“7 Weeks Before/After Pics -Tummy Tuck and Lipo of Flanks - Charlotte, NC”

Over the past 2 1/2 years I have lost over 75 pounds and have decided it's time to make my clothes look as good on the outside as I feel on the inside. Two years ago I had the lap-band procedure done and it has been a great tool to help me lose weight. It is by no means easy but it helps, if you work it and follow the program.







Now to deal with the tummy I have left behind. I have heard about diastasis - after having two babies - 9lbs 8 oz and 10lb 4 oz, I have a feeling my abs muscles are pretty far apart - my excercising seems to make it bulge more in the middle.







I have gone from a size 22/2X to a size 12/L -I went out today and bought a pair of jeans in size 10 - the fit everywhere but the tummy - about an inch or two to button. It reminded me of high school and laying down on the bed to button jeans - that may have worked for these, but I wouldn't go there. I was excited to have the legs fit as well as they do. I know they will be perfect post surgery (and post swelling).







I will post before pictures soon.Updated on 1 Dec 2011:I went for my Pre-Op visit on Tuesday. I brought my husband with me so he could ask any questions that he may have had. I am so glad I chose this doctor. She is really excited about what she can do for me, "this is going to look sooo good." It just makes me all that much more excited myself. She gave me a box of supplements to begin taking a few days before my surgery. We went over my long list of questions, took a few more photos and got my prescriptions, then paid my balance. So the waiting begins - it's two weeks from today.



I am glad that I have a lot to do between now and then, especially when I need to have Christmas ready to go, so I don't have to think about it after surgery. My Doctor also gave me information about Medical Grade Silcon strips for the scar. I have been using over the counter Scar-away strips since Sept. on an 18 month old scar and it has made a difference in he last 2 months. It's flatter and lighter, wonder how much better the medical grade would be. I need to check out them out I guess.Updated on 10 Dec 2011:I am now 5 days out and trying to make sure I have everything all set for after - especially since Christmas is only 10 days after. I am looking on Craigslist for a hospital bed - seems to be about the same cost as renting and if I can use it for a few weeks then resell it. Our church has a few medicals devices - I am going to borrow a walker, just for some extra support for the first few days. Just in case it may help.



I am getting one Compression Garment from my surgeon, she said she'd put it on while I am on the operating table. I went ahead and ordered another last night so I could alternate and not be without while washing one. I have been warned not to dry it in the dryer on high as it will shrink.







I am going to make a list of medications and when they should be taken. I have 3 Rx's and 2 supplements - afraid it will be too much for my husband to keep track of. From everything I read for the first two days it is important to take the pain meds every 4 hours and to set an alarm if you may be sleeping - sounds like a plan.







Got my protein powder ready too. I have learned the importance of my protein intake during my weighloss process and have had it reinforced in the last 3 days. My weight started to creep up a couple of pounds, I had thought it was because of my cycle - which is now 10 days late. 3 days ago I added an scoop of protein to my daily intake - I had gotten away from the daily protein powder about a month ago. As a treat I went to Starbucks and got a Nonfat Chai tea latte and added the unflavored protein powder to it. After 3 days of doing this I am back down 3.2 lbs. Just reinforced that when I am down on protein my body stores water to process carbs. I told my husband this morning that I need him to make sure that if I am not eating much that I need 3 scoops of PP a day to make sure I am getting 60 grams of protein, although 90 would probably be better. If we have less than that our body will snack on our muscles and not the fat stores. I have spent too much time in the gym to let that happen.Updated on 15 Dec 2011:Made it to the other side with flying colors - no more shelf. Excuse typos - vicodin is in full swing.



Did great - has 5lbs removed and 4 liters in lip. Dr. said it could not have gone any better - now hoping recovery is also textbook. So far all is well, have been peeing like crazy - gone 4 times since 3 pm - about once an hour. Glad I got a hospital bedfrom Craigslist to rest up in and the walker help with the tummy tuck shuffle to get to the bathroom.



Hubby is making me some soup - have been doing just water and a little chai tea with protein powder - been 24 hours w/o real food - ready to try a bit.







I am a bit sore - learning to use my legs and arms and keep my core stable helps with movements. The worse pain was from an unexpected cough, got my cough drops at my to side help keep throat mosit. Honestly, my troiat is what hurts the most from the trach tube.







Go for post-op appt tomorrow at lunch - she said I could shower first if I want, think I will wait I don't want to undo the binder and compression garment myself - a little afraid to do that. The CG goes mid=thigh to my chest with the bra cut out - it zips up from both sides (thigh to underarm) Can't wait for my first peek at all of it.Updated on 16 Dec 2011:First Post-op visit went great. Dr is very pleased with how it all looks, me too from what little I saw - hubby took pictures but it's hard to get a good view from them. I will post pictures tonight - he promised he'd help me with that.



I am most uncomfortable on my lower back - like someone hit me with a lead pipe a few humdred times - oh wait, basically she did with the lipo.



Getting a little bit to eat and drinking lots of water with all the meds. Had protein shake a little bit ago. Overnight took pain meds at 4:30 on an empty stomach - not a good idea ended up waking my husband up and getting a phenegren tablet to stop the nausea. I was greatful it stopped - afraid of the pain with the ab muscles had I thrown-up, I know coughing kills (got my cough drops) at my bed side).



May try to shower later - Dr said its ok. Just not sure I am ready for the water to hit my back. My drains aren't bad I hardly notice them. Time to rest - my eyes are getting heavy.Updated on 17 Dec 2011:Day Two post-op here and doing well. Having issue with nauseau guess I need to keep that pill going for a bit longer on a regular basis. Took a shower this morning - stuck a folding chair in there and had my huband wash my hair. It felt good to be out of the CG and binder for while - my swelling is really lopsided. Once I put them back on they seem to be itchy.



Haven't had much of an appetite - forcing myself to eat a little bit before each medicine round.



My PS sent me a bouquet of flowers today - with wished for a Beautiful Recovery.Updated on 20 Dec 2011:Day Five - Have missed the last two days of posting. I was sick to my stomach on Sunday so I cut out the pain meds thinking that was the issue. I felt like I had so much gas that I had a 9 month old baby rearranging my insides. Woke up morning of Day four and felt much better. Finally felt like I had an appetite - send my husband to Subway for my favorite Tuna sub. At noon took my antibotic and within 10 minutes I was so sick. Went from feeling great to feeling like someone threw me down the stairs. But at last I knew the issue. Called the Dr office after a 3 hr rest got them to switch to a new antibiotic.







Today I took my second shower. Still put a chair in their and used a neck lanyard to hold by drains this time - worked much better than the hanger last time. I went in for my second post-op and I got one of my drains removed. Didn't know what to expect she told me some tuggling well... it was weird, she (the nurse) had never seen this happen - she removed the one on my right and I had this burning sensation on the left. It felt like she layed a really hot instrument on my skin. It subsided but was weird. She went and asked the Dr, who said it was a nerve response. When the Dr came in said said it all looks good, but I looked bloated. She told me to get MOM Dulcolax, something. Even though I had a small BM yesterday, she said she felt it backed up and wanted it out to not mess up "her" stiches. Took some Ducolax in v-8 juice when I got home and within 2 hours things were moving. Things are rumbling in my tummy but my appetite is still minimal.

Updated on 24 Dec 2011:
Day 9 post-op -


I have missed a few days posting. Day 6 was great felt almost normal most of the day, then late afternoon took some more Ducolax to make sure things kept moving. Two hours later I started blowing up like a giant hot air balloon - I had to take my binder off then my compression garment off. I was walking laps around my house trying to help get things moving. After another 2 hours of nothing - not even a rumble I got worried. My belly was so swollen and tight - my belly button was pushed out flat. I called the PS Office and the on-call nurse got back to me - she had me get Milk of Magnesia and Dulcolax supposities. After a round of each, things started moving - in the process of all this I pulled a muscle in my back, so each deep breath, yawn or movement causes the muscle to spasm.


Stopped taking pain meds - except Tylenol or Advil - trying to keep my intestines functioning normally.


Day Seven was slow but good - just the muscle spasm in my back to deal with.


Day Eight was by far the best. Got up and around most of the day - no naps but some chilling movie time. Did have an issue with my drain leaking today but it stopped and it was still suctioning so didn't need to make a trip to the office to have it checked. I am still putting out a lot of fluid, hopefully it will subside over the next 3 days before my next post-op appointment.


All this leaves me at Day 9 Christmas Eve - the swelling is moving south as the say - someone else said it best recently - I kind of feel like a Ken Doll. I am so puffed down there that it is sticking out of the CG - a wee bit uncomfortable.

Updated on 24 Dec 2011:
I fogot to add this - so far in the recovery process the tummy tuck work has been by far less painful than the Lipo of my backside. I know the TT is worth it. I am starting to see beyond the swelling and the shelf that was removed. I am waiting and wondering if the Lipo was worth all the extra discomfort. Time will tell.

Updated on 27 Dec 2011:
PO Day 12 - Went back to see my PS today. Still have my last drain and have to keep it a bit longer. Although I wish she would have taken it out today - I knew going in that it would be left - I am still somewhere around 50cc in 24 hours. Nowhere near the under 30cc for a two days. I am hoping that if I get extra rest that it will slow and can come out on Friday. I head back to work Jan 2nd and really don't want to do that with a drain still in place.


Got my steri strips removed today from my scar and my belly button. Need to take a shower later and take a good look at them both. Had my husband take some pictures while we were there - it's not often that I take off the CG and binder, trying to maximize their use to help keep swelling down. Seems like about 6pm each night my tummy gets really tight and feels very swollen. I noticed when I got out of bed this AM that my binder was significantlly looser than when I went to bed - sounds like swelling went down over night.

Updated on 28 Dec 2011:
Well, I got a good look at my scar today and my new BB. I am thrilled. I don't think she could have gotten the scar any lower. In the center it is right at the pub line and on the side it is pretty close to where the thigh meets my torso. I am amazed at how light and fine the scar is around the very center. I think my Belly Button is shaping up nicely.
I am still having quite a bit of swelling, although I don't feel as tight tonight as I have the last few nights. Now if I can just get the fluid in my drain to go down.... hoping to get it out by Friday, with the holiday weekend I don't want to have to keep it until Tuesday. It's so hard to sit around and try to do nothing, especially as I start to feel better.

Updated on 3 Jan 2012:
Day 19 -
Went back to see my PS today. Never did get to the point I could call last week to get the drain out on Friday. And heading in to see her today I knew more than likely she would not take it out yet. Right! Still putting out 30-35 cc's a day, she says under 30 for a couple days. No signs of infection, so drain stays, going back to see her on Friday. Other than that she said things are looking good - I am flat, swollen but flat.

I have a spot on my scar that looks like it is trying to get infected - have been using antibiotic cream on it. She say it's called "popping at stitch" my body is healing faster than the stictch disolving - so the body tries to get rid of it by pushing it out. It is the only spot that has a scab and it is getting red around it - she said likely I will have a black stitch pop out and to call and come in and they will pull it out.

Updated on 12 Jan 2012:
PO Day 22 -

Finally got my drain out today. PS says everything is looking good. I haven't had a stitch pop and the 2 marks I was concerned about have started to look better. I had a list of quetions for her this time so I wouldn't forget. Got the Ok to take a bath after 48 hours - have to let the drain hole close. Got the gentle sex - talk, "which means you on your back - only" LOL she was funny! I can start using Scar Away Silicon strips now. I was also cleared to ditch her compression garment she suggested getting underwear with a control panel for the lower tummy and high waisted. I did decide to get a smaller binder from her. I was in an XL and could not get it any tigher I was over at the end of the velcro. I love my Large - it fits so much better and it actually closes pretty fair across on the velcro, about 2/3 of the way. I really wonder how much the other binder was doing.

Day 23 -
Felt really weird to talk a shower today and not have to deal with a drain anymore, not that I am complaining. I wore my size 14 jeans today with no problems, actually they were too big. When I got home I pulled out the Size 10 jeans I bought at Old Navy the day after Thanksgiving for Post-surgery. Well, they fit, no problem.


Day 24-28
I am back at work and have been putting in way too many hours and 6 days last week. I have been having lots of swelling moving down my belly - my CG has gotten pretty loose now. I decided to try one of the Leonia CG body suits I ordered before my surgery. I put it on and overall it was comfortable and definately gave me a lot more compression than my PS garment. The only issue was the Crochless are because of the swelling it was cutting into me. My soultion - stick a sock in it. I tucked the sock across the opening so it was padded, but I could pull it out when I had to pee at work. Sounds odd - but it worked.
I took the advice of another member and order the Lipo In a Box panties. I ordered the high-waisted brief - love the feel, they are thin but give a ton of compression. My only issue is the high-waist wants to roll. I am still wearing my binder, so if I am really quick I can bind it while it's up and rolling isn't an issue. I am wondering if that means they are too small for my torso. Hoping as I conintue to shrink they will stay up.

Decided to call the Dr this morning - it's 4 weeks out and although I have been working (desk job) I have been wearing my CG and Binder and spending all evening each night with my feet up on the couch - my Swelling seems to be getting worse and not going down much over night. I was cleared for basic exercise but haven't even thought about it because I am afraid I will swell more. Well, after having to wait an hour to see her - she took a look and decided to numb me and see if she could draw some fluid out. It was really no big deal, I don't have much feeling there so when she gave me a local ansthetic I didn't feel it and definately didn't feel the needle that pulled the fluid out. Didn't watch - I think that helped. 30 cc's came out and she wants me to come back next week to be checked. She said not to be surprised to have to do it again. Apparently when you gain weight and then lose weight your veins and lymphatic system were use to accomidating a larger system and doesn't go back to the smaller size. So in short it puts out way more fluid than needed and our bodies can't absorb it - so if you have lost a lot of weight before surgery it is possible for drains to say in longer than average because they have a different job to do for you. Even with mine in for 22 days, I still have fluid pooling issues after removal.
On a happy note - my clothes continue to get too big. I had one pair of 12's that I bought a few weeks before surgery - they fit but were not loose. I tried them on this am and decided I could wear them and put the binder over them with my long shirt hiding it all. I went to the bathroom and forgot what a pain that set up would be. As I put myself back together I must have been on auto-pilot because about 10 minutes later I went to adjust my binder a bit and realized it was now inside my pants - I had zipped and buttoned the pants over the binder without realizing it worked. :-)

Updated on 28 Jan 2012:
PO Day 44 - This week things have gotten much better. I feel like I am not as tight as I was before and not swelling as much. Still swelling but... I am posting a picture with clothes on. I have a formal event coming up and just got this dress. I can't believe it's me in this photo. Happy Dance!

I need to get some picture in the morning when my swelling is down to get a good idea how things are coming.

Updated on 4 Feb 2012:
PO 7 weeks - counting days is out now...
This week again showed a lot of progress. Still feel swollen and numb in spots and do not like to be without my CG and/or binder depending on time of day. The lower section of my back is still hyper-sensitive to anything touching it. If I have my CG or binder on- the sensitivity goes down since it is being "touch" evenly all over. The weirdest feeling is at night when I sit on the couch for a while then get up - I get an intense burning sensation in my lower back - those nerves are waking up. It only last 10 seconds or so, but it's an eye-opening feeling.

I have been able to do a couple one mile walks this week and did get in the gym and ride for 25 minutes one day and took a body sculpting class another. There are somethings I can't do yet so I modify to what I can do.

I had my husband do come updated pictures today. My waist has gone from a 37 1/2 to a 33 1/2 - I have never had much of a waist so I am thrilled with this.

Updated on 12 Feb 2012:
PO 8 weeks -
Went shopping today to try on pants. The 10's I bought keep sagging in the butt area I didn't know if they were to big or if the thighs were too tight and pulling the butt down. I decided I needed to try on pther pants and see what's up. Well, I don't know if the pants I have are too big - but I did try on 2 pair of 8's and they fit quite nicely. SHOCK!!!!

Updated on 21 Feb 2012:
10 weeks PO: I will be 10 weeks on Thursday. I went in and had an Ultrasonic Massage to try to help with the swelling I am still having. I woke up with morning with more swelling than I have been having lately. My the end of the day today - even with my high-waisted controll panties on and my binder for half the day I am still more swollen than I have been. I was hoping the massage would help but seems to have made things worse. May call Dr's office tomorrow just to check and see if that's normal.