details...I am a planner and I work in health care so I want to know all the details that my PS hasn't told me yet. What do I do preop? What to buy, where to get it, when I can work out again, etc. My only fears are that the scar will be too high to hide and that after its all over it will be such a slight change I wont be able to really see the results. I know that there is no guarantees or way to predict the outcome, I tell my own patients that all the time, but uggghhh. I already have scars on the stomach and it would be great if they go away but I just want a flat stomach and no muffin top if possible (without a really obvious new scar). I also wonder if they pull my stomach so tight will my privates pull up to my bellybutton??? Please enlighten me! Updated on 23 Jun 2014: So today I started a really severe diet to try to loose as much as possible before surgery. My thinking is that the looser the skin the more my PS can tighten it up...however, I hate dieting! Just 4 weeks til surgery so I have the goal in sight. Now all I can think about is will I be able to go back to work in 2 weeks? When can I start to work out? How soon before you can swim? I have a cruise planned in October and definitely dont want to be limited on the cruise or look terrible. I really wish I had a PS buddy who is going through all of this too so that I can whine and question and just go through all the emotions of surgery. Ugh, I am posting the worst pics...not even in my cute undies but they don't really look that cute with this body anyways. Don't judge, :) Updated on 13 Jul 2014: I am finding it very hard to focus on anything else. I am disappointed that I have not lost as much as I would have liked to but life got in the way and by life I mean 4th of July weekend and too much fun with friends and family. My Pre-Op appt is Tuesday and I am sooo ready to get this show going. I have not had any hesitations at all with the exception of worrying about the financial aspects of spending so much money when I know it would be smarter to wait. However, my boyfriend sat down beside me a little bit ago and saw some post op pics. His reaction really has me worried. I mean, I can handle to pain and discomfort (after all I have lived through two kids). My BF has not lived with either. He has never had children or surgery before. He had no idea that I would have drain tubes and stitches and swelling...not exactly sure what he thought would happen but the pics were much more that he imagined. So, now I am stressing. My daughter will be here to help me right after surgery and I know that I am a pretty good patient so recovery isn't the issue. My concern is that this isn't my husband or life partner that has been there forever. He hasn't had life altering changes to his life and therefore no idea how to support someone going through them. I know that he is patient and kind and thoughtful on most things. Obviously my physical appearance has not run him off so I really should not be worried but deep inside there is still that seed of doubt that worries about such a big ugly scar. After it is healed up it will be fine, I have scars now, but for the next several months seeing me naked... Other than that, I am ready and wish that the surgery was this Thursday and not next Thursday! I am sad that I couldn't afford the whole Mommy Makeover but I can always wait a few years and then touch up the other areas if I still feel like they are needed. In between I feel like getting this extra skin off will help me be even more motivated to change my lifestyle. I pray every day that I will have good results. My biggest fear is that my scar will be too high. I look at these pics and some look amazing after just a few weeks and others look smoother but swollen for a long time. I hope my dr will pull me so tight that it takes me a month to walk upright. He doesn't think I need muscle repair but I think it could only help so why not? I'd love to be laced a little tighter even if it is painful. I want results and am willing to feel like I was hit by a mack truck. Am I crazy? Updated on 24 Jul 2014: You would think I was sick or something...I can't focus on anything, can't sleep, reading every detail about how to treat myself after surgery, etc. I have four days until I can finally make the trip to the flat side. The hardest part about this whole thing is not talking about it all of the time! No one at work really know what I am having done, just that I am having scar tissue removed. I did not tell my friends either. My little family knows and they are going to take care of me. I am very lucky because my 21 yr old daughter is trying to be a nurse and just got her Nursing Assistant Certificate so she will be really helpful. The jury is still out on the boyfriend. He just realized that this is a big deal about a week ago and yet he still doesn't seem to know what/how to take care of someone. His idea of helping was to buy a weeks worth of frozen dinners, lol. (not that that is a bad thing, just not super helpful) I think I have everything but who knows! I have prescriptions filled, the PS gave me this stuff for the scars, I will come home in a binder so they don't recommend buying one just yet, a few new sports bras for comfort, lots of big comfy pj pants and tank tops, electric recliner, lots of pillows, cocoa butter, laxatives, vitamins, healthy snacks and waters, and of course my laptop will be close at hand. What am I missing??? Updated on 28 Jul 2014: So it is just after midnight the night before my TT/lipo. I am feeling much more relaxed now that my kids are with me. It is amazing how your outlook on life can do a 180 when your family is there supporting you! I hope and pray that all will go well tomorrow, that I can get up and get ready without any stressful meltdowns, that the my PS has a good morning and is feeling in "the zone" when he is pulling my tummy tight and suturing the smallest and most beautiful stitches ever :), and that I heal well. Praying also for my new RS friends who are also embarking on this new journey with me. I will hopefully be able to post a quick update tomorrow sometime. Until then, goodnight and God Bless! T Updated on 29 Jul 2014: Today I shed my spare tire and started on the journey to a flat stomach! I absolutely have the best support in the world. My two kids (ages 18 and 21) keep my spirits high and have done an excellent job of helping me today. My bf surprised me with a shower seat and hand-held shower head as well as my favorite soft sugar cookies--which I should not eat but they are oh so good. My PS, nurse, and anesthesiologist were so amazing. I highly recommend them to anyone in the Nashville area! I feel like I had a little pain, more aching and twinging from my sides from the lipo. My PS doesn't push a lot of pain meds so I felt the ache but it was tolerable. The ride home was ok, I even dozed off for a bit. Getting comfortable has been the hardest part of the whole thing but it is much better than I was expecting. I am able to get up and down on my own which is better than expected. I am alternating tylenol and pain meds so that I hopefully don't get constipated. Speaking of which, I took a pain pill to get ready for the night and it is kicking in so I will update tomorrow when I am more alert....Nite RS friends!! Updated on 31 Jul 2014: So today was my first post op since surgery. I woke up in a little more pain at my incisions but less soreness overall. I was able to go all morning and still have not taken a pain pill. At my visit, they took off all the padding for the first time and I got a look. Overall I am very excited. My belly roll is gone and no muffin top that I can see. My belly button is kinda ugly right now but they said it would heal nicely. Getting the pads off and rearranging them made all of the difference in the world. I feel tons better! I am resting for a bit (and watching last weeks episode of True Blood) and then I plan on getting my first shower. Still praying for all my RS friends to have happy healing! If you are just starting to consider this, let me reassure you that it isn't that bad. I think anyone who has had a c-section will find this about the same. I am really bruised and sore on my hips from the lipo but that is to be expected. I was hoping to upload some pics but so far that won't load. Will try later. Updated on 26 Aug 2014: I am just a few days from being 4 wks post op from TT/Lipo. My PS had me continue to wear the CG with foam and had to start SSD cream at 2 wks to my incisions on my entire left side because they started getting red. The incisions look good but there are two spots that continue to ooze. At my last post op exam (2 1/2 wks) I feel like I looked less swollen than I do today. I was still stooped then and am pretty much upright now but my stomach is much harder and more swollen higher now than then. I am guessing that this may be from increasing my activity at work since I was very limited in my movements the first week back to work. At this point I am starting to be frustrated. I am just going to vent a minute...I am tired of this foam and binder, I am worried about the increased swelling, I feel like my left side incision didn't pull the skin tight enough because it dissects the "love handle" and actually makes it worse looking (the right looks smooth), and to top it all off I got my first bill and it was higher than I was told my monthly payment would be! Ugh, did I do the right thing? Ok, I have been pretty upbeat until this week but I am tired from work and worrying about the results and if they are worth the debt I know have. On a side note--I moved both of my kids into their college dorms last weekend so I am empty nesting and possibly just a little overwhelmed (2 tuitions plus this, what was I thinking???)... Ok, enough of that! On the bright side, I have not needed pain meds for weeks now, just tylenol. I do occasionally take a muscle relaxer to sleep if I am really swollen or achy before bed. I am moving pretty well and mostly upright even with swelling. I am just not sure it will be worth all of the expense....seems like things aren't really that different. I definitely don't see any improvement on my legs at this point and questioning if lipo really changed anything to my silhouette. I go back to PS next week and I am really hoping to see improvements by then!
