After getting married and having three children I became "content" and gained five stone, going from 10.5 stone to 15.5 stone and being 5ft 2 this was not a pretty sight. If you are reading this you may know what I'm talking about.
So my children became teenagers and I wasn't needed as much by them, this now became time for me. I had a friend who is a personal trainer and this is the beginning of my "new me". The pounds started to fall off and going from a size 18-20 at my biggest to a comfy 14 tight 12. But I still felt fat when I looked down or in the mirror at my stomach.
I had this flap of skin and fat that just hung, you know what I'm talking about if you are still reading this.
This is when I inquired by email to the Fitzwilliam hospital about abdominoplasty, I got all the information that I needed but just sat on it for a while saying to myself, should I or shouldn't I ? After a couple of months the Fitzwilliam hospital emailed me telling me about an open evening all about the different plastic surgeries they offer. Of course I was going. This is when my next journey began.
This was the night I met Anthony Barabas .
The evening was very informative and I booked my first consultation which was set for a couple of weeks time. I was so exited that I had made that first step to the "new me". Consultation day came and I new that there was no going back, Anthony Barabas listened to my story of why I wanted the abdominoplasty and looked at the offending area (stomach) he said he could do the procedure and I would notice a massive difference. He put my mind at rest and answered all questions honestly which was what I wanted to hear, no frills. I also felt comfortable with him, you just know when you know.
Surgery day came and 3pm was the time. Before the surgery Anthony Barabas came to see me for any last questions and to draw over my stomach, so off to surgery I went. I didn't feel nervous at all, just felt safe and it was going to be ok.
6 hours later, all done. When I came too I had no pain and just wanted to sleep, the nurses did a good job in keeping an eye on me every couple of hours and Anthony Barabas checked on me before he left. The next day my first visitor at 7.30-8.00am was Anthony Barabas checking that I was ok and checking my stomach, all was good and still not in any pain. Later on in the day two nurses helped me out of bed to go to the toilet, this was slow going but made it. I had no appetite at all and was getting told off for not eating but I just couldn't eat, my appetite didn't come back for a couple of weeks.
The next day I was leaving hospital Anthony Barabas came to see me again before I left to help take the drains out, I had one each side. This wasn't so bad so don't worry yourselves about it. Had the all clear and off I went home.
The first week was just rest and more rest but still not much pain just discomfort, sleeping upright is trial and error, what pillows to have and do you have enough?? The next three weeks was more of the same but what I will say is I felt very down at about 10-14 days, saying why did I do this? I don't feel any slimmer, I've waisted my money!! Be strong and talk to friends family, it will pass and yes it will be worth it.
I had regular check ups with Anthony Barabas and also had his email and mobile number on hand if needed, he said to get in touch if I had any worries. This was very reassuring.
So I left the house for the first time in four weeks (apart from checkups) couldn't walk far but things got easier as the days went on.
In this time I didn't weigh myself or try to get in my jeans because I was still swollen and no point in making yourself feel even more miserable if they didn't fit, so just wait.
Back at work at week six (OMG) this was a shock but is do-able just take it easy.
Week seven I had a red mark appear just above my pubic line and it became vey sore. I emailed a picture of it to Anthony Barabas and within a couple of hours I was seeing him in the hospital. It turned out to be an ingrown hair which was promptly taken out and I was given antibiotics and it soon cleared up.
I'm now eleven weeks post op, back to exercising and on my treadmill (I missed so much) and I feel fantastic. Size 10 and 10 stone 2. I love looking in the mirror now and things can only get better.
So if you are thinking about having an abdominoplasty I hope I've helped in a small way in writing this, it's a long road but very well worth it. The Fitzwilliam hospital is the perfect place and Anthony Barabas is most certainly the surgeon to do it for you. I can't fault him in any way, very professional but not in a patronising way, above and beyond the call of duty. The "new me" has arrived.
Very officiant the staff and nurses (Shirley) are lovely and its vey clean, the food looked lovely but didn't have any appetite. Will be back.
