POSTED UNDER Mommy Makeover REVIEWS
37 y/o, 2 Kids, with Diastasis Recti, Gets a Mommy Makeover (Natrelle 375cc)!!!m
ORIGINAL POST
Hi Ladies I finally decided to go from "stalker"...
kdiggs2017December 22, 2017
WORTH IT$13,980
Hi Ladies
I finally decided to go from "stalker" to "poster." I have been looking on this site since I decided to get surgery several months ago. I am posting so that I can contribute. Especially for those who might be in similar situations (i.e., African American women who can see the healing process or slim-build women who want to pick the right implant size). I will also be able to document my recovery and see the progression!
Okay so I will make this as concise as possible...
Pre-baby stomach: I was always slim. Couldn't gain weight if I tried. Had perfect 6-pack abs. I was always athletic in high school and college. I stayed around 120lbs or less at 5' 7." My mother in law was worried that I would not be able to feed my husband because I was so thin.
Pre-baby breasts: Pretty flat my whole life. I got up to a mid-B cup with a 32-34". The area above the breasts was flat like a board which always made me self-conscious.
Baby #1: After my first child my stomach developed Diastasis Recti (abdominal muscle separation). I went to physical therapy which helped to strengthen my muscles. My stomach had the faintess pouch after I finished physical therapy which I could live with. I didn't breast feed with my first. I pumped for 1 month and my breasts looked similar to pre-baby (moderate B cup).
Baby #2: After my second child the Diastasis Recti was more severe. I went back to physical therapy which helped but the outcome was not as good. I looked 4 months pregnant naked. Also after baby #2 (I pumped for 6 months) my breasts were saggy and deflated (maybe A cup/small B). I started going to the gym and running 3 miles 3-5 days/week. I trained for a 5K. I did Mutu Mommas program for the abs. Still I couldn't manage to not look pregnant. I talked to the OB who said you will not likely see any further improvement in your abs (at the visit 6-months post partum). I remember feeling bad one day when my 3- year old son said "Mommy do you have a baby in your belly" and I was about 8-months postpartum. At my 37th birthday (9 months postpartum) I decided -"Enough is enough...I've done everything in my power to improve my Diastasis Recti and I can't so I'm getting surgery!!!"
CONSULTATIONS: I went to 3 different consultations. I didn't really prepare prior to the consultation which I regret not doing. I told him I wanted a full C but I did not go over the cc's equivalent with the doctor. Nor did I try on sizers/have a 3d rendering of what my breasts might look like. I was more focused on the tummy tuck. I totally let the surgeon decide on the implant shape, texture, and size (which I don't recommend).
If I had it to do over I would have looked on this site for a month before the consultation so I would know exactly what questions to ask. I will expand on this later. Anyway I decided during one of the consultations that since I will get surgery anyway, I might as well also have a breast augmentation. I felt like since I am going under general anesthesia. I thought - since my body took such a hit with motherhood I might also well improve my breasts (since I was always a touch self conscious about them). Note I would have NEVER gotten breast augmentation if I didn't get a tummy tuck. My small breast would have been fine. However, when in Rome... ;)
SURGERY (Dec 7, 2017): I went to Dr. Heller's Staten Island surgical center. It was very nice aesthetically. My husband and I were treated very nicely and immediately attended to. No complications were noted and we drove home without issue.
RECOVERY: The first 4 days were brutal. Even with the Percocet and Flexeril (muscle relaxer) there was break-thru pain and discomfort from the tummy tuck. The breasts were fine and if there was pain, it was overshadowed by the stomach pain. My surgeon likes to make the scar as low as possible (THANK GOD) which makes recovery more brutal. I pushed myself to walk to the bathroom which was an ordeal. Tummy tucks are no joke. I was not aware that they require you to walk with a stooped-over posture for weeks so you get better healing. So after my stomach pain resolved, there was tremendous back pain from bending all the time. I used the heating pad daily.
FIRST LOOK: Initially I was not happy with my body. I felt like my breast implant was too big (Natrella Inspira 365cc round gummy bears). Also my nipples seemed to be pointing downward. I also noticed that Dr. Heller had to keep my old belly button at the incision. He said that he did not have enough skin to close me if he cut it off. He also said he had to bend me over during the surgery to close my incision (hence the painful recovery). I was calling and texting him constantly because I was worried I'd made a mistake. He was very nice about it and immediately answered all my questions.
SECOND WEEK: Thank God for this site. I researched daily. I found that the nipples may point down initially since (1) the implant is still high and (2) you are walking slumped over. I also learned from Dr. Heller that if the skin above the TT scar (which has my old belly button) doesn't heal well, he can always correct it after 6 months in the office with local anesthesia. I like how I look already so I can only imagine the results in another 3-6 months.
I finally decided to go from "stalker" to "poster." I have been looking on this site since I decided to get surgery several months ago. I am posting so that I can contribute. Especially for those who might be in similar situations (i.e., African American women who can see the healing process or slim-build women who want to pick the right implant size). I will also be able to document my recovery and see the progression!
Okay so I will make this as concise as possible...
Pre-baby stomach: I was always slim. Couldn't gain weight if I tried. Had perfect 6-pack abs. I was always athletic in high school and college. I stayed around 120lbs or less at 5' 7." My mother in law was worried that I would not be able to feed my husband because I was so thin.
Pre-baby breasts: Pretty flat my whole life. I got up to a mid-B cup with a 32-34". The area above the breasts was flat like a board which always made me self-conscious.
Baby #1: After my first child my stomach developed Diastasis Recti (abdominal muscle separation). I went to physical therapy which helped to strengthen my muscles. My stomach had the faintess pouch after I finished physical therapy which I could live with. I didn't breast feed with my first. I pumped for 1 month and my breasts looked similar to pre-baby (moderate B cup).
Baby #2: After my second child the Diastasis Recti was more severe. I went back to physical therapy which helped but the outcome was not as good. I looked 4 months pregnant naked. Also after baby #2 (I pumped for 6 months) my breasts were saggy and deflated (maybe A cup/small B). I started going to the gym and running 3 miles 3-5 days/week. I trained for a 5K. I did Mutu Mommas program for the abs. Still I couldn't manage to not look pregnant. I talked to the OB who said you will not likely see any further improvement in your abs (at the visit 6-months post partum). I remember feeling bad one day when my 3- year old son said "Mommy do you have a baby in your belly" and I was about 8-months postpartum. At my 37th birthday (9 months postpartum) I decided -"Enough is enough...I've done everything in my power to improve my Diastasis Recti and I can't so I'm getting surgery!!!"
CONSULTATIONS: I went to 3 different consultations. I didn't really prepare prior to the consultation which I regret not doing. I told him I wanted a full C but I did not go over the cc's equivalent with the doctor. Nor did I try on sizers/have a 3d rendering of what my breasts might look like. I was more focused on the tummy tuck. I totally let the surgeon decide on the implant shape, texture, and size (which I don't recommend).
If I had it to do over I would have looked on this site for a month before the consultation so I would know exactly what questions to ask. I will expand on this later. Anyway I decided during one of the consultations that since I will get surgery anyway, I might as well also have a breast augmentation. I felt like since I am going under general anesthesia. I thought - since my body took such a hit with motherhood I might also well improve my breasts (since I was always a touch self conscious about them). Note I would have NEVER gotten breast augmentation if I didn't get a tummy tuck. My small breast would have been fine. However, when in Rome... ;)
SURGERY (Dec 7, 2017): I went to Dr. Heller's Staten Island surgical center. It was very nice aesthetically. My husband and I were treated very nicely and immediately attended to. No complications were noted and we drove home without issue.
RECOVERY: The first 4 days were brutal. Even with the Percocet and Flexeril (muscle relaxer) there was break-thru pain and discomfort from the tummy tuck. The breasts were fine and if there was pain, it was overshadowed by the stomach pain. My surgeon likes to make the scar as low as possible (THANK GOD) which makes recovery more brutal. I pushed myself to walk to the bathroom which was an ordeal. Tummy tucks are no joke. I was not aware that they require you to walk with a stooped-over posture for weeks so you get better healing. So after my stomach pain resolved, there was tremendous back pain from bending all the time. I used the heating pad daily.
FIRST LOOK: Initially I was not happy with my body. I felt like my breast implant was too big (Natrella Inspira 365cc round gummy bears). Also my nipples seemed to be pointing downward. I also noticed that Dr. Heller had to keep my old belly button at the incision. He said that he did not have enough skin to close me if he cut it off. He also said he had to bend me over during the surgery to close my incision (hence the painful recovery). I was calling and texting him constantly because I was worried I'd made a mistake. He was very nice about it and immediately answered all my questions.
SECOND WEEK: Thank God for this site. I researched daily. I found that the nipples may point down initially since (1) the implant is still high and (2) you are walking slumped over. I also learned from Dr. Heller that if the skin above the TT scar (which has my old belly button) doesn't heal well, he can always correct it after 6 months in the office with local anesthesia. I like how I look already so I can only imagine the results in another 3-6 months.
kdiggs2017's provider
UPDATED FROM kdiggs2017
15 days post
Recovery is a journey
kdiggs2017December 23, 2017
I’m a perfectionist so I had high expectations after surgery. However @ 1 week post-op....when I saw the swollen belly with a scar that kept my old belly button and stretch marks that were previously above my belly button - I was disappointed. I was also disappointed by the look of my implants (365cc, round, natrella inspira, smooth) because Dr Heller picked the size during surgery (I told him I wanted to be a full C but didn’t discuss the cc size). I also didn’t like how my nipples pointed down. Thank God for this site. I spent every night looking at pictures and reviews which reassured me that as the implants settle my nipples won’t seem to point down. Also I realized that my stomach would flatten more as the swelling went down.
Now @ 2 weeks post-op I am so happy with my results and I know it’s only going to get better with time!!!
Now @ 2 weeks post-op I am so happy with my results and I know it’s only going to get better with time!!!
Replies (4)
December 26, 2017
Girl! You look awesome! MM ‘chocolate’ twins too?!?! That’s Awesome! How did you fair over the holidays? I feel like I ate too much and paying for it now lol!
December 28, 2017
You look awesome too twin!!! Yes. I ate all I wanted for the holidays. Now I’m back to portion control. I didn’t tell my whole family but a few family members seemed to notice that “I kept my breast feeding boobs”...lol.
February 3, 2018
Looks great post 2 weeks! At this time what were u able to do physically? Stand up straight, pull a shirt over your head, wear regular jeans (did it irritate or feel uncomfortable on ur incision line?). I have my mommy makeover in 1 week eek!
February 6, 2018
Thanks! At 2 weeks post-op I could not stand up straight but I was able to return to work, drive, not use pain medications, and wear regular jeans. Good luck with your upcoming surgery. It was truly one of the best investments I have made in myself!
UPDATED FROM kdiggs2017
21 days post
3 weeks post-op
kdiggs2017December 28, 2017
I am more and more pleased with my results each week. I am so glad I got both procedures (tummy tuck and breast augmentation) at once. Recovery has been painful and I would hate to go through it twice. I am now very comfortable. I have not needed pain meds in 2 weeks (only took them the first week). I am just waiting to be able to stand up completely straight. At Christmas my cousin said I am hunched over like my mom. Lol! I will take pictures and post them later. Not much changes since last week really although my incision is healing pretty nicely. I need a bikini wax but I will wait until 6-8 weeks post. I also want to exercise! I really miss the gym. I am just counting down until the next appointment with my PS in 3 weeks because that will mean I can be cleared for (1) sex, (2) gym, (3) no daily gauze?, and (4) bikini wax. Pictures will come later today!!!
Replies (2)