23dayPO-Bra pic added!

I am 41. I have 5 children (23,20,17,16,15) and one adorable granddaugher 20 months. I had my eldest daughter at 17. I remember going to the doctor for strep 3 months after I had my daughter and the doctor told his nurse while looking at my tummy, "this is the worst case of stretch marks I've ever seen". Not something anyone wants to hear! I also breastfed each baby.(poor saggy uneaven things on my chest) I have managed a fairly healthy weight over the years. I have Hashimotos Tyroid Disease (diagnosed a few years ago) so my weight can fluctuate from 125lbs to 150ish lbs. Right now I am 5'5" and a bit heavier at 150lbs. My bod actually looks better at a heavier weight. My horrid deep stretch marks get pulled out of the dried raisin look. I still have very lose floppy folded skin. I carried all my babies like a beach ball right out front.

I have wanted my body fixed for 20 years ever since I first heard of tummy tucks. I used to watch plastic surgery shows on tv. I never thought my husband and I could afford such a surgery for me. Also, in the past we have lived in very rural towns that were lucky to have a family practitioner!

For the past few months, I have been very serious about researching "mommy makeovers". This website is super awesome! I hope to start consulting appointments in January 2012 and have surgery scheduled in the spring. Is January too soon for consults if I won't be having surgery until maybe April or May 2012? Also, I am disappointed that none of the plastic surgeons in the city we live in are contributing doctors on RealSelf.com. Does anyone have any info to share on Des Moines, Iowa doctors?

My husband is very supportive. He knows how important it is for me to have this surgery. I hesitate to tell my eldest daughter of my plans. Last year I had brought up wanting plastic surgery for myself and she was so mad and jealous (she was struggling to lose her pregnancy weight). My other children are super supportive. We don't have any relatives close at all. I don't have any sisters. I won't tell my mom until after the surgery. She will think I am crazy to voluntarily go through pain. (she never got one stretch mark after having 3 children)I don't have any girlfriends since we have moved a lot in the past, so I will be relying on my hubby (of 20 years!) and hopefully, RealSelf women.

My hubby didn't think I was completely serious until a few weeks ago. I took a pic of my belly with my cell phone and showed him the pic. He didn't even know what it was! I had to tell him it was my tummy. With the courage of the RealSelf women, I exposed my belly and took a pic of my shame! I couldn't have done it without the brave women on this website. So thank you...all of you!

Yesterday, my husband and I had our first consult with a PS. The meeting with the PS and his nurse went very well. It wasn't nearly as awkward having strangers looking at my body as I thought it would be. The Dr. said he could make my tummy look so much better with only a few stretch marks left. He suggested a cresent lift on my breasts in addition to gel implants. I don't want lipo (i can live with my "soft spots")and he didn't push me to have lipo. So surgery time will only be 3 hours. He does do the pain pump! woot!!! Cost will be just a bit over $13,000.
Later, my husband and I discussed all we learned. I can definately see choosing this PS to do my surgery. We will schedule a few more consults just to be sure. I am lucky because my three children living at home are teens and I am not working since we moved here in April. I am, however; very close to my granddaughter and she and I will miss our snuggle time. I usually babysit on saturday's, but my kids will take turns watching their niece.
I'm feeling very confident about the surgery. I feel like my expectations of the results are realistic...but I do worry about the pain! I have never had any surgery or significant injury. I did have 5 babies, 4 of them induced without any pain meds or epidural. My husband says the dr won't let me suffer...hummm, i hope not. I also do NOT want to be sick. I hate puking!
I appreciate all the real situations that are posted here. I have learned so much and keep learning more each day!
Question: does the pain pump significantly help? It almost sounds too good to be true.

Last week my husband and I attended an open house for PS#2. It was a meet and greet with his staff, see his facility, and a possible mini consultation with him. I was so glad I went. I wasn't sure I even wanted to get a consultation with him, but after meeting him and his fantastic nurse, I am definately going to schedule a full consultation with him soon. This doctor doesn't use a pain pump, but numbs the abdomen with something like novacaine (sp?). He said he uses a quilting technique with the upper abs only and uses drains. I was worried about belly button death and he said he doesn't "float" the belly button. He keeps it attached to the stalk and then uses extra stitches to attach the bb to the ab wall so that it doesn't move. He seemed to really enjoy my questions and at one point complimented me for asking such "advanced" questions. I was of course flattered but can't take all the credit. RealSelf women provided me with such a large amount of various knowledge! His nurse seemed like a warm bubbly mother type and I would feel very comfortable in her care. (definate contrast to PS#1 nurse) Several times she recieved texts from patients and responded right away. I am looking forward to an actual consultation to hear what the doctor will specifically recomend for my body. I am glad we went. I almost didn't go for fear that the open house would be too "hoity toity" and not wanting a bunch of people know I am interested in plastic surgery.