Great. Very experienced Doctor. Kind and professional. He is a true 5 star plastic surgeon. He thoroughly explained to me the procedure and made sure I was comfortable at every step of the way. He even made a house call after my surgery on his own time. Very patient. respectful, and kind. Overall, I am highly satisfied with his work and would recommend him to anyone.
We basically have the same story about developing early and not having the self esteem etc etc. It feels so good knowing that I'm alone. I'm 21 and have been dealing with this since elementary school. I got picked on, used, led on, you name it. I just can't wait to be free from this weight and stress!Updated on 17 Dec 2012:Tomorrow is the surgery! more excited than nervous but I feel as if the nerves will come strong once I get there. I've been wanting this since I've developed breast and I know I won't regret it. Any advice for recovery? What should I expect?Updated on 19 Dec 2012:Yesterday was my surgery and the team was AMAZING. They took great care of me and treated me like their own. I woke up with zero pain. I arrived at 6:30 signed my papers and they took me in the back. My doctor marked me up, I met the anesthesia doctor who was super nice. Said bye bye to my parents and went to the OR. Everyone was so warm and friendly. The nurse put in the IV and next thing I know in in the recovery room with food and ginger ale. I felt 0 pain and I'm so happy for that. Around 12 my mom and I went home. The Only annoying things are the drains. I get them removed on Thursday. In nervous about that.
i am just starting out on this journey. i have 2 consultations scheduled for 2 weeks from now. i am hoping that i will like one of the doctors and get scheduled for surgery for the end of may or beginning of june. i am 41 years old (will be 42 in july) i have 3 teenage children. for as long as i can remember i have said every year "i am going to wear a bikini this year!" and it never happens:( i have never been comfortable with my body. actually, i really hated it for many years. as i've gotten older i've become more accepting of my flaws. (or my perceived flaws) i have a wonderful husband who loves me the way i am and doesn't think i need any alterations. (so glad he feels that way) about 5 years ago i had a breast augmentation and i am really happy with them. he insisted i didn't need them but we both love them now! i'm trying to think of what else to say here...i'm 5'7" 148 lbs. i could stand to lose 5-10 lbs but that's about it. any extra weight i have is in my midsection. my arms and legs are thin. i have no butt. (one of the things i've accepted already and have no desire for implants there!) i have a few scars already from a c-section, a laparotomy, gall bladder removal and tubal ligation. so, i'm hoping that the plastic surgeon will be able to just extend my c-section scar and also make a smaller nicer belly button. (my belly button has scars all around it from some of the surgeries listed above) when at look at myself in my bra/panties, i don't think i look terrible (especially from across the room) but i know it could be so much better. i've never had a flat stomach before and i am very excited just thinking that it may happen in the near future. i love reading the stories of other women who have been through this already. it has really helped me come to the decision that this is what i really want to do. Updated on 26 Apr 2012: i can't wait to do this! i have spent hours looking at everyone's photos and can't wait to post some "after" shots myself! Updated on 3 May 2012: been thinking about a BBL with the TT. i have no butt (i mean none!) and it would be nice to have some junk in the trunk but i'm worried about the recovery. anyone who has had the TT and BBL together have any advice??? Updated on 6 May 2012: going for my 1st consult tomorrow, sooooo excited!!! Updated on 8 May 2012: yesterday was difficult. i went to my first consult and it did not go well. the PS suggested i just have smart lipo and not a TT. i've already done that actually. 3 years ago i had smart lipo on my abdomen and flanks and i had very little results. (or none) i left his office very discouraged and confused. today was my 2nd consult and i really liked the PS. he said he would do it and i could have it done by the end of this month! so now i am very excited! i think i'm going to do it...i have no regrets with anything i've done so far. my breast augmentation was 5 years ago and i love them still. the smart lipo was disappointing but it was a learning experience. i am hoping the TT will be my grand finale! Updated on 9 May 2012: scheduled surgery for may 31st! Updated on 11 May 2012: surgery is 20 days away. i measured myself this a.m. (yuck) and right now i'm a 38 31 37. i'd like to see my waist change to like 28" that would be nice! i feel like a big rectangle now...actually before i had the breast augmentation 5 years ago i was really a rectangle...i was still 38" across my chest but only an A-B cup! at least now i'm a 38D :) Updated on 14 May 2012: only 17 days away... Updated on 17 May 2012: 2 weeks from today! i can't wait... this has been quite an adventure. i'm really glad that this site is here so i have someone to talk to about my upcoming surgery. i haven't talked to anyone except my husband. wait, i told 1 friend because i thought i needed a ride there and back but it turns out my husband can do it. this whole thing has been very therapeutic for me and i want to share how i feel just in case there's someone else out there feeling the same. i haven't talked to anyone about my surgery because i am embarrassed. i feel like i failed. like i should have been able to fix this on my own. 5 years ago when i had the breast augmentation i told everyone about it. (and i think it was obvious!) i never felt bad about that surgery because i was never going to grow breasts on my own...it wasn't like i could diet or exercise and suddenly have them! but with the tummy tuck i felt like it was all my fault...if i just tried harder i could fix it. well, i have been about 10 lbs lighter than i am now and my abdomen is still flabby, it's just more loose skin and less fat. i don't like it any better that way. the scars from the old surgeries are still there. i can't fix the muscles that separated from having 3 children, right? diet and exercise will not put them back together i'm told. so why feel bad? the past few weeks have been like exposure therapy for me. the one thing i am most embarrassed of i have to talk about, and take pictures of it and show it to doctors...(well, it was my decision to do all that) but in the process i began to realize it's not that bad! don't get me wrong, it's still coming off! but i started to feel less ashamed, less like it was my fault and finally seeing it for what it is. it's just a small part of me that i don't like. it doesn't make me a bad person to have it. it won't make me a better person when it's gone. it doesn't matter why it's there, how it happened or what i could've/should've done to fix it...all that matters is that i finally don't feel bad about it anymore. i hope this helps someone else out there. please comment and let me know if it does. ? no regrets, just lessons ? Updated on 19 May 2012: 12 days away!!! Updated on 22 May 2012: just 9 days away! very excited and nervous! Updated on 28 May 2012: 3 MORE DAYS!!! HOLY COW!!! Updated on 30 May 2012: TOMORROW AM (6:30) IS MY SURGERY!!! CAN'T WAIT FOR IT TO BE DONE!!! Updated on 31 May 2012: IT'S DONE!!! GRAPHIC PHOTOS ADDED!!! got to the surgery center at 6:30 a.m. with my wonderful hubby. got changed, they did their usual questions and made me give a urine sample for a pregnancy test! (even though i had my tubes tied 15 years ago) gave me a scopolamine patch behind my ear and the dr. marked me. i had 2 questions, 1. will you take some photos of me in the OR please? well, not of me as much as the specimen...i really wanted to see it on the table! he said he would (or the nurse would do it) i wanted a pic of what i looked like before i got all wrapped up but i didn't get one of those... just have to wait until tomorrow when he said i could unwrap and look. and #2 question was do you have to use a foley catheter? i really hate those things!!! he said he usually does so there's no bladder distention during or right after surgery, and so you don't have to get up and go to the bathroom right away. i agreed to have it during surgery as long as they pulled it right after. (they did) i just know they are another source of infection and who needs that, right? i was in the OR at 7:30 and out by 10 am. he did the full TT with MR and did lipo of my flanks. (looks like he got about 300 ccs out judging by the picture) woke up feeling fine but they gave me something for pain anyway...i don't remember what, but i'm not a fan of pain medication...makes me feel itchy and weird and i'm hardly going to take any. i have a bottle of tylox but i am planning on just using tylenol if at all possible. it's 5 pm now and i haven't taken anything since that 10 am med. started taking my 3 day course of antibiotics. (keflex) my hubby picked me up by 1. (i was ready to go before then but he was doing a half day in the office so he can stay home with me tomorrow) the ride home was fine. i have urinated at least 3 times so far, no problem. i did not get the raised toilet seat and it seems to be fine. i'm also in bed (no recliner) with just a big slanted pillow thing behind me and 1 under my knees. been drinking water and eating unsalted saltines. also had a protein bar and a ginger ale. so far this has been MUCH easier than i anticipated! i'll upload the OR photos now and tomorrow when i unwrap everything i'll take some of the incision. Updated on 1 Jun 2012: 24 hours post op...everything is still going well! not much draining going on, just 30 mls in each at 10 am. still haven't taken a single pain med. (just some regular tylenol) i went downstairs and made coffee and had a bagel this am. not feeling sick or dizzy at all. will post more photos later. happy healing everyone!!! Updated on 1 Jun 2012: forgot to mention i am taking Arnica Montana and Bromelain a few times a day. hopefully it will help with the bruising and swelling!? Updated on 2 Jun 2012: post op day 2 and all is well. showered today finally and that made me tired! still no real pain. (just some soreness/burning) not much drainage. (30-40 mls in 24 hours again) posted some new pics. looks great so far! Updated on 3 Jun 2012: POST OP DAY 3! all is well, took another shower today, recovered the incisions, emptied the drains...not much draining going on, only 20 mls in 24 hours. i'm moving around a lot better, still no pain meds. only 1 thing on my agenda today...BM! i took MOM yesterday twice and once today and nothing has happened! Updated on 3 Jun 2012: well, mission accomplished! my hubby was kind enough to get me a bottle of magnesium citrate and i drank about 5 oz of it and WOW i think i'm clean enough for a colonoscopy! (i know, TMI) Updated on 4 Jun 2012: called the PS office to get an appt for tomorrow and they said i could come in today, yay! hoping to get rid of the drains since there's not much coming out anyway...it's only post op day 4 but so far so good. took a photo with another bikini i had but never wore. very happy so far. happy healing everyone!? Updated on 4 Jun 2012: went to the PS but still have my drains...he said tomorrow or the next day they can come out. it's only post op day 4 so it's expected. i don't want a seroma so what the hell, they can stay in a little longer! he said everything looks great and was surprised at how well i'm moving around. warned me not to over do it...told me to wear the binder 24 hours except for the shower of course! all is well!!! Updated on 5 Jun 2012: DAY 5 POST OP! got on the scale this am expecting the worst but was surprised to find i'm 5 lbs less than i was before surgery! hope my weight stays there! Updated on 6 Jun 2012: POST OP DAY 6...not much to report, feeling stronger every day...went out to lunch with my friend yesterday and had a margarita then was tired for the rest of the day! going to the PS tomorrow, hopefully the drains will come out then...they are really irritating! they are just in an awkward place (pubic area) every time i go to the bathroom i have to carefully pull down my underwear/pants without tugging on them and then put everything back carefully without putting any pressure on them...way too much work! anyway, that's my only complaint. (and i really can't complain, it has been smooth sailing) hope everyone is doing well!? Updated on 7 Jun 2012: 1 WEEK POST OP!!! went to the PS today and he yanked both my drains...and i mean yanked them out! it wasn't bad at all, just a little sting. he said the drain holes would drain/bleed for a couple days and to just cover them with gauze or a pad. feels soooooo good to be without them. i'll take a picture later. happy healing all!? Updated on 7 Jun 2012: my PS put micropore tape on my scar today and said to change it every day. i guess i will do that for a few weeks and see how it goes. i bought the silicone strip to use as well...maybe i'll try that after 4-6 weeks with the tape? so many choices... Updated on 8 Jun 2012: DAY 8 POST OP...totally over-did it today, went grocery shopping, had family over, went out to eat...need to rest now! my drain holes haven't been doing anything today which was nice. hope everyone is doing well! Updated on 9 Jun 2012: DAY 9 POST OP...think i'm paying for being too busy yesterday...really hurting today. (not enough to take any meds but very sore) i'm going to lay here and do nothing tonight and tomorrow. and the micropore tape i mentioned 2 days ago...not using that anymore! i used it 2 days and each day when i removed it it really tore the top layer off my incision making it raw/bleeding. i tried wetting it first hoping it would come off easier, but no such luck. oh well, guess i'll try the silicone strip instead? Updated on 10 Jun 2012: 10 DAYS POST OP...really took it easy today, and i'm feeling good. tomorrow is my oldest son's birthday and he's turning 20....holy crap, i can't believe i have a 20 year old! Updated on 11 Jun 2012: 11 days post op... all is well. got rid of the binder and put on my girdle! it took a lot of effort to get into this thing so it's staying on until i shower tomorrow! (thank god the crotch can unhook) i meant to say i started sleeping on my side again a couple days ago which is nice...when one side gets sore i switch to the other. (did not like sleeping on my back at all) hope everyone is doing well! Updated on 12 Jun 2012: OMG, i thought i saw an ab muscle today when i was looking in the mirror!? i'm not sure because i've never seen one on me... i mean never, i was flabby before i had 3 kids so i can't blame it on pregnancies. seriously, i thought i didn't have ab muscles but the PS assured me they are there...wow! Updated on 13 Jun 2012: POST OP DAY 13...holy cow, i can't believe tomorrow it will be 2 weeks since my surgery! it has gone by so fast... every day i'm stronger, able to do more, feeling more and more "normal." i have to remember not to do certain things that may be too much or ruin my muscle repair...the PS said between weeks 2-4 post op when you start feeling good again is when SOME people ruin it by like lifting heavy objects and they pop open their muscle repair stitches. i do not want to be one of those patients!!! so i will behave... hope you are all doing well.? Updated on 16 Jun 2012: post op day 16...wow, time is flying by. i feel almost back to normal. besides wearing the stupid CG's. i've tried a few different ones and either i hate the stupid hook crotch things or they are sliding down on my ribs or the ones with the bra straps are digging in my shoulders, only a couple more weeks and i'll be free of them! everything is healing up nicely. got a new 4th of july bikini, yay! Updated on 18 Jun 2012: POST OP DAY 18... saw the ps today and all is well...don't have to see him again for a month. everything seems to be healing nicely. i'm not doing anything to my incision now...at 4-6 weeks i might try the silicone strip? i still have to wear the CG for another couple weeks. and he said NO to the elliptical :( he said NO exercise for 6 weeks! besides walking...i can always do that! oh well, i can be lazy, why not? :) Updated on 20 Jun 2012: can't believe it will be 3 weeks tomorrow since my surgery...time is flying by! nothing new to report, just feeling stronger every day and still hating the CGs! (i have 5 different kinds and hate them all) i'm waiting to be 4 weeks post op to start using the silicone strip. hopefully that will flatten the scar. i took a few photos out by the pool today, maybe i'll post a few of those! Updated on 27 Jun 2012: I thought I was adding new photos but my Internet is down and I can't do photos from my iPad here, why not? I am 4 weeks PO tomorrow and all is well! I'll get more photos up tomorrow somehow. Happy healing everyone!? Updated on 28 Jun 2012: got the new pics up...including the ones of the my new victoria's secret bikini that's a size large but the top is really small! i think it's made for someone with A-B boobs!? my hubby bought it so i'll wear it... happy healing to you all! Updated on 4 Jul 2012: 5 weeks post op...not much new to report...just waiting to be 6 weeks so i can go to the gym and get in the pool! hope all of you had a happy 4th of july! i spent the day in my new bikini, why not? Updated on 12 Jul 2012: 6 WEEKS POST OP!!! i'm finally done! i think i'm done? i threw out my girdle, went swimming in my pool and tomorrow i'm going to the gym! i'm going to see the PS on monday so hopefully he will approve of all these activities, but last time i checked he said i could at 6 weeks post op. i'm going to take pics of my scar after i've used the silicone strip for a few weeks...i'm starting that tonight. hope you are all doing well!? Updated on 21 Jul 2012: wow...i am over 7 weeks post op now. all is well. going to the gym today finally! i'm adding some scar photos with and without the silicone strip. i'm going to use the strip every night for the next month or 2 and see how it looks. hopefully it takes away some of the redness. the only part i don't like is right in the middle where i ripped the micropore tape off (at 1 week post op) and it removed the scab at the time and now that area is a lot thicker and uglier. big mistake, live and learn! Updated on 21 Jul 2012: this was my answer to someone's question about sun and i wanted to share it with everyone in case you run into this problem as well: sun needs to be avoided for about 6 months...i found that out the hard way. i thought after 6 weeks it was ok to be in the sun with sunscreen on my scar and BB...not true. the skin right down the middle above and below my BB BURNS in the sun...very easily. i couldn't figure out why that skin was turning bright red and my PS just informed me, i'm burning it! (duh) i can't feel it on the outside still so i don't notice that it's burning until it's too late. then another day i went out in the sun and kept it covered with a shirt but it was still red after. he said even heat will burn that area, like you could get a good burn from a heating pad there. i had no idea. he said it's because the nerves and blood vessels have been cut (when doing the undermining and muscle repair) and that skin can't react like normal skin to heat. (something about the blood vessels/capillaries being unable to open and close like normal) so lesson learned. i'm actually going to copy and paste this to my profile in case anyone else runs into this issue as well. so, yes, avoid sun/heat for at leasts 6 months! Updated on 31 Aug 2012: wow, can't believe i'm 12 weeks post op now! i started a new job 3 weeks ago so i've been very busy and haven't been on here at all. so nice to be back and see all your fabulous results! i have had a week or 2 of feeling fat and swollen :( my new job has me standing 8-9 hours at a time and i am swollen by lunch time and it continues all night. i usually feel good in the am so i am assuming it's just swelling from standing all day. i really need to get back to the gym! i've been a couple times but need to get there more often that's for sure. my scar is ok, there's some nice thin areas and some thicker ugly areas.( the ugly areas from ripping the micropore tape off at 1 week post op) i will post some new pics, the good and the bad...hope you are all healing well? Updated on 29 Sep 2012: well, it's already the end of september, can't believe i'm 4 months post op already. i've been going to the gym every other day using the elliptical and doing ab exercises. those ab muscles are still sore but starting to see them for the first time ever! overall i'm pleased with my results. i know it looks better than it did before...however, i still have my days when i feel fat or swollen. i guess my only disappointment stems from the fact that nothing has really changed for me. (in a bikini,yes, big change there) my weight is the same as before surgery (148) my clothes fit the same, my size hasn't changed, even my measurements are the same! i guess i thought that i'd be smaller somehow and i have to accept the fact that flatter does not equal smaller! i'm just going to keep going to the gym and eating well and looking forward to next summer when i can get out there and wear that bikini again! no regrets.? Updated on 21 Aug 2015: Updated on 21 Aug 2015: Updated on 2 Sep 2016: my tummy tuck turned out really well but age and gravity and about 7 extra lbs has made me uncomfortable with myself again :( so i had lipo on 9/1/16. back, hips, bra fat and abdomen. i really need to just eat healthy and exercise, that would probably do it! i haven't unwrapped myself yet, that's tomorrow around noon (dr said wait 48 hours) so i will post "after" photos tomorrow. my breast implants were explanted a year ago (due to contracture) and i chose not to replace them with any more implants....back to my old A-B self. that's a separate review here if anyone is interested? now i'm 46 years old and 5'7" approx.148 lbs...i did not have a lot of fat to lipo but really that's really what lipo is designed for...small problem areas. did i mention i have no butt? like zero...negative booty... so of course i didn't waste the fat that was removed...it went right to my backside! :) i think i only got about 200 cc on each side so it's still going to be a small butt, but maybe not negative!? my dr does not call it BBL, it's simply a fat transfer but his focus was on contouring my waist/hips not making a big booty. i'll post some photos from the past few weeks before the procedure and tomorrow i'll post some after photos. i'm taking vicodin every 4 hours or so for pain and keflex for an antibiotic...so far all is well, i'm pretty purple and sore but i'm hoping today and tomorrow will be the worst of it? :) Updated on 2 Sep 2016: Updated on 3 Sep 2016: just unwrapped today and i'm a lumpy bumpy hot mess...but i know it will take weeks to settle down so now i just have to be patient and wait... Updated on 25 Mar 2017: Still very pleased with my results!
