| This 41-year-old patient from Temecula, California had been unhappy with the shape of her body for several years and decided to look into cosmetic surgery. After loosing more than 70lbs she was still uncomfortable with her appearance and felt that she would greatly benefit from a mommy makeover. She began researching mommy makeovers daily and found that over half the pictures she looked through were all Dr. Pousti’s patients. She wanted to find a surgeon that was not only board certified but also experienced in the breast and body procedures that she was interested in and felt Dr. Pousti exceeded all of her expectations.
After having 2 children and loosing the weight associated with pregnancy, she was left with a lot of excess skin in her breasts and abdomen. After meeting with Dr. Pousti it was determined that the best option was to proceed with the mommy makeover.
Mommy Makeover procedures are combinations of breast and body procedures. In this patients case, she would greatly benefit from a breast reduction, extended abdominoplasty, and liposuction of her flanks and back.
Prior to the Mommy Makeover procedure the patient and Dr. Pousti meet several times to discuss options, possible risks and the entire procedure in detail. On the last appointment before the surgery measurements of the patient’s breasts, abdomen and lower back are taken. These measurements are marked and are used as guidelines for the procedures that are to be performed.
On the patient’s breast the ‘x’ markings indicate where the new location for the nipple/areola complex will be located. The excess skin under the breast will be removed and the breast tissue will be re-arranged to give the patient a nice ‘perky’ look she is looking for. The red horizontal lines drawn on the patient’s abdomen and back are where the incisions for the abdominoplasty will take place. And lastly the circular lines indicate liposuction areas.
Prior to the Breast Reduction Portion of the Mommy Makeover
During most breast reduction procedures or breast reduction procedures a ‘tailor tacking’ technique is used. This technique is used to help insure that symmetry is achieved and is also used to see what the final result may look like prior to making final incisions.
‘Tailor Tacking’ on Right Breast in Operating Room
Immediately After Mommy Makeover Surgery in Operating Room
Once the breast portion of the procedure is completed Dr. Pousti moves onto the abdominoplasty. During the abdominoplasty not only is the patient’s excess skin removed but Dr. Pousti performs muscle repair as well. This gives the patient a nice tight abdomen and small waistline as well. Another part of the abdominoplasty procedure is the revision of the belly button’s appearance. The belly button must be revised because the abdomen tissue has been brought closer together and the old belly button location often lies on/near the incision lines. Immediately a desirable waistline has been achieved.
Below is a picture of the patient 1 week post-op in recovery from her mommy makeover. A walker is used to aide during recovery, since the patient must remain in a hunched over position to protect the incision.
The patient is now 3 weeks post-operative and is extremely satisfied with her extended tummy tuck, breast reduction, and liposuction results! Although swelling is still present, the waistline is already much smaller and will continue to shrink.
Testimonial:
I am a 41 year old and have been fighting my weight gains and losses ever since I was 23 years old. In high school I thought I looked okay. It wasn’t until I married and had 2 children that my weight problem got serious. Every year the pounds just kept adding up until I was at 265 pounds and didn’t know how I got there. I tried many different weightless programs, and always seemed to put the weight back on just as fast as I lost it.
After 2 years of hard work at the gym and watching what I ate, I managed to loose 80 pounds, which left me with what I called my “skin tutu” around my middle and my breast hung down to my waist, which my kids referred to as my “cuddle buddies” because they laid on the bed next to me.
The more I lost the worst I looked! I wanted to love the body I worked so hard to get, but that isn’t what happened. The skin would just hang worse every pound I lost I wanted to love my body.
I started looking on the Internet at “mommy makeovers” before and after pictures, and at people like me who lost a lot of weight, and wanted the skin removed. I would say for every 10 women that I found, that I looked like in there before pictures, and loved their after pictures, 8 out of those 10 women were done by Dr. Pousti.
I looked at before and after pictures for at least a year prior to my surgery, wondering if I should do this or not. I was scared of what was involved and how I would look after. I didn’t want to look like one of those women who have surgeries and look worse afterwards.
Well, with the love and support of my fiancé, my children, my parents and my friends, I decided to make an appointment for a consultation with Dr. Pousti.
The day of my consultation, my fiancé and my mother came with me to my appointment. We went to Dr Pousti’s office in Murrieta, Ca. The moment I walked in, it felt so right. The women who work there were not just stunningly beautiful on the outside, but on the inside. They made me feel so comfortable and at ease! Dr. Pousti came in and looked at me and said he thought I would have amazing results. He suggested having an extended tummy tuck and a breast reduction, with some liposuction.
I weighted in at 207 and knew I had more weight to lose. I wanted to have this surgery in January when my business is slower. Dr Pousti suggested that an ideal weight he would like me to be for surgery was 180 pounds. Well, I was within a few pounds of my goal when surgery day arrived.
About 1 month prior to my scheduled surgery, my fiancé found out he had Thyroid Cancer. I wasn’t sure if I should cancel my surgery with Dr. Pousti. When I came in to see Dr. Pousti he could see I was nervous about my fiancé’s news. Dr Pousti asked who the surgeon was and he personally called every ENT Dr. That he knew to see if anyone had heard of this surgeon, and what his experience was. He called me personally the next day to tell me of his findings. Dr Pousti didn’t have to make those calls, but he did, and that meant the world to me. He doesn’t just care about me, but also about the man I love. My fiancé had his surgery and it was a success!
The day before my surgery my fiancé, and my mother came with me to Dr Pousti’s office in La Mesa ca. He did all his markings of what was going to remove, where he would cut and where he would lipo. He marked my breast so I would have my best results.
We stayed at my aunt’s house ,which was close to the surgery center, and is where I stayed for the first week after surgery. My mom was my nurse for the first week! I can’t thank her enough for helping me. I stayed at my aunts because Dr. Pousti wanted me to stay close by so he could check on me post surgery.
The day finally arrived, and we arrived at the surgery center. Dr Pousti uses the same surgery center, with the same anesthesiologist and the same nurses and assistants. I was so scared and everyone calmed me and made me feel comfortable and so special. They were very professional, and they had a way of making you feel like you were their only patient! Dr Pousti came in and checked his marking and did some minor adjustments,and then they took me back to the operating room. I woke up 8 hours later 6 hour surgery 2 hours of recovery, and I felt like I just got there.
The feeling I had was the feeling of tightness! I’m not going to lie week 1 was the hardest week but it was worth it! He installs a pain pump that numbs the incision area. I had 4 drains 2 from my breast and 2 from my pelvic area. They sent me home the same day of surgery. I really don’t remember too much as I was still really groggy.
I stayed at my aunts house and slept in a recliner for the first week. Dr Pousti and his wife were so kind to check on me the first night after surgery! They even brought me flowers! Never have I heard of a Dr. doing this before. The compassion and love he has for his patients is very apparent! He has always made me feel like I was his only patient, and his # 1 priority, even though I know he has many more patients.
The nurse or office staff called me everyday to check on me! Everyday was easier than the day before. I got around with my trusty walker, my BFF after surgery!
Dr Pousti told me that after surgery you go through an emotional state, but what found was not what I expected at all! I was expecting tears of pain and thought of regret, but that isn’t what I had at all! I never once thought why did I do this? The emotions I felt were eye opening to my life! The tears I shed were tears of love and joy and how lucky I am to have parents who took care of me for 6 weeks, a fiancé who supported me, no matter what I wanted to do, and my daughters, who stood by my side the whole time. Then the flowers, the cards, and the text messages came from friends, and clients thinking about me. The love I felt was overwhelming! Every tear I shed, were tears of joy of my life, my new body, and my new life to come!
This whole experience was the best thing I could have ever done! The most important thing is I truly feel like I was led to Dr. Pousti, and the results I got are amazing! He is a true artist of the body! He knows what will look the best and what is needed and not needed. He doesn’t just make you feel like he’s just your surgeon, but your friend, with your best interests in mind! The surgery is going to change my life for the better, and can’t thank him enough!
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Posted in Abdominoplasty, Breast Reduction, Extended Tummy tuck, Liposuction, Mommy Makeover, Post-Weight Loss
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