27 Years Old, 5'4" & 142 Lbs, with Much Needed BBL - Beverly Hills, CA

So I decided to start writing this review to share my experience and hopefully help out other since I found other reviews really helpful. Currently, one month before my BBL and I'm doing everything I can to get prepared. I will be flying from San Francisco (one hour flight) to LA and I already booked my flight and hotel. My mom and sister will also be coming with me. Originally, they were going to drive but we got some really good deals on flights and figured it would be worth it to fly since the drive may be really uncomfortable. Just need to get the rental car and I'm all set. I think I spent $400 (hotel for 4 nights & 1 flight) so far; I'm really trying to keep additional costs as low as possible. I finished getting all my labs requested by Dr. Hughes and even though my primary care doctor at Kaiser said they don't assist in obtaining labs outside procedures, he still ordered the requested labs since they were part of my general health so that made things easier. I faxed all my info to Lorena yesterday and my primary doctor there were no problems so hopefully no issues there. The doctors office also instructs you to start taking multivitamins and vitamin C (1000mg) daily and Iron, which I have been doing (minus the iron which I will start next week).

I've been getting really nervous as the surgery date creeps closer and closer. I think the day after I booked the procedure and saw the $1000 credit charge for the surgery date hold, I started to get cold feet already. Also, I start feeling really guilty about how much money I will be spending and the other things I could do with all that money (car, travel, invest, etc). But I've been wanting this for 2 years already, I have to constantly reassure myself that it's going to be worth it in the long run. Plus my mom is really supportive and has encouraged me to get it; we say unlike other material things, you take your body with you everywhere, all the time; so you should feel happy and confident with it all the time!

For some additional background, I found Dr. Hughes over a year ago when I first wanted a BBL and he was one of the top doctors. I actually had a list of 4 doctors who I was considering. Then I moved to SF 6 months ago and only in January, I decided to start interviewing doctors. I went to see Dr. Beck in Foster City; since he was much closer to me and was also a top doctor in the area, I figured it would more convenient to check out doctors in the Bay Area. When I saw him, the estimate was $15,00 (with lipo to abdomen, sides, back, inner/outer thigh, and arms), it seems high but it is also a full body makeover so I was still open to getting the procedure in December to save a bit more money during the year. I also checked with Dr. Miami since I've been watching him for over a year also but his first consultation was not til a year away! Then, I decided to ask Dr. Hughes for an estimate since he was one of my very first choices. I was contacted immediately and he requested pictures so I could provide me an estimate. He gave me the estimate of $11,200 (with abdomen, sides, back, and thighs). I also asked how much more to include the arms just for an idea, which he said would be an additional $1,500. I decided to book with Dr. Hughes immediately and a few days later, I had my surgery date set! So here I am. I will keep you all updated as the process continues. :)

These are just a couple of the photos I sent to Dr. Hughes for the consultation. Wanted to give you all an idea. Definitely need lipo in all the areas he suggested. Also, Nude photos are very awkward to take and once I saw myself naked in these pictures, it's what really pushed me to get the procedure. This is the heaviest I've been in years, so I may as well take that fat and put it to good use.

So I've had everything completed! Ladies, hopefully your insurance covers this because, it is not done by Dr. Hughes office and there are 10 labs to complete (CBC, PT, PTT, HEP A/B/C, HIV, BMP, HCG). I thought I had them all done, but my doctor did not order two of them (PTT and BMP). I called a Quest Labs to see how much they would cost and one was about $65 and the other $35, luckily I emailed my Dr and he ordered them for me. Little things like this just keep adding up so keep that in mind. Also got the rental car for my mom to drive us, good thing I had extra points on my chase card and I got a really good deal for 5 days and just used my reward points.

I will be visiting the office one day before surgery Thursday 3/24/16 for Pre-Op to review everything with the doctor, and the next morning Friday 3/25/16 at 9am I will be having surgery. They said the surgery itself takes about 2-2.5 hours but it takes time to recover and prep so I should be released by 2pm. My follow up appointment is Tuesday, 3/29/16 at 10am and then I will fly back to SF later that day. Hopefully everything goes smoothly.

Also, for those who asked, I had received an email consultation with Dr. Hazani and he actually recommended I gain 5-10lbs. I thought that was a bit funny considering how chunky I feel right now. The other doctors told me definitely not to lose any more weight, but I cant imagine how difficult it would be to gain even a few more lbs. I've been struggling to stop myself from working out at the gym..I've been feeling like a vegetable these past couple months and I think its going to be difficult to continue refraining from working out after the BBL. I do get out for some light walks when I feel the need.

The thing I did like about Dr. Hazani was his BBL special ($7800) which also includes your labs, binder, second stage garment, and a BBL pillow (valued at $250). Im sure he is a great doctor too. All these top doctors have the credentials and are board certified so I think either way you are in good hands. Plus everyone is different, so results vary by person so its hard to say you will get the same results as other people in pictures you see. I think the doctors work and results are of course still a major showcase in their work. Im feeling confident in my choice of Dr. Hughes, but there is always a shred of doubt and Im trying to remain realistically positive.

Im really excited to have my body ready by this summer. Honestly, that's why I wanted to get it done so quickly. I was gaining weight and I wanted to start my diet and working out, but I knew I wanted the surgery. So I figured I may as well get it now (since its still winter), instead of losing weight for the summer and then trying to gain it back for winter again which is the only other time I would do it. I always go on vacations during the summer, Vegas/Mexico/LA/NY, and I would feel so uncomfortable with my current belly and other bulges. I really cant wait to have the body I want..when I lose weight on my own I have very little booty. My body looks fine in clothes and I clearly do not have a big butt but its not completely flat. I'll show you all pic of just last summer when I had been working out and more toned. I lose my butt and my boobs when I lose weight and pockets of fat in my pooch and by my back never go away, even when I was 125lbs. So I really have been wanting lipo for those stubborn areas. I also have to consistently monitor my diet and work out or I immediately gain weight. I know this is because the fat cells are there and they grow larger if you don't maintain your diet. I have friends who have had lipo in their abdomen and said that the fat never came back...I just don't want to have to worry so much about those areas. Of course I do not want to let myself go and think I can eat everything and stay small...my body just is not build that way. But I want to stay healthy and not have to worry about my tummy bulge and would love for my butt to have more projection. Crossing my fingers for this surgery to help get me to where I could not get on my own!