My Self Confidence Regaining Journey - Dominican Republic, DO

1) Lets start with the about me portion. I am a mom, to an amazing 7yr old girl and fiancé to an incredible man (wedding 10/19/14). My fiancé is not the biological father, however he makes it his duty to be with every action to makes. Blessed. But importantly does NOT want me to have plastic sx. AT ALL. He loves me and doesn't see a need to change and also, a piece of me thinks he doesn't want any extra attention thrown to his (future) wife.
Understandably- but this isn't about the outside world, thankfully this isn't about my fiancé either. This is about me. Getting my confidence back- the "sexy" back if you will. I already feel sexy but this would, I feel, be life changing.

2) So I've been lurking and stalking and have arrived at Dr. Baez. I will note that I am still very much in the planning phase and looking to have sx year next year, Feb-April sometime. I initially wanted the works! Lol! Breast! TT! And BBL! However I'm getting married and I don't want to (God forbid) have complications. So to power to lower the risks I've come to the decision o just tt/bbl.

3) Stats: 28yrs old, 172lbs, appx. 5'4

If you have any questions let me know

So I wanted to attach an email I received from the good doctor to show those of you who are still timid and the considering/ planning phase. And to properly document this journey.

Hello
Thank you for thinking of me for an evaluation of plastic surgery, for realization of all the surgeries you requested the most important thing is that you must be healthy and the cardiologist must approve that we can perform all procedures. Price for the surgeries that you are requesting tummy tuck, liposculture to arms, abdomen, waist, back, flanks plus Brazilian butt lift is US$ 3800 dollars if you add breast lift with mentor implants is 5500 dollars, which includes:
-Airport pick up
-evaluation by plastic surgeon
-Chest X-ray
-EKG
-Cardiovascular evaluation
- Laboratory exams
-Anesthesia
-Surgeries
-Overnight stay in the clinic
-First compressive garment
-Free of charge follow ups
-Medication post-surgery (antibiotics and analgesics)
- Lymphatic drain massages and ultrasound massages are not included , cost is 300 dollars extra
You must weight under 180 pounds to have surgery and good results. Dates for next year are only available till April, dates from May and summer time will be schedule at the end of the year. If you have any clinical condition you must obtain clearance from your doctor, if you smoke you must quit two months before surgery and have clearance of your pulmonologist. The amount of fat transfer to your buttocks depends on how many cc can be extracted with liposuction. Your results also depend on your hemoglobin level if you want to get excellent results you really have to be healthy and no anemia. I recommend you to begin taking vitamins (C and B complex, folic acid, iron) and please ask your primary can doctor to take some blood test like glycaemia, full blood cell count and creatinine at least to know if you can have all surgeries done.
Important info:
Your date for surgery is important because I work from Monday to Friday. I just have one patient per day (I also have to go to a public hospital to perform reconstructive surgeries) and days available for surgery are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, you also have to arrive one day before surgery to be evaluated and have lab work done, if you are arriving early is better for you because lab test can be done from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm.
Medication included in you package are antibiotics, analgesics and gastric protection medication, all drugs provided are given to take by mouth. Massages are not included. Your compressive garment included is a Fajate’s brand item if you want one more garment it cost 120-150 dollars.
I work with a team, my cardiologist will evaluate you and my anesthesiologist will examine you and discuss what type of anesthesia suits you right, you might have epidural block or general anesthesia. Anesthesiologist and cardiologist have the last word about how many procedures can be done safely on you.
If you are aiming to have a breast augmentation, there are several brands of implants but all are silicone gel implants (Mentor, Eurosilicone, Motiva and Donasis) depending on the brand you choose then your quote might be lower or higher.
If you smoke or use addictive drugs you must quit them, two or three months before surgery and two months after too in order to get good results and no complications. Plastic surgeries are for healthy people or those who have any clinical condition but are under control, if you have any disease you have to consult and get approval of your doctor before surgery.
If you need transportation or a recovery house, there are several in the Santo Domingo area, I don’t work with an exclusive recovery house. You can hire a taxi driver at a recovery house, from my office or from yellow pages, a round trip from my office to the place you are staying it costs about 10 dollars. Recovery houses are the best place to stay as they can offer all services but some patients don’t feel fine staying there, I don’t have a preferred one. You can hire a nurse (around 2000 Dominican pesos for her services, nurses don’t know much English) if you want to stay in a hotel. I work at Instituto de Cirugia Especializada. This is a link in Google maps with the location of my clinic and the second it is a link for small hotels in Santo Domingo, you can stay at other renowned hotels too.

https://plus.google.com/114324799365990290734/about?hl=es-419

http://santodomingohotels.com.do/home_en.php
You will have to stay in Santo Domingo from 10 -14 days depending on the surgeries you will get. You will be able to get back to your work in two weeks (average). Your follow up visits are included and you don’t have to pay more money for them, you will have to pay only if you receive any service that was not previously included.
I know some English but I can’t speak fluently, my assistant will help me in your evaluation to have a better communication.
It is not necessary to deposit to my bank account to lock a surgery date, you just have to confirm your surgery 3 weeks before traveling here but you can if you are willing to do it. I just accept cash and payments with credit cards have a 10% taxes by the clinic. This is how you can deposit/wire, you can transfer total cost of your surgery. You can do this from now or when you have everything set for your surgery. Once you go to a JP Chase Morgan Bank ask to deposit money in a bank in Dominican Republic, this is the info for the deposit:
Bank: Banco Popular Dominicano
Account Number: 778276212
Swift code: BPDODOSXXXX
Recipient: Australia Altagracia Fragoso Báez
I don’t have paypal account and I don’t like to receive money by western union as I don’t have enough time to get the money. Once you deposit the money you can send me an email and i will confirm that everything is ok. If you have a problem you have deposit some money I can send it back to you. Questions or doubts about the price or the elements included in your surgery package just email and I will reply as fast as I can.

Sincerely,

Australia Fragoso Baez, MD.
Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery.
http://www.draustraliafragoso.com/

So ive been doing some snooping and found email for a recovery house and taxi man that seems to be trusted and had very pleasant experiences from what I've read.

1)Taxi service:
josebrito34@hotmail
"For $40 he will pick you up from the airport and take you to the clinic and your hotel. $10 for a roundtrip from your hotel to the clinic, expect at least 3 trips"

2)Yazmin's Recovery House
ysamik@hotmail.com

3)Massage-- mixed still. I read she use to include but doesn't anymore. Will update as I find things out.

Ugh! I was extremely RELUCTANT to post images because I am soo self conscious but-- I have decided to share my body with you guys to help someone who may be considering sx- and for any prospective SX sisters...

I'm not looking for perfection...but anything close to this would be AMAZING for me

I have a three bedroom apt, which can fit up to 4 girls at the time. Me and my mom will personally take care of you.
Right now I am charging us 45.00 for a share room and us 55.00 for a single private room, that includes; transportation from and to Airport and all the doc's appointment's , including when you go take your messages, a two to three times per day nurse check up, and clean up, and three meals, juice with each meal,(please if you are a snacker, bring it or I'll take you to the Supermarket when you arrive, bec in order to keep the price down, I just offer the three meals) and before you guys go back home I will personally take you to sight seeing our city, the Colonial Zone and/or to visit our malls, so that you guys leave with the feelings that you
were in vacation :) :)


Another thing, if you come with a buddy, who comes with you the same day and leave the same day, we can have you for both at us 75.00 ( a very good deal, but , plz must come the same day and leave the same day, so that I just do one trip to both airport and clinics and i'll cut costs).

Said she had a pleasant experience so I think this will be my place

I've spoken with the doctor, I'm scheduled in June. I wanted to wait later so my daughter would be out of school and spending the summer with her father. Better for me to recoup...

VERY EXCITED

So I seen a report of a poor girl that went to DR for sx and suffered a pulmonary embolism. My heart dropped. Am I doing the right thing? I'm getting married this year. I'm a mother! Ugh... All these thoughts swarming... But I decided I am still going. That could happen anywhere USA or elsewhere....

My passport is here and am booking my flight to DR on Tuesday... I heard that's the cheapest day to book so...

Passport?
Flights?
Deposit on RH?

With those done I'm now gathering all my supplies and starting a vitamin regime, I'm only talking b-12, iron and c ... My hemo levels were 13.4 (seen my PCP).

I'm seriously going to say "I want the biggest butt and widest hips you've ever made". Read too many blogs about shrinkage and not being pleased because it wasn't a full enough

I had a dream that is was just after surgery... Flat tummy and a big boobs.
I was looking at myself, then POOF-- awakened.

I'm soo excited and nervous... I just wish it was June already.

And yes, I added new boobs to the menu...

For the sake of safety (as I am NOT in optimal shape) and an easier recovery I've opted to nix the boobies gettin done. Can have them done later...

I attended a wedding, I honestly didn't want to see anyone right before my sx but what could I do? Shot gun wedding.

I looked soo fat in my pictures. Ugh. I know they say the camera adds 10lbs but it looked about 20!!

I wanna get there, let the good doctor work her magic and make it back state side. Like I've read on a few blogs, I really want this to be the starting point to loose more weight because I don't want lipo on my arms (I refuse to wear compression garments on my arms in the summer) or my neck so... I'd need the rest to match my new middle.
The count down to my wedding looms.

I'm aaaaaalmost there... Come on, HURRY UP!!

Soo, I generally use orthoEvra as my birth control but did not start this cycle because I've read articles about how it increases risk of blood clots. With the flying just 9 days after surgery, I want to minimize all risks. I've also purchased compression socks for circulation...

She just wanted to confirm that i was ready for my trip, i am- im beside myself with excitement. I also had a brief exchange with yazmine, she will have someone there for my at the airport and w3ill confirm my landing time 1 or 2 days before. I told Baez in the email that i wanted the biggest butt and the widest hips she's ever made -that ive heard too many stories about shrinking booties. Also asked if she could do lipo on my arms and inner thighs and she said she could do both as long as my blood was here it needed to be. saftey first with her. and yea i added arms i hope 4 weeks in a compression garment will be enough for my arms because 4th of july weekend will be a pool party at my house with friends and family... my fiance was kinda staring at my arms the other day when i broke out the tank top this year....le siiigh!!!
i just want to reiterate the he does not want me to have surgery at all. he loves me the way i am... im just hung up on my own insecurities... and while im there under the knife if she can fix it-- why not??

Had a dream I could see my insides from my tummy tuck incision. UGH. Creeped me out.

I'm equal parts super nervous and super excited. I've been exchanging email with one of the girls on RS and alerted me to a terrible review on Yazmine's house. Sonce im booked and have basically paid for my entire stay, all I could do was send her an email expressing my concerns... No wifi, no a/c... Tents?!?!

HELL TO THE NO, NO.

I can't live like that. Even if its only 10 days! I did book a single room so hopefully that makes all the difference...

Time is passing slowly.
Ive printed my boarding pass and that has me all kinds of restless... lol!!

#EXCiTED

no real updates- Im just here at work counting down the days... I land in santo domingo around 11:30a on Monday and was told to be at the clinic at 3p for labs on.

Im ready to go, go GooOOoooOo!!!

Anyway... after trolling I've found exactly what i want to look like after surgery.

Tomorrow I fly out to Orlando tonmakena pit stop at my moms, drop my daughter off, get some shut eye and make my way to Santo Domingo early morning.

#Hype

Leave for Orlando soon. I'll be away from my hunny bun for 20 days... 3 long weeks. Ugh.

Honestly all I can hope for is that I make it to "the flat side"

3 flights in 24hrs is a little hectic! Lol. Just waiting here in MIA to board to SDQ.

I made it! Lol, yazmin's is great.
It's not a five star hotel but I have my own room, tv, bathroom, wifi signal is strong and staff is friendly- which is all I was looking for. Driver was at the main entrance of the airport waiting for me with a piece of paper with my name on it. Great guy-I will say that here they have utter disregard for street signs and signal. Anything goes! Lol

I would suggest using the tourist card kiosk located to the right of the long ass line you'll see, it's in Spanish so USA in Spanish is something that starts with an "E". I forget. Just stick your $10 in and your off.

Barring my being pregnant I'm cleared for surgery. I'm the first one in, leaving here at 6a. The doctor is, as EVERYONE else has reviewed, an absolute sweetly pie who is working on her English.

Seen another RS sister there in the office, which I will say purely for description purposes, is small. None of that bothers me- I would prefer someone who takes their time and is worried about my safety than someone who does 4-5 girls a day. There was another girl in there while I was there that said she was getting a tummy tuck and breast but the doctor did not want to perform the breast surgery because her blood levels weren't where they needed to be. And she was greatful!

Ladies I know we are all indulging in medical tourism because it's cost effective and we want to look sexy HOWEVER it is a N O T worth loosing your life. Don't go in search of a doctor that will do what the other one said they wouldn't. I read a review of someone who did that and it shocked me. ShiiiiiiiiiT, I'm not trying to die here, I trust and respect her opinion.

Bathing in antibacterial tonight and tomorrow morning as directed and not food after 10. I'm about to eat my din-din now at 6:16p and retire to my iPad for Netflix...

WiSH ME LUCK EVERYONE!!!!
And send my a shout out if you're the praying type.

Hit y'all on the coveted "Flat side"

I'm back at the recovery house... Just tenderness where all the lipo was, that's it really. My mom was calling here to get and keep my fiancé updated.... There isn't wifi at the hospital so you can forget about that...

Welp for now I'm resting and watching netflix...
Updated y'all later and thank you for all your well wishes!!

My recovery is going well. I trey to make a lap here and there at the recovery house, the doc said no to just lay in bed all day- so I don't and every day is better. The ONLY thing that is REeEEEALLY killing me, is sleeping on my back. It's awful. I fkin hate it! Can't stand it, I could go on and on.

Other than that, missing home and the swell hell, things are moving right along...

Had a follow up today and caught a glimpse of my new body... AMAZING! Line is clean and thin, right on the panty line, she killed it! I have hips where depressions once were... Honestly she's the best. I was avoiding massages because I just didn't want anyone touching my back- it's entirely sore from the lipo... But she was very instant on my getting them so.
And to get my stage 2 garment, and get a seamstress to the stomach in on the faja...

Everything is moving right along.

I did lay in a mound if pillows on my stomach last night. I couldn't take it anymore and it was- magical.

Also TMI- had my first bowl movement since Monday- also magical, lol!

Soo happy to see that tattoo gone.