Weight loss Mummy Makeover (BA and Extended TT)

I found these reviews very helpful when researching options for plastic surgery so thought I would share my own journey. I am 33 years old, quite tall at 178cm (5'10") and was very overweight as a teenager. I was scared of the scales for many years so I don't know my maximum weight, but I have lost at least 25kg through healthy eating and exercise, and currently sit at 71kg (156lb). As a result I have a lot of spare skin around my tummy and hips. I also gained and lost 20kg with both of my pregnancies. I have always been very flat chested (don't even fill an A cup) making clothes shopping difficult being a tall pear shape. All my bras are heavily padded to try to give some proportion. I was devastated when I couldn't breastfeed either of my 2 children so after my last baby, I decided to have a mummy makeover performed with a breast augmentation and extended tummy tuck to remove the excess skin. My goal is to be able to buy a lingerie set and feel comfortable in it!

I met with another PS initially but decided on Dr Morris Ritz after the first consult with him. He was so warm and really understood my concerns. He was able to explain everything in great detail about how we could achieve my goals. His personal assistant Georgie was wonderful as well, with no question too much trouble. We tried on different sizers for the BA and he sent me home with one to play around with which was fun for my family and friends!Morris suggested a second complementary consult as I was still deciding on implant size and whether to perform a mini-TT, full TT or extended TT. I was so unsure about the implant size because 550-650cc sounded really big, but I eventually decided on 650cc implants after reading that most tall girls with wide flat chests wished they had gone bigger, and Morris was confident my frame would be able to carry it well. When it came to the tummy tuck, I elected to have the extended TT performed otherwise I would still end up with a band of loose skin around the love handles. He also suggested some lipo of the mid back and around the love handles to improve the contours, and implant some of the fat into the buttocks to give some shape - he really understood what I wanted from the procedure and the best way to go about it. After the second consult, we booked in surgery for the 26/6/2020 and I went to his rooms the night before to have the surgical plan drawn up. I was a little nervous about the outcome but knew I was in great hands.

I expected the first week or two of recovery to be rough, and it really is. Some of you may find the following recap to be TMI so sorry in advance but I like to know/share details and hopefully it helps you to prepare! This doesn’t replace your plastic surgeons recommendations, just my experience.
I was admitted to hospital and met with the various nurses and techs that would be looking after me at each step. My surgeon confirmed our surgical plan and l met my anaesthetist as well. Given that extended abdominoplasty-back lift is a major operation with high chance of bleeding, they obtain permission for a blood transfusion if required. My hospital team performed an auto transfusion where they collect any red blood cells from bleeding, process them then give them back to you. My haemaglobin was still low after this so they gave me a blood transfusion as well.
The procedure went really well (4 hours surgery, 5 hours anaesthetic) and my surgeon was able to remove a 2kg belt of skin around my abdomen (17cm at the front and 13cm at the back). He was able to perform liposuction of the mid back and love handles to improve the contour, and perform a fat graft to give my butt more shape after the lift. He was also able to place the 650cc 13cm wide breast implants, dual plane and IMF incision.
I was taken to high dependency for recovery and didn’t feel too painful, but the nausea was terrible and I vomited several times (I’m not normally a chucky person). I couldn’t eat anything the first night.
There were 7 continuous suction drains in place (2 in the breasts and 5 in the hips/abdomen) to prevent extra fluid building up in the wounds. The breast ones were removed on day 2 and the hip/abdomen ones were removed on day 3. The removal of these ranged from a bit of a strange sensation through to really painful for 2 of them where I was deep breathing/gritting my teeth.
I had a urinary catheter in place for 3 days which made it much easier not having to go to the bathroom while the drains were in place.
I had “scuds” (Sequential Compression Device) around my lower legs anytime I was in bed over the next week to prevent DVT blood clots from forming. You get used to the noise they make and can still sleep with them on.
I was given blood thinning injections daily to also prevent blood clots. These can be a little painful for a few minutes after the injection but not too bad. I was also on a course of oral antibiotics for a week.
Day 1
I was taken back to the main ward to recover. My surgeon was great and organized for my insurance to cover my hospital stay which meant I could stay as long as I needed without extra costs.
I met with a physio to help get me off the bed which was extremely painful but I know it’s important to get moving to help with healing and prevent blood clots. Anytime I had to cough or move, I used a thick pad of towels to put pressure against tummy for support which made things a bit more comfortable. You aren’t able to stand upright at this point and don’t want to put stress on the incisions by trying to do so.
My nurses were amazing and gave me a sponge bath to freshen me up, and I got to see my results for the first time which are incredible! I know there is a lot of swelling to settle and the implants need to “drop and fluff” over the next few months but I’m so happy with the results so far.
The nurses then put me into a “tubigrip” elastic support bandage for my tummy and breasts. My nipples were super sensitive and even the hospital gown brushing against them was stinging, but they felt much better after the tubigrip was on.
I started using an inspirometer which is a little device you breathe deeply into to help inflate your lungs to help prevent pneumonia.
I had blood tests on day 1 and 3 to check my haemaglobin levels which were both normal after the blood transfusion.
The first day I didn’t really have an appetite, but did manage to eat some dinner.
Day 2
I was able to get out of bed and into a chair twice today. Quite sore across tummy from the muscle stitches by the end of 25 mins.
Day 3
Nausea ramped up today and I could only manage to eat a plain roll for the day. I was started on some extra anti- nausea medications and a gut protectant. My right peck muscle would have intermittent spasms which was quite uncomfortable.
My skin also started to get itchy under the tubigrip/dressings - all part of the healing process!
My surgeons hairdresser came to visit. I wasn’t ready to sit for a hair wash yet so she brushed my hair for me which was lovely.
Day 4
The nausea improved today and I managed to eat breaky, lunch and dinner.
The nurses got me into the bodysuit garment which is super tight for compression of the surgery sites. The pain level did increase around both TT and BA incisions with the garment. The bodysuit was crotchless to allow to go to the bathroom, but it was a little strange having your bits exposed so I just put a pair of undies over the top. I was also starting to get sore from just laying down so was trying to sit up in the chair as much as possible.
I started performing the surgeons exercise of raising arms to 90deg. I could start to hear little air bubbles in the right breast but the surgeon said this could be normal.
It took 4 days until I used my bowels. A combination of the anaesthetic, pain medications, not eating much and not moving leads to a bit of constipation. I had some daily laxitives and a suppository to help with this - not the most pleasant but essential!
Day 5
This was a really rough day emotionally. I was feeling guilty about doing the procedure (being in hospital while my husband had to do everything at home) and missing the kids and hubby.
I was also really painful with the reduced pain relief so my surgeon increased the pain meds again which really helped and I was starting to get used to the compression garment tightness.
Able to sit in chair for 1.5hr at a time and able to eat meals.
Day 6
Nausea was back with the higher dose of pain killers so couldn’t eat breaky or lunch. Added a new antinausea medication and decided that I would prefer to be more uncomfortable than nauseous so dropped the pain relief to paracetamol and codeine only.
Managed to eat 50% of dinner.
Day 7
A much better day and feel like I have turned the corner with recovery! The nausea has settled, and the pain is manageable on the panadeine alone. I’m now used to the compression garment tightness. My back is still sore from laying down so much so I spent most of the day sitting up in the chair. I’m able to stand a little more upright but it will be a while before I will be straight again. The doctors and nurses have been wonderful taking great care of me.