42 Years Old---I had a Mommy Makeover and I'm so glad I did!

I just wanted to begin a blog of my experience with researching and interviewing plastic surgeons. As noted in the title, I'm almost 42 years old with 3 children and an 8 month old grandson. I work in health care and am an advanced practice registered nurse/certified nurse midwife. I had my first child @ the age of 19, the second @ 23, and the third @ almost 33 years of age. I've had ups and downs with my weight, worked nights, days, and all of the above. I've tried to maintain a healthy lifestyle with diet and exercise, but no matter how much weight I lose, I always have the skin of my "2nd butt" sagging below my belly button. I'm very self-conscious about this. My breasts aren't too terribly saggy, but they need a lift, especially after being pregnant 3 times with 34D size when NOT pregnant or breastfeeding.

I began researching about a month ago, thanks to this wonderful website/community! I'm so glad I found you all! Yesterday, I started the process of interviewing PSs to get a feel for who I think will do a good job. I went to Dr. Behar in Franklin, TN. His entire office staff is wonderful and very personable, as is he! Everyone answered all my questions thoroughly and didn't try to sugar coat anything. I'm a little nervous about the post-op pain. I've never had any time of surgery other than a tonsillectomy when I was about 6 years old. He made sure I understood that I would not be feeling too keen after the surgery but that I would NEED/HAVE to be up walking multiple times the day of surgery and everyday thereafter to prevent complications. I know this as a nurse/nurse practitioner, but it is very different when YOU are the one who is the patient.

I have another consultation on April 15th and I'm really asking myself if I should even go to it because I really liked Dr. Behar and his staff so well. I will keep the appointment because I know that I shouldn't just go with the first physician I have a consultation with. I feel like Dr. Behar's charges and the facility and anesthesia fees are very reasonable and comparable to other quotes I have received from other PS offices.

I will keep you all up to date. I know I want to do this. I just need to make sure I don't want to go with anyone else other than Dr. Behar. :)

Before pics to come!

Today I went for a 2nd consultation with at different PS. I have to say that I really like Dr. J.J. Wendel! He is very down-to-earth and answered all my questions, took some measurements, and even drew out a few pics of what the procedure would entail. I just felt more comfortable with him than with the previous physician with whom I had a consult. The office staff was awesome! I got some great discounts (one was a 20% off special and the other was a multi-procedure discount). I am scheduled to have a full abdominoplasty and bilateral mastopexy on July 23rd. WooHoo! Now to continue working out and eating clean so my body will be more likely to recover a little more quickly and smoothly. :)

27 days to go until my surgery. I'm a little disappointed in myself that I've not lost the weight I wanted to lose prior to surgery, but with vacations and work, I've not made the time to fit my workouts in on a regular basis. There is still time, but I have another trip coming up the beginning of July. I will be happy with a 5lb loss which would put me down to 145 on this 5'2" frame. More than I wanted to weigh for surgery, but I guess it could be worse! I will definitely add some before pics soon!