Celebrity Plastic Surgery, News, Gossip

[Photo removed at celebrity rep’s request.  You may find photo at: http://poponthepop.com/gallery/tameka-foster]

This is the fuss most frequently heard around Tameka Foster, in today’s social swarm. The 35-year old fiancee of hip hop and R&B sensation Usher - who is 7 years her junior - has drawn quite the attention by unwisely bearing her stomach full fledge, excess skin, flab, stretch marks, and all. With three kids from a previous marriage, one on the way (from Usher), and a planned marriage in the Hamptons later this month, it appears that Tameka could seriously benefit from getting a Mommy Makeover plastic surgery combo. Considering that Tameka is marrying a man who is somewhat of a sex symbol desired by legions of women and who happens to be almost a decade younger than her, upkeep of her body has become an emergency. Enter plastic surgery for this 911-call.

The perks of such a combo of plastic surgery procedures, which often includes a tummy tuck, muscle repair, and a breast lift are phenomenal. With healing only taking a few weeks, a mommy makeover can transform Tameka’s midriff and allow her to lose 6-7 pounds in a jiffy, melt away a few waist sizes, tighten her abdominal muscles that have been stretched out from childbirth, and erase away some of her stretch marks. Moreover, a tummy tuck in particular can help to reduce and diminish the excess skin, seen hanging loosely and obscenely in Tameka’s photos. Also, the results of a mommy makeover are permanent, provided she sticks to a balanced diet and regular exercise.

One can only guess that if Tameka’s stomach is in such dire shape, she can also use help higher up with her boobs. As breasts can deflate, lose volume, and sag after breastfeeding a few babies, if a breast lift is thrown into the mix, Tameka’s twins could gain a youthful perkiness that she has not seen since her twenties. Depending on her situation, Tameka can also get breast implants combined with her lift if she has too much skin that a breast lift alone cannot restore to a desirable shape.

It’s safe to say that marriage and all its challenges are enough of a weight to carry, let’s “lighten the load” literally and draw attention where it’s welcome…. being a beautiful mom, wife, and woman.

Congratulations to the two soon-to-be newlyweds. We’ll just have to put our plastic surgery radar on Tameka and see if she takes the plunge and goes under the knife after giving birth.

• (0)

Women looking for a minimally invasive, virtually scarless breast augmentation may find hope in a new and innovative procedure called Celution that has just gained approval in the European Union. The new plastic surgery technique achieves breast enlargement by injecting a supercharged fat mixture into the patient’s breast. Fat is taken from a woman’s stomach area, buttocks, or thighs using a minor liposuction-like procedure under local anesthetic.

Celution is not yet available in the United States, but it has been approved by the European Union for 2008. The technique will first focus on breast reconstruction for women who have had breast cancer and have undergone a partial mastectomy (breast removal) or lumpectomy. However, breast augmentation through the Celution techinque may be a possibility in the future.

Fat taken from the patient is placed in the Celution system, a device which separates out and concentrates stem cells and regenerative cells. About an hour later, a prescribed dose of regenerative cells are injected into the patient’s breast tissue. “It works by ’supercharging’ the fat cells, which makes them stay where they are injected”, explained Dr. Eric Daniels, senior director of business development for Cytori Therapeutics in San Diego, which developed the Celution technique.

Following the Celution procedure, breasts may enlarge up to two cup sizes over about six months, while also appearing more natural than with traditional breast augmentation procedures. One day, women seeking to increase their bust may be able to go in and have this procedure done during their lunch break, and of course, the bonus is that fat would also be taken from the stomach or thighs while one’s breasts are enlarged. Who could complain about that?

The use of fat injections in reconstructive procedures is not a new breakthrough, as it is commonly used in different cosmetic procedures for many years. Dr. Brian Kinney, a plastic surgeon from Beverly Hills, California and clinical assistant professor of plastic surgery at the University of Southern California, said that, “It’s become common practice for plastic surgeons to use [the patient’s own] fat in filling in defects such as around the eyes, in the nasolabial (nose to mouth) folds, and in the body, especially after liposuction that leads to irregular contours.”

However, breast reconstructions using fat injections have failed in the past because the patient’s body often reabsorbed the fat. With Celution, however, mixing fat-derived stem cells from the Celution system with the patient’s fat has apparently minimized this problem of fat reabsorbing in the body. “The supercharged fat graft survives really well and fills in the volume defect left by partial mastectomy,“ says Kai Pinkernel, Cytori’s Head of Research & Development.

Kinney, who is also past president of the Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons stated that a procedure like Celution could be of benefit to women wanting a regular breast augmentation.

“It would not be surprising in the future — with refinement in technique — that this could be of benefit to women who need augmentation or reconstruction. But it may be many years, and it’s far too early to know before large, well-controlled case-control clinical trials are done and peer-reviewed by other experts,” says Kinney.

While Celution and stem-cell fat techniques of the like hold considerable promise for women seeking a minimally invasive breast augmentation that would not require the insertion of implants, the prospect of a one-hour procedure to achieve an aesthetically pleasing result that rivals a traditional breast enlargement surgery seems unlikely. Doctors believe such a procedure will likely need to take longer than one-hour to achieve desirable breast enhancement results. “Just a few years ago, lots of attention focused on the weekend face lift”, Kinney said. “A lunchtime breast augmentation is equally implausible.” Similary, Mac Hedrick, president of Cytori Therapeutics, said “No one is going to leave for lunch, have the procedure and go back to work like it’s no problem.” Hedrick expects the procedure to take two hours under general anesthesia. Additionally, the Celution technique has the limitation of not being able to increase one’s bust by more than two cup sizes.

Yet even if the procedure would take longer than lunch to perform, many prospective candidates seeking a moderate breast enlargement would likely flock to have a virtually scarless and silicone-free breast augmentation.

• Read comments... (1)

Over the past few months, rumors have been growing about Paris Hilton’s increasing bust size being attributed to breast implants. Some sites even included the 26-year-old socialite in their list of top 10 best celebrity breast augmentations. With Paris monopolizing the airwaves, half of the world has been wondering if her breasts are implants or an optical illusion by way of push-up bras or chicken cutlets (bra inserts).

Make Me Heal previously reported that these plastic surgery rumors about Paris’s breasts appear to be false and that it is more likely that Paris Hilton has been wearing push up bras that accentuated her breasts.

Now, with pictures of Paris Hilton on the beaches of Malibu, it is evident that her breasts are the product of natural genes. Seen in a skimpy, one-piece bathing suit taking surfing lessons from Australian pro-surfer Koby Aberto — in ironically dead calm waters with no waves — there is no doubt that Paris has an all-natural bosom. To be exact, Paris is looking more like 34 A or small B-cups. And she’s proud of them. What Paris has been doing is buying the best push-up bras that money can buy or silicone pad inserts to create the illusion of having a more copious bosom than she really has.

Paris Hilton’s breast size appears to change with different clothes that she wears, which is due to the type of bra that she is wearing. Only days after being photographed with seemingly larger breasts, Paris is sometimes seen bra-less and her breasts return to their small, yet perky size. This change can only be explained by a push-up bra and silicone pad inserts, not breast implants.

While Paris is off the hook on the breast implant rumor, she is no stranger to plastic surgery having already had allegedly two nose jobs to slim the tip of her nose and build up her nose’s bridge. Paris is also said to be planning to have corrective plastic surgery to fix her drooping left eyelid. Paris allegedly went under the knife six years ago to lift her eyelids, but muscles of her left eye were damaged during the procedure and left it “drooping” more than her right eyelid. Now, Paris is contemplating fixing this problem.

Read the complete plastic surgery profile of Paris Hilton on Plasticopedia, the largest online celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.

Pic source: Daily Mail

• (0)

By Breanna Lebsack

Seen bouncing around in an itsy-bitsy bikini in Maui, Hawaii on an early July weekend, reality star and pop singer Brooke Hogan was a sight to behold as her bust appeared to have grown overnight. It seems that wrestling champion Hulk Hogan’s daughter has opted for plastic surgery to boost her once A cups, to full C cups. Perhaps her “girls” were feeling neglectful, singing along with her chart topping single, “What about us?”. While Brooke’s new breasts certainly do look natural, it came as a shock that she decided on such a petite implant for her definite 6 foot tall stature, and more often than not tasteless appearance. Given her trashy taste, one would expect Brooke to augment her breasts to the D-size cup stratosphere. Good choice.

According to some sources, recent photos of Brooke have shown a scar in her armpit, suggesting that she had her implants inserted through the armpit. With this technique, a small one inch incision is made in a discreet fold inside the armpit. Typically, the implant is placed under the pectoral muscle of the chest, which helps the implant look and feel more natural. The only question that remains is whether Brooke has gone for the now approved silicone implants or for saline implants. Given the popularity of the more natural looking silicone implants, she probably got silicone.

Good call Brooke on getting breast implants, as with your over bleached blonde hair and masculine physique; we were beginning to mistake you for the Hulkster.

Read the complete plastic surgery profile of Brooke Hogan on Plasticopedia, the largest online celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.

• (0)

“Desperate Housewives” actress Eva Longoria’s wedding ceremony last July weekend on the lucky date of 07-07-07 with newlywed husband and basketballer Tony Parker was instantly billed by everyone as the Wedding Of The Year. The new Mrs. Parker was quite satisfied with her multi-million dollar ceremony and new ring, and who could blame her, with it featuring an impressive two rows of 80 brilliant-cut diamonds and 27 square-cut diamonds. And for the finishing touch, the ring was complete with a romantic French inscription on the inside.

However, the most interesting part of the wedding was not the ring or the chapel where the wedding took place, but the A-list guests who showed up or did not show up as the case may be. Additionally, being as they are all big-time stars, it is only natural to be curious about their plastic surgery life or lack thereof. Those stars of noticeable interest include the entire Desperate Cosmetically Enhanced Housewives cast and some invitees like Sheryl Crow. Though let’s not fast forward to anything and look at the bride and groom first before looking at the guests, and then Marcia Cross can see if there really is anything to be cross about…

Eva Longoria

Newlywed Eva Longoria has stated she would not have any plastic surgery because of her fear of needles: “It’s not that I’m against people who do it, but I’m terrified of needles,” she told Maxim. “I’ve seen those shows with the operations. The sound of the chisel! Aaah! I almost passed out. No thank you. Egg white omelets, some exercise and some eye cream is fine for now.” Hmmm, she may have a fear of needles, but most likely not a fear of plastic surgery. The rumor mill may be spinning yarns, but it appears that she has had Botox injections or some Restylane for her lips, and ironically both procedures require the use of the needle. At 32 years of age, her face is looking great with no lines or wrinkles. Botox could be a reason for her wrinkle-free state of being. For such large lips, it is possible Eva has had them augmented with Restylane, although it’s likely that they are naturally shapely. Botox might have been at work in the past, smoothing out her frown lines on her forehead, between the eyes, and at the base of her nose. Injecting Restylane into her lips may augment them while at the same time smoothing out any wrinkles surrounding her mouth.

Now, looking at pictures taken on the days right before her wedding while showcasing her impressive bikinis on a beach in France for her bachelorette commemorating activities, it is obvious Eva Longoria, the new Mrs. Parker, is lacking in certain areas. Her set of mammary twins look unwilling to pop out and her behind, is well, not much of a behind. She looks incredibly skinny, so that could be why, but there is no need for a plastic surgeon to diagnose that she is in desperate need of a breast augmentation and buttock augmentation, if she wants to compete with her bustier and curvier peers. But don’t accuse us of having a “You’re damned if you do go under the knife and you’re damned if you don’t” moment, as we personally think that Eva looks great in her natural modest curves. She just won’t be doing the movie version of Baywatch. Meanwhile, we hope that she’ll be happier in this marriage than she was in her previous one.

Read the complete plastic surgery profile of Eva Longoria on Plasticopedia, the largest celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.

Tony Parker

Eva’s newly-wed Spurs basketballer groom Tony Parker is 25, a good seven years younger than her. He has not had plastic surgery and for good reason, too. He is thriving well at 25, too young an age for a man to need anything to alter his physical appearance. It would be understandable for his new wife to be getting cosmetic surgery done first considering the age difference, though it is possible she has not had any either. One thing’s for certain, if either one decides on undergoing the knife in the future, Eva will be first, unless Tony happens upon a terrible accident like tripping over a basketball and disfiguring the shape of his nose or something. Let’s hope not!

Teri Hatcher

Eva’s co-star on Desperate Housewives Teri Hatcher was just one of the many invited to Eva and Tony’s wedding ceremony. 42-year old Teri has admitted to having Botox and Collagen injections in March of 2006. Though the star has admitted to her cosmetic enhancement, “In the past, I’ve had Botox and collagen,” Hatcher has also been quoted by Daily Express newspaper as saying: “I don’t use Botox or Restylane and I’ve never had any surgery. A male friend in the fashion industry once asked me, ‘Why is make-up any different to getting Botox?’ I said I didn’t think it was a fair comparison, make-up is removable, it’s not permanent. But changing the natural chemical state of who you are? I’m not sure.” Hmmm…she can run, but she can’t hide (especially not her face)! Teri’s forehead is smooth and wrinkle-free, which could also be the play of good genes. In addition, the star has been the subject of rumors about having an eye lift, nose job (or otherwise known as rhinoplasty), and cheek implants. Hatcher’s forehead barely moves in some appearances and her nose looks more refined and narrowed than before. Meanwhile Teri’s eyes look like she had a lower eye lift surgery to remove the excess fat below her eyes, with little to no scarring. The star’s cheeks look fuller, highlighting her new eyes.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Lucy Glancey said: “Looking at Teri Hatcher now, it would appear she has had some sort of work done on the skin beneath her eyes. She may have had a lower eye lift and, judging by her appearance, it appears her surgeon employed a new technique of removing fat by going in underneath the actual eyeball - this removes the threat of scarring and can have excellent results.“

Dr. Glancey adds, “In addition, it would appear she has had some Botox. Very few women of her age have a line-free forehead, as she has, which would lead to the obvious conclusion that she is receiving regular injections.“

Dr. Glancey also thought that Teri might have gotten a nose job. “Teri is at the prime age to benefit from Botox as her skin would only recently have begun forming wrinkles, so she can stop any permanent lines forming straight away. She may also have had some work done to slim down her nose.” Wow, you almost couldn’t tell about the nose. But it might just all be true. If she smiles, there is no sign of wrinkling on her forehead, making it contradictory to the expression she’s trying to make. Definitely Botox.

Read the complete plastic surgery profile of Teri Hatcher on Plasticopedia, the largest celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.

Nicollette Sheridan

It comes as no surprise that another one of Eva’s co-stars on Desperate Housewives would be a guest at her wedding. Actress Nicollete Sheridan is rumored to have had a breast augmentation. Moreover, her breast implants look oversized, just a bit. By comparing a picture of her bust in 1987 to one taken in 2005, it is easy to see that her breasts have really grown, that is, if breasts can actually grow. Her set of twins are just dying to pop out and over her top (or dress, as it is not clear), while before the augmentation they looked quite snug and comfortable staying underneath her clothes. Sheridan’s bust size is officially 34B-24-35 and her breasts look unnaturally round, a tell-tale sign of breast implants. It appears that she has also had Restylane injections or some other dermal filler to augment her lips. Maybe not much, but her smile does seem wider than before, as her lips plump out slightly, which could also be the clever use of lipstick or other cosmetics to achieve the desired look. Being as she is a desperate housewife, it wouldn’t be surprising if she has one or two tricks up her sleeve.

Sheridan also appears to have had some face work done. Some speculate that Nicollete has had a minor facelift and a potential brow lift in recent years, because of her tighter forehead, defined jaw, and clean neck line. It is also possible Nicollete just had some injectable anti-wrinkle treatments in the form of Botox. Botox is known for giving a person less wrinkles, a smooth forehead, and less creases around certain areas on the face such as the mouth. Anyway it works better than a facelift, and her forehead looks quite shiny and smooth if you ask anyone who’s seen photos of her. It really doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out…or a plastic surgeon…

Oh yeah. To make all of us feel better about ourselves next to these picture-perfect stars, Nicollette was spotted way back in January of this year with major cellulite on her butt and legs! Check it out in OK! Magazine.

Read the complete plastic surgery profile of Nicollete Sheridan on Plasticopedia, the largest celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.

Marcia Cross

Desperate Housewives actress Marcia Cross was not at the wedding. What was that all about? Yes, the little bit of info that caused an equally little bit of drama was the absence of Eva’s friend and co-star Marcia Cross. The rumor mill has been spinning yarns again. This time it was about an alleged dispute between Eva and Marcia, which supposedly has been happening continuously on and off the set of the hit show. Cross’s absence from the ceremony only added fuel to the fire, exacerbating the rumors. However, the guests explained it away with the reasoning that Cross didn’t show because she only just gave birth to twins a mere four months ago. Hopefully she didn’t cave in to peer pressure and get another set of twins somewhere else…

Though for now we’ll put those speculations on the back burner, we absolutely cannot ignore speculations about what surgeries she has had on her face, even if no one else has really caught on. It looks like Cross has had possible Botox injections on her forehead, and around the lips. Marcia’s forehead does not show the presence of lines or wrinkles, which is easily solved by filler injections. As there is no such thing as a magic eraser marker, and nearly impossible for someone at age 45 to have neither lines nor wrinkles, we can only speculate that she wishes to take a dive into the fountain of youth with Botox. Also, it looks like she has had an eye lift as there are no creases, under eye bags, excess skin on her lids, or crow’s feet around her eyes. Cross seems to keep her skin healthy, as it looks practically flawless. She looks great for someone in her mid-40’s. Although it may be entirely possible, it is truly hard to believe that she is aging naturally, with no cosmetic enhancement agents to help her retard the aging process.

Read the complete plastic surgery profile of Marcia Cross on Plasticopedia, the largest celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.

Sheryl Crow

Sympathies go out to singer Sheryl Crow, who was also a guest. Her eyes are looking more tired and worn these days, and who could blame the rock star? She is going through a brave battle in her fight against breast cancer and it’s a really good thing she’s getting through it. The courageous woman has not had any reported plastic surgeries, though. She underwent breast conservation therapy and radiation therapy. Crow is being treated for having breast cancer, and breast preservation therapy is when the surgeon takes the tumor out, leaving the breast behind but intact. Other stars who have survived or are fighting breast cancer include Melissa Etheridge, Kylie Minogue, and Olivia Newton John.

On plastic surgery, quoted from StarPulse News Blog, Crow has said: “What’s wrong with being a flat-chested girl? I think boys should feel good about the option of dating a girl who doesn’t have big boobs! The plastic-surgery thing is probably not my bag, ever.” In an interview with VH1, Sheryl Crow claimed she has never had plastic surgery: “Oh, shut up! I can always tell when people have had plastic surgery. Maybe in four years people have forgotten what I look like. A lot has changed, not just for me personally. A lot’s happened in the music business. It’s become very visually oriented. There’s a lot of attention on body and beauty. I’ve never relied on that part of persona for my credibility. I’m almost anti-image. I’ve suffered because of it, because you’re selling a product, which is yourself. Now it’s gone that way even more, so it’s fun to me. I feel like I’m on the outskirts of all of it. Anytime I look nice, people are like, “What has she done?” In the same interview, she talks about having good genes: “I feel lucky that way. I haven’t had anything done. I’m not a person that works out shamefully. I have good genes. My parents are thin, athletic-looking people. I like sports. I’m really lucky that I can go do those things and explore those parts of my personality, but it doesn’t have any reflection on my career. I feel sorry for women whose careers depend on that specifically.”

Sigh. No matter what people have speculated about her and her appearance, she looks absolutely beautiful and should be proud of herself for getting through something this tough. Now the question is, who’s strong enough to be her man?

Read the complete plastic surgery profile of Sheryl Crow on Plasticopedia, the largest celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.

Pic source: Daily Mail

• (0)

Being large breasted is seen as an asset by most of us, but when your 40 Double D breasts causes you endless neck and back pain…you start to think differently. Veronica’s story is one of the best example how plastic surgery can help improve one’s life from physical and emotional respects.

See Veronica’s Before & After Plastic Surgery Pictures Album.

Veronica McGuinness (member name: VeronicaM) of High Springs, Florida is a 29 years old mother who for many years lived proudly with her copious and beautiful breasts. But after her first pregnancy, the hormonal changes and extra weight she put on changed her breasts to a much bigger size and soon…she was wearing 40DD bras. Veronica felt miserable not only because of her sagging breasts but especially because it led to a lot of pain in her neck and back. Once Veronica had enough, she made an appointment with Dr. Adil Kabeer and within one month, she went under the knife and is now a much perkier and pain-less 38C.

Veronica had the full support of her husband and family (many of them underwent the same surgery), who helped her from the moment she took her decision to the post-recovery stage and beyond. Veronica considers her breast reduction as the best decision she has ever taken. Since then, her whole life has improved and she feels more confident physically and mentally. Her biggest tip she would like to share with all of Make Me Heal’s members is surely to “Be patient - it takes time for your body to heal and..have realistic expectations”.

Dr. Adil Kabeer from Florida performed Veronica’s breast reduction.

Make Me Heal: When did you first have the idea to have your procedure?

Veronica: Soon after having my first daughter in 1998, I have always been large breasted but the extra weight gain and the fact that they got bigger and didn’t shrink back after breast feeding started the long miserable bouts with back and neck pain and the thoughts for breast reduction started!

Make Me Heal: What were your motivations behind your decision to have the procedure?

Veronica: Well the physical of course, but the mental aspect of it is well.

Make Me Heal: How long did it take you to make a decision and was it an easy or difficult one to make?

Veronica: Well , when I decided it was time it was very easy…I went to the doctor with my last bout of neck pain and said enough is enough and immediately called and made an appt. with a plastic surgeon! The thought had been there for years but when I decided the time was right it was one month from the first meeting until I was small breasted!

Make Me Heal: Did your family, friends, and any other people in your close circle give you support, opposition, or did you make this decision without considering them?

Veronica: Oh yes, my family was very supportive and was there for me every step of the way, especially my husband, he was my life saver! I couldn’t have done it without him and I was blessed with the large breasts that run very heavily in my family so most knew what I was feeling, they were all behind my decision 100%.

Make Me Heal: How did you research the procedure and come to decide on this particular procedure?

Veronica: Well , I read everything I could come in contact with about the procedure , the benefits and risks and decided that the benefits outweighed the risks by a landslide , I used the internet , books , word of mouth from numerous family members who have had the procedure done and then found Make Me Heal and once I became a part of the boards I asked as many questions as I could to get the education I needed…I can honestly say if it weren’t for the wonderful women from the Breast Reduction board on Make Me Heal , I would have not been as educated and prepared as I was when I went in , my doctor was so impressed with how much knowledge I had!

Make Me Heal: Please discuss if you used any of Make Me Heal’s resources.

Veronica: YES! I lived on the Breast Reduction Board! and looked at literally HUNDREDS of pictures from the picture library and asked a Million questions…

Make Me Heal: How did you come to choose your doctor?

Veronica: My choice was very simple for my doctor, I was lucky enough to have seen his work first hand as he had done 4 breast reductions and an augmentation on members of my immediate family! so my one and only conciliation was with him…

Make Me Heal: Please discuss if you have any role in deciding the type of technique used for your surgery by the doctor?

Veronica: Not at all, he made all my decisions for me and I trusted him!

Veronica: Well, I of course logged right on to the boards when I returned home with a surgery date and started asking what all the pro’s used for preparation and healing , the biggest recommendations I got where for button front shirts , sports bras , and healing vitamins , I got a recommendation from a wonderful girl from my breast reduction board about a ’surgery cocktail’ of vitamins and I SWEAR by it! I healed so quickly and bounced back almost immediately , It’s
2000 mg’s of vitamin C
100 mg’s of Zinc
800 mg’s of Folic Acid
2000 mg’s of calcium
8000 I.U of Vitamin A
I took this cocktail 3 weeks before and then 6 weeks after , It did the trick and helped fight off infection!
10. How were you feeling the night before the surgery and on the moments before the surgery itself? Please discuss thoughts, fears, emotions, and prayers.
I was a nervous wreck, I definitely needed a lot of support and prayers from the girls on MMH,I had 2 girls that were my rocks , We had the same surgery date almost down to the same times so we kinda leaned on each other , I don’t think the actual butterflies hit until the doctor started marking me in the holding area , I started getting jittery but was still very confident of my decision so that helped me stay focused and brave…I also prayed for strength and courage…

Make Me Heal: How was the recovery process?

Veronica: The surgery itself went pretty smooth , but let me say that the first 48 hours after you are seriously asking “What have I done”
The pain isn’t bad but it’s definitely there…and you have the drains and the dressings and the general feeling of fatigue , I would say the worst parts of recovery are the mental ones , the fear of infection , and the having to get used to looking at your body completely altered from what you are used to , It takes a little while but you definitely come around..after the first 7 days , it’s all up hill from there…
My husband and my 9 year old were my recovery team , My hubby took a week off total to spend with me and was helping around the clock , He is amazing and I couldn’t have done it without him…and my 9 year old daughter did everything she could to help out as well , she helped make sure Mom was comfortable and not lifting anything…It really helps to have a great support system in place…

Make Me Heal: Please discuss the pain or discomfort you experienced during the recovery?

Veronica: I only had incision pain for the first few days, it was a tugging and burning sensation, after the first week that was replaced with a tingling and pulling sensation when I moved the wrong way and I had electric shock feelings here and there as well.. , I had some discomfort from swelling , and if I overdid it , some underarm pain….Nothing a couple of tylenol couldn’t help…I only took the pain meds for the first 48 hrs…

Make Me Heal: How well prepared were you for the recovery from physical, emotional, and mental respects?

Veronica: I was actually very prepared for what I had in store after surgery, I was not however ready for the mental aspect of it, I knew it was going to be different but it kind of took me back a bit that I was so different , I questioned myself a couple of times if I had done the right thing , but that soon passed with all the support both on and offline from the breast reduction message board on MMH and from my wonderfully supportive family..
I did read an excellent book and I recommend it highly to anyone considering breast reduction , it’s called ” When Less is More” by Bethanne Snodgrass M.D.,FACS , It expains everything both physically and mentally in great detail…

Make Me Heal: What are your top recovery tips to other patients?

Veronica: My biggest tip is BE PATIENT, It takes time for your body to heal and Have realistic expectations…

Make Me Heal: How long did you take off from work?

Veronica: Well being a Stay at Home Mommy , I didn’t get any time off of work to recover…But I did have a lot of help in place to make my healing process smoother until I could get back in the swing of things…

Make Me Heal: How happy are you with the results?

Veronica: I am EXTREMELY happy! This was bar far the best thing I have ever done for myself!!!!!

Make Me Heal: How has your makeover impacted your life from personal, social, career, and other respects?

Veronica: My whole life has improved , I have more confidence in myself and my appearance…I am more outgoing and I FEEL amazing , I am physically better and that helps me all the way around!

Make Me Heal: Would you have done anything differently if you had the chance?

Veronica: Not one thing…I am completely satisfied with my whole experience!

Make Me Heal: What is your final word of advice to other people considering the procedure you had?

Veronica: It is by far the best decision you can make for yourself!

Make Me Heal: Was Make Me Heal beneficial to you along your journey?

Veronica: Make Me Heal was my lifeline through this journey, I didn’t feel alone, I had the girls from the Breast Reduction Board on my side and nothing is more comforting than knowing someone else knows exactly what you are feeling every step of the way, Make Me Heal is by far the best website on the internet for anyone who is considering plastic surgery of any kind!!!

See Veronica’s Before & After Plastic Surgery Pictures Album.

• (0)

Ashlee Simpson’s boyfriend Peter Wentz, the “Fall Out Boy” bassist/lyricist, is planning to take Ashlee’s advice and go under the knife. Ashlee, who recently had a nose job, has apparently recommended her own rhinoplasty plastic surgeon to give Paul a matching nose.

An insider reveals that Pete Wentz is self-conscious about his nose and wants to have it reshaped into a more appealing look.

“Pete wants a nose job. Ashlee’s turned out incredible, so she suggested Pete go to her doctor…As soon as his schedule slows down, he’ll probably have a nose job.”

A look at Pete’s nose shows that while he has a wide nose tip and bridge, the overall nose itself suits the proportions of his face and makes him look distinctive. If Pete opts to have a nose job and thin the tip and the bridge, his surgeon will need to be careful not to overly feminize Pete and cause him to become a pretty boy and lose his rugged, punky look.

The plastic surgeon in question that Ashlee loves and recommends is likely to be Dr. Raj Kanodia, the hot celebrity nose job surgeon who has also done the noses of Jennifer Aniston, Cameron Diaz, and is rumored to also have done the nose of Mary-Kate Olsen.

Ashlee Simpson had a nose job and is also rumored to have had a number of other facial procedures, including lip plumping and a chin reduction (genioplasty).

It’s just so cute when two people in love have so much common.

Read the complete plastic surgery profile of Ashlee Simpson & Pete Wentz at Plasticopedia, the largest online celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.

Pic Source: CityRag.com

• (0)

Make Me Heal is excited to announce the names of the winners of the first-ever “Top Ten Hottest Celebrity Breast Implants”, which features the celebrities who people believe have the most attractive boob jobs. Make Me Heal polled its members and professional advisors from the plastic surgery and beauty industry (spanning plastic surgeons to stylists) and came up with the “Top Ten Hottest Celebrity Breast Implants” list. It should be noted that some of the celebrities are only rumored to have had breast augmentation, but are not confirmed to have done so. So you be the judge.

And now, here’s the winners of the Top Ten Celebrity Boob Jobs:

Nicole Richie

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Size-zero Nicole Richie got breast implants in late 2006! Her simple life may just have gotten a little more complicated. Not only has The Enquirer confirmed Nicole’s breast augmentation with a well-placed source, ivillage writes, “but a leading doctor who examined photos of her agrees there is no doubt what’s behind Nicole’s sudden growth spurt.” And what a growth spurt it has been! Richie wanted to round out her stick-thin figure and she certainly has succeeded. The Enquirer also said, “The effect has been amazing. She looks great and feels great. And her new boobs have given her more confidence than she’s ever had before.“ Bet your bottom dollar it has! Now, if Nicole doesn’t beat her DUI charges and goes to jail a la Paris Hilton, we know that her inmates will be enjoying her new “twins” as much as Nicole does.

Read the complete plastic surgery profile of Nicole Richie on Plasticopedia, the largest celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.

Britney Spears

Oops! She did it again! Pop star, dancer, and social misfit Britney Spears had a breast augmentation in 2000 following the success of her debut album. It is rumored that Spears later removed her implants and replaced them with smaller-sized implants. This rumor surfaced after pictures showed the pregnant mother with noticeably smaller implants than previous photos. The singer has always denied her first set of implants, though former breast-implanted Sally Kirkland (who has since removed her implants) claimed in 2005 that she knows Britney’s surgeon. Sally reportedly said, “I happen to know Britney Spears’ breast-implant doctor, and I just hope she does not breastfeed. Because if she does, she could give her baby so many future health problems.“ Britney has also been linked to other plastic surgery rumors, including a nose job and fat-reduction Lipodissolve treatments that she allegedly did to trim her size following child birth.

Read the complete plastic surgery profile of Britney Spears on Plasticopedia, the largest celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.

Hilary Swank

While some believe Hilary Swank is naturally busty, others believe she had a breast augmentation sometime after the release of her breakout film “Boys Don’t Cry”. Photos of Hilary Swank throughout the last decade show her sometimes looking quite flat but then in more recent photos growing in the bust area. Whether this is simply due to Hilary having hidden her assets earlier in her career is uncertain. But, it’s just hard to believe that an actress so frequently associated with a boyish figure has always had these breasts concealed underneath her clothes. Dr. Youn told Make Me Heal that he believes Hilary Swank may have had breast implants following her breakup with Chad Lowe: “After her much-publicized breakup with husband Chad Lowe, Hilary Swank appears to have gotten a breast augmentation.“ Youn says, “People who have recently ended a long-term relationship quite often undergo plastic surgery. For many of them, it symbolizes a new beginning, or a transformation into a new person.” Youn adds caution, saying that “For others, it may be an unfortunate attempt to gain attention in order to “woo“ the person back.“ While we don’t think that Swank thought twice about going back with Chad Lowe, we can think of other stars who on the “rebound” decided to pick up a set of new boobs. “Either way, plastic surgery is something that must be taken seriously, as it is not the same as getting a new hairstyle,” says Youn.

Read the complete plastic surgery profile of Hilary Swank on Plasticopedia, the largest celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.

Kellie Pickler

Celebrities are humble these days, especially when the topic turns to plastic surgery. It is no different for one Kellie Pickler of American Idol, who got breast implants which she showed off in a return performance on American Idol in March of 2007. Since her appearance on the show, Pickler has, surprise surprise, denied having a breast augmentation. It is a good thing Pickler may have had a change of heart and has semi-admitted to have the breast implants in a televised interview. The singer has also said that she is open to having plastic surgery in the future once the signs of aging appear. “I’m all for it. When I’m older I’m getting everything sucked, tucked and cut off,” Pickler told said. We just hope that next time she won’t be so quick to tell it off.

Read the complete plastic surgery profile of Kellie Pickler on Plasticopedia, the largest celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.

Jessica Simpson

So did she or didn’t she? Jessica Simpson is the frequent subject of rumors about having a breast augmentation, but this rumor is not confirmed. Simpson has flatly denied rumors of her having breast implants, saying that her breasts are naturally large. In the upcoming August issue of Bazaar, Jessica says “I’ve had none [plastic surgery]. But you know, my boobs are real.” As for the incessant rumors that Jessica Simpson had other surgeries such as liposuction and facial implants, Jessica Simpson says “People have said that I’ve had things like a jaw replacement or implant or something. I’m photographed every dayof my life and have never worn bandages or anything, so how could that be right?” However, the woman behind such great pipes has expressed interest in having a breast lift in the future should her large breasts begin to sag. She took a step forward in confessing her secret by admitting that she has no problem going under the knife if her breasts head south when she gets older. The pop singer told More Magazine, “If my boobs ended up hanging round my waist, then I’d definitely get them pulled up!” As for having surgery on her face, Jessica says: “I’d never have anything done to my face. I like it the way it is.” Simpson adds, “I’m proud of my figure, but if I’m having an off day I’ll just throw on a trenchcoat and heels and go out.” Given the imminent migration of Simpson’s breasts at some point in her life, we can count on seeing Jessica with a breast lift and maybe some spanking new implants in the future. Plastic surgeon Dr. Anthony Youn confirmed in a statement to Make Me Heal his belief that Jessica Simpson had a breast augmentation long ago before her career started flying, saying “People have been asking about Jessica for some time now, and I believe she has had a breast augmentation in the distant past, but not recently.” Commenting on the fluctuations in her breast size, Dr. Youn adds, “Her breasts seem to change shape depending on what type of bra she is wearing. If it’s a push-up bra, she has the round appearance of implants, if it’s not push-up the breasts look more natural.” So there you have it. Her breasts look good, in any style!

Jessica Simpson is also rumored to have had a nose job and has admitted to getting Restylane lip injections.

Read the complete plastic surgery profile of Jessica Simpson on Plasticopedia, the largest celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.

Salma Hayek

There has always been much speculation about whether Salma Hayek’s breasts are real or fake. Well, let’s see. Hayek has nabbed the In Touch Magazine award for having the #3 best breasts in Hollywood. Her breasts seem to have gotten, for lack of a better word, gi-normous, in the last few years and are now typically seen peeping out of every dress or gown she wears out, that is, if breasts could peep. Salma’s breasts appear to have grown from small C-cups to porn-size double D-cups. While some people attribute the growth in her bust to weight gain, this claim appears unfounded as only implants can create such a dramatic change. Regardless, Salma Hayek still looks stunning and is forever the great actress for her portrayal of Frida Kahlo. That will never change.

Read the complete plastic surgery profile of Salma Hayek on Plasticopedia, the largest celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.

Pamela Anderson

Pamela Anderson may as well be a synonym in the dictionary for breast implants. She shot to fame after appearing in Playboy pictorials in the early 1990s with massive breasts. Anderson later shocked everyone by removing her breast implants in 1999. How would Anderson’s fame be maintained without her implants? That was the question on everyone’s minds at the time. The answer? She re-augmented herself in 2004 to her old mega breast proportions, and strutted her stuff topless in Playboy, Stuff, and GQ magazines. Nice one! Then, in January 2005, Anderson confirmed the earlier rumor that she got new breast implants and explained that the reason that she got a breast augmentation again was because she did not feel like herself without them. Well, d-oh! It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to tell you that! Anderson added that the new breast implants were bigger than her old ones. Anderson’s implants are largely credited for helping start the whole breast implant craze in America and she has recently been cited in newspapers as a major reason why Australian women are rushing to get mega-size implants.

Read the complete plastic surgery profile of Pamela Anderson on Plasticopedia, the largest celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.

Christina Aguilera

The pop singer has really grown up from her days on Mickey Mouse Club, and along with that, her bust. In fact, Christina Aguilera’s breast augmentation is rumored to have boosted her from A cups to C cups. Plastic surgeon Dr. Youn told Make Me Heal that “She does appear to have had a breast augmentation in the past, which has assisted in creating her more mature, adult look. She has recovered from the more “Dirrty” image of a few years ago, partly because her breast implants are not too big for her body.” Nice work!

Aguilera’s nose appears worked on and she has also been spotted with fuller lips in some pictures, which suggest she had lip injections.

Read the complete plastic surgery profile of Christina Aguilera on Plasticopedia, the largest celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.

Halle Berry

Though the actress denies it, “No, I haven’t. But that’s one thing I’ll never say never about, because I don’t know,” (when talking about plastic surgery) Halle Berry seems to be sporting a bigger bust. Berry is rumored to have gotten 36C sized breast implants earlier in her career. Adding on to the subject of plastic surgery, actress Berry said, “I hope I will evolve as a person who realizes it’s really not about my physical appearance and not be drawn to that seductive knife.” Though Berry appears to be a closet-plastic surgery fan who publicly denounces going under the knife, she has admitted to being willing to undergo it in the future if she really needs it. She seems to have forgotten that she also had a nose job a while back.

Read the complete plastic surgery profile of Halle Berry on Plasticopedia, the largest celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.

Jennifer Love Hewitt

According to a Make Me Heal poll, this babe got 34% of the votes, which puts her at the top of the Top 10 list. No kidding! Jennifer Love Hewitt is only rumored to have breast implants, though, as it is not certain whether she has a naturally large bust or not. From Jennifer Love Hewitt’s Oscar dress to a recent bra commercial, there is evidence of breast augmentation everywhere in the public eye. Yet, she denies ever getting breast implants done. According to some people, her huge boobs may be attributed to her weight gain. Sometimes when a woman gains weight, her boobs increase in size as well. A close up of her body in that area certainly reveals a full and copious C-cup chest. But the rest of her body has not really gotten fat at all. This weight gain explanation doesn’t add up.

While the actress has denied having plastic surgery, the star loves to flaunt her large breasts and often appears in outfits that highlight her bust. She also admits to making a hobby of checking out websites about her breasts: “I’m fascinated with the Jennifer Love Hewitt breast sites,” says Hewitt. Apparently she goes on these breast sites just to see what to wear. While most celebrities would have a problem with people so focused on a certain body part of theirs, Jennifer is simply amused by the attention her breasts have received, not overwhelmed: “It makes me laugh - there’s a hundred other body parts that I feel completely insecure about and would rather no one ever talked about. So if they focus on breasts, it’s fine with me! My breasts have a career of their own.” In fact, they just might have a career of their own. She is currently considering posing in Playboy, nude. That’s simply great!

Read the complete plastic surgery profile of Jennifer Love Hewitt on Plasticopedia, the largest celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.

So that’s it ladies and gentlemen. That’s all from the Top Ten list. Congratulations to the winners and may your implants last you at least ten years, before you need to replace them again.

But wait! There’s more.

Honorable Mentions

The following ladies didn’t end up on the top ten list, but came really close. Here are the Honorable Mentions:

Beyoncé Knowles

Beyoncé Knowles is more than just bootylicious these days. Her alleged breast augmentation can be seen from comparing photos taken in 2002 and 2005 that show a considerable amount of increase in her bust. “She appears to have had a possible breast augmentation, which successfully enhances her otherwise naturally curvy physique,” said Dr. Anthony Youn. After being caught on camera with her armpit exposed and revealing a possible scar, rumors surfaed that Beyonce had a breast augmentation through the axilla (armpit). Breast implants can be placed, if need be, usually in three main areas: through the armpit, underneath the breast, or around the areola. The implants are often placed through the armpit in people with darker skin, as this area is known to be resistant to keloid formation, which people of darker skin are more prone to. And that is exactly what it looks like has happened to former Destiny’s Child member. If Beyonce’s breast growth is attributed to implants, we’re sure that boyfriend Jay-Z approves in a big way being that implants are more jiggy than flat breasts. And he likes to keep things jiggy.

Read the complete plastic surgery profile of Beyonce Knowles on Plasticopedia, the largest celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.

Courteney Cox

Now, we aren’t sure about this one. Courteney Cox is rumored to have had a breast augmentation, but this rumor is unconfirmed. The rumor about Courteney Cox having breast implants has to do with the belief that the actress could not possibly have breasts of her size on her skinny body frame naturally. Therefore she must have had surgery. Additionally, Cox’s breasts have remained perky after having given birth to her daughter Coco. On the other hand, there is a possibility that Courteney’s chest is natural and in proportion to her body size. Therefore, if Cox did get a breast augmentation, it is a subtle change that makes it difficult to determine if Courteney Cox definitively had a breast augmentation. What an elusive case! So what’s the verdict? You be the judge.

Read the complete plastic surgery profile of Courteney Cox on Plasticopedia, the largest celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.

Carmen Electra

Former “Baywatch” babe and Playboy Playmate Carmen Electra increased her bust size from 32B to a 36C, after her then-boyfriend B-Real of Cypress Hill purchased breast implants for her. Carmen Electra’s breast implants are in proportion to her body, as she has avoided trying to compete with the implants of fellow Baywatch co-star Pamela Anderson. Carmen’s breasts have been so popular that she has been featured in Playboy magazine four times. Carmen is mixed about her breast implants and confesses “I had nice breasts to begin with. They weren’t the biggest boobs (but) I just think it was really trendy (to have implants) at a certain time and I decided to do it. There’s moments when I think it’s kind of silly and I wish I would’ve just stayed natural.” But her ex-husband Dave Navarro actually wished they were bigger. “He actually wants me to get ‘em bigger but I said no.” It is not hard to believe then, that Electra secretly envies the size of one famous actress’s smaller breasts. And who might this be? Shh! Can’t tell you, but you might not want to tell Jessica Alba either…

Read the complete plastic surgery profile of Carmen Electra on Plasticopedia, the largest celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.

• Read comments... (2)

People constantly ask Makemeheal if solo singer and “No Doubt” frontwoman Gwen Stefani had any plastic surgery in her past. It’s high time these rumors are put to rest.

The 37-year old rocker and mom Gwen Stefani, has always been recognized for her eccentric beauty and fashion style. It seems that Gwen had a nose job from the look of photos. While it is difficult to tell when this procedure took place, there is no doubt f the apparent difference in the shape of Gwen’s nose, particularly when looking at an old, tom-boyish photo of Gwen. This photos shows Gwen with a rather bulbous nose tip and a wider bridge than her current nose.

People have also speculated that Gwen Stefani got a breast augmentation that increased her previous extremely flat, A cup-sized breasts to a moderate B cup breast size.

Photos of the singer in the 1990s in bathing suits and short tops show that Stefani was completely flat and had absolutely no breasts whatsoever. Fast forward to the new millennium and Gwen is actually showing a little projection in her breast area and there is a little curve showing under her clothes. This can be explained by possible breast implants, although it is possible that Gwen has taken to wearing heavy duty push-up bra. However, given that there is no real breast tissue to push up, it’s difficult to believe that a push-up bra would create all this new breast volume. Also, it is possible that she is wearing breast cutlet inserts that give her a moderate boost in the breast area. Either way, Stefani’s absence of breasts did not detract from her beauty, as with or without implants she is a beautiful woman.

Finally, Gwen has a flawless face that is free of wrinkles on her forehead, around her eyes, or mouth, which is quite unusual for a woman in her late thirties who has lived in sunny Southern California all her life. This can be explained by Gwen’s naturally great genes, but it’s very likely that her skin condition has been helped by getting Botox, Restylane, or Juvederm injections to fill in lines, as well as skin peels, laser skin treatments, a great daily home skincare routine, and skin-friendly nutrition.

Speaking about plastic surgery, Gwen Stefani has predictably not admitted to having any cosmetic surgery and said that she is not yet ready to go under the knife. Stefani did admit that she loves watching plastic surgery TV shows, though.

“I enjoy a great surgery TV show as much as anyone — I watched a lot of those shows while I was pregnant! But it’s pretty bizarre that that’s where we’re at — that you can place an order for how you’re going to look. People take it pretty lightly, but it’s a big deal. I’ve thought it over but I’m not at that stage yet,” says Stefani.

Even though Gwen has denied having plastic surgery, she admits to having a life-long obsession with her weight and dieting.

In a recent interview in Elle UK in March 2007, Gwen said “All my life I had to work hard to stay in shape. I’ve always struggled with it. I was a little chubby when I was younger, and I didn’t want to be that person forever. I became a swimmer at school - but only because I wanted to be skinnier! I’m extremely vain, I like wearing cute clothes.”

Gwen hopes that as she gets older she will focus less on the way she looks and not care as much about being skinny.

“It sucks that that’s what is supposed to look good and that’s what everyone strives to be. There’s more to life than being on a diet. Clearly, I spend time thinking about it, and it’s something I’ve had to deal with in my life. As I get older, I try not to focus on it, it’s boring, it’s a waste of life. What I have learned is that whether I’m fatter or thinner, people seem to not mind, they like me either way. It’s more in your own mind than anyone else’s.”

If Gwen Stefani had cosmetic surgery, the work is subtle and she appears completely natural. Regardless of whether she went under the knife or not, Gwen is a beautiful woman whose sense of fashion and style is matched by an equally unique talent and voice. We’ll also cheer for Gwen in any weight.

• (0)

Amy Rueter (member name: Forca) from Bothell, WA is a 32 years old young woman that feels and looks sexy as ever. This mother of two adorable girls chose to have a full tummy tuck last September and since…dropped 6 sizes - from a 14 dress size to a size 8 in less than 13 weeks!

See Amy’s Before & After Plastic Surgery Pictures Album.

Amy’s first thought of plastic surgery came after having her second daughter and not being able to lose some sagging skin left by her pregnancies. As a fervent Christian, she was not sure if this was the right move for her but actually, going under the knife freed Amy not only from her physical issues but helped her to come out of her shell and be happier in her daily life.

Amy truly recommends considering abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) not as a weight loss solution but as a way to re-contour one’s body and restore youth. As an athletic patient, Amy’s fast recovery is surely due to her active and healthy diet and that is the message she would like to share with all Make Me Heal’s members: “Get as fit as possible, have realistic expectations and go for it! A 3 hour surgery restored my body to better than pre-baby! I’m thrilled!!”

Dr. David Pratt from Washington performed Amy’s abdominoplasty.

Make Me Heal: When did you first have the idea to have your procedure?

Amy: I thought about having a tummy tuck after having my second daughter. I have always been athletic and active, and I simply couldn’t lose the skin left over from having my 10+ lb babies, so I spent a few years thinking about having this done.

Make Me Heal: What were your motivations behind your decision to have the procedure?

Amy: I wanted to be able to fit into pants that fit my size 10 hips. My waist and extra skin made it hard to find pants that made me feel good about how I looked. I was also sick of ‘fat’ days where I felt like I was oozing over everything. It was disheartening to have this extra ’stuff’ even though I was really eating right and working out hard.

Make Me Heal: How long did it take you to make a decision and was it an easy or difficult one to make? Please explain why it was easy or difficult.

Amy: It took me about a year to come to the decision. It was hard to make b/c of the stigma attached to plastic surgery, especially as a Christian. I know I could have used that money in other ways–so it was very hard to justify using it in this seemingly vain way. I found in the end that it freed me up in many ways to come out of my shell and simply live life joyfully, without thinking about that skin hanging out the top of my pants.

Make Me Heal: Did your family, friends, and any other people in your close circle give you support, opposition, or did you make this decision without considering them?

Amy: I had a lot of support from everyone–they all wanted the best for me.

Make Me Heal: How did you research the procedure and come to decide on this particular procedure?

Amy: I mainly looked at different surgeons’ websites and then this particular forum: Make Me Heal! I read about people’s experiences and looked at lots of before-after photos, especially of those women who were shaped like me.

Make Me Heal: Please discuss if you used any of Make Me Heal’s resources?

Amy: I used the message board primarily and got my healing information from my private Naturopath. I got a lot of good support on the Tummy Tuck board and don’t know what I would have done without them!

Make Me Heal: How did you come to choose your doctor?

Amy: I chose my doctor (Dr. David Pratt) first based on his online examples of his work–I had originally thought about having an augmentation at the same time, so I chose him b/c he had the best breasts. I went for a consult, saw his tons of tummy tuck photos and decided to go with him–I felt confident in his skills from our discussions, and I liked his philosophy–’surgery as art’.

Make Me Heal: Please discuss if you have any role in deciding the type of technique used for your surgery by the doctor?

Amy: I didn’t have much say in how he would perform my particular surgery–I didn’t go to medical school, so I don’t feel like I could really decide that. I did let the anesthesiologist know of previous reactions to anesthesia, and he did a great job in adjusting the mix so I came out of it just fine.

Make Me Heal: How did you prepare for the surgery?

Amy: I made sure I was in as good a shape as possible, so in the months up to surgery, I was at the gym working hard. I also took Arnica Montana prior to surgery and had Bromelain and Vitamin C with rose hips and bioflavinoids for post-op. I had my Mom come out to take care of me and the kids for at least 2 weeks, and stocked the fridge with real food–healthy, whole foods. The most important preparation was getting my legs really strong so I could rely heavily on them to get up or sit, etc.

Make Me Heal: How were you feeling the night before the surgery and on the moments before the surgery itself?

Amy: I was nervous!!! I had had several surgeries before, and was mostly nervous about reacting to the anesthesia. I mostly spent time reading and trying to not think about running away. The hardest part was after I had gotten in the gown and was waiting for the surgeon to mark me up. I was alone in the cordoned off area of the pre-op room, and I just prayed for my safety and spent time thinking about the Lord and being in His presence. It calmed me down quite a bit, and once the marks were on, I was fine and the next thing I knew, I was waking up!

Make Me Heal: How was the recovery process?

Amy: Recovery was long–no sugarcoating that. I was so glad I had help; I wasn’t supposed to move for those 2 weeks, so it was nice to not have to worry. I had no side effects at all, and found that my workouts really helped prepare me! I needed those squats when trying to get off the toilet!! The worst part of the whole thing was the muscle repair–I was always worried about ruining the work my P/S had done. Laughing was rough, getting up and down was hard, etc. I was always worried about seroma and all the other things that can happen, so that was probably the worst thing. It took me about 5 weeks to be able to stand upright, so my back was not happy, either. I also bothered my ulnar nerve from reading so many books lying down.

Make Me Heal: Please discuss the pain or discomfort you experienced during the recovery?

Amy: The pain was much like doing a thousand sit-ups. That was the muscle repair. I didn’t feel my incision at all. It was hard to deal with not being able to use my core muscles for so long–I’d tweak them at the wrong time!

Make Me Heal: How well prepared were you for the recovery from physical, emotional, and mental respects?

Amy: I lived on the message board here to see what to expect. I feel like I was very prepared for the recovery process from reading other people’s stories, though everyone is unique; I used the board as an average, and asked my P/S about how his patients recovered (sometimes what he said was different than the board–and he was always right).

Make Me Heal: What are your top recovery tips to other patients?

Amy: Do EXACTLY what your P/S says!!!! He/She knows what was done to you, and they know much better than anyone what you need to do/not do!! Eat well–like whole foods. Have lots of good books and help–I wouldn’t have dared do this surgery without a lot of help.

Make Me Heal: How long did you take off from work? What did you tell your co-workers about taking this time off? Did anyone notice your cosmetic procedures at work and what did you tell them if they asked about it?

Amy: I stay at home with my kids, so I took 2 weeks off, then very carefully eased back in. I had a cleaning lady for 6 weeks (that was FABULOUS!)

Make Me Heal: How happy are you with the results?

Amy: I LOVE my new body–best thing I ever did for myself! I finally look like I should with how much work I do!!

Make Me Heal: How has your makeover impacted your life from personal, social, career, and other respects?

Amy: I am so much more confident than before–shopping is much more fun, I carry myself differently, I don’t mind walking around the house nude, etc. I used to feel awful about this skin hanging down, and now that it’s not there, I feel wonderful.

Make Me Heal: Would you have done anything differently if you had the chance?

Amy: I would have relaxed more–it takes a long time to see the final results from this surgery. I noticed on the board the tendency to start freaking out at about 6 weeks post-op b/c one might be still swollen and thus look ‘fat’. Looking back, I was also that anxious! So I would relax more and be more patient.

Make Me Heal: What is your final word of advice to other people considering the procedure you had?

Amy: Get as fit as possible, have realistic expectations (this is not a weight loss surgery), and go for it! A 3 hour surgery restored my body to better than pre-baby! I’m thrilled!!

Make Me Heal: Was Make Me Heal beneficial to you along your journey?

Amy: Yes–the board was so great for encouragement and seeing how everyone else was doing in those first few weeks.

See Amy’s Before & After Plastic Surgery Pictures Album.

• (0)