40 Year Old Mom of 3 Ready to Get my Sexy Back.

Ok I wasn't sure how early was too early to start a review but I figured what the hay... go for it!! I'm ready to do this for me and since I'm done having babies I think it's time. I recently had my daughter in February and I'm looking to have a TT/MR, BL/BA, BBL, Lipo to full back, flanks, armpits and thighs and possibly hernia repair. I live in the Chicagoland area and I've done research and I have consultations scheduled locally however the work I've seen on the top recommended doctors here in Chicago is great but it doesn't give me the look I'm going for which is more of an hourglass shape (waist snatch)and while I'm sure they can give that look I'd just rather work with someone who's well versed in that standard instead of having to train someone and then it doesn't come out how I want it. So I'm going to the DR!!!!! Now I have my reservations don't get me wrong.... not with the doctors but the post care. As easy as it would be to have surgery here and have my surgeon local and tangible should something go wrong but I figure with my PCP on board, communication with my surgeon In the DR and the nearest emergency room I should be good.

My plan is to stay at least the 10 days that is suggested 6 days in a recovery house and have my hubby come around Day 6 and then we stay in a hotel/condo this way I will have support traveling home. I am looking to have my surgery with Dra. Tania Medina in late January or early February depending on how it will fit best with my employer. I have contacted her and received my quote but have not put down my deposit until I get back to work from my maternity leave to see what the schedule will be. I am in the beginning phases so everything is tentative right now including the surgeon the dates and recovery homes. I've been reading night and day reviews on RealSelf, FB, You Tube and IG. I've had the pleaser of finding individuals such as Shan Bennette on YT who Vlogged her journey recently and it was so very helpful. She also had her surgery with Dra. Medina and In The process she and her surgery buddies established an IG group (sxbuddies) that helps people find surgery buddies which is great.

Now one big concern I have is that I will have an almost 1 year old at the time of surgery and I know you are not suppose to heavy lift for up to 6 weeks post op and I'm not sure how I'm going to swing that while dad is at work during the day. I'm thinking we will have to take her to daycare but again I haven't figured out all the details yet so those who have gone through something similar or will be going through it please share your recommendations or solutions.

The. Ext steps for me is to schedule an appointment with my PCP to get my annual for the year and have my Hemo levels checked and fully discuss this with her and see what other preparations she would suggest beforehand. I'll start my supplements and work to get this weight off. If you have any suggestions on that as well I'd greatly appreciate it. Remember I can't "diet" per se as I am still breastfeeding but any alternative suggestions would be great!

I've posted some before pictures of me at my current weight and some of me closer to my goal weight. My stats currently are 5'8" 240lbs and My lowest weight was 165 but I'm most comfortable around 180. Anyway I'm excited and scared at the same damn time. I can't wait to get this done and be the sexy mama I use to be.

So I've found Real Self to be an excellent resource and I'm on here Every. Single. Day! It just get sometimes disparaging when you follow someone or read through their review from the beginning only to find out that they've stopped updating either before they had surgery or immediately after. It makes me concerned for them and wonder if all went well with their surgery or post complications. Some just give up because they aren't getting the traffic to their page like they'd like however some people like myself prefers to look back at old reviews to see how their complete experience went with a doctor that I'm considering. So I TRULY appreciate those who continue to post as it the reason why we're all here. ANYWAY in addition to RS I've found other avenues that are just as helpful. A few people on YouTube...Shan Bennette, Ni'chelle Ka'oir, PinupdollAshleyMarie, HouseofHaute, and Nikita Mattison to name a few are some of the people who have helped me with a lot of my questions. I watched pinupdollashleymarie bbl video last night from start to finish. All 64 minutes of it and for the first time had teservations on getting surgery, totally pumped my breaks. She gave me some things to think about but I know it's only a temporary spook and I will be back on the surgery train soon. Luckily I still have some time before my wanted date of surgery otherwise I'd totally cancel all plans, but it's surgery and there are some reservations to be expected and all I can do is continue my research and pray to our Heavenly Father and his Son that I make it through. Now that pain???????? LORDT I am not ready!!!!!! Facebook and IG are also good references and there are usually private or closed groups that you can join to talk to others who have been or are going through the same thing as you. So for anyone who is needing additional resources please visit these other avenues as well as RS so that you can be completely informed on all there is to know. I can honestly say that it's helping me see all perspectives of things.

I've read reviews on Dr. Robert Frank here on RS and I've heard of one or two ladies in my FB group who has had procedures by him and they all rave about his service and bedside manner. So I decided to request a consult via his website which I did on a Friday and I was contacted that following Monday. I was familiar with his location area as I use to live in the vicinity. The office was nice and upon walking in I went to the counter and the first thing the lady behind the desk said was I'll be with you in a minute. I proceeded to say"hello" and then a fake "hiiiiii" emitted from her mouth. my first thought was I hope this isn't how the rest of the visit is going to be? At first I wondered if it was just me that she didn't speak to but the same thing happened upon another lady walking in. I'm convinced that she just doesn't like to speak and if that's the case then she shouldn't be at the front window. Anyway after about 20 minutes I was called back by Lisa who is the person I was communicating with via email. She was extremely more approachable, she put me in a room where I told her what procedure I wanted and she showed me pictures of previous patients on an iPad. About 5 minutes later Dr.Frank came in and as all the raves say he was extremely nice and had a great bedside (chairside) manner :). We discussed what procedures I wanted and we went over questions and then he took me next door to the examining room to look at my body. Once done Lisa came in and gave me my quote and went over financing options and then I was on my way.

Overall I liked the office. The surgery center that he would perform my procedure is in Merrillville which I'm also familiar with and it's about 10-12 miles from his office. Overall a good experience. I would give the consult a 4/5. Had the welcoming committee (front desk) been more pleasant and customer service focused I would give them 5/5.