Mommy Makeover: Stories

35, 5'2, 115lbs, 3 nursed/c-sectioned babies later.... I've known I would have this done for 11 years, when I was done having children. 32/34D and 100 lbs before kids. Blew up to EE/FF during pregnancy and now a VERY empty 32/34B, stretch marks, wrinkly skin, with a pooch I can't get rid of. Had several consults, finally settled on Dr. Rigano. He spent 2 hours with me the first visit and another hour with me and my husband, all free of charge. He was the only one to take SO many measurements and flooded me with information. He has a great personality and was very honest and up front when it came to scar location and all the things we don't want to hear. I have decided to go w/350cc silicone sub-muscular and full TT. I am so nervous!!! I love this site, but at the same time, all this information and stories!!!! All the what ifs.. Pseudo ptosis, herniated umbilical, diastasis.

Ok, so the waiting is killing me.....so to make myself feel better, I'll post some more. A little background....the first PS told me he'd do 360cc saline above the muscle, which, I was afraid of because of the last of tissue from all the weight loss and my 3 little gobble monsters during nursing. He also told me there was nothing I could do about my stomach, which made me break down and cry in his office. So then I posted that info and pics as a question to the doctors on this site. All but one disagreed with the fist PS. So I went for another consult, he's the one I chose. 350ishcc on one side and about 400 on the other to even them out. (Always had one a little bigger than the other like most women) he said it was up to me on the saline or silicone. I was all about saline forever, because of the old fear factor and the ability for play during surgery. But then I played with the implants and absolutely LOVED the silicone. He also said said full tummy tuck with flank lipo.
Went to a third consult and he pretty munched backed everything dr. Rigano said, but I liked Dr. Rigano better. Now, with that said, the first PS said no because of the lack of loose skin above the belly button. He wouldn't be able to get it low enough. Dr. Rigano swears I would be fine, has anyone had a TT scar creep up on them because of tension? Anyone have a similar situation and love the results?

So....I am 4 days post op. finally got in the shower and finally saw everything. I don't know if it's too early to be pissed, but I am!! My scar is straight across my stomach from hip to hip. There is no way I will be able to hide this scar. I will try to post pics later today. Has this happened to anyone else, will the scar lower as the swelling goes down? Also, one of my boobs is way bigger than the other one! I can't believe I have paid all this money!!! Please tell me there's hope!!

As promised...here are pictures.....grrrr, I get angry everytime I look at it. :-(

Everything is swollen....my thighs, vagina, butt, everything. Today is my first post op appt, so it's the first time I can coherently find out exactly what was done and ask questions. I don't even know what size breast implants he put in. I don't think I'll be able to hide this scar at all. I'll keep you all posted on what the doc says....

Day 6 post op-very depressed, don't know if the emotion change is normal. It seems like it's been forever and I think it's because I have a 2 year that doesn't me just sitting in a recliner, lol. On Friday I had my drain pulled, after that my stomach exploded to the point that my new belly button started bleeding because it was under such strain from the bloating that happened. I calle my ps, he said I needed to poop. :-) I have been a poop machine all day today and still feel extremely swollen. Is this normal? Does anyone thing I popped a suture? When is the turning point with a TT, when you can actually feel normal?

Day 7 post op- today I feel a little better. Actually got into a shallow hot tub to do a little booty soaking :-) swelling still pretty major. I read about swell hell, still wasn't expecting this! But we'll take it day by day. Have a second post op appt on Tuesday, we will see what dr says.tonight I'm going to get back in shallow tub and have husband wash my stinky hair! Will take new pictures and post them. Boobs still look funny because they haven't fallen into place yet.

Day 8 post op-today was a pretty good day. First day working remote, so I had something to take my mind off of it. Still sick of being in recliner, can't wait to get in my own bed with my husband. He has been such a trooper. He has slept on the couch next to me since I came home from surgery. Tomorrow I have a follow up apt, hopefully PS will be able to tell me if what I have going on above my belly button is normal or, I herniated something, or popped a suture. Fingers crossed for the "just normal, quit being a baby" lol. I will say, and I have to find again, someone on real self posted one of the greatest things I've read so far....they said week 1 you hate your PS and think he/she should be banned...weeks 2-4 you think they might have known a little about what they were doing.. And weeks 6-8 you realize your PS is a pure genius!!!! I can't wait for weeks 6-8. I also, must apologize for some of the previous posts.....lmao I don't really remember even taking the post op photos, let alone actually being able to put together coherent sentences.
My stomach is extremely sore above my belly button, and there is some sort of hard knot there, but like I said I hope to find out what that is tomorrow.
A bonus to all the stomach issues is I have hardly even noticed that I had my BA. They are a little high still, left one has dropped more than right, but from what I've read that is pretty normal. Hardly any pain there, just waiting for everything to settle to it's final resting spot.

Well, went back under the knife on Thursday night, PS removed about a 250cc hematoma. He opened everything back up, checked sutures, all sutures are good non popped. Placed two drains back in, instead of one. Have to leave binder on for 48 hours, go in for follow up to discuss drains on Tuesday 12/11/12. I hope this is near the end of the bad stuff. Did anyone else have to go back under?