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I didn't post this!

Probably because I wasn't showing my face, but a lot of people say I look so different in my face that I am not recognizable. Probably a bit of an exaggeration on their part! You be the judge! This is me at my heaviest, before I started doing Weight Watchers.

Holy Crap, my whole update got erased!

Ohhhhkayyyy… well, a year later, I'm happier, healther, and got a little meat on my bones now. It was fun having the same number on the scale that was in high school, but I like myself to have hips, and thighs, and… come on! At least a "B" cup! Wow. Your boobs can really shrink, let me tell you! Anyway, I am about 10-12 lbs heavier than my last pix, and you know what??? All of my pictures have me in some manner of undress! Here is me - fully clothed, in a clingy dress and my favorite heels. :) you know what else? I actually have a head… on top of my neck, and it's not a yellow starburst either!!!!! And… it SPEAKS!!!! I don't think I will be updating this anymore, so I thought I would say bye "in person." To sum up: I'm flat, not like a board (esp after the weight gain :), but no muffin top. Can wear everything I want, which does not include a bikini, because I am 1000% sure I would go walking in the Lazy River or down a water slide and see part of my bathing suit floating serenely at the other end of the pool!!! Or in the case of the river, running away on the "rapids!" My scar is fine, my belly button is round, if I do a plank or a crunch kinda wonky, then my body reminds me someone stitched my ab muscles together last year. I still have a good deal of numbness, never got a dog ear, although, I had a slight bump which is covered by my tattoo. I chose not to cover my scar horizontally, as I don't thinking it would be flattering to me. There was a healed (white, flat) part on my hip that we snaked the tattoo through. Let me tell you something about rib cage tattoos. Everything you have heard about them is correct. Not for the faint of heart or those with a low pain threshold. Mine took 11 hours. Yikes. Go big or go home, I guess!

I guess that's it. All good, super happy I did it, if you're reading this in a Norco-induced haze, just look at me a year later all walking upright and in pre-op jeans!

I always kind of wondered about some of the people on here. I wonder if what I am really like matched to what you thought, so I thought a video send-off would be fun! You guys have made this journey wonderful! Thanks! xx

Here are some new pix

Well, I don't think there is that much of a difference in my side view. I have gained a few pounds since the last pix. I see a lot of ladies on here upset if they sit down and get a little roll over the top of their pants. As you can see by my pictures, I got an excellent result, but I put pictures sitting down and bending over so you can see my belly at those angles. I still get a little roll and you can see I have loose skin right below my solar plexus. Even though a PS can pull your skin tight, he/she cannot repair the elasticity of your skin. It's pulled tighter, but still has laxity. So it can't be 100% perfectly flat at every angle. I used to either put a pillow in my lap or slouch over and cross my arms over my belly when I sat down. Now I won't even do that in a bodycon dress. I put a picture of me when I wore a form-fitting t-shirt pre-surgery. YUCK! I'm glad THAT has gone away, who cares what happens if I bend or sit a certain way? I also have some before & after of my scar. The close-up part of my scar is the middle where I pulled it apart and how that healed. Um… what else? I have never put pictures with the lower half of me totally naked. You can see it's not a smooth transition all the way down my stomach. It's flatter below my scar. There isn't any swelling, that's just the way it's going to be. Oh, and about the numbness… I am pretty much used to the numb feeling in my belly, but the numb area has not shrunk AT ALL since my surgery! Basically hip-to-hip, ribs to mons is completely numb. I really hate when it gets touched, it feels so weird. So, I might end up with a lot of permanent nerve damage. Obviously, time will tell, but you'd think it would have recovered even a little bit! So… I think that's probably what everyone would want to know. Basically, still "Thrilled With My Result!!" lol

(I see some of my pictures are uploading really low-res, I might have to re-post)

Provider Review

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
5950 University Ave, West Des Moines, Iowa
Overall rating
Doctor's bedside manner
Answered my questions
After care follow-up
Time spent with me
Phone or email responsiveness
Staff professionalism & courtesy
Payment process
Wait times

I found Dr. Yen to be really personable. He explained things to me in detail and was attentive and answered all of my questions. He has a great "bedside manner." I did not feel rushed. I have contacted his staff a couple of times and they have been friendly and helpful and have gotten back to me quickly. I had two consultations with other surgeons prior to Dr. Yen and I really didn't feel comfortable or at ease with them. Dr. Yen put me at ease right away, and I am impressed with his education, with the satisfaction his other patients have expressed, and his portfolio. I made a great choice. The Iowa Clinic Plastic Surgery is a very technologically advanced facility and the check-in process is very smooth, as is the payment process. Lakeview Surgery Center is also a great facility and it's not cold and clinical and all of the staff are really great and you can tell they care about you. From start to finish, having Dr. Yen do my surgery was a great experience.