“UPDATE....tt 1 year out, body lift 6 months out”

Here goes.....Three children and three c-sections later I have decided to get rid of the skin and excess fat. I have a TT and lipo of flanks scheduled for 3/16/11. I am nervous, anxious, scared, elated, happy ect... all rolled into one. You all know what I am chatting about.

I have no guilt over spending the money because momma deserves it, but I am fearful of the major consequences that some with going "under." I have been under once before for a couple of hours but I believe that was local and general. I made it through ok. That is the point, I was ok.

I work out everyday for an hour, weights and cardio, I haven't smoked in over two yrs, I am with in my body fat range already. This will be ok. Positive self talk girls, that is where it is at.

I started researching it 9 months ago, went to a couple of consults and didn't go throught it. Now, I am. I am ready to see a flat stomach and not waves of wrinkles from the streched skin. I am ready to NOT see a little roll over my pants/underware/bikini because the skin doesn't lay flat at my BB. I am ready....Lets Do this Girls. I will keep you updated, not sure about the pics yet.

Updated on 10 Mar 2011:
One day till pre-op. Friday at 10:30am and all of my questions thus far will be answered. My biggest question is when it comes to the lipo'g what exactly is he lipo'g. I am pretty sure we are on the same page but my idea of what I thought flank's were I think is wrong. But anyway, I will know tomorrow. I want the fatty bump like are above or almost on top of my hip gone, but that really isn't the flank. So we will see tomorrow.
Working on the nerves, like I said before positive self talk. In a week I will be coming home from my first post-op appointment. I can't wait to look awesome, not sure I ever really looked awesome but after 10 grand I better look awesome....hehe
Oh, bye the way, I keep think because of 3 past c-sections that I have a little understaning of what will be happeing. The catheter for urination, the burning of the muscle, the nausea, the scar, the numbness of the incision for months and months. The inability to get up and down without help. I hope that this better prepares me, but IDK....My worst fear is the recovery because I have to go back to work the next Wed. Now, I sit all day, but that isn't going to help with the swelling. Anyway, 6 days left.....I am trying to upload pics that I swore I wouldn't do, but here gos hope they load.

Updated on 10 Mar 2011:
P.S. The pics look worse than it really is. It is hard to take the pics by yourself, with your phone. lol

Updated on 14 Mar 2011:
Ok so pre-op was Friday. He gave me my scripts to fill already and bring with me on Wed, which is two days away. I am ready, ready, ready. I think they answered all my questions but I am sure I will have more by Wed but will not have enough time to ask them. Surgery is at 1pm, I have to be there by noon. He said roughly 4 hours and 1 hour for recovery. So excited.......And the flank question I have been wondering about, well I asked him if that area would be gone and he assured me that he was lipo'g that area. How much of course will be gone we won't know until after surgery. I just don't want to look deformed. hehe

Updated on 14 Mar 2011:
Oh by the way...I am most worried about the swelling. I hold water like a camel during the month...uh oh. But I just need to look at it like Charlie does "winning". hehe

Updated on 15 Mar 2011:
Well it is nearly 24 hours before my surgery and I am refusing to think about the negatives of sedation and surgery. I am thinking of the positives and how good I will feel about myself. Scripts already filled, chk....clothes ready and comfy socks, chk.....flat tummy in 27 hours priceless......

Updated on 15 Mar 2011:
Ok ladies my positive self talk is starting to wear off. Starting to get slightly nervous. My CRNA, is also a certified hypnotist. So I get a CD of him trying to relax me thru hypnotic stuff. But, I can't get comfortable enough to finish the CD. lol...It will be fine and I will be coasting into the abyss of flathood tomorrow.

Updated on 17 Mar 2011:
Well I am back and in the flatlands. I went in at 1pm and came out at 3pm. It was sipossed to be 4 hours but only 2, rock on....It took another 3 hours to wake me. The nurse was about to give me a reversal agent, they gave me meds for 4 hours and I was only in for two. So needless to say I didn't sleep last night. MINIMAL oain in the first 24 hours, at least yet. Went back this morn and doc took out catheter and looked at me. It really looks good. No real bruising yet from the lipo and it is flat. I can stand straight, could when I left last night. I am so hopeful for this recovery to be easy. It is allin the perspective. I will post pics soon after I get them.

Updated on 18 Mar 2011:
Day 2....He wants me to lesson the narcotics and really on advil or something else for the pain. Really can probably handle that. My belly button looks horrible. I mean horrible. The rest is what I expected. Slightly sick to my stomach, still....I didn't sleep again last night, that sucks. So I dosed already thismorning, but partly becasie of the nasuea.I had so much gas last night that I had to unzip the top part of the garment on both sides so I could breathe. I swear you could of popped me with a needle and I would of floated around the room. It is better this morn. Feels like I am pulling my skin offwhen I stand but it just needs to strech a little. No bm yet, but took my veggie laxative

Updated on 19 Mar 2011:
Ok so today not as good. I have been sick most of the day. I had to sneeze and cough, neither on a good idea. Pain is still minimal, it is the damn sickness that is killing me. Finally had several bms, which really was fine, no pain. i need to take this garment off ans look but I am scared to. I still haven't slept, this garment sucks. Little burning and stinging with the tubes but all in all they aren't bad. Promise to take pics soon..I am so worried about my bb, it looks purple and gross.

Updated on 20 Mar 2011:
So another day has come. Feeling much better, no sickness today. I am worried that my hips are still big and bulging out like before the surgery with fat. THey look no different than before the surgery. I am bummed about this. I am sure some swelling exsits but they really look no different than before. The tubes are draining less the 25cc's a day in each tube, so a total of 50 cc's a day. I hope it is less then 30 by wed to have these suckers out. I guess I will talk to him about the hips and flanks on Wed. I don't want to look disporportioned. Damn....


Updated on 21 Mar 2011:
Hello my peeps.....Day 5 and the garment is off and being washed and I feel wonderful with it off. Tomorrow is day 6 and I go back to PS for stiches to be removed and I hope to remove the drains. They are annoying. I am up and moving, no narcotics still and very little advil or aleve. I just want the swell to go away. Actually, anymore, IDK what is swell and what is my actual body. I am uploading more pics.



Updated on 24 Mar 2011:
Sorry I have been lazy on here and haven't posted but my 17mon. old ended up in the hospital with RSV and on oxygen, but we are home now. So Tuesday the tubes came out. Oh my I yelled " Son of a B----" so loud the front desk heard me. OUCH, is all I can say. It felt like my skin was ripping open and was on fire and bleeding all at once. It wasn't of course. I was able to stand up straight, no kore burning ect....I feel much better. Still hate the way my hips look, the bump is still there. I hope it lessons as the minimal swelling I have does.

Updated on 26 Mar 2011:
I feel so much better this morn. I got up and went to the gym. I did 30 mins on the eliptical, 15 on the treadmill and 10 mins with my legs. Wow....getting back to normal feels great.

Updated on 28 Mar 2011:
Ok So I am back to work today. I feel great being back to normal. Between my own surgery and my 17 month old in the hospital last week it has been nonstop. I am so glad that this surgery and recovery thus far has been pretty easy for me. I am 12 days out and feeling pretty good at this time. Being back to normal will do wonders for your psyche. I am still unhappy that my flanks look the same as they did before surgery but I guess at only 12 days out it is hard to tell, huh.

Updated on 28 Mar 2011:
Oh, by the way, I am two pounds lighter than when they weighed me 12 days ago at the PS office. 2lbs is good considering I am still swollen. I was shocked as hell that the scale was lighter. I am back to my strict clean diet I was on before I had surgery.

Updated on 29 Mar 2011:
Day 13, second day at work. I sit behind a desk all day and listen to peoples problems so I didn't think the swelling would be that bad. Let me tell you all the swelling at the end of the day was pretty bad yesterday.
Oh, on a side note, I bought pinapple juice to reduce swelling. I am not really sure about the process in the liver but it helps create bromelain or something like that. I think it is working.


Updated on 30 Mar 2011:
Ok 14 days post op, feeling ok. My hips are sore, I have swelling still. I really wish it was over and I could take this dang garment off and everything would look like the finally product. The swelling is worse very low. Now I know I have swelling all through my stomach because looking sideways in the mirror I can see I am flat all the way down my tummy but yet my tummy protrudes outward, if that makes sense to you all. I can't see the swelling in my flanks but I am sure it is there. I hope it is there because right now I am not happy with my hips and flanks. All in al doing well for 14 days post op, back to work and back to normal. I am back to the gym and things are seem to be going well.

Updated on 31 Mar 2011:
Day 15.....still about the same. I decided to buy a garment from the local Wally World because the lovely black side zip up one from PS is a slightly loose and it pinches me at the hips. I love this garment from the WW. It is made by cupid, it is the length of the one from PS, so it goes from under the breast to mid thigh. It is tighter, smoother, slimmer than the one from PS. Now, he told me not to stop wearing his till next Tuesday when I see him but man I am lovin this one.No bulk to it like the one from PS. Also, my swelling was less this morn than the previous morns. So I believe he other one is to loose and this one is a dream. The downfall is.....It isn't crotchless so I have to take it down everytime to go to the bathroom and it is tough to pull up. It is tight, not cut off your blood supply tight, but tight. I still don't like the way my love handles still look. They are flowing over my bikin and underwear just like before. How do you really know it is swelling when it doesn't look swollen? How do you really tell? ANYONE

Updated on 1 Apr 2011:
16 days post op...the swelling is in my tummy, its bad I guess, but I am used too it. I suppose one day I will be flat completley flat without the sweling. One bonus is which was kinda unexpected, my lower back issues are gone. I haven't had a twinge of pain or discomfort since the TT. That is worth the money.

Updated on 3 Apr 2011:
So what is this, day 18, and the flanks and hips are still as big as they were 19 days ago. I see PS on Friday, but he will give me the same answer ebryone else does, give it time. Well I am inpatient. Well back to the gym pretty regularly. The bike, eliptical, and treadmill for the most part. I do some leg work but not presses, they involve too much ab use. But I feel good still...

Updated on 4 Apr 2011:
Day 18......Feel much about the same in regards to my flanks and hip rolls. I keep thinking they are goind to get better, but day to day they don't. I am starting to wish I would of not spent the money on this because I am not satisfied with the results. Yes, I know you all are thinking it is swelling but I think the swelling in the hips/flanks is long gone. I see know visible sign of swell except in my tummy. Enough of my daily venting.....
My belly button is healing and the scab is trying to fall off. I can't wait to see it. I always like my old bb before the hernia so I hope this brand spanking new one is nice. The numbness in the lower belly is so odd. I guess I forgot what it was like to have numbness like after the c-sections. I can feel that it is itching but bc it's numb I can't feel me scratching it..lol, so it still itches. Really very funny, but odd sensation.

Updated on 11 Apr 2011:
Wow I haven't been on here in awhile. So Friday was my three week post op. It was later because actually, Wed. 4/13/11 will be four weeks. I can't flipping believe that, but 4 weeks. So I hate the swell. I can't really figure out if it is swell or if it is the finally result. Who the hells know anymore, it all looks the same. After 4 weeks most days there isn't a significant change for me to day, hell yeah, this looks geat. Sorry, just slightly frustrated. As you can see, I am not a patient person. So back to post-op. He said I could take the binder off and only wear some sort of garment while at the gym or any working out. I have one I bought from Wally World I love. So Sunday morn about 3am I got deathly ill. I think it was te chinese food, but could of been a short lived flue. So the puking isn't fun after just having MR and TT 3 1/2 weeks before but I made it thru. I am queezy today but much better. So I had to take the binder off because I couldn't get it up or down quick enough while I was sick and I don't have it on today. It's ok without it. I brought it to work for the gym. I noticed this morn that the swell was much better, but I haven't eating and only drank 7 up for 24 hours. As the days has progressed the swell is back....SWELL does it ever end. The PS says I am over analyzing, maybe, but I want to be happy with the results espicially because I have already paid him, so he undoubtly is happy.


Updated on 12 Apr 2011:
So I just posted 4 week post op. From the side you can see some swelling, and of course it is worse in the evenings. I can say I haven't been completly flat yet.

Updated on 25 Apr 2011:
This is week 6......I am still unhappy, but maybe it is all swelling. I have my 6 week post-op this Friday. He will like normal, tell me it takes 6 months. Maybe, but I am telling you by now I should have a good idea of what the "end result" will be. I STILL HAVE A MUFFIN TOP. I still have extra fat around the mid-section. I was swollen beyond recognition this last week/end. Much better today. You know its swell when your waist measurement is 2 inches larger than the day before. haha...I wish I wasn't so impatient or expected perfection. I will post new pics soon

Updated on 2 May 2011:
Here goes my update......This is the start of week 7 for me. The swelling is really managable at this time. I don't wear a garment except for the gym and working out. I am on my second week of the Insanity workouts. THis will be my second time through these workouts. Let me tell you, it is just as hard the second time around. I guess after taking a break from Insanity and working out mainly in the gym my body wasn't used to the Insanity. I am sweating so much through these workouts and with the garment on it is twice the sweat. I decided I don't really want to re-do the lipo if it isn't what I want so I can sweat it off, maybe. My 6 week app. was Friday. PS thinks things look good and I am not going to mention the flanks that I don't like until 6 months out like everyone says. I bought a string bikini for the first time EVER in my life. WOW...It really looked good so why am I complaining about the procedure. I am not a supermodel and never will be. STRING bikini...WOW. But I took it back, it was to big. And I bought it at the GAP. I never wear the skinny clothes at the GAP, because they are made for rich skinny people, lol, unless you catch a sale. So I will try to update my pics this week on a good no swell day. PS said the lower swell will last for awhile. The only concern I have is on the left end of the incision, the skin above it is lose and looks like it will fall over the incision after the swell is gone. He said he can fix that later...hmmmmm, not sure I wanna do this again.

Updated on 3 May 2011:
New pics are 7 weeks


Updated on 16 May 2011:
10 weeks and the swelling is much better. I refuse to weigh myself so I have no idea what I weigh at this point. I go back in a couple of weeks for 12 weeks post-op and pics. There are things I still don't like but I will never be perfect. I am still at the gym lifting and doing cardio. I have to admit I have been off my eating clean diet for a while, simply because I have been slightly upset with the way I look from sx. Oh well, it has to be better than before, right?


Updated on 7 Jun 2011:
Ok ladies tomorrow is my 13 week chk up and pics at PS's office. i still have some swelling. Actually, the past several nights I have been wearing my garment again. I started to feel the burn again that is how I know it is swelling. Why the hell is that, huh.....3 months out and the swell is worse than at two months, or at least for a couple of days. I am not overjoyed with my results but it is much better than it ever was. I am aware that I am being picky and judgemental of myself, so here goes, what'cha all think.


Updated on 8 Jun 2011:
So today was 3 month po. He will do a scar revision after 6 months. There is some flappy skin left that he will correct in the office. I also want some lipo to my lower back above flanks. After he took the flank fat out now there is some flappy, fat skin like roll on my lower back...yuk, i hate it. The lipo on the flanks and hips aren't the results I wanted but really much better. I saw the before compared to today, 3 months, All I can say is be prepared for total gross out, vomit like response to your befores......NASTY skin I had. I can't believe I had my but in a two piece last yr. Really I thought I looked ok and I am still wearing the same size and the same clothes so my size hasn't changed just the tightness, I guess. Totally grossed out by the befores.
Updated on 23 Jul 2011:

So I am almost 5 months out. My 6 month app with PS is the first week of SEpt. I have posted new pics today. I see kow change since the last set I posted at roughly 3-4 months. The pic with my bikini, you can still see a little of the muffin top I still have. I HATE THIS. I don't very good in this bikini or any. I hope that this revision to my lipo, which I will insist upon, will be under local. What do you all think.

Updated on 24 Aug 2011:
So here I go an a rant. I went to see a new ps to get an idea about having the rest of my body lifted. I should of just done the body lift from the get go. Anyway, he makes his assessment and goes a little like this:
1.) I still have distasis in my upper abs
2.) my new bb is not attached properly to the muscle or stock, something, I didn't really understand that.
3.) My abs have too many fat deposits, and I had lipo.
4.) Apparently there is a rule about bikini line cuts. He says that all ps know that it is supposed to be a bikini cut and mine isn't. It is like a sideways smile. Real low on one end and real high on the other. Not symetrical at all.
5.) Lipo will take care of the hip rolls and I don;t need a body lift. Know, I get is a matter of oppinion, but if more lipo will get rid of it then I don't want a body lift.

At this point I am angry. More lipo, more distasis, bb not tacked down properly, and scar all messed up and ugly. And there must be some "rule" about bikini lines. I am unaware if it is a unwritten rule or like code. The new doctor swears he can fix all the lipo issues for 6700.00. So, I meet with my regular PS Friday and see what he says. I am so angry. What to do....Really, DISTASIS in my upper abs and I can feel it now that the other PS should me what to feel for.

Updated on 25 Aug 2011:
Let me update a little here....Talked with my PS client coordinator, what a fancy title. She listend to me, I didn't rant or rave, I was very calm. I explained what had happened and I wanted an idea of the cost of a body lift blah, blah, blah. Then he proceded to tell me everything that the first PS has done wrong. She then explained to me, that this new PS was only a Facial cosmetic surgeon and not body. I asked why he was able to do body work and she said because you can go to trainings and learn but he doesn't specifically have training on the body like board cert. ps's do. I felt like a numnuts, but his website has all the bells and whistles and it is hard to figure out and he looked good, per his website. President of this board and that board, quoted in that magazine and this morning news program. The list went on and on. I guess I didn't know the difference in cosmetic board and plastic surgery board. Lesson learned. So I told her all that and she understood what I was saying. I still believe he may have some valid points, I just have to wait for my PS tomorrow to confirm or deny the claims. I also explained to the fancy title girl, that this in now just down to money. I have a certain amount I can afford, which I think is reasonable, and if he can't meet Indy's price or come close I will drive the extra hours to get there. They won't give me a break, finacially, and I don't expect it. I will go where it is the cheapest with a Board cert. ps. I will let you all know next week what happens. I do have some of my fears squashed after talking to the ps office, but still can't quite fathom that the 2nd ps would just make it all up and lie. UNETHICAL as hell, if her did.

Updated on 1 Sep 2011:
I am updating after seeing the PS in Indy yesterday. So the Indy Board cert, PS confirms what the other had said. Indy PS said " I would of chased you down the road begging you to let me fix that, if you were my patient. " He is refering to the scars. Just like the last ps that said the scars looked bad and the bb scar wasn't don properly. Then we discuss the lipo issues, he also agreed with me and the ps before him. So I have two doctors saying that the tt isn't right. I call my ps to talk with the client cooridinator and she has NO empathy at all. She says to me " you have never complained about your stomach before." I then go on to explain that when I did mention I had a complaint months ago you told me to wait till 6 months, now it is 6 months and you tell me I shouldn't complain because I haevn't before. NO NO.....She says, " I don't know what to tell you." She then says we can do more lipo. What I wanted to say was, "yeah at my expense." She told me that they do very little lipo to the abs, just enough to pull the skin away from the muscle. I went on to say, " if that was true NO ONE said that to me and my quote says "removal of excess skin and fat." It doesn't say a little here and a little there. She was defending him like she always does. So know, let him fix it and so new work so I am not sad everyday or pay extra for a new PS. Oh, yeah, new PS in Indy says once he removes the excess fat on the upper abs, that I have complained about, then I will have some saggy skin under the breast and above the bb. There isn't enough skin to pull down to complete a new TT. YEah, that is hard to hear.

Updated on 12 Sep 2011:
Ok so I went back to my original PS. He didn't deny the issues the other ps's brought up. I guess I am going to complete a body lift with him. He is going to do a scar revision and lipo to abs for free. I added lipo to the lower back and inner thighs.I hate the inner thigh rub, but he dis say there is a lot of extra skin. Maybe a thigh lift years do the road, not this time. I might as well do it if I see it as an issue instead of looking back and saying I should of done it. I was happy I didn't have to argue my point with him. All I really said to him was " I still have a muffin top." He said I know, I was just reviewing your before and afters. He was completely approachable, and usually he isn't. I feel ok with the choice to stay with him and have him do the revisions and added work. I just have to fork out more money, that sucks. Hopefully this will be completed next Wed. 21st.

Updated on 21 Sep 2011:
Ok, so I did it last Friday. I had a body lift done. My ps fixed the tt scar and continued with the bidy lift. I also had lipo to the inner thighs and the bra line. I am pretty swollen at this point but not in to much pain. The two drains came out on Monday and I am back to work today. This wasn't as rough as the tt, but there wasn't any MR with the body lift. It is to hard to tell what it looks like with all te swelling but I think it will look awesome. I am done with plastic surgery, I have had enough.

Updated on 26 Sep 2011:
I went back to work 5 days post op from the body lift. It is now 10 days post op and I am feeling good. It is funny how 2lbs of skin off your hips and behind can change your shape dramatically. I should of done this along with the tt in March. I had a rough day last week with the swelling but just one day. I am wearing the lovely garment for the swelling, but I also had a little more lipo done. The scar revision is very nice, so low and it is covered by my bikini bottoms that now aren't going to fit after the swell is gone, but I am ok with that. It really is a remarkable changes. The tubes were only in for three days and I was so numb back there I felt nothing as they came out. I screamed when they came out with the tt. The incision is trying to spit a sticj or two, slightly uncomfortable if that area is rubbed. All in all, this has been a pretty good recovery. I had the surgery, then friend died the next day,so I have been real busy and have been able to do it. Yes, I was pushed more than I should of been but you are there for friends when things go wrong. I go back for my two week post op friday. The lipo spots have really been the most painful, but I am numb. I am glad I did this, I love the way I look, finally. I will post pics soon, I haven't quite figured out my new phone.

Updated on 27 Sep 2011:
Here are the new pics from the body lift.

Updated on 3 Oct 2011:
I am 17 days out of my body lift. The swelling isn't horrible but it is there. It is geting less and less everyday. My ps on Friday said I should expect swelling for at least 6 months just like the tt. He took a couple of sutures out and one bled pretty bad but a bandage and antibiotic cream it is healing. It looks good, I have no real complaints at this time. I guess I will wait untill the swelling goes down where I can make a good assessment of it. All in all, I am glad I did it. I still at times take a pain med, it is a little different than the tt. It is hard to lay and sleep on my sides or back because the swelling and bruising from the lipo is killing me.

Updated on 11 Oct 2011:
It will be four weeks this friday the 14th since the body lift was complete. I will try to post more pics of this journey soon. The swelling is still pretty bad and so is the bruising. Even at 4 weeks out the bruising from the lipo is still very visable. The swelling is worse around the bruising. I have a spot in the very back that has to be tended to with antibiotic cream, but it seems to be getting better. I go back next week at 5 weeks to see the ps. All in all, I am much happier than I was. I should of just done the whole procedure from the begining.