Preparation for Tummy Tuck at Penn Plastic Surgery Chief Resident's Clinic

So, after perusing the reviews on Realself.com, I narrowed down what supplies I may need. I've purchased a post surgical compression garment from Leonisa.com. I had a 10% OFF coupon for being a first time customer and received free shipping. 

The compression garment is to be used after the binder I'll get from the surgeon.

I bought a Wound Care Kit from CVS, some earplugs to keep my belly button open, Scar Away silicone strips for softening the scar later on, and Vitamin E skin oil for once I'm healed.

In the past, I've tried Renu Herbs by Robin Anthony for detoxing and cleansing. So, I decided to get some of her tea to use once I'm off pain meds. 

I viewed a video posted by a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon on Realself.com suggesting that you should cease taking all supplements, except for Vitamin C, two weeks prior to surgery. So, I'll resume my multi's, Biotin, and B12 after.

Penn Plastic Surgery Clinic Chief Resident, Dr. Jonas Nelson suggested that I lose 5 pounds prior to surgery. I have 2 to go. Time to get serious.

MyIn the past, I've tried Renu Herbs by Robin Anthony for detoxing and cleansing. So, I decided to get some of her tea to use once I'm off pain meds. I viewed a video on here suggesting that you should cease taking all supplements, except for Vitamin C, two weeks prior to surgery. So, I'll resume my multi's, Biotin, and B12 after.In the past, I've tried Renu Herbs by Robin Anthony for detoxing and cleansing. So, I decided to get some of her tea to use once I'm off pain meds. I viewed a video on here suggesting that you should cease taking all supplements, except for Vitamin C, two weeks prior to surgery. So, I'll resume my multi's, Biotin, and B12 after.In the past, I've tried Renu Herbs by Robin Anthony for detoxing and cleansing. So, I decided to get some of her tea to use once I'm off pain meds. I viewed a video on here suggesting that you should cease taking all supplements, except for Vitamin C, two weeks prior to surgery. So, I'll resume my multi's, Biotin, and B12 after.

 In the past, I've tried Renu Herbs by Robin Anthony for detoxing and cleansing. So, I decided to get some of her tea to use once I'm off pain meds. I viewed a video on here suggesting that you should cease taking all supplements, except for Vitamin C, two weeks prior to surgery. So, I'll resume my multi's, Biotin, and B12 after.In the past, I've tried Renu Herbs by Robin Anthony for detoxing and cleansing. So, I decided to get some of her tea to use once I'm off pain meds. I viewed a video on here suggesting that you should cease taking all supplements, except for Vitamin C, two weeks prior to surgery. So, I'll resume my multi's, Biotin, and B12 afte
In the past, I've tried Renu Herbs by Robin Anthony for detoxing and cleansing. So, I decided to get some of her tea to use once I'm off pain meds. I viewed a video on here suggesting that you should cease taking all supplements, except for Vitamin C, two weeks prior to surgery. So, I'll resume my multi's, Biotin, and B12 after.In the past, I've tried Renu Herbs by Robin Anthony for detoxing and cleansing. So, I decided to get some of her tea to use once I'm off pain meds. I viewed a video on here suggesting that you should cease taking all supplements, except for Vitamin C, two weeks prior to surgery. So, I'll resume my multi's, Biotin, and B12 after.In the past, I've tried Renu Herbs by Robin Anthony for detoxing and cleansing. So, I decided to get some of her tea to use once I'm off pain meds. I viewed a video on here suggesting that you should cease taking all supplements, except for Vitamin C, two weeks prior to surgery. So, I'll resume my multi's, Biotin, and B12 after.
healed.
My new Uline hand-truck arrived. It'll make whatever medical supplies my helper and I retrieve, easier to transport.
My step stool came too and is a great piece of furniture... However, it was secured in a box with a border and darn near an entire roll of packing tape. It has never taken me longer to open a package in my life.

I'll be meeting with Dr. Jonas Nelson again on Friday and the big day will be the following Thursday.

Because I'm under 40 and have no serious medical conditions, I will not require labs. Plus, I had a physical in April. Just in case, I had my Primary's office fax over blood test results from April since they're valid for 4 months. I figured it couldn't hurt.

In the past, I've tried Renu Herbs by Robin Anthony for detoxing and cleansing. So, I decided to get some of her tea to use once I'm off pain meds. I viewed a video on here suggesting that you should cease taking all supplements, except for Vitamin C, two weeks prior to surgery. So, I'll resume my multi's, Biotin, and B12 after.

Affordable Tummy Tuck in Philadelphia

My children are 7, 9, 11, 14 and 20. Four out of 5 of my babies weighed over 8 pounds. I am 5'3.5" and 160 lbs. I've had two non pregnancy related surgeries that left me with a vertical scar from belly button to pubis. I have a lot of loose front belly and scar tissue that leave me with what is best described as a front butt. I'd like to look down and see my lady-bits without a hand mirror. I'm tired of hiding behind over-sized clothes. I'm sick of wearing waist-cinchers and sucking it in. I will never accept this belly, so it's got to go.

Luckily, the Penn Plastic Surgery Chief Resident's Clinic provides cosmetic procedures at reduced rates.

I had my consultation with Chief Resident Surgeon Dr. Jonas Nelson and also met with Dr. Murphy. The program has 250 applicants of which, 3 are chosen to participate. Dr. Nelson was 1 of those 3 selected. That's 3 out of 250 or a 1.2% chance of him being selected. That's top notch.

I will see him a second time before surgery. A Board Certified Attending will oversee the abdominoplasty.

The procedure is reasonably priced. (A private office I service as a Medical Courier, charges $5000 for the physician's fee alone.) My hospital fees will cost the most: $3600. Due to my scar tissue, my procedure may take a bit longer. The fees depend on the amount of time needed in the OR. Without this program, I wouldn't be able to afford the surgery. And if it weren't for RealSelf.com, I wouldn't have known it even existed.

I had my consultation with Chief Resident Surgeon Dr. Jonas Nelson and also met with Dr. Murphy. The program has 250 applicants of which, 3 are chosen to participate. Dr. Nelson was 1 of those 3 selected. That's 3 out of 250 or a 1.2% chance of him being selected. That's top notch.

I will see him a second time before surgery. A Board Certified Attending will oversee the abdominoplasty.
The procedure is reasonably priced. (A private office I service as a Medical Courier, charges $5000 for the physician's fee alone.) My hospital fees will cost the most: $3600. Due to my scar tissue, my procedure may take a bit longer. The fees depend on the amount of time needed in the OR. Without this program, I wouldn't be able to afford the surgery. And if it weren't for RealSelf.com, I wouldn't have know it even existed.

After having my first child, the elasticity of my belly was shot. My body will never be the way it used to be pre pregnancies; however, it can be better than what it is. Most of my old scar and stretch marks will be removed. We all deserve to be happy with ourselves. Nearly 20 years is far too long to be unhappy with something that can be fixed. Time to fix it and forget it

.

 tired of hiding behind over-sized clothes. I'm sick of wearing waist-cinchers and sucking it in. I will never accept this belly, so it's got to go.

I had my consultation with Chief Resident Surgeon Dr. Jonas Nelson and also met with Dr. Murphy. The program has 250 applicants of which, 3 are chosen to participate. Dr. Nelson was 1 of those 3 selected. That's 3 out of 250 or a 1.2% chance of him being selected. That's top notch.

I will see him a second time before surgery. A Board Certified Attending will oversee the abdominoplasty.
The procedure is reasonably priced. (A private office I service as a Medical Courier, charges $5000 for the physician's fee alone.) My hospital fees will cost the most: $3600. Due to my scar tissue, my procedure may take a bit longer. The fees depend on the amount of time needed in the OR. Without this program, I wouldn't be able to afford the surgery. And if it weren't for RealSelf.com, I wouldn't have know it even existed.

After having my first child, the elasticity of my belly was shot. My body will never be the way it used to be pre pregnancies; however, it can be better than what it is. Most of my old scar and stretch marks will be removed. We all deserve to be happy with ourselves. Nearly 20 years is far too long to be unhappy with something that can be fixed. Time to fix it and forget it

.

Mama Wants Her Body Back!

Let me start by saying, "It's been a long time! I shouldn't have left you without some dope (blog posts) to (sate) you!" Pardon me while I channel my inner Rakim.

Alright! It's obvious I haven't been on here in quite a while, and so very much has transpired. New career path, new truck, divorce, new love interests etc. However, my most recent life challenge has compelled me to Tell All About it!

I'm talking about 20 years of being dissatisfied with how I look naked. 

I am realistic with mine (most of the time). I understand that I will not look the way I did before all the children. Heck, I wasn't even fully-grown when I had my first child. What I do know, is that I can improve my physique.

So, this time last year, I was still keeping off the 25 pounds I'd lost the year before. I was going in hard and "gettin that money" at FitCamp and following the advice of a nutritionist by way of my bestie. These actions yielded noticeable results, but also revealed something problematic that would not be denied.

My face slimmed down, my arms were diesel, my ass had dwindled, and my legs were more muscular. But the major body part I wanted to change the most was looking like a slightly smaller hot damn messness. My belly was flabbier than ever and looked like a shriveled front butt.

How did that happen? I gave birth to 5 children. Four out of my five babies were over 8 pounds. Both prior to and after having my kids, I had 2 laparotomies. A laparotomy is an abdominal surgery that leaves a large scar. I had benign tumors that needed to be removed. That's another story-- the point is, I was improving everywhere but my tummy. You can't work off saggy loose skin. My elasticity was shot, and I ended up with scar tissue from being cut open.

This discouraged me. I stopped exercising as hard and regained some of the weight. However, I've remained conscious of my eating habits because you can't un-know things once you're enlightened. (Thanks a lot Jeanna's nutritionist.)  

A tummy tuck is what I want.

As a divorced mom with 5 kids to support, an abdominoplasty seemed unattainable. But if you actually know me, you'd know I will find a way to get what I want done.  

Mama wants her body back! And she's about to get it. You heard right.

After researching for more than a year, I found the answer on RealSelf.com. A community member posted information about the Penn Plastic Surgery Clinic. They offer affordable cosmetic procedures performed by a Chief Resident Surgeon. These procedures are overseen by a Board Certified Attending.

Initially, I was freaked out by the fact the Chief Resident Surgeon isn't yet Certified. They did an excellent job at gaining my confidence. Here's why...

Penn now offers a 6 year program. Not long ago, the program was 5 years long. There are 250 applicants and only 3 are chosen to be Chief Resident Surgeons. That's less than a 2 percent chance of selection so, the docs are top notch. They've performed numerous procedures to perfect their techniques. Lastly, the mix of the more experienced Attending and the fresh take of the Chief Resident creates a cutting edge combination.

You have to schedule your consultation well in advance. Appointments for the doc I wanted to see were set for the third Tuesday of the month. My appointment was to be with Dr. Bianca Chin. A black female Chief Resident who specializes in scar-less wound healing and Mommy Makeovers. I thought she was perfect for me! The Chief Residents are on a fiscal year rotation of July to July. To my surprise, she was on her way out and heading to Connecticut. That also meant some new blood had just stepped on the scene.

Luckily, I meant another qualified Chief Resident Surgeon. The young stunna Dr. Jonas Nelson has worked in reconstructive microsurgery. He has created breasts from scratch by taking belly tissue and transplanting it up top.
  
Stay tuned for more on how mama plans to get her body back!