BBL by Dr. Cortes - Houston, TX

After having a tummy tuck revision, bracchioplasty and breast augmentation in 2011. with Dr. Cortes and loving my results, I decided to venture once again with cosmetic surgery and, once again, trusted my surgeon with putting a little more junk in my trunk! Last Wed, I went under and as much as I enjoyed everyone else's stories, I want to share mine.....in detail.

It's been almost three weeks since my surgery--and today for the first time since the surgery, I put on my jeans.....and in all honesty, I couldn't stop looking at my behind...lol. See, you have to understand one thing about me---I was always the "buttless" girl in the group and being Puerto Rican made it even worst as everyone expected me to have a big booty. Well, I didn't and when my mother in law made a comment about my behind or "lack thereof", I decided to go back to Dr. Cortes and finish what I started since he had already revised an old tummy tuck, my arms and my boobs and did an awesome job!

I gained some weight after my first procedures, so I was a little nervous about going back to the doctor. My shape never changed and neither did my waist but I hated my back and the fact that I didn't have that desired butt! I also knew that I needed to be realistic about my expectations. I couldn't expect the doctor to make miracles and I wanted him to tell me about the best he could do without doing an actual cut again and lifting my butt. See, I heal horribly and the last thing I wanted was another cut. Dr. Cortes, as always, was a sweetheart. He immediately sat with me and we discussed what I wanted. He was pleased that my expectations were realistic and I scheduled my surgery for April 24th! Yay!

Day of the surgery: For some reason, I was sooooo nervous. Not sure why. It wasn't the first time I go under for PS and I already knew the doc and his his hospital staff, yet, I was nervous and I voiced it to everyone that spoke to me!!! Once I was taken into the pre -anesthesia room, everyone made it a point of easing my fears. Dr. Cortes came in, spoke to me and truly made me feel so much better......but so did the cocktail they put in your IV as they roll you into surgery.....I was laughing at the nurses teasing each other and the next minute I heard "Ms. Ramos, can you turn yourself around", which I immediately did, feeling soreness all over, and then I heard "Oh, wow, she did that quick".....and I was being rolled to my room.

I don't remember much about getting to my room....except that I was beginning to feel more aware and was feeling less and less sleepy. I felt sore...and some pain, but truly not as horrible as I thought it would be. I made sure those pain meds kept coming though....just in case !!! lol.. I hated laying on my chest......I had my nipples done so that was a bit uncomfortable. The worst part?? lol....your butt facing the TV. I was bored out of my mind!!! I wanted to walk.....and so I had the nurse stay with me while I walked around the room. Truth is...I wanted to see what I look like. That is when I felt the butt.....I had no implants but it feels as though you have two bowls in each cheek...lol..again, no major pain thanks to the pain meds....but very uncomfortable.

My husband showed up with my daughter.....and after "wow" "omg" and "Dr. Cortes is my best friend" I figured he was happy..lol. I could barely sleep due to being so uncomfortable and I was hungry....(eating is very hard when you are on your stomach)...so I spent the night watching movies on my phone....Thank you Netflix....I would pass out but wake up again!
So the second day....I woke up a little more sore....but very awake. Once the catherer came out...I had to pee and ladies.....I couldn't sit on the toilet....the burning pain where the drain was at didn't allow me to.....so I learned to pee like a guy. Yes....we can do that too!! lol. If you learn the skill you will not wet the toilet. I was ready to go .....ready to get better! Dr. Cortes showed up and we talked a bit and he told me what he did...1000 cc's to each cheek and he said I could go home whenever I wanted to that day. I had no ride home until late....so turned myself around now that I was disconnected to everything and watched TV, but still falling asleep throughout the day. Finally my husband came to pick me up. I was able to walk all the way to my car....but getting in was the challenge.....I ended up laying accross the two back seats on pillows...butt up in the air...

Get someone that will care for you!! Don't do this alone. It is not easy. You will need help putting on your girdles...you will get dizzy a lot as you heal....you will need someone to help you with food and meds. I slept alot all the way up until Sunday. Tried to rest as much as I could as I knew I was going to go to work sooner than I should. Never sat....always with my butt up ! Five days after my surgery I went into work. It was horrible!!! Getting ready in the morning took forever but mainly because I would get so hot and dizzy ....I only made it half a day the first day!! I stood all day and made sure I wore compression stockings to help with my circulation. After the first week, I went home with legs the size of elephants, by the end of the weekend, all was down lol!

Second week was fine. Oh how I missed sitting on my behind!!Sleeping has still been hard because of the tossing and turning, but its better than before. My butt doesn't hurt....I don't think it really has ever. I think the pain has been more from the lipo on my legs and waist.. Black and blues are gone ....compared to the first week!

Now, here is something that I learned from the first set of surgeries, so I was ready....and this is something I did on my own, and it was never part of the instructions Dr. Cortes gave me, so if you decide to do it, its on you...but in my first set of surgeries the itching when healing was horrrrrrrrrible!!! I couldn't stand it and would jump in the shower hoping to get relief but sometimes it wa so unbearable I would scratch in my sleep till the spot was sore....so I bought two things that have helped me tremendously....one is a stinky cream called Sarna and the other is Allegra! One pill lasts 24 hours ....so I pop one and spread cream on me....and the itch is minimal!!! Big relief!!

Wed is week three and I am so happy with my results. Still swollen a bit but love the way I look. Still iffy about sitting even on the yoga roll....but I do when needed. Still sleeping with my butt up in the air.lol...

I love Dr. Cortes!! I know he will be my PS for life!