"Mommy" Makeover (TT with lipo and MR +BL no implants) After 80lb Weight Loss - Florida, NY

I'm a pretty private person, so posting a public blog on such a private matter like this is unnatural for me (and is why I'll be using a fake name and not revealing details like the name of my PS for now). But, like many others, I've gotten a lot of help from seeing the reviews here and wanted to add mine in case it might help someone else.

I have always struggled with my weight since I can remember. Throughout high school and college, I was obese. At my highest, I weighed 250 lbs. Over the last ten years, I've lost about 80 lbs through diet and exercise.

I have been hyper-aware and self-conscious about my tummy for as long as I remember. Growing up as an obese female is not easy and makes a permanent mark on your psyche. I know that I'm at around a "normal" weight/BMI (5'9'' and 170lbs). But it's hard to see that when I look in the mirror and fat rolls and droopy skin. It's been a really long, hard weight loss journey, and I'm ready to like what I see in the mirror.

So, I've opted for a "mommy" makeover ("mommy" in quotes since I don't have any children) to fix my droopy breasts and get rid of this tummy pooch that pokes out in my clothes and jiggles when I run. Surgery is scheduled for next Tuesday, June 21. I'm having a full tummy tuck with liposuction and a breast lift (anchor incision) with no implants. I considered implants--I'm tall and have a large frame that could accommodate something larger than my current 36B. But I'm a little uncomfortable with the idea of implants and I'm not really looking to get bigger--just looking for a better shape than what I have now.

I'm uploading some pre-op photos of my tummy. At the moment, I'm still a bit shy to post pictures of my bare breasts. But at some point I may get brave enough to post some!

Surgery is tomorrow! It's been a busy few days, getting everything settled before surgery. I have my electric lift recliner, a lot of pillows, plenty of DVDs. All the meds have been filled. I got in one last workout. One last Target run.

Before today, I had pretty much felt great about the surgery. No nerves or anxiety. But today, things changed. I'm just a little more on edge. I want everything to go right, so I get anxious when things aren't exactly like I had planned. But I expected to feel some nerves. Now to bed! Leaving late morning to go to surgery.

Made it through surgery and back home in my recliner. Reported to the surgery center at 12:30. They asked me some questions about my medical history and how I was feeling. Changed into a paper gown, gave a urine same for a pregnancy test. Signed some papers. Then the nurse took my blood pressure and temperature, and put the IV tube in. That was all done by around 1pm.

After that I had to wait a while for the doctor to mark me up, probably 45 minutes. I started getting sweaty and a little light headed at the end, probably from having not eaten or drunk anything for over twelve hours and having to stand up and being nervous.

Then I used the bathroom one last time and they took me into the operating room. I shed my clothes, laid on the table and put a blanket over me. They started the IV pretty soon after and I was out!

Waking up wasn't super pleasant. I could feel my incisions burning a little, and I was shaking a lot, although I wasn't really cold. I tried to take deep breaths, and the nurse gave me Demerol. Eventually she helped me get dressed and wheeled me outside where I got in the car. By that time the shaking had stopped.

I sipped cool water on the drive home, which helped get the yucky taste out of my mouth. I had a pillow behind my back during the ride, about 25 minutes. I brought the walker in the car, so I used that to help me get inside.

I'm now laid up in my recliner. Ate some crackers and some of a protein shake and took my first pain pill (Percocet) and a colace. Napped a half hour, now watching a movie. Overall I feel pretty good!