In less than 48 hrs I will have my tummy tuck+liposuction. This will be my first surgery ever on my body and I'm beyond nervous! I have it scheduled with Personique here in Austin on Monday morning and I'm hopeful for a beautiful nice flat tummy! I'm a 37 yr old mother that had a son at 15 yrs old. I can't even blame the way I look on him anymore, lol...I guess the lack of exercise and bad eating left my stomach to be stretched out to the max with an extra pouch hanging like a momma kangaroo :/ and I've been living with this extra baggage of a stomach since I first gave birth which was over 21 yrs ago! I have faith in God that He will bless the staff and the Drs hands to make my dreams of a nice flat stomach into a reality finally. I want to be able to spend the second chapter of my life as a confident woman. I'm ready to slip on some blue jeans with a nice top and not worry about the bulge that I can't hide but everyone can see. I'm in the final countdown to a new me!!!
Updated on 22 Jun 2014:
I didn't sleep well last night, I tossed and turned thinking about tomorrow. My mind won't stop racing of the surgery, the outcome, and everything in between. The more I read and research on here I start second guessing, like maybe I should've chose this or that Dr. Ugh I always over analyze situations! Anyhow I just keep in my faith,that's what keeps me going. I asked God for guidance prior to this, I asked him if this is for me please make a way but if it's not then close that door. God really blessed me, He truly knows the desires of ones heart. I've waited a lifetime for this opportunity and I want to look in the mirror and crack a smile when I look at my body as a whole. I'm the type of woman that focuses on other ladies torso/stomachs when they walk by bc I long to have that flat stomach. I guess you can say I'm obsessed with looking at the frame of a woman's midsection bc I lack self confidence in that department. Ok, I think y'all get what I mean, right? Haha, anyhow my stats are the following. I'm 5'3, 184 pounds Latina, and I wear a size 15. Honestly I think my boobs really been saving me all these years (38 D) because they even out my body appearance, thankfully. Ok, so next I will post some before pics bc I know that's a must and that's why we all come in here too, we need the proof.
Updated on 22 Jun 2014:
Well here is ALL of me, soon to be gone! 12 hrs away! Lord knows I've waited a lifetime for this to happen :) TYJ for making this possible!
Updated on 22 Jun 2014:
This is so surreal, I've been enjoying most of the day, mt hubby had cleaned the entire house and prepared our bedroom which he's now referring to as the hospital room LOL. He is so thoughtful and considerate, he even put bottles of water on the night stand in advance. Sometimes I think he's more excited about this surgery more than me! My sister and nephew came by and gave me a card and balloon for tomorrow, she knows how long I've wanted this and is my personal cheerleader. Honestly I just want to get thru this bc I'm over analyzing everything right now and how I will feel in the morning. Oh but when I took those pics earlier and looked at them I was like oh hell yea I need to kick this excitement into full gear! So cheers to me bc this day momma is hours away from being a HOT momma! Wooo hoooo!
Updated on 22 Jun 2014:
Too much going on
Updated on 23 Jun 2014:
It's the day! Just took my shower with the soap/scrub the Dr gave me and smell like a walking medicine woman lol. I woke up and spoke to God and asked Him to guide the Dr and the staff hands to sculpt me to something beyond beautiful! I'm ready for this procedure to be behind me as a distant memory and start enjoying life with a new loving me. Ok so please send prayers my way this morning! I'm off to the Dr office now! To be continued... :D. Ps I'm super scared and nervous !
Updated on 23 Jun 2014:
Just got marked up on my stomach for the surgery but my blood pressure is sky high due to my nerves so I'm pretty much laying here until it drops :( I need to let Go and let God! He didn't bring me this far for nothing! Keep y'all posted, I need to focus on happy thoughts!
Updated on 27 Jun 2014:
Sorry ladies,I've been in recovery mode all week and taking things slowly as they come. Surgery was Monday, I was the second client to be seen and Overall I did well in surgery, I was told they removed 5 lbs of skin and quite a bit of liposuction was done to my abdomen, and approximately 3300 cc's of fat was removed? (I may be wrong if that number sounds off). I took the pain meds for 3 days and decided to opt out from taking them. I felt like they were making me loopy and giving me weird dreams. The hardest part right now is not being able to do much for myself. I don't like relying or asking for help. The nurse said the Dr reconstructed my abdominal muscles and it hurts to the core. The pain feels like I've bit hit by a truck and have done a million and one crunches. I haven't cried, but happy tears do roll down my face because all though I haven't seen my results, I am so happy that God blessed me to be here today to feel the pain and know that I'm still breathing and full of life. As for moving around, oh it's such a challenge lol I come up with creative ways from shifting, rolling, praying, and turning into different positions. I have 3 yorkies dogs, and they give me strange looks as I'm trying to get up from bed. I swear they must know I've been thru something bc they have not left my side since Monday. Today I feel like I'm able to walk a little more with strength. I would say I went from snail status to turtle status in the walking and movement department lol. I'm so anxious to see what's underneath this girdle and what my stomach looks like. The 2 drains have been as they should be coming along, it's not a big deal, just gotta drain them. So Monday the drains get removed and then the big reveal that I've waited a lifetime for. I'm hopeful and praying for the best! If a God is for me,then who can be against me?! God is so good, He has made all this possible!
Updated on 27 Jun 2014:
Side view
Updated on 27 Jun 2014:
Pic 2
Updated on 10 Jul 2014:
So, I have been going thru a lot of nothing to a whole lot of everything. First off I can say that the first week after surgery was mainly sleeping and tons of bed rest. My body was so exhausted and at times I would become frustrated and depressed because I was unable to see my results but more so it was that I dislike having to depend on others to help me. I wanted to walk around, but I really couldn't. It is true though, I walked like an old lady hunched over the entire week, I am just now 2 and a half weeks later starting to straighten my back as I walk. As for the results, I actually am in LOVE with my body and yes all though I am swollen, I just know that it gets better from here and I cant even imagine how my body will look once I am completely healed. I look at myself in the mirror every day now before I jump in the shower and I just smile and stare at my stomach which then brings tears of happiness in the corners of my eyes because I cant believe how blessed I am from God to have this life long dream come true. I have never been one to like the gym at ALL but the crazy thing is that I am very motivated to get back in the gym and toning up all the other areas in need. I went to a follow up Dr appt yesterday and I still have fluids in my body that the drains did not take all out. I was only suppose to have the drains in for 1 week but I had to keep them in for an extra 3 days because I still had quite a bit of fluids and apparently I still do, a week later. He was able to take some fluids out thru a needle yesterday but said there was still some left in me he was unable to get out. He said that he would try again next week but if not, the fluids would just dissolve in my body over time. I am and have remained 14 lbs less from my surgery date which is awesome because they said that normally because of the fluids people tend to gain weight and I have lost some and hopefully it stays that way :) I am still wearing this body girdle that I am so over with! I wish I didn't have to wear this ting especially since its summer time and I live in Texas where it is SUPER caliente/HOT! But, I am half way there and I know this will pass and soon this will be a thing of the past! I will post pictures tonight of my "new body under construction" haha..until then, whomever is reading this-you will see me later!
Updated on 16 Jul 2014:
Ok so this week had some ups and downs for me. I will start off with the negative, so I went to my follow up appointment and have gained 7 freakin pounds in one week! I wanted to cry! Has anyone else experienced this rapid weight gain in 7 days?! The Dr told me not to worry about it nor pay attention to the scale, unless I'm binge eating, which I'm not..but I have been consuming lots of carbs and starches lately. I'm feeling like it's really just hormonal or emotional eating. My stomach had been feeling tight and bloated all last week, and the Dr removed 8 ounces of fluid from me,so there was reason behind that tightness I felt. As I was checking out the nurse told me that some peoples weight fluctuate due to the changes of the surgery, regardless I think I'm just going to be more mindful as to what I put in my mouth. Ok so the positive is I can actually walk and stand up straight again. Woo hoo! I don't run out of breath or get as tired as I did these last 2 weeks. Last night I tried on some swim suits that I only dreamed of would fit me this same time last year. We'll I tried them on and He'll yeah they fit and looked so amazing on me. My husband was also so happy for me that he bought me a brand new swim suit off ebay last night lol ok so I will post the pics that I promised to last time. Here I go...