“So Nervous and Second Guessing Myself - Erie, PA”

Hi, all. I'm a 31yo mom to identical twins and have decided that this twin-skin has got to go. I've taken up running to help keep my weight in check and have managed to stay under my pre-pregnancy weight for three years. But the skin, the dog-ears over my hips, the diastis recti? None of that is getting better. I am not afraid of surgery. I had a c-section with my daughters. I was back to about 90% 3w post. I know pain, I know I can tolerate pain... what I don't know is how I'm going to take care of my kids. My husband said he can take time off work, but I have doubts. I'm easily 15 pounds over-weight (and had one surgeon tell me I was border line obese, nice) and I'm worried that I won't really look better- though I'm sure people won't say to me, "Wow, twins and another on the way?" No, no stranger... not pregnant. Just flabby. I don't know if my expectations are realistic, I don't even know what realistic expectations are for me. Could use some encouragement and been there, done that.. I'll add some before pics momentarily.

Updated on 14 Feb 2011:
added some "before" pics

Updated on 14 Feb 2011:
Ack, forgot to put in surgery date! Scheduled for March 10th :) First surgery of the day!

Updated on 25 Feb 2011:
Woo! Thirteen days until we say "Farewell, Fupa!!" hahaha... feeling pretty excited about the potential for a sexy, flat tummy. This site has been amazing and so supportive and informational, I love it. I'm pretty much over the nerves for now; I'm sure the day of or the night before I'll have a break down and freak out, but for today it's all good things :) Thank you to everyone for being so helpful!

Updated on 5 Mar 2011:
holy crap... five more days. I met with my PS last week and discovered that my insurance might cover a breast reduction as well. We've been waiting to hear back, but I'm not holding my breath. I'm happy just to get rid of this rockin' flab. I have been wondering though, where do your drains go when you are dressed? And by "dressed" of course I mean, wearing your jammies for two weeks. Do you tuck them into your pant legs? Also, how long is the binder? I see some people had one that was like my binder from my c-section, but that wasn't long enough for me at all. It sat above my hips (where the TT incision will be) and didn't go up to my boobs. I'm having a LOT of muscle repair done, I want to be sure the binder is going to be long enough to support my whole abdomen. Also, I'm pretty freaking excited. Not just for surgery, but for the rad maxi dress I bought to wear after :)

Updated on 7 Mar 2011:
Since I've got three days to go, I'm going to throw my stats out there:
5'5
166 lbs (those stool softeners this week have been ::thumbs up::)

Measurements: (remember, I had twins and got to 49.5 inches in circumference)
bust: 35in
waist at belly button where I'm the widest: 44.5in
hips:40in

I wear a size 12 jean and XL tops. I'm a 38DD bra.

Updated on 15 Mar 2011:
Well, I'm 5 days post op!! The first four days were bad. I did not do well after the anesthesia- stopped breathing a number of times and had to be put on O2, was in recovery for about four hours. Luckily I was staying over night. Unluckily, they decided to try every pain killer known to man on me. Not a fan. I'll do a surgery/recovery post later though, my head is really foggy and it's hard to think straight. I had a breast reduction at the same time as the TT, and really, if you're going to do this as well, do it at the same time. I haven't had any boob pain. I haven't seen my body yet, but I can tell you something about the drains. They F-ing suck. Mine leak all the time, whenever I try to stand. I want to stand and move around, but the fluid just spills out and it's disgusting. I'm hoping one of the two is removed tomorrow. My tubes from the reduction were removed on Saturday.
Dr G repaired a 3inch gap in my abdominal wall, and removed 9lbs of tissue-2lbs from my boobs and 7lbs of excess skin. I'm not able to stand up straight yet.

Updated on 23 Mar 2011:
13 days post op and I just had my stitches taken out of my belly button and my new little bewbs :) It didn't hurt, but I did feel the strings being pulled out. I'm feeling really good now. I'd say by about day 10 I was feeling normal. My abs don't hurt at all, nor do my boobs. My sides are a little tender and I do get swollen by the end of the day but all in all, I'm feeling great. I haven't needed any pain meds for over a week now and even before that I was just taking Tylenol. I wear my binder for side support and to help with swelling, and I'd suggest keeping yours on as long as you can, too.
I've added my one week post op picture :)

Updated on 6 Apr 2011:
Four weeks post op tomorrow :) I can't believe how awesome my stomach looks. I have freaking ABS now!! My PS said it was good I had been working out bc it made pulling the muscles in easier woot! My stitches have begun to dissolve and I'm having a little pain in my abs now- I'm using my muscles now instead of depending on the stitches for support. I haven't taken pain meds in weeks, but I take some Tylenol at bed time. I sleep in my binder and wear it off and on through out the day and it's really helping. I have virtually no swelling any more. At the end of the day, I am a bit swollen below my incision but it's no biggie. My boobs are tender and the seam is broken (but I've heard from IRL friends who've had the reduction that it's totally normal) and my PS has retaped them, to help with the healing but all in all, I feel great. I cannot believe this is my body. Honestly. My H has a hard time keeping his hands off me :O haha

Updated on 6 Apr 2011:
Also, added another post op picture

Updated on 12 Apr 2011:
Four weeks post op and I'm getting peeved. My seams under my breasts are open and hurting and weeping (all normal I'm told) and now I have an open weeping sore at my TT incision! This shit freaking hurts. I had less pain the first week, damn it. I can't get into to my PS either until Friday this week- I have to take my daughters to the ENT tomorrow and the office closes before we'll be back from the ENT and he has surgery on Thursdays. I'm half tempted to just go to my PCP and get some antibiotics or SOMETHING. This is making me really angry. I'd take pictures, but they are really gross. Anyone else dealing with this kind of crap?

Updated on 25 May 2011:
Hello hello again! So, I'm about 10 weeks post op and I'm pretty happy with the results thus far. I have some pooching out on my left side though and I hope that my PS is able to fix it-- it looks like a love handle-- I don't have it at all on the other side. I'm also down to 153lbs, and a size 10. I was fitted for bras three weeks ago and I'm a 36D after my reduction! I was really afraid they were going to be so much smaller- I was measured "unofficially" a 38B, which was waaay too little. Everything looks great now; I just hope to have the triangle of tissue on my side revised.

Updated on 25 May 2011:


Updated on 8 Jun 2011:


Updated on 29 Nov 2011:
adding pics of 8m post op :)

Updated on 5 Feb 2012:
Well, I'm almost 11m post op so I'll give a quick update. I continued to run through December of 2011 and my weight it holding around 154. My diet has been pretty bad lately so I'm putting on a little bit, but in the coming months I'll run it back off :)
My new measurements are
bust 39in at nipples (which are now up where they ought to be!)
waist at BB-- 36in
hips are 41in

I still have a hunk of "left overs" on my left side, but without further surgery I won't be able to get rid of them; it looks like left over muffin top. I'm disappointed in that, but the rest of me looks pretty damn good. I'm happy I had the surgery- I cut about 2:30 off my mile which was a big accomplishment for me!