Breast Reduction/lift with Fat Transfer, Tummy Tuck with Muscle Repair and Flank and Back Lipo. Southlake, TX

I'm a 42 year old mother of 2. My kids are 11 and 13. I am 5'4" and weigh 143 pounds. I gained a lot of weight with my kids. I went up to 180 and my bra size went from a 36C to a 38H. When both my kids started school I lost about 40 pounds. None of it was in my breasts. I know that is when I first started looking at breast reduction. Then I developed some health issues and ended up having back and neck surgery. I used a phone app that counts calories to try and lose weight and lost about 20 pounds. Then I did a doctor supervised diet and lost around 30 pounds. This diet dropped weight from my face, fingers, butt, and breasts. I am now a 32DDD and have been maintaining my weight for 9 months.

I feel like I have been a Real Self Stalker for awhile. However, I had not joined until after I set my surgery date. I admit, I joined to see the pictures. Seeing everyone's pictures has been a shock. I think the surgeons should show you what you will look like right after so you won't be shocked. They show you pictures of what you will look like after you have started to heal (and they should), but without those early post op pictures I don't think you really know what you are getting into. Maybe they show you at the pre-op appointment so they don't scare you off.

I have been trying to talk my husband into the reduction for a long time now. He did not like the idea of the scars. After my second round of weight loss. I felt like I looked good and felt better. But after awhile, I started to be really depressed, because I looked great in clothes, but it was really noticeable to me that my breasts just looked deflated, despite still being so large. I was reminded of my grandmother every time I looked in the mirror before getting into the shower. Its weird how when I was obese I was actually more proportionate. So, I convinced him to go to the PS with me and sees the 3D images.

It's weird, I can usually talk to my doctors about embarrassing things, or my husband, but together it is a little strange. I think that is why I forgot to ask some questions. The 3D imaging did not work on me. The doctor said he thought it was because I had too much skin contacting on the bottom of my breasts/belly. So, we just looked at before and after photos. We told him about our concerns for my back/neck should I have to get surgery on those again, and he reassured us that he would not be going near those areas. He recommended getting the back lipo and fat transfer as he said that my breasts have lost most of the weight from the top and this would make them have cleavage and seem more natural. Also, it would contour my back to match the front. He mentioned that the tummy tuck would be good for me as it would get rid of my front butt. I had wanted the tummy tuck because I felt that if I got a reduction then my breasts being smaller than my belly would look weird.

I'm not sure if I am going to post pictures yet. I have really appreciating being able to see other peoples pictures, so I will try to psych myself up for it.

I plan to go back and see Dr. Obaid again before the pre-op to ask him about another procedure (labioplasty). I forgot to ask him the first time, as well as anything else I think up. After losing the weight through the diet, I felt like my labia are longer/swollen. Especially if it is hot out and/or I have been walking a lot. I wanted to know if this procedure would fix that problem.

So, the preliminary labwork/EKG. I have had an abnormal EKG in the past, so I tried to schedule this with my cardiologist. The cardiologist just wanted to clear me for surgery, but Dr. Obaid's office wanted an EKG within 60 days. So, where was a little bit of a run around with that. Mostly because I hadn't seen my original cardiologist. Due to a snow day, I saw his associate, so half my records are with each doctor. That is finally settled and I am cleared for surgery and the labwork is done. However, during this time I did call Dr. Obaid's office and leave a message for Melissa to call me back. She called back after hours and I was in the car with my kids, so I did not take the call. I dropped my kids at their class and then called her back. The message I got was that the voicemail was full. I found that somewhat disturbing, as I felt if I was a post-op patient that could be really bad. I called back an hour later and got the same message. The next day, when I talked to her, she said that Dr. Obaid had notified her of that and she corrected it that night and that post-op I would have Dr. Obaid's number as well. I need to remember to try and call back after hours sometime before my surgery and make sure that one can at least leave a message.

Today, I called and verified that Dr. Obaid's office had received my labs and EKG surgery clearance. I also asked them if we could try the 3d imaging again at my next appointment, and Melissa said they would do that. It turns out that my insurance might pay for the breast reduction, though not if I get the fat transfer and I would like to see the difference. Also, Melissa says they do not do anything with the insurance. However, I could try to get them to reimburse me afterwards. I'll have to see if I can pre-auth it myself. I suspect the insurance will be difficult if I do not. I actually thought they would say they did not cover it at all. Apparently my back/neck surgeries and ongoing care might warrant it. Anyway, I will try to keep everyone posted on all these developments. Considering it has taken me 3 weeks to write this though. I might be a little slow.

I set my husband to looking for wish pics. He was way more on board afterwards. We are hoping to get me down to this size. Or at least this proportion to my body.

I've now been to see my GP, OB/GYN and another Chiro. They all say they think a reduction would help with my back/neck pain. Also, made appointment with another PS who deals with insurance to see what they say.

My GP wrote referrals for Dr. Obaid, and another doctor who does my insurance to help with pre-auth and said they would try and get my diagnostic studies sent along.

When I called the insurance company back to get more information on what they needed, I was told my policy does not cover that, but I can appeal. I was like, how can I appeal something I have not requested yet? The lady then said, I guess you could request it then. Very frustrated with insurance companies at the moment. Especially, since in my first call I told them I was planning to get this done either way.