SAFElipo: Upper/lower Abdomin and Hips (Love Handles & Lower Back) - Santa Rosa, CA

I am a 26yr old mom of two (6 & 5 year olds). I have always been in good shape, but always had an awkward amount of love handles and lower tummy bump. Even after two kids, I stayed in good shape, but never lost all of the weight gained. I worked out and ran religiously For the first 1.5yrs after my second was born. (I was a working mom before him)... after 1.5yrs, I had knee issues, which took about a year to get the procedures done. After about 3months post op, I was able to do light workouts. I started loosing the 20 pounds I gained because of the lack of exercise due to knee... In about 9months post op, I lost it all. It has been a year, and I go to the gym a few times a week (vigorous work outs with 30min cardio, and an hour of weights... minimum), eating better, and weight only fluctuating about two pounds. But still, the love handles and belly are horrific, and look out of place. Because I have been keeping the weight off for almost 1.5 yrs, and healthy again, I am spoiling myself and getting SAFElipo done!

I am very excited that my procedure date is only a month away (Thursday, April 16th, 2015)! I cant express my excitement to many people, because only about four people know about it (including husband), and no family members know. I had a concern about scaring, bruising, and swelling 8 weeks after pro., but I have a good feeling that the scars will be hidden, and visible swelling/bruising will be gone. (otherwise I will be in a one piece bathing suit on our trip with other family members!) lol.

I will post my pre-op photos, and post-op photos as soon as I can. Wish me luck!

Appt went well.... I would firstly like to thank the wonderful ladies at the office. My son had to go with me to my appt, and they were really patient with us, and kind, and didn't ignore the fact that he was there (Some offices of business do). I understand that it isn't exactly appropriate to have a child at a pre-op going over details and payment, etc, but I had no choice, and the women couldn't have been more understanding about it!
Secondly, I was very happy to get all my questions answered, and especially to have the answers be what I hoped they would be! (yay!) I sometimes feel like i ask rediculous questions, but the surgery co. was great at answering all of them. :)
Lastely, I am ready to go, and so excited! I have all i need to be prepared for the procedure. I am fit for my garment, and pictures from the office have been taken. (I took my own pics a week ago that I will post. I will also post the docs pictures when i recieve them.)

I am getting really excited about getting my procedure done. But feeling really stressed out at the same time. To us, $5900 is A LOT of money! I was able to save up all but $1600. So I put it on a credit card. I do not work, (except for the occassional babysitting). So, we have one income in which my husband has to commute 45 min each way, and kid's are in a private school. We usually live pay check by pay check.
Right after making my pro appt (2 months in advance), Things started happening... Washer going out, not babysitting for an entire month, no over time for my husband, cars needing stuff fixed, etc. I kept asking my husband if this is the right time to do this. I said I have waited five years, i can wait another year. But he said because I have been waiting for so long, and he knows this will make me happy, I should do it. I was almost hoping he would tell me not to do it. lol. But I'm glad he didn't.
Because I have been getting so much anxiety lately, I eat a lot, and I pick at my skin around my finger nails... it's so groose and painful! I have been trying to put my energy into working out and the house. But the stress has been causing me to loose sleep, so I am more tired than normal.
I am keeping this a secret... well, sort of. My husband knows, and three friends (they are helping with the kids and new puppy we have, while we are out of town). I'm not telling the lady i babysit for, or any family. I feel like i will be judged because it is a lot of money on appearance while we have kids, and commute expenses, and a mortgage, etc.
I just have to keep telling myself that this is for me. I hardly get my hair done, I dont go shopping (thrift store shopping for myself only), I don't get my nails done, or go out on weekends. So, I WANT to do this for myself. I am tired of feeling insecure about my stomach. I like my legs, butt, and breasts. I just don't like my mid section and never have. Even being in bed with my husband (even after all these years), I am still trying to hide my stomach and suck it in.
I really truly believe that this will help my self esteem. I wont want to wear a sweatshirt in warm weather, or a shirt at the lake.
Anyway, I think this will be good for ME, but it's just a lot of money. I can't help to think that this money could pay off the truck, or we could put it towards our remoldling on our house, or a vacation even. lol...
I am all prepaired! I just picked up my meds, I made notes with info for the friends taking care of the kids, and everything is in order and ready to go! Excitement arrises every day! But with that, comes with more stress. lol