49 Years Old, Mommy Make Over..better Late Than Never! - Marietta, GA

I started this process last year, having 3 consultations and doing a ton of research. Two out of three doctors told me I needed a full tummy tuck with muscle repair, and (to get the look I wanted) a breast augmentation with a lift. Two didn't recommend any lipo, wanting to do that at another time. I questioned the one who said I needed just a mini tuck (panniculectomy) (sp?), and didn't need muscle repair. He said that based on examination my muscles were fine, and that if it turned out otherwise, he'd make those repairs without additional cost.
I agonized over the decision, and looked at before and after photos until I was nearly blind. I was terrified of making the wrong choice, and of ending up with an alien looking belly button. After not seeing mine for years, I realllly wanted to be happy with the results.
I finally made my choice of doctors based on their reviews, photos, and my personal feelings about each. I decided on the doctor who said I only needed a mini tt. In the end I chose the doctor who had the friendliest (truly friendly, not the ones with the plastic smiles and forced friendliness), the doctor who made me feel most confident about my outcome, and the one who was most realistic, as well. We decided to do the mini tt, lipo of the flanks and upper abdomen, and breast aug with a lift.
I couldn't be happier with my doctor and his staff, or with my results. = )

Two weeks post op I developed an infection and a seroma below my tt incision. My pubic area closely resembled a purpleish red grapefruit, and required daily draining for nearly two weeks. It was very disconcerting to see the amount of fluid that just kept coming back, not to mention the fact that it just plain hurt! I'm at about 4 weeks PO now, and still going every other week day to have the seroma drained. It's looking better, and doesn't hurt as badly as it did, and the color is notably more normal now. (Thank goodness! lol) This too shall pass!
Even with the frustration and headache of the infection and sermona, I would do this over again in a heartbeat. (Though I would do it sooner!) I'm still a little puffy here and there, but I'm really liking my silhouette. The girls are dropping to where they belong, and those scars are looking better every day.
Yes, I'm nearly 50. And yes..I WILL be wearing a bikini this year. = )

Tuesday marks 5 weeks out from surgery. The swelling/seroma has slowed notably, thank goodness. Hopefully tomorrow my Dr will remove restrictions. (Fingers crossed) My house realllllllly needs some attention!
For a few days I've had a painful knot in my upper abdomen about 2 inches above my belly button. It's hard, nearly round and is maybe half the size of a golf ball. Now what? Hoping it's nothing.
But, other than that I'm beginning to feel like a real person again. = )

Just a thought here...I see a lot of women reporting that they went out of the country to have their surgeries to save money. If I had chosen to do so too, it would have cost me a small fortune to follow up with a local ps. While they really were minor problems they are also common, and happened beyond the typical 2 week mark. I've had to make 14 trips back to my ps so far, but all visits for a year were included in his fees. (Thanks goodness!) I wonder how many ladies who do choose to travel for surgery end up with enormous medical bills due to complications once they're back home?

I went back to my ps Wednesday. After a 4 day break from making the trip to the office every other day day (did I mention it's 100 miles one way? lol) he only drained 120cc from the lower seroma, yay! He says knot in my upper abdomen is from the lipo and that it should get better pretty quickly. I don't have to go back for two weeks unless the lower seroma swells notably (fingers are crossed, it still looks good), and I'm released to do housework etc, as long as I don't over do it. I'm still in a compression garment, a necessary evil I guess. He says (and I agree) that my scars look phenomenal, and they look better every day. I'll post some pics later. I stink at taking selfies, but I'll try to get some decent shots. Again, in spite of complications, I would so do this all over again!
= )