Dr. Walding and his whole staff are incredible! I am beyond ecstatic with my whole experience and results. To start let me say I am an obsessive person, I have a pretty heavy case of body dysmorphia, a past with anorexia and have always had a hard time looking in the mirror. I decided to get breast implants 6 years ago thinking it would help my body image and that it would just “fix” everything and make me happy. One surgery led to another, led to another, led to another and before I knew it, I had had 3 surgeries and was STILL not happy. I realized that I would never be happy with anything about my body no matter what size my breasts were. After a lot of thought and prayer I made the choice to go back to the old me. No matter what the results were I made an absolute vow to love myself and treat my body with the love she always deserved. Dr. Walding was so caring, compassionate and patient. Any question or concern I had, he answered. Even after surgery, if I had any little inkling of worry he was happy to answer the call. Walking into their office was an absolute answer to prayer. Thank you so much to Dr. Walding, Crystal, Elisha, Amber Jean and the whole Southern Institute of Plastic Surgery staff. Y’all have made this small booby girl so very happy <3
Dr. Walding was my first cosmetic surgeon and I will look no further. He is a master injector, just like I was told. I had botox on my forehead, Kybella under my chin, and dysport under my eyes/crows feet. He is a perfectionist in his work and I am forever grateful for him. My result looks natural and beautiful!! Definitely a 100% satisfied patient!
An incredible Doctor and staff!
I love the treatments I have received done Dr Walding and his wonderful staff. I have received 2 Halo treatments and I'm very satisfied. Also I had skin cancer on my face and after removal Dr Walding did reconstruction and you can't even tell, he made me feel so good with the results and will always recommend him to everyone, Thank You Dr Walding for all you have done!
Three weeks ago I had a breast reduction surgery and a lift. If I knew how happy I would be with the results and how great I was going to feel, I would have done it years ago. My breasts were excessively large and gravity had pulled them down making them seem even larger. I was so unhappy with my appearance. Even though I am fairly thin & have a small frame, I always looked fat like a big balloon. Breasts are not made of muscle & when they are belly button warmers, I looked fat. Shopping for clothes was a nightmare. Clothes that fit my bust were oversized everywhere else. Now I can finally shop for tops and dresses that fit my entire body not just my chest. I always avoided button up tops like the plague. No matter how much tape or how many pin I used, they always gap. Clothes for large breasted women are overpriced and pretty lingerie is impossible to find. Even though I am the age of a granny, I did not want to wear “granny” bras. Like most women, I wanted pretty lingerie. My ugly bras cost around $100, and sports bras were even more expensive. The last and most important reason I wanted this surgery is to get relief from the constant back and neck pain. I lived through physical therapy and chiropractic treatments for years that helped for short periods, but the pain always returned. I had my surgery 21 days ago, and I couldn’t be happier. The surgery was so easy, and I never felt much pain. Even though Dr. Walding gave me pain meds, I never really needed them. Also I never needed any help. Of course, my husband drove me home from surgery, and he measured and emptied my drains the first day, but after that I took care of them. The dreaded drains were not bad at all just more of a nuisance. I drove myself to my first post op appointment and even went shopping a couple of times while I had them. Dr. Walding removed them after a week. I had read that removing the drains was painful, but Dr. Walding assured me it wouldn’t hurt, and, as always, he was right. I thought it would take weeks or months before I would be happy with my new breasts, but I was happy from the first day after surgery. And they get better every week. I am back to business as usual with my only restriction not to lift anything heavy. Last week I started going back to gym, but for now I am only walking on the treadmill. Before surgery I walked 5 miles a day, and I’m back up to that distance just not as fast as before surgery. I plan to take it easy until the doctor tells me I am all healed. I will probably start some light leg exercises soon but just nothing with my upper body yet. I am so pleased with everything about my surgery. Of course, the reason I am so happy is because I did my homework and choose the right plastic surgeon Dr. Walding.
I had twins 5 years ago and have wanted to get a tummy tuck but haven't had the courage to do it. After doing a lot of research recently, I decided to schedule a consultation with Dr. Walding. When I met with him, I felt very comfortable and could tell that he had a genuine desire to help people. I decided to make an appointment right away and that has proven to be the best decision of my life. Today, I look in the mirror and can't believe that this is my body! He did a better job than I ever could have expected and I am extremely grateful! Updated on 12 May 2016: I feel really good after 5 weeks. My scar healed pretty good. Updated on 4 Mar 2017: Love my tummy. Best decision I ever made
I am anxious and excited to be getting Halo. I have melasma and some other minor skin issues after pregnancies. I am hoping the Halo will even my skin tone and remove or improve the dark spots from melasma. So far the Dr and staff have been very nice, knowledgeable and I am looking forward to the procedure. Will keep you all posted. Updated on 19 Nov 2015: Before pics - taken about 2 hours before treatment - excited!! Updated on 19 Nov 2015: Updated on 19 Nov 2015: Before pics - taken about 2 hours before treatment - excited!! - sorry didn't load the first time trying again Updated on 19 Nov 2015: Wow- it really wasn't that bad at all during the procedure. My Dr and his staff were great. Yes my face felt like it was on fire immediately after but within 45 minutes it subsided to the point it wasn't bothering me at all. Will post more over the next few days. Updated on 20 Nov 2015: Day 2 woke up felt ok, used cleanser (felt good to wash my face). when I put the barrier cream on my face got hot and more red again but overall looks better than it did yesterday. The hotness is bearable, just like a bad sunburn. We'll see how the day goes. I should have taken pics before I put the barrier cream on but this is right after I applied it. Updated on 21 Nov 2015: So far so good. Things seem to be happening just like they said. Increase in brown pigment is starting to flake off. I'm a little itchy but nothing major. Can't wait to see the end result the suspense is worse than anything LOL Updated on 27 Nov 2015: Today is one full week and I am a little worried. I have tons of these little tiny blister like bumps all around my chin, cheek and nose. My skin is very dry with a rough bumpy texture to it. My Melasma had disappeared for a few days but is reappearing in certain spots. I have bother week before my follow up but if these blisters keep happening I will see if I can go back earlier. Updated on 27 Nov 2015: Not sure if this is normal but hope it goes away Updated on 5 Dec 2015: My bumps only lasted about 48 hours - seems like it was just my skin pushing out the "junk" - healing nicely only a few small Melasma spots around the edges of my face but significant improvement. Will post more photos Updated on 17 Dec 2015: So far I am VERY pleased!! Had a couple bad days during healing bit that was totally worth it. My skin is looking great and I haven't worn foundation at all since the procedure. Updated on 6 Jan 2016: Super pleased! My Dr and his staff are amazing!!! Everything looks great and my skin looks so much better I hardly ever wear foundation anymore. I don't need to! In hindsight the recovery part really wasn't bad at all and totally worth the results. I am having a touch up in 2 weeks for a small area. I tried to add pics but it wasn't working so I will try again when I get home. Updated on 15 Mar 2016: SSOOOOO Happy I did Halo! It was completely worth it. I am even considering doing a second treatment. I didn't realize how much my overall skin had improved until I took a "selfie" and went to post it. I had to look twice, I couldn't believe how good my skin looked. I would definitely recommend Halo if you are having skin issues or just are not happy with your skin. Your doctor can recommend the best treatment option for your needs. Updated on 7 Aug 2019: Dr. W is **the bomb**!! I have seen him for several different things to include surgery and skin care. He is very knowledgeable about the products he offers and procedures he performs. He does not try to push you into any certain product or procedure, he simply gives you all the information you need to make an informed decision. He stays on top on new technologies, advancements and treatments. His staff is probably the best I've ever experienced at any medical office or facility. He will always be my first choice. Highly, highly recommend.
After numerous surgeries that included 3 c-sections, hysterectomy, scar revision and others my stomach looked a mess. I now have a flat stomach and a very thin scar that is barely noticeable. I also had liposuction on my hips and thighs. The combination gave me the look I wanted and much more confidence.
Gravity had taken place; felt really ugly. Dr Walding explained procedure in detail along with expected results and healing process. The surgery went well with minimum swelling and bruising . Absolutely no pain, continued routine without any down time. The results are awesome and couldn't be more pleased.
I have lost over 130lbs over three years. It was hard work and now I finally will 'see' my new body out from under this tummy! The cost I mentioned is actually for lipo of waist/flank area with the abdominoplasty. I have wanted this for almost 4 years now, but there was always that guilt in spending the money. My weight has been stable at 160lbs( ok now I am at 155lbs..lol) and I am 5'4". I will be sure to post pictures of before and after because it is my favorite part of this site! I also have posted in TT forum since I was first planning on only the tummy...lucky me, I get both now :) Updated on 26 Apr 2012: So today we drove to Dothan and paid the remaining balance! It was scary, but exhilarating! My pre-op is scheduled for the day before surgery and then I have to be at the hospital at 5am. I will be driving myself because my husband will be in school. My son is staying overnight with a friend so I can try to rest well before surgery :) I cannot believe it is so soon. I am terribly anxious and had a hard time sleeping last night. I truly hope it will not be 3 weeks of no sleep..lol. My husband is so very supportive since he watched me lose all of my weight and then be left with a less than happy state. I have always been heavy, so when the doctor mentioned putting my stomach 'where it used to be', I laughed out loud. I think the last time my stomach was flat, I was 12! My doctor said he will be removing a significant amount of skin since I had an extreme weight loss. I do have realistic expectations and know that I won't fly out of bed looking fabulous, but to have my 'flap' removed will be quite liberating I am sure. The doctor also said he is going to lipo under my arms where the last PS who did my BR did not. That is awesome to me because it does bother me that it sticks out over the bras. Anyway, I am terribly excited and keep rambling and looking at before and after pictures! I will be taking ictures before, during, and after as well so that people can obsess like I have! Updated on 30 Apr 2012: So I called the PS this morning because on their FB page it states they offer military discount and we already paid for the TT/Lipo. I also asked about the BA and they should be calling me back with all of the info! I am hoping they can put the 'discount' from the other procedures towards the BA, then we can just pay the remaining amount. I truly hope I can get all of this over at once :) Now I just have to WAIT for the office to call me back...I am not very patient..lol. At least I am watching my friend's kids today and that will keep my mind off of it for awhile! I am beyond excited. While my husband is always supportive, I think he loves the idea of bigger boobies again. He mentioned at least 4 times yesterday that in just a couple of weeks, my boobs will be bigger. At least he is supportive right?! lol Updated on 30 Apr 2012: AWESOME! So, there IS a discount for military AND they are seeing my at 1030 tomorrow morning for another consult for new tatas ;) That is perfect since my husband can come and help me choose a size! So, the discount money for the TT/Lipo, will go towards the BA now! Woohoo! All my body dreams coming true in just over two weeks! Updated on 1 May 2012: Saw my PS this morning and he did measurements for new ta-tas! We discussed size and I tried them on with the bra, etc. I am going with Mentor Silicone around 475cc under the muscle. It should put me around a small D. He said I probably won't notice too much pain from the breasts because of my ain in the tummy..lol. That's reassuring and honest ;) We paid for the BA today as well and now I just need to grab a couple of bras before surgery. The total cost for lipo of flanks/waist/hip area, abdominoplasty, and BA with no lift(since I had the breast reduction 5 years ago) is $11,300. Whew. That is a BIG number when typed out! Regardless, it is paid for and there is no turning back! I am excited, but a bit nervous about recovery. I already have my prescriptions filled too. Just 16 more days! Updated on 2 May 2012: We went shopping today and I bought a couple front hook sport bras, Designer Whey (I am almost out), some sexy granny panties, and some gas medicine to have on hand. All of my prescriptions are ready and everything else is set. The hardest part is waiting for the next couple of weeks! I finally caved and bought some Unisom to help me sleep too. My period was due Sunday, but I am always late or off a bit, so I am sure it should come anytime now :P I just want to get it out of the way before the surgery! I hope everyone is having a wonderful week :) Updated on 4 May 2012: Still no period, but having cramping, so hopefully soon! I am in love with Unisom. I actually slept for a full 8 hours and HARD! Amazing. Two weeks from today, at this time, I will be in SURGERY! Wow! Updated on 11 May 2012: One week from this moment, they will be wheeling me back to surgery!! Ack! I feel nervous, excited, anxious, and a whole lot of stressed! I still have not gotten a period, but it may be the stress. I also have PCOS, so my body is weird anyway. I keep thinking of how it will be to NOT have this stomach. It is a daily reminder of where I cam from and how much effort I have put into getting healthy. I know that I am ready for this change, it just seems so big and life-altering. I keep trying to take deep breaths and remember that I am worth it. I do deserve to be happy on the outside now! I just want my outside to reflect my inside for once!! :) Updated on 15 May 2012: Sooo, I took my finals today and I am officially done with school for the summer! Yay! One less thing to stress about. Today I made a yummy meal for my husband and son since they aren't going to have my cooking for awhile after Friday..lol. I also did laundry and washed all of the bras and stuff that I need for afterwards. I had already filled prescriptions, but today I filled a basket with all of my after surgery stuff...lotion, wipes, dry shampoo, comb, meds, etc. This way my husband can find everything in one place and just move the basket if I need to move to another room. Tomorrow I am going to make chicken salad stuffed shells, deep clean the house, make sure the dog has a bath, and any other things I think of. I just know that I have surgery Friday,get out on Saturday, and my husband has to work Monday. Hopefully I am ok with just taking care of myself..lol. My son goes to school and I do have a roster of friends available if I need to call them. I have my pre-op at the office on Thursday and I am hi first patient on Friday, so I am sure that is a good thing! lol. I feel nervous, but super excited and can hardly believe it is almost time!! I will quit rambling now...... Updated on 16 May 2012: I also forgot to mention that 5 years ago while I was still in the process of losing weight, I had a pair of 36F's...I had a breast reduction that Tricare paid for. However, the doctor took mostly breast tissue, so that left me with fatty tissue. When I lost more weight, there went my boobies altogether. Now when I lay down, they disappear. I am a very small B if that. Even my PS now made mention that the other doctor took them quite small...ugh. Anyway, that is my reason for getting new boobies too! :) I woke up this morning and realized my pre-op in office is tomorrow morning! That means I only have two more sleeps, then it is onto sexy me up time!! Woohoo! So excited now and CANNOT wait until Friday! Luckily it is super early and I am his first patient :) Updated on 17 May 2012: I woke up this morning and smiled. I actually SMILED! Tomorrow is that day ladies and gents! I have my son all packed to stay at a friend's house until Saturday, I baked Banana Nut Muffins for my family and I am making stuffed shells today too :) I feel bad mostly about not cooking for awhile and the expense of this. Alas, I am in it to win now! SO EXCITED (and nervous....) My husband has been studying a lot, so I have spent a lot of time reflecting and coming to peace with the fact that this is for me. This is not about my friends, my family, or anybody else. This is a purely selfish thing and I am good with that. I DESERVE to be selfish occassionally ;) We all do! We give up so much of ourselves when we become wives/mothers and it is all for very good reason, but I think we should focus more on ourselves to be better mothers and wives. At least that is what I learned while losing this weight. Nobody is going to do it for me and if I cannot give myself the time to be healthy, who will? Anyway, my outfit is laid out for tomorrow already ;) My by-the-bed basket is packed with all of my meds/aftercare stuff! I am getting my son on the bus, then heading to my pre-op at the office. I took my toe polish off and gave myself a pedicure last night, so now I just have to be able to sleep tonight! I have a 30-45 minute drive in the AM, plus I am showering so I will need to be up at 3AM :-O Hopefully I can sleep a bit at least! Good luck to all of the ladies going in today!!! :) Updated on 17 May 2012: ACK!! I am marked up like some tribal woman now..it is really weird to see for sure. However, my appt. today made me even more confident in my doctor. He is putting the incision BELOW my c-section scar! He is pretty confident in getting my belly super flat by extending the scar a bit on my sides (still low though!) I am SO anxious and nervous and feel like I am going to pee my pants and have a heart attack now.... need to calm down! Updated on 20 May 2012: SO ladies I am done! Yay! Everything went pretty smoothly after the first night. The surgery took quite awhile. I went back at 0930 and came out around 1700. I told them I got nausea after anesthesia, but they only gave me Zofran. I ended up getting really sick ad threw up at least three times. It was horrific and painful. Finally it subsided, but then I started draining over 100. Dr. Walding was quite concerned and they did not let me eat or drink just in case they needed to ruch me back to surgery. Lucky for me, the draining slowed overnight and I seem to be in the clear now! So happy for that :) Dr. Walding said everything went quite well. He removed a liter off of each flank, 1/3 a liter out from under arms, pulled in a 5 inch seperation of mucles, and gave me pretty boobies. They are 450cc left and 400cc right moderate profile silicone. He said my belly button is quite cute and he did my scar very low, but straight across since I had a 14 by 12 inch amount removed and he wanted it tight as possible. I know for a fact that I cannot stand up straight at all and my body is very sore. I have not been able to see anything yet because he wants me to stay wrapped until I go in on Tuesday or Thursday. I can definitely tell a difference as I can see my va-jay-jay whilst sitting and that NEVER happened before...rofl!!! My husband said my boobies are fabulous, but I can only see cleavage which seems quite nice for sure! My legs and arms are quite swollen..that is normal right?! I am going to the bathroom myself and just use my legs muscles to lower myself down and up. I have no recliner, wedge pillow, or toilet seat lift. I just have lots of pillows and an ottoman, and a neck pillow. My husband goes back to work tomorrow and my son goes to school, so I am so very happy I am doing pretty well. I just doze off when I am tired and wake up to eat/bathroom/wash up..lol! Guess that is it for now! :) Updated on 21 May 2012: Today has actually been a pretty good day. My sweet husband made me protein shakes in the fridge and cut up pineapple too Updated on 22 May 2012: That was EXHAUSTING! I am glad the post-op is done for today..lol. It was not because I was in pain, but mainly just tiring. I came home and slept hard for an hour until my son came home and planning on sleeping again after I update! I went to the office with some sort of character for sure. I have skirts from Old Navy that are like yoga fold down skirts and I wore a gray one with a gray button up short sleeved shirt of my husband's. I managed to shave my legs last night by sitting on the edge of the tub and slowly shaving the lower half at least..lol. My hair is all pulled up in a clip, so no worries for that. I felt really good leaving the house finally! (Plus, I was hoping for a Panera trip for their Salmon salad!! SO yum!) I got to the office and they had me undress completely and put a robe on. It wasinteresting to get everything off for the first time. Thanks to my friend I brought with me, I was able to manage. Dr. Walding was worried because my drains are still quite red and I had problems bleeding after vomiting the day of surgery. Right now I am putting out over 100cc a day still and it is still bloody. He took my blood pressure and asked how I felt etc. My BP was great, no dizziness or anything. On he went to remove the dressings. He removes all steri-strips because he hates them. He said they give people blisters (they did on me as well..just two small ones) I got to check out my belly button and it is rather neat..not sure when I had seen it last..lol. I do have some strectch marks left, but I am so very okay with that. The incision is longer than most and very low/thin. He went further around to get me as tight as possible. I can't wait to take pictures, but will have to see if my husband has time tonight! I am completely in awe of technology right now! I also learned how to massage my new bubbies...too sexy! So happy right now...and tired...lol Updated on 23 May 2012: I am tired. Must have overdone it yesterday between going to the appt. and getting washed up and into clean garments! Must sleep a lot today and come back to update tomorrow after rest! :) Happy healing ladies! Updated on 24 May 2012: So yesterday I slept..a LOT. No joke, I slept SO much, but Tuesday took a lot out of me. This morning I got up, washed up, shaved legs and put lotion on my swollen tree trunks and got dressed. I had company all day today and it was so nice to socialize with my friends :) I have some great ones for sure! Now mind you, I have been able to have a BM for a couple of days and it actually seems easier. This may be because my muscles were so shot before that I would press on my belly to get myself to go. Apparently I have muscles all repaired now! Yay! It is still hard to bend, but squatting is the best thing ever and something you should practice and perfect before surgery! This one thing can actually replace a toilet seat riser, recliner, and grabber...I am telling you to squat like you mean it! Focus it on your legs and it is not bad at all. Today, I am really swollen in my hips/legs. My belly swelling must be down a bit because I can feel a center ridge of my abs!! YES! That is AMAZING! :) Between these amazing boobies and my SLOWLY flattening stomach..it was already worth te money ;) Happy healing for today guys! I promise to get pictures up this weekend! Tomorrow is one week post op! Updated on 25 May 2012: ONE WEEK POST OP So we took a couple of pictures today. I am really swollen still. Like the one says, I am still 15lbs over my surgery date weight. It is crazy the amount of fluid I have in my body right now. I am drinking a lot of water, some pineapple juice, and my husband is doing light massage on my legs. I am sleeping reclined with legs up. Not sure what to do about this swelling. I am assuming it will go away at some point, but it is painful!!! In good news, my husband and I figured out how to shower. Both of us jumped in together, I hung drains around my neck, and held a towel over the drain site as not to get it wet. IT WAS AMAZING!! I feel SO much cleaner now..lol. I changed all dressings and got my CG back on with my sports bra. My boobs are settling in nicely. I LOVE them. I cannot wait to start massaging the scars and get this swelling gone! I know it will continue to look better each and every day! :) Also, I know I have a lot of 'pleating'. Please do not let it scare you. I had a LOT of extra skin, but did not want a belt incision done. My doctor and I discussed it and he just extended the scar and pulled it as tight as possible. I have faith that the pleating will smooth out as it does in most cases and I will still be happy with the results! That is is for today ladies! Have a great and happy healing day! Updated on 26 May 2012: Had another glorious shower today with my husband and fell fresh and clean! My drains have been half of what the drainage has been. This is a great sign, though they have not changed color, still dark red. I am feeling really well and the pleating is smoothing well already! My boobies are gorgeous and getting better every day. My tummy swelling is going down, but I cannot tell a huge difference in my back from the lipo yet. I assume this will come more as swelling subsides. Right now my abs are getting that 1000 crunch feeling that everyone talks about, but that also is cool because I have never felt that way when trying to work my abs before...must have been that 5 inch seperation before ;) We had pizza and movie night last night which was fun. I stuck with two pieces of plain pizza and called it a night. That being said, my weight was the same today and I think the swelling would have been down had I not eaten any pizza. Meh. Anyway, my husband just got back from buying lots more fruit and veggies for me and I still have my protein shakes with coconut milk! Yum! My husband has been so helpful and supportive and I am so very thankful to have him in my life Updated on 27 May 2012: PO 9 Good morning everyone! :) After some research on what I could do for swelling that would not give me heartburn too, I found that cucumber hold the secret. Not only are they great for connective tissue healing (thanks to the silica!), they are also an amazing and highly effective diuretic! So my husband bought me some pitcher's, cucumbers(along with an array of healthy fruits and veggies!) and I went to town. I sipped it all evening and this morning....2lbs down! YES! Now I still have pitting edema in my legs and I am still 14lbs over pre-op weight. However, I was 20lbs over on post-op day 1! I thought maybe it was crazy swelling..and it is, but it is apparently because I had so much tissue removed plus lipo. The combo of the two caused a lot of swelling. I know it will continue to go down, but it is painful. I plan on sipping cucumber water from now on...all summer long! :) Yesterday, I felt so good, I tried to help with dinner. That was a mistake and I paid for it last night with very little sleep :( However, I plan on napping today for sure. I got up and shaved my legs in case we go to the pool (not for me, but for my son!). My husband made me toast and eggs and is going to paint my toes today Updated on 29 May 2012: PO Day 11. I got dressed by myself and drove myself to my appt. today..PROGRESS!! In other news, I have a hematoma, but apparently I am an expert drain stripper so I just have to keep the drains for now and keep them dry and clean. My belly is swollen today, but my waist/contour is really beginning to show. I told the doc that my garment was a bit loose, but everyone in the office said that was fine and you only have to wear them for four weeks. I may have to delve into that more next Tuesday when I see him again. He said I am healing well. My breasts are dropping slightly and look fabulous! I will take pics this weekend again to mark my two weeks! I also shopped for a bit at Target and hit up Panera for a salmon salad..YUM! It was liberating to do it all by myself and the whole office is amazed I am doing so well so fast....even stranger since I had the profuse vomiting resulting in a hematoma at this point. Anyway, he said try to get enought rest and keep doing what I am doing because I am doing it well :) ALSO, I could get my garment on myself, which should tell most of you how loose it is :P Again, I am down 3lbs more, so I am only 9lbs over pre-op weight, so drink your cucumber water!!!! Happy healing :) Updated on 31 May 2012: sorry I have not been on here. I have been having a rough couple of days. You know, the weeping, crying, feeling sorry for myself bs..lol. Anyway, to add insult to injury, I started another period too. So now REALLY tender boobies, cramps (so no ice on belly), and SUPER bloat. Ugh. I am hoping it ends soon. Luckily my husband had time to help me out in the shower tonight. It has been really hard doing it myself while feeling so aweful and still having the drains in. I started Bromelain to aid with the hematoma and hopefully decrease even more swelling. I bought Nature's plus brand that is 1500mg (900 GDU). I have only been taking it a couple of days and I feel like I am eating everything lately (mainly protein shakes and craving CARBS of course..lol) Anyway, I am hoping the third week gets better and hopefully my hematoma heals and I can get drains out, but I am not rushing that. They are a pain, but less of a pain than giant needles ;) Happy healing everyone :) Updated on 5 Jun 2012: So I had my weekly post-op today. Everything is healing well and I got one drain out. I was hoping for both, but it is a start! I am hoping my swelling starts to subside more. In other good news, I had a day with my son today after the appt.! We went shopping where I found a Vera Bradley miller bag and matching wallet for half off! Great deal!! Then we went to Olive Garden for lunch and to see MIB 3. It was a lot of fun and I am tired. I do not have a lot to report. No major changes. The pleating is really smoothing out and my new tatas are settling in fine ;) I still cannot stand straight, nor eat a lot..lol. I had two mushroom ravioli and half a breadstick and two small stuffed mushrooms for lunch. I felt SO full. I am completely okay with this new side effect from surgery though..lol. I am instructed to keep this second drain in until next Tuesday when I see him or until it stops draining. However, I know that regardless it IS coming out next week! Yay! Updated on 7 Jun 2012: 3 weeks post-op as of tomorrow and guess what?! I have a pair of pre-op size 6 Old Navy denim shorts on!! What?! Super excited that I even tried them on, but then it gave me a reason to take pictures and get on here to share! I am back into the 150's and I am sure that will keep going down in the weeks to come :) I have slept in bed for the past two nights and just propped pillows up. It works and sleeping next to my amazing husband is really nice too ;) We have been going to the pool almost everyday and it is torture not to swim. However, with only one drain left in, I feel more confident in wearing just a tank and shorts. I just tuck the drain in a pocket :P I am still not standing completely straight and after sitting, it is even harder to straighten up. Again, I heard that is a good thing. The scabs on my BB are coming off and while it is swollen still I know it is going to be cute. My scar is actually quite thin once the pleating goes away from around it. As for the pleating, you can see how much has smoothed out already, but he said it will keep getting progressively better in the weeks/months to come. I just need to remember it is a long process, but well worth it! This morning I am feeling sexy in shorts and a tight tee and that is PRICELESS! (Ok, I felt sexy before, but this is SEXY SEXY HOT SEXY!!) lmao... I am starting my morning as usual...greek yogurt with walnuts and raw honey, fruit (today is golden rasberries!!), and lots of water! I had sushi/sashimi last night for dinner with low sodium soy sauce and even had a mini cone of light ice cream. I still am doing one half a gram of protein for every pound of body weight and it seems to be working! I am now only 4 lbs above pre-op weight at three weeks post-op. Not to shabby I say! Updated on 7 Jun 2012: 3 weeks post-op as of tomorrow and guess what?! I have a pair of pre-op size 6 Old Navy denim shorts on!! What?! Super excited that I even tried them on, but then it gave me a reason to take pictures and get on here to share! I am back into the 150's and I am sure that will keep going down in the weeks to come :) I have slept in bed for the past two nights and just propped pillows up. It works and sleeping next to my amazing husband is really nice too ;) We have been going to the pool almost everyday and it is torture not to swim. However, with only one drain left in, I feel more confident in wearing just a tank and shorts. I just tuck the drain in a pocket :P I am still not standing completely straight and after sitting, it is even harder to straighten up. Again, I heard that is a good thing. The scabs on my BB are coming off and while it is swollen still I know it is going to be cute. My scar is actually quite thin once the pleating goes away from around it. As for the pleating, you can see how much has smoothed out already, but he said it will keep getting progressively better in the weeks/months to come. I just need to remember it is a long process, but well worth it! This morning I am feeling sexy in shorts and a tight tee and that is PRICELESS! (Ok, I felt sexy before, but this is SEXY SEXY HOT SEXY!!) lmao... I am starting my morning as usual...greek yogurt with walnuts and raw honey, fruit (today is golden rasberries!!), and lots of water! I had sushi/sashimi last night for dinner with low sodium soy sauce and even had a mini cone of light ice cream. I still am doing one half a gram of protein for every pound of body weight and it seems to be working! I am now only 4 lbs above pre-op weight at three weeks post-op. Not to shabby I say! Updated on 10 Jun 2012: 23 days post op- I am feeling quite good now. I have been massaging my scars twice daily. I do Scar Zone in the morning (it has silicone, green tea, and suncreen too!) At night I use Bio Oil on them. They are getting much better and smoothing out nicely. I will try to get more pictures after Tuesday (when I will be FREE of my last drain!). My breasts has dropped nicely and I am loving my newly contoured body! I know that my legs probably need a thigh lift, but I REFUSE to focus on anything else with my body. I will work with what I have now. I know that I have always been a confident girl and I feel like this is the icing on the cake! :) As for my drain..it is now a very pale pink color and around 40mL per day right now. It has been getting less, so that is good! My measurements are getting there. I am now 31 inch waist in the AM instead of 33 inches right after surgery..lol. My chest is 40 inches and my hips are 40 inches. I know this will all continue going down along with my weight, so I am cool with that. It is definitely the hourglass figure I was going for ;) I have been sleeping a bit lower in bed now and was able to lay on my side for a bit which resulted in some really great sleep! My husband is still amazed by the changes already and keeps reminding me that the swelling will keep going down. I personally cannot wait to get back to the gym. Even if it is just the elliptical for 30minutes a day. Something to make me feel more active and in shape! lol. I hope everyone is healing well and feeling more secure within themselves. I know that I am so incredibly happy with this decision and I do not regret it one bit! Updated on 12 Jun 2012: Day 25- Sooo. Woke up this morning and started removing my dressings from last night. I have a split in my incision. Right over my vajayjay. It is about an inch long, but not too deep. I have also still been draining 35-40mL a day. I went to my appointment where he said "Tell me good news"..I had none other than I am feeling quite well..lol. Anyway, he looked at the split, said it won't harm the thinness of the incision and to put bacitracin on it and cover with gauze while it is healing. I also must keep the drain in and call on Thursday to let him know the output for today and tomorrow. If it gets low enough, he will have me come in on Friday to pull it out (exactly one MONTH!) He snipped the big sutures and pulled out any strays that were breaking out too. Then he gave me a SMALLER CG :) Yay! I really love how comfortable my CG is, so I was happy to have a smaller size and hopefully that will push the rest of the fluid out as well! My boobs are doing great, dropping nicely, scars are healed up. So, that is my update, sad but true. I did not take more pics, but will try in the AM. I was a bit in shock to find the gaping split this morning, so I forgot to take pics :( In other GREAT news, I am back down to 155lbs., but look a lot smaller as the days pass ;) Updated on 17 Jun 2012: Day 30- Feeling pretty good, but SWELLED a lot..is this normal? I am now needing a smaller CG again though? After only 5 days? I 'feel' swollen, but I must be smaller? I am so confused today. As for drain, still in. I call tomorrow to see what they say. It was only 25mL yesterday and 55mL today...I am so annoyed. I am wondering if it wouldn't be easier at this point to have them drain me? I feel amazing and bought some linen shorts from Walmart that I am in love with..who knew Walmart would sell linen shorts?! I have like 5 pairs of those and 15 $3 tank tops..lol. I feel amazing in a tight tank top now though. Sexy, very sexy....though it would be sexier without a drain. We shall see what they say tomorrow. I hope it will all subside and work out. I heard the 5th week is swell hell? Or the 4-5th week? lol. Not sure, but I really need the smaller garment and I think that will help! Updated on 22 Jun 2012: 5 weeks post-op. OK, I have to say it has been a rough week. I put on my happy face as usual, but man oh man... So first they took the drain out. That evening I got really swollen, then it went away and I got a fever/chills/pain in left calf. Doc sent me to ER to make sure no blood clot. There was not, so he gave me antibiotics and some lortab again. The split in my incision is now more like a hole. He gave me ulcer 'stuffing'. Basically it is special padding to dry up the wound and get it to close up...something it still have not done. I am due for my period, so I think that is part of my discomfort too. Also, I was an idiot and thought I was superwoman..again. I took my son and three of his friends to the zoo in Montgomery for the day yesterday. It was a two hour drive there and back, plus we spent 7 hours walking around there. I did rent a stroller to carry the bags and stuff, but I was WHOOPED! I took a couple of muscle relaxers and slept hard. I feel pretty good, but have some sore muscles today. I was in the heat all day. And today is my husband's family day, so we will be on the hot flight line for hours today. Supposed to be 95 degrees. I am doing a tank and shorts, but I feel swollen. I am in a medium garment though, so I cannot be as swollen as I think right? I just figured I would be farther along in the healing process by now. In other good new my boobies look amazing and the right has dropped completely and the left is not far behind! Updated on 25 Jun 2012: So things are going well :) Healing up, all but slowly..lol. I still have a msall tear, but it is healing. I go back for a post-op tomorrow and will jupdate more then. I wanted to add some more pictures and let everyone know I went bathing suit shopping finally! I have a tankini though since I want to keep the belly button covered during the first summer ;) Updated on 1 Jul 2012: 6 weeks post op- Well, not that I have been resting, but I had not been working out per say. Now I am back to working out for an hour in the gym and walking in the evenings outside. I also am wearing regular bras now..measured at a 34DD or a 36D..wowza! I still wear my garment, but not to sleep in. I like nekkid sleep..lol. As soon as my incision is closed (SO close now!) I will be adding swimming to me list of things to do :) Today I bought a nice pop up canopy for the beach and next weekend we are going again! It is almost my birthday (happy 32nd to me!) on the 9th and I just want to pack lunch/dinner and hang out all day with friends and family. I am loving being able to work out and plan on 5-6 days a week. It is just part of my day now and it feels so good! I made turkey tacos tonight with spicy guac and whole wheat tortillas! yum! We are waiting for the sun to go down so we can go for our 4 mile family walk :) Hope everyone is feeling great and healing well!
Thank you for your question and for providing photos. Your research is correct on the FDA regulations on silicone implants for those patients under 22, thus the use of silicone implants at your age would be off label and void the manufacturer warranty. However, that doesn't totally negate the use of gel implants in a patient under the age of 22 in the right circumstances. As far as sizes, consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon is recommended. This evaluation should be used to discuss goals, establish a physician-patient relationship/comfort level, and obtain measurements with an exam in an effort to come up with a plan to help you achieve your desired results. Good luck with everything.
Though it is difficult to tell without a picture, it is possible that you have postoperative swelling and the indentation you are seeing is a result of progressive tension sutures. These sutures are used to help close the dead space between the abdominal wall and skin flap, thus lessening the chance of fluid collection (seroma). The sutures also decrease the tension on the incision. Dimpling can often be seen postoperatively at the site of these sutures and usually resolves in 3-6 weeks. Recommend you follow up with your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to discuss your concerns and have an examination.
Based on your photos, an excisional scar revision would improve the appearance of your scar. Tension free closure would create a fine scar that would be less noticeable. The appearance of your opposite eyelid would need to be taken into account when revising your scar. Recommend evaluation by a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to discuss options regarding improvement of your scar.
Depending on your desired outcome, you would have an improved shape and appearance of your breasts with a combination augmentation and mastopexy procedure. The mastopexy (breast lift) provides better shape/symmetry, places your nipple into a more youthful position, and reduces the size of your nipple areolar complex. The augmentation will improve your upper pole fullness/volume. Recommend that you discuss your options with a Board Certified Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon.
Based on your photos, you would benefit from an augmentation/mastopexy. The mastopexy (breast lift) would provide you with the lift necessary to place your nipple back above your inframammary fold and the augmentation would provide you fullness in the upper aspect of your breast that deflates over time. This procedure would improve the appearance of your breast as well as decrease the size of your nipple areolar complex.An abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) would remove the excess skin from your abdomen and decrease the number of stretch marks present on your abdomen. It would also tighten your abdominal muscles which often become lax after multiple pregnancies. Combined, the procedures would improve the overall appearance and contour of your breasts and abdomen. Recommend consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to discuss your options and goals.
