32 Years Old, No Kids, BBL with Vaser - Dr Salama - Aventura, FL

Today is the day!  Note: my surgery date is 26 May 2016 but unable to select that here in the so it's defaulting to the next day. I arrived in Fort Lauderdale on Monday 23rd May, 3 days ahead of my surgery... given that I was flying all the way from Australia (21hrs in the air!) I wanted to ensure there was enough buffer zone in case of any delays and to have time here to buy the last few things needed for post-op recovery, as some of these items are not readily available back home.  I also made a visit to Hollywood Beach, since I've travelled halfway around the world it's nice to spend a moment as a tourist and see a little of the place as it's my first trip to Florida.  I strolled along the sand and took in some deep breaths of the sea air as I prepared for what's to come. Had my pre-op appt yesterday with Nomie, she was very thorough and then I came to the Serenity Recovery Retreat where I'm staying, along with a number of other patients of Dr Salama's.  It's reassuring to be in the company of others who are in the same boat and the ladies who work here and care for us are really lovely. Currently sitting in bed in the Recovery Retreat writing this, in a few hours time I will be having surgery - BBL with Dr Salama.  Feeling rather nervous now that the day has arrived, I've done as much preparation as possible, so very much praying now for a smooth procedure and good outcomes with no complications. As with most of us on here, I've spent many many hours trawling through realself on the path to making this decision.  The website is a fantastic resource and has proven to be so valuable as a way of equipping myself with loads of useful information as well as inspiration.  It's through here that I began with researching all there is to know about BBL and then got underway with my search for the right surgeon.  Initially I was wishing to undergo surgery in my home country of Australia as it simplifies many aspects by not having to travel overseas.  I hunted for certified plastic surgeons here 'down under' who perform BBL surgery but unfortunately the options are limited to one or two doctors because this procedure is not commonly done here.  Therefore, those surgeons have fairly limitied experience which mde me very hesitant and as a result of that I found myself having to look overseas.  I am keen to ensure that the surgeon I select has extensive experience and is highly skilled with BBL, it's important to get it right the first time and to feel confident that I'm in the very best hands in terms of wellbeing and achieving the results that I desire.  For me, the US was the only country I considered as I would not feel comfortable going elsewhere.  I researched many doctors and shortlisted a few then had contact with their offices to discuss further.  It's challenging being so far away and unable to have face-to-face consultations, so a lot depends upon disecting all the information, weighing up the options and listening to my gut instinct too.  Ultimately I chose to proceed Dr Salama and I dearly hope that proves to be the right decision.  In terms of desired outcomes, what I want is a curvaceous hourglass shape with my abdomen, waist, flanks and back all refined and reduced and my butt increased in fullness and projection.  I'm after a heart shape butt with smooth slope from my lower back into the butt, definitely don't want any shelf at the top of my butt - each to their own but that's my personal preference.  I want results that look natural and well proportioned, with a streamlined mid-section and voluptuous butt, as opposed to an extreme size and shape. My weight has fluctuated quite a lot over the years, I've finally got that in check and settled to a weight that I'm fairly comfortable with and maintained it for the past 12 months but I hate the toll it's taken on my on my figure and how my body looks old and droopy because of it.  I'm 5'9" tall, at my heaviest I was 105kg (231 pounds) and currently I'm 80kg (176 pounds). As a result of all that yo-yo dieiting, I've got excess fat throughout my stomach, flanks, back, thighs and then a rather flat 'pancake' butt... not a good look.  I've also got quite a soft wobbly belly which I'm keen to get rid of once and for all but do not want to do tummy tuck surgery because it's so invasive and the scarring is extensive.  So with that in mind, I'm having vaser liposuction on my upper and lower abs as that is more effective on areas that have skin laxity. And having lipo on my full back, flanks and waistline. Have elected not to do my thighs or arms because those areas are not as bothersome to me as my mid-section and can be improved somewhat with exercise. I also think it's going to be enough to recover from already. Speaking of recovery, I'm not looking forward to it at all and have a feeling that it's going to be pretty tough. I think the best approach is to take it one day at a time and my mantra to myself during that period is going to be "this too shall pass". So here goes, it's almost time to surgery.... fingers and toes are crossed that it goes smoothly and I come through the other side of it in good health and gorgeous shape.