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Cost: $16,000 for BREAST LIFT AND FLEUR DE LIS STYLED TUMMY TUCK (saved up and self paid)

Date: January 21, 2020 surgery date

Surgeon: Dr. Dana Goldberg, Jupiter, Florida

Three days before surgery Hibiclens antispetic showers and application of Mupirocin ointment. I ate my regular routine and variety of high quality salads, fresh fruits, nuts, veggies, baked seeded crackers (Firehook brand) with cheese nibbles along with hot tea/1% milk + 80 -100 oz. water per day.

Day One

Surgery 9:00am - 3:30pm yesterday. Was administered Experal, Valium (if needed) and Enoxaparin. Recovery time until 6:00 pm. Hubby takes me home and I'm in bed by 8:00 pm until 5:00am to empty pressurize drains (3) + urinate. Off balance a bit and slumped to the floor. Puppy to the rescue! Not a fall - just loopy and off balance a bit. Walked around the house with my walker device twice. Surgeon does not want me bent over but standing straight up.

Day Two

Today follow-up appointment at surgeons office 9:15am. Everything looked great and they were amazed with my healthy appearance. I believe this is attributable to clean and simple eating, water, no sugar or salt or little processed products. 5 pounds of skin was removed and I feel so much lighter! That puts me at 124! - Of course, after swelling and settling in the next weeks and months to follow maybe more.... I had them take a picture of the removed flesh. I see it fascinating, not morbid. After all, it was a part of me once. Got a glimpse of the girls aka. breasts today and I love them!!! Perky and pretty. No longer the inherited elongated missels downward from my mother and Aunt! Haha.

Other supplements to help with pain + wound healing are daily Juven drink, Arnica, stool softener, Oxycodone graduating to Tylenol as needed. In other knee surgeries - I found keeping ahead of the pain was better than when in pain.

Overall, so far, this whole process has been intriguing AND not as bad as I thought. Sensing a good premise of what's to follow. My compression garments and socks actually feel really good - stabilizing me + fit well. They placed pads between the stitches and garment. So far feeling not pinching or discomfort. We are having crispy cool whether and enjoyed a walk down the block with hubby and puppy this afternoon. Tonight Hubby's making our favorite navy bean soup with loads of veggies, cloves + baked ham cubes for flavor. He also made Chia pudding to die for made with vanilla, pear, orange, macadamia nuts, cacao powder... Nice winter recipes.

Very excited and feel most fortunate to take this next step to what will become another game changer. I want my 60's to be a fabulous decade!

Do hope all the ladies in our winterized plastics group continued best wishes and quality healing. Addie ;]

2 hours ago, Sophie7713 said:

So sorry to hear about your fury family loss. :[ I'd definitely look into the wire fox terrier! They are our favorite breed. A fabulous breed. They bring so much joy to a household. They do not shed but you do need to keep their undercoat managed by combing it out + along with puppy cut or stripping which they do to show dogs. We do not strip Bobby.

Robert has been an incredibly attentive nurse, and baker extraordinare all built in one! Haha. I'll send you a few more wire fox terrier inspirations to consider. They are very athletic, social and full of curiosity AND adventure. Bobby has not left my side since surgery. A very faithful companion, indeed.

Oh my gosh they are adorable!!! ?

Thank you for sharing your lovely fur baby pics, they look very intelligent and personality filled but fun, which is just how we like our furry friends, our JRT was such a wonderful character, she was the doggie love of my life. The new one will have big paws to fill!

Back to your surgery... lol I hope today has been a good recovery day for you Sophie and that you are feeling good.

Sophie,

You look fantastic! I am so excited for you.

I’m 55 and I’m confident when I am finished losing that I will need exactly the same surgery you have just gotten. It is great to see someone close to my age doing so well!!

I’m 10 lbs from my original goal and then I will wait at least 6mos-1yr before I go under the knife.

I imagined myself having a rough time as compared to the other younger ladies who have recently undergone plastics. You have given me confidence by sharing your story!

Congratulations on the perky boobs and flat tummy!

Day three

I slept 11 solid hours last night with one potty and drain clean break to bathroom at 2:00am. Just returned from my longest walk to date with hubby and Bobby. No marathons yet of course but felt great to get out in the fresh air and move + stretch the body. Ate a little low salt cottage cheese with bananas and walnuts for breakfast. Still not hungry but try to get something down. No bowel movement, either. Do take a stool softener for when the time is right. :] Continue Juven and isopure liquids. I feel great. The only freight train pain is in the tummy tuck territory, and only when getting in and out of our bed which is a little on the high side especially for pint size 5' Sophie! LOL. There is no pain nor discomfort in the breast area at all. After the third day out I can say with absolute confidence - Do not hesitate when you feel ready to do this for yourselves!!! It has not been as difficult as I thought it would be. And, pssk, in regards to our age - I found research suggest older adult women may actually fair better with plastic surgeries due to less hormonal activity and stability post-menopause. I decided not to shower today for the big reveal and remove all the compression garments and such. I have been sponge bathing all along and ready for a nap now. You can see from the side view the swelling is at a premium. Sooooo for today, I'll keep everything in their tight little cocoon for the time being. Happy weekend to you and yours.

Sophie, you're looking amazing! Did the doctor have a lot of muscle-tightening to do for your abdomen or was it primarily excess skin removal?

6 hours ago, Orchids&Dragons said:

Sophie, you're looking amazing! Did the doctor have a lot of muscle-tightening to do for your abdomen or was it primarily Excess skin removal?

For my age - I just opted for excess skin removal. Surgeon felt I had a pretty nice tight abdomen underneath - as I did exercise regularly when very heavy. Maybe that was a helpful silver lining to this step?

These tropical beauties arrived today from good friends who have tracked every step of the way from November 2018 pre-sleeve prep to plastics to date. ;]

41 minutes ago, Sophie7713 said:

For my age - I just opted for Excess skin removal. Surgeon felt I had a pretty nice tight abdomen underneath - as I did exercise regularly when very heavy. Maybe that was a helpful silver lining to this step?

I'm asking because I'm 60, and I want to be realistic. However, I've had 4 kids, including 15.5 pound twins (total weight)! My belly muscles have been stretched to h3ll and back! And if I go to the trouble of plastics, I'd like it to be worth it.

This is interesting. I assumed I would have to have the muscles repaired and tightened but maybe...

I’m glad the lift isn’t painful! I had a reduction 25 years ago and that hurt as much as I can remember.

I’m actually hoping when I do the lift that I will be a little smaller than I am. I am presently a DD and would love to end up a C. That is what I wanted 25 years ago and I got a D. Grrr. I was thin back then and was really hoping for a full C. Oh well...

It is also interesting to hear that menopause may help me with plastics! Lol yeah!

@Sophie7713 You are simply amazing ladybug!!! You look marvelous and gorgeous/perky as evs. Love your hubs. Love your pup. Love you! So so so happy you are going through this like a champ and that you will go through 60 with a perky new bod to match your million dollar smile!!!

Okay ladies... if anyone is a bit squeamish, you may wish to look away! Here comes the real enchilada! I share it as a completely clinical not personal post. I trust no offense is taken, and we can really continue to help others assess and contemplate the process. I am so very thankful for your care and ongoing support of me. Hello to Mrs. Frankenstein, 2020.

Day Four and Five

I have found them the most painful and arduous days thus far. We bathed yesterday and obviously in the 45 minutes I was allowed out of compression, my body expanded and the surgery Exparel had definitely worn off putting garments carefully back on again. I remember previous comments to this effect on other posts. But, very happy with surgeon's craftsmanship as you will note before and after pictures. We carefully cleaned, padded and put everything back into place BUT I am much more aware of other pesky nuisances, pulls and tugs. Ouch. I cried and shivered with pain at yesterday's nap and bedtime. But I slept it off into LaLa land. I still lack an appetite and have not had a bowel movement but it's a stirring! ;]

Today, is a new day - It felt like a poop day. Been taking stool softeners but nothing wanted to move at the last session. Haha. Don't you just hate being in that in-between state. I dislike returning to this unsettling dilemma after GS. It was so nice to return to a regular healthy routine. I am relying heavily upon nausea meds which I know are a by product of the big pain guns. Trying to take the oxycodone only at night now - but will see how I fair today? Thought it might be nice for hubby to take us to our favorite local Thai place and get out for a little Sunday drive. Not meant to be. Attempted to eat the inside sweet potato, peas, corn curry mix in money pockets (not the outside shell) to no avail. First time I've ever felt like throwing up anything and only once after GS recovery eating beef. Obviously, the oxy is wreaking havoc on my GS stomach - And, I want off them ASAP. Damn, I really did want a few bites of that red curry soft chicken, carrots, green beans and bite of brown rice! We just had waitress wrap up to go and scurried back home to my deliriously delicious delectable cottage cheese with blueberries. Maybe Thai another day?

Oh my, Orchid & Dragons - twins!!!! Of course, you might just want the added benefit of muscle reconstruction? I have not bore any children, but my surgeon does offer the mommy tuck versions. When we spoke in great detail, we concurred the fleur-de-lis was my best option. And, given the more intense discomfort + pain I am currently experiencing - Glad there was not any residual muscle things done! I am also on a bit of a healing timeline by mid-May. I'm happy with the commitment, procedure + the pain level I've chosen. You will have to let us know how you are advised or do decide? I can also live with my elephant skin like crumpled thighs and bat wings arms for myself. I may address the chin + under neck area someday - And, she suggested maybe wanting to go back in later this year with a little lippo finessing. This is it for the major stuff. Drive a well-engineered, classic 13 year old car and want to begin saving for her replacement at 64, or if ever. I adore her actual real gear shift, she doesn't beep, argue or talk back to me with a stellar, conventional, rockin' sleuth six cylinder engine. Call me old school.

And, pssk - so excited for your plastics research here, too. A good surgeon will listen, won't dictate and will offer his best vision. And, that varies. That's why we all felt it important here to find just the perfect fit for us. I think these are my C cups but lifted now - have not ventured out into bra land quite yet. I disliked the DD on my 5' frame before weight loss (YUCK) BUT your fabulous 5'6" stature?! You never know!? Can I borrow a few inches in height? I just asked my surgeon to sculpt breasts she felt were in right proportion for my body type and shape. So happy with the reveal, right? I trust her explicitly... As I stated before, here she is the former Ms. Sophie now Mrs. Frankenstein, 2020. LOL. Back safely in my compressions. The drains come out Wednesday! Yay.

You are looking amazing, Sophie! Thank you for sharing!

Dang girl! I don't know if I'm more impressed with your surgical "liberation" or if I'm more impressed that you have your hair and makeup looking fabulous as always and you have your impish grin sparkling despite being in pain. Way to walk on it hon! You are just doing beautifully!

19 minutes ago, FluffyChix said:

Dang girl! I don't know if I'm more impressed with your surgical "liberation" or if I'm more impressed that you have your hair and makeup looking fabulous as always and you have your impish grin sparkling despite being in pain.

LOL...I was thinking the same thing!

@Sophie7713, wow, that's some serious body contouring expertise being displayed. So happy you are happy! ❤️

?Congratulations you look happy and healthy?

I find it amazing that both of our before and afters are so similar?