“New Pics Wow!! What a difference!! FTT,MR and Lipo”

I am 33 years old and have four beautiful kids. I have two older kids 12 and 14. Decided to have another one and ended up with twins. They did a number on my body and I have been unsuccessful in losing what I refer to as my twin skin. I have pictures of before but do not have them on this computer. I will get them and post as soon as I can. The belly bulge has been a source of major depression since the birth of my twins.

I am currently 4 going on 5 days post op. I can definately say this has been an experience, but is getting better everyday. I look forward to the final results which they say will take many months to get to. I would not go back and change anything but it does take a toll on your emotions. I am tired of being limited and unable to do all the things I am accostomed to doing.

Updated on 24 Aug 2011:
Well today is 7 days post op for me. Today was a fairly good day. I have gone back to work. I have an office job and have great ladies who work for me. They are very supportive and make sure I do as little as possible. I am swelling some but this is better than on day 5. I had my emotional, roller coaster of a day on Monday. Just felt weepy and questioned what I was thinking. It was just a misreable day. I went for my first post op appointment on yesterday and he said everything was excellent and I was healing nicely. I was not able to get this drain removed, which was very disappointing. He has given instructions to my husband and he can take it out if my drainage is below where it needs to be for atleast three days. That made me feel better, because I couldnt stand the thought of having to have this until my next appointment. I am a little worried about him taking it out. Has anyone been given instructions on removing the drain at home???? Did everything turn out ok????

Updated on 25 Aug 2011:
Well today is day number 8. I removed my drain about 2 hours ago. I went ahead and let my husband remove it despite my reservations. Was not bad at all. It felt a little funny but lasted only a matter of seconds. Feel great now that the drain is out. It was really starting to drive me crazy. I guess now, the fear of the possibly developing a pocket of fluid will make me crazy and give me the next thing to worry about. I think when I got a shower tonight, was actualy clean when done. Really dont think I did the best before when taking a shower because of the fear. I was a little depressed earlier when trying to find something to wear. I don't have any clothes that fit. What is the timeframe ladies before your clothes started to fit again. I cant afford to buy new clothes, I just had a tummy tuck for crying out loud. Yikes! I have posted a new picture, this was from last night. still swollen but I feel it is a major improvement from what I was before.

Updated on 29 Aug 2011:
Today is day 12. I felt really good today. Now I am a bit disappointed. I took the tape off my incision because of an uncomfortable feeling on my right side. I had several stitches that had yet to dissolve. They appear to be infected and had a white puss pocket around them(not draining). I know I have read that this could lead to an infection when the disolvable stiches do not dissolve. I have put peroxide and antibiotic ointment on it. I am just wondering if I need to make a call to my doctors office?? I don't see any red lines that indicate infection. Just not certain what to do at this point. I definately DO NOT want to get an infection. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Updated on 1 Sep 2011:
Well working on day 16 post op. I have to say what an adventure. Keeping a positive outlook and trying to be patient and give my body time to heal. Had a minor set back earlier this week, but have now removed the open drain after speaking with my ps this afternoon. That is a relief and hopefully will not have anymore problems with the fluid accumulation. Not sleeping well. I find it very had to get comfortable and in a position where there is no pulling or discomfort. My ps office said if tylenol pm doesnt work tonight call them and they will call me in something. Will be so glad when the nerve regeneration has completed its course. Heard this could take some time and must say is not the most comfortable thing. Don't feel anything as long as I am sitting or lying in bed. Only when I have to get up and walk. I have uploaded a new picture and as you can see much more swelling then day 7. But as I have read on here everyone experiences it and will have to deal with it.

Updated on 4 Sep 2011:
Ok Ladies, I need your help. I finally broke down and took new pics. I haven't taken them in a few days due to the swelling. Well tonight when I took pictures. You can really tell the hip area has went down considerably on my left hip but the right is still huge!! I am really worried that it is uneven lipo. I have never had hips before so that would be odd. Not really sure?? The spot in the front on my incision is where I had the second drain inserted. I am also worried because I have the wave back in my fluid, same place as before. I have my binder on as tight as I can stand it in hopes this will improve by the morning. Worried!! What are your thoughts??

Updated on 10 Sep 2011:
Well today is 25 days post op. Feeling much better these days and by far today has been the best. Woke up this morning with a new outlook on recovery and it starts with no more obsessing over the swelling. Have let this get me down long enough and must make myself snap out of it. Kinda can start to see how the final results will look, I think. Went back to my ps on Thursday 9/8 and he thinks everything looks awesome. Think maybe I upset him a little. He felt the need to show me the before pictures. It really was a great reality check for me. Went walking this morning for the first time post op with hubby. It was nice, weather has been very nice this past week. Also spent a few hours in the sunshine and that really felt nice. I love to sunbathe and over the past 3 weeks have lost pretty much all my tan. Had a really great tan except on my stomach, of course, Kept that thing under wraps when it comes to bathing suit. Swelling if somewhat better but definately still there. I am going without my binder for about 1-2 hours at a time. That feels really strange and makes me uneasy to do very much. Hope that will get better with time. I don't want that to be a permanent part of my wardrobe.

Updated on 17 Sep 2011:
Where do I begin! It has been 7 days since I last posted, but those 7 days are unforgetable. Got a cold that started on last Saturday. Had to go to conference for my job. Left to travel four hours to conference on Sunday. Once there my health declined, cough was unbearable and couldn't sleep. The coughing made me so sore and swell hell was an understatement. Three nights and no sleep(average 3 hours per night) and was so misreable, all I could do was cry. Then on Tuesday night my incision started draining fluid in the front. That made everything even worse!! Called my ps and he was sure it was from the coughing and stress that put on incision. When I arrived home on Wednesday night I was swollen to the point where I looked 6 months pregnant, by far the worse yet. Felt as though I couldn't put one foot in front of the other. Took two days off work in hopes lots of rest would help me feel better. Last night still felt terrible, took a trip to ER and have bronchitis and start of pnuemonia. They gave me antibiotics and prednisone and today I feel like a new person!! I haven't felt like this in 4 weeks since before surgery. Last night I was in bathroom every hour, but today my swelling is down and feel great! Prednisone is working wonders. Overnight all my pre surgery clothes have become too big. It gives me hope that this will be what final results are like. It also helped me realize how much we really swell. I could still feel myself wanting to cry today just because I don't think I am totally over the infection, and know steriod is helping me feel the way I do. Here is to a better week next week and on my way to recovery!! I have pictures from today, but hubby took camera and is camping out tonight. Will post those pics on tomorrow.

Updated on 19 Sep 2011:
Still feeling pretty good. Today I woke up feeling like my old self. Still get really tired, but am able to keep up things around my house. I actually fixed dinner tonight for first time in don't know when. It feels so good to be back to doing things. Have tried over past few hours to go without my binder but it is not very comfortable. Feel lots of twinges and slight pain. New pictures posted these are from this Saturday and Sunday after getting meds at ER. The meds made such a difference in swelling. Still swelling some but is by far much better than before. Almost 5 weeks post op. yeah!!

Updated on 19 Sep 2011:
Doing much better. I have started doing things around the house. Cooked dinner for family tonight and was able to clean house for about 4 hours this Sunday. Feels so good to be back to somewhat of routine. Almost 5 weeks post op.

Updated on 28 Sep 2011:
6 weeks post op today and feeling good for the most part. happy with my decision.....Not really sure I am totally happy with results. Life has pretty much returned to life as I know it. Started back walking and doing some weights-kettleball excersizes I still have some twinges of pain here and there. Developed a reoccuring pain on my sides where lipo was done. Called my ps office and they are sure it is nerve and muscle regeneration. They called me in a muscle relaxer to take until my follow up next week. Have dog ears on my right side and swelling on that side that will not go away. I am very unhappy with my sides and how they look. I had lipo so not really sure why I have a bulge under my shoulder blade. I never noticed that before. maybe it was there but I was always so focused on my stomach. I do not have my before pictures. they were on another computer that has died. Will not come on for some reason. Will try to get ones from surgeons office next week when I go. I should be so excited about my results because I do look so much better than before. Not sure what my deal is??? Maybe being too critical about the bulges everywhere and monster thighs! Never had fat on my legs until six weeks of doing nothing and wow that catches up to you fast!! I guess have to wait and see what final results will be. Gotta give it six months, right. I will discuss my concerns next week with ps so there will be no surprises if a revision is needed later.

Updated on 7 Oct 2011:
Hit and passed 7 week mark. It feels great to be on this side of recovery. I had follow up this week with my ps, he said everything was looking great and cleared me to start doing all regular activities. I do have one spot on front of incision that is open due to stitches. He cleaned it out and said it should be healed in 7 days. I dont know if stitches are made of any latex but I have a sensitivity to latex. I have had several places with spitting stitches. I feel really good right now. I do have swelling in evenings but that is because of increase in activity. My ps assured me that the places I have that I am unhappy with will resolve with more time. I can tell a big difference over the past week. Things seem to be calming down some and results are looking better. Keeping a positive outlook!

Updated on 10 Oct 2011:
I find it so amazing how my doctor and nurses told me it would take 2 months to see results. I can't believe how right they were. It is almost like an overnight difference. Swelling has started to subside. I can see results. Hips are going down, clothes are fitting great. So glad I did this. My issue with stitches is healing nicely. I think in another week or two it will be healed over.