I Finally did it!!!- Dominican Republic

I needed time for myself however I didn't want to leave you guys hanging like other reviews and just disappear into thin air lol, eventually I will but most likely after 6 months. I don't do massages anymore, I've stopped since the last time I posted. I rub myself and use Icy hot. My skin is actually softer and doesn't feel hard anymore. I think the most swelling I have is in my back. The seroma is GONE....I thought that thing would last forever and it had me doing everything to fight it but eventually one done it gradually stopped and that was that. Swelling is real and I can feel tightness and pressure sometimes from the hernia and muscle repair. I was 175 pre op and not I am 162 post op but I am not sure where that went because I still look very think and curvy ( but I am thick). I am still very pleased with my results and I AM HAPPY :) I see the light at the end of the tunnel. I don't wear my faja often and prefer my corset over my faja....the next step is a spanx for me. I didn't like how the faja felt and the pain that I had when i had it on and the way it would dig into my sides, nor did i like the lipo board..so its just finding what works for me at this point. I am way more active, feeling like myself...but even better. I still do not push myself and I listen to my body to avoid any unnecessary grievances. Dr. Jose Goris in NYC IS GREAT...He is so very nice and attentive and just a humble and sweet person. He took out my stitches and gave me cream (Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream 0.1%) for my scar which I have been using. Since I am dark skin my scar has hyper-pigmentation, no keloid scar formation so far, I do notice some areas has hyperatrophic scarring but I am not concerned as those can diminish after awhile and this cream seems to be healing. My scar can be hidden well enough and I will post pictures. I am thankful for Medina she made me feel so much more confident. It has been a journey for me but it was worth it and I finally feel like myself again but a better 5.0 version lol. I will update with pictures and hopefully I was thorough :) Good luck ladies this journey is so worth doing

I am in my second stage faja (size small) and on the last hooks, i am trying my best to add extra compression to resolve this fluid collection that likes to linger and "bloat" my back. I have added warm compression for 15 minutes and because i don't have my lipo board as yet, I stuff some flexible coasters in my faja that seems to be doing the trick lol.
Tomorrow I am going to the doctor so I will report back on that. I am going to stop the massages in the meantime, until my incisions are more healed, i think my drain site is irritated from the last massage and i just want to give myself time to heal. The massages have been a bit stressful for me as well and I just need a break from that right now and heal and hopefully i can diminish this fluid in a week or two (hopefully less). Each day gets better and seeing my results motivates me immensely

I know i am suppose to be happy and over joyed, I have been wanting this for years, but oddly enough many post op ladies never talk about the mental and physical affects of surgery. My results are dramatic there is no denying that..Medina did her thing on my body, but the process of healing is mentally and physically draining. The start of my post op depression started with my drain...i was really disappointed when I was told that I would have to go home with it, I was barely draining and at my recovery house the nurse tried to remove the drain but had a hard time removing it due to a stitch that she couldn't see. I had incredible pain with that drain in and noticed my swelling had increase and it was hard for me to add compression with the nuisance of the drain, once i reached home I gave it a few days but realized it was hindering me and I started a three day journey of removing the drain. The drain is placed with two stitches on both sides, one where the reservoir is held and the other stitch on the opposite side. Anyway the stitch on the opposite was buried deep into my skin almost impossible to see, so for about three days i would try to pull it up with tweezers ( and i would feel the pressure of the god damn hellish drain), I gave up a few times until one early morning i said "F&6k THIS [RS bleep]" and decided that it had to go, so i fought until I seen the little knot of the stitch, clipped and pulled ( I took some beta blockers prior because I would have been shaking like a prostitute around a cop lmao), Once I clipped the stitch, I gently tugged on the drain ( I was scared out of mind and did it alone) at first it was uncomfortable so I took a breath, held a gauze to the exit site and slowly and firmly pulled...it didn't hurt..just felt weird and it came right out along with a nasty stringy clot and I realized I wasn't draining because my drain was clogged. I cleaned up the hole and covered it...ever since than I have been much better but the fluid is something that I constantly monitor and will have drain as frequently and safely as I can until I stop draining....

I have been collecting fluid in my stomach and back and I feel the flow of the fluids drip into my back from my stomach (which is a weird and warm feeling). The Stage one Faja Medina gave me was too large for me and I didn't purchase my second stage on time (however I add a load of compression and I can tell the difference) My belly was really swollen and full of liquid but ALOT of compression and the massages have made such a major difference. I think with my massages and compression, I will eventually stop collecting fluids and really work on shaping my body and heal aesthetically pleasing.


I went to Vivian for my massage today ( ladies if you are in Nyc please do yourself a favor and go do your massages...they drain your fluids if you have, they have machines ( sorry i don't know the name of the machines lol) but you can totally feel the difference afterwards

I feel like my aftercare is kinda of left up to me. I do get an immediate response if I have a question and or concern, but being so far away from my doctor, my worries and concerns cannot be addressed they way I would have preferred, thankfully I have Dr. Medina's recommended doctor Dr. Goris (who I will be seeing on December 8th, hopefully to get these stitches removed on my belly button and I have him check to make sure I removed all the stitches from the drain as well.

This surgery process is draining...in every aspect. Please be aware if you have a hernia you have to pay extra, massages are very much needed and I can see them lasting for months especially if you are like me and collecting fluid and you don't want to jeopardize the outcome of your shape. You will be constantly spending on things....sorry if it is random and all over the place just wanted to express as much as I can humanly can right now..so sorry for the jumbled rant lol