Amazing experience from start to finish! Tummy Tuck. Muscle Repair. Lipo 360. I filled out a form online to schedule a consult as I was completely terrified of making the phone call. Out of all the offices I emailed Dr Jejurikar’s office emailed me back and called right away! Maureen is amazing. I immediately knew I needed to follow through based on her kindness. Hannah (PA) and Dr. Jejurikar were exactly what I hoped for. Kind. Patient. I was desperate to find a doctor who was not only skilled but also had an amazing bed side manor. I feel like I hit the jackpot! I will recommend Dr. J to everyone I know.
Life changing experience! I had abdominoplasty a few months back. Initially, I was anxious, not knowing what I was up against. But Dr J and his team of Maureen and Maria have been super-friendly and professional. He took the time to explain and put me at ease. Dr J. is a very talented and knowledgeable surgeon and needless to say that the surgery was expertly performed. He is skilled at his technique and art. Recovery was quick. I am extremely pleased with the results, and have been receiving many compliments. I would, without a shadow of a doubt, not hesitate to recommend Dr. J , as I already have, to family and friends. Dr. J, Maureen and Maria, I cannot thank you enough. It has been an amazing experience, above and beyond what I have dreamt. You have absolutely no idea how this has impacted my life in a positive way. THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!
After a lifetime of back and neck pain, I finally went for a reduction (and lift). Insurance covered it after assessing size and history of PT and pain meds. I went from a 34DDD to what will likely be a 34D, which is perfect for my frame. Stay overnight if at all possible. I don’t know how people go home right after! Drains are gross, and recovery is tough, but WORTH IT. I am 6 months post-op and my incisions are still tender and I can’t wear an underwire for very long. But I don’t really need to unless I want to add a little oomph. My nipples have feeling but are very sensitive. One half of my left breast has little feeling and this extends to my side, which is annoying. This side has been the most troublesome to heal and is not as round and “perfect” as the other. But these are risks that I accepted and the benefits definitely outweigh the annoyances. My fiancé loves them and I can’t wait to rock a bikini that I would otherwise never have been able to wear! This site was so helpful and I’m here to support anyone going through it or considering it :)
Excellent! Class act! The whole experience from calling the office for first time to the last appointment after all the check ups always professional, never felt rushed like most drs. tend to do, made me feel comfortable and important.
After struggling with Fibromyalgia pain in my upper back, neck and shoulders, I was finally approved for a breast reduction. The doctor suggested that I should consider a mommy make over and also get a tummy tuck. I am so glad I did! It has completely changed my life! I feel so much better and healthier! I starting using the Embrace Scar Therapy strips two weeks post op and the results are amazing! The strips were easy to apply and lasted about 14 days. I did 3 rounds of the strips (about 6 weeks) and the results definitely noticeable! I would highly recommend using them to reduce and minimize scars.
Hello Real Self! I've been reading (obsessing) over everybody's posts for over a year now. I conducted my research online and had my first consultation in July 2013 with Dr. Sandeep Jejurikar (Downers Grove, IL). I felt very confident that he was the one that I wanted to perform my mommy makeover. I allowed some time to pass to think about the gravity of the surgeries and get my finances situated. Fast forward and I'm ready mentally, physically and financially. I had a second consult with Dr. J in early 2014 and I'm scheduled for Friday, May 16th, which is in 30 days exactly! I'm in a long-term relationship with no biological children, 34 years of age. I'm 5'6 and currently 165 pounds. I fluctuate between a size 10-12 depending on the store. At my heaviest weight I was 200 pounds, size 16 and at my lowest I was 137, size 6. I'm at a comfortable weight that I can maintain with regular exercise and a moderately healthy diet. I have wanted this surgery for the better part of 15 years. I never had perky breasts as a teenager and with my weight fluctuation they are now deflated and saggy. Much like most the gals here, I'm comfortable in clothing, but in my own skin I am not confident. My significant other loves me just the way I am, but I am doing this for ME. I want to wear a bikini with confidence, rock a tank-top sans bra, and feel good in my birthday suit. Thankfully my old stretch-marks have faded to nothing, so I have hope that my scars will do the same. I've started nesting and I've got most of my supplies either on hand or ordered. I look forward to joining the group here and I hope I can be of assistance the same way so many other gals have been for me. Updated on 22 Apr 2014: My last amazon shipment arrived yesterday leaving me with only a few items left to purchase. We have a lazy-boy recliner that I will set-up with pillows and old bed sheets. The bedrooms are upstairs so I plan on staying on the main level. Thankfully there is a powder room near the living room for bathroom purposes. I will be having a tummy-tuck, breast lift with augmentation and I have chosen silicone implants that will be placed under the muscle. I currently wear a 38 D, however there is a large gap in the cup. I am not sure what size I will be (cc-wise) but I have asked for just enough volume to fill the gaps and look appropriate. I choose Dr. J because he is conservative and won't perform augmentations that aren't suitable for the body. My only concern is that the implants will be heavy and cause back/neck/shoulder pain. My surgery is in 24 days. I've only shared the news with my significant other, my parents, and 3 very close friends. I timed the procedure with two weekends and the Memorial Day holiday, as well as 7 vacation days. I have the option to work from home should I not be ready by the 27th of May. Updated on 3 May 2014: I spoke with the surgical nurse this past week and they requested that I come in for bloodwork yesterday. They are interested in my clotting abilities and platelets. My surgery is at 7:00am and I have to arrive at 6:05am for prep. I'm happy that I'm scheduled so early because I'm a grouch when I cannot eat. I've stopped taking advil and I'm avoiding garlic. This weekend I'm going to start some meal prepping for the freezer and I'll get the recliner set-up in the living room. My pre-op consult with Dr. J is on Tuesday. I have a few questions to ask such as the brand of my implants, approximate CC size, drain sites, etc. The nurse who drew my blood yesterday said that she referred her neice to Dr. J for a tummy-tuck and that in her opinion he does the most beautiful work. That made me feel happy with my decision. It's the little things. :) I also keep forgetting to mention that I'm also having lipo performed on my hip region. I didn't want to have this brand new flat tummy and fat on my sides. Might as well go for the gold, this isn't the time or place to get cheap. I also asked about lipo on my flanks but he said he wouldn't do that because it would require that he use three total sources of blood flow and I was already using two with the breasts / tummy / hip lipo. I will say I was surprised considering I see gals on here all the time who have that combo, but in the end I appreciate his concerns. He could easily take my money and do it, but he chooses not to for my safety. I need to go buy my surgical bras today and I've seen them at Walmart, but I don't know what size to buy. Should I buy two and keep the tags on and let them decide in surgery? Updated on 4 May 2014: This was at my thinnest weight, approximately 140 pounds, fit into size 4 & 6. During this time I was very active and ate very well. I would love for my after results (tummy) to look like this again. I don't think that is realistic, so I'm hoping to get back into regularly exercising after my MM and finding a happy-medium around a size 8. I'm starting to feel like there isn't any point in going to the gym between now and my surgery date because its not like I'm going to lose 20 pounds in the next 12 days. I should change my mindset because exercise has always been a great stress reducer for me. I'm also starting to worry about going under. So much so that I created a will and added beneficiaries to my banking accounts and 401k. It isn't a bad thing to have just in case, but it does feel morbid. Updated on 6 May 2014: Had my final appointment tonight with Dr. J, ten days until my surgery! We went over the last few questions I had. I arranged with the hospital to stay two nights, so I'm relieved that I'll be in good hands and he will visit me each morning while I'm there. I will have a total of four drains, two for the tummy and two for the breasts. The breast drains will be removed when I leave the hospital. The only "removable" stitches I'll have will be around the navel. I'll also have a pain pump for the hospital stay and I've got a prescription for when I go home (Norco & Valium). I selected my implant style and size - Sientra textured round, low profile. The size will be either 280 or 310 cc's which will bring me to a D cup. Dr. J estimates with my sag that I'm about a full B cup. I'm so used to wearing a D cup bra and the padding that comes along with it that I wanted to stay around that size. My surgery is expected to last 4 hours and 45 minutes. That seems like SUCH a long time to me! My bloodwork came back and everything looks good. I purchased two front close bra's (Hanes) from Walmart however he sized me tonight for my binder and surgical bra. I guess it doesn't hurt to have a few extras. My balance is paid in full and all there is left to do is wait. This all feels very real now. I have this odd feeling, I've waited over a decade for this day to come and now that it's close, I feel like I'm not ready. Kind of like when you count down the days to a vacation, but when it comes time to pack you have that moment of "I don't want to go?" Like now that the wait is over there is nothing to wait for therefore there is no excitement? Am I making any sense? LOL. Of course I'm excited and there are 100 things to look forward to once it's over. :) Updated on 14 May 2014: Oh my goodness. Is this really happening? I spoke with the hospital nurse today who went over my entire medical history (again I might add) and answered any final questions I may have. I'm paid in full for my two night stay at the hospital. All that is left to do is clean house a little tomorrow night and pack my bag. Yay! Updated on 19 May 2014: Well, I made it. I've been unable to update my review as the past 3 days have been very rough. I'm still having moments of total regret, but it does get better with each day. When I arrived at the hospital a volunteer brought me back to my pre-op room. All the usual - got changed, IV inserted, pregnancy test, etc. Several nurses and doctors went over my medical history. Although it was repetitive, it was comforting that they took so much time to review every last detail. Doctor J. came in and marked me up. My surgical nurse brought me into the surgery room and that's when I got nervous. I wasn't prepared for all the people and the size of the room and all the equipment. She told the anesthesiologist that I needed a cocktail and I was out moments after that. I had a breathing tube and catheters. Surgery time was 5 hours. When I woke in the recovery area I was totally out of it and needed ice chips. The pain was intense. They switched me from morphine to dilaudid because I was feeling terrible. I have an existing back issue and they decided that because of my tolerance for pain meds I would end something strong. I was able to push the bottom every 8 minutes and was advised for when I was awake to continue pushing. It made me a zombie. I ordered food that night but barely got a few bites down. I had no interest in food (which is so unlike me). I struggled to find a comfortable position and I couldn't move myself. It was as if I were paralyzed. Two of the patient care assistants got me in a more upright position but over time I'd start to slink back down. Around 6:00 pm the first night I asked again to be "boosted" and one of the previous PCA's and my night nurse did it and the nurse was very aggressive. I yelped out in pain, I thought my body had been ripped in half. Her response was "I'm sorry but this is how we have to move you." I was emotional about it and asked to be left alone. After the RN left I started to dry cry to the PCA and asked why she was so abrupt about it. Needless to say, I didn't move for 10 hours I was so scared. About 4am two new PCA's helped boost me and they were so gentle and took all the time I needed. I tried eating again Saturday morning without much success. Only a few bites at a time. I started drinking the coconut water and that was at least something. Dr. J arrived around 7am to check everything and was kind enough to take 2 pictures for me. He said everything looked good and told me that the binder was a necessary evil. Everyone says it, but until that thing is strangulating you it's hard to prepare for the pain/discomfort it causes. The drains in my pubic area seem to hurt the most because the binder rubs against them. I also had 2 drains in my breasts. Seeing the results made me smile but I was still regretful. He removed 3 pounds of skin from the tummy and 1 liter of fat from the hips. I napped on and off on Saturday. Didn't eat lunch and nibbled on dinner. I noticed that dairy makes me phlemy, so I've been avoiding it. I had to cough and that was no bueno. They also had me on anti-nausea meds as I was terrified of throwing up. They removed the catheter on Saturday morning which was a relief. One less tube. Also had the oxygen removed on Saturday. I slept on and off on Saturday and made a few trips to the bathroom. The first time they undid my binder while standing and that was very painful. I decided from there I'd urinate through the hole and I didn't care if I got urine on it. Sunday morning I was fearful that if wouldn't do well at home. Doctor came at 9am and looked at everything again. Removed the drains in the breasts. It pinches for a second but now they are gone. He said I was healing well and that I could go home that evening. I was starting to get out of the bed easier and take walks around the nurses station. Tried lunch again with little success. My mom and boyfriend arrived in the early afternoon and we left the hospital around 4:30. I was really nervous about the car ride but my sweetie drove very slow and took it easy. I didn't eat but a few bites last night. I'm getting in and out of the recliner okay, but standing for too long wipes me out. I took my first Valium last night and I'm taking pain meds every 4-6 hours which is better then I expected. I haven't had a BM yet but I'm not surprised since I'm not eating. I seem to be warm most of the time. The nurses said my room was very cold compared to the rest of the hospital and I was still sweating! I had some bad gas pains earlier but thankfully I was able to pass that without any discomfort. I'm comfortable in my recliner chair and I've had applesauce, some pineapple and a little graham cracker. Not much but it's something. I cannot say enough nice things about the nurse staff and the PCA's. They were wonderful and so gentle and patient. Perhaps my experience is more extreme, but I honestly don't see how doctors send patients home the same day after this procedure. There was absolutely no way I could have safely gone home. I'm finally turning the page where I'm not totally regretful but all I can say is this surgery is no joke. Even with 36 hour access to dilaudid I was still experiencing intense pain. My breasts feel pretty good, only experiencing some pain around the left nipple. My tummy incision burns a little and the ends itch. The drains suck. I dread having them removed because the area is so tender and bruised. I meet with the doctor on Friday. Having my mom here has been an added resource which allows my boyfriend to go to work. He's been wonderful from the drive home to lifting and encouraging me to eat. He doesn't seem to freaked out yet by the scarring which was his main concern. I suppose that's enough from me for now. I know I left out so much but that's the general idea. :) Updated on 20 May 2014: For the most part, my breasts feel pretty good. Compared to my tummy, it feels like a walk in the park. I have noticed however a strange feeling around the nipple (or perhaps under the nipple). It feels as if I tore it, however I cannot find any blood or indication of a tear. When I place too much pressure on my left arm the feeling intensifies. It does NOT hurt. Does this sound normal? Is it just things settling down? Could I have torn some internal stitches? I've taken two walks around the block today and I'm eating more. Still no BM but bouts of gas. I've had 2 doses of MOM thus far. I removed my surgical bra today and tried on a bikini top. There is a bubble in between my breasts just below the bra line. I'm thinking it is just swelling from the binder and bra being so tight. On that note, the binder is still very uncomfortable, but is a little more bearable. I'm also walking upright with no issues and getting to the potty without issue. Fingers crossed that I've turned the page and the worst is over. Updated on 21 May 2014: Just a little TMI to start (skip this paragraph if you like)...I was taking colace in the hospital. On Monday night I started my first dose of MOM, 2 TB in the evening. I've been taking 2 TB every 12 hours and had success this morning. Round 1 was a bit painful but thankfully I didn't have to strain much. Rounds 2 & 3 were effortless and now I'm wondering if I should cut back down to only evening doses? As happy as I am to be going, my stomach is a little upset from the repeated trips to the potty. My drains aren't putting out too much anymore. I'll be happy to have them removed on Friday. They are both stitched in and one is leaking a little and they both tend to slip. The leaky drain is also bruised and so angry looking. The 10 seconds of pain will be worth having that bad boy removed. I'm feeling really good today. Took two walks around the block so far and I'm eating more solid foods. I dug out some newer VS bra's that I never got to wear because they didn't fit right and holy moly my breasts are so big! Did anyone find that once their implants dropped their cup size decreased, or should I expect to go UP a size? My binder is so tight that I'm bruising in the upper abdomen area. I can only attribute the bruising to the binder as I didn't have any "work" done in that region (I don't think anyway?). I'm really enjoying reading everyones reviews and comparing stories. When I was in the hospital I really thought that my experience must be on the extreme side but after reading everything here I understand I am not alone. That is very comforting. At least I know all my bitching and moaning is validated (amongst you gals anyways). My boyfriend has been sleeping on a couch with me in the evenings and has been doing all the cleaning, laundry, mopping, and fetching things I ask for. I appreciate all his help and being my photographer and caretaker. As much as I love being catered to, I'm trying to be independent at the same time. My friends have been awesome and always available to text when I have an update to share or need encouragement. Having a support system during this journey is very important. Updated on 22 May 2014: Today was a good day. Took 3 decent walks, made myself breakfast, lunch and dinner. Had myself a little fashion show trying on some clothes that I never wore before due to my sagging breasts. I can now wear a tube top without worrying my ta-ta's are going to fold over and out! I'm still taking pain meds on a 4 hour schedule, staying on top of that seems to be key. I'm also taking arnica montana. I took a break from the MOM and I think I'll take a 2 TB dose before bed along with my valium. I mustered up the courage today to take my CG off to take a peek and I do have a small area that is bleeding. Spoke with Dr. J and he said that since it isn't too bad I can cover it with gauze. My left breast is still oozing just a touch. The drains are still putting out a little, and now I'm growing a little concerned that maybe the one won't be removed tomorrow. Of course it is the one that is painful and angry. I'm still sleeping in the recliner but I'm thinking I may try the bed tomorrow for a nap just to see how it goes. Still drinking lots of coconut water and keeping up on my fluids. I've joked with friends that these days off from work have been the best vacation I've had in a long time. With the exception of the 2 nights of misery in the hospital, I'm really enjoying just being home, watching trashy television and resting. Updated on 24 May 2014: I had mixed emotions going into my one week appointment yesterday. I wanted the damn drains removed but I was also a little nervous about the pain. When I arrived I was told to take my bra and CG off. This was the first time I was allowed to be fully naked! Once I got it all off, I didn't want to put my robe on, I was very pleased with what I saw in the mirror. Dr. J and his nurse came in and helped me lay back in the exam bed. He removed all the tape from my incision lines and took the stitches out from my belly-button. Then it came time for the drains..... The nurse offered her hand and I felt so bad, I think I was squeezing it really hard! The pinch/pain lasted all of 2 seconds and then the area just burned for a minute. I felt the tubing all the way through my hips. Dr. J said I'm healing very well for only being one week out. I'm cleared to shower and I can also drive. No bathing or swimming (obviously). I need to continue wearing my CG and bra 24 hours a day and I'll see him again next Friday. I honestly attribute much of my healing to all the coconut water I've been drinking. I highly recommend it. Dr. J and the nurse left the room and my boyfriend looked grey. I asked him if he was okay and he was nauseous and light-headed. He wasn't expecting the graphic nature of the drains. Poor guy. Dr. J refilled my Norco for 5 more days and we were on our way! I haven't showered yet, I'm still a little nervous to do so. I've got a few open areas from the tape (no broken incisions, THANK GOD) so I'd like to wait another day to shower. The scabs on the incision line are thick in some areas and they ITCH so bad but I won't pick them off. Was advised not to use any triple antibiotic cream as it will cause a rash and I was given "the look" when I told him I was icing my breasts.... so no more frozen peas for me. I'm shooting for a minimum of 2 walks per day and standing on my feet as much as possible. I've driven my car 2 times now with no issue. Can't believe the difference from last Saturday. For those of you on PO Days 1 & 2, it really does get better each day. Focus on deep breathing and distract yourself as much as possible and get as much rest and sleep as you can. And coconut water. Get yourself some coconut water. :) Updated on 26 May 2014: Today is my last day to rest and relax before returning to work tomorrow. I had originally thought that I could work from home if needed, however we've got some big projects coming up and staying home doesn't feel like an option. I tried on some clothes yesterday and I fit into my pre-op clothing, thankfully I don't need to do any shopping. I've decided that I'll tell my co-workers that my back went out on me during vacation and that I'm wearing a back brace as a result. I've been walking upright since day 3, so I'm pretty mobile however I tire easily if I'm standing too much. I'd like to treat myself today to a mani/pedi and a brow wax. I took my first shower yesterday and used my boyfriends trimmer to shave down my bikini line and I shaved my legs, under arms and cleaned up the bikini area. The hospital sent me home with a drain kit that included a body wash, so I used that along with a new soft loofa to wash my body. Most of the glue/blood came off, but there are some areas that I'm doing my best to leave alone. I do have a few stitches that have popped through that I started to pull, but they started to bleed and I decided that since I'll see Dr. J this Friday that I'll leave it alone until then. I've found 3 so far. One is in my nipple, I hope it doesn't effect the scar. I forgot to mention that during my appointment on Friday that my muscles were separated 7 cm, which is just under 2 inches. For someone who has never been pregnant, that is a fairly large gap. On Saturday one of my BFF's came and spent the night and wouldn't you know we had each other laughing within the first hour. It was the first real laugh I had in a week and my tummy muscles ached from laughing so hard. But it felt really good. She took me to the grocery store and provided some much needed one-on-one girl time. I'm so thankful and feel so blessed that I'm feeling as well as I do. I feel guilty admitting it because I read about so many gals that still can't stand upright. I think because my first 72 hours were so rough I got all the pain and discomfort and "I want to die why the hell did I do this to myself" feelings out of the way. I washed my binder yesterday and put on a fresh bra and I'm feeling great. I want to focus now on eating clean and taking nice long walks. One of my favorite running trails is within miles of the office, so I think I'll start walking that this week. It's a 4 mile loop with the option to add a 1 mile extension. I'm set to start my period today. I'm so thankful that the timing worked out and I didn't have that to contend with on top of everything. I'm still taking MOM but I think when the bottle runs out I'm going to try and go without. I wish you all a Happy Memorial Day and a special thank you to those who have served our fine country and deep gratitude for those who have died doing so. Updated on 27 May 2014: Today will be my first day back in the office. Wish me luck! I went to the mall yesterday and got myself a mani/pedi and brow wax. The pedicure felt amazing not because of my feet but because of the amazing massage chair. My back hasn't felt that great in a week! I walked around and bought a few things. I plan on dressing somewhat baggy as I don't want my co-workers to suspect anything. Being on my feet all afternoon took a toll on my back and I went home last night and relaxed. I was swollen for sure, my CG felt like it did the first few days. I'll check in later and let everyone know how the first day was! Updated on 27 May 2014: Other than it taking me a little while longer to get ready this morning, getting ready for work was like any other day. Of course I wanted to do hair and make-up because I haven't felt much like a lady these last two weeks. I arrived to the office to find 15 boxes of items that I need to sort through for a huge client we just started with. I'm the only female in our office and one co-worker noticed immediately that I looked thinner. He said "holy cow, how much weight did you lose?" so as I planned on doing, I lied and told him I was wearing a back brace. He believed me and even asked me a few times throughout the day if he could get me anything. That was a nice gesture although I didn't take him up on the offer. The day went very fast but I will say that by 9am my back was breaking. Thankfully I still have pain medication and I function just fine while taking it. I stayed at the office until 4:45 and came home and got into some comfy clothes and climbed into my recliner chair. My boyfriend gave me a back massage tonight. That was the first time I'd been on my stomach. I was fearful at first but once I got comfortable and relaxed it felt amazing. For someone who professes not to know how to give a proper massage he did awesome. Perhaps it was just feeling his hands on my back that brought comfort. Afterwards I just laid on my back on the bed for 10 minutes and I rubbed my stomach. I asked him to bring me a long mirror and for the first time my breasts are staying up and not rolling into my arm-pits. That makes me so happy. :) He thinks I should give sleeping in our bed a try tonight. Worse case scenario it doesn't work and we move back to the recliner. I also forgot to mention yesterday that I had Victoria's Secret measure me and currently I'm a 38DD. Should I expect to stay this size, or will the cup size decrease? I hope my breasts don't drop too much more because I like where they are at and any more drop will make me feel like they are sagging. I will also say that having a cute new outfit helped me get over the hump of returning back to work. I also have a cute new wrap / cover-all from H&M that I'll wear tomorrow with leggings. I even managed to wear heels today - my cousin thinks I'm crazy but I live in heels so to me it wasn't a big deal! Updated on 28 May 2014: Thankfully the day went fast again but I'm happy to be back home and in my recliner with my heating pad. I attempted sleeping in the bed last night and I didn't sleep as well, so I'm not ready for that yet. My boyfriend isn't here tonight to offer another back rub and I'm considering my foam roller, but I think that might be asking for trouble. Sharing a few photos of me in clothing and a new breast shot. I really appreciate all the kind comments everyone has left below. Had it not been for this website and all the resources I don't think I would have managed as well as I have. You gals have been amazing. :) Updated on 30 May 2014: Yay Friday! :D I had my two week appointment today. Dr. J snipped a few of the stitches that had popped through, didn't hurt at all like I anticipated. Took a look over everything and said that I was healing great. He had me stand up and that's when he told me I had a seroma.... I've been watching out for that and as of this morning I hadn't developed any so I was disappointed that it happened. Thankfully my abdomen is still pretty numb, so he assured me that I wouldn't feel anything. Dr. J told me to look into the nurses eyes and look away and they pulled the needle out. Of course I turned to look and they tried to hide it but it was too late. Holy cow that needle/syringe was enormous! I made him promise again that it wouldn't hurt and to my surprise, it really didn't. Felt odd and only felt a split-second of pain once. He removed 3 oz. of fluid and wants me to come back on Tuesday so that I can have it drained again. I asked him about the weird sensation in my lefty (I can feel the implant moving around) and he said it is totally normal and will subside over time. I'm so impressed with Dr. J. I had a gut instict about a year ago and he's exceeded my expectations. I'm really pleased that I selected him and should I ever have any future procedures it's not even a question in my mind that I'll return to him. I tried to sleep in bed again last night and I'm really struggling to get comfortable. The first week or so the meds were knocking me out and I think I slept through any discomfort, but now that I'm taking less, I'm not sleeping as well. I know it will get better. Maybe I can try Tylenol PM in the evenings?? I've noticed that I've developed spider veins along my tummy-tuck incision line. I'm not terribly upset about it as long as it doesn't worsen over time. Almost all the glue/scabs have come off and the incision lines look nice and clean and straight. I'm anxious to put lotion or oil or somthing on the incision as it looks so dry. I'm showering and shaving with minimal effort. I've got a few photos to share from recent days. I'm really excited for summer! I wish you all a great weekend! I'm going tomorrow for a hair cut and color and I'm really excited to get a little pampering! I may also hit up Target to look at some bikinis. I can't resist. I know I need to wait but I really want to at least see what it will look like. I also need to grocery shop and I'm making an effort to eat clean and give my body the best foods I can. This surgery was a game changer for me so that I could reset my relationship with food. Updated on 31 May 2014: Before you leave: - clean house - wash linens & laundry - nest (see everything below) - prep a few freezer meals for family - water plants - clean cat boxes & if you are normally the cat box cleaner, set up fresh bags with litter in them so that your caretaker and pull the old bags, drop them in the trash and put the new bags in the boxes. - This is a little morbid... if you are an unmarried person such as myself, it's not a bad idea to have your will situated. It's something you should have anyway to spare your family the drama in court should something ever happen to you. - Pay bills and get finances situated so that you don't have to worry about any late payments - I was told to remove nail polish. This is so they can check your capillaries after surgery. If you must, get a manicure but skip the polish. - wash your hair and give it a good blow-out. It will be several days up to a week before you'll wash it again. Medicine: - Obviously whatever pain medication your doctor prescribes. Don't try to be a hero - take it on a 4-6 hours schedule the first 5-7 days - Valium - this was prescribed for muscle spams but it worked wonders for sleeping at night. - Anti-nausea medication. I was on Zofran in the hospital and it worked great. I had a huge fear of vomiting, so I asked for Zofran every 6 hours. I was also sent home with a script for it but never filled it because one I was home and started to eat a little more, my fear subsided. - Milk of Magnesia - I did 2TB before bed and 2TB in the morning until I started producing. Once that happened, I dropped down to 2TB before bed only. - Arnica Montana - Cough Drops or hard candies - I didn't make a log for my meds because I'm already on a pain management program, but it's not a bad idea for those who normally don't take medication. Medical Supplies: - 4x4 gauze squares - alcohol preps - anti-bacterial soap - hand sanitizer (kept bedside) - gloves (bought a small pack, never used them) - toilet riser (bought one, never used it) - band-aids Toiletries: - Face wipes - Full Body wipes (found in the adult diaper section) - Flushable wipes (BM will be very messy while taking MOM) - Baby wipes - Chap stick - Deodorant - Toothbrush / toothpaste / mouthwash - Small Hand Mirror - Headband / hair ties / hair brush - Nail file / nail clippers - ear plugs - kleenex - body lotion / facial moisturizer - tampons / maxi pads (thankfully my cycle started at the 11 day mark, so I was spared that annoyance) Household items: - Phone Chargers - Extension Cord - Tongs (Grabbers) - Small cart on wheels with drawers or shelves - Headphones - Travel pillow (for me this was a life saver) - Extra pillow for lap if you have animals who like to jump or sleep on your tummy - Recliner chair - heating pad (for your breaking back) - pen/paper to jot down notes (you'll be very forgetful due to meds) - small garbage can to toss trash into Foods: - coconut water - cannot stress this one enough! - wet consistency vs. dry the first few days worked best for me - room temperature or cool vs. ice cold water - avoid dairy the first few days (causes phlegm = coughing = no bueno) - avoid carbonation - sugar free popsicles (avoid the first few days if causes phlegm. I wanted them because the breathing tube caused blisters on the roof of my mouth) - sugar free jello - apple sauce - instant oatmeal - naked juice - scrambled eggs - fruit - I liked pineapple, green grapes, strawberries and kiwi - teddy grahams - I preferred these over plain saltines - string cheese - 100 calorie almond packs - baby carrots & hummus (or ranch) - greek yogurt - cottage cheese - english muffins - when the time comes to start cooking more for yourself, rely on the frozen steamer bags of vegetables. Much easier and less clean-up. - rotisserie chicken Tips and suggestions: - stay at the hospital for 1-2 nights if finances allow. There was no way that I could have safely gone home after my procedure. - coconut water, minimum 32 oz a day. I purchased mine on Amazon.com, but it is available at most grocery stores. You want real coconut water, not the sugary variety. This will be a pricier "add-on" but I swear by the benefits of it. Plus if you are like me and you are used to drink diet coke, this is a nice switch-off from water (which you should also be consuming by the gallons!) - eating..... this one was hard for me. I didn't eat much at all the first 72 hours. I tried to get a few bites down and my stomach wasn't having it. Your family will hound you to eat. You'll be fine. Get down what you can, when you are ready to eat you will. - when driving as a passenger, have a pillow behind you and a bucket on your lap. Hold onto the "oh [RS bleep]" handle - it will mentally make you feel better to not feel so loosy-goosy in the car. - use your legs! use them for leverage, use them for squatting down, use them to walk. Avoid using your arms as best as possible. If you must use your arm to get up I suggest using the other arm to hold your breasts tight so that they don't move. - pulling into parking spots to avoid backing out and twisting when you leave - using kitchen tongs as "grabbers" - I kept my wheeled cart next to my recliner and it held most of my items listed above. I kept an extension cord along with my charging cords looped through the bars on top. Just be mindful of the extension cord so that you don't trip on it during the night. - Leave a light on when you sleep or keep a flashlight nearby. - Keep all television / fan remotes nearby. I kept mine in a gladware tub which also doubled as my barf bucket in case of emergency. - Ask those around you not to spray or wear heavy perfume to avoid sneezing. - Take hourly laps around your living room / house to get the blood circluating. At times this will not be fun considering how hard it can be to get comfortable, but the more you move the faster you'll heal. Ask your caretaker to take you on slow walks outside. Being in the sun will do wonders for your spirit. When it is safe to do so, take laps up and down your stairs, but be CAREFUL! - Drink your water out of a cup that has a lid/straw or sports bottle. This way if you accidentally drop it, you don't get yourself or anything else wet. - Phlegm.... Thankfully I only had 2 episodes of phlegm. It may mildly annoy those around you, but I made every effort to clear my throat with all these annoying sounds and tried to "hock" it up vs. cough it down. Inevitably I did have to cough 2 times and it does hurt but once it's over you'll be better. I did NOT find that bracing myself with a pillow helped. It only made my breasts hurt. I leaned back in a chair and gripped the sides as if I were holding someone's hand. - Drains. Mine were in the pubic area and were so tender from the compression garment. I kept a little gauze tucked under them to avoid movement. It also helped that once you sat down, make sure the tubing isn't bunched between your legs. When the drains are laying out from the exit site in the same direction they are inserted you'll feel them less. I copied what other women have done and pinned my drains to a lanyard that I wore around my neck. When I was in my recliner, I took the lanyard off and laid it by my side under my blanket. Just don't forget that they are there! (I never did, I was always aware of those damn things). - I didn't have any issues with oozing from liposuction, but you can purchase puppy pads (or adult pee pads) to place on wherever you are sitting to avoid leakage. - My doctor advised that I NOT ice my breasts. I did for the first few days which felt amazing, however it constricts blood flow. Your doctor may have a different plan for you. - I personally watched an embarrassing amount of trashy television which was an awesome distraction however I also saved up 4 months worth of magazines to read. Also keep a bible on hand if you enjoy reading daily. - take photos of your progress. You don't have to publicly share them but you'll enjoy looking back to see how far along you've come. - In the evenings during week 2 I had to unhook the top hooks of my CG because I feel as if my ribs are bruising. I try to limit that to an hour and hook myself back up. - Lastly... REST. Take as many naps as you can. In the beginning I napped 3 times a day. Let your body heal. Listen to your body, it will tell you what it needs. I will probably have a "part two'' when I'm in the massage / scar treatment phase, but this pretty much covers the first two weeks. The first 3 days were the absolute worst. I was filled with regret and at moments I wanted to die. I promise you that the feeling will pass and it really does get better each day. Try your best to remain positive and remember all the reasons you wanted this. Also remember that the mommy makeover is to improve upon what we had, not to perfect your body. Do not expect perfection, you will be let down. There will be problem areas, you will have set-backs. Healing will take up to a year so be patient. :) Updated on 2 Jun 2014: I can finally blow my nose like a normal person. Previously I would do a lot of kleenex nose picking and only blowing out what was in my actual nostrils. I also sneezed for the first time on Saturday. It was amusing to me that I hadn't sneezed in over two weeks. First time in my life I ever paid attention to that sort of thing. :) Since yesterday was the 1st of the month so I decided it was a good day to start a new goal, which was walking 3 miles a day. It went well, I did get tired towards the end. It's already starting to get humid here in Chicago, so had the weather been a little cooler I think I would have felt better. I don't do very well in the heat. When I came home I had to wash my CG. I have a pair of spanx that are underwear style that extend under the bra line, I wear those when I'm washing my CG. They aren't nearly as tight but at least it's something vs. nothing. I decided since I'll be living in this damn thing that I might as well order a second one, but I purchased a nude color vs. black since it's hard to conceal this under lighter clothing. My CG is made my Design Veronique, style 850. If anyone else uses this brand (or wants to try it) it has suspenders, it hooks and then zips on each side, has a generous slit in the crotch wide enough for potty purposes (#1 & #2) and has shorts that go about mid-thigh with a lace elastic to keep them from moving. They are $109 on the website but if you enter "YELP20" in the coupon code you get 20% off. So that will save you some $$$. They charge $10 for ground shipping so I hope it arrives soon, I'm not known for my patience when it comes to online shopping. :) I slept in bed last night (3rd try) and while I don't dig it, it was better than the recliner. I really miss sleeping on my side. Anyone recall how long it was before they could sleep in any position they wanted? Lastly, I'm still trying to eat as clean as possible. I know it's best for my body. I allow myself one diet coke in the afternoon and some days I don't have one. Still drinking lots of coconut water. I see Dr. J again tomorrow to look at the seroma again and drain if necessary. Three of the stitches he had snipped have come out a little more, so I'll need to have those trimmed again. I'm going to fuss again over my lefty. It just does not feel right. My right feels totally normal, and the left feels like the implant moved or the muscle is separated or something. I don't know. I wish they could do an ultra-sound or something to look at it and put my mind at ease. I can feel something moving in there and I don't know if its the implant or my muscle. Hate to admit it but it has me worried that it will always feel like that and it would be a true annoyance since I enjoy bootcamp and using kettelbells and such. Best wishes to all you gals going into surgery this week or traveling for surgery this week and happy healing to anyone on their first post-op days this week. Stay positive! Updated on 3 Jun 2014: I had my 3rd follow-up today since I had a seroma on Friday Dr. J wanted to see me again today. He snipped the stitches again and drained approximately 2 TB from my abdomen. He feels confident that I won't need anymore draining. I'm cleared for scar massage / treatment. He suggested I purchase Mederma Advanced Scar Gel. I'm happy to be able to start putting something on my scars because they just seem dried out and I wanted to lotion them so bad! He asked how my CG was doing and I was proud to tell him that I had ordered a second one. He seemed pleased with me for doing so which is good because he's patiently listened to me [RS bleep] and moan about how much I hated the damn thing. And for the best news? He told me that I'm healing VERY well. Top 5%. TOP 5%! That was the best thing I've heard all week! After such a rough few days in the hospital, it amazes me that I came home and my body did a complete 180. My legs are ready to run but I'm not cleared for that yet. I see Dr. J again next Tuesday. I didn't ask about the lefty because I'm trying to worry less and just let it heal. Maybe because the rest of me feels so good I'm bothered by it. Maybe both my breasts should feel this way and I just lucked out. It's like something is folded in there. When I move my arm I can feel a ridge or something. I wish I could put into words what I'm feeling. Happy healing to you all! :) Updated on 3 Jun 2014: Sorry - iPad photos don't have the same quality. I've also lost 2 pounds. I'm not digging the indentation in my hips but thankfully it doesn't show in a bikini so I'm not stressing it. Updated on 4 Jun 2014: I was feeling a little bummed last night about my "hip" indent, but when I look at my before photos, I had them then too, so I think my body is just shaped oddly. Just something to focus on at the gym. :) I took a few photos this morning that I wanted to share. Going to the office today and will see some visitors, hopefully they don't have too many questions. It's hard to force yourself to wear baggy clothing when you want to wear things that accentuate your new figure! Thankfully my "back brace" story has been believed thus far. ;) Lastly - I post updates from an iPad. Is anyone finding now that when they add captions while posting the review that they don't keep? I add them but then they delete so I have to "edit" my photos afterwards.... just curious if anyone else had that issue. Updated on 6 Jun 2014: I can't believe it's been three weeks. When I was in that hospital bed thinking I wanted to die I didn't think today would be here. I feel awesome. I'm sleeping in bed now full-time and somewhat on my side. I can't tell if it's my breasts that bother me more or the CG no allowing my legs to separate much. There's only so much "give" when I'm wearing this thing. I think if the legs weren't in the mix I could move better, but I'm managing. I started silicone sheet treatments last night and I'm using the Scar Away brand. May have to consider coughing up the $$ and buying the New Gel Plus brand as it's one sheet. It's going to be a royal PITA to remove these little individual strips and wash them every 12 hours. I've been walking 3 miles in the evenings each day this week and I'm not feeling any exhaustion afterwards. My legs want to run SO. BAD. I know I cannot, but it's going to feel so good to get back at it. I'll definitely need to invest in better sports bras now that I have something to bounce vs. my old breasts that just kinda laid flat. My new CG arrived yesterday and I'm a little intimidated by it because it looks so small. It's the same size as my original but obviously hasn't been worn for 3 weeks. I know it will be worth it in the end. I'm noticing some stinging and aggravation under my left breast. Just the incision getting angry with me. Keeping an eye on it. Doesn't seem to be too serious or worthy of a call to the doctor. Hoping to get some quality photos this afternoon with a real camera vs. my iPad. Once we make it though the work day it's the weekend, yay!!! :D Updated on 7 Jun 2014: I phoned the doctors office twice yesterday. The first time I called to speak directly with Maureen (Dr. J's nurse) and asked if I could use some triple anti-biotic ointment on lefty. She said that would be okay and took my number in case the doctor wanted to speak with me. She told me to call back if anything changed. She also knew who I was. I guess that shouldn't surprise me since I spent $$ and it SHOULD come with some personal recognition, but I realize that's tough so it made me feel special that she knew who I was. :) I wound up calling back again because mid-day my breasts started to feel hot. This time Dr. J did call back and we agreed that it didn't seem like an infection since he just saw me and I looked great and I wasn't running a fever so we are blaming the Mederma for now. So I'm to skip that and use Vitamin E and I'm allowed to ice 30 minutes each hour. I feel better this morning. I also think maybe taking walks and sweating may be a cause too, so I skipped my walk yesterday. :( Again, don't know why I'm so impressed, but I am. Each time I've needed to speak with Dr. J he's called within 30 minutes. I joke that I hope he finds a way to have fun on the weekends. It makes me sad, but I think that this job is his life and while I can appreciate that he loves what he does, I'd hate for it to cost him his own personal joy. I'm unsure if he is married or has a family, but I hope he has someone who is really good to him at home. He's just been so awesome to me. I've been holding off on updating my final review of Dr. J because I don't quite know how to put into words how outstanding this experience has been thus far. This process is life-changing and I owe him (and his staff) a lot of gratitude. Have a great Saturday ladies! XOXO Updated on 8 Jun 2014: I bit the bullet and bought the scar treatment sheets that I wanted. They are made by New Gel Plus. I knew all along I wanted to buy them becuase the abodmen is one long sheet and the breast is two pieces (depending on your needs). I purchased the lolli-pop and anchor pieces. Much easier than the Scar Away brand (nothing against them, I think those are more appropriate if you have a large 2x4 type scar). The website says that the sheets last 3-4 weeks depending on how well the adhesive holds up. I spent $217.... ouch. For best results, the sheets should be used for four months. Also, the nude color is suggested as it holds-up better than the clear (FYI). I've already surpassed the $17K mark with surgery, hospital and supplies and I want to protect my investment, so I understand that this cost factor is a necessary evil. We haven't even had a "grand" shopping spree yet! http://www.newgelplus.com I've also included a photo from when I first woke up this morning. I wear my binder pretty regiously and I'm eating clean and went again for my 3 mile walk because the weather was so much cooler here this morning. I'm moving with ease although I can feel the "pull" on my incision. It doesn't hurt, I think it's probably what thin people without loose skin probably feel. The numbness in my abdomen and hip region is almost gone, and I'm noticing now if I stretch a certain way I feel the fibers in my hip region pulling/burning. The lipo I had performed hasn't bothered me thus far, so I wonder if this is the sensation that's been there all along and I didn't notice it because of the numbness? I don't know what the procedure/product is called but Dr. J did tell me that my abdomen region would be numb. I hope I have no more seromas because I WILL feel the needle if it requires draining on Tueday. I've noticed that my appetite is smaller. I think this is partially because I'm making an effort to eat clean and mentally I promised myself that I would treat this new body with respect. Where I'm having some struggles is my brain has been set to eat 3 meals, snack throughout the day, etc. When I find myself reaching for a snack I have to ask myself "are you actually hungry, or just eating out of habit?" I've given in a few times, but I'm not eating anywhere near the amount and the quality has improved. I appreciate everyone who has kept up with me thus far. I tend to get a little wordy, so I apologize if some of my posts could have been said in lesser words. This place is my haven where I can bear it all (pun intended!) and I love that we have each other through this journey. :) Updated on 11 Jun 2014: Hey kids! Had my 3.5 week follow-up with Dr. J yesterday. He removed some more fluid from my belly. Felt that this really should be the last of it. I can't feel the needle going in, but when he goes deep I can feel it inside. Hurts a little, but I try to chit-chat my way though it. He also tried to snip two very small stitches but they weren't cooperating so we are going to leave them alone. My breasts are peeling and they are red where they touch each other. All normal and he explained that this was the area that was taking on the most weight distribution. See him again in one week. I decided that I needed to break-in my new compression garment because the black one was starting to give a little and sweet baby Jesus this thing is TIGHT. Ironically, I don't mind the tightness around my abdomen. The area under the rib-cage bra line is nearly unbearable. I had to un-do the top clips after about 2 hours because I cannot handle the pain. Was intimate for the first time on Monday night and while I'll spare everyone the details we were very gentle and it seems that all systems are a go! Not sure if I have nipple sensitivity because we didn't get overzealous in that department. My New Gel Plus shipment arrived but since it required a signature and I wasn't home I have to pick it up at the post office. Booooo. So I'll go there tonight and pick them up and read-up on the instructions. I keep forgetting that I cannot use the lotion-based soap in the shower since it leaves the skin with residue. I'm feeling pretty good otherwise. My breasts are sore, but nothing that concerns me. I'm hoping at my next appointment I can be cleared for some light running. Have a great day lovelies! Updated on 12 Jun 2014: Say what? It's been four weeks already? I'm very happy that after 3 (THREE!) visits to different post offices I now have my New Gel Plus items in hand. Some of my original concerns about the cost factor have subsided once I saw that the pieces were very generous in size. The abdomen peice is 24"x2" and I'll easliy be able to cut it in half lengh-wise and get two treatments out of it. The lolly-pop and anchor pieces both come with the vertical section, so I'll be able to cut those down and hodge-podge them for an additional treatment as well. I wore my new CG two days in a row and last night tried the "tank top under the CG" trick and it really does help with some of the discomfort. It is still very tight in the rib-cage area and I've found that my back is breaking like it did those first few days back to work. Hopefully it gives a little over the next week. My swelling is next to nothing. I had an epiphany the other day that I shared in a comment somewhere here. I struggle with dehydration (especially during marathon training) and my body doesn't retain fluids well. In conclusion - I think my body is dehydrating itself and it's the one situation where it has worked to my advantage! I've also lost 2 pounds putting me at 161. My end goal is 150 but I'm in no hurry to get there. I was surprised at the loss considering I haven't done my 3 mile walk in a couple days. AND! The highlight of my day? Having the opportunity to meet newlook2014 for coffee this afternoon. She was a beautifully kind friend to have the pleasure in chatting with. Only drawback to our date was that it went too fast! :) Just a few new photos to share with everyone. I hope you all have a lovely evening! Happy healing! Updated on 13 Jun 2014: You gals gave me a good giggle today with your "model posing" comments, and it really is the same stance I take in all group photos or selfies when I share an outfit with a girlfriend. I assure I'm not a vain as this post makes me appear. This is all in good fun and hopefully will give everyone a good laugh! Updated on 14 Jun 2014: Today is day 2 of scar therapy (New Gel Plus). You'll recall I bought the wrong pieces but I've cut them down and should be able to use the pieces for other sections. They do burn my skin a little, so I'm wearing them part-time and rubbing Bio-Oil the other half. If I need to purchase from New Gel Plus again, I'll only buy the lolly-pop and abdomen pieces. The anchor section is pointless considering my scar is covered by my breasts. This morning I met a girlfriend for a walk at a local trail. It turned out being 6 miles. I'm used to my 3 mile walks so this wiped me out pretty good. I wound up getting very hungry about half-way through but I didn't pack a snack like I would had I been running because I didn't think I'd be exerting myself that much. We had lunch afterwards at Whole Foods and once I had some food in my stomach I felt much better. Hoping to go every Saturday. I do see a nap in my future! Updated on 18 Jun 2014: It's Wednesday - half way to the weekend!! I had my 4.5 week doctor's appointment with Dr. J yesterday. Not too much to update on. He drained my seroma again, only a small amount of fluid left. I don't believe I've read of anyone on here having their belly drained on a weekly basis but every doctor does their thing different. :) I have a strange "wire" of sorts that extends under my left breast when I lift my arm. Turns out it is scar tissue that I need to massage it to break it up. I will admit, it freaked me out at first and it hurts to massage it. Hopefully this resolves itself in a few weeks. I'm healing well. Dr. J doesn't seem to be a big believer in the silicone sheets that I bought but he didn't tell me I couldn't use them. Things I am now "cleared" to do: - Light aerobic exercise. I can do light upper body weights, light lower body weights, run/jog. No abdominal work, push-ups and NO kettelbells (so no bootcamp). - Take a bath or swim in the pool for an hour or two. - Resume taking Advil for headaches and such. He still wants me in my CG for a few more weeks and I don't mind. I do wish it didn't have such long legs connected as it limits what I can wear clothing wise. I assume in a few weeks I transition to spanx type garments? Just a few photos to share with you guys. I found a bikini from Venus that I'd like to purchase in white (I think white bikinis are so simple, classy and sexy!) I feel more comfortable in a bra style vs. halter as my breasts are still heavy and don't hold themselves up so the neck-strap would be problematic for me. Updated on 21 Jun 2014: Happy Saturday Lovelies! I had a bit of a milestone today. I went for my regular 3 mile walk today except that I RAN 2 of the miles! I had to break it up but I know with each day I'll get my endurance back. I may have to wear 2 sports bras to keep my breasts from moving. Currently I wear a sports bra and a tank-top with a bra built in, but I'm still moving a little bit and I'd prefer not to have ANY movement. Sadly, I've hit that timeframe where my scabs have all fallen off and now my scars are a bright red/purple color. I was afraid that this would happen. I'm using my New Gel Plus scar sheets in conjunction with Bio Oil massages. In my early 20's I had deep dark stretch marks on my belly that faded to nothing over a 2 year span and that was with no treatment. I'm trying to remain upbeat and positive but I'm fearing that maybe I won't be in a bikini this summer since my bellybutton will have that very noticeable "ring" around it. Other than that, no new news! Updated on 25 Jun 2014: I'm sure some people wonder why my updates are at the half-week mark, it's because that's when I see my doctor. I met with Dr. J yesterday afternoon and had a nice visit. I didn't have to have my stomach drained, so that was a plus. He said that I have between now and July 1st to "break up" with my CG. He joked that it could be on my terms. So I'm going to wear it during the day and sleep without it. I told him that I tired running and that it felt like my body wasn't ready but he said that I wasn't going to hurt anything. (More on that later). I had him look at the "ropey" section under my left breast and he said with massage it will heal over time and he doesn't want to cut my skin to remove any stitches unless they are physically sticking out. I had Dr. J take a look at my hips where there is some extra fat/skin and he said at the 6 month mark we can take another look and revise if necessary. I was very honest with him and told him that I was having some concerns over my breasts. I can tell where the implant is under the skin and he assured me that it wasn't going anywhere and the way I looked today is the way I can expect to look long-term. I'm very happy that I don't have to worry about any further sagging and that I'm mostly healed. I'm second guessing myself that maybe I should have gone with a larger implant or perhaps stressed more how much I did not want a gap between my breasts. I don't place any fault on Dr. J as he gave me exactly what I asked for - a conservative implant and natural looking breasts. I love the way everything looks in clothing, it's just the gap that I don't like while standing naked. I came home and because I'm dealing with some other hefty emotional stress in my life I decided to run on my treadmill and I went 3 miles without stopping. I was pretty excited about that!!! I slept last night without the CG and while it's nice to be free, I do notice a strong burning sensation in my back/hip area where the lipo was performed if I stretch too far in one direction. Not stressing it since I know it will heal in time. I see Dr. J again in 3 weeks. He said that I really don't have many restrictions and that I can slowly start back up with old activities. For the most part, I feel pretty normal for someone who had these procedures nearly 6 weeks ago! xoxo Updated on 29 Jun 2014: I hit the 6 week mark on Friday - the time is going by so fast! I was told this week that I had until the 1st of July to break away from my CG. I've pretty much accomplished that since Thursday morning. I wore it to work and it was bothering my back so I took it off and haven't had it back on since! I do feel a little jiggly and less supported, but I no longer have the fear that my insides are going to fall out. I'm running 3 miles daily with no issues other than I'm really slow. Yesterday I walked the 6 mile trail with my girlfriend again and this time was a little easier than the last - so I'm getting stronger! I've been using the Mederma Advanced and it makes my skin itch and burn really bad. The silicone sheets were bothering my skin too. The only thing that doesn't bother me is the Bio Oil but I'm afraid that won't be powerful enough to heal the scars. I'd love some advice or suggestions on this. The Mederma also flakes and this is so gross - it's all over the house. It's in my bed, in my clothing, I'm sure it's even in my car. It's everywhere! I'm sleeping pretty well and I can be on my side if I keep my bottom arm next to my body and not lay on my breast. My incision line on my tummy is still very tight on the right side. Almost too tight. It pulls and feels like it's tearing if I stretch too far in one direction. I'm scared that this will cause a stretch mark to form so I'm going to start putting coconut oil on it as well. I need to go to the store today and buy some wireless bras. My doctor didn't tell me I had to be in sports bras but I have to believe I can upgrade to a wireless bra for now. I've been wearing a camisole with built-in bra and didn't wear a bra to work this week... That was REALLY refreshing. Don't worry moms - I had a cardigan on. :) Updated on 4 Jul 2014: Happy 4th Lovlies! Summer is flying by so fast. I cannot believe that it's been 7 weeks since my procedure. I'm mostlly excited that time is going by because it means that my scars are that much closer to fading and healing up 100%! I havn't worn my CG in over a week. I don't miss it and thankfull
Well I'm 16 days post op from my breast lift and augmentation and I'm experiencing things that I have not found anywhere online. Four days post op i developed a blood blister/pocket on my right breast at my incision line at the bottom so i instantly called the dr and went to see him. He was glad i came in as soon as it happened other wise it could be a lot worst ( i don't know how) My doctor even said out of all his patients he only sees this once or twice a year so lucky me(NOT). I fully trust my doctor and have been doing everything he has told me to do. He compared it to a severe sun burn and i have been treating it with silver sulfadiazine cream twice a day as directed and have seen an improvement over a weeks time although it still looks horrible. I also have a small area on my left breast but its not as bad so I'm not to concerned about that. Another thing is my right implant has not settled in its pocket yet so it looks a little weird but i can not massage it yet due to the wound. I'm really concerned about this because my husband and I are moving to Guam in Sept( due to US Navy) so I really want things to be in place before we go. Right now I'm going twice a week to see my doctor so he can make sure everything is going good which he feels confident about. Although this is happening to me and probably going to be left with a bigger scar than my original incisions i know it will be worth it in the end, i just need to stay come and let time do its thing. Updated on 27 Jul 2013: I have been an emotional roller coaster these past few days. Went to see my PS yesterday and he cleaned things up a little more and said things are improving even though to me it still is just as bad but I trust him and he has takin great care of me so far. He gave me a band for the top of my chest so it will help my right implant drop bc it's still riding high. Going back Tuesday to see how things look then Updated on 31 Jul 2013: Went to my PS yesterday for him to clean things up. He removed more dead tissue an told me that everything is heading in a positive direction. Although is looks really raw he says it because its all healthy tissue. So hopefully by next I will be finished with the silver sulfadiazine cream and onto another cream to help with the healing. I'm still wearing a band to try and get my right implant to drop but he has noticed a difference since Friday. I'm definitely feeling more positive about things more than I was a week ago. I just want to heal so I can get back to my normal mommy housewife duties instead of my husband doing it all. Updated on 3 Sep 2013: It's been a while since I've posted on here so here's an update. I'm still dealing with open wounds but have seen major progress in my skin regrowing. I have been using hydrogel twice a day which helps keep the wound moist to help skin cells migrate and grow over the wound. This is still an on going process but its getting better.
In good faith, I cannot recommend Dr. J for facial plastics. Initially I was willing to overlook the following; the unprofessional experience with the PACU staff at Good Samaritan hospital, his inability to e-prescribe my pain medicine post-procedure (I overheard him trying to figure out the computer software Epic and impatiently giving up and writing a paper script ultimately delaying my pain management for several hours since I don’t live in the area and my family had to go hand-deliver it and wait for it to be filled), and one day later with no prior patient teaching or understanding of what was to transpire I did not take my pain medicine in a timeframe to be sufficient and his PA Hannah forcefully and traumatically removed the packing from my nose. I was left with no other option but to grip my partner's hand and scream out in pain. Fast forward, in less than one year my nasal surgery for a functional medical purpose failed and I sought evaluation from specialists at a major medical institution in Chicago. Upon considering my situation as a whole, the specialist stated that Dr. J’s surgical intervention was not appropriately executed and the operative report was incorrectly described, stating it took her some time to fully understand what had been done compared to how he chose to title the procedure itself. Despite his seemingly impressive journey into medicine (direct admit into a pre-med program out of high school) and dual fellowship training, she stated his operative report terminology read as if he was not trained in the United States. ?Furthermore, I had asked him about treatments to prevent scarring in the post-op period and he was unable to effectively recommend any topicals or procedures. It took me doing the research and asking him if it was appropriate for him to casually agree but state he doesn’t offer it. Ultimately I sought consult with my dermatologist who stated there were many interventions that would have been most effective in the immediate post-op period. Shocking for someone who is so invested in esthetics. In the end, his training is not focused in nasal surgeries, and it earned me a date with a reconstructive facial plastic surgeon and an excessive out-of-pocket estimate. If you are seeking facial plastics, find someone who is board-certified as an ENT with an additional plastic surgery fellowship and not general plastics with microsurgery/hand surgery as Dr. J is
After following so many lovely men and women on RS for 4 years now, I am finally going to do my own review for the facial procedures I have scheduled for April 12th, 2021. I’ve actually had several other major and minor procedures that I’ve never reviewed, but hope to do a synopsis somewhere in here since I am going to my same surgeon who has been so very amazing, talented, patient, and more than willing to make sure I am completely happy with all results. We have been discussing what I want and what he thinks I should do for at least 18 months. I’m pretty sure he knew I was very tempted to go to a very highly regarded facial ps in Charleston, and I WAS, and my SO was pushing for him, but I have a lot of faith in Dr Jejurikar. I’ve had a few post-op issues with my previous procedures, including a bad infection (had nothing to do with the surgery but rather an ER visit 4 days post op, long story I’ll include when I do my mommy makeover review), so I don’t want to be far from my ps post-op. Right now, I’m so very thankful for this site, and all the lovely folks whose reviews and suggestions I’ve read, many who have given me great pointers that I will present to my ps. I must say, I wish I had read more before my previous surgeries because the preparation suggestions are so very helpful. I’m pretty excited and I will keep in touch! Updated on 21 Apr 2021: Facelift, eye Blephs, lip lift, fat transfer. 4/12/2021 Day one; surgery was first of 4 for Dr J, and we were delayed by anesthesiologist until 11:45. coming out of surgery I had a bad migraine that I had had before I even went into surgery. I wasn’t aware that it was a migraine, I thought it was the general pain of all the surgery so all the narcotic medications they were pumping into me had no effect on a headache. Lucky we took measures to prevent nausea! Both eyes are super photophobic and sensitive to the wind. It is 7:30 pm and I am basically blind and discharged , with a lot of medical care goodies so hubs gets me settled into my preset couch I prepped with all my drugs, instructions, antiseptic wipes and hand sanitizer and charger cords, Kleenex and trash bin. I was pretty well set up.! Pretty miserable that night. Might have gotten 2 hours of sleep total. Updated on 26 Apr 2021: DAY 2 - 4/13/21 most of my head feels fine-vision is almost useless, just shadows. Left eye is doing good as far as I can tell. Right eye won’t shut all the way, and is quite painful when I try. Dr J did a LOT of work on my eyes, so I’m not surprised I’m having difficulties. My first check up the next evening he took off the mummy head wrap, did a dry shampoo on my ton of hair, combed it out, and put a new head wrap on. We spoke about my right eye, he said to keep rinsing it, using the ointment, and covering with icy cold cloths every so often, which we’ve been doing. The next day when that eye was still feeling horrible, I looked closer and realized there was a glob of something bulging out and over my right lid. Called Dr’s PA Hannah, and sent pictures on to her which she showed to him after he was done with his current surgery. He did call me back and said to again continue what we were doing and he’d see us on our 4th day po. In summary, as of 3 days post the beginning of the procedures, the drugs that were administered in the IV have completely dissipated. I now can feel the stitching around my ears, very vaguely the stitches under my nose (both of which are starting to itch!), and a very very sore stiff neck. So it’s been a couple days. Now it’s Friday the 16th and the pain level has come down and my eyes just now are able to see. I have a new prescription from Dr. J for prednisone eye drops that have been able to make my right eye focus and I don’t feel so awkward now. So most of the stitches don’t hurt, some of them itch but I’m very comfortable now. I still have the wrap around my head. I was allowed to shower this evening completely washing my hair and everything.I have an appointment tomorrow Saturday 4/17/2021 with Dr. Jejurikar at three just to see where we’re at and hopefully will remove some stitches but not sure. And I think we’ll see what the status of all the wounds will be.Both eyes are doing much better with the eyedrops prescribed. Updated on 7 May 2021: Still having a little problem with my right eye closing, quite a bit a bruising despite arnica gel and tablets,, still some swelling, but I am using the compression face wrap almost religiously. It’s a lot of work, this recovery business, but if I want good results I’ve got to follow instructs. Loving my eyes and lips and chin. He did a great job on them. I’ll know more about the rest when the swelling is gone. Adding my fun eye patch pic for fun!
I'm 33 years old and mom of 5. I began working out in 2013 (I only had 3 kids) and was able to get my belly as flat as I could with a 6 pack but still had the extra skin, so I always knew I would need a tummy tuck to fix that problem. I noticed the muscle separation but didn't think much of it. In 2015 I had my 4th child. In 2017, I gain some weight and looked into Lipo because I thought I could deal with having the extra skin. With 2 consultations they explained not only the extra skin but the muscle separation. I looked into it briefly but knew I couldn't really afford it then after seeing the quotes. Found out I was pregnant with baby #5 two months later. Earlier this year in February, I decided that I'd have the procedure done next year for my 35th birthday, gift to myself. During quarantining, I decided to do alllllllll of the research I possibly could and took advantage of the virtual consultations. I had money saved and thought maybe I should just do it this year since we're stuck in the house. For me, this is the perfect timing to do it. Kids at home, I'm at home, so I can recover and don't have to worry about moving around, taking kids back & forth to school and activities and going back to work after 2/3 weeks, etc. My surgery is scheduled for August 10th and I've decided to start my journey because I want to help others with their decision as others have helped me by sharing their journey! After having quite a few consultations, I decided to go with Dr. Jejurikar. Updated on 10 Aug 2020: I’m in route and beginning to feel nervous. I’m praying over the hands of my surgeon and anesthesiologist! Updated on 10 Aug 2020: I’ve made it out safe! Thank God! I’ve been home for a few hours. Been having muscle spasms and those don’t feel good at allllll! The left side of where my incision is has been the most painful since I left the hospital. I’m looking forward to feeling better as far as pain goes. Updated on 12 Aug 2020: This is the 3rd day and when I say I have had little pain. Extremely tolerable. I was preparing for the worst pain ever. The only ting that hurt pretty bad is my left side, a burning sensation with a sting type of pain. I’m just assuming that’s from the Lipo that I had done to my flanks. Originally I didn’t want Lipo because I heard of how bad it feel but I figured why not get the best possible results. So far I have no regrets. I’m just excited for Friday so that I can finally see my stomach. Updated on 14 Aug 2020: Everything is looking great. This was the first time I saw my belly and I’m sooooo happy thus far. The burning and stinging feeling has kind of disappeared after he opened my garment and took off the dressing. My drains come out next Wednesday and the stitches around my navel as well. I have no regrets at this point. Updated on 18 Aug 2020: Yesterday made 1 week. I was supposed to posted this yesterday but got too tired. I’ve had no pain, but that’s mainly because I’ve been taking Tylenol extra strength and nerve pain meds around the clock pretty much since I’ve gotten the surgery. I take muscle spasm meds at bedtime and I’ve been off of oxy since around day 3. Of course I took antibiotics til they were gone. This has all truly helped with pain management. It was also doctors orders. Yesterday I drove to the store to grab a few items. Later, I walked around my block (slowly tho). I’m standing pretty much straight up now, unless I sit for too long, but I straighten pretty quickly. My help left on Thursday so I’ve been trying to be more independent since. It’s been me and my 5 kids, including a 2 year old, she has no chill, lol. The two oldest have been major helps. I cooked dinner the last 2 nights. Since surgery I’ve had to take a nap everyday. Yesterday was the first day I didn’t need a nap. I can laugh without pain. I’m not sure about coughing yet, because I try my hardest not to. If I feel like coughing I hurry and drink water. I coughed right after surgery and that almost made me cry. (SO PAINFUL). I’m still sleeping in the recliner and that’s what sucks the most (tough on my back). The drains are not bothering me neither, just a little irritating when I shower. I do get extremely swollen by evening, especially if my meals are heavy. The garment become extremely tight at that point. Honestly, I’m so shocked at how my recovery has been going thus far because every journey I read or saw on YouTube, they all seemed to have regretted the surgery at one point due to the pain. And because of that I was so scared and I prepared myself for the worst. The worst day for me was day of surgery. And the days up to my first post op appointment, my left side was only pain which there was immediate relief when they opened my garment and removed the dressing (still weird to me, lol). I have another appointment tomorrow and my drains are suppose to come out along with the stitches around my belly button. Updated on 20 Aug 2020: Yesterday I had my drains removed, the stitches were removed from my bb, and they removed the surgical tape, which I wasn’t expecting. The drains being removed did hurt in my opinion, at least one did. Here’s some updated pics I took today. Some obvious swelling, especially near my ribs. Can’t wait to see my final look to my bb. I did have a small hernia that was repaired as well. I was told to start putting vitamin e oil or mederma on my scar twice daily starting tomorrow. Updated on 7 Sep 2020: Today makes 4 weeks since my surgery. I’ve been dealing with swelling of course but I’m hoping I’m not dealing with seroma. I know a lot of my muscle repair was above my belly button, so I have questioned it due to the looks of my belly. I had an appointment 3 days ago and did mention it to him. He asked me if there’s pain in that area, no pain. Overall, I am still happy with my progress. Looks way better than before. Also, it’s looking like I have boobs since my belly is flatter! Lol... I know this isn’t the final look of my belly button, so I can’t wait to see how that’s gonna end up looking, because right now it’s not so cute. I have loss a little weight. My butt has gotten a lil smaller but I am eating less than normal still because I’ve had a few times that I ate a regular meal and dealt with the most uncomfortable swelling afterwards (horrible). I have been sleeping in my bed since 2 weeks post op because the recliner was causing so much pain in my back. I’m still sleeping on my back, slightly reclined, but it’s way more comfortable than the recliner. I can’t wait to sleep in different positions though. I’ve tried my side but I was right back on my back. My scar had been itching here and there. I noticed it more when I used the mederma (cream). The gel not so much. I stopped using mederma and now I’m using vitamin e oil, in hopes of less itching. Oh, and I haven’t read/viewed any journeys where there was a mention of sex. I was cleared and tried it the other day. Kinda challenging but I guess it got the job done. Lol. I did keep my garment on too, which was interesting. I’m truly just looking forward to the end of this recovery road, especially looking forward to my gym days. The hardest part about this whole recovery process has been me having to depend on people. I hate depending on people, so that’s been tough. Updated on 19 Oct 2020: I haven’t posted in a while. Wanted to post an update because it’s definitely been a minute. Today, I am 10 weeks post op and I feel kinda meh. Unfortunately, I’m in a position where I’ll need some added lipo above my belly button. Initially, after doing some research, I was scared that maybe my sutures from my muscle repair had opened or something. But I can feel that my muscles don’t have that gap there anymore. After bringing this up to my surgeon and he examined me, he said I needed a little lipo in that area. My pubic area is kind of out some to me too, I’m starting to wonder if that would need something else done as well. So I’m gonna ask about that at my next appointment. Also early in my recovery I felt a small hard bump under my skin, on my belly near my belly button. I ask my ps about it and he said it’s the end the knot of a suture that will dissolve over time (at the time in 5 about months). He said I can feel it because I’m so thin in that area. At the time I wasn’t so irritated about it. I am now because I’m scared that it’s gonna come through my skin as it’s caused some scarring that I’m not too happy about already. At 8 weeks he had me to discontinue the use of my garment. I don’t wear it at all, even though I really want to. I’m too scared that the knotted suture will break its way through my skin. Also, I don’t know about this belly button. I think this is it because it definitely doesn’t look like it can get any better than this. So far, I’m probably like 80% happy with my results. I know once I get back in the gym there’s some things I can work on that will maximize my results. I am attaching some pictures from some other weeks for catch up plus pics from tonight. Updated on 5 Nov 2020: This past Monday made 12 weeks since my tummy tuck. I had an appointment Tuesday and I’ve just gotten scheduled for December 11th for lipo to my upper abdomen and he’s going to rid the end of the stitch that’s bulging out near my belly button. I’m praying that the liposuction resolves the bulge issue, because it’s really irritating looking at it and not knowing exactly why I have it. I’m currently trying to prepare for the lipo and see exactly what I can expect once I’m home during recovery. I know it won’t be as intense as my tt. If anyone have any suggestions that would be helpful, please let me know. Anything I need to get? I have my meds and I have to get an abdominal board. Updated on 12 Dec 2020: Yesterday I had lipo done on my upper abdomen. It was done under local anesthesia with sedation. I explained my concerns about the pubis mons area as well and he said I’d have to get it done in a different session because he can only do so much under local vs general. I’m still shocked that I was woke during it all. Lol. And have to mention, I feel great. No pain or anything, even today. But anyway, it’s definitely a difference. The picture I’m attaching is right before and then some hours later. I’m also bloated due to menstrual. Updated on 30 Dec 2020: I’m 20 weeks post op from tt and in 2 days I’ll be 3 weeks post op from liposuction of upper abdomen. Maybe my belly is still kind of swollen, I’m not sure. But my belly is looking better than before the lipo. I wear my faja and ab board as instructed. I am 100% hating my belly button at this point. And think I’ll need that to be revised. Idk if a piercing would help but I did not want to get my belly button pierced again! Ugh!!! My next follow-up appointment is on January 8th. I’m so over surgery at this point. I don’t want to have anymore lipo or anything done that will force me back into a faja. It’s absolutely the worst. I just got some gym equipment for my basement, and I’ll be at it soon. I definitely can’t wait! I included some pictures, side and front view. One of the front view pictures, I’m sucking my stomach in. Updated on 12 Jan 2021: Just wanted to post an update and some updated pictures of what I’m looking like now. Overall my belly is looking good. The lipo really made a difference. My incision is looking nice. I still experience swelling tho. I’m still wearing the garment like 23/7 from the lipo, which is annoying! I missed my follow up last week so I’ll be seeing him this week. I’m remaining patient with this as I’ve had impatient moments. For some reason my stomach skin become so dry that it’s peeling, mainly near my incisions. I use vitamin e oil regularly and massage it in. I use lotion for dry skin as well. I’m praying that gets better soon. Updated on 12 Feb 2021:
Thank you for your question. When considering the different types of tummy tucks, remember that "mini" tummy tucks generally improve only the area of the abdomen below the navel. Therefore, I recommend a full tummy tuck to alleviate your muscle separation and extra skin above the navel. During the procedure, your surgeon may also be able to correct the issue related to your incision. Of course, a definitive recommendation cannot be made without an in-person evaluation. See a board-certified plastic surgeon near you to further assess your situation. Best of luck!
Based on your photos, it doesn't look like your breasts sag significantly enough to warrant a lift in addition to augmentation. Your nipples point forward, and there isn't a significant amount of breast tissue below the inframammary crease. An augmentation alone can likely give you attractive, natural-looking results without the scarring associated with a lift. Of course, the only way to know for sure is with a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Good luck to you!
Many women I see in my practice find your athletic build quite desirable. However, there are also many patients who want a curvier, hourglass figure, as you do. I believe your hips can be remedied with conservative fat grafting. Although you said you have little body fat, you may benefit from an in-person consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon who is especially skilled at body sculpting. He or she can evaluate your body to determine whether you have enough native fat for successful grafting. Implants are not likely a good option, although this can only be determined through an in-person appointment. Best of luck!
