Ok, back on track. haha I told you a few posts ago that I would post about how my consultation went with Dr. Grenga. Well, it went splendidly! He is everything that I had read about and expected and more! He spoke to me in a very mild manner and broke it all down so as to be sure that I understood. When I got there I checked in and paid my $50 fee. The fee was then applied to the surgery if I chose to go ahead with it. After paying I sat and waited my turn. I was nervous and anxious and all rolled into one. Finally it was my turn. I went back to the room and the nurse came in to talk to me; find out what I was looking for, where I was at, a little of my history, etc. After I spoke with her she left and came back with the doctor a few minutes later. He then went over what I had told the nurse and talked to me about it. I told him I wasn’t sure if I needed a breast lift but wasn’t opposed, I just wasn’t sure, and that I was pretty sure I needed a tummy tuck; be it a full or a mini. After we talked he gave me the paper vest and the paper drape and left so that I could get undressed and we’d go from there. After a few minutes he came back in and we went from there. We started with the breasts. He pointed out that his opinion was a breast lift because while not very bad it was evident that I had nursed multiple children. So a breast lift it was. I also told him I wanted an enlargement, as well. We went over that and talked about size and look and such. Not in detail, that will come at the next appointment if I decide to go through with it.
Moving on, the abdomen area. My nemesis. He pointed out that, yes, I was distended and it was likely from separated abdominal muscles and childbirth. He then had me lay down and he felt my abdomen. This is my favorite part. He was talking about the biology of it and how childbirth can cause the muscles to separate and how many women do not have abdominal strength afterwards and then he asked me to do a partial sit-up to assess my muscles and he stopped mid-sentence and said, “oh! You do have abs!” haha! I have never been prouder. LOL He told me then that no matter what I did I would never be able to get those muscles back together on my own. That made me feel good because, like I have said before, I work out and lift heavy regularly so I know I have core strength…if just doesn’t show. So for him to tell me that eased my everything that I, myself, just wasn’t doing enough.
Oh! Along with diagnosing me with Diastasis Recti he diagnosed an umbilical hernia. I never thought I had that! I mean, yes, my belly button turned into an outy with my last baby but I never thought I had a hernia! Sure enough, I do. It was not comfortable when he pushed his finger into my belly button. LOL I mean, it didn’t hurt but, oy! I did not like it. My silver lining here? My insurance will pay for a portion of this entire procedure! Woop woop!! $2000 paid for? You got it!
After all that we went back over everything; a breast lift, augmentation, full tummy tuck, a little liposuction here and there to really shape the silhouette; as Dr. Grenga put it, this isn’t a weight loss surgery, this is a body contour and he includes the lipo so as to make sure that I get the body and the silhouette that I am looking for and dreaming of.
I want to talk about here the talk that he and I had about the “risks” of having an augmentation along with the lift. He informed me that when you have both together you are working against gravity. Yes, I can see that. I agree. He also said that he does them and has done revisions before because of the fact. After researching and reading I have come across the same number…25%. 25% of lift augmentation surgeries end in revision. My thoughts are I’m either looking at a for sure another surgery in 6 months to a year (which, too, means more money) or I can get it all done now and am looking at a possible another surgery in the future. So I think I am going for it. I mean, initially Dr. Grenga said that he advised against it and then once we started talking he said well maybe 150ccs and then once I told him all of my thoughts we started talking 250cc’s. I am looking at going no more than 300cc’s; so next appointment I’ll talk to him more about that.
Well, that is where we left it! After all of that I got dressed, met with his secretary who has been with him for 15 years, and set a tentative date and got a tentative price. She informed me that within the next few days I would receive a letter from him just reviewing everything we talked about and from there, should I decide to move forward, the Physical and History appointment would be made for about 2 weeks before my surgery date, a $300 deposits would be required at that, and then at that appointment the remainder of my balance would be required. It was A LOT of information in a short amount of time but it was exciting and I can’t wait to move forward!!!
#FattyGetHott