I'm 53 yrs old, and after having 4 daugters (all now grown up), and a disasterous marriage, i decided last yr that i owed it to myself to tackle all my health issues. Firstly, after having Pneumonia last November 2009 i dealt with my ingrowing toenails, painfull but worth it, next came my dental problems, now sorted. The next issue was my weight, at almost 5 stone over weight, i was obese. The very thought of having to watch everything i ate for such a long time till all the weight had gone filled me with dread but i knew i had to do it.
13 months later, i reached a good weight but i'm now left with an over hanging bellie. It saddens me to think i got to tuck it all in my knickers and could only think, be gratefull for losing the weight. I catch site of myself in shop windows and just hope that no one else can see what i see.
I have been considering a Tummy Tuck and after months of research, i decided to just do it. I searched the internet and trawled thru hundreds of before and after images, read through loads of stories from post op patients. Any info on the subject was gratefully recieved, after all, i was planning to do something quite horrendous to myself.

I contacted Laderma Clinic in Prague as the cost of the op was a lot more reasonable than the UK and asked all the questions i thought i needed to ask. I spoke to the PS Dr Cerna herself and i then booked the op. Whoo, i done it....

I had about 2 months to go as i need to save and i constantly think about it. Still looking for more info on Tummy Tucks and somehow still need to convince myself that i'm doing the right thing but then again,wishing it was tomorrow. Well, today as i edit my story, i got only 9 days to go and then i fly to Prague, OMG.......

I've been shopping, got new underwear, vitimin C, WHOO nervous now, bought non slip slippers, cross stitch kit to keep me busy in hospital, T Bags and goodness knows what else and OMG wish it was tomorrow.

Will keep you updated and will write more as it happens.

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After a really poorly day on day 9 I was advised complete bed rest and cooling fans, lots of liquids etc.  Day 10 was the turning point in feeling better, more like myself.

I had upper and lower blephraplasty and facelift 11 days ago.

My swellings are going down.  I still have puffy eyelids and understand that these will continue to reduce over the next 3 months.  I have a very hard tight area under each eye and out towards my hair line - not sure if this will become high defined cheekbones ????

My eye shape still looks oriental - the lower lash shape is a little tight slight pulled shape and the upper lid crease seems to curve inwards and still some of the area below the eyebrow rests over the crease - really not sure if this is swelling or is due to a eyebrow weakness as it improves if i pull the brow up/out slightly.

I do look different.  My lower face is much improved but I am unsure how the whole eye area (sunglass area) will end up as in that area i do look very very different.

We met some of my partners family yesterday for a dinner.  They did not know about my surgery until they arrived and i was wearing sunglasses.  Later in the evening i removed the glasses and I noted the reactions seemed that they  were a little shocked and I sensed from how they looked and a few comments that they made that my eyes and area were a bit concerning.

I am looking forward to the time that I can apply makeup and having some mascara and liner to define the eye - how many people look good eye naked anyway?  most do look piggy eyed!

I am seeing my surgeon tomorrow for removal of my head staples and looking forward to asking lots of questions.

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So after having my beautiful kids and getting sterilized so that no more come along (4 is defo enough for anyone). I have been left with a body I dont recognise anymore, I used to be a ballerina and used to weigh a hell of a lot less than I do now. The weight slowly has gone down but the saggy belly is still there so I have had a consultation at Harley Medical Group and later booked myself in for lipo and a tummy tuck with Dr Malik. Getting a bit nervous, 3 week count down to surgery!!!

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Well every one had my op  TT and MR on the 27th July 2010. Arrived at hospital at 7.30am and quite nervous was shown to my room and asked to put the gown on and they took all my obs and then the anethatist came and saw me took all my details and then dropped bombshell your going to theatre NOW.

It was like oh my god this is it so i was walked down to theatre by the nurse and put on the bed and i really don't remember much after that, next thing i woke up in recovery and was like wow thats it i've done it!!!

I was taken back to my room and drifted in and out all day woke up properly about 4pm starving got a lovely cup of tea and a nice sandwich, had oxygen on and the good old morphine slow release i must be allergic to that stuff as all i wanted to do was itch my face of it drove me crazy. Then i needed to wee well the bedpan was produced no way could i do that so they had to get me up in the end and thats when i saw the dreaded drains oh no my god they are horrible i think they were worse than the op luckily only had them in for 48 hours thank goodness not nice having them taken out either what a weird feeling. Released from captivity 48 hours later.
Got home my son waiting (24yrs old) and not amused that i have had the TT said i did not need it well he did'nt have to put up with my stomach i have dedicated the last 4 years of my life to training and keeping fit weigh 8 1/2 stone and still could not get rid of the ugly overhang after c section and other numerous ops. So here we are 12 days post op and the dreaded swelling has kicked off so i will just have to bide my time and hope that it does go down. So that's my blog. C U all later!!!!!

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Well here's my story. I decided to have a TT four years ago after having had my 3rd child but then had a surprise pregnancy resulting in another beautiful baby, baby number 4, so things were waylaid slightly.
I went to see a few different surgeons and almost booked with one of them just because they were conveniently close location wise and I convinced myself that this was the preferred option and would be more beneficial for my family logistically. However, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I didn't particularly feel 100% confident with the surgeon and felt I should go with my gut instinct and continue/extend my search.
The cheapest or most convenient option isn't always the best option especially when you are considering such a major major decision.
So I continued my search and booked a consultation with Mr Richard Price (Cambridge).
Am I glad I did?!!!!!!!!! Within 5 minutes of meeting Mr Price I knew he was the surgeon I'd been looking for. He had a quiet confidence about him, was very reassuring, absolutely NO sales pitch and NO pressure. And boy does he know his stuff??? I booked him on the spot and despite the fact that he offered me a 'cooling off' period, I knew I didn't need it.  Considering all the research I'd done and all the consultations I'd had I knew that I had found an absolutely brilliant surgeon. Anyhow, I was initially booked in to have a TT, BA and Mastopexy altogether but there was an issue which gave me reservations so I then decided to see my PS again to discuss my reservations as I knew he'd give me a balanced opinion. He offered me the chance to take things one step at a time and stage my surgery.  Again he was fabulous, absolutely no pressure and only had my best interests at heart. I felt awful as my multiple surgery was scheduled for the next day and here I was changing track at the last minute but despite this my ps was great about it and very reassuring. Not perturbed in the slightest.
So I travelled to the Cambridge Lea (Spire) the next day for my surgery.
I didn't feel nervous at all, I think at this point I was on automatic pilot, I'd been through all the emotions leading up to this point and had resigned myself to the fact that it was going to happen.
My PS came to see me as soon as I arrived. The  Anaesthetist was there too and she was lovely and the atmosphere was light hearted and relaxing. GREAT!!!!
We did all the formalities, health check, consent forms, pregnancy test etc etc and then it was time for me to change into my theatre gown and TED stockings (very fetching, ooh errr Mrs).
A porter came to take me to theatre, I had a momentary little blub saying goodbye to my husband and 4 children but then I was off, being wheeled down to theatre.
The atmosphere in theatre again was very relaxed and we had a little joke, then I was injected with the sleepy stuff and they were all chatting to me to take my mind off it but I knew I would be asleep any second. And I was.
The next thing I knew I woke up and wondered if I'd actually had the operation or not because I wasn't in any pain at all.  I had 2 drains and a morphine button to press in case I needed it and a drip keeping me hydrated. They took me back to my room and the night nurses were great, we must have chatted for ages about different things. I lay in my bed, in no pain, reading my magazines as I was' much too excited too sleep. '
I pressed my morphine button occassionally but didn't feel I really needed too but I thought I'd keep it topped up just in case 'pain happened'. But to be honest I felt no pain that night.
They gave me a sandwich and a pot of tea which I really enjoyed after my 'nil by mouth'
I phoned my husband and my mum on my mobile phone to say I was doing fine. My ps came to see me after the surgery and again the next morning.
The next day was restful but they got me up and mobile and I spent most of the day reading. I slept like a baby that night. The next morning, my ps showed me the  results which I was ecstatic with.  I felt confident that I wouldn't have got better results if I'd gone elsewhere and said a silent prayer that I'd trusted my gut instincts. It really seemed that he'd gone that extra mile for me or perhaps his work is of such a high standard that he always achieves absolutely great results.
They got me up and I had a shower, redressed my incision area and changed my binder and then it was hometime. Hooray. I gave a card and choccies to the nurses who'd worked so hard putting up with me. 
 My only regret was that I couldn't take advantage of the fabulous menu on offer, but I'd lost my appetite (probably a good thing as putting on loads of weight after a TT is probably not the way to go.....)
Anyhow, here I am, a week post op. My husband has been soooooooo supportive, waiting on me hand, foot and finger and looking after out 4 children too. He's been absolutely marvellous!! Aw bless!!
Went for my 1 week post op check today, saw my ps again. Really can't thank him enough.
Writing this blog, feeling more pampered princess than patient...................................

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