I ain't no killa, but don't push me. ✩♥ AZZ BY AZURIN!♥✩

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

This blog is for ladies (or men for that matter) that are interested in information related to the BBL and lipo surgery up and downs, my specific surgeon's technique and process, as well as calorie cycling information.

It has come to my attention that someone on this site, whether a lurker or a member, called my doctor's office and insisted on being provided with FREE NURSING CARE based on Zulu Princess's blog. Additionally, this person said the office was showing favoritism by providing me with free care and refusing to provide her with the same free care. This is a complete misrepresentation of my post as well as a blatant sign of disrespect for the time and effort that people on RS that ACTUALLY post (including myself) put into their respective blogs.

I DID NOT RECEIVE FREE NURSING CARE!!!!!

This person provided the office with my surgery date and information from the surgery. Essentially, this persons lies caused a great deal of drama and office managers had to become involved. I try to steer clear of drama. When I see it bubbling and brewing here on RS, I simply take notes of the source of the drama and continue to post as if I don't see it. But when you attach drama to my name? Houston, we have a problem.

READING IS FUNDAMENTAL. If you are not going to take the time to read the information and properly research for a risky SURGERY, please don't call a surgeon's office demanding SOMETHING FOR NOTHING and then add insult to injury by insisting that Zulu Princess said so. Lies.

My reputation is important to me and I don't appreciate anyone tarnishing my name on the basis of them getting something for free. Why the hell would I provide the nurses direct contact information if she is provided for free? You would just contact the surgery center, wouldn't you? Why would I reference her as an independent contractor if she were provided for free? Why would I say that she works with several doctors in the South Florida area if she works for free? CONTEXT CLUES PEOPLE. Are you really going to nickel and dime a surgery center and try to strong arm them into giving you something for nothing based on misrepresenting a blog to your benefit? (Maybe you should consider saving more $ until the appropriate time in which you can AFFORD nursing care? Just a thought...)

Here's a cut a paste for non-readers:
"If you become a patient of Dr. Azurin's he provides for her payment for the first several hours to teach your significant other/family/friend how to care for you post-operatively. Anything after the first several hours depending on your needs you will have to provide payment for. If no one is available to assist, she is able to provide aftercare and transportation."

Perhaps I was not clear enough...and the above information came from the nurse Suzie, not from Dr. Azurin. However, according to Dr. Azurin's office, some nursing care is covered for TUMMY TUCK patients, not if you are only receiving lipo/bbl services. Suzie only comes into play if she is hired by you personally. HIRED = PAYMENT. Other than that, the services she provides that are covered by Dr. Azurin (as far a family/caretaker instructions) would generally happen in-office.

LET ME BE CLEAR: I PAID FOR MY NURSING CARE AND TRANSPORTATION!

Many ladies here edit their photos and tailor their posts specifically to keep some degree of anonymity. I am one of those ladies. Dr. Azurin's office staff does not keep up with RS or any of the other blogs, they are simply to busy to even care IMO. However, when someone calls the office with specifics that I've included in my blog that takes my anonymity to the NON-EXISTENT level and that I don't appreciate that! It didn't take much for the office to figure it out the patient in question. Meanwhile, Ms. Demand-Something-For-Nothing stirs up trouble and likely continues on as an anonymous lurker. SMDH.

Dr. Azurin is a great surgeon and truly an artist. Although my blog may have helped him gain a few patients, or at the minimum a few inquiries, Dr. Azurin does not need my blog, nor anyone else's blog to sustain his business. His surgery center is JUMPING and stays BUSY! I was not paid to blog, nor do I receive any benefit whatsoever from doing so (besides the joy it brings me personally to help others).

Luckily, I cleared things up with the office and all is well...it is just the point that I began this blog to help people - not to get involved in foolishness and honestly the experience really left a bitter taste in my mouth. Which, among other things, added to me not being in a rush to update here on RS. I even considered leaving the site altogether, but figured it wouldn't be fair to the ladies interested in my story or my surgeon.

Ladies, please remember that it is a very personal decision to have cosmetic surgery. Once you actually have surgery, it can be a very emotional process. Please respect people that take their time to blog and if you have specific questions about something said in a blog, ask that person directly so that you gain clarity instead of causing confusion.

I ain't no killa, but don't push me.

RANT OVER.

I'll have a real update with pics soon...just needed to get that off my chest.

Hello ladies,

I've been gone for a quick minute...but I didn't forget about you guys! I had a sudden and unexpected death in the family and between grieving and having to make sudden travel arrangements everything was hectic and my internet time was sporadic and limited!

But I'm back!

I went to the funeral and wake which was like a big reunion for people that I hadn't seen in years. Clearly, people should have been focusing on the death at hand but instead my derrière seemed to be the topic of conversation...

Questions of what I've done to lose weight...how my waist got so small...how my butt got so big... Most people just told me that I look great (which I appreciated)...but the wake wouldn't be complete without a few nosey people and haters definitely making their appearance - just as ROXIE (the new name of my butt) made hers....

I overheard a conversation...
Hater #1: "She must have had silicone injections...she didn't have all that back there before"

Hater #2: "She would have told us if she did that...but her butt is definitely bigger"

Hater #3: (*loudly yelling outside of the church*)"Big Booty Judy, do you have on butt pads?"

Me: (Had to get messy right back) "Ummmm, no....would you like to feel it jiggle...it's all mine baby!"

Even some of the old church mothers had slick comments...smh. Focus yall, focus!

I just ignored the suggestions of any artificial enhancements and simply laughed them off. Nothing artificial about putting my "gut in my butt"...it is mine afterall. Do you know how long I had to carry that gut around? That is real gut...just rearranged to my butt! You want one? Grow your gut too! Lol!


Anyhow, I definitely won't wear printed pants around people that haven't seen me in a while. I learned my lesson. The pants weren't even tight, they were palazzo pants! But whatever! I guess that it is Zulu Princess overload for people that saw me a while back because I've lost a lot of weight and the contouring and bigger behind throws them for a loop....but...

I'LL NEVER TELL! He-he!

Those that insisted on getting more information, I let them know about the calorie cycling and waist training...which of course does work....I just had a little bonus at the end. (I started my waist training prior to surgery with the Squeem) Speaking of Squeem, I'm likely gonna have to sell my extra small squeem vest...I tried it on yesterday for the first time...it closed up just fine, but that long torso of mine did me dirty! That Squeem vest fit like crop top with plenty of stomach showing! No ma'am! Not gonna happen. I'll stick with the Squeem Waist Cinchers...the extra small does it's job.

So I had been keeping up with my garment regimen up until going out of town for the weekend. I was around so many people from the past and out every night! I had on my custom garment the first night but wore my Vedette 109 for the rest of the days/nights. At least I had some compression.

I ate pretty poorly...restaurants, restaurants, restaurants..

Only gained 2 pounds though...and now I'm back to walking. I hope to get my eating on track fairly soon. Just found out that I will likely be leaving the country for a month to tend to family matters and that will likely wreak havoc on my diet and exercise program. Yikes! It will be interesting to hear what my grandmother has to say once she lays eyes on me!

I've been trying to walk between 3-6 miles a day...( a 3 mile walk twice a day). I added hand weights today...and will likely do the walk again this evening. I wore the Vedette #109 in EXTRA SMALL TODAY! That waist was definitely looking snatched! I'll update with pics soon. I hit the gym one day after my 4 week mark, since then I've been struggling to get there. But I'm definitely going to pick it back up starting next Monday.

Roxie is completely soft and jiggles! No hard parts left on the sides or anywhere else but I still feel a strange sensation (almost painful feeling) on the sides of my cheeks when I try to jog. Also, although I sit all the time now, without a cushion or any assistance, if I try to sit on a the floor (hardwood or tile) it is NOT happening. Not really painful, but uncomfortable and definitely strange.

I wear my custom garment unless I'm going out...then of course it's the Vedette #109. When home I where the custom garment with the ab board, white binder and foams. During the day it's usually the garment without the board, binder or foams.

I also went Vedette crazy recently and purchased multiple vedettes...I'll update on the models and give reviews soon.

Here are my weigh-in results for this week:

Start Date:
May 12, 2013: 212.0 lbs

PRE-OP: ----------
WEEK #1: May 19, 2013: 204.0 lb.
WEEK #2: May 27, 2013: 199.2 lbs
WEEK #3: June 3, 2013: 197.6 lbs
WEEK #4: June 10, 2013: 194.8 lbs
WEEK #5: June 17, 2013: No Weigh-In
WEEK #6: June 24, 2013: 191.2 lbs
WEEK #7: July 1, 2013: 189.2 lbs
WEEK #8: July 8, 2013: 187.0 lbs
WEEK #9: July 15, 2013: 184.0 lbs
WEEK #10: July 22, 2013: 184.0 lbs
WEEK #11: July 29, 2013: 186.4 lbs
WEEK #12: August 5, 2013: 189.6 lbs
WEEK #13: August 12, 2013: 184.4 lbs
WEEK #14: August 19, 2013: 182.2 lbs
SURGERY DAY: ----------
WEEK #15: August 26, 2013: 182.0 lbs
30 lbs DOWN!!!! (212.0 – 182.0 = 30.0 lbs!)
POST-OP: -----------
WEEK #16: September 4, 2013: 181.6 lbs
WEEK # 17: September 9, 2013: No Weigh-In
WEEK #18: September 16, 2013: 177.4 lbs
WEEK #18: September 23, 2013: 177.0 lbs
WEEK #19: September 30, 2013 178.5 lbs

I'm just trying my best to keep my weight loss going...I gained weight this week, which is too be expected because I threw calorie cycling out the window, I was out of town, and due to the funeral and being around friends and family I wasn't very focused. I'm generally satisfied with my overall look, just feel that losing another 10-20lbs will enhance things. No rush though...the 30 lbs I lost pre-op really gave me the boost I needed. I think I'll just go for a pound or so a week until I get where I'm trying to go..

Sorry for the long update....

Pics to come! Take care ladies...I've missed you all..

All is well! I just finished walking 2 miles (slowly) with my father and I must say...I will miss South Florida! I tried to take a few strides of a light jog to see how it felt - ummmmm....not happening. It felt like two bricks were strapped to each side of my cheeks...clear indication that I'm not ready for that. When I walk I don't have that problem. So light walking will be my cardio for now, maybe I'll try an incline when I start back at the gym.

I feel probably at about 75% right now. When I'm out and about I don't experience any pain or discomfort. I'm completely sitting now without any cushions or padding although I try to limit the amount of time I do that and still put most of the pressure on my thighs when I can (thank God I did all that squatting prior to surgery).

I still feel the occasional stiffness in my back when I wake up in the morning but after a few minutes and a good stretch it subsides. I try to massage myself daily(multiple times a day as needed)...so far my favorite tools by far are my wood rolling pin and two hand massagers I purchased from the Dollar Tree (pics included). Who knew that massagers that cost $1 each would be my best friends? The best part is that I use them in the shower and outside of the shower...they are plastic so it works!

Dr. Azurin suggested that I massage myself and try never to go in the same direction with the massaging...that's what I do with the $1 hand massagers. I noticed a few very small hard areas along my flanks right under my ribs. They feel like they are about the size of a dime so I'm trying to massage those to break them up...whatever they are.

Additionally, sometimes taking off my garment (especially the Vedette #109) can be painful along the flanks (assuming it's because of the latex). My flank and back areas are still tender to the touch. But someone can give me a big bear hug without me grimacing these days.

My itching is rare these days. My incisions are healing well. I have one in particular on my lower back that I'm watching because it seems like it is slightly raised and may keloid...the others are flat. Someone asked me how many incision sites I have. I have 4 visible incision sites on my back. I have 1 incision in my butt crack and 2 or 3 inside of my belly button that I can no longer see...they have completely healed (I put Neosporin in my belly button everyday from Day #11 PO up until a few days ago).

So I have 7-8 total incision areas, only 4 of them are visible to the naked eye. Dr. Azurin does a great job of not giving you the "bullet holes" that I see a few other surgeons (that shall remain nameless) giving ladies. I'm sure that all of the incision sites (with the exception of the one that I'm watching for keloids) will completely heal within the next few months and no one will notice. I've gone a few days without my ScarAway silicone strips (that I cut into small squares to place over the 4 visible sites) but I plan to put them back on soon.

I mentioned the leg pain that I had in my left leg to Dr. Azurin at my post op. He said that it was to be expected and that I've pretty much passed the stage to be too concerned about blood clots. Plus my leg pain was not the typical for signs of a blood clot. Since, then the pain has cleared up.

I'm still working on upping my fluid intake! I had some serious leg cramps a few days ago and that was definitely as a result of my lack of fluid for the day! When I thought back the only water I had for that day was in my coffee and diet soda! Not good! Since then I've upped my water intake and I'm happy to report - no more cramps!

I've added a few pics from one of my nights of going out....these pics are from before I was placed in the BBL jail lockdown by my girls: NYcutie & Leslie1966. My girl Elli890 put me in a 12 step BBL recovery program! Of course, I also have to thank my girl Booty4Real for taking the "BBL non-compliance" beating with me despite her being cleared by our Booty Sergeant (NYcutie)! That's what real BBL sisters on Realself do! Haha! Thanks sis!

That's all for now...

Good luck to all those with surgery coming up...and happy healing to those that have had surgery recently!

REMEMBER: A positive attitude will take you a long way in recovery!


-ZP