Mommy Makeover to ring in the New Year!

I've lost over 80 pounds and these last 10 have made my naked body look WORSE. Sure I'm healthier and look good in my clothes but... well, the pictures speak for themselves. I have lower pole constriction which makes this a challenging breast surgery. That's my biggest worry. I will update as I go along!

Well I have read over and over with many of you that your surgeon "swapped out your lap band port" during your abdominoplasty. Every last one of these surgeons look at me like I have 3 heads when I ask them if they can swap it out for me. I just can't see having 2 surgeries to do this. Nor can I see going through all this pain and MONEY only to have this giant bump on my belly. The lap band surgeon I was to meet with locally had me on the schedule for this Thursday. Called today to cancel it and can't see me until December 4th. Well that won't work because my tummy tuck is scheduled for Dec 31st. If I wait until then to talk to him and he can't fix this thing prior to the surgery or during the tummy tuck I am out of luck here. I'll have to postpone this surgery. And here's my other concern: these bariatric guys do the most complex surgical procedures invented... that roux n y is ghastly complex. All I want is this stupid port changed out. Not even going below the muscle. Can't they send their junior trainee resident surgeon to do this? Grrrrrrr.

I have gone back and forth with choosing a surgeon. Just to give you an idea, before I purchased my wedding dress, I had to try on ALL of them within a 60 mile radius. Did the same thing with PS consultations. After all that, i ended up feeling like any of these surgeons would have done a great job. There was nothing that indicated something negative in any of my favorites. Once I got to my top three, I wasn’t sure how to choose so I went with his personality and the way he interacted with me.. his attitude towards me and the questions I asked. Personality and connection and intuition is better than a coin toss, right?

RealSelf sisters: How are we supposed to be qualified to make such a monumental decision as which doctor is qualified to slice and dice our bodies? As an informed consumer I can research which dishwasher has the highest ratings, but isn’t it bizarre to be treating a doctor the same way? Consumers who have to somehow be medically knowledgable when it comes to the art of plastic surgery. No wonder we’re terrified.

I am a borderline case for a lift in that there is not much ptosis but also a small nipple to fold measurement. Several of the doctors I met with said no way would they lift me because it's about trade-offs: not worth the vertical scar if my nipple is above the fold. Others said I wouldn't be happy with how low my nipples end up without the lift. This was pure misery making. Agonizing, even. Had my preop yesterday and after talking with Dr. Smith, I feel like he is going to do what's necessary to make me as happy and close to my wish photos as possible. I think the donut mastoplexy is sort of an in between solution. My nips are on the small side so I am not worried about the “flattening” that some people complain about with this type of lift. My boobs should have a sign: Caution: you have entered a CONE ZONE! Some flattening might do them good. Anyway, I slept much better last night because he basically said he is going to look at me while I’m under, and if he is not happy and does’t think I will be happy with the result, he will make it right in the operating room as best he can. I love this idea. Today I love it, and I’m happy with it. But stay tuned… I have 2 whole weeks to second, third and fourth guess my decision! Yippie skippie!

I have decided on somewhere between 330 and 371cc moderate silicone. Dual plane 2/3 under the muscle. I do NOT want doll [RS bleep]. I am 5’8”, 165 pounds of pushing-50-cougar-mom! I have a huge rib cage and I know I could go way bigger, but I’d rather look more natural and more like I did before breastfeeding. Hubby is totally on board, as you might imagine. ;)