How much did it cost?
$11,395. It could have since increased.
Which doctor did you go to?
Dr. Bednar is Charlotte, NC.
Did you travel?
Yes, I flew there from DC. It’s a short flight.
Where did you stay?
The Hampton Inn. At the time there was a shuttle between the hotel and the doctor’s office, though I’m not sure the hotel still offers this service. They dropped me off and picked me up.
The rooms are equipped with full kitchens and refrigerators which was essential for me.
How long did you stay?
I arrived Tuesday night and left Friday morning.
Did someone travel with you/is this required?
Yes and yes. You need someone with you the first 24 hours to help you around, administer medicine and just be there in case of emergency. You can hire one of the nurses for this, but I forced my friend Joël to accompany me.
How did you prepare nutritionally before and after?
I always eat well because I’m committed to living a healthy and happy lifestyle, this includes limiting processed foods. I ate how I normally eat, although I did try to up my calories and carbs a bit because I was a bit underweight at the time. I had just finished nursing and it’s really difficult to keep weight on when you have a barnacle sucking out your calories.
I had a smoothie using my collagen protein + super greens at least 5x a week. This is because collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, it makes up roughly 80% of our skin and 60-70% of bones, cartilage and joints. I knew taking this daily would be crucial for supporting my body overall but also for encouraging the fat to adhere.
My favorite smoothie consists of 1/2 scoop collagen protein, 1/2 cup blueberries, 1 tbsp flax, 1 tbsp chia, 1 tbsp almond butter, 1/2 cup frozen kale, coconut milk.
I focused on my core four:
- protein (salmon, grass-fed beef, pasture raised pork, etc.)
- healthy fats (olive oil, grass-fed butter, avocado, etc.)
- veggies (broccoli, peas, cabbage, peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, etc.)
- fiber (beans, chia seeds, flax seeds, avocados, artichoke, etc.)
How much did you weigh?
122 pounds. I am now at 133 pounds and hover here normally. I had lost a lot of weight from nursing and just couldn’t get it back up. I’m 5’6 for reference.
Where did they take the fat from?
My lower back; I had some serious love handles. Always have. Some from thighs. I think the love handles were the most painful place to take fat from because you aren’t supposed to put pressure on the liposuction sites, but you HAVE to lay on your back. I ballooned up that night. Literally my back looked like a giant waterballoon about to burst. it was awful.
Are there scars?
Yes, predominantly on my breasts. I literally forgot to add my own scar serum (I make this and it’s amazing for scars) while I was healing. I was extremely sleep deprived and stressed (baby had sleep disorder, also Covid).
How many CCs were put into your boobs?
500cc’s in each.
How much did you retain?
It’s really hard to say. Maybe 50%? I’m a C cup. Sometimes my boobs are bigger, sometimes they’re smaller and neither scenario seems to be tied to my weight.
I do think I would’ve retained much more but two weeks after my surgery, we were on lockdown and I was chasing and picking up toddlers for ten hours a day by myself.
What was your size before and after?
Started at a small A, landed with a C.
Did you take the anitbiotics?
I took them for three days post procedure to avoid any complications like fat necrosis. After that I was careful to build back gut flora, avoid any sugar and processed food, etc.
Did you take the narcotics?
No. I never take narcotics, not even for my c-sections. There’s a long history there, mostly that my parents became heroin addicts but started out with narcotics and I just want to avoid them. They also make me feel absolutely terrible mentally and physically.
Did you take everything recommended/provided?
No. I only took what was necessary and the supplements. I love and support supplements, and I love that Dr. Bednar sends vitamins and anti-inflammatory supplements prior to surgery. At this point I can’t remember everything that was prescribed but I checked with the nurses and only took what was necessary.
How long did you wear the compression garment?
I wore it for about three weeks after. I would have worn it for longer but I started to get rashes on my legs from wearing them everyday (even though I washed them regularly). Compression garments are absolutely essential.
Did you pee in a cup?
NO. I found this completely unnecessary. Almost every woman told me to get a giant Big Gulp style cup to pee in (the compression garment has a pee hole). I didn’t need this at all. I have no idea why anyone would but many other women found it helpful.
Did you get lymphatic drainage? How often?
I did. I scheduled one session with Dorothea (ask Dr. Bednar for her info) and she taught me how to do lymphatic drainage on myself. I also had two sessions once I got home. I would’ve done more but Covid happened and the world stopped.
Lymphatic drainage is incredibly important, whether you have this procedure or not. I regularly practice lymphatic drainage anyway via dry brushing, massage, gua shua, etc.
Did you use a roller?
Yes, I bought a Tiger Tail and used that on my lipo sites. This is because lipo sites are negatively impacted in terms of lymph function, so you can get a buildup of lympthatic fluid that makes the skin appear bumpy, like cellulite. This did not happen to me.
Would you go back for round two?
No. Or maybe. But probably not. As much as I’d love bigger boobs, I just don’t want to go through this procedure again. It wasn’t as bad as a c-section, but it was very uncomfortable. I didn’t like dealing with not working out, with the pain, with sleeping on my back, etc.
How bad was the pain?
It wasn’t good, that’s for sure. Especially without any painkillers. I used a lot of icepacks and arnica. It’s bearable, but it’s deeply, deeply uncomfortable.
