32 Years Old, 5'4" 127 Lbs, 4 Kids, Mommy Makeover! 375/300cc Implants, Lift & Tummy Tuck - Novi, MI

I am officially 1 week pre-op for my mommy makeover! I'm so excited and a bit anxious! I am a mom of four kids (11, 9, 8, 6) and at one point I had four kids age 4 and under! We didn't plan the spacing to be quite so close, but somehow it all works out! The pregnancies did take a big toll on my body, and having them when I was so young definitely changed me. I gained about 40 pounds with my first pregnancy (and a whole lot of stretch marks!), and about 25 pounds with the next 3 pregnancies. I managed to lose most of the baby weight over time, but eventually put about 20 pounds back on (emotional eater, anyone?). Through some big lifestyle changes, I have lost 40 pounds by eating a mostly plant-based diet and working out on a regular basis. Currently at 127 pounds, I haven't been this thin since high school. But I DON'T look like I did in high school :(

While I did have a big confidence boost by losing weight, I don't feel very pleased with the way my body looks. No matter how hard I work out at the gym, I will still have sagging skin on my stomach. I hate that I have to tuck my belly into my pants when I sit down :/ (Anyone relate??)

So, fast forward to about a month ago, and through some emotional ups and downs, my husband encouraged me to do something for myself that I've wanted to do for a long time, a mommy makeover. I have wanted breast implants since I was in high school because I have some asymmetry that really bothers me! I'm glad I didn't do it back when I was 17 because I definitely have a different opinion on what I want now. And, I'm definitely ready for the TT to complete the whole transformation!

I'm ready to do something for myself! I know I won't look like I did back in high school, but I'm excited for the changes that are coming. I hope to gain more confidence and feel more feminine and balanced.

I haven't told very many people in fear of their judgement/lack of support. But they don't know the challenges I've dealt with having asymmetrical breasts my whole life (that are now super deflated), in addition to the way my stomach makes me feel like a kangaroo.

I am currently a 34-B bra size, and I hope to end up around a small D after surgery. I am getting 375/400cc silicone implants with a probable aerola lift on the left side. I am not getting drains for my tummy tuck, and my PS says that the advancements in the procedure make the drains unnecessary. I hope my swelling isn't terrible. I'm also having a minor belly button hernia repair.

I look forward to your feedback and connecting with you!

I can't believe surgery is in 6 DAYS!!!

I am completely at a loss about what I should say to my kids. They're old enough (11, 9, 8, 6) to know that something major happened to me, but I don't really want them to know what I'm doing. I don't think I can get away with "I went to the doctor." I'm especially worried about my daughter (age 6). If she grows up and has a body like mine I don't want her to feel like she has to get surgery because she isn't good enough. Is it possible that my kids will NEVER find out? Even as they become adults? Probably not. But, for now I don't want them to know. I worry that they'll grow up thinking that they ruined my body and somehow it was their fault that I had to have surgery. Clearly it's not. The miracle of life is so amazing, and I don't blame them for how my body changed. What did you say to your kids?

I feel like my previous pre-op pictures make me look really out of shape. Here are a few with clothes on that show that I actually do have a decent shape... at least I think I do. I reached a weight loss plateau a few months ago, and I hope to lose about 10 pounds more by the end of the year (my fitness goal). My PS surgeon says I don't have anymore weight to lose, but I'm honestly not comfortable wearing shorts yet, so that tells me that I have a few more pounds to lose.

Does anyone else feel MORE critical of their flaws in light of surgery? I'm a little worried about that. I find that I'm more critical about my flat butt and the bit of cellulite I still have on my thighs. I'm also critical of my flat boobs and saggy stomach, but I'm thankful to be doing something to change that. Instead of appreciating the progress I've made and the improvements to my self-esteem, it seems that the better shape I'm in, the more I notice what I don't like. I probably have some type of unhealthy body complex where I still see the person I was 40 pounds ago in the mirror. I'm wondering if after surgery I will feel more or less critical of my body. It's something I need to work on, anyway.

5 more days! So hard to believe I'm really doing this after wanting it for so long!

I hit it hard at the gym this morning and I was thankful to get some great tips from the trainer about exercises to lift and tone my butt. I definitely want to work on that once I'm given the green light to start working out again after recovery. I really don't like that I have to take so much time off from working out. I'm worried about gaining weight. It seems like I can just look at a brownie and gain weight. I know it's just a temporary setback, and I plan to really focus on healthy nutrition during that time to help with healing and recovery anyway. Did any of you gain weight during post-op?

Anyway, here are some crazy things I'm worried about at this point:

-MONEY. Spending so much money on my body seems so crazy. We could do quite a lot with $12k..like feed starving children in Africa. It's just a strange feeling knowing that I could make a difference in the world with money I'm using to get big boobies and a flat tummy.

-MY PERIOD. I'm supposed to start today or tomorrow. I hope to be done by surgery. It's just something I don't wanna deal with while I'm in surgery.

-NOT HAVING COFFEE. I know this one might sound super crazy, but I really enjoy my morning and afternoon cup of coffee, and not having it on surgery day makes me sad. If I skip it, I'm guaranteed to get a headache. Hopefully with the meds and everything else going on I won't notice my caffeine withdraws.

-MOISTURIZER. I have super dry skin, and I know I'll feel dry and itchy by skipping my lotions on surgery day. Not cool.

-SLEEPING. I love my sleep, and the thought of sleeping propped up in a recliner sounds dreadful!! I'm hoping the pain meds will make me so tired I won't mind. I'm a little worried about sleeping comfortably on my back for several months following surgery though. I don't wanna move the implants if I sleep on my side or stomach.

-BOOB SIZE. I'm worried that my boobs will be too big. Or too small. I wish I knew exactly what they're gonna look like when I'm done. I worry that I'll be disappointed with them in some way.

-ANESTHESIA. This is my biggest concern about surgery. I've never gone under the knife before and I don't like the idea of anesthesia at all. I'm terrified actually. I worry that I'll be one of those crazy people who can feel the pain during surgery but can't respond to it because you're paralyzed from the meds. I've heard about that happening and I sure hope it doesn't happen to me.

-PAIN. Obviously everyone hates this part. I'm worried that my pain will be so bad that I won't be able to take care of my bathroom needs. I don't wanna ask for help with that! Plus, I'm worried about taking so many meds. I generally avoid taking pills a much as possible and I hate knowing that I'll be on such strong, potentially dangerous meds.

-DYING. Yeah, I'm a bit worried about dying, too. It's not so much that I'm afraid to die, but I don't wanna leave my kids and hubby behind. Part of me feels like an elective surgery that potentially puts my life at risk isn't worth it. Another part of me feel like I might as well enjoy life and get the body I want and not let the risk hold me back. After all, there's some risk to everything, right? I'm choosing to trust that God will take care of me.

Obviously some of these things aren't worth worrying about, but the more serious ones weigh in my mind a little. I'm super excited about this mommy makeover, but I'll be glad when some of these things are behind me!