Gosh!!
I wrote a long ass story and it all disappeared... Weeps in excess skin.
Anyways let me try again...I am a 35 year old mom of 2 kids (7 &5 ) and recently completed and smashed my MBA and got a top job. I resume in January next year and want to use this down time to get my tummy right.
I don't hate my tummy, It just bothers me that I cannot wear body con dresses. I work out 5 times a week - I lift heavy, and love Les Mills combat, pump and body attack, but my tummy does not look like I work out.
This journey started out as a Lipo journey but I have been told I am not a good candidate for that...hence, the scary AF TT journey
I really would like to do the procedure in November..so I have enough time to recover before resuming a new job. I don't have a provider yet so I know I am down to the wire...hope I can sort it out soon. If you have recommednations for NewYork - Westchester preferably...hit me up...
I have consulted with 4 doctors and the jury is still up...sighs!
Updated on 7 Oct 2021:
Today I ran 7 miles then did a weight lifting circuit for 40 minutes..
Feel really good. Summer weight is melting.. joined a DietBet challenge for this month.
I go back and forth on if I really want this surgery. Would be good to look down and see my vagina again :), wear a crop top and bodycon dresses…But my tummy doesn’t really bother me.
I worry because I have never had any form of surgery before. I also have two young kids… don’t want to pass away and leave them over something that at best is an irritant.
I also worry about the pain, I think I have low pain threshold I mean I put off getting birth control all these years because of the pain, same as getting micro bladed brows.
But if I don’t do this now, will it haunt me. Also, I have the perfect downtime.. no work till January, enough time to recuperate, not sure I will get this time again… so
Sighs
Updated on 10 Oct 2021:
I’v decided to go for it for sure.
After consulting with 6 surgeons, I have narrowed down to two and will call tomorrow to schedule. Will go with whoever has availability for my desired date which is first week of November.
I’v decided to also slow down on reading reviews as it’s leaving me with mixed feelings.. I think I will focus more on browsing for crop tops :)
Wish me luck if you read this.
Updated on 14 Oct 2021:
So I had my 5th consultation yesterday.
I had good experience with the other 4 but various reasons dettered me from moving ahead, don’t want to bore anyone reading.
I had my consultation with DR suzman yesterday. The experience started out quite negative, was left sitting at the reception for almost an hour due to miscommunication between the front desk and his staff.
Was super irritated but when I met him, My mood changed, I really liked him. He was super personable, I just had an overall good vibe. The decider for me though was - he does drainless TT, I am super squeamish so will take anything that will make my experience a bit more bearable.
he’s well experienced, the director of plastic surgery at my regular hospital so I feel comfortable with my sorroundings, he’s also a 5 mins drive from my house.
Icing on the cake is charging my insurance for my hernia which brought the cost down a little. He’s still expensive, way above my budget and dealing with his office on credit care really left me frustrated! However, I have decided to trust my instinct on this.
Paid my deposit today. Cancelled the 4 consultations I have scheduled for next week.
I am optimistic about this process so fingers crossed.
I am down 9lbs so far this month, currently around 180, 5 foot 6 tall. Hoping to drop another 10 pounds before the day!
Updated on 18 Oct 2021:
Based out of westChester NY
Already have a summary of why I went with him in my last post. I am actually feeling calm and optimistic about the entire process..
Will start shopping after my pre-op which is November 1st.
Currently reading other reviews and living my best life for now
Updated on 1 Nov 2021:
It’s crazy to think it’s just a week away!
I thought I will be nervous and second guessing myself at this point, but I’m actually calm and occupied with other things.
I do need to start shopping though.
Had my pre-op today and my prescription has been sent to my pharmacy.
Updated on 9 Nov 2021:
Today was surgery day. Last night, I had an emotional moment with my husband. He asked me not to leave him as he could not imagine life without me.
I reassured him I will be fine but I lay in the dark and wondered if I was being too vain, silly.. what will happen to my family if I passed on and so many ugly thoughts.
We ended up watching a movie and gisted through the night. We did not sleep at all.
At 5 am I woke up and took a shower and headed to the hospital. After paper work, Was hooked up to the I V, doctor came to mark me and his voice was super reassuring. The anaesthesiologist was also soft spoken too.
Nurse came and wheeled me to the theatre. I remember thinking wow.. so much fancy equipment and next money I was waking up in the recovery room and they told me they called my husband.
Nurse took me to wee, changed me and wheeled me to my car. I’m home now. In bed and reclined with back and leg wedges.
No pain whatsoever. Very tight though which brings discomfort.
Still took my pain meds to be on the safe side, cuz the anaesthestic may be masking the pain. Who knows?
So far my pain level is zero and I was mentally prepared for a 7. I hope all goes well with recover and I hope I love my results.. that’s so important at this stage. Fingers crossed.
Updated on 10 Nov 2021:
Today is my post op day 1.
I slept very well and been taking my drugs on schedule. I have also figured out how to get out of bed without engaging my tummy muscles, by rolling and using my hands to propel myself up. Thank God for upper body strength built at the gym.
My pain and discomfort levels are definitely up today will say pain is at a 2 when lying down and maybe a 4 when walking around. I feel burning sensations at my two flanks side, and up and down the center of my tummy. Not sure if it’s my incision or if it’s the lipo spot. I think I’m a little bit more hunched than yesterday. I’v rolled out of bed a couple of times to walk around, wee, drink water, brush my teeth, wash my face and moisturize.
I have been snacking on crackers and had my regular protein shake today.
I hear day 1&2 are the worse so I guess we will see
Updated on 12 Nov 2021:
Was uncomfortable at night.. seemed like my binder was too tight.. probably swelling. I popped an ibuprofen and went to bed.
Also had a bowel movement last night, which was easy as I been taking stool softener all week.
Today feels like I have turned for the better. To be honest I have not felt any overwhelming pain.. more discomfort if anything. I’m still hunched over slightly maybe at 20%. Had my first post-op today.
Saw my body…the ugly wrinkly stretch mark apron is gone. I’m definitely swollen but was not bruised or battered as I feared. The incision is low so I’m happy… I’m a bit puffy at the side but overall happy to see my results.
I have two twinging hot painful spots.. probably lipo not sure… before my binder came off, I thought it was the ends of my incision but I know it’s not
Still resting and taking it easy as good as I feel..
I got a more comfortable binder and a faja from my doctors
Updated on 21 Nov 2021:
My recovery has been uneventful.. probably because it’s was drainless.
I feel like myself, however when I over exert my body reminds me that I’m not back to 100% yet.
The hardest part for me has been sleeping on my back as I’m a tummy sleeper. Can’t wait till I can sleep normally again.
Thought to drop some pictures here.
Pictures I took on the morning of my surgery and today. Im about 7 pounds lighter. Im conscious that I’m sedentary (not working out) so trying to regulate what I eat especially since I never had nausea or loss of apetite.
Hotspot healing to all, and if you are still contemplating I advice you to go for it. I look into the mirror and I don’t recognize myself
Updated on 13 Jan 2022:
Been a while I have been here.
Largely because my recovery has been uneventful.
I did have a huge scare around 5 / 6 weeks, I started taking long walks (about 1 hour on the thread mill, my period was also coming but I did not know this. I had the worse swell ever! A glimpse of my old tummy without the skin.. I spent all night reading all sorts, and going down a rabbit hole.
However my period came and on day 2, I was the flatest I had ever been.
Got another period during the Christmas holiday, while the bloat wasn’t as bad, I was prepared for it.
Overall I feel good, look good. I decided to wean myself off my compression garments by week 9 and I now go without it completely except when I’m working out and I feel good. Sure doesn’t feel like my tummy is about to fall off again. I also feel sexier in bed in my nice lingerie without any compression underneath it or ontop.
Speaking of workout I will say I’m up to 50% of where I was pre- surgery. I started by walking by week 5, by week 7 I could walk on an incline, by week 8 I could get on an elliptical and week 9/10 I can spin fast on the spinning bike.
I’m yet to start my intense hiit or lifting as I honestly don’t feel I can burpee yet! Must be psychological but I have decided to pace myself and listen to my body. So no les mills for now.
Overall, my healing was great, will definitely recommend the drainless procedure, had no pain, used pain meds out of fear that I will wake up on severe pain if I don’t get ahead of it, but ditched it by day 3. Also no nausea, no difficulties with bowel movement, no popping stitches, no awful drains. I had a textbook recovery indeed!
I now wear crop tops, something I never thought I will wear in this lifetime, no bikinis yet but I’m sure I will try it during the summer. My confidence is back to a 100. Ny husband can’t get his hands off me, I love shopping and trying new pictures.
My scar doesn’t bother me at all! Although my husband says it looks like it’s getting worse. I read here during my research that it gets worse before it gets better so who knows? Who cares more importantly, it’s so low it’s covered by everything!
The best part is the results keep getting better by the day! Can’t wait to see how it looks at the one year mark.
I’m also down by 8 pounds ish post surgery, my waist is down about 6 inches.
This is the best thing I ever did for myself. Thank God I got over my dear and went for it.
Have to reduce the quality of the pictures to post because of the size limit, hope it stil clear enough!