I am 48 years old, have 5 kids (including twins) I have wanted a tummy tuck for years. I finally find myself in a position to do it, yay! I've been through the usual guilty feelings until my daughter said to me, " just look at it as putting right what having kids did to your body!" I thought about this and came to the conclusion that it was my right to have the body I had before the pregnancys ruined it! I also tried to get my kids to add a $1000 each to put right what they did to me but they just laughed, well I wasn't joking, lol! Anyway, I'm doing it and my kids and hubby are being super supportive, I'm excited and scared at the same time! I hate, hate, hate my jelly belly and avoid looking at myself naked because it depresses me so I'm really looking forward to seeing my flat tummy! My question is, as I get closer to the operation date, how can I stop myself from becoming so nervous that I chicken out? I know what I'm like, all mouth and positive thinking now but I'll change into a cry baby with no courage soon enough, lol. Updated on 24 Sep 2012: Well, my surgery is booked for the 8th of October, after a few adjustments to the date I paid my deposit and I'm all set to go! I have to say I've been so excited all week but then last night, I had my, rabbit in the headlights moment, and just kind of froze with fear walking from the living room to the kitchen.....I stood there thinking, what am I doing here, I can't go through with it, I can't!! But then, I said out loud, "yes you can and you are, you stupid jelly belly!" My husband and kids, just stared at me then continued to watch TV, their obviously used to my crazy outbursts, haha! Anyway, my op is 2 weeks away and I'm busy getting my supplies together and the house ready ( for some reason I feel the need to paint my bedroom, why, I don't know!) I haven't mentioned that I'm a British girl, living here in the States, I've been here, with my family, for nearly 5 years, so if I use weird terminology, you'll know why! Anyway, I'll update again soon, but basically, I'm at the, "yes you can, no you can't stage!" I'm super excited to be rid of my horrible tummy but scared of the recovery because I am a bit of a wimp and a whiner (moaner, British for whiner) ok I'm off to pick up a paintbrush, because of course my home has to resemble a show home during my recovery, lol! Speak to ya'll later. Updated on 4 Oct 2012: Oh my gosh!!!! My op is in 3 days and I'm shaking in my boots! I went for my pre op today and picked up my med's, my hospital bed arrives tomorrow and I've almost done all my cleaning! I'm trying to focus on late next week when I'm hopefully feeling a little better, I'm hoping ill recover quickly and won't have too much pain! I'm so ready for a flat belly and I'm trying not to think to much, I read one post that said....day of surgery, you get up, shower go to the clinic, go home and recover!! I like that no nonsence approach so I'm trying to not over think it! Well I'll post either before or after the op next! Updated on 7 Oct 2012: Well it's 11.30pm and its my tummy tuck surgery is tomorrow! I feel so nervous, and also scared of what I'm about to do, I'm doing the usual dance in my head, "why am I doing this" and "what if something goes wrong" and of course the, "I'll never cope with the pain" thought! I burst out crying in front of my kids and almost crushed my 7 year old hugging him tight before he left to stay with my daughter. At the moment I'm pretty calm, I'm not excited just kind of numb. I don't think I'll be able to sleep much so I'm going to stay up until I drop, lol. One thing that did help me was, my great hubby put pictures of my kids next to the bed I rented, that instantly made me feel warm inside, I also am a great believer in visualization, so i'm going to try to imagine myself on a beach with the sun on my head and the sand beneath my feet and the sound of the ocean in my ears, oh yes and I'm wearing a bikini! Anyway, wish me luck, I'll post in a few days when I'm over on the flat side! Updated on 9 Oct 2012: Hello everyone, well I'm one day post op, can't believe I did it! The PS took 5lbs of my stomach and 4lbs of my flanks via lipo, I'm thrilled with that. I'm uncomfortable and itchy, I have pain periodically, sometimes it really hurts and other times its ok. I hope I'm going to be able to cope with the week, lol. Any advice for the itching? Anyway my med's are making me sleepy so I'm signing out. Updated on 11 Oct 2012: 3 days post op and the swelling has started! I'm not in much pain but it is uncomfortable, I'm moving around easier which is good, I don't feel attractive and the med's have turned me into a [RS bleep], however, and having said all that, I did wake up with a huge smile on my face because I did it, I took charge of my life, was brave and went for it and now, come February and my 30th wedding anniversary, I'll be strutting my stuff on a hawian beach in my bikini! Updated on 14 Oct 2012: 6 days post op and I'm feeling ok, still swollen and desperate for a shower, I have my first pre op on Tuesday and hoping so much to have my drains out! I'm sick of being in the house, can't wait to feel the autumn sun on my face, I intend to go for a walk soon. I haven't even seen my tummy yet, I'm still all bound up from the op, I'm really squimish and I'm worried about my pre op, I'm worried I'm going to faint. I can't help but smile to myself tonight, remembering how nervous I was last Sunday night and here I am recovering and the op is done! All you pre op ladies who are terrified, I want to tell you this, just don't over think it, time passes so quickly and before you know it you'll be on the flat side and healing nicely. The pain is manageable and the human body is miraculous!! I'll update again soon x Updated on 18 Oct 2012: Well I'm 10 days post op and I'm very tired and swollen, I felt great yesterday and over did it, paid for that today. My body tricked me into thinking all was well, so annoying and frustrating! Had the drains out 2 days ago, it didn't hurt just felt like an eel was swimming in my abdominin! I took a look at my tummy when I took my first shower yesterday, at first I didn't want to look and then when I did I couldn't believe it was me, I love it, I'm so swollen but I just love it. I can't see much improvement on the flanks where I had lipo but the surgeon removed 4lbs from them so I'm assuming its the swelling that's making me look fat, lol! I think what is going to be most frustrating about this whole journey is the slowness of recovery, it's amazing how little I can get away with doing before I feel terrible, also sleeping on my back is getting me down, I have the hospital bed but I miss my own bed and hubby so much, that's getting me down at the moment. I must try and stay positive, this to shall pass. Speak to ya later x Updated on 3 Nov 2012: Nearly 4 weeks post op, my energy levels are good and I feel well but I hate the swelling. My PS took out fluid from my lower tummy 3 times but I still have this ridiculous pouch under my tummy button and above my scar, it's like a spare tyre. Can anybody out there share their experience with this kind of swelling, I'm so worried that its fat and that it's going to be my final result, if this is it for me, I wish I'd never had it done! My upper tummy and tummy button is great, it's just this awful spare tyre, it's hard to see it'll ever change. I'd love to hear your experiences on this? Updated on 14 Oct 2013: Just a quick update, it's a year since my tummy tuck. A few weeks after my operation, we had a real life crisis, our world kind of fell apart and the intended diet and exercise didn't materialize, consequently I have gained quite a bit of weight. Now things are better and I'm annoyed that this has happened but fully intend on dealing with ASAP. I ended up having to have a scar revision and extra lipo, I also got a Sonoma and had to have it drained but despite all that I LOVE MY TUMMY!! I'm so happy I had it done, my physical recovery was easy and despite my weight gain my tummy is still flat! I only wish I'd have done it sooner!
I am going in for my first augmentation at the end of June! I have decided to go with Dr. Bennett located in Murray, UT. I had 5 consultations and chose him because he seemed to have the most confidence in his skills without being gimicky. He also has 40 years experience in plastic surgery! I was worried about needing a lift as well because the doctors on here told me from my pictures it looked like I needed a lift. 4 out of the 5 doctors I saw in person said no lift, so I am going with augmentation only and will do a lift as a second procedure if I decide I want one. I'm going with 400cc saline unders and I'm currently a B cup hoping to be a D cup. I'm getting very excited but very nervous a about surgery and post-op pain! What is the worst part? Updated on 8 Jun 2012: Ok...I'm starting to freak out!!! My surgery is exactly 3 weeks away and I am sooooo excited but nervous at the same time. I am starting to rethink my 400cc decision! I am currently a deflated 34-36B and I am hoping to be a D. I am much more worried about being too big rather than being too small, and suddenly I have this fear that I am going to come out of surgery with HUGE boobies! I don't want to have to buy XL shirts just to fit over my chest! I am going to try sizes on again at my pre op, but that isn't for over 2 weeks! Updated on 28 Jun 2012: Tomorrow is the big day!!! I am so nervous but sooooooooooo excited!! I have been so nervous about 400cc being too big so I tried sizes one more time at my pre op on Tuesday. I decided to stick with the 400, the other sizes were just not quite what I want. I just know I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight because I'm so excited... Wish me luck, ladies! Updated on 30 Jun 2012: Here I am with a new set of boobies!!!! I was TOTALLY out of it yesterday and was in and out of consciousness. The pain isn't too bad today, mostly just sore and I can even lift my arms! I can't even express how pleased I am with my results. Dr. Bennett and all his nurses were so sweet and caring. If you look the question I asked the doctors on here about a lift or du glandular placement, you can see a before picture of me. I was pretty close to borderline needing a lift but I really didn't want any lift scars and all the doctors I saw for consultations said I may he happy with augmentation only. Right they were!!! I expectedto get results that were improved from my original breasts but not perfect. My new breasts are EXACTLY what I wanted! I never though I had a chance of them turning out this well. I am so happy and excited about them. I think they will only look better and better as the implants drop. I will pos pictures when I can - this site doesn't let me do mobile picture downloads and I don't have a computer, so next time I'm at one I'll post. Or send me your email if you like and I'll email you a picture. Thanks for all of the support! I couldn't be happier! Oh and to top it off, augmentations were on special so I got them for $3400 instead of $3700 plus -$100 for paying cash. $3300? That is a steal! Updated on 1 Jul 2012: I am on day 3 of my post augmentation recovery. Today is my worst day so far :(. I can't go to the bathroom and I feel like a dope because I'm so messed up on the percoset. My chest feels so tight! I hope tomorrow is better!
I am facing surgery number two for the second rupture of a Mentor saline implant. Both ruptures were spontaneous and were not deemed to be the outcome of something I did or didn't do. The first time I had a rupture was approximately 3 years after the inital surgery/augmentation. The second was 2 months ago, March 2009. I have had to suffer living with a deflated breast because Mentor will not cover the expense of the capsular repair, something I incurred because of the rupture. This is what Mentor Corp refers to as "Enhanced Advantage" Warranty. The only thing Mentor has managed to "enhance" is the furrows between my brow due to the grief I've had to endure over this nightmarish situation. I hope someone who is considering implants will read this and will research into some of the information on the internet regarding Mentor. Mentor allegedly falsified information about their rupture rates. They also tried to cover the fact that some of their implants were infested with fleas! What you don't know may hurt you.
