"I Was Horrified — Then I Felt Nothing": Stephanie's Awake Mommy Makeover in Lubbock
A mommy makeover is a big surgery day — three procedures, hours on the table. Now imagine doing all of it awake. When Stephanie learned she would not be put under anesthesia for her Lipo 360, tummy tuck, and breast augmentation at FacePlus Plastic Surgery Institute, she was, in her own word, "horrified."
Two and a half weeks later, she recorded a message for anyone feeling the same way. Her summary: "I am doing incredible."
The Patient's Story: From Fear to Pain-Free
Stephanie is candid about where she started: "I will say I was horrified when I found out I was not going to be put under anesthesia — that was my main fear, and I was a bundle of nerves. I was like, there's just no way I can do this."
What changed her mind was the experience itself. Dr. Boonipat had told her before surgery, "If you feel anything, you'll feel me numbing your stomach at the beginning." Her report afterward: "I don't even remember that. I felt nothing, nothing — and I have had no pain since the surgery."
Perhaps the most striking detail: "I never took one pain pill, maybe a couple of Tylenol here and there, but that is all I have taken. Pain-free, totally pain-free."
Three Procedures, One Awake Surgery Day
Stephanie's combination — Lipo 360 (liposuction around the full torso), a tummy tuck, and a breast augmentation — is a classic mommy makeover: contour the waist and abdomen, remove excess skin, and restore breast volume, all in one operative session.
Doing it awake is part of Dr. Boonipat's philosophy at FacePlus+. The practice's awake liposuction page explains how it works: sedatives and local anesthesia keep the patient comfortable, a tumescent solution minimizes pain and bleeding, and the patient stays conscious — which lets the surgeon communicate with her, even asking her to flex or change positions for more precise sculpting. Local anesthesia carries fewer risks than general, and patients avoid the grogginess that can linger for up to 24 hours after being put under.
The breast augmentation component followed the practice's awake approach as well — implants placed with local anesthesia only, covered in detail on the awake breast augmentation page.
The Part Nobody Talks About: Communication
For Stephanie, the surgery-day experience was only half the story. The other half was how reachable the team was afterward: "The communication with him and his nurse and his office staff has just been phenomenal. I have their numbers. I can call them any time, day or night, if I had questions — and boy, did I at the beginning — but they have just been exceptionally amazing. I can't say enough."
That kind of access matters most in the first days after a multi-procedure surgery, when questions come fast and reassurance can't wait until morning.
Mommy Makeover FAQ: Candidacy, Recovery, Risks
Am I a good candidate? Good candidates for the component procedures are generally healthy non-smokers at or near their ideal weight. The practice notes that awake liposuction criteria can be more flexible than traditional liposuction — even patients with higher BMIs who might not qualify for general anesthesia may be candidates, sometimes over multiple sessions. Your consultation is where the plan is tailored to your body.
What is recovery like? Per the practice's published guidance: after liposuction, most patients return to normal routines in one to two weeks (heavy exertion avoided for four to six weeks). Compression garments help minimize swelling and help skin adapt to the new contours. Breast augmentation patients typically walk out in a support bra the same day; desk work is often reasonable within a week. Every recovery is individual, and multi-procedure days mean more healing to plan for — Dr. Boonipat walks every patient through exactly what to expect.
What are the risks? As with any surgery, risks include bruising, bleeding, infection, numbness, contour irregularities, reactions to anesthesia, and — rarely — fluid collections that need aspiration. Combining procedures in one session increases the extent of surgery, which is why the consultation covers the full picture before any decision is made.
Representative Results
Representative before/after results for mommy makeover at FacePlus Plastic Surgery Institute — shown for illustration, not this patient's photos. Individual results vary.
Serving Lubbock and the South Plains
FacePlus Plastic Surgery Institute is located at 12505 Quaker Ave, Suite A, Lubbock, TX 79424 — call or text 806-503-2090. Hours are Monday–Thursday 9am–5pm (closed 12–1), Friday 9am–12pm, and Saturday 9am–12pm by appointment; text 806-503-2090 for times outside listed hours. Location and hours are on the Contact Us page.
For patients across West Texas — from Lubbock to Amarillo, Midland to Plainview, Odessa to Levelland — traveling for surgery is common, and an awake approach with attentive aftercare can make the trip feel more manageable. One thing to know up front: consultations are $50 to book, and that fee applies toward your surgery fees if you proceed within a month of your consult.
Real patient stories are the best window into what surgery day is actually like. Browse more on the patient testimonials page. If you're considering a tummy tuck, Lipo 360, breast augmentation, or the combination, request a consultation with Dr. Boonipat in Lubbock to talk through your goals.
Every patient heals differently, and individual results vary. The information here reflects one patient's reported experience; the best way to know what is right for you is a private consultation with Dr. Boonipat.
Comments