I recently come out of a time of my life of having 3 children in under 3 year. NOT TIWINS ! I love that my children are close in age,but I don't love what it has done to my body. I use to be so active and skinny,and Now I feel like I am stuck in someone else's body.I have had a large chest my whole life and (you can only image what breast feeding has done) I feel(and my husband agrees) that a reduction would be a good idea and a I am wondering if any one has had one and what was it like. Are you happy you did it...ect. Now, Tummy tuck...has any one ever had that done? Why? are you gald? How have these things changed your life. Good or bad? My Husband feel like getting something like a tummy tuck is "the easy way out" That I am not working hard enough to get back in shape. let me just he really is usually very supportive and loving!!which i workout often and try to eat healthy,mostly organic??I think I have really bad genes my mother has "belly weight" too. I just feel like if I could get my self condifance back I could be a better wife and mother. I don't know I just have been thinking about this alot. I hope nobody thinks i am vain????
hi i had both done i had my breast reduction done 3 years ago dr kinney did it he was great and i had my tummy tuck done last year and i am happy with it dr p kumar did my tummy tuck i have 4 kids so i know what you are talking about you can email me if you want any more info my email is [email protected]
First of all, you are no more vain than anyone else - we all want to be beautiful and we all want to feel confident in ourselves. Sadly, people in our culture treat people who are not the picture-perfect woman like lepers. I speak from experience, having once had a beautiful body and now not so much. :)
I think your husband is actually being supportive in his own way - although of course I don't know the particulars. Think of it as him telling you that he loves your body without surgery - how you are naturally. Then again, if he's telling you that you need to work out because you're fat - then go ahead and kick him once in his sleep for me!
Rather than go through surgery, I recommend a personal trainer who can help you tighten both areas - working out on my own didn't work for me, but having a personal trainer really did. I highly recommend Kathie Roth at Bravo Fitness in Shoreview. I have worked with Kathie extensively and I can tell you that she is phenomenal. Bravo Fitness is a private studio, so you are working out with just Kathie - generally no one else is there at the same time you are. Their website is: http://www.bravofitness.com/ or you can call them at 651-766-7466. (No, I don't work for them, I just really have loved my experiences there!) By working your chest muscles extensively, you can actually lose up to 2 cup sizes.
I also highly recommend watching the show, "How to Look Good Naked" on Friday nights. It is an uplifting experience for me every Friday.
I wish you a lot of luck!
Hi Casey-
I'm a mom of twins- and felt the same way. I didn't need a tummy tuck- I called it my kangaroo pouch.
I can't solicit on this site- but my friends approached me and got me to to finally look at this after giving up on it after 2 years- only 17 lbs above my ideal weight but oh my shape!!- YUCK. I'm in my late 40's now and in a bikini thanks to them. If you want more info, email me at [email protected]. The only thing that made me open my eyes was my friend- a guy- was going to have liposuction for his mid- section too and didnt' need to- so I listened, tried, and am glad I did. Look at all your options before undergoing surgery- I am also a med. professional and work in the OR. There are risks.
Brenda Jarmoluk
Oh girl, I can so relate. I DID have twins and for a few years there we were totally saving $$$ for those surgeries. My belly was pouchy, and the skin is just weird nasty texture and there is no amount of exercise that will change that. There is extra, loose skin, no doubt. My hubby said the same thing..."if you want the boobs, that's fine, but the belly???? Maybe just try to work out harder before we do that". I was furious at the time, but I did try and it totally worked. I lost the belly. Now, having said that the nasty skin and texture changes are there to stay no matter how skinny ya get (I'll never where another bikini). I would at least try the personal trainer route before undergoing the knife. There really are lots of risks with those kinds of surgeries, I had a friend who almost died from a boob job. Now that I have worked at it and feel decent (not great but decent) about my body the other imperfections kinda faded and I never did get the boobs done. I just adjusted the picture of the perfect body inside my head to a good enough body. Good luck, believe me girl, you're not alone!.
I had my breast reduction in August of 2004, and I am so glad I did it! Never regretted it - it was one of the best things I ever did. I went from a G cup down to a C, a total of 6 pounds off my chest. The difference is amazing!
Sometimes weight loss and working with a personal trainer can help you lose a cup size. A good plastic surgeon can tell you which category you fall into. If you were large chested before the kids, there's a good chance that weight loss isn't going to your best route - but then again, talk to a good surgeon. If you're even thinking about this, do TONS of research first (I probably looked at more breasts online than most men!) Its a huge decision, and not one to be taken lightly.
Good luck - if you have any questions about reduction mamoplasty, let me know and I'll help any way I can.
As of May 2nd I will have had three children (3 pregnancies) since June of 2004. All of them are c sections and it does things to your body that no woman should have to go through. Because mine were born by c section there is a large amount of scar tissue that will not go away with a personal trainer, diet, or other fad way to lose weight. I have gone up and down 14 sizes since 2004, starting out as a 0/1 and being a 12/14 and slowly making my way back to a 5, which I have decided is the lowest that my body will allow me to go. I am also thinking of a tummy tuck and totally support your decision. While personal trainers and diet work for some people, they don't work for all so I don't want you to feel as if you are alone in this matter. Mentally 3 kids in 3 years will do so much to your self esteem and self worth, it's hard to deal with if you haven't been there/done that. I also plan on saving up for a tummy tuck, not to be skinny, but to get rid of the scar tissue that has left a cliff my stomach. My husband also says the same thing that yours does, and I tell him that this is not his decision, not his body, and that I expect him to support me in my choices. This is something, again, that cannot be understood by someone on the "outside" of the situation. I think that as long as you do a LARGE amount of research, find a doctor that you consult with several times before the surgery, get refferals, possibly undergo some counseling to make sure that this is the right decision for you, and trust your instincts I think you should go for it. Maybe because we're in the same boat I can understnad how badly you want this, just don't rush into it and I'm sure you'll make the right decision for you, not for other people.
As far as a reduction I have no advice for you there since I have the exact opposite problem as you! But a tummy tuck.......with your youngest being only one, I'd say you need to give it a little more time. A tummy tuck would be pretty drastic. I'll tell you what I did to lose 30 pounds when I finally admitted that it was no longer "baby" fat I was carrying around. Some people don't believe it is all I do. I started eating real oatmeal almost every morning. The kind you cook, not the pre packaged sweet stuff. Put a low fat yogurt and some nuts or banana on it so it's not so boring! I also cut out soda. I usually had one or two a day. And WALK. Whenever you can. With 3 it might be hard but put them in a stroller and walk them everywhere you possibly can. It will slowly but surely start coming off and when you see it working it is that much easier to keep at it.
When you aren't with the kids walk up stairs instead of the elevator, walk into the bank instead of the drivethru etc.
Good luck!
Casey,
I would definitely consider whether or not you are having any shoulder or back pain first for the reduction, often insurance will pay for it depending on your size. I had one done a year ago and am so glad I did. I had been a perfect B until I had kids and went to a FF. I was in so much pain. Now I am in physical therapy to straighten out the mess.
I do have to tell you though, the surgeon told me I would be feeling myself again in a few days and my hubby only needed to stay home maybe a day or so. NOT TRUE!! I was in PAIN and I have a very high pain tolerance. The bruises on my breasts were there for almost 3 months.
As far as the tummy tuck goes- I have watched several other mulitples mommies have them due to the apron fold that tends to occur after twins or more and they went through a lot. It is no simple surgery. It is painful and a very long road to healing.
I can tell you that my tummy tuck was estimated to run $16,000 and I was told it was a mild one if I wanted to have it done. My breasts were $6,000. I am in the LaCrose Wisconsin area and had Dr. Lynn Martin do the redux. He is great.
Your mental attitude though about your body can have a serious effect on your success in recovering your body. Please work out a little longer, get a personal trainer first-they are infinitely cheaper than the surgeries!
Best of Luck.
Julie K
I have had a Breast Reduction due to back pain and I do love it. I can find blouses that actually fit and never have to worry about it coming apart without me knowing it. But I have to warn you, Once you have your reduction if you have anything of a belly it will appear to become bigger.
Make sure you get a good plastic surgeon also. I wouldn't change the fact that I got a reduction, I LOVE IT!
I work in an industry where almost all of my clients have had something done, including myself. A tummy tuck is removing the loose skin, lipo is what removes fat. Exercise doesn't do much for skins elasticity so it's not a matter of you being "lazy". You should schedule a free consultation and have hubby go with you. If you are going to do both, do it at the same time, it will cost you less and you'll only have one recovery period. Recovery after a tummy tuck isn't pretty, so you'll definately need some help with the kiddos. Good Luck!
I have not had either, you do what you want to make yourself feel better about you! I also have three children 6,3 and 2 (c-section) and I have the same problems "someday I will get my tummy tuck".
Are you vain "no". You do care about the way you look and feel "yes" and I think that is great. If people think its the easy way out well...... let them! Just remeber its for you not them ;).
Hi Casey
I can relate, well kind of. I dont have your large bust problem. So someone else can help you there. I have someones bad genes since my stomach is not great. My muscles are in as good of shape as possible with having 4 children and i work out. My skin is loose and would love to have a tummy tuck but i dont know if i can afford it.If i could I would probably do it. Good luck with your decisions..make sure you get the correct information and you are sure about what decision you make. Laurie D
I have not have any surgery, but understand how you feel! Your body totally changes after 2 or more kids. Plus yours are very close together, so your body never really got a chance to snap back to where it was.
If you can afford to do these things and it will make you feel better about yourself, I say go for it! My only suggestion is that you take 6 months and try to really work on your body through a gym, a stable diet plan and any other physical activity you used to do. It takes time for your body to recoup, and you need to give yourself that time.
Also, get LOTS of referrals on plastic surgeons as there are many who are not that good!
Good luck!
It takes three years for your body to get back to normal after birth. Three years. You had three babies in three years. Give yourself some time (two more years) before doing something drastic like major surgery. If you continue to eat well and work out, and chase those babies around, you'll get back to a "normal" self. However, "normal" will be different too, since every time you give birth, your body does change.
If the breasts are causing back pain and irritation, then that is something I would consider, but if you can wait a bit, and see how your body bounces back they might get smaller too.
Good luck! And keep working on that self-confidence - that's a huge part of the battle.
Wendy
I feel your pain :o) I was able to lose 60 lbs by going low carb after I was done having babies. The first thing to go when you go low carb is your belly because it's mostly water weight and retention. You'll be amazed that within 2 weeks your stomach will be much flatter.
I would wait on the tummy tuck for a few years. I was really into it at first but then realized that most of everything got pretty close to normal again with time and now I don't need the surgery. If you had to do something then I would do the breast reduction if it's really bothering you.
Otherwise just save the money and accept that most everyone else is in the same boat and get yourself some good undergarments :o)
Good luck,
Jennifer
Mom to 4 and soon one more through another adoption.
My sister had a tummy tuck after having two kids. She looks incredible and feels even better. I think that most women, after being pregnant more than once, have loose skin that no matter how much you exercise it will never get tight again. I have 2 1/2 year old twins and baby #3 due in two weeks. In my twins club we like to refer to that loose stomach skin as "twin skin." I say if you can afford the surgery go for it. I don't consider that vain at all. Especially breast reduction because large breasts can cause back problems, etc. and that's all you need with three young kids to chase after. Just be sure to find a good surgeon. Good luck!
Hi Casey,
Although I haven't had either of those procedures I felt compelled to offer you some answers for your husband. I've been in the healthcare industry for years and can tell you that in some women no amount of time at the gym is going to get that stomach flat again. Throughout pregnancy the fascia that holds your muscles and organs in stretches like a balloon. In some women the fascia retracts back, close to where it originally was. This is not the case for most moms. When you let the air out of a balloon it collapses, but never goes back to its original shape. Same thing here. To make it even worse, it's not uncommon for your stomach muscles to separate a little during pregnancy. This is also permanent in most women. Of course repeat pregnancies, especially when spaced close together, stretch everything out even more.
If you're uncomfortable with your body and feel you that surgery is the right choice for you, then do it. Be prepared for the long road to recovery. Neither of these procedures will have you up and moving immediately. Best of luck to you!
Shelly - Mom of 2 boys
If you have the money to do it and you feel it's truly draggig you down, a reduction/tummy tuck may be a good option for you, if you have not found success in exercising. Be sure you do your research when selecting a good doctor though, there are horror stories out there of what ill-educated or otherwise poor surgeons have done to women, a family friend is one example. She went to have a breast reduction done, and they essentially butchered her breasts! Make sure you get referrals, check out examples of their work (before and after pics), and check out their policies. This can all be a dirty job, but for your sake and safety, be sure you dig up all the dirt on your surgeon before you choose to go ahead with it.
Everyone wants to look and feel their best, so don't feel bad about that. I'm just curious why so many women are surprised when their post-baby bodies aren't the same as their pre-baby bodies were. Time, gravity, nursing and stretching your uterus and skin can only have an adverse effect, so no one should be surprised about that. I actually have a friend who chose NOT to have children because of what the experience would do to her body. I know you would agree that your beautiful children were worth any physical changes you went through. And I have news...the changes will continue over your lifetime no matter what you do, so prepare yourself for that now.
Your mind is your enemy here, not your body. You feel physical perfection is necessary and NO ONE has perfection. Those women in the magazines are air brushed -- every single one of them. Eat healthy, get regular exercise, consult with a personal trainer and nutritionist and love, accept and celebrate your body. Your girls are watching you and learning from you. What do you want to teach them?
Best to you!!