My New Smoke-Free Body

Well, it is finally over and I will say that I am very glad and some what pleased with my results. Let me start from the beginning just to give you a little insight on my journey. I arrived on Monday July 3 to Florida only because my surgery date had been changed 3 times and I only changed my flight/hotel arrangements once. Checked in to the Doral Inn & Suites around 2 pm. That hotel was really suitable for my husband and I because it had a full kitchen, very clean, hot breakfast provided every morning, it was very spacious and not too far from the Surgery Center. Arrived at the Center at 8:30 am on July 4th for my pre-op appointment thinking I was early however when I got there were it was several other ladies waiting in the lobby. I waited at the counter for an attendant and I was the first one seen. I do agree with the other reviews that the organization of the staff needs a lot of improvement. So be prepared to wait a little and be called by different people at multiple times or at the same time. I will say that the staff is very friendly and they do know what they are doing they just need to be more organized at doing it. So they did my weight and height, fitted me for a garment, took pictures and I spoke with my medical assistant. Also be prepared to get naked...a lot! They told me that I would get a call that afternoon to let me know what time my surgery was and while I was there I got my call! That is when the nerves really kicked in! This [RS bleep] is really going to go down and I am really getting ready to get my ass done! My husband and I left. Hung out in South beach Miami for a while...nervous as hell! I wanted a drink so bad at this point that I just wanted to go back to the room and go to bed.

I arrived at the center at 10 sharp. Actually at 9:50 they were calling asking where was I and I was about 2 minutes out. OMG when I tell you I was excited and nervous at the same damn time...GIRL! Anyways as soon as I got there they called me. I got undressed and Dr. Valls and Nancy came in! Dr. Valls is the sweetest man! He looked at me and told me I had a very good shape, told me what he saw that he could fixed and everything that I pretty much wanted! We talked and laughed and he marked me up. It was going dopwn but after speaking with him my nerves were gone! Ms. Nancy introduced me to the Anesthesiologist, who by the way was fine as hell!! We walked to the operating room and on the table I went. They put in an IV and the next thing I knew was this feeling of goodness. I said to the fine man..."you have gave me something already and I didn't even know it"! We both laughed and that's it! But honey I woke up to the worst pain! I moaned out and Nancy said "No No don't do that!" and I was being wheeled out to the truck where my husband was standing saying "OH HELL!" It's funny now but then the look on his face was like what in the world did I sign up for and can I do this! lol I was fully dressed in the compression suit and my clothes and don't remember a thing! They put me in the truck and to the Walmart we went, still out of it. The pain was bad but bearable and I guess once I started to think what just happened it made sense. But when I woke up I did not know why I was feeling that way and all I knew was to moan out loud! After getting the medicine we to the hotel were I just felt like crap! I had to walk every hour for 5 minutes and trying to use the bathroom in the suit took some getting used to. This procedure is very painful so if anyone tells you it isn't is wrong. Liposuction hurts and the staff will tell you that. But you can deal with it. It is the stiffness and soreness that's weird! I watched a lot of videos of other girls journeys and that really helped me out. For instance, laying all your items that you will need out on the ironing board so that you do not have to bend over to get them. Buy big comfortable dresses so you don't have to do much to put them on. By extra compression socks because until you get used to using the bathroom in that suit you may pee a little down your legs. By some slide in shoes. They give you open toe socks but the ones I purchased we like socks so the slide in shoes were good for those days I wore them. I purchased the following items:

BBL Pillow (online)
Lipo Board (online)
Lipo Foam (online)
Urinal (online but did not use)
gauge pads
gauge tape (did not use)
dial antibacterial soap
Neosporin
Dulcolax pills
Q-Tips (did not use)
Iron Pills (did not purchase until 1 week post opt)
Potassium pills (did not purchase until 1 week post opt)
Bio Oil
Arnica Gel
Coco Butter Stick
Feminine wipes
Bed pads

My arms were numb with a very bad tingling sensation which really prevented me from sleeping so getting up every hour was not a problem because I was already awake. Getting up out of bed was a struggle and you will need help. Also getting back into bed. But keep doing it and it does get easier every day. The massages hurt but it also feels good at the same time...on my back. But the belly was a different story. It hurts a little more than it felt good. But after you do feel a little bit better. Each time is better and better. I stopped draining around Saturday night which was my 3rd day post. and on Monday it was removed and I came home that day as well. The plane ride of 2 hours was horrible. Walking in the airport was bad, I was very tired and weak. I sat on the BBL pillow until after we were released to removed our seat belts and I walked in place in the bathroom the majority of the time. The Center did provide me with a note for the airline for special privileges and they did give me a wheel chair. That Tuesday I had to go to the ER due to my arms were very painful from the tingling sensation. Turns out that I had lost a lot of blood and my potassium was very low. Also turns out that when I was being wheeled out by Nancy she told my husband to get iron and potassium pills but he was so freaked out by my moans he didn't hear her and only got the prescriptions filled. So make sure to bring someone who can handle this experience or stay at the recovery house! After that all night stay at the hospital I have been ok. My arms and hands are still numb and I still have that tingling but other than that I am pretty good. I am tired of sleeping on my stomach and standing all the time. Driving is different to say the least! My body looks good to me. I wish I would have gotten it a little bigger but it does fit my body and that is what Dr. Valls is about the natural look. my stomach is really flat and that side fat is gone!! overall I am pleased. I am very shapely and I truly love that. but for all the trouble I should have gone BIG! What do you guys think and please be honest.

I'm getting really nervous! I got 3 more pounds to lose still but I know I'll make that. I just ready to get it over with!

I am counting the days until my BBL Procedure with Dr. Valls. I have less than 10 LBS to lose and I am very confidant that by my date I will be down to the 33 BMI required by him. I quit smoking almost 10 months ago and since then I have gained over 30 lbs. I have finally leveled out and I have been working out vigorously to shed some of this weight however the older you are the harder it is to come off. I am 44 married and I have 2 children. I currently weigh 187 LBS and I am 5'2". I have always been kind of thick but now I just need a little help getting that banging body back that I was once used to. My husband and I decided on this procedure and I am so very nervous but excited at the same time. I have been doing so much research that I think I am obsessed with all the reviews, comments, pictures and the websites. I am just so anxious about how I am going to look, if it is going to be painful, if my body is going to be fake feeling, just the entire process. I have paid for my procedure in full and the days are really just dragging by seems like. I am so glad there is a site like this that I can receive feedback from other BBLers. It really helps! I was so skeptical a few months ago when the young lady passed away at the same center I am going to. I have prayed about it and I am a believer that what is meant to be will be. I have purchased several supplies and I plan on shipping those to the hotel prior to my flight just so we will not have to pay extra for more luggage. We are staying for 7 days at a hotel near by and my husband will be my nurse. I have taken off 2 weeks off work however I hope I will not need the entire time off. The staff at the center has really been great to me especially Cindy Lopez my pre-op coordinator and Samantha Romero the office manager. We mostly communicate over email and that has been working great. If I do have a question and happen to call the office someone returns my calls or I will get an email within 24 hours. I cannot wait to meet those ladies and Dr. Valls. I have read a lot of good things about him and I hope he does deliver great results. I will post pre-op pictures very soon and keep everyone informed. I just went threw my photos and all of them are mostly head shots!! WOW Please follow my journey and wish me success!! #VallsDollComingSoon