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POSTED UNDER Mommy Makeover REVIEWS

Counting the Days to my Mommy Makeover!

ORIGINAL POST

I'm a 30 yr old mother of 2, 4 & 2 yr old...

RLMD
WORTH IT$16,000

I'm a 30 yr old mother of 2, 4 & 2 yr old beautiful & smart children. I was 116 lbs before I got pregnant with my 1st one, and I gained 50 lbs with my 1st. That was not easy to lose at all and part of it I guess was because I didn't really try very hard. But just when I began to lose weight again, I got pregnant with my 2nd one! I only gained 14 lbs with the 2nd pregnancy, but that plus all the left over from the 1st pregnancy, it was almost impossible. I guess there could have been more hope into it if I had started working out & dieting shortly after my 2nd one, but regular workout just didn't quite fit in the new lifestyle of a toddler & a baby. On top of that, I work 2 night shift jobs, so physically I was not up to exercising because I always have to catch with my sleep. And the stress just made the whole dieting messed up to. But like what they always say: there's an end to everything. The kids are bigger, so it's a little easier now.

Beginning Feb 2010, I started going to consultations for a mommy makeover, and really, deciding that I wanted something like this for me added a motivation into dieting better & working out more regularly. I breastfed both my kids, so that didn't leave me anything physically good, although I know they got what was best for them, and I'm really happy that I was able to give that to them. My stomach was of course not the same. Stretch marks, fatty, and weak. My lower back hurts when I try to do crunches. I guess because my abdominal muscles have really weakened a lot over the last years.

I am 5'1, initially 160 lbs but now down to 146 lbs. It's a week before my mommy makeover surgery and I'm nervous but really excited at the same time. Nervous because I've never had any sugery in my life & excited because I'll finally get my old tummy back, you know before the pregnancy, or maybe even better and I'm finally gonna get bigger boobs. Boobs I've never had because I've always been an A cup. So I'm gonna get silicone breast implants, a tummy tuck, and a lipo of the inner thighs, since this have been a problem to me ever since.

I wanted this so much that I wanted it to be my 31st birthday gift to myself. I'm really greatful for my super supportive husband, that although this have brought us some financial challenge, he still suported me in any way possible. Pics to follow.

RLMD's provider

Randall Weil, MD (retired)

Randall Weil, MD (retired)

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

RLMD rating for Dr. Weil:

Overall rating

Replies (24)

April 30, 2010
Congratulations on deciding to do this for yourself! I am so excited for you! I'm still interviewing PSs and I'm hoping to have my surgery in August :) We have very similiar situations as far as size (I'm 5', 155 lbs) and I'm anxious to see how your results turn out! Please post before and after pics!!
May 12, 2010
Hi mom23. How is your PS consultations going? Liking anyone yet? I hope you find a good one who will be able to make things happen for you. I plan on posting before & after pics as soon as the editing feature of this site is back up again.
May 13, 2010
I've narrowed it down to 2. I'm debating on doing a breast lift, but I'm definitely going for a tummy tuck. What is your new cup size, if you don't mind me asking?? I'm wanting to lose 30 lbs by aug/sept then have the surgery, but it's not easy!! I've read that the 1st 2 weeks are really rough with recovery, and you've had a lot done.. TT, BA and lipo, so just keep in perspective that your body will take some to heal! Also, ask your PS about lymph massages.. it will help with the swelling and speed up healing! Take care, get some sunshine on your face and smile.. this will get better so soon!! :)
May 14, 2010
Goodluck on your weightloss plan. I hope you achieve your plan or at least close. I planned to lose another 16# before the surgery, but I kinda had to have it done now due to work related reasons. I am a full c cup now. And girl, it is such a big difference from being an a cup. It does feel really heavy too, and bec they haven't really dropped/relaxed, esp the right side, there's still tightness on the chest. The lipo of flanks &inner thighs seem to add a good deal of discomfort too. It has its moments of being really sore and sensitive, which makes me more uncomfortable. I think if I didn't have swelling in my inner thighs, I will be so so much better & be able to walk straighter too. I am thinking about buying a whole body compression garment that's appropriate for the latter part of recovery since it looks like I'm gonna want to wear something for support for a while. I'll ask my PS today. Thanks for the pick me up. Keep me posted.
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May 3, 2010
That's fantastic! You're going too look great. I'm giving away Mederma Stretch Mark Therapy (retails for $40) and a box of Scaraway Silicone Sheets to women who send me a pre-op and post-op video. Message me or email me at angiemcdonald at hotmail dot com if you're interested!
May 3, 2010
If I am able to make a video, I will send it to you. Thanks a lot.
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May 4, 2010
That would be great. Let me know! Thanks!
May 3, 2010
I am 15 hours away from my mommy makeover surgery. Tic toc tic toc! How exciting but also a little nerve wrecking! I got some good reassurance from the office manager today, which is really great. It helps ease up some of those tension before having a surgery.
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May 8, 2010
Please let me know how your recovery goes! I'm scheduled for June 28th and I'm nervous about the recovery and it's obstacles.
May 8, 2010
Since I can't seem to update my discussion, I'll just post a comment about the surgery and my recovery to follow on another comment. THE SURGEY: I was in really early in the morning; was dropped off by my husband & kids. I was a little scared, since this is my 1st sugery ever in my life. The whole idea of being put to sleep creeps me out. I always think what if I don't wake up. But it actually wasn't so bad, not that I'd want it again. I gotta tell you it was the 1st time I actually slept again since I got pregnant with my 1st child. When I woke up, I remember still feeling the urinary catheter being pulled out, but I was so out of it, it didn't bother me. Then I know I asked to go to the bathroom, but I was still under the anesthesia that I was blacking out. I guess I was falling asleep every few sec & waking up another sec. I was loaded on the car & the next I knew I was home. I was so afraid I'd fall asleep again, I asked my husband to wipe my face with something cold. Getting up for the 1st time was hard. I couldn't stand straight bec of my tummy tuck incission & my abdomen felt a brick was on it wrapped very tightly by this abdominal binder. I had to walk bending forward which after a few steps started to kill my lower back. And because I also had a breast augmentation, my chest felt so heavy, giving me this extra pull forward when I was walking while bending forward. My husband was like my walker. Having the implants feels like 2 bricks wrapped tightly against my chest and my chest muscles felt so tensed when I tried to move my arms. Lying on the bed has been a real challenge for me because my lower body is very hard to move. I have to move as a log. 1 unit all together. Then I can't really support my body with my arms, since I can't put any weight on my arms bec of my implants. I couldn't scooch my self up the bed once I was on it bec I couldn't push my legs bec that too is sore from the inner thighs liposuction & I coulnd't lift my butt bec that was sore from flanks liposuction too. I had the pain pump for my tummy but even with that I felt stinging on the incision. Getting up was horrible bec I was so stiff and couldn't stand straight so my lower back was really suffering. My neck was suffering too while in bed. I tried to get up at least every 3 hrs round the clock, but I dreaded it bec it was hard any wasy you cut it. My husband had to feed me, give me my meds, & I had to sip on straw to drink water. He was not only my walker but also my trapeze when lying & getting up from bed. There's really no major pain except the stinging or sometimes sharp shooting pain on the incision, which always got me worried that it might be separating. Well there's the most horrrible muscle pain that there was really nothing I could about. I applied hot pack on my neck one time, and that helped a lot too. The bottom line is I felt this was very disabling to me since I couldn't do anything without my husband there next to me.
May 12, 2010
I've read in several places that a recliner will really help... maybe you could borrow to sleep in? This is the worst day, tomorrow will be better, and so on! I'm so glad that you've done this for yourself, and you will be too in just a few short weeks! Try to stay positive, sit in the sunshine for atleast 20 min a day! It will help! Best wishes and we are all cheering you on!!
May 12, 2010
Thanks for the support & encouragement. It helps to know that someone else knows what I was going through.
UPDATED FROM RLMD

Hello everyone! It's nice to be able to update...

RLMD
Hello everyone! It's nice to be able to update my post now rather than just commenting on it. I would post my pics tomorrow when I get home because I'm @ work right now. Yes, work! I am now 5 1/2 weeks post op and tonight is my 2nd night back to work. I feel tired because I'm working 3 nights in a row and I just came back. So on top of getting my body back to working I'm also dealing with the stress of working nights. Time is a big change since I have been sleeping like normal while I was off work. But now I have switch my days and nights again. I'm still on partial restrictions, meaning I can't be doing too much lifting more than 20 lbs until beginning of July. I still have to wear my abdominal binder even when working since it gives me support therefore allowing to move faster with less discomfort. So far people at work are making good comments and have been very interested to know about my whole experience.

As far as my body, the breasts are healing now. There was a small opening in the inner side of my right breast incision, which was irritated before. I don't think it was infected but it was getting close to getting there, so my PS prescribed another course of antibiotics. I haven't been good at taking it every 6 hrs; instead I'm doing every 8 hrs. I know, bad me. ;ut it's better now: dry and closed already but still has some redness around the area. I graduated from the velcro for the breasts @ 4 1/2 wks because the implants have pretty much done the dropping they are suppose to do. They don't feel so tensed anymore, but the nipples are still hypersensitive and the skin around them and the whole breasts are really itchy. I try not to scratch them, of course. I'm still doing the massage that I was told to do twice a day.

Then the tummy tuck incision is healing well too. The tiny opening on the right end of the incision has closed. The lttle openings on the left end of the incision have closed now too. The skin around them is drying and scabbing a lot now. This area is still more swollen than the right, but not so bad. The middle part of my stomach down to the mons pubis is still swollen. I can still see the little hump in this area, but it's getting smaller everyday. My PS said that the swelling could up 6 mons to subside. The whole abdomen is still numb of course, but that's no surprise. My abdominal binder is not my most favorite, but it is beneficial to me, so I can't say I hate it. I am able to keep it off a little bit more longer now too, but I move slower without it still. I also feel this heat that travels through the incision whenever I get up from lying or sitting position, espcially when the binder is off. My PS said it's normal.

As far as the scars, well, some areas are finer than others. I've started putting the Mederma cream @ 5 wks but only to where the incisions are really closed. The small openings I've mentioned I just leave alone for now. My PS recommends Rejuveness silicone sheets instead. I've looked and men, they are expensive. I'll get them though, just not right now. And just really quickly, the lipo of the inner thighs have not changed much from what I've mentioned at 3 wks. There still that small bulge, esp on the right, but I think it will take some time to come down. Maybe it will get better faster once I start working out again. Speaking of working out, he said 2 more weeks. So @ 7 wks I should be okay to go back to working out again. I'll have to start over again though: build it up slowly in cardio and weights. I can't wait. I really would like to get my stamina back again.

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UPDATED FROM RLMD

I added my pictures finally. The incisions are...

RLMD
I added my pictures finally. The incisions are healing well. There are times when they are really itchy & a little swollen, but I keep putting the Mederma cream on. I also noticed that when I use my abdominal binder, the tummy tuck incision really flattens and I can't feel any bump. The breast incisions are always flat and the little areas that had small openings for a while are healing well too. I noticed that the right areola is a little lower than the left, but it's pretty decent. I also apply the Mederma cream on the belly button and breasts incisions.

Replies (1)

July 31, 2010
You look great. Congrats!