So Far, Very Happy with My Results! - Miami, FL

Yesterday I was 6 weeks post-op. I still have swelling but it is surely going down. Some new pics!

After having my second child and losing approximately 40 pounds I realized that my body was never going to look the same no matter how much I worked out. Losing more weight was not what I needed and wasn't what was going to give me the body that I wanted. I initially just wanted liposuction in my abdomen and flanks. However, when I saw Dr. Mendieta's website and saw him for my initial consult I decided that I wanted to do the BBL. I was always pretty happy with my booty, however, I thought it would look much nicer if I added some fat, especially to the top where one gets the shelf and projection, which looks really nice. I had my fears of getting a booty that was too big because some other women who have had bbl's often complain that once they gain some weight it all goes to the butt and then they have a butt that is way too big. So, I made sure to ask the doctor that I wanted to have a nice, round butt but nothing too over the top. I mean, we all get older, gain weight, and have the possibility of having more children and I didn't want to end up having a butt that would end up being too much to handle in the long run. I also had fat transferred to my breasts because after breastfeeding both my kids, they had lost a lot of fat. I had my surgery Dec. 14, 2011. The doc removed the maximum of 4 liters of fat from my abdomen, flanks, and thighs. The day of the surgery I was weighing 131 lbs. and I am 5'3". As we all know, general anesthestia is great...didn't feel a thing; it was like going to sleep and waking up a minute later, when in reality I was in surgery for over 3 hours. When I woke up, didn't have much pain just felt very weak. They didn't put my garment on the first day because I bruise easily and I did so very much immediately after surgery so the doc wanted to see how my body reacted. I put on the garment the next day, in my follow up visit. I must say that I saw the stars for the first time in my life when the nurse put on my garment. Painful to say the least. I didn't take it off for two days. The sencond -fifth day I have to say were the most painful. It was hard to move, to get in/out of bed, to walk...everything. Thankfully, I had an appetite and ate well, which is very important for a speedy recovery. My mom spent the first 4 days with me day and night...don't know what I would have done without her. My husband helped but he had to care for our kids. My recovery after that, I must say, was pretty successful and quick. All my bruising had diminished at 3 weeks and I returned to work after 12 days. As for my results, I am extremely happy with my abdomen; I never in my life would have thought that any doctor could give me an abdomen like this and such a tiny waist. As for my booty, it is bigger than before although I still don't see anything drastic given that I still have a lot of swelling in my lower back. I must wait until all that goes down to really judge my results. I truly love my results. Dr. Mendieta is an artist and he sculpted my body as best as he could manage. I want to go back and have lipo on my arms and upper back, (just because I'm really pick) and have it transferred to my breasts again. No more to my booty...this not sitting or laying on my back has got me crazy. Two more weeks and I'm done! To sum up, eventhough this surgery has been costly and painful, I don't regret it at all! I'd do it all over again and would definitely recommend it to anyone who can take the pain and sacrifice (this surgery is not for the faint at heart!)