1 Week post-op/Breast Explant. I have been sick with Auto Immune Diseases for the last 12 yrs. Within 1 year of Implants I developed debilitating Vertigo, had a miscarriage, developed Endometreosis within 2 years had to have a full hysterectomy, within 4 years was diagnosed with Gerd and Gastroparesis and had to have another major surgery called a Nissan Fundoplication, Recently had MRIs for Degenerative Disc Disease, Chronic Lower to Middle Back Pain, developed Achy Joints ETC. So over the course of several years I could not for the life of me understand why I went from being completely healthy to feeling hopeless and lifeless. I seen specialist after specialist and had more tests and procedures then I can count and not 1 person mentioned it could possibly be linked to my breast implants. So of course I never even considered that fact either. I think one time 5 years ago I seen something on implant sickness it made me think for a second and then I disregarded it. 3 months ago I was sitting in my living room and I literally felt as though I heard an inner voice say clear as can be.."Your Implants are making you sick!" I put down my book, picked up my computer and googled Breast Implant Sickness?! There it was hundreds of women just like me. I was breathless, literally couldn't believe it. So I started researching Drs and decided to go with one here locally. I had my implants removed last Friday. No lift, no drains, just compression bras. I feel absolutely fantastic!! I can't believe how good I feel and I know it is only going to get better. I went from a 34D to a 34A but I honestly couldn't be happier. I pray for all women who are dealing with a similar situation. I wish I would have known and that's why I wanted to share my story. You can't turn back the clock, but there is hope. I have lots of friends with implants with no problems and that's great too, but I do believe not all bodies are receptive to foreign objects being in there. Good luck ladies!!??
From my very first surgery consultation to my final check-ups, Dr. Rousallis's office made me feel welcome, comfortable, and respected. The front desk staff, medical assistants, and doctor were friendly and kind in answering any questions that I had throughout the process. They patiently listened to me and I never felt rushed through my appointments. Every time I walk through the front doors, I am greeted with smiles and compliments. The Casper Plastic Surgery team helped give me back my confidence! I highly recommend them!
Married and now with two kids I wanted arms that didn't swing when I wrote on the chalk board (teacher). I was overweight my first 35 years and then got the lap band. I have kept over 100 pounds off for nine years and finally wanted nice arms. Nine years ago I had a tummy tuck and breast reduction so I knew about pain. I'm now 5 foot seven and 180 lbs ( size 14). Updated on 10 Aug 2015: My doctor has given me silicone bandages to help with the scarring. Updated on 10 Aug 2015: I could take care of myself immediately following surgery. Wearing a bra was not pleasant so I had some tanks w support that I shimmied on. My pain is fine during the day but by five pm in sore and cranky. Keep in mind that I'm dealing w two toddlers.
After having my third child, I was cursed with the dreaded mommy apron that came with having three c-sections, heavy weight gain, and quick weight loss. No amount of eating clean or exercising helped me lose that apron and the layer of stomach fat that accompanied it. I was insecure and unhappy with my body. I desperately wanted a tummy tuck, but never gave myself a time line on when I would get it done. I was told about Dr. Roussalis by my gynecologist during an appointment discussing a laparoscopic hysterectomy that was going to be performed on me in December. My husband was with me and suggested that I give Dr. Roussalis a call to set up a consult for a tummy tuck and breast lift. I scheduled an appointment and was immediately impressed with the friendly office staff. I met with Dr. Roussalis for the consult and pre-op (we had already decided it was a go). His assistant was extremely kind, helpful, and supportive. Dr. Roussalis was professional and thorough. He was very patient with my 15 pages of notes and questions. He showed me before and after pictures of other patients and I was very pleased with the results. I set up the surgery date right away. During the time between the pre-op and surgery day, I had plenty of opportunities to speak with his office staff (oh, the patience those women must have) and I can honestly say that I have never experienced such wonderful support, service, and conversations by any medical staff in my life. The support and encouragement that was given was amazing (and very much appreciated)! The day of the surgery, Dr. Roussalis came in and joked with my husband and I. He was very friendly and professional. I don't remember much after that thanks to the anesthesia, but my husband said Dr. Roussalis came out and filled him (us) in on everything. Recovery was fantastic. The only downside were the drains, but they were needed, so I just sucked it up and moved on. I was so happy and in love with my tummy tuck, that I had completely forgotten that I had my breast lift as well. WOW! When I looked those girls, I was so pleased. My first follow-up with Dr. Roussalis was about 2 1/2 weeks after my surgery. It went really well! I can't express how happy I am that we chose Dr. Roussalis to perform my surgeries. My scars are thin, even, and barely noticeable (yes, even so soon after the surgeries). My husband is VERY happy with the results as well. :-) I will definitely go back to him for any other cosmetic procedures I choose to have done in the future!!!
I have had one consultation with a surgeon in my home town, and am very excited. I am thinking of 375 or 400 cc high profile silicone round implants. I would like a full C to small D, I was a full C while I was nursing and it was the perfect size. I am 5'5 130 lbs and hope they don't look too big. My pre op apt is Jan 19. My husband will go to be sure I'm picking a good size (his peace of mind). I will post before and after. And put an update after my consultation. Updated on 1 Jan 2015: I am a 34b a 34a in some bras. But I can not keep cleavage in a bra without pulling up my boobs every 30 minutes. It's very annoying, especially since I was a full C when nursing and got very comfortable with that. Updated on 8 Jan 2015: I have been wearing a padded sports bra size D over my regular push up size B. This is the look it gives, I'm hoping to look like this after surgery maybe less wide and more perky. I'm Getting high profile. Going to try to wear this all month that way the people I work with won't see a big difference after my week vacation. Updated on 18 Jan 2015: I have my pre op apt. tomorrow and my husband will meet the dr. and help me finalize implant size. Now I'm thinking 400cc smooth round silicone. I'm excited but starting to feel a bit of guilt for spending this much money on something like this. My husband is super supportive. Two years ago he would have said hell no. My sad boobs must hve changed his mind, he likes them still though. I really hope they are not all crazy square and high right after surgery, seems like a lot are. But some women look pretty good right after. There is so much unknown. I told my husband my body belonged to my babies for so long it's hard to feel sexy anymore. When my boobs were nursing big they looked great, but they were feeding supplies. I want that size back but with a different mentality. We will see how tomorrow goes. Yikes! Updated on 18 Jan 2015: I'm thinking high profile. The doc thought that would suit my frame better. I want perky but not a really wide breast. Seems like high profile tend to come with a bad stigma, but I'm thinking its the way to go. Updated on 19 Jan 2015: After my pre op I'm still super excited. My husband helped me choose the 400cc hp silicone. The dr will bring in 350-450cc and see what works best. I told the dr 400 is my favorite. I don't have a post op until 10 days after (he will be out of town) and he said I should be able to start working out again at 2 weeks. I have been working out the last couple weeks an have lost 6lbs. I'm hoping that helps the healing process. He said th more back to normal I can get the better I will feel. Only like 2 week to go! Updated on 25 Jan 2015: I ordered this because I have been losing weight and I'm getting boobs. The girls look even smaller here. And the 8 lbs lost probably didn't help them. I am so excited to wear this. Have not been in a bikini in like 5 years. This is a VS medium top. It's very gappy so should fit great, I ordered this with weight loss goals in mind, not boobs. Now it's a double bonus! Updated on 6 Feb 2015: I'm in the parking lot and getting nervous. And I'm hungry and on my period. Just trying to think of the final product. I will update! Yikes Updated on 6 Feb 2015: I'm sore but good. My two best girlfriends sent me flowers and two pink balloons saying congrats on the twins. Aren't they funny. I will post tomorrow maybe some pics if I'm up and at it Updated on 7 Feb 2015: Went well yesterday. 400cc hp silicone under the muscle. Surgery was at 11;00 and I felt pretty good until last night. Then they hurt more and my sternum started hurting more. Just keeping on track with my muscle relaxer and pain meds. I finally looked at my new boobs with apprehension. Scared of the square frankenboob, not bad though. Getting up from sitting or lying is pretty crappy. I heard day 3 is the worst. I guess we will see tomorrow. Here are some pics I just took. I think I will be very happy with the size. Can't wait to see the final outcome. Updated on 8 Feb 2015: I was scared I was going to feel worst today. But I feel a lot better. Still regular discomfort but just on ibprofen and the muscle relaxers. My arms are a lot more mobile today and I put on a more comfortable sports bra. One that's not so tight. I will keep you all posted. Updated on 13 Feb 2015: I'm back at work today. I do get light headed and foggy a bit even off pain meds. Bloat is almost gone and I can pick up my one year old again. Still get sore but very manageable. Updated on 27 Feb 2015: I'm 3 weeks post op today. No daily pain. Still can't lay on stomach or totally flat. It's uncomfortable enough not to want to. My scars are still raised, worse on the right side. Right is also tighter. I wear light bralettes daily an only wear tight sports bras when working out. Still waiting to drop and fluff but I am very happy. Extremely pleased with my Dr. and the entire process. I would do it again in a second. Can't wait to wear some cleavage bras! Updated on 7 Mar 2015: Softening up. Not sure this is appropriate for the pool party for my sons friend tomorrow. Cool
Hello RS world! I've been reading everyone's posts and super excited to be joining you all. Well I'll start by telling you a little about myself. I live in Casper, Wyoming. I'm 34 divorced mother of 2 girls. My girls are 15 and 12. I had both girls via C-section after long long long labors and very difficult pregnancies. When I was 24 I learned that I would need a hysterectomy and from then on I started saving money for my tummy tuck. So I have my tummy tuck scheduled for December 9, 2013. I'm super nervous! Updated on 2 Dec 2013: I just got done meeting with my surgeon. I only have a week left. I'm so excited and starting to get everything around the house ready. I have butterflies in my stomach........ Updated on 7 Dec 2013: I will try and add some photos after surgery on Monday. Good luck to all you and chat with you after surgery. Updated on 9 Dec 2013: Going back here shortly. Good luck everyone. Chat with you all soon. Updated on 10 Dec 2013: Well I did it. Here are some pictures Updated on 13 Dec 2013: I had surgery on Monday, December 9, my surgery was scheduled for 11 am and I left the surgical center around 4:45. When I got home I ate some soup and went to bed. Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday were a blur. Today is Friday December 13 and I have just slept. I am trying to walk around every hour. So far I'm loving the results. The only complaints I have is the drainage tubes. Those bother me worse than the incision. I have some swelling on my legs and feet and I'm pretty exhausted. Advice I can give is rest often, drink lots of fluids, and eat healthy - it makes a huge difference. I will add some photos. Best of Luck to you mommies recovering or taking the leap soon. Updated on 15 Dec 2013: Here are post op photos Updated on 16 Dec 2013: Well I'm one week post op and I feel pretty good. Still sleeping in the recliner and I see the doc today. I'm crossing my fingers that I get my drains out today but not sure that wish will come true. I think the worst part of the surgery is the drains. Everything else can be controlled. I will give another update after my doctors appointment. Good luck to all of you having surgery today. Updated on 16 Dec 2013: Just got done with my one week check up. Drain tubes were removed and everything looks great. He said I am still really swollen and bruised but that could take a couple weeks to go away. I get to sleep in my bed tonight and going back to work tomorrow. I will try to add some pics later tonight. Hope all is well with everyone. Updated on 18 Dec 2013: Went back to work yesterday and it was pretty hard sitting behind a desk all day. I was swollen and sore. Hopefully today goes a little smoother. My feet are extremely swollen still. Is anyone else having that issue? Here are some pics Updated on 20 Dec 2013: Well I've almost made it through a week of work. I'm still swollen and lumpy but for the most part doing fairly well. I get what stitches I have removed Monday. I added some pics to show the progress I've made. I have some bruising but not much and the port where the left drain was is almost closed. Hope you all have a great day. Updated on 23 Dec 2013: Good afternoon all, I made it two weeks post op. I had stitches removed today (I think there were 4). Everything looks great, my feet don't look like Feona's from Shrek anymore (thank God), and I feel pretty good. I'm still a little tired but I think it's because I'm finally back in the bed and not the recliner. For some reason I'm not able to get comfy and only sleep a couple hours. I will put some more pics up tomorrow. Hope all is well with you beautiful ladies. Updated on 24 Dec 2013: Post op day 14 pics. I love my new belly. Updated on 25 Dec 2013: Does everyone's bb look like this? I'm two weeks po and I'm so grossed out. Updated on 26 Dec 2013: Got a call back from the ps and his assistant said it's all normal. Whew! I'm so relieved. I was told to keep it covered and keep neosporin on it. Good to go until next weeks check up. Updated on 30 Dec 2013: Today is 21 days post ok. I see the ps on Thursday for a check-up. I have attached some photos. I feel pretty good, I get tired but try to sleep a normal schedule. My scar is super itchy and the old port holes still itch and aren't closed all the way, they aren't leaking anymore though. I do have a couple spots on my incision that are overly sensitive and I have to keep bandaids on them to keep them from snagging on my clothes and reopening. They open easily. Still not comfortable sleeping in the bed, sneezing, coughing, or in some sitting positions but I thinks it's much better than a week ago. I will give another update later this week. Happy New Year! Updated on 31 Dec 2013: I took some pics today. Updated on 2 Jan 2014: Hey ladies, sure hope you all have a wonderful new years day. So I'm almost 4 weeks postop and still having drainage. It's only on the left side, the right side is closed. I have a follow up appt today and will see what he says but just wondering of it's just me. I also wanted to add some more pics. I have little swelling this morning well not the tummy (the vay jayjay) and I'm not wearing the binder since it ripped yesterday. It's a little weird without it. Feels like I'm going to lose my guts. Lol. Updated on 3 Jan 2014: So I had my follow up yesterday. All went really well. He said the drainage is normal it's just my body trying to spit out the stitches on the inside. I can start working out, no lifting, no crunches, and nothing aggressive. Super excited about that! BB is looking better, ps said if there is anything I don't like we can look at fixing it at my next appt on February 6th. He said keep on messaging the scar and bumps even if it hurts. He said it makes it all better. Redness of scar can take one year to return to normal and I should be back to normal in a couple more weeks. Yay! Updated on 3 Jan 2014: Just thought I'd share this. I still wake up or look down sometimes and expect to wake from a dream. I love my new tummy. I'm so happy with the results. I wish I would have done this years ago. I hope you ladies are all loving your body as well. Updated on 6 Jan 2014: I'm still tiring easily but feel pretty good. I love my new belly. Bb is still open a little but not bad. Updated on 9 Jan 2014: Well I thought by now that my bb would have been closed a little more. It's still pretty sore and I have to keep it covered so the drainage doesn't get on my clothes. I'm wondering is anyone else having the same issue? Also, the people that are already a couple months out how long did it take the bb to heal? I'm going on vacation at the beginning of next month and worried I won't get to swim or anything. Ugh! Got the bikini body but no bb. Lol. Updated on 11 Jan 2014: Here's some pics today. Swelling is down even though I thought I would have been a little more poofy from having a couple beers last night. But I love the grooves and it's taking shape very nicely. I absolutely love it. Worth every sleepless night, painful days, and every penny spent. Updated on 13 Jan 2014: Just a quick update. Today is five weeks since my surgery. Everything is great but the bb. I'm going to be calling the ps this morning. I will give you all an update after my appt. Hope you all have an amazing day. Updated on 14 Jan 2014: I'm having a really rough day or two. It started Friday night with the bb hurting worse than normal. Saturday and Sunday about the same amount of pain. Then Sunday night pain started to get worse so I took a pain pill left over from surgery. I havent had enough pain to take one since the first week after surgery. However since Sunday night my bb feels like it's separating and it looks like it too. There is a hard lump around the bb and the pain quite frankly is worse then the whole procedure was. I worked yesterday in pain but called the ps and he was out yesterday so I have an appt for this afternoon. I was up all night in excruciating pain and crying to the point my boyfriend wanted to take me to the hospital. Since yesterday afternoon I havent been able to go 4 hours without pain meds. I'm devastated, I feel like I'm starting all over and this isn't how I expected to feel 5 weeks out. I thought I would be ok to be back at work ft and college and enjoying my kids and bf but I'm so depressed I called in to work, haven't touched my homework and being a cry baby. Ugh! All I can say is I hope the ps can figure out what is going on. Good luck all! P.S. belly is swollen like the first couple weeks even with binder on and back to sleeping in the recliner. Updated on 15 Jan 2014: Well I had added pics but once again they didn't show up. Got in to see the ps yesterday and he said the bb had opened a little against the wall and I'm probably just overdoing it. He said there was no infection and I told him I was going on vaca in a couple weeks and worried I wasn't gonna get to swim. He said I could just give him my plane ticket, lol. Long story short he cleaned the bb really well, made it bleed, then cauterized it. He said it should heal very quickly now but if it doesn't in the next two weeks he will stitch it up and have the stitches removed before vacation so I can swim. Whew! I'm glad he is getting it all fixed up. Updated on 17 Jan 2014: Well I made it through the week but I hit some rough spots. Thank God I can call the ps and his staff anytime. They are so helpful! Long story short ps said Tuesday if I didn't get better and the bb keeps bleeding come back. Well I ended up going back today. I've been in pain everyday, crying, and just trying to figure out if I screwed up somewhere and did something I shouldn't have. Roussalis(ps) said no you didn't. He spent about an hour with me today telling me no laughing as he is stitching my bb back together, LMAO! I'm very very pleased with him. He didn't once make me question why I choose him. He is amazing! Can't say that enough. I'm sore still due to build up of scar tissue which he will also fix if it doesn't get better soon. Bb is back to healing and after much needed laughing today I feel a lot better. Thanks Roussalis! Hope all you mamma's are doing well! Thanks for listening to the whining. I will add photos once the new bandage comes off. Updated on 17 Jan 2014: I forgot to tell you all that ps checked for fluid after stomach above bb was swollen again. Needle came back with no fluid. He thinks it's just swollen from pressure of bb and the scar tissue will also go away soon. Yay! God what relief. Updated on 18 Jan 2014: Here are some new pics. Swelling is down today. The ice and rest really helps. Updated on 20 Jan 2014: Morning ladies! Here are some pics today. I'm a little swollen but I think it's because I walked all day yesterday with the kiddos. I feel really good today. The bb feels amazing now that the ps stitched me up. Hope all is well! Updated on 27 Jan 2014: Good morning ladies! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I'm feeling still a little tender above the bb but definitely not like it was two weeks ago. Bb is not healed all the way there is a little spot as you can see in the pictures that just doesn't want to go away. Ps says the skin is to thin to put stitches in that area. Crossing my fingers it's healed in two weeks for vacation. As far as everything else goes I'm feeling pretty good, I'm a little swollen and feel like I have gas trapped. I'm still not lifting because the bb isn't healed but my girls and my boyfriend are helping me a lot. They carry my backpack, groceries, and anything else I need help with. It's really sweet. I'm still icing my stomach to get the swelling down but not daily and I've been off the pain meds so I'm pretty well back to normal. Have a great week! Updated on 28 Jan 2014: I had a follow up today for my bb. Ps says everything looks great, he took out the stitches and said everything looks great. I will update with pics tonight. He said I am good to go on vacation and go swimming. Woohoo! I am super excited. Updated on 28 Jan 2014: Here are my pictures of my bb. A little sore but I think I will be healed up shortly. Updated on 29 Jan 2014: LeePoh caught a picture that makes my bb look like an outtie. Updated on 31 Jan 2014: I have had a hell of a time sleeping at night. I wake up in the middle of the night and can't go back to sleep. It's almost 3 a.m. and I've already been up 2 hours. I'm so exhausted trying to go to school, work, and raise a family. This not sleeping is going to kill me. Anyone else this way? Updated on 31 Jan 2014: Everyday I lose more and more swelling. I'm loving how good my belly looks. I think I look Damn good for a mama with two teenagers now. Lol! Updated on 4 Feb 2014: Good morning! I will give you an update later this morning. Here are some pics for now. Updated on 4 Feb 2014: Well as many of you know we are under fridged temps and snow. So got home from work and shoveled the driveway and the price iI pay is swelling. Yikes! I look fat and it's -24 outside. What a day. Updated on 24 Feb 2014: Morning ladies, Well it's been very busy since I got back from vacation. It was beautiful and warm and man would I love to move. Lol! Doing well I did wear a bathing suite but no bikini, I guess I'm still afraid and feel like my tummy still isn't really tight. My boyfriend says it looks wonderful but I feel like I have excess skin. Anyways glad I'm back to the board and here are some pics. Updated on 12 Mar 2014: Just showing some pictures nothing has really changed and the PS said all looks good. Updated on 12 Mar 2014: Guess I should actually add the pictures lol. Oh forgot to tell you all I still have little pinches and the Vay Jay is still swollen. PS says it's all normal Updated on 31 Mar 2014: Hey all, just giving an update which I haven't done in a couple weeks. I've been back to the PS after having a couple little issues with scar tissue above the bb. PS says just need to keep massaging it or we can do steroid injection. No thanks I will just rub it harder and work the knots out. Lol Other than that nothing else has really changed. Here are some pics. Updated on 8 Apr 2014: Nothing has changed other then I'm working out all the little bumps and still rubbing the incision. I've started back running again but my energy level isn't at 100% still. Here are some pics there are no changes. Ugh! Updated on 15 Apr 2014: So I'm having issues again with the bb. I will post pics this afternoon. It looks there is a herniation. There is a piece that keeps pushing out and is purplish. I'm heard of others on this site of doing a marble and wondering if that's the trick to keeping it pushed in or if I need to go see the PS again. I hate bugging him if it's nothing. Anyone else having these issues? Updated on 16 Apr 2014: Here are the pictures I've promised. You can see In the last picture there is red above the bb. I asked the PS the last time I was in there about that and he said it's just the scar tissue flaring up. Updated on 17 Apr 2014: Here are some more pictures. I will be calling the PS this morning. There is a dent above my bb as if they can unattached. So gross! Updated on 18 Apr 2014: PS was out but nurse says it looks like a little pocket of some sort and she can see what I mean by the dent looks like the bb came away from the line of the stomach. Looks like I will be returning to the operating room to have that repaired. Here are more pics. Updated on 19 Apr 2014: Here are some pictures now that the bubble popped this morning. It's oozing pus and blood. Updated on 22 Apr 2014: Saw the PS today. It was a fluid filled cyst That my body couldn't drain so it built up and then popped. He cleaned up the bb then cauterized it to see if it would close on its own. PS wants to see my again in 3 weeks. Updated on 5 May 2014: Bb is still discarding some greenish bugger stuff and hasn't closed. The spot above the bb is still like a hard knot and go back to see the doctor next week. so just adding some pictures. Not able to work out still because it makes the bb open an discharge even more. Super depressed since the bb still hadn't closed and I am already seeing negative effects from not working out. Also hate that I have bandage mark scars from the bb bleeding all the time. Updated on 7 Aug 2014: I'm second guessing my TT decision! I'm 8 months out and still having major issues with my bb. I'm told the only way to fix it is to have him work on it and I don't want to have it reopened, messed with, etc. In the pictures you can still see a stitch that continues to keep coming out a little at a time. I can't do sit ups because it opens more if I do. If I run it gets blisters from touching. I'm also leery of going back after I was told that an employee of the PS had told a mutual friend what I had done. So much for confidentiality. Just frustrated with the whole thing and depressed that my bb still isn't healed up. Updated on 3 Feb 2015: Well it's been over a year and I continue to have issues with my belly button. I finally went to my gp because the surgeon continues to say it's nothing. It maybe nothing to him but the spot is about the size of a marble and hurts. I'm still not able to sit ups and only able to swim and walk for exercise. GP felt the knot and sent me in for an ultrasound this morning. I will give updates once I know what's going on. NERVOUS!!!!! Updated on 16 Feb 2015: Went and saw the PS last week we have scheduled my operation to remove the pocket of fluid on March 13th. However, since then I ended up in the Emergency Room with swelling in the stomach, pain, and hard knots in my tummy. Found that the pocket is full of blood, it has moved locations, and has increased in size. I will call the PS today and find out what it the next step because I don't think I can wait until next month. Besides all of this I believe it's ruined the tummy tuck because my stomach is all stretched out with the swelling making me look 5 months pregnant. I'm very discouraged and upset over the whole thing. I will give an update after I meet with the PS. Updated on 20 Feb 2015: After talking with the PS the seroma will need to be removed. My surgery was moved up from the 13th of March to the 27th of February (Next Friday). The seroma moves around and makes my stomach hurt and feels as if the belly button is going to tear open. It's pretty painful! I've also asked the PS to remove the little "dog ears" from where the drains came out of the hips. I'm looking forward to being without the pain and to maybe start finally doing some sit ups. Hoping it's not to late for my stomach to go back down after almost 14 months of fluid build up. I will keep you all updated. Updated on 10 Mar 2015: Well I had surgery on the 27th of March and everything went very smoothly. PS said it was some stitches and scar tissue that was moving around causing the pain and swelling and that most likely it was causing infections off and on. I wasn't in much pain after surgery until about 3 a.m. on Saturday when I woke up to the worst head ache I've ever had in my life. I took some ibuprofen and tried to sleep but ended up getting back up and had severe vomiting, chills, and headache. PS says it had something to do with the anesthesia. I ended up not taking anymore pain pills because I couldn't keep anything down. Finally by Sunday afternoon I was feeling like I was human again and returned to work on Tuesday. My stomach was severely swollen and hard as a rock which I thought was normal. Then by Wednesday my stomach went flat and I thought I had my tummy back. Yesterday, Monday, I went to work as usual and wasn't feeling really well. I had a headache and chills and then my stomach started hurting. I thought maybe I had gotten a bug so I didn't eat anything but by lunch my stomach was completely hard and swollen again. Thank God I had an appointment with the PS to remove stitches because by the time I got to his office I was out of breath, headache, chills, fever of 102.1, and stomach solid as a rock. I asked him why I'm having so many issues and he said that it was just another seroma, numbed me and drained 90 cc's. Needless to say I'm in more pain from the seroma then I was from this last surgery. However, got home slept, got the fever down and it spiked again today. My stomach started to swell again today and then the redness to the area and the heat also started. Called the PS and said what gives, and he said the incision is infected and he would be calling the Radiologist tomorrow to insert a drain since it's full already. He also started me on an antibiotic 2 pills 3 x a day for 7 days. I'm so bummed I thought having this tummy tuck would be a dream come true but it's turned into a nightmare. My stomach is all stretched out, there are scars everywhere, and I'm had more surgeries since the tummy tuck than in my life. I'm really questioning why I even did it now. By the time this is done I will need another tummy tuck because it's so loose already. I've tried to stay positive but I'm really feeling low about the issues I've had. I will try and download some pictures, they are a little graphic. Update later this week after I know more. Thanks for listening to me too ladies! Updated on 11 Mar 2015: Here are some pictures of the seroma and the belly button. Sounds like there will be a drain inserted into the bb today. Will update later. Updated on 12 Mar 2015: Just got home from having a drain tube put in. Pretty sore so I'll update later. Updated on 13 Mar 2015: So I'm really exhausted! This surgery to put in the drain tube was worse than the last surgery. All I want to do is sleep. They drained 100 ml yesterday before putting the drain in. I'm quite sore but hopefully this is the end. Updated on 18 Mar 2015: Had the drain tube removed today. YAY!!!!! However, I asked the PS today about the fluid that pathology sent out last Thursday once they drained my stomach and was informed that it was a staph infection. A little concerned about that even though I finished my antibiotics yesterday a staph infection is pretty serious. Even though my stomach is saggy a little from the major swelling I've had for the past year not sure that I will under-go any surgeries to repair anything ever again. Updated on 18 Mar 2015: Just wanted to say thanks ladies for your support and advice. Wish you all lots of luck and I will try and check in now and then. ;)
First off, I owe my best friend an apology. Two years ago my friend Michelle told me she was getting a TT and I scoffed at her! Sure, I verbally said, "Wow, you are brave! Are you sure you want to do that?" And then when she followed through with it, she sent me Pixs and the first thing I said was NOT "You look beautiful! Way to go!" It was, "OMG! You look like Frankenstein!" Shame on me!! Michelle came to visit me (why she wanted me as a friend still idk) last summer and I about died! AMAZING IS ALL I COULD SAY AND FEEL! She looked incredible and her confidence was mind blowing. So after I "ate crow" so to speak, I started looking at my stomach and began to think.....maybe I could? I am 5'3 and I use to weigh at my heaviest 206. I had my beautiful daughter and only child 9 years ago. My hubby just got snipped because we decided we did not want anymore children (he has a child from a previous marriage). I have had my "FUP" (fat upper pu--y) for nine years and it just became part of my identity. I weigh 175 now. I am built like a brick [RS bleep] house I have been told. Lol... I am athletic and I ski and run on my elliptical every day for an hour. In the summer I boat, hike, and ATV. After seeing my best friend and how her "outer" finally matches how she feels about herself on the inside, I decided I wanted it too. So I have been lurking on this web site for 3 months. Yesterday my secretary said, "Will you just call and get it over with????" Then she shut my door and said, "call them now!" Lol, so I took a big breathe and dialed. Wow, that was scary! Kinda like calling a prospective employer when you want a job! In two minutes I had some questions answered and my consultation appointment set. So I go in march 26th at 4:30. After that I think we set the time for the procedure. WOW!!!!!!!! This is super exciting. I look forward to being a part of this family...this sisterhood really. Although men get TT's too! So shout outs to them too! Until I feel there is something I need to say or talk about, I will keep reading the inspiring stories and collect the great tips! Thank you again and peace out! Updated on 7 Mar 2013: For those of you who have yet to undergo your TT, I just came across a great web site! It is called: tuckthattummy.com. It has lots of great ideas and list you can print out! Updated on 10 Mar 2013: Okay, so Iam extremely excited for my TT and breast lift! Iam really feeling obsessed about this actually and reading these posts are super comforting because I do not feel alone. I find myself at night grabbing my iPad and as we watch tv I read posts and look at before and after Pixs. I have been saving up to go on a Europe trip for 17 days with my parents and husband in June. My plan is right after I get back I want to go in and get the mommy makeover. Hopefully BEFORE July 4 th. I work in the school system, so that would give me exactly 6 weeks before I have to go back to work. Over the weekend I actually email the doctor and asked if I could just set the date even before my consultation this month on the 26th. Lol....I doubt I can but its worth a try! Okay, I just wanted to post something. I will post the docs reply if he responds this week. Iam sure he will. He is really good at repsonding. Til then I will keep reading everyone else's great stories! Updated on 21 Mar 2013: Iam getting so excited to meet my PS for the first time! My husband Google mapped where the location is. It will take a little over two hours to get there. So just five more days before the consultation. Then it sounds like I will set the date for my mommy make over and then it will be wait and prepare.....then wait some more!!!! What a journey this is going to be!!!!! Updated on 25 Mar 2013: Well everyone, the "second" BIG day is almost here! Tomorrow I go in for my consultation with Doctor Roussalis. Of course the "Big day" being when I finally go to the flat side! I had a goal after I set my appointment to meet him for the first time to get my weight into the sixties and I did it!!!! 169!!!! Lol. I have tried to prepare for this meeting as best as I could. Does anyone have suggestions as to the questions to ask? I have the basics like "will this be a drain less TT or do you do drains? Do you do pain pumps? " Questions that I would have never thought of asking because I haven't done this before. If you have some I would greatly appreciate it. ;0) Right now my psyche is pretty good. I think Iam prepared and in the right place. Thank goodness for this web site! I have totally connected with so many of you on your feelings and backgrounds and thoughts! For example, right now a biggy for me is telling people. Like only 2 women at work know (out of 150) a couple of my closest friends and my parents. I don't want to tell my inlaws for fear they will tell my brother and sister in law. WHY is this? What is the reason for this I wonder? Is it shame based, guilt, paranoia? Who the heck knows but I hate it! So right now I am just telling my mom in law that we are looking into a corrective surgury to repair some muscles and a herniated BB. Hahahah! I can hear people laugh and say, "in other words Becky went and got a tummy tuck???" Oh well...it is what it is. So I have been on this weight loss journey for about two years. After I had my girl, I just COULD NOT drop the weight like I used to be able to. At 5'4 and 206 I had hyper tension and was put on blood pressure meds. I am active and work out but nothing budged. I have been put on diet drugs, did the HCG thing, all the other diets that my fav. Magazine would say would "drop the weight in thirty days!!!!" Nada..my fasting blood sugar level was 80 so it didn't appear that I was prediabetic?? My nurse practitioner and I were at wits end. So she did a final suggestion and referred me to a doctor who is an Endocrinologist in Montana. World renowned one I might add. This man turned my world around!!!! He said that I was metabolically resistant and I had to get my metabolism back to running full speed. I was confused because I thought working out was important and he said it was I was just doing it wrong. So first thing he did was put me on this shot called VICTOZA (apparently Paula Dean is on it too. I didn't know this 2 1/2 years ago) and taught me to work out "lightly" but for longer. I was working out hard (kettle bells, circuit training) for thirty minutes three times a week. He told me to walk 250-300 minutes a week. Well, I shrugged and thought okay...he knows best and started doing it. Well, immediately that VICTOZA shot made me feel amazing! IT ROCKS THE HOUSE!!!! It did something to my sugar levels in my body because I was crashing after two hours and ready to eat my hand off. It leveled things out and made me feel like I was never famished. So I started working out and I initially kept a work out log of minutes to help keep me accountable. The first year I lost 15 pounds, but this last year I have managed another twenty two pounds!!!?? I know I have been rambling on about this weight loss but this has been probably the hardest thing I have done besides being a parent and earning my Masters degree.!!! Now Iam looking at all you beautiful women with your triumphs and I am thinking..., "I could actually look like that too????" So Iam excited for the summer to roll around so I can get this "FUP" (fat upper pu--y) cut off and start living a skinnier healthier life! If you have aNy suggestions on questions I should ask, I would love to have them. Thanks girls! Updated on 28 Mar 2013: Well my hubby and I went for my consultation this last Tuesday. I really liked the doctor. The thing I was most impressed with was his thoroughness to all my questions. My husband said he appreciated how, when he was talking, he would look at him as well, which made Mike feel like he was a part of everything too. So we were there over an hour and he finally looked at my body. Blah.. Now there were a couple of things that iam curious about girls. First the doc mentioned that before he sews the flap down he will sit me up a little and pull firmly but not too tightly so he can get as much skin as possible. Has anyone had that done? In my mind iam thinking "Man, is that the reason everyone is hunched over? Wouldn't that cause the incision to want to pull open when you finally do stand up?" Them the second thing was he said that there might be a T scar left if he can't pull enough skin down depending on the laxity of my stomach skin. What is that? Iam assuming it is your old B B hole right? He also mentioned those sometimes are hard for the body to heal. :0/ bummer. He won't know until he gets in there to do it. He also said that because iam having B L too that my swelling will be more pronounced. Big bummer! I live a couple hours from casper and my procedure will be the hours long.afterward he said I can go home. Yikes! Them he said he doesn't have to see me for another week or two. Is that common? The post I read on here show one or two days for first meeting? Other than those few questions, overall iam very pleased and look forward to being on the flat side. When the time gets closer I will post more before pictures. Til then happy journeys everyone! Updated on 7 Apr 2013: Hello ladies! It has been a while since I have posted! I have begun the process of purchasing my supplies for my Mommy Makeover that is to happen on July 1st. So far I bought steri-strips, antibacterial soap, scar away, arnica montana, bromeline, and a CG. Iam going to borrow a recliner from my parents and they have a toilet riser, walker and shower seat as well. (They nabbed them when my grandma passed away) I still will purchase stuff like pads, latex gloves, antibacterial wipes and sanitizer, etc...anything else You guys can think of would be great. A little update: I received my packet from my doctor because he is a couple of hours from where I live. The packet was basically the consent forms and after procedure care instructions..but the thing I was most surprised about was that he didn't order any pre operation lab work or EKG's? I emailed the doc but he said that I didn't have any blood issues or heart problems. That is the only reason they would order those. Well, after having my girl, they put me on iron because I was low. So I asked them what lab work would be appropriate to order for an over all. They said a Chem 27. I Have decided just for safety measures to inform my general doc and ask him to order these labs so I have piece of mind going in for this surgery. Iam just two and a half months away from being on the flat side!!!! So excited! I will post more Pixs soon! Updated on 8 Apr 2013: Well, thank you to those who posted opinions and advice regarding my labs. I went to my general doc today and she ordered everything that is appropriate for someone my age going into a surgery. CBC, Iron Panel, EKG, etc... I feel sooooooooo much better now! So all is well for now! ;-) Updated on 23 May 2013: Well, Father Time is ticking away and the time is drawing nearer. My anticipation is clouded slightly with my upcoming trip to Europe!!! So basically Iam preparing for a 17 day trip that spans four countries and then I come back to have only three days to prepare for my Makeover!!! Aahhhh! I guess I wanted to have six weeks to recover before I had to go back to work. It might be crazy but Iam sure I will be grateful for the time to heal. Today I went in for my blood draw. Next week will be my preop with my general doc because my PS didn't order any labs. I will get results from labs and then get my EKG. I leave on my trip June 10-27 and drive the night of the 30 to the town where my PS works. The next morning is the big day. Hubby will be with me and my little girl will stay behind with grandparents. I will go in July first at 7:30 am!!! WOW??? Too cool! I will post Pixs before I leave for my trip and then some right before surgery!! Updated on 28 May 2013: Just got done working out and sat down to relax. Looked down and saw my "FUP" laying there on my lap. I can't believe that I only have one month with the blob and then It will be gone forever!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Updated on 9 Jun 2013: Well, this last week I went to my general doc and went over my blood work and got an EKG. My blood was perfect and so was my heart!!! So relieved! Tomorrow we leave to go to Amsterdam and then off to Heidelberg, Munich, Lucerne valley, Colmar, Venice, Paris, London and back to good ol USA!!!! I get back on the 27 and then the night of the thirtieth we leave for my mommy makeover!!! I won't have time to worry!!! Lol.... July first I will go in to have my FUP removed and my sisters lifted up and centered!!! ;0) it's funny, because I have really been into working out. I keep thinking that I need to appreciate the time on the elliptical without swelling up!!!! This time will be the only time that I will work out that I won't swell up!!! I know Iam taking this for granted and I am really appreciating it thanks to all the blogs!!! I keep thinking four more days on my elliptical until I go to my surgury!!??? WOW!!!!! After that it will be four months until I can really work out. Iam really going to honor the healing process for my body. Thanks to ReAlSelf for letting me seem the reality of recovery!!! Updated on 28 Jun 2013: Hello TT friends! Well, just got back from Europe and now I have three days to prepare for my surgury that is on July 1st! Holy cowmowly, I cannot beleive the time is finally here. I had the preop nurse call and ask me some questions and today the doctor is calling me for my final meeting before the big day. Because I live two hours away from him he said we could just do the preop preliminary stuff over the phone. I have a huge list of questions to ask him. Lol! Basically all I have to do around here is clean and stock the fridge. I have my toilet seat riser, walker, and shower seat. Along with the plethora of supplies like pads, gauze, ointment, arnica, bromeline, etc... I will post my final pictures of my "FUP" and saggy boobies later today. Til then take care and heal well my TT beauties and I look forward to joining this supportive "sorority" soon! Updated on 30 Jun 2013: Well, I am ready. I am excited. I am thrilled and I am prepared!!! I had my pre-op with my PS over the phone the night before last (because I live two hours away) and he was thorough once again. He talked to me for an hour and a half. He is so direct and funny in a professional way. I asked him about the other plastic surgeon that accompanies him when two procedures are happening (I am getting breast lift too), and was curious as to what he does and my doc said, "he is in charge of running the camera for the u-tube videos we make". That totally broke the nerves and relaxed me. Once I got off the phone with him, I turned to my husband and said "I am ready now". I felt this calmness come over me and just knew without a doubt that everything is going to turn out really well. So this is what is going to happen; today we leave for Casper and check into a nice hotel. Tomorrow we go to the surgical center at 7:30am. They will give me my gown and then Dr. Roussalis will come in and mark my breasts and belly. He will then ask me where else I want to have lipoed. After that they start an IV and put medicine in there that will " make me feel like I have had 5 martinis". Then they wheel me in the OR and put squeeze cuffs on my legs and an oxygen mask over my face and then it is off to la-la land. Sssoooooo very excited! I slept well last night and I anticipate another night of good sleep. And the best thing out of all of this.....no more FUP!!!! I can't even imagine what it will be like to have a flat stomach??? Or perky boobs??? Iam going to have the body of a twenty year old Again????!!!! Too cool man! So, my TT friends, I will post as soon as I feel able to write a coherent message after the procedure. We plan on driving home afterward. Before I talked to the doc I was leaning toward staying another night. But I don't think it will be necessary. Wish me luck and I will see you on the Flat Side!!! ;0) Updated on 1 Jul 2013: Well, I made it! I will post more tomorrow. All I can say is both my husband and I broke down with happy tears when I looked in the mirror!!!! Unbelievable !!!! Updated on 2 Jul 2013: Well my TT friends, today marks the first Post Op day. Here is what happened yesterday: woke up and got to surgical center. Then a nurse called me back where she went over all my health history. Another nurse came in and rocked putting the IV! She was great and I never felt a thing. After that my PS came in and marked me up with the great purple marker Lol! He then left and the anesthesia doc came in and told me what to expect. At that point he put a nausea sticker behind my ear. Finally the OR nurse came in and helped me off to the OR. I got up on the table and the anesthesiologist put a a mask on my face that was blowing oxygen. At that point they put something in my IV and then drifted off. I awoke to the doctors and nurses telling me everything went well. So after that the pain became real! Burning sensation and my boobies hurt way more than the tummy. The nurse gave me morphin via IV and then a Percocet. The nurse then wanted me to get up and move from the operating room table to a chair. That was a challenge!! They wheeled me in to a small room where my hubby was waiting. I went over discharge preliminaries and the nurse then taught me how to empty then "Grenades" After all of that they dressed me and off I went! Got home and just rested. Iam keeping on the meds. I set my phone alarm to wake up in the middle of the night so I wont get behind in the pain measurement . I never got sick which I was sooooo thankful for, I think that nausea sticker behind my ear really helped. Slept in guest bedroom with a TON OF PILLOWS! That was nice to be able to sleep in a bed. On the pain scale I would say about a 4-5 just in the day to day stuff. I got a pain block in my tummy from the doc. Basically they located my stomach muscles via sonogram and then he took a long ass needle and injected a pain blocker that last about three days. I was really happy about that! So that was an over view. Doc said I could take a shower today. If I decide Iam up to it I will take pictures again. TTYL Updated on 3 Jul 2013: Well, lets just say this journey is not for sissy's!!!! I tried to shower yesterday and clean my wounds with Hibicleanz. Everything was going surprisingly well until I got out and started to get dressed. The room started to spin and I broke out into a sweat and got a little nauseous. Thankfully I didn't puke. Pain is about 4-5 on the pain scale. That is with painkillers. you cannot takeaway all the pain unfortunately but it only hurts when you get up and move around. Well, Iam signing off for now. Feeling really tired. TTYL Updated on 7 Jul 2013: Well it has definitely been a journey going through this transformation. It is certainly not for the weak that is for sure! Somewhere I read that this was compared to having a c-section! Ha! Not even a comparison! This was a major thing and even though it is considered a skin surgery, don't think less of it. Iam feeling a little bit peppier.iam not standing up that straight but a little bit more every day.I had my first BM this morning after five days. Lord have mercy that was a blessing!! Man that was crazy hard I thought I was going to pop stitches! I suspect this week my tubes will come out. Other than that, iam just listening to my body. I am beside myself with happiness with the results.as you can see the doc did an amazing job! Not bad for a Wyoming plastic surgeon! Lol..he is the bomb! Well iam heading for the shower. Heal well my tummy tuck gals! Updated on 9 Jul 2013: Hello all my TT friends! Well today marks day eight post op of my transformation journey! A little piece of advice, if you feel good don't think that is a "Go" sign to resume normal activities! I got up yesterday and was not sore and was standing up taller! I thought, hey this isn't so bad!!!! By that night I was swollen up like a tick!! And it is a weird swollen up. Not like the kind you get when you travel via an airplane, or you consumed too much salt and alcohol. No.......this bloat is gnarly!!!! It's like your mid section takes on a life of it's own!! For real, it is the most uncomfortable, frightening thing to feel! I went into a panic mode and took a double dose of Advil, drank a jug of lemon water and tightened my CG as tight as I could stand it. Luckily I drifted off to,sleep and this am Iam back to "normal". Phew!! Today is a no brainer, I am on the couch and I am going to chill!! So heal well my friends! And please, TAKE IT EASY!!! ;0) Updated on 13 Jul 2013: Hello my fellow tummy tuck friends, just wanted to do a quick post and add some pictures. This past week I was able to go to my doctor and get the dreaded tubes out. He said that he wanted to wait for swelling to go down to see what my belly button was going to do. Iam happy with it but he is a perfectionist and said it needs to be in further. If it didn't suck back in he was going to do an in office sew it in more procedure. He said I might have a dog ear too but he wanted to wait. I didn't think that was bad either but he is particular. I told him he changed my life and the little details were minor. He just laughed. I pushed it yesterday again and felt like ass at the end of the day. This recovery takes a toll on you mentally. I almost cried my eyes out.its just frustrating to feel good in the morning and then be crappy at the end of the day. But I know it will get better. Thanks for listening and I wish you all the best of . Ttyl Updated on 21 Jul 2013: Good morning gals! I am looking at starting my fourth week on Monday and this week I go see my PS for a check up and additional "touch ups". AKA; Botox and Filler for my creases!!! ;0) So in a nutshell ladies, this is what you can possibly expect from going to the "flat side"! Weight loss, although this is not a weight loss surgery, when they are removing a huge panus and doing Lipo to your flanks, you are bound to lose weight. I weighed myself this am and have lost eleven pounds!!!! This is such a wonderful bonus I am beside my self with joy!!! Another thing you can expect is looking at a completely different body. This can do weird things to your brain. You will find yourself staring at your body with a big smile on your face and rubbing your hands over your tummy while you turn this way and that. Family will smile as you, for the millionth time, tell them how flat your stomach is or share another new "event" that has transpired from your experience. Friends will at first, be concerned about surgery and call you afterwards to check on you, but then drop out of sight when you start to heal and look HOT! Clothes pre surgery do not fit and never will again. This is exciting but some of my clothes were awesome AND expensive and to think I have to get a new wardrobe when there are other household expenses looming out there makes my anxiety stir! And I guess the BEST most AMAZING thing you can expect from this journey is the confidence and renewed sense of "I rock and I can do anything! So watch out world!!!" That to me is the greatest thing I have gotten out of all this. My body still has a ways to go. My BB is slowly healing and my boobies haven't settled, there are hard lumps along my TT scar line, and massaging the Lipo areas bring me to tears STILL. However, I have come to realize that my body is my friend and has always been there for me. It was ME that was not there for "it". There is a mind/body connection and my body deserves to be treated well. I am never going back to eating poorly or never exercising. My life has changed and this has helped me with my relationship with ME. That my friends is hopefully what you will get out of this along with all the other perks I mentioned. Until my next post, happy healing ya'll! Updated on 29 Jul 2013: I can't beleive how quickly the weeks have passed??? I am now beginning my fifth week post op and feel great! Went last week to see the PS and he said everything is looking good. Still too soon to see the final results. He wants to see me in six weeks and then he will have a better idea if we need to snip a dog ear and do a scar revision on one of my breasts. The BB is healing well and it most likely will not need to be fixed. I have come to accept that Mr. Swell has moved in and is going to stay for awhile. He really doesn't make his presence known until around three in the afternoon. He shows up and I just keep the CG around for help. It is irritating but I know that eventually "he" won't be a necessary evil in this healing journey and my body will create new lymphatic channels to aid in the fluid dispersal. Lol!! I am working out on the elliptical. Have worked up to fifty minutes every day. No core focus until six weeks I have been told. It Is cool to look in the mirror and see intentions/ definition in my form. I just can't imagine how it will look once the swelling is gone and I can do crunches and ab work. Look forward to that! One last thing, I have to give a shout out to my PS Dr. John Roussalis! He just is the bomb. Iam seven hours away from Denver, CO and had several doctors and friends tell me to go to a PS there. They didn't know about roussalis and were weary. Well, Iam here to tell you he is like a little gold mine that no one knows about and his prices are not bad!!! Sure, I have seen cheaper here on Real Self but with his background and education..like I have said, I would match him up with any Beverly Hills doctor any day! I have not one thing to complain about from this whole experience. His office staff is top rate as well!!!! So if you are close to Casper, Wyoming look him up. You would be glad you did!!!! Updated on 1 Sep 2013: Wow, time flies when you are enjoying your new body!! Started work two weeks ago after beingoff fortwo months and all I can say is iam sure glad I had that time off for recovery! I noticed three first week I seem to pull things in my abdomen and then there would be swelling because I was more active. I still feel tightness at three end of the day but nothing I can't deal with. fifteen pounds less and two sizes smaller. i plan on beginning amajor ab routine inJanuary. That willbe sixmonths post surgury so i think thatwill be safer. Other than that justenjoying myflatness andenjoying everythingthat hasimproved in my life. ....fourteen
Like so many on here, the ravages of childbirth, nursing, time, and yo-yoing on the scale have done a number on my body. I had two amazing boys 13 months apart (I planned 5 years but apparently can't do math! lol), and nursed a total of two years. In 1996, I had a modified tummy tuck, but the results were very disappointing. I'd always planned to have more work done, but as it often goes life got in the way and 20 years passed! Well my sons are grown, in college, fairly self sufficient financially and living on their own, so now it's my time. :-) I have an amazing husband of 4 years (together 10), who thinks I'm perfect the way I am, but understands that this journey is about me, for me. He's been very much a part of this process so far. Interestingly, his biggest fear is that I will go too big on the breast implants. Have you ever heard a guy thinking that way? lol Anyway, I am currently a flat, droopy 36dd, and want to be a full, "uplifted" 36dd to 36ddd. Therefore, I am having a breast lift, with augmentation. I'm looking at between 400cc and 475cc. I am also having lipo on my upper and lower abdomen to not so much fix anything the first surgeon did wrong, but to complete the job he was either to lazy or too incompetent to complete. I live in a small city in a state with a very low population. As a result, there really is only one doctor to consider close to home. I'm not opposed to traveling, but have decided after my consultation to go with the local Dr. Because he has lots of experience (literally being a "one man show"), does beautiful work, has quite the reputation to uphold, as well as a deep respect and commitment to the members of our community. My husband and I saw Dr. Roussalis on July 26th (although I'd been researching him for weeks, reading and rereading lots of reviews, and looking at great photos of his work). Immediately my husband and I felt comfortable. Dr. Roussalis was caring, answered all of our questions, didn't rush (he spent over an hour with us), and did not try to up-sell or oversell. After talking A LOT about it and sleeping on it, I called the next day and scheduled. Because of work constraints the first surgery date they gave me wasn't going to work. The wonderful nurse in Dr. Roussalis's office "went the extra mile" by calling all of our surgery centers in town and found one that had an opening on an earlier date! This really impressed me, and showed me that not only does Dr. Roussalis care, so does his staff. I'm excited for this journey, and can't wait to see the final results. My only concern is that I will only have 5 days off work. I'm also the head of my department, so work can be mentally demanding, although not too physically demanding. I am determined however, to make the most of the 5 days I have off, and my wonderful husband has promised to cater to my every need. I know he will as he did during my gallbladder and hysterectomy surgeries. :-) Thank you to everyone for your testimonies; I feel like I already have a community of supporters out there in cyber space! BTW.....I am 49 years old, 5'3", and 179 pounds. Updated on 1 Aug 2016: Did everyone else find themselves dreaming about their surgeries on a nightly basis? lol I have dreamed about my surgery and how it will go, how things will look, and how recovery will be. I've had the same dream every night for about a week. In the meantime, I did some shopping today to try and get prepared. I bought some comfy button down pjs, a couple of soft cupped bras (not quite sports bras as they don't compress a great deal), and a couple of button down shirts. Ultimately, I'm hoping the final look is similar to the pictures I've attached. These are pictures of me, wearing my favorite bra from Victoria Secrets. Thank you padding, push up and underwire technology, lol! I'm hoping for something similar to this, but even fuller. Updated on 3 Aug 2016: My pre op appointment is later today; eek! This surgery is starting to feel real. I want to try on samples one more time to nail down a size. I also want clarification on the lipo areas. In the meantime, I've attached pictures of my wish boobs. :). Have a great day! Updated on 5 Aug 2016: My pre op appointment went well and other than waiting on a call from the surgical nurse to get health history, everything's a go! My Dr. ordered high profile implants silicone ranging from 375cc to 525cc. He will see which size looks best during surgery, place it under the muscle, and also perform a lift. I'm also getting lipo of the upper and lower abdomen. I've decided to have a nerve block to help control post operative pain from the breast work. A nerve block won't really help lipo pain, though. I had my husband take picts. of me tonight and boy are they depressing! Definitely looking forwsrd to some after picts. Updated on 5 Aug 2016: Picts didn't upload for some reason. Updated on 5 Aug 2016: More picts. Updated on 9 Aug 2016: I'm 18 hours away from surgery and I've gone from excitement to near panic! I keep vacillating back and forth as to whether or not I should be doing this. One moment I think the pain should be tolerable as I've been through several surgeries of various types. The next, I feel like I can't catch my breath because I fear it's going to hurt so much. Ughhh!!! I wish surgery was already over. I also wish my surgery was first thing in the morning rather than at 2:30 in the afternoon....... Updated on 10 Aug 2016: Well, we are finally on the way! Check in is at 1:30 with procedure starting at 2:30. Here are some last before pictures. Yuck! lol Updated on 12 Aug 2016: I had my breast lift / augmentation and lipo done on Wednesday afternoon. Thanks to a nerve block the pain was very manageable for about the first eight to 12 hours. Yesterday was the roughest I've had it so far, however. The doctor had to cut more muscle on the right side than anticipated which caused more pain than anticipated. Today it's thankfully tapering off. I've also been having whole body spasms; has anybody else experienced that? They're not really painful just unsettling. I took my first look today and so far while I look like I've been hit by a bus, I'm liking what I see! :-) Updated on 12 Aug 2016: Don't let the bruising in my pictures scare you! I bruise very easily, so for me this was no surprise. Updated on 21 Aug 2016: It's been a few days since I posted as time has been a whirlwind of pain, work. sleep, repeat. I was only able to take five days off work and let me tell you, that wasn't enough. I had an anchor lift with 425cc HP smooth implants, as well as 3000cc lipo removed from my upper and lower abdomen, flanks, and bra line. Because the Dr. had to cut more muscle on my right side to allow for the implant (my muscle was fused to the breast bone/ribs), it increased pain and recovery time. I honestly don't know how I made it through work this week! Thanks to my very attentive husband I didn't have to drive or carry anything while going to and from work. That helped a lot! My co-workers knew I had surgery but I didn't want them to know what I had done. At my first pre op appointment my Dr. showed me how to massage my breasts and lipo areas in order to help with swelling and lumps. He also recommended I get high waisted Spanks as the bike shorts and waist trimmer I'd been wearing were causing creases in my abdomen that could become permanent! I've posted picts. from various days. Don't let the bruising scare you; I bruise if someone looks at me too hard, lol! I will post more picts of what I look like now soon. Updated on 24 Aug 2016: Things are looking better day by day. My bruising is taking its time going away, so I went out and got some Arnica. I go tomorrow to get my stitches out; not looking forward to that. I'm please that with proper compression, I've lost 8 of the 11 pounds surgery caused me to gain. My breast are still riding high, but I just keep doing the massaging. My right breast, which is the one that took more of a beating during surgery, is still sensitive. Sometimes I get careless and overextend or grab something heavy, and boy do I pay for it! The pectoral muscle is so sore and sensitive! At least work today was good. I'm finally feeling normal as far as stamina and comfort while at work. :-) I've been using a rolling pin to soften the lipo areas that are hard and they are getting smoother by the day. Updated on 25 Aug 2016: I had my two week checkup today and things look great! The arnica is really helping with bruising, which really looked bad for awhile. I just bruise so easily! My doctor took most of my stitches out. Only three of them really hurt coming out, ouch! My Dr. is pleased with the progress and how my breasts are dropping and fluffing. He'd like me to drop another centimeter or two so told me to increase my massages. He's also pleased with how the Lipo looks although I still have some swelling. I must admit, I love looking at my new cleavage! And tonight I did something I've dreamef of doing for years; I wore a low cut T-shirt without a bra and I looked good! lol. Oh the simple pleasures in life that really crank up our self esteem! Another Perk is that while I did this surgery for me, my husband is also enjoying the changes, :) Updated on 27 Aug 2016: My breasts are looking better day by day but I hate the ugly scabs! They're so distracting. :(. I don't know why I've scabbed more than others. I've also noticed a few stretch marks and I don't know if they're old or new. My right breast is still higher than my left. Anyway, I've posted some picts. I will post picts. of my lipo tomorrow. I'm pretty pleased so far and thanks to wearing Spanx 24/7 I've lost 9 of the 11 pounds I gained as a result of surgery. Updated on 27 Aug 2016: Don't know why other picts. didn't post. Updated on 28 Aug 2016: I'm very pleased so far with the lipo I had on my bra line, upper and lower abdomen, and flanks. And as of the morning thanks to wearing Spanx, I'm 3/10 of a pound down from what I weighed the day of surgery! That means the 11 pounds I gained as a result of lipo is gone. :). I'm also happy that thanks to Arnica my bruises have faded significantly. Updated on 3 Sep 2016: Hello ladies, I'm hoping you can give me some input. I had a breast lift with augmentation and lipo 24 days ago. Healing has been going great and I've gotten good checkups and follow-up care with my doctor. I woke up this morning and the incision site on one breast at the top of my areola has two places that look like the incision has opened back up! I also have one in the crease. Of course it's Labor Day weekend and I am hundreds of miles from home. I know I can call my doctor when I get back to town, but I'm wondering if anybody else has had this happen and what it is and what they had to do about it? I've included a picture but it's not a very good one. Any commentary would be appreciated. Thanks! Updated on 10 Sep 2016: It's been 28 days since my augentation with lift and lipo of the abdomen. I have to be honest, I'm not overly excited with my breasts right now. Lipo sections are great as the swelling is down and weight is off. But some of my incisions on my breasts split back open and that frustrates me. I'm treating them the way my Dr. instructed, so hopefully they will close soon. Also, I'm not overly excited with the shape of my breasts currently. I'm hoping they will continue to change and look better. I've attached some pictures. Updated on 10 Sep 2016: I hit post before getting all the photos uploaded. Updated on 15 Sep 2016: I'm much happier with how I look in this bathing suit than I did the day before surgery. :) Updated on 15 Oct 2016: It's hard to believe 9.5 weeks have passed since my lipo and breast augmentation and lift surgery. I am thrilled that once swelling went down I now measure a full and perky 36ddd. :-) I'm also happy with my lipo results and have even lost 13 pounds since surgery! I hope to lose 10 to 15 more. I'm happier by the day with how my breasts look, but will be glad when the scars fade more. I'm faithfully using silicone sheets and moisturizer everyday on them.
Based on your pictures you appear to be a great candidate for a breast augmentation. Once you pick a board certified surgeon they will be able to help you decide on the right size for your body type. Best Wishes,John L. Roussalis
You are still in the very early stages of healing. Swelling can occur for a few months after surgery. I would recommend waiting at least three months to see closer to final results.Sincerely,John L. Roussalis
Yes. This can happen depending on what type of breast augmentation you had. If you are concerned you should contact your surgeon for a consult.
Congratulations on your new baby. Typically our doctor would like to see a patient wait 6 months to a year. However, every patient is different and we would recommend a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon.
There is no insurance that will cover a breast lift, and unfortunately every breast surgery ends up with some type of a scar.
