No "Mommy Makeover" Here - This Will Be a GRANNY TAKEOVER! - Dallas, TX

Here's the pics I promised.

Hi Ladies - I'm about 2 months shy of my 2 year surgery date. I thought I 'd share what my current status is.

I'm now 66 yrs old. If you recall post op I lost weight without trying...down from 196 to 164. Then my appetite came back! Haha. I've slowly crept up to 178. Its interesting though. I was in the "apple shape" category before surgery, with slim thighs, flat butt, belly fat and big boobs. I had back lipo, so I knew I wouldn't gain fat there again. But guess where I HAVE gained!? My thighs, butt and midriff. So I'm morphing into a "pear shape" now - which is okay because I always envied fit pear shapes. Dr can't lipo the midriff area...something about the nerves there in the solar plexus area. So I'm not too fond of the gain in my midriff area. But overall, I'M STILL LOVIN' MY NEW SHAPE!!!

I wear a size 12 now, bra size 38DD, and I struggle with a little guilt 'cause I still buy youthful clothes - I like to show off my waistline. Many of my size 14 and larger vlothes look even better on me now, while others I had to give away.

My hubby and I have been getting to the gym twice a week for a couple months now, working up to three times per week next. He's looking at knee replacement in September and we both want to slow the roll on our weight gain now that we're more retired, less active.

I still have some physical challenges. I'm not sure if they're due to my age or not. My nipples atill haven't regained the erotic sensitivity they had before surgery. To be candid ladies, I used to reach orgasm just nipple manipulation! Not now, and I miss that luxury. But they fit in my husband's hands now. Lol

In hot humid weather, my breasts still itch. Talcum powder helps, if I happen to have it with me.

My br scars hurt much less but are still tender and are also itchy in hot, humid weather. And though I've purchased all kinds of bras, NONE are comfortable! I'm always pulling, tugging them away from my br scars.

My tt scar is NOT tender, however. No itching either. Its still fairly dark and thick but that doesn't concern me. My navel is dark too. Most of my tt scar and navel area has a numb sensation.

No residual anything from the extensive back lipo area.

Oddly...I'm experiencing a kind of effect similar to the "phantom limb" that amputees experience. When my nipples and navel are touched, it feels as though the touch is WAY off the mark! Very odd sensation.

Okay. I will post some pics I took this morning. As you can see, we've moved to a much smaller house, a beach house on the water in another state. LOVE IT here! I've become a published author and I've done some book signings; I'm still pitching my tv talk show hoping to produce a 2nd season; and I've been auditioning for film and tv far more often than I did back in Dallas - have even booked a few roles. So life is very good!

AND I'M SO GLAD I DID MY GRANNY TAKEOVER!!!!!

Hi Ladies - I thought I'd post a quick update to my "Granny Takeover" surgery September 27th of 2013.

I'm still absolutely loving my new look - I've transitioned to a size 12 from a size 14-16 and sometimes 2x-3x. I moved from a 38G bra to a 38D-38DD which is MUCH better for my neck and back - no pain now whatsoever. The downside is the breast reduction scars under each breast. The scars are completely healed but they are still intermittently very tender and itchy. I say intermittently because sometimes they feel quite comfy. But most of the time ANY bra proves to be uncomfortable where the bottom of the bra touches my scars, whether its an underwired bra are no. Also very often I walk around holding my breasts with my forearm so that they don't feel tugged on when I'm bra-less (because I've removed an uncomfy bra). Other times I don't feel that tugging sensation at all, like right now. When My husband holds my breasts, most times I have to stop him from touching the scar underneath. Last summer when we were in hot, humid weather, my entire breasts itched like crazy.

So I consulted my dermatologist. She said all the above was normal for some people, and unfortunately I'm one of those people. She said talcum powder will help with the itching in the summertime. And she prescribed triamcinolone acetonide cream 0.1% for use on my scars under my breasts. The cream helps a little - I applied it only in the am. It contains a steroid so I didn't want to apply it too often.

I think this discomfort is just something I'm going to have to live with. Small price to pay for my new look.

I mentioned above that I weighed about 194 pre-op. Post op I lost weight without trying over several weeks down to 164. After that I gradually inched up to 168.5 and seemed to settle there. Then October 1st my hubby and I moved to a different state and greatly downsized our home. Traumatic for me. It took us 6 weeks to unpack most of the boxes...just in time for Thanksgiving! Now its almost New Years and I see my weight is creeping up - I was 171.5 the other day...! Could be too much delicious holiday food even though I watched what I ate pretty well.

So I'm increasing my physical activity - riding my mountain bike around the neighborhood for about 40 minutes 3 times a week. I may look into a pilates or yoga set of classes or (ugh!!!) a gym. I'm 66 years old now and weight gain is a constant threat. I'm happy though. I have a new book out that I'm marketing. And I'm looking into producing my tv talk show for senior women again in my new geographic area. So I'm staying busy...just evidently not busy enough to keep the pounds from trying to creep back on me. At least, though, they can't stick to the areas I had reduced or lipo'd...yay! So that means my tummy is still flat but now I'm getting some much needed hips and ass! Yaaaayyy! Yes, its true, some Black women have flat asses. I'm one of them. lol