43 Years Old, 3 Teenage Kids and Finally Ready to Say Goodbye to This Belly! - Philadelphia, PA

I am 5'2" and 120 lbs. My youngest kid is 15 so I can no longer label this creature as being "baby fat". For each pregnany I gained 40-45 lbs and was able to lose it but never got my shape back (not even close). I eat a somewhat healthy diet but I do like to indulge with my Friday night Margaritas ?! I exercise but not to the extreme (although it doesn't look like I workout). It would be so nice to go out and buy clothes because I like them instead of basing my decision on whether or not they can hide my flabby, mushy, wrinkly, stretched out tummy. I have been wanting to get this done for so long but could never justify the expense......UNTIL NOW!!! Not saying that it isn't expensive $$$$ because it definitely is, but I was pleasantly surprised with the quote I was given. It never occurred to me to to have a Resident do the procedure until I came to this site so I am very thankful. I scheduled a Consultation with a local teaching hospital which happens to be an Ivy League School (University of Pennsylvania) and had a 2nd Consultation scheduled at a private plastic surgery office. After meeting with Chief Resident Dr. Jonas Nelson, I was so impressed that I canceled my 2nd Consultation appt. I cannot wait to finally get this belly fixed. Oh, and a breast lift is also included in this price! I added that on as a bonus after seeing my pics. Knowing that the "girls" were a little saggy and uneven is one thing but actually seeing them in pictures is another. Yikes! I am really embarrassed to post these pictures but I know how much seeing other's pictures and journeys has helped me so I will put myself out there as well.

Getting antsy! It took me so long to finally go ahead with this and now that it's actually going to happen, it can't come soon enough. I still have to put my request in at work to take off. I'm thinking that since my surgery is on a Thursday, that maybe I can take off the next week and go back on the following Tuesday (post op day 12). I would have to use 8 vacation days but with being so limited with time off, I really can't take any longer than that. Hopefully, I can pull it off! I'm starting to make a mental list of things I will need but not buying anything until after the holidays. Would also like to lose another 5 lbs prior to surgery. The problem is that I love to eat and really love my cocktails so if I can maintain my weight throughout the holidays I will be thrilled. Wishful thinking :) Come January, I will definitely be kicking it in high gear though. Want to be in decent shape heading in to this. I have to admit, I have been so pre-occupied with my thoughts and this site that I am literally making myself crazy!

My letter came confirming my surgery date of 2/11/16 at the Perelman Surgical Center. There was a breakdown of fees and when they are due. I adjusted my price in my profile because I was originally including my estimated costs of the surgery along with renting a recliner, supplies, garments, etc. Since I don't know yet exactly what those extras will cost, I will let you know as I go along. So the above amount is for a full tummy tuck with muscle repair and lipo to flanks and a breast lift without implants. I am happy with my size but the girls are hanging low on my already short torso. The doctor did discuss auto augmentation (transfer of my own fat to give my breasts some upper fullness but I will discuss this more when I go for my pre-op visit 1/19/16. I don't want implants because I want a more natural look and I don't think I will feel comfortable with foreign objects in my body. LOL. I know that probably sounds crazy because so many of you are rocking that look very well but it's just not for me. It is becoming so much more real now! I've been so jittery and preoccupied with racing thoughts about everything that could possible go wrong but I am taking a leap of faith and feel that I am good hands.