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Ginger's Full Abdominoplasty

My name is Ginger and I am a 31 year old mother and wife. I had finally had it up to here with my body.  After having 2 boys (now ages 2 and 4) my body had become a mere shadow of what it once looked like.  I breastfed both of my sons so my breasts had deflated like old party balloons, my stomach was poochie, and my thighs like jello.  I was becoming a pear !  I started to look more like *pear shaped jello* than a woman.

I finally decided to go through with my surgeries when at the gym I noticed my embarrassment in front of women who had *better* bodies than I did. Everyone ran around in towels whilst I covered up in a huge robe I had brought from home.  I was embarrassed of what I had become and felt for the longest time that it was because I was lazy and ate too much. I didn't realize that it was just nature's way of letting others know you've had children! ha ha. I was told that no matter how many sit ups I did I would not lose my kangaroo pouch. I decided to go on several consultations in our area. A girlfriend at the gym told me her sister had had her boobs done by Dr. Jeffrey Friedman and that they looked great.  My friend also said that she was considering having her eyes done by him too so I decided to go for a consultation.

The consultation was free so there was no obligation and no risk if I didn't have surgery.  I was very excited so I forgot to ask most of my questions.  My husband wasn't too thrilled with the idea to begin with, especially after we found out .  My surgeon gave us a *deal*, but it was still expensive to us.  I was getting abdominoplasty, breast augmentation, and liposuction to my saddle bags and flanks.

Dr. Friedman puts his breast implants through the belly button so you don't have any scars.  This would have been great but I would already have a huge scar on my stomach so he told us that he could place my implants through my tummy tuck incision. I decided on 375cc McGhan saline breast implants *over the muscle* placement.  He said that that size would fill my breasts back out as I didn't really need a lift, just a little replaced volume.

I almost cancelled my surgery several times for various reasons the biggest one being guilt.  This was a lot of money to be spending on myself I thought. We hadn't yet started a college fund for my boys and living in the Bay Area isn't exactly *cheap*.  Even though my husband and I have a good steady income, raising a family here is a little tough.  I even called the office and told them how I felt.  They understood and said to think about it before canceling but that they would give my deposit back if I let them know 2 weeks ahead of time.  I thought to myself that I had at least 6 weeks so I would "sleep" on it. 

Well, I slept on it and spoke with my husband and I think after that he finally realized how much it meant to me.  He said that I had spent so much energy caring for all THREE of "my boys" that I forgot about myself temporarily and that he would back any decision I made.  I still wondered if he had just said that for my sake and truly did not want me to spend the money.  We could have bought all new furniture or a car for the same amount. Or paid off a good amount of our mortgage.

Time flew by faster than I expected so I started researching on the web.  I found a web site (yes they're fake) while looking up information on my surgeon.  I found out that the web site owner (Marianne) had had surgery with my doctor as well and lived not too far from me.  We spoke on the phone twice (she is on the referral list for breast implants) and eased my mind about having elective surgery.  I spoke with other people who let me know that it was perfectly normal to feel guilty and they also said they never regretted having gone through with their surgery unless there was a major complication.  I found out that the lady who was going to be in the operating room for my surgery (Francesca) was actually very good friends with Marianne and had also taken care of her too.  Francesca had even gone through surgery with Dr Friedman. I felt more than relieved.  I also got to talk to patients of Dr Friedman who were on a tt referral list.  All the patients were happy, although one had lost more weight since the abdominoplasty and wanted a touch up.  She confirmed to me how important it is to wait until you are finished with your weight loss. I had lost all my *baby weight* and had only skin and a little bit of fat I couldn't lose in my saddlebags and tummy.

I told my mom about my surgery and to my surprise she actually understood.  She said she had noticed I had a lot of sagging skin but never said anything about for fear of hurting my feelings.  I began crying from happiness that she was so supportive and it started to really sink in that I was going to have surgery soon!

The day was nearing and I remember just going crazy looking for proper pajamas, supplies, post surgery garments and slippers. My old slippers were so *ratty* I was embarrassed to be seen by anyone other than my family with those things on !  We went shopping and found some real nice jammies and slippers and got my healing area (the living room) all ready for the surgery day.  We even got my mother to care for the boys for the first few days of my recovery.  I had taken off 2 weeks of vacation and hoped that this was enough to heal.

The night before surgery I was so scared.  I kept thinking that I would never wake up and see my family again and how my boys would be without a mother.  I kissed the boys and hugged them really tight when my mom came to pick them up.  I think I cried then too. I had taken a sedative to help me go to sleep early and ate my *last meal*.  I guess I got sleepy pretty fast because the next thing I remember is that it was morning and time to go !

I arrived at the office early, too early I think.  The door was still locked and it was still a little dark outside. I didn't knock because I was so early.  I was afraid that we were going to get stuck in the commute so we left an hour earlier than I needed.  I began crying thinking that they were closed and had forgotten to tell me, so Tyler walked back up the stairs and knocked on the door. Some one opened it ! ! ! They told him to bring me on up and that we could sit around and chat for a bit while everything got ready.  I was so scared ! ! !  I was hungry too and my stomach was growling. How embarrassing ! ! ! I hadn't had any coffee yet either so I was grumpy. ha ha.

Dr Friedman had prescribed a sedative beforehand and I had taken all of my instructed medications so I was feeling a little woozy and not too nervous.  All this ended when the nurse came to put in my I.V. I am afraid of needles ! I was no longer calm! ! ! I asked her if she could wait until I was unconscious but she explained to me that they use I.V. sedation and would need it to become unconscious, ha ha.  She was so nice that she even used a little bit of pain reliever so I wouldn't feel the I.V. being inserted.  Even though I felt no pain except for the sting I almost passed out ! ! ! Tyler laughed at me and I remember getting really upset and starting to cry. I cry a lot I think. :o) I was just o sensitive. He really made me upset.

Well it is time so I went into the operating room. but I don't remember ever getting on the table, maybe they carried me I don't remember.  I just remember being woken up and they kept saying 'Ginger ! Ginger !' and Tyler was saying my name. I wanted to go back to sleep so badly. I was sitting in the recovery room and started to feel icky. I went to turn a little in my recliner and then OWWWWWWWWWWWW SO MUCH PAIN. I felt like someone had taken a rake to my stomach and clawed all my guts out.  It burned and it was SO tight, I couldn't stand or sit up straight and I was crying.  I kept thinking "I can't believe I did this to myself ! ! !"  My breasts hurt so much and they looked too big.  I remember thinking that I was so stupid and vain to have elective surgery.

I don't remember too much after surgery but Tyler said I cried a lot and slept a lot.  He said he really couldn't get me to eat the first day and a half so when Dr Friedman called he told him to make sure I did even if it was a little.  I guess I wasn't hungry.  I felt like I would never use my stomach again. I hated my huge breasts and thought to myself what a mistake I had made.  My legs were very swollen and looked like I had never had liposuction. There were all these black and blue marks everywhere from the surgical pen they used like bull's eyes all over my lower body.  What a waste of money I kept thinking.  I also missed my boys so much ! The house was very quiet and I think I even cried because I missed them. I started feeling really guilty about how I put my family *on hold* to look better.  I had to eat something because I felt so sick because of the pain killers.  I finally ate some low sodium chicken soup and a few crackers.  I was hungrier than I thought.  After I ate I felt better so I slept some more.

I also remember my drain and how nasty the fluid was that came out of it. I thought I was leaking too much but it turned out that it was just normal fluid drain.  Tyler helped me change my dressings because I didn't remember how to do it I was also afraid I would accidentally knock it out. I couldn't wear a compression garment yet so I felt very fat, I was huge.  And I couldn't go to the bathroom with out Tyler being there so even that was humiliating. I couldn't go to the bathroom at all. I was so embarrassed to have to keep trying to go to the bathroom *not urinate* and not have any progress.  If me and Tyler weren't so close I would  have never even tried it.   I was more bruised than before but the arnica seemed to help. I just slept most of the time. The sedatives also helped a lot.

Two days later we went back to my surgeons so he could check the drain and check my liposuction areas. He hd me wait a few more days for the compression garment. The nurse helped me into a surgical garment that I did not like at all. It reminded me of a chastity belt in medieval times.  It was uncomfortable but I expected it to be worse from talking to other people. He sent me home and told me to call the office if I have any concerns. I was actually less sore than I thought I was going to be but it could have been from my pain killers I took before I left the house.

When I got home I was worried that the garment was too tight and would hurt my stomach. I called the office and they said that it should be fine and that I just had to get accustomed to it. They told me to drink a lot of water so help with swelling and that I would be more swollen when I woke up from long periods of sleep. The first night with the compression garment was the worst.

A little over a week later I was doing much better, my legs weren't as huge, neither was my tummy and my breasts were, well still there !  Both my breasts and tummy were hard as a rock.  My breasts were up under my neck and my chest felt so sore. I think I lost one of my sutures on my navel too. The boys had gotten back home and were curious as to why I wasn't sleeping with Tyler and wondered if I was sick.  I told them kind of what had happened but I didn't let on too much.  I was afraid they would tell their friends and then the other mothers would find out. I was just happy to have them back ! ! !  My youngest one wanted to sleep with me but I told him that he couldn't.  I think he understood but it really hurt his feelings. I felt like a really selfish mother.

I woke up and sure enough I was very swollen, I felt so dirty trying to urinate through the crotchless garment.  I was so afraid I was going to accidentally get it dirty.  We bought another one which we should have done before but didn't want to spend the extra money at the time. When I had to take it off it was difficult but as soon as I removed it I began throbbing. The garment helped to keep everything in and I think it helped support your healing body.

A few more days later, I got some stitches out (which hurt me very much), my drain also was removed. I wasn't really draining and all looked good.  My doctor put on a long strip of opaque tape and instructed me to leave it alone. I still can't stand up all the way yet and sleep in an odd angle. I am still uncomfortable and have a burning feeling around my abdominal muscles.  My doctor told me I still had stitches inside of me so to be careful till and not to stretch.  I would have to wear my garment for just a few more weeks - although he said that I could wear it only at night towards the end. I wound up switching to spandex biking shorts towards the end instead of none altogether because it helped keep everything in check.

A few weeks later, I don't remember exactly when, but I looked in the mirror while getting dressed and realized how much better I looked. I was thinner ! ! ! I guess I didn't realize it until I got caught off guard.  I couldn't believe how skinny I looked and how shapely my body was as compared to the pear I was before.  My breasts were no longer flaps of skin and my thighs weren't thunderous. I didn't have any more disgusting sagging skin. I looked like a woman again ! ! !

The only thing I was worried about was my long scar, It seemed very ugly and such an eyesore on my new curvaceous body.  I asked around the message boards what I should use and I tried Maderma. I didn't like Maderma too much it didn't really do anything.  I also tried Aloe Vera gel but I guess I just need to try patience in order to see results.  So far I love my body now but I am still healing.  I know people tell me that but it is hard to think it when the days pass by so slow.

Thank you so much to everyone who helped me out and to Marianne who made this site possible.  Thank you to all the girls on the yes they're fake message board and to Sue who wrote her journal. Hopefully my journal can help other like Sue's helped me.

To my genius of a surgeon Dr Friedman and the staff at the surgical center, thank you ! ! !  Even Tyler thanked him because he sees how much it meant to me and he likes my results too.  My breasts have *fluffed* out since then and they don't seem like torpedoes anymore.  They are still big though.  I guess I will get used to them.  Tyler said they are only a little bigger than my breasts were before my boys were born.  I guess I just am still experience post surgery "shock". My nipples are constantly hard and I find it a real annoyance, it really stings when I wear a bra. I sometimes don't wear one but then you can see it through my shirts.  I have been wearing a sports bra.  I am very happy but I will be happier when my scar fades and I can stand up straight without a pulling feeling. My liposuction areas look really good too.

I hope this helps anyone looking for personal experiences on a tt.  I do not regret it and I know you won't either if you decide to do it ! ! ! I should be able to go back to the gym very soon, although my doctor says I am able to lightly exercise now, I just don't feel up to it.  I am afraid I will ruin my results if I exercise too early. I will update my journal as I heal.

THE END