Advice for a Future Mommy Makeover?? - Vacaville, CA

I have a wonderful husband. But i have already been informed by my parents that i will Come home with them! Haha. Fine by me! Im so nervous but so excited!

Can you explain what a body lift is? I have heard about it but not aure how its done. Thanks!

Hi Lisa...I think the real name is flankplasty. My understanding is that the tummy tuck is the abdomen only. The fat/excess on the sides is addressed. The excess skin is cut off and pulled tight. My scar for that is combined with the tummy tuck. The cut goes completely around my torso below the bikini line. If only had the tummy tuck...I would still have a lot of excess skin on my sides above that. I just gave away my brochure to a friend....hope this is helpful.

It is. Thank you!

What size did you go from? And to? Glad you are doing well!

That is a tough question. I wore a 38DDD, but bra was too big around the rib cage and cup was too small. It was the biggest cup I could find and still halfway fit. I always left in tears when looking for bras. It is really way too early to know what my final size will be. But my surgeon says large C/small D. I am hoping to be a 36D, but we shall see. Either way I will be thrilled. Hopefully my review is encouraging to you.

You sound just like me!! I am about a 36 DDDD. But could only find 38 or 40 DDD. I think i would be happy as a D. :).

Good luck with your surgery! I forgot to tell you I didn't really notice not standing upright...but just today's Mom said "you are looking better everyday and you are standing up straighter". So i guess it is true to some extent.

Good to know! All this info helps so much. Im so glad i found this site!

Thank you so much!!

Hi I deliberately didn't look up anything on the internet before my surgery b/c I knew I would get freaked out. The pain isn't bad and if you have a good surgeon everything will be fine. I am out of surgery for four weeks....and it is much better than I expected.

That is so good to hear. My PS is known as one of the beat in CA. I was shocked to see that people fly in from several states away just for him! :)

I will be there the week before Easter! :). Cant wait!!

Thank you! This is all so helpful. When do your drains come out? My PS says the drains for my breasts will come out after 2 days and for tummy after 2 weeks.

Hi, I had no drains for my breasts.... I had four drains for my tummy tuck. You have to have 30ccs (cubic centimeters or millimeters) of drainage for three days in a row in one drain for it to come out. I had two drains removed two weeks after surgery. I have two left....they are down to 35-40 ccs a day. They cannot come out until they are at 30ccs for three days in a row. Right after surgery, I had 75-100 ccs in each of the four drains every day. I don't think anyone was expecting me to have drains in this long. If they take them out too soon...the fluid accumulates in your abdomen and then they have to "tap" your abdomen to drain the fluid out. That is very painful. I am hopeful that this Friday...which will be five weeks after surgery...my drains (at least one of the remaining two) will be removed. In reality...this is the most annoying part of the surgery....b/c I have no control over it. I know drains staying in this long is not normal...but my Dr. is not concerned b/c they are doing what they are supposed to be doing...draining fluid. I don't want you to think your drains will last this long...this is outside the norm.

That makes sense though. Gotta get that fluid out! I had an out of the norm hysterectomy 2 years ago. My surgeon punctured my bladded and i had to have a catheter for 6 months until another doc could repair it! So i guess you could say i had one big drain for quite a while. Haha.

I wish i could close my eyes and make it be 2 weeks after my surgery! :)