James A. Lehman, MD (retired)

Dr. James Lehman were my doctor when I were born for my cleft lip and nose (palet in tact). I am very grateful for everything he has done for me as well as his partner at the time Dr. Parker!
I just wanted him to know he set such a wonderful foundation for me, as i just had two surgeries from Dr. Ali Totonchi this past summer. I highly recommend him as well.

Dr. Lehman, if you come across thisand remember me, thank you so much! My parents chose the best!

Cost reflected was for all procedures that includes: abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), liposuction, and mastopexy (breast lift). I have worked out for years and have reached that place where I knew that it was time for plastic surgery. My stomach muscles had lost the inability to hold in naturally and was forced to hold it in all the time which resulted in having knee issues and back issues. The constant search for clothes to hide my stomach was overwhelming. The most important factors in all this is how I felt in my own skin and fighting all the mental thoughts of can others see my fat, make sure to suck in my stomach, and fighting the urge to stay home because of how I look and feel. Waited two years to make sure my weight had sustained and that my body would be ready for the surgery. This procedure was not part of my weight loss plan but instead was the final step. Working out and eating healthy is my life and this surgery is more to help those areas that were out of my control. Did the first day feel like hell... of course.... but on day 7 when you put on a shirt you bought and never wore and suddenly looks good makes it all worth it! That feeling of putting on a bikini and seeing that it looks great makes you want to dance with joy! I would so do this all over again. Knowing that the part of me that I have kept caged in under all that extra skin is now set free is priceless!

AFTER SEEING THE WORK DR LEHMAN DONE ON MY WIFE I DECIDED TO GET RID OF SOME EXCESS SKIN AND ALSO HAVE MY BREAST REDUCTION- I LOOK ALOT BETTER AND I AM VERY HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS-I WOULD RECOMMEND DR LEHMAN TO ANYONE THAT NEEDS TO DO TUMMY TUCKS BREAST REDUCTION AND LIFTS HE CAN MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE A DIFFERENT PERSON--THANKS DR LEHMAN TO YOU AND YOUR WONDERFUL STAFF

I disliked my hips as a teenager and after my son was born they wouldn't go away. Doctors staff was very kind on the phone and I had 3 friends that had surgery there and recommended him. The office is beautiful. The hospital staff was very kind also. After surgery I was sore but pain medication helped.

My surgery is coming in 18 days! I have been reading blog after blog to find Ny help to make my time easier and less painful. Unfortunately I dream weird dreams every single night because of it. I have learned a lot and I am pretty sure I am ready for that big day! Tummy tuck, lipo on flanks and replacing my 350 cc saline implants from 1998 to a 450 silicone implant. After my 4th and last 9lb baby boy I felt I deserved this.

Updated on 11 Dec 2012:
Slept like a baby last night. I think my anxiety is wearing off. I finally accepted that it is worth all the pain and time down. My husband agrees. I'm 5'5 and 133. I'm trying to get down to 125 before my surgery but I love to eat.:( and drink my wine. I've realized getting older and working out 5 days a week is not enough. It's true that after 40 it gets harder. I'll be 41 in January so yippee! I very excited to make friends to share this journey with on real self . I'll be posting my before pics a day before my surgery.


Updated on 12 Dec 2012:
Having a blast reading all the December tummy tucks. Some going in today and other 1 day post op. boy does that help the anxiety! I guess I'm just afraid of my kids not giving me a break since my youngest is only 3 and super needy! I'm staying with my best friend for 9 days but my 3 year old still wants me to pick him up " Even though he's a big Boy" lol!
16 more days. Who's joining me on this big day?
Great way to start off the new year right!!!!

Updated on 13 Dec 2012:
2 weeks from today! I'm Totally ready!!!!!!!

Updated on 19 Dec 2012:
Ok, so it's Wednesday the 19th and 8 more days! Wow!!! I'm been following everyone on here from there before and afters. Some going in this morning! So much help for me! I want to rent an electric recliner. Anyone know where I can find one in Ohio? I'm gonna have a pain pump, will I need pills too?

Updated on 20 Dec 2012:
1 week from today so ofcourse my anxiety is coming back! just the dreams, and the reality that it really is going to happen. my Doctor is not going to like how demanding i will be while he is drawing his marks on me, cut me low, low, low! and tie me super tight! oh and ofcourse be very generous on those flanks! I want that fat GONE!!! gotta get the boys to pre-school now!

Updated on 23 Dec 2012:
Tommorow is Xmas eve. Time sure does fly. 5 more days ladies. And sweedishmamma.
I'm doing pretty good anxiety wise. Have a few things on my list to get so to be extra prepared, with all the help from my friends here on real self. Sad thing is everyone in my house is sick with cough and sinus/ chest and I CANNOT get sick. Taking emerge-C to get all the vitamin C I can. Going to bed feeling like I could possibly get it

Updated on 26 Dec 2012:
Not posting much. It's 11:19 pm. Got almost everything done for my big day Tommorow. Just gonna set my alarm for 530am. Hope I sleep. See you all on the flat side, posting more B4 pics on way to hospital in morning. :) goodnight All.

Updated on 27 Dec 2012:
All , showered and ready to leave. Posting my B4 pics. Crazy, the day is here.

Updated on 30 Dec 2012:
Putting pics if bruised flank from lipo up. Haven't got to the belly yet for pics. I have seen it and it looks fantastic. I switched my breast from saline 14 years ago to silicone and Ladies- the feel real now!!! Love them!

Updated on 30 Dec 2012:
BTW, since I basically had a mommy makeover I had no pain in my breast and felt a little bruising in my flanks. I have to say I do get tired quick. A walk to the bathroom and back I'm whooped. Even eating. In good shape, workout 4/5 times a week hard. And my 1st two days of recovery kicked my butt!!! My wonderful GF is taking care of me for 10 days in her quiet home away from my 4 children and sometimes needy but loving Husband. I owe her big/time. Going to get my pain pump out Tommorow and hope I can walk without passing out. My stitches looke great and I can't grab a belly. Muscle repair recover sucks but damn I'm gonna be Rockin my bikini!!!!!

Updated on 31 Dec 2012:
ok, its monday december 31st new years eve.have my tummy tuck with muscle repair,lipo on flanks and replacement boobies from saline to silicone. I Guess you can say mommy make over. my surgury which was the 27thwent well, but i was awake and alert the whole day hoping that i would be out from anethsia but that didnt happen. walikg just ten feet was a chore and took my breath away. so glad i had a catherter the 1st day which my husbnd removed> good man!!! only real pain was the muscle by my groin he tied ect to complete the job.cuz i had a pain pump(highly reccomend) by muscle repair was fine with pain, just a little pull above belly button.
i was hunched over for two days and again out of breath walking just 10 feet. i cried some tears girls>

the gas for me was horrendous and i do highly reccomend milk of magnisia and gas x. nothing else. i felt like i was in labor from the gas but it took a good day of sitting on the toilet and letting it out till i got relief> which takes ab work.
so surery day and p/o day 1 were horrible for me because of the muscle repair and gas issue but overall 2days of my life like that are worth it.

Saturday was better but still hunched over needed help up out of recliner< oh and i used a long pole too get me around because of the groin on my left side. stopped pain pills cuz i just felt yucky taking them> i only ate fruit and vegatables. any amount of salt will make you swollen. stay away! i say have a cheat day when you start tto feel better otherwise you will have what 'Metal Mamma' would say 'Swell Hell"
sunday which was p/o day 3 was again better, standing straighter,getting up out of recliner alone and slept in bed< my back was loving me!

today, monday, is p/o day 4 and i went and got my pain pump out< ran errands with my best GF who has been nursing me, then stopped for a martini and a wonderful lunch of ahi tuna with sesame noodles ( teriyaki on the side ofcourse high sodium) it was my treat for the week so i indulged and sacraficed a bit of swelling. i took me a good nap after that now here i am!

Updated on 31 Dec 2012:
i have to say reading and keeping up with this blog has been a god send! seriously! i was prepared for the worst, i was just plain prepared with all my essentials. I know everyones surgerys are different and everyones PS hanldles their patients differently too. like mine only gave me percoset. i got no antibiotic or muscle relaxers or a drain pump. just a pain pump which was optional for $250.00.
which i recommend.
i'm so excited for the months and weeks to come, to watch the changes in my body and the changes in my realself girlfreinds.

Updated on 3 Jan 2013:
Today is 7 days P/o and feeling pretty good. Tightness of course. A bit sore through the abs this morning. Just so happy to get out of bed by myself and shower too. It is definitely a process though. I'm getting faster at it.
I'm swollen through the mid-section as I should be, I can't put my binder on by myself too which is nice.
It feels really good to finally sleep flat on my back. I wake up with no back pain.
Getting tired quickly though. Not used to be exausted so quick and easy since I'm super active. Putting up my 7 day p/o pic. Wish it was prettier but next week hopefully.

Updated on 4 Jan 2013:
Woke up are and tight. Normal I guess. Wasn't from the glass of wine I had last night. 4 Advil and ill be good to go . Went grocery shopping last night with my GF. My husband wants me to come home cuz he said I'm needed but I won't be the same. Slow moving. I made a calendar and daily to-Do list for my kids yesterday so it wil relieve me of a lot of my own daily chores. They will be thrilled since I do about everything for them around the home. Yes, I'm that mom.
I uploaded over a 1000 pics on shutterfly and have been working on picture books this week too. So happy about that. I save all my pics to their site so I don't lose any. Well, gonna get up and take my Advil.

Updated on 11 Jan 2013:
So my painful 3 days have past and I'm on to 2 week P/O. Swollen around the middle. YES. Still get tired easily. YES. Do I hunch over my end of day with back pain from doing too much. YES.
But hey, I'm only 2 weeks p/o. I was fileted. My swelling has gotten better but still swollen around the middle. Especially notice at the end of the day. Went for 2nd P/O on Monday and they thought I had a seroma.

She tried to extra fluid 2x but there none like I figured. IMO husband has been wrapping me a right at possible so I think it has really helped being down my swelling.

I'm not really happy at how high my scar line is but oh we'll. I have a flat belly.

I tried on a course old bikinis. I just couldn't stand it. I was just to curious. Again my scar line is higher but I will work on my scar therapy.
My p/o Is actully really good a his sutures and my scars are already super thin. Ill show them better once all the tape comes off.
So im posting my 2 week p-o and a couple bikini ones because I just couldn't stand it. Figure I could do a b4 and after with those too.
BTW. Just had 2 glasse of wine so hope I didn't repeat myself.

Updated on 18 Jan 2013:
3weeks post op. so glad I'm here but yes, still stiff towards end of day and swollen. Worth it. Woke up pretty good today. Was very swollen yesterday. I was not happy. So, I am laying off the salt And eating clean for a while. Cuz that was depressing. I'm using silicone strips and gel in the day. Scar looks great but anything to assist would be great.

I'm sleeping on my sides at times but just like my back. Seems like it helps get my belly muscles shaped and stretch nice and flat by morning.

Still not 100% in my jeans yet. Have a lot more swelling to subside. But again, I'm only 3 weeks. Right.

Updated on 2 Feb 2013:
Getting better but still swollen from hip to hip from bb down. I can sleep on Both sides for about a week now. My bellies still so numb. Feels weird wearing my jeans.

I'm gonna post some 5 wk p/o. I look lop-sided cuz of more swelling on right side. I started working out this week. No cardio yet just weights. 3 sets of each excercise. Lunges, biceps, tri-ceps calves, dead lifts.

Can't wait till summer!!!!!!!!!

Updated on 18 Feb 2013:
7 weeks and feeling pretty darn good! Diet is playing a huge part in my swelling. I have been doing weights since 5wk p/0 and have been doing great. Want to start walking fast soon to build up to my running. Didn't some push ups over the weekend and did fine. Did some vaccines/ cat stretches for my abs 3 days ago, I'm tight but felt great. Posting some 7 week pics. I need to loose 10 lbs like real soon. Not being active my thighs are getting bigger :(

Updated on 2 Mar 2013:
9 weeks and doing great!!!!! Starting " "Body for life" Tommorow. So excited!