A Patient Story: Feeling Beautiful At Any Age

Motherhood is one of the most rewarding things in a woman’s life. Following a pregnancy, a mother might notice her body contours have changed particularly in her breasts and abdomen.

An abdominoplasty, otherwise known as a tummy tuck, is a sought after way to restore a woman’s abdomen to her pre-baby days.

Dr. Bolitho’s patient, Natalie, waited 17 years after the birth of her child to have a tummy tuck.

In her 40s, she calls the experience life changing.

“I am a petite sized woman, and after my child’s delivery, I could never buy the right size clothing because I had this pouch on my belly,” Natalie said.

Clothing selections for Natalie were completely disproportionate. She constantly combated with fitting issues such long sleeves, unaligned shoulders for tops, and long and baggy pant legs.

“I dieted, exercised, and did everything possible but I couldn’t lose this pouch,” she said. Natalie continued, “My self-confidence was so low and I went through something like a depression.”

And numerous times, Natalie refused to attend social gatherings because she couldn’t find clothes which looked right on her. So rather than feeling uncomfortable, she chose to stay home.

“I avoided going out,” she said.

Purchasing clothes, however, was only one level of her mental discomfort.

Natalie, who loves to swim, would visit the swimming pool at her complex during the early morning hours to avoid people seeing her in a bathing suit.

And fear of intimacy with her husband was a serious issue. Natalie shared she was extremely uncomfortable to remove her clothes in front of him.

But all this changed after her tummy tuck.

When Natalie received word from her OB-GYN that she needed a hysterectomy due to a fibroid tumor, she asked her doctor if anything could be done with the pouch on her stomach.

Her doctor explained that following a hysterectomy she could immediately have a tummy tuck. Interested in the possibility, she was referred to Dr. Bolitho.

“I don’t have the words to describe how professional, sweet, and supportive Dr. Bolitho was,” she said. She also noticed how Dr. Bolitho had an uncanny way to make her feel like she was an old friend which immediately put her at ease.

Natalie calls Dr. Bolitho’s office team, “angels” because they were also extremely kind.

Although Natalie’s surgery was only a month ago, she has seen marked improvement in her appearance.

Weighing 20 pounds less, Natalie has also lost 4 inches in her waist and almost 3 inches in her hips.

And this is just the beginning. She has two more months of healing time left.

“I feel beautiful now. I see a totally different woman in front of the mirror,” Natalie shared.

The tummy tuck lifted her out of her sadness.

Natalie calls herself a better wife now because she is happier; her husband has also noticed this positive change.

“I used to cry every time I would go shopping for clothes. Since the surgery, now I have tight dresses on and I am smiling with confidence,” she said.

Natalie’s cosmetic procedure also made her realize that plastic surgery just isn’t for young, single women who want breast enhancements or tummy tucks.

“You can feel good at any age,” she said. “It’s never too late because it offers a real turning point in your life.”