I decided to gift myself with a mommy makeover for my 4Oth birthday. I had a saline breast implant when I was 18 on one side due to symmetry issues. Overtime, my breasts had begun to sag and were no longer perky. I also have two children and had a pooch that was not going away, even with losing 25 lbs over the past two years. I was ready for some upgrades. I was very nervous as most other members have mentioned, choosing an elective procedure with two fairly young children. I set two consultations with two different surgeons and I felt most comfortable with Dr. Doucet and his staff at Williamson Cosmetic Center/Perenack Aesthetic Center in Baton Rouge, LA. I was a current client for botox and fillers with Dr. Jon Perenack as he focuses on cosmetic surgery of the face. I had heard he was one of the best cosmetic surgeons, so didn't mind driving from New Orleans. So, I decided to meet with his partner Dr. Doucet (specializes in plastic surgery/body) to discuss his thoughts for improving my breast and tummy area. I felt very confident with his answers to ALL of my questions and his work. I wanted to schedule the procedure quickly and they were accommodating. I was given detailed information with instructions for pre and post surgery. I felt completely prepared. They gave me special vitamins to start taking before my procedures. I am usually a bruiser and these vitamins claim to help with recovery, bruising and inflammation. Finally my surgery day came, all of the staff from Dr. Doucet, his nurse and anesthesia were very kind as I was nervous. My husband waited during my procedure. I was given some medicine to calm me down. I don't remember anything until I was waking up in the car as we approached our house back in New Orleans. My husband drove us home that same afternoon from Baton Rouge. My husband informed me that the surgery and recovery went very well. I was so glad that I did not experience any nausea nor did I have any recollection of the day's events, since early that morning as I walked into their OR. The meds he prescribed kept the pain very tolerable and minimal. I was pleasantly surprised. In comparison to my other consultation, Dr. Doucet uses a med called exparel (I think) which numbs the tummy tuck incision for days post op. My understanding in researching is that this numbing injection has helped revolutionize the modern tummy tuck. However, some more old school docs still use the old pain pumps for tummy procedures. It definitely kept the pain levels manageable. The hardest part of recovery was getting out of the bed (bending the stomach area) for occasional bathroom breaks, but it was a couple of seconds of pain. Overall it was completely manageable. They obviously know what they are doing over there. My drain was removed at my three day post op appointment and everything was healing nicely. I was shocked to see hardly any bruising, which I had observed in other members pics through other doctors. Im assuming Dr. Doucet's technique and the vitamins contributed to minimal bruising. I was starting to take one instead of two Percocets by Wed, which was three days post op. I stopped all meds by Sat and returned to work one week post op on the following Monday. I just went for my two week post op appointment yesterday, April 27th. Dr. Doucet removed the remaining steristrips and clipped the ends of a few stitches. It was not painful as the stitches are really internal with a few ends that are outside. I am so excited with the results. I never thought I would have the urge to make strangers look at my breast and my tummy, but I am so impressed with his work. I was hoping for improvement, but he exceeded my expectation of what I thought was realistically possible. The incisions are very clean and precise. I can now start using the scar gel and I feel confident that over time the incision scars will continue to become less and less noticeable. I was worried especially about the mini tummy tuck scar, since I had never had a C-section and had no scars. However, this incision was done with such skill that I much prefer the slight scar over the pooch that once exists. Thanking him seemed insufficient. I am feeling more confident and looking forward to turning 40. I will try to post a 2 week post op bikini pic later and again at 6 weeks.