Hi my Loves!
I hope that January wrapped up nicely for you all! Even though it did feel like the longest January ever.
I’ve been wanting to talk a little nip/tuck for some time and finally decided to sit and share my story.
Five years ago I had a terrible break up. I got dumped. Like seriously, me?!? LOL! Just kidding. Even though it was an unhealthy relationship and I knew everything that was wrong with it, I was distraught when it ended and even more distraught when I found out she was younger, not cuter, just younger and fit. SOOOO, as we do, many women, we start comparing and thinking about all the things we could have done or been to keep the man.
So I decided to get a little nip/tuck. My implants were over 15 years old and needed be replaced/lifted and figured there was no time like that time to get it done.
After some research, I chose Dr. Carlos Jimenez in DR, mostly because he is a close family friend of my sister in law, he served as a doctor for the U.S. military, and he did NOT have a huge presence, or any presence on IG unlike many that are found on social media.
After having a phone conversation, I sent him photos of myself and while consulting with Dr. Jimenez via Whatsapp, I also decided to have a little back fat removed and a little liposuction in my abdomen. See photos.
Dr. Jimenez suggested a tummy tuck, but #1 I didn’t think I needed it (exercise would have worked), #2 I didn’t want that huge scar and #3 I didn’t want to be away from home longer than I needed to be. I get very antsy and anxious when I am away from my kids for too long (even though they are grown asses!) LOL!!!
My friends suggested I make my ass bigger by adding some of the fat I removed from my back and waist to my butt, but honestly I just kept thinking that’s like adding future cellulite to work off!! LOL!!! In the end I didn’t need to because once he removed the back fat, I looked like I had snatched my waist making my butt look rounder and perkier! Winning!
As with any surgery, whether here or abroad, we should always be informed and do our research. Talk to other people who have had the same procedure. Consult with several if not many doctors. Don’t be fooled by what you see on social media. I know a few people who went to some really popular surgeons, paid exorbitant prices only to end up really disappointed with the results.
Anyway I wanted to write this blog to talk about my experience, things I regret, information I gained after the fact that would have supported my healing and just some tips and suggestions for those of you considering any type of plastic surgery.
Now you guys know I love disclaimers so here goes:
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional (clearly) and everything included in this post is based on my own personal experience. Everyone is going to have a different experience, but hopefully you may pick up a tip or two that can support you on your plastic surgery journey.
In preparation for surgery, some of the work included getting a physical and some bloodwork here, no drinking and no smoking for a month prior. I started gym a few times a week and also tried to do some clean eating.
I arrived on a Wednesday and met Dr. Jimenez on Thursday. He conducted more blood work and early Friday I was given the go ahead. At the clinic, Dr. Jimenez took his little black marker out. He again suggested the tummy tuck, I opted against it ( something I later regret, keep reading). We also decided to take out a little fat from the outside and inside of my thighs (which I love!!!)
I was prepped for surgery and taken in. I just want to say that Dr. Jimenez and his staff were so lovely and caring. And man can we just talk about anesthesia??? O M G! I love that shit. LOL.
Anyway, after the surgery, I was nicely bound in a post operative compression garment and/or “faja” and released from the clinic the next day to a recovery house.
This “faja” was really difficult to get on because I was so swollen and it was XS. It took two nurses and a wonderful girl who I became friends with (who was accompanying her friend for surgery) to get me into this chamber of torture. Terrible and painful. It did make me feel secure, like it was holding everything in place. However, my first night in the recovery house my legs swelled from mid-thigh down. A LOT!! I was really concerned and reached out to the doctor. He made me go back the next day and gave me one a size bigger.
In the recovery house, they took wonderful care of me cooking healthy meals, making natural juices (diuretics), and helping me in and out of bed. I stayed at the recovery house for a few days then went to stay with family.
Once there I immediately started my lymphatic massages. Can we talk about these massages? OMG! Hurt like hell. I definitely have a high tolerance for pain. The strangest thing about the massages, though, is that even though they hurt like HELL, there is almost a relief in the pain. If that makes sense. My masseuse was also amazing. She came to me everyday for the next 8 days. Soon it was time to fly home.
Dr. Jimenez wanted me to stay three weeks. I stayed for two. Definitely not enough. The air pressure on the airplane made me retain so much liquid. I had compression socks on and walked up and down aircraft several times but still. By the time I landed I looked like I had gained 20 lbs. Wish I had a picture.
The day after I got home, I noticed that I had a pocket of liquid in my lower abdomen. Like you could actually see the liquid moving around in the lower part of my abdomen. Definitely, did not have this in DR and I believe it was as a result of two things – the extra skin I did not remove via a tummy tuck and the fluid build up from flight home. These pockets are sometimes called “seroma”. Follow this link for some basic information on seromas.
https://drmosser.com/prevent-seroma-formation-plastic-surgery/
I didn’t stress it too much and immediately started my lymphatic massages and had my best friend who is a nurse drain the fluid with a syringe daily. I did two more sessions of ten massages at different spas. But I ended up developing fibrosis after liposuction. Here’s another link to some information.
https://ariamedtour.com/blogs/lumps-after-liposuction/
I tried waist trainers, exercises and creams to make the skin on my stomach look and feel less lumpy. I rarely wear a bikinis anymore because I am self conscious about it. The skin feels tight.
Disclaimer: I do not blame Dr. Jimenez for the results of my stomach lipo. I blame it on lack of information on my part. My back, thighs, and waist look amazing. I will definitely go back to correct hopefully. I should have gone with the tummy tuck. But we live and learn for sure.
Now let’s talk about my boobies!!! THEY are A-mazing!!! He outdid himself. Scarring is minimal. Great lift and cleavage.
In wrapping up this post here are some tips (that might work for you or not):
- DO YOUR RESEARCH please. Ask tons of questions. Not only about the doctor and/or country, but also about your skin and how you heal. I come from bad skin LOL dry, little elasticity, older, so this also may have had something to do with my healing process.
- When you initially have surgery I suggest a “faja” that fits comfortably until your skin and tissues start healing. My thought for this is that I was squeezed into this XS faja with all this raw healing tissue inside and my body started to take on the creases from wearing it so tight. I developed a seroma and fibrosis after my surgery.
- I believe you can drink too many fluids. I know it’s recommended but I definitely feel I drank too many liquids hence I started retaining liquid.
This is the amount being drained in the first few days home. - You should not be getting laser infrared treatments initially. Why? Your skin tissue is raw and basically the laser cooks those tissues under there. Results? Hardening, lumpiness. I should have stuck to the lymphatic massages until everything was smoothed out. (This came from a surgeon I visited for a post up consult here.) And please share your thoughts about this. I’ve tried several treatments for the fibrosis to no avail. Insert sad face here.
- If you’re having surgery abroad especially liposuction, plan to stay minimum 3 weeks.
- If you’re not happy with your results contact your doctor as soon as possible. This is easier if you have your surgery here, but nonetheless I feel that maybe had I contacted Dr. Jimenez sooner perhaps I could have gotten it corrected. Wah! Wah!
Okay I am done. Like I said before everyone’s experience is different and you may completely disagree with what’s in this blog, BUT this was my experience. And even though I am not 100% happy with results my only regret was not having a full on tummy tuck, but again I didn’t want to stay longer. AND I kind of like my belly button! LOL!
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LolaUncorked♥