47 Years Old, No Kids, Smart Lipo of Chin (Submental), Abdomen, and Hips. Metairie, LA

Ever since my late 20's when I began to gain weight, I started getting this chin fat. I find it gross looking and embarrassing. I went for a consultation 10 years ago (age 37) and the doctor said come back in 5-10 years. I can't remember his exact reasoning at the time. I remember him saying I was too young, it wouldn't make much of a difference, I could lose weight and it would help, I'd never have a defined chin.

Well, I did lose weight, 40 POUNDS, then gained it back. It's now harder than ever before to lose weight and I try so hard but I'm having zero luck. I am just sick of being embarrassed and feeling ugly. I hate looking at myself in any photos except from the front, and in the last year or so even the front view is bad and I'm starting to see the fat and sag under my chin.

I consulted with three doctors and have decided on Dr. Mizgala. I liked all the doctors that I met with, and I think they all seemed talented and experienced, but Dr. Mizgala is the only one who didn't recommend slicing and dicing up other areas of my face (the other two docs combined recommend upper and lower blepharoplasty, eyebrow lift, fat transfer to cheeks). While I'm sure these areas could all use improvement, I'm not utterly embarrassed by them like I am my chin fat.

When I was nearing the end of my consultation, I blurted out "do you think we could do this area" and started rubbing my enormous gut. She said "show me." I was so freaking embarrassed, I hate my gross fat stomach. But I forced myself to stand up and lift up my sweater and compression undershirt that I always wear. She said she could do it!!

So the chin area is $1500, the body is $8800, with a $300 discount for doing both together.

I was worried my skin won't shrink back into place, and while that is a possibility, she feels confident that it will. I am supposed to wear the neck strap 24/7 the first week, then only at night the second week. I can take it off for a bit here or there to shower, walk the dogs, grocery shop, etc. The body compression I'm supposed to wear 24/7 for 6 weeks.

Supposedly there are NO activity restrictions. Sounds too good to be true, but that's what they're telling me. I have a trainer at the gym and told her I'd be out for one week for sure, and then I'd try to come back the week after. I am really trying to lose weight and I know I could technically use lipo for my entire body, but that's just craziness, not to mention massive amounts of money. I really feel that by getting these areas lipo'd, it will give me back the confidence I've been missing for years, and help motivate me to work harder and eat better. The other areas of my body are not AS resistant to diet and exercise, and anyhow, they are easier to cover up ;-)

About me: I'll be 48 in November. I'm 5'6", 160 lbs. No health issues other than hypothyroidism, for which I take 100 mcg of synthroid.

Oh, one other very cool yet WEIRD thing about this surgery, I will be AWAKE the whole time. I'll be taking a few drugs beforehand to help me relax. They said to bring headphones and my music to listen to while she performs the surgery. So weird, but I'm not squeamish, and I like the fact that I'll recover more quickly than I would with general anesthesia, not to mention a ton of lab work and tests were not required.

I can't drive home, though, so my hubby will be picking me up. He's supportive of me, but does feel like this is a crazy amount of money to spend. I do too, especially when I realize how $10K would make such a difference for so many peoples lives, and here I am using it to suck out my fat. I get depressed and feel silly and frivolous when I think about it too much. I'm trying to stay positive, because the other side of that coin is I get depressed looking at myself in the mirror or photos and don't even like my husband to touch me and feel my fat (even though he loves me and for some weird reason thinks I'm still sexy). I do believe this surgery will really improve our love life, too.

So tomorrow will be busy while I prepare and make sure I have all of my supplies, food, etc. Starting to get a little nervous.

Nervous! But I feel I'm in good hands. Just sitting here waiting. Got marked up and took my drugs.

Lucky me! NOT! I am in the beginning stages of Menopause and haven't had a period since December 2. So I woke up at 5am on the day of my surgery to run to the restroom and UGH!!! It had started. Luckily it wasn't heavy yet, so I made it through my surgery on one tampon. I don't know WHAT we would have done if it was heavy...I don't want to think about it.

I arrived at 9 am. By 9:30 I was in my paper gown, at which point Dr. Mizgala came in and we discussed the plans for the day...she marked up my body and my before pics so there would be no misunderstandings. I signed the photos. Then took my drugs: antibiotic, valium, anti-nausea, and pain pills.

She and her assistant Christie first did my chin/neck area. First the doc used a needle with numbing medication. Next she put in the tumescent fluid which really plumped up the area, making it tight and numb. She then began the laser step, followed by the lipo suction cannula. It was painless except for the initial needle prick. I think we ended about noon, and I got up to go to the bathroom, drink some water, take another pain pill, and text friends about my progress while Dr. Mizgala and Christie ate quick lunches. They offered something to eat but I wasn't really hungry after my oatmeal and breakfast bar before my appointment.

Next began the very long process of my abdomen and hips (which I would personally call waist), and using all of the above techniques she worked her way around my body, section by section, while Christie assisted and kept notes on each task that was completed. I was awake the whole time, with my face covered by blue surgical paper, and although tired from the Valium and lack of sleep the night before, I just couldn't sleep. Those two were so funny, I loved listening to the banter and enjoyed our conversation, it helped keep us all from getting too bored. I was hard for me to talk though because of the chin strap and numbness limiting my jaw movement. We finished at 7PM! A very long day, and I know we were all tired.

So last evening was very bloody with a lot of drainage (4 drains) and leakage from one of the incisions. I wasn't expecting that and ended up dripping blood all over the floor when I tried to replace one of the pads that was soaked. I learned to keep a towel on the floor when pulling up the garment, and to hold the pads in place when I'm using the restroom. I love my hubby and I know he's trying his best to help, but he's really squeamish with the bloody fluid and just gets in my way a lot and we both keep getting irritable with each other. I'll be a lot better when the drainage stops and the drains are out.

Pain? Not much in the abs or back, although around the drains feels like it's burning if I bend too much forward. My chin area is another story, painful around the entire jaw line, chin and upper part of chin. I'm speaking a lot better, but still having a little trouble since it hurts when I open my mouth too wide.

New pics of chin and body (with compression garment on for now).