Treatment Provider

Alexander Anzarut, MD
Certified Plastic Surgeon
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10.5 months post-op

Just posting some post-op pics! Super jazzed about my results- very happy!

My weight is hovering right around 140. My measurements seem to be maintaining at 39-29-39, which is just great. Before the MMO I think my waist was around 37"? I am now in 24" corsets, and I love that for me, lol.

I still have patches of numbness, but I didn't know initially that the numbness was only skin deep. If the touch is light enough, I can't feel a thing, but any pressure at all and I can feel it underneath. Just a weird feeling.

I do get occasional "zaps" from the nerves. Not as much now as I did in the first 4-6 months, but it still happens now and then. It doesn't hurt really, it's just like a little zip under the skin. Almost itchy. Also a weird feeling. I do get swollen/bloated now and then, it kind of feels like my belly skin gets tight- but I usually drink some water and sit for a bit and it's always gone away on its own.

My left nipple and breast have been frequently itchy. I thought it was because of the implant stretching skin, and it has lessened a bit, but it can be distracting. Kind of like a bug bite that you haven't scratched and "activated" yet (kwim?) I try to rub and not scratch, and only over fabric to avoid tearing my skin or something.

5 weeks post-op (and many pics!)

Whew- how overwhelming! I got a tummy tuck with muscle repair, lipo to flanks, and breast augmentation with moderate 345cc round gummy bear implants over-the-muscle.

I thought I would do shorter review updates along the way after surgery but as it turns out- I had 0 energy/motivation for all that.

In November I had some issues with anxiety prior to surgery. My dog died during a sedation nail trim, and though she was an older brachycephalic dog, it really stressed me out a lot. I ended up having some bad panic attacks and almost canceled the surgery or put it off. I didn’t want to put it off because I still wanted to do it and that’s just a longer time to be anxious for, but I wrote letters to my family “just in case”, and here we are. I am post-op 5 weeks as of Friday and I am *thrilled*.

So the first thing to note is that due to my anxiety (I assume), I cannot sleep after surgery. I did not sleep after VSG, and I did not sleep after my MMO. I was tired, shaky, and weepy… but could not sleep. I had trouble sleeping for about a week, getting roughly 3 hours the second and third night, and around 5-6 for the next few. I also had intense nightmares for the first 5 nights or so, with milder nightmares lingering for a few more.

To start- I was told I was first at 8 am and to be at Cambie by 7. My husband could not come in with me so he left me at the door in the morning. I did my paper gown deal and met with Dr. Anzarut to go over marking me up and last-minute discussion. I walked into the operating room and got up on the table myself. I have no idea how I managed that without freaking out but I did.

When I woke up I was in a room. I have no idea when or how that went. I focused on everything happening at the time- but it’s all a blur together now. I know that the first nurse was very nice, but I don’t recall talking to her a lot. I already notified Cambie, but suffice to say I did not like all of the overnight nurses (the male nurse was a rockstar ftr). I could not sleep and I have panic attacks, and I feel that was not addressed well. I also had scary low blood pressure and that was not addressed as soon as it could have due to the previous bit. Anyway- I got some fluids pushed and that got me sorted. But between that and missing some pain med timing I ended up being discharged near last or last, almost noon. I was worried about missing the ferry since we live on the island. That went well and so did my time on the ferry.

That night I just rested and tried to sleep while my husband brought me food/water, meds, and helped when I needed to hit the ladies room. That was the next day as well. Probably the first 4 or so tbh, plus the nightmares. I slept in my power lift recliner, though I also have a wedge set.

I was hunched over a little bit and the first week I did have some back pain- but it was not as bad as my typical lower back pain, only it wasn’t my typical lower back pain. I will say here- I have not had any of my typical lower back pain since surgery. Not sure if it’s surgery or this binder and rest helping that yet.

I had 1 drain and I’m a huge baby so I took half a Tylenol 3 on my way to the office for my post-op on day 5. The nurse removed the drain, which I thought really stung during and for a while after- plus the super gross bloopy feeling of the tube being pulled out. But the feeling after it was removed was amazing- I was less hunched just after that. I don’t know if it’s psychological or my body was just happy or what. Bit of both?


I started taking pictures on day 3, and got (almost) daily pictures until I hit 4 weeks. I’ll see if I can upload all of them.

Breast augmentation- almost nothing compared to the tummy tuck. They were sore/achy and I would use freezer gel packs in 15min increments (15 on L, 15 on R) to help with that. I did that from around day 3-4 until almost 2 weeks? I did it about every 2-4 hours at first and then it was maybe twice a day near the last days I felt I needed it. Since I just hit 5 weeks, I am not sure my breasts are done “dropping/fluffing”, but they’re at a good point and don’t look anything like the first week.
Surgery was on Dec. 9th and Hanukkah started on the 18th, which is the first time I went upstairs to the main house (our master suite is ground-level). I was able to participate in Hanukkah and watch a movie with the kids but needed a nap immediately afterward. By the following weekend, I could stay upstairs for 5-6 hours before I needed to nap.

My worst swelling was around day 10. That was also when the itching started. I was informed it may be the tape/glue. I had to keep up on Benadryl until my 2nd post-op appointment.

My 2nd post-op appointment was post-op day 13. The nurse cut some stitches, and removed the tape and *a staple* (?!). I know staples are a thing that can be used but I had no idea and that freaked me out probably more than I completely understand. I was shaky and woozy from it- again, huge baby. I felt for sure I would just fall apart until she got some pads on me and I got back into my binder. I was prescribed some cortisone cream for the itching.

I used some adhesive-remover pads for sensitive skin to get most of the glue off. I then needed the hydrocortisone cream for about 5-6 more days? I was able to stop with the Benadryl after the first night with the cream. I had pleated stitches (?) at the incision so there were a lot of grooves to begin with that were difficult to get the glue out of. They’ve smoothed a lot and I think I finished getting all of it over a week later.

Somewhere in week 2 I managed to stand upright. I wasn’t standing straight all the time. I was still hunched a little when I first got up after sleeping/sitting, but it was a big improvement. I was able to stay upstairs all day in week 3, going downstairs to go to the bathroom and do my dressing changes.

I had a few stitches under my breasts and one poked out on the far-left end of my abdominal incision. I left it alone and it sort of... sucked back in? But left a pokey bump? I had another one poking out further in the middle about a week later. I gently tugged on it and it came out entirely- about 1cm long. It made me want to pull out the pokey bump one- but there is nothing to grab anymore so I'm stuck until it's done dissolving or whatever (it is less pokey now). I had 2 long ones under my breasts but as I was wiping gently while cleaning they slid out just a day or two after I pulled the other one.

I started trying to sleep in bed with my wedge set around 3.5-4 weeks. It is hit or miss. Some nights are fine, sometimes I move to the chair once I figure out the wedges aren’t working, or if I wake up uncomfortable. My first night sleeping flat was a few nights ago. I woke up very stiff. The night before last I woke up on my side (eek) so last night I made sure to tuck pillows under my sides.

Other than that, I think the pictures tell a cool story, bro. I'll put up 3 pre-op pics, my markup, and some after. Not sure how many I can do on one post, I won't post every day because that's a bit much, but I'll post a bunch.

Mommy Makeover - Age 42, TT/MR + BA

Giving high reviews so far as of course this is the doctor I chose to book my surgery with. I consulted with 3 surgeons, 2 on Vancouver Island and one in Vancouver. I really didn't vibe with the first doctor at all. I knew walking out that was a no-go.

Dr. Anzarut was the 2nd doctor I spoke with and I was immediately comfortable. Right off the bat, I got a very informative email to my first inquiry. I booked an in-person consult after that. Dr. Anzarut spent a lot of time with me going over the procedures I was aiming for. At no point did I feel like I was being rushed and I felt like he really enjoys the details of surgery, which is really important to me.

We talked about my skin and what would look good on my body, which I really prefer to the doctors who have a "look" they are chosen for. I prefer individualized care based on the foundation brought to the table, rather than trying to mold everyone to look like one end result. I had a great talk with his office nurse/staff as well. She was really nice.

Anywho. I did go to my 3rd consult as I felt I would be doing myself a disservice if I didn't consult with at least 3 doctors in person (I did also call 2 other places but didn't even get to the point of wanting to book a consult, so there's that).

I will be honest, I had a really hard time choosing which doctor to go with. It was an even harder choice learning that the surgery center on the island closed and I have to go to Vancouver to use Dr. Anzarut.

I think that either choice would have been good and I almost chose the other clinic because they are on the island and I'm nervous about the ferry. I think in the end the meticulous care when discussing the surgical procedures themselves made me feel more at ease, really feeling that excitement about the details of the surgery.

Stats: 5'1", 135lbs, 42, 4 pregnancies, 3 kids. I'll be putting up before photos for sure, but I wanted to make sure this was started so I could use it easier as time went on. I know I won't want to start a whole new thread in recovery, lol.

Provider Review

Certified Plastic Surgeon
204 - 149 Ingram Street, 204, Duncan, British Columbia
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