50 Years Young - Time for a Fresh New Start - Indianapolis, IN

When I was a young girl, I had always been tall, thin and flat chested (32A). At the time, that was OK because my sister, 3 years older, was always super flat chested (I mean, even worse than me) and when she turned 18, she just BLOSSOMED. (I mean like 32F!) So I always kept thinking, my time will come when I turn 18! Well, 18 came (nothing), and then 28 (nothing), and then 38 (nothing), finally by 48, I realized, if I was ever going to "blossom", I was going to have to make it happen; it wasn't coming on it's own.

I think I first started really thinking about having a BA when I was 39, after the birth of my third child. I nursed all my babies and loved the way I looked nursing, but then I would stop and things would go back to even worse than before I got pregnant. I went to see a female plastic surgeon (somehow thinking that a female would be more understanding of my motives; don't buy into that line of thinking, ladies! Couldn't be more wrong!) My visit was terrible! Even before I had made the decision to have surgery, I was made to undress for pictures. (Very uncomfortable when you've just walked in the door for the very first time, but if you didn't do the pictures, the doctor wouldn't see you.) Anyway, I repeatedly told her that I wanted to look natural and to be a full B/small C (at the time, that was what I wanted) and she kept telling me, oh no, you want to go bigger than that...everyone wishes they had gone bigger. As I kept repeating myself and she kept repeating herself, I realized, she was not listening to me at all and I walked out of the office. That was 11 years ago, but still the thought of bigger breasts and a tighter tummy lingered.

Fast forward to 7 years ago when my marriage ended. As a middle aged woman, I felt very self conscious in a bathing suit or in lingerie. No one ever complained, but I always compared myself to other women and felt inadequate. About 2 1/2 years ago I looked into the idea of natural breast enhancement and the Bravada system. It has been shown to give some clinically significant results and I thought I might give that a try. But the product is expensive ($1,000+) for something that may or may not bring much change. So instead, I started Googling and found a product from the UK called the Noogleberry system. It worked under a similar principle as the Bravada system but was much less expensive. (I think my Noogleberry cost me less than $80.) Anyway, so I began noogling and actually got some fairly good results. (I went from a 32A to a 34A/B.) Nothing dramatic. I was happier, but it wasn't as large as I had hoped to be, but still, better than before.

So, fast forward December 2, my initial consult with Dr. Fata. (Can I just say, he's the BEST plastic surgeon in Indianapolis!!! Absolute best!) Anyway, my initial consult with Dr. Fata really had nothing to do with breast augmentation or a tummy tuck. In fact, I went to see Dr. Fata about my face (which I swear, my cheeks are falling to my chin, but he says not true, lol.) So, I wanted to see him about that. But since I have to pay an initial consultation fee, I decide I'm going to throw every procedure in the book I've ever thought about at him - BA, tummy tuck and face. He starts with my breast exam and all I can say is, the difference between my first experience with the woman doctors 11 years ago and Dr. Fata was night and day. I immediately felt comfortable with him and he took every word I said seriously about what I was trying to accomplish. While the first woman took pictures on visit one, Dr. Fata took precise measurements so that he could make the perfect recommendation in terms of size to help me reach my desired look. For my small frame, he said I could go anywhere from 300cc to 350cc. I opted in the middle and went with 325cc and couldn't be happier. For the abdominoplasty, I really was very fortunate and didn't have much to do, but I knew that the results would make the breast augmentation look even better. Finally, we talked about my cheeks falling off of my face. He does something called a thread facelift and I wanted to know what that was about. Dr. Fata said that I was absolutely NOT needing a face lift of any kind, now or anytime soon, and that what I was experiencing was a loss of volume in my cheeks because I was so thin. He suggested I try Juvéderm VOLUMA to plumb up the volume in my cheeks and that will restore the look I am hoping for. I hope to have that procedure in the next couple of weeks.

So the next part of my appointment was to try on sizers and meet with Donette, his assistant and surgery coordinator. All I can tell you is, I immediately fell in love with her. It was like we had been best friends forever. Donette told that when you combine 2 or more procedures together there a savings in terms of both the surgeon' fees and the OR cost. So if I was ever going to do it, not was the time for both. I felt absolutely no pressure to go forward with anything. It was all up to me. I called her the very next day and 10 days after my first appointment, I was on the books for my BA and mini tummy tuck.

My procedure was on Friday, December 12 at 9 am, and I can't tell you how pleased I am with the results and how great I feel! I took only 1 narcotic pain pill and have been on Motrin ever since (mostly to help with the swelling of the abdomen.) I was able to put on my sports bra and over the head shirts the very next morning. I even took off the abdominal binder and was able to change that less than a day after surgery. The doctor said that was quite amazing. Most people aren't able to do that for 4-5 days post-op. My first official post-op is Thursday, December 18 and then I go back on December 23 to have my drains removed. I technically took today off of work, but quite honestly, I could easily be working. Recover is going so well. (Except for coughing....that is a KILLER!!!)

With regards to the procedure, I couldn't be more happy. After my surgery was over, my pre-op nurse walked in and told me that mine were the best breasts she had ever seen and that she had seen a lot. I responded that she probably says that to everyone and she assured me that she didn't. I'll post pics soon. (I want to wait until the drains are out on the 23rd), but my thought is this, if I'm this thrilled with them now, how much more delighted will I be in 2 weeks and then 2 months when they settle into their new home! :)

I hope my post will encourage others who are considering either a BA or a tummy tuck or both. The procedures went remarkably well. I love the new me! I can't wait to try on some of my old clothes. They're going to have a whole new look. And for the middle aged women thinking you are too old to do this, get that thought right out of your head! You are not too old and it will change the whole way you look at yourself and carry yourself.

Thanks for reading my story. I'll post more as my healing continues.

I had my first post-op follow-up appointment with Dr. Fata today and it went wonderful. The drains are removed from my mini TT and I hardly have any bruising or swelling on the abdomen. I have a couple of nasty bruises on my breasts, however, but they're getting better. The "girls" are riding a little high at the moment and the right one seems a little higher and larger than the left, but Dr. Fata reminded me that they don't necessarily settle at the same rate and assures me that they will both be the same in the end. I couldn't be more pleased with the results. I was worried that 325cc might be too big but I think they're perfect for my size frame. My next follow-up is on 12/23 to remove the sutures in the BA. I'll try to post an abdominal picture then, as well. Right now I have a marble in my belly button to help it keep it's shape. :) All-in-all, day 6 report - doing fabulously!!!!!

Had my 2nd post op visit today. (I love my surgeon!) I got the sutures removed from my breasts and had a small seroma drained from my abdomen. It's fairly common and nothing to worry about. Doctor aspirated about 40 cc's of blood. I go back in a week to drain it again. 2 or 3 visits and it should be gone. Yeah! Other than that, I'm feeling great! Walked a 5K with my daughter on Sunday (9 days post-op) - 15 minute miles. Not too bad, all things considered.

Thought I'd post a couple of more pictures. These are 9-10 days post op.