I have never had liposuction before and was very nervous about my results. Dr. Gracia is very specialized surgeon with great attention detail. He will tell you the truth and what to expect. I appreciate everything he has done and love my results!
Excellent service by Dr. Gracia and Dariela. Both were very supportive and attentive during the process. They were both willing to answer all questions and provide information as quickly as possible. I would definitely return to him for another procedure.
Dr. Gracia and his staff are great! I will agree with a past review, that he is "somewhat shy and can come off as awkward" but he is a great doctor and did a marvelous job on my breast lift. I had implants that I was tired of, so he drained them and gave me a month to decide if I wanted new implants or only a lift. I decided on only the lift and I couldn't be happier with the results.
I went for my first PS consult April 30th, 2012 after seeing my gyn. The PS sent all the paperwork into insurance to see if I would be approved for the BR. I was a 36DDD (at least), 5'3 and around 165lbs. Went on vacation and enjoyed my summer. :) Heard back from the PS after July 4th holiday that insurance approved and had my BR on Wed, 8/1/12. Will update more later. :) Updated on 4 Aug 2012: I'm going crazy with itchy boobies!!! LOL Things must be moving right along and healing up nicely. ;) Had my first shower since surgery today and it sure felt great! I've been busy today getting my house back in order and getting a little laundry done. Hopefully I will sleep well tonight. I would be feeling great if it wasn't for the itchies... UGH!!! Hope everyone is doing great! Updated on 5 Aug 2012: Doing good today. Post Op day 4. No pain meds today, just some advil this morning. Boobies are starting to take more shape now. I posted a picture in my sports bra. Updated on 6 Aug 2012: Post op day 5 =D. I am doing good. Really surprised by how quick everything seems to be improving. I was a little worried at first that I was going to be too small however, my breasts are taking more shape every day. I am very pleased thus far. I will definitely have some serious scars. I had a keyhole incision around the nipple and down then an extended incision following the breast curve completely around the underside of my breast. I'm not worried about scarring just about proper healing. I seem to have full feeling in the right nipple and sporatic twinges on the left nipple. I am posting more pictures. Definitely need to go on a full scale diet to remove the midsection! That has been to most depressing sight. *sigh* The girls really did camo a lot of the extra weight I am carrying around. I am having some bothersome neck/shoulder pain (more than breast pain!) due to lack of comfortable sleep positions but I am able to sleep on either side which is good. :) I'm not good at letting anyone do things for me so I have pretty much been self sufficient from day 1. All is well and hope it stays that way. Next PS visit is Friday, 8/10. Happy healing!!! Updated on 8 Aug 2012: I am 1 week po today. I feel pretty good BUT I haven't done any driving and have only left the house for dinner last night and the Dr appt last week po. I do have to go to the grocery store today so I'm a little anxious about that. I'm not having a lot of breast pain/soreness but do have some. I have chronic neck pain due to a herniated disk so that is worse for me. Prescription pain meds give me a migraine worse than the pain from the BR too so I usually just take some advil at night. I think the itches may do me in though! LOL If I take the benadryll I get so much drainage it makes me sick so I am struggling some with that the last couple of days. Yesterday I didn't do anything besides go to dinner last night. I'm just trying to take it one day at a time and give my self a chance to heal. I know it's hard and some days will be better than others but I LOVE my new little itchy [RS bleep]! LOL I don't spend too much time looking at them just yet cuz they are a little scary! I just keep praying that everything heals ok. Friday is my next PS visit. Not really sure what to expect at this visit. My PS is a man of few words... LOL Updated on 10 Aug 2012: 9 Days PO - Had my visit with the PS today. He said everything looked good. I go back next Friday and he may remove some of the stitches. I'm updating some photos. =D Happy healing!!! Updated on 13 Aug 2012: 12 days PO. The last 2 days were rather difficult for me. I had some extreme itching. I finally removed all of the steri strips under my breasts. I looks like I am developing a reaction to the adhesive or something. Benadryl was not really helping but I found some cortizone 10 cream and put some of that on, (careful not to get it on the actual incisions) and finally found some relief! YAY!!! I am adding a picture that shows some of the irritation from the tape. Other than that, things are progressing well I guess. Will be glad when I can start focusing on weight loss. I don't want to do anything to delay the healing but my midsection is really bothering me. :( Hope everyone is doing well! Happy healing!!! Updated on 16 Aug 2012: Added a couple of pix 2wks PO. Updated on 17 Aug 2012: Just got back from my follow-up PO visit. PS is very pleased with everything and said I am healing better/faster than most. :) He removed the last of the tape around my nipples and removed a few of the stitches from the nipples. I think they look pretty darn good!!! LOL I will post a new photo soon. Good luck to all the ladies who are waiting and happy healing to those that are PO!!! Updated on 19 Aug 2012: New picture - 18 days post-op Updated on 23 Aug 2012: 3wks post op update - I am getting more used to my new tatas everyday. :) Still have occassional pulling and pains but nothing that requires any kind of meds. I updated a few photos. I still have some dried blood around the nipples but afraid to scrub too much so I am just leaving everything alone. lol I think my size is going to be 34D/36C which I think is going to be perfect. I had a swim top on today for the first time and it was amazing to see how much better I look with "normal" size tatas! Love it!!! Hubs is very happy. ;) I want a tummy tuck so bad now though!!! UGH!!! :( Hopefully sometime in the next year. Hope everyone is doing well and happy healing to all!!! Updated on 30 Aug 2012: Yesterday was 4wks PO. Don't go back to the PS until next Friday, 9/7. Looks like a couple of the stitches are poking out. Other than that, everything seems to be progressing well! ;) Updated on 10 Oct 2012: Well, it's been over 2 months now and I am so glad I did this and have it behind me! YAY!!! I am updating a few pics. I am very pleased with the way the scars look. I think they will almost be undetectible by next summer. :)
I just wanted my breast to look fuller again.
I have 2 kids 8 years apart. The last one was a c-sect and of course left the scar which isn't bad BUT the flappy area over the scar isn't working for me. I carry my weight in the middle. I am 5'5" and 147 lbs. Stretch marks are above the belly button and down. The dr said that he can't remove them all but that it will certainly look better. My skin is also very loose below the belly button. I delayed the surgery to the end of summer because of work, son's camps, and 2 vacations(at the end of June and beginning of Aug). Strangely enough the beginning of the school year works better for our family..go figure! I've wanted since I had my first child. I'm scared but I just try to remind myself of that! :-) Updated on 31 May 2011: I have 2 kids (11& 2) 8 years apart with the last being a c-section. I've needed a tt since having my first child. I am nervous but I know that I would regret not getting this done and would always wonder... I am 34 and currently weigh 146 and 5'5". I carry my weight in the middle so my tummy has always stuck out and I have always had to hold it in! I am scheduled for Aug 31st. Although I'm glad that I have 3 months to prepare, I have 3 months to wait :( Updated on 1 Jun 2011: haha...I'm a dork... I didn't think that my "story" went through the first time so I wrote it again. Lol oh well :-) Updated on 2 Jun 2011: I got my plastic surgeon/surgery packet in the mail today! Holy cow it was weird to pull out the first card that read.. Surgery Date: Wed, Aug 31st Time:6:15 am I can't believe that I'm doing this...not in a ridiculous way but in a "this is really happening" way :) Updated on 5 Jun 2011: I am really confused about what compression garment to get! It can't be too tight but it's got to be tight enough to help keep the swelling at bay! We are going on a cruise with friends in 2.5 weeks! The other women going are 5'10" and have flat pancake tummies and will be in bikinis! :( they HAVE kids! The only consolation is that I have big boobs and they don't hehe! Ugh oh well, after Aug I will too! Next summer will be great and who knows maybe I'll be in a 2 piece (that happened once when I was 15!) My emotions are ALL over the place with the thought of having the tummy tuck. I know this is normal per reading everybody's stories. I am very grateful for this site because I feel that I am not alone in this journey. Most people in my life do not know yet and I'm not sure when that will change :-/ huuuhhh sigh.... Updated on 19 Jun 2011: Updated on 2 Jul 2011: I switched doctors and it's for the best! I will be moving my date up just a couple of days to Aug 29th :) Updated on 8 Jul 2011: How do I change the doctor that I used on here?! I don't see how to do that :( Updated on 25 Jul 2011: Went today to pay the $500 deposit (it's applied to the surgery). I guess there's no going back unless I want to eat $500! 5 weeks from 7:30 this morning will be TT time :-/. I am so excited and so scared at the same time as so many of you have also stated about y'alls feelings. I bought a bikini top yesterday. They didn't have the matching bottoms in my size but as my husband says, we won't know what that will be yet. I have a tankini bottom that I put with it just to get an idea. It just seems so unthinkable that I could wear a bikini next summer! Although that isn't at all the reason I am putting myself and my family through this, it will be a nice by product of it ;) I've had so many surgeries but I none of them were elective. I think that's one of several reasons I have worries about this... I imagine myself doing this a being very uncomfortable and I dread it BUT when I imagine myself not doing it I know that I would have such regret! So....come on 5 weeks :) We leave next Fri for the beach, so that ought to be a nice distraction! Updated on 1 Aug 2011: Nerves are playing havoc with me today. A month isn't very far. I will spend next week at the beach and it will distract me BUT...when I get back it will be 2 weeks till and I'm sure with my work schedule and my son starting school the 22nd those 2weeks will fly!!! I don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing?Updated on 27 Aug 2011:1 more day....wow...this I really happening!Updated on 29 Aug 2011:Today was the day! I have been sore sore sore BUT I don't think that my pain meds are that good sooo I will call in the morning to change dosing or something. I have a walker so that helps ALOT! I think that am already swelling but I just keep telling myself "of course you are, you just had surgery!". Anyways, dr Gracia told my husband that he got me flat and everything looked good like I had asked for. Let's hope...I know this will be a work in progress for quite some time but I just tell myself it will be worth it! In a few days I will write detailed summary of my first few days. That was always helpful to me from this site. Off to sleep now...I hope that it's for all nigh but I doubt it ;)Updated on 30 Aug 2011:Post op day 1. This morning was bad! Almost passed out but didn't thank the Lord! Day progressed from there. I was able to walk quite a bit but not for long periods of time but many short periods of time. I came home with a Foley catheter so I had to pull it out this morning myself. Wow that wasn't fun :-/. My 2 (almost 3 year old) daughter came home today around 2:30 and boy was she cranky. She does that when she's upset that I haven't been home (which is hardly ever). She was easy with me though and VERY curious about my drain bulbs. She wanted to give them a squeeze every so often. With the blood in them, she thinks I need a band-aide lol! My almost 12 yr old son is very cautious of me but being very sweet despite him not being a very compassionate person. Anxious for more healing tomorrow. Taking 2 hydrocodein every 5 hrs. The pain isn't completely gone with it but it dulls it to about a 3/4 out of 10 :-/. Anyways, like most of you have commented, I think it's from the Lipo but I don't care it will be so worth it ;-). I can't wait to watch my transformation over the next several months. Hope everyone else is doing well and for those of you waiting I hope this is encouraging :-)Updated on 30 Aug 2011:Get a plastic tipped brissle brush! It has been my best friend. Scratching through the garment and on my back and my thighs and arms has the brush has been so helpful :-)Updated on 31 Aug 2011:Post-op day #2... This morning was really bad again. I almost passed out again. So I had to have some sweet tea and animal crackers and a cold wet cloth to cool me off. I was white as a ghost, scary stuff! My swelling and bloating was AWFUL all morning till mid day! I filled a gallon sized zip lock with ice and put it on top of my garment. There's lots of padding between my skin and garment so it was safe. It gave some relief pretty quickly. I found a "take 2 GasX maximum strength with 2 hydrocodein" every 5 hr regimen that has worked for me thank goodness! I have finally starting actually passing gas. I had been burping but not the other. Through my haze of bloat hell I had remembered that tooting is VERY important for several reasons following a surgery. It means that the bowles(sp?) are alive again and the most obvious reason...freaking relief for the southern regions!!! I did have to release my garment for about 15 mins (slightly) on one side, zipped it back up for awhile and then the other side. That helped quite a bit too. Also I realized that the OR nurses put my garment on backwards! I'm hoping that there's some sort of methodical reason for this and that my doc will shed light on this tomorrow :-/. I will report tomorrow :) I'm not seeing my profile in the lineup on this site so I hope that it is and people are reading it and that it's at all helpful! Oh, husband shaved my legs for me today and I tossed the TED hose today! God bless him. :)Updated on 1 Sep 2011:Day 3 Post-op... Did good this morning. Not bloated, very little pain, slept a little better and napped when the kids were both at school today! All was well till my post-op appt. That went fine. I had 1 drain removed. My drains have put out very little fluid since day 1. The removal was strange but I was prepared for that...It didn't hurt! I went after the appt to my salon where I had one of the girls wash my hair since I can't take a real shower etc till next Wed! I will get the other drain removed on Tues and I have to wait 24 hrs to shower blahhh. When I came both kids were home by then and I was just spent! I felt very tired and cranky and then I started to swell. I wasn't surprised, having read others reviews on how swelling ebbs and flows, it was to be expected. So moral to this story is, not that I could help it or could've done things differently, I just did too much today and it WIPED ME OUT! I am encouraged by everyone being somewhat on the same page. I feel hopeful for better days having had a teaser of a good one today for much of it! Oh, saw and photographed my new tummy today. It looked nice! My husband was quite impressed at the immediate improvement. My scar is long, longer than planned but who cares as long as it got the job done ;) ADVICE... Fill a gallon ziplock with ice and let it rest on your stomach and move it around to different spots for a while. I have immediate relief from pain AND swelling and bloating with this! I have been trying to do this about 3 times a day!Updated on 2 Sep 2011:I am going to try to load "afters" from the doctor's office later or tomorrowUpdated on 2 Sep 2011:Day #4 Post-op... Not much change today. I was a little emotional today. I tried to not let that get the best of me. Tired of the house, tired of the no showering, tired of NO BED and on and on...same gripes as others. I got a nice hot/cold gel pack from CVS that is large enough for my tummy. It goes in a sleeve and has little velcro straps that hook around me! Now this I love! It's the little things.... My tummy feels so strange and numb and I know this is normal but I hope it doesn't last forever :-/. Hope everyone is recovering well :)Updated on 3 Sep 2011:Post-Op Day #5... I don't want to say "I've turned a corner" but I maybe getting close to the "corner". This morning was rough (that's the only consistency with this whole process). But after 11:30/12 I have steadily felt better. I only took 1 pill at 2 and I will hold off till 7. I have had the WEIRDEST cravings! I swear for me this is similar to being pregnant except for when this "time" passes my tummy will look GREAT instead of wrecked! Craving for today was Buffalo Wild Wings boneless sweet & spicy yum yum! I ate 2 :( But it will make good snacks for the week :) Up till now I've not really had an appetite and what I have eaten has been pretty bland. I still have 1 drain and it's putting out very little. Ready for it to be gone. Hopefully I haven't jinxed myself by writing this before bedtime. But so far today has not been too bad!Updated on 3 Sep 2011:I did jinx myself but I'll just leave it at that :(Updated on 4 Sep 2011:My advice for anyone is ICE your belly!!!! It makes all the difference in the world. I have never really even cared too much about icing or heating injuries/ ailments. Something hurts take a motrin but for this, it really works. It was one of the top things on my doc's post op instructions and I was like whatever but my hubby made me about 3 days ago and man! What a difference. I do it 3-4 times a day :)Updated on 4 Sep 2011:Post-op Day 6...things were a little easier today. Not much change other than my mind is more clear than in the past 5 days! Today I felt like myself just having an ailment and recovering from it instead of the past 5 days feeling out if it all across the board! Since I can't shower I washed my back and my legs and arms. My husband and 2 yr old daughter shaved my legs. Awwwww! Hoping to have an easy night best wishes to all! :)Updated on 5 Sep 2011:Post-Op Day 7... Today was better. It was 68-70 degrees this morning in Ft Worth and, compared to the 105 degrees than we've endured for the past 3 months, it was so wonderful. We sat outside this morning and that was the most time,obviously, that I've spent outside this past wk. I did me a world of good! I spent time in the car running a few errands (this was a first). We watch some movies as a family. I did swell this after noon and had to loosen the garment for about 30 min. Iced down about 4 times today. This evening swelling was better. I am NOT able to eat very much at a time so I get hungry ever 2 hrs...I don't like this part! Last drain comes out tomorrow yea! My goal for the next 2 days is to sleep in the bed...I've been on this damn sofa chair for 7 DAYS...blahhhh. Better days are to come though :)Updated on 6 Sep 2011:Post-op Day 8....Completely drain free! The last one started to adhere to my skin so not a moment too soon! I have to wait till tomorrow evening to step in the shower...I'm so ready! I will try to sleep in my bed tomorrow night too :))) I'm having to go into work 2 days earlier than I thought. I will have to go in this Fri for 2 hrs and this Sat also for 2 hrs. Wish me luck but I feel ok about it...the show must go on :). Standing a straighter today too. On the mend!Updated on 8 Sep 2011:Post-Op Day 10...Hello...Ok just listed some pics from last night. Yesterday was good and bad. I'm doing more now and have more energy but when I took my garment off to shower for the 1st time following surgery, I almost passed out and had to zip up and try again later :( Well later came and I was able to do it, took some pics, and was ok. I was in TOTAL shock when I took off the garment. Not because of the sight of it but I felt strange without the garment's compression effect. It felt difficult to breathe...I'm not sure what to make of that. I did find it helpful, when I regrouped, to sit unzipped and get acclameted for a bit and that seem to help the transition from full compression to none so that I could shower. I got my new garment in this morning. Hoping that things go well with it. I STARTED YESTERDAY!:( Suck City! Oh well... I have to go into work for a little while tomorrow and Sat. I'm a hairdresser and there were some scheduling issues that couldn't be ironed out. I own the salon (it's small) and my clients are so casual with me so the ladies coming in are so understanding that I will only color and cut them on these 2 appts and not dry them so I don't have to be standing for a real long time on those 2 days. My Hubs is coming with me to help with the transition back to work, helping me figure out eating, drinking and organzing me while doing clients. This will be helpful since this was NOT EXPECTED to go back before Tue and he is nervous. What the hell, I'm nervous too :-/. Well that's all I have for today. Hope everyone is feeling well. I do have 1 issue that I put on the August boards...my tum feels soft and unstructured like a baby's. My 2 year old daughter's tummy feels more firm than mine. Not sure what to make of this. I am confussed by this to say the least :-/.Updated on 8 Sep 2011:Oh yeah, I sneezed today...omg!Updated on 11 Sep 2011:Post-Op Day 13...Had a little bit of an emotional day. We did go to church this morning which was nice. I had my "squish" pillow from Bed Bath & Beyond (in purple, been a life saver!) and my ice jell pad. Very nice. Not much swelling today until this evening and then by bed time..gone?! Up and down up and done :-/. I have had somewhat of garment issues. I bought a Veronique garment online with hooks and eyes and zipper short leg open crotch in black. Well at first I hated it and was going to sen it back BUT I gave it 1 more chance and I know love it! Thank God. I hate to be unsettled about important stuff. It is a Stage 1 but I will give it another 2 weeks and then get the Stage 2. I did take pis of it and will post soon. I also went to Kohl's and got the Flexees Waistnipper corset thing. It is great. I use it for when I wash my Veronique. I try to sit outside in either am or pm. It is amazing how the warm sun can snap me out of a funk! Tomorrow is 2 weeks post op. I can't believe it and even with all the inconveniences I am still so glad that I did it. I go Tues for my 2 week post op visit. So I'll post more after it ;). Hope everyone is well and happy!!Updated on 20 Sep 2011:Wooo---life has been crazy for me now that I'm back to work and that hubby went back to work etc... I am 3 weeks out as of this Monday. I feel better every day. I sleep in bed now and I sleep on my back and switch to either side. It was scary at first but I have 1 squishy pillow between knees and 1 that I sort of wedge between my side/tummy and bed. I wouldn't call it GREAT sleep but at least it's in the bed. Hubby and I are "back to business" but only since yesterday. As I've mentioned before, I'm a hairdresser so last week was killer and by mid week I went home in tears. But things turned around and my endurance has slowly returned thank goodness! I'm very busy and stay booked so I have to hit the ground running :-/. I still ice my belly about 4 x's a day. I wear my Veronique compression garment and about mid day I put on my Fleexees Corset...that combo is a LIFE SAVER!!!!! I will have my hubby put up pics of my garments and my 3 week pics tomorrow. Like others, I swell in the afternoon but the doubling up on garments help.Updated on 21 Sep 2011:I put up pics. The pictures are all taken in the evening. Just works out that way. I haven't seen my bare stomach in the morning yet lol! I shower at night so...I'm happy so far....Updated on 10 Oct 2011:I am 6 wks today and am very happy. It is a process..albeit a slow one but a process nonetheless. If you're reading this a take 1 piece of advice then hear this WEAR YOUR GARMENT! Medically I am released today from wearing unless I want to but my ps did say that for conturing purposes, he's seen better results on women who've worn them longer! If you don't like yours then another one! Spend ALOT...with garments you get what you pay for! I have 2 surgical grade garments and 1 Flexees corset type that I use to double up on from like mid day at work till shower at night. Next be patient, watch your food, drink water, kick carbination of any kind and rest when you can. Also, add Whey or Casein Protein in-between your meals (you know "5 meals a day" mentality). Oh...I bought a pair of Miss Me bling'd out jeans last year that fit me up till surgery. They are sized like 30, 31, 32 etc... Well I wore a 32 (equivalent to 12) since they are low waisted that's what I wore to help reduce the gigantic muffin top! I purchased a pair of 27s yesterday!!! I almost cried and I just still can't believe it! On Miss Me website the size for 27 equals a 4/6. That too just seems unthinkable! Goodluck to you newbies and hang in there to us people who are on this journey for the next year. My doc did confirm that I still have swelling in the area I was worried.
Based on the pictures you are a good candidate for the breast reduction . If the insurance does not cover it you can pay cash for it. You have to first see if breast reduction is covered by your insurance, then you have to be evaluated to see if you fit there criteria , then the insurance company will answer. If no see how much it cost you may be able to afford it.The question not asked , is never answered.
If the correct diameter implants are matched to your chest then the space in the middle should be aesthetically pleasing. There will always be a space if done properly ,to avoid a wide space the implant diameter should be close to the base width diameter of the breast.
An hour glass tummy tuck sounds better than a regular tummy tuck.The goal of an abdominoplasty is to improve the appearance of the abdomen . The sides will come in some if the muscle is tightened and that will make it more ' hour glass ' shape . So the doctor who proposed this hour glass tummy tuck is trying to out Market everyone else.
Everyone is different but with the two surgeries you are having 2-4 weeks . Getting up and around the house 1-2 days after surgery and take it easy for the next week. Then a gradual increase in activity over the next week and possible go back to a desk job at 2 weeks. If it is a more rigorous job it could take 2-4 weeks more .
Without pictures it is hard to say what you should do. The nipples had to have been raised if you had a mastopexy and the scar had tobe around the nipple and below it. The periareolar mastopexy alone does not work... You need to have a consult with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to determine what is best and probable have the surgery done by someone other than the first doctor.
