Need postop belly button advice.

I am 34 years old. I have four children, including twins (I have given birth to 5 kids, but we lost one). I am going to have a tt with lipo of flanks, breast lift and augmentation. I'm a stay at home mom because all my kids are young. For years, I have said, after I have my children, I will get my plastic surgery. I just can't believe I'm at that point now. After having so many children (including twins), you can imagine I have that hanging lower belly that I'm really unhappy with. It definitely got worse with each pregnancy. Also, the breasts have become a bit pendulous. I'm a 32D now, but very deflated. Before children, I wore a size 2-6, now I am in an 8 or so. Clothes never fit me right because I'm thin everywhere except for my tummy. I hate clothes shopping now. I currently weigh 125lbs at 5'4". Before I had children, I was 115lbs, but have never been able to maintain staying at 115 since having babies. Post children, my body really wants to stay in the 125 range. I work out all the time and love to run. My goals for this surgery are to have reinflated breasts that are perky without having to wear a great bra. The most important though is to fix my tummy, which I can't stand. I'm so looking forward to seeing a body that reflects all the exercising I do.

I have a question. I have a sunny, warm vacation planned 2 1/2 months after my surgery. Do you think I'll be healed enough for bikini material at that point?

So I'm bummed because I have to be at my surgery super early in the morning, like at 6:30am. Due to scheduling conflicts, that means I'm going to probably have to drive myself there. My husband will come later while I've already gone under probably. I'm super sad about this. The scheduler said she would try to move me a couple of hours later, but slim chance it could happen. Unfortunately, since mine is a longer case, they have to automatically place me first thing in the morning. I know I'll be a such a crybaby once I'm there, as with my C-sections, I always started crying right before I went into the OR. Oh dear.

I'm getting excited as i only have a little over two weeks left. Some days I question myself "do I really need to do this?" I mean it costs so much money, I'm giving into vanity, is my body really that bad. But then I cringe when I take my clothes off and look in the mirror. I'm dreading not being able to do my running. I dreading not being able to clean my house because I'm a neat freak, and my husband could care less about these things. I have a warm weather trip planned for August, and I'm hoping I'll be bikini ready by then. I'm excited because most of my stretch marks on my belly are below my belly button, so I know they'll be gone after the tt! Hooray, although they dont' really bother me. It's the handful of fat/skin on my belly that drives me nuts. I still need to go in decide on implant size and ask a few more last minute preop questions. I've been printing out a bunch of pics of breasts that I'm hoping for. Let's hope he can do it.

So big payment is today. No going back now. I was looking at myself after working out last night, and I think I'm doing the right thing. It will be nice not to have such a flappy tummy! Ohhhh, I hope I'm doing the right thing. Yikes, yikes, yikes!!! I just keep praying!

So hubby gave me a call yesterday afternoon to tell me he went in and paid for it! Here we go. Seems real now. I also just weighed myself this morning and I was down to 123lbs. Other than upping my running speed, I haven't been actively trying to lose weight, so that was a pleasant surprise that I'm down a few pounds.

So I am curious. Do any of you mommy makeover ladies tell people you're having one? I'm resistant to tell anyone. First of all, I tend to be a private person. However, I also don't want to lose credibility. I work out, a lot. I don't want someone to be like, "oh she looks good, but she had plastic surgery that's why..." So far, nobody knows but my husband, but I think my MIL may find out at some point. Any thoughts?

Ok, so I was taking my pics this afternoon for me to eventually upload here. Wow! It wasn't until I saw myself on the camera that I realized how much I needed this surgery. Don't get me wrong, I know I need it, but those pictures look worse than I saw myself with my own eyes. May 25 can't get here soon enough! Those babies ruined my bod big time.

Ok ladies! I went to my preop/sizing appointment today. Super duper excited!!! I got a lot of questions answered, so i thought I would share them. I also have questions for all of you. I asked my doc about silicone strips and Arnica Montana. He thinks they both work well. Should start with the strips about a week or so postop, and I guess I should already be on the Arnica. Does anyone know a reputable place i can buy them online? I stopped by our local wholefoods for the Arnica, but they didn't have any (they had every thing else in the world it seemed). I am getting saline implants 360cc filled to 390 each. He actually weighed them with the fluid, and said they are about 8 oz each, which comes to a pound total. I asked how much in weight he'd be taking off with tummy tuck/lipo, and he said since I am small to begin with, it would only be 1-2 pounds tops. I will have one drainage tube. Once I drain 30cc or less for three days, the drain will come out. He said my scar would be lower than my current C-section which surprised me because I was never bothered by my C-section scar. He said my chance of tearing my ab muscles postop will not be gone until about 8 weeks after the surgery, so to listen to my body. No exercise for six weeks, but encouraged walking. Again, listen to my body. My first week will probably be pretty lazy and that is expected and that's what they want too. I also asked about my sunny vacay in 2 months, and he said I will be bikini ready and looking good. So excited!!! Ok, now can anyone recommend what kind of silicone strips for tt and breast lift and where to get them? Arnica? Thanks everyone!!!

Ok, a couple of more things I thought of are he encouraged me to stand up as straight as possible after surgery which surprised me because I hear everyone here say they are supposed to bend over. Also, he said to wear a soft bra postop whether sports or just non underwire. No underwires though! They also sent me with 4 Rx's. Pain med, muscle relaxer, antinausea, and an antibiotic.

I ordered some Arnica and Bromelein (sp?) online, so hopefully I'll get them within a few days. Wow, the silicone strips are expensive! Any clue where I can get them cheaper? I called my PS's office and talked to his nurse about what I should be wearing post the breast lift and aug. She said that they prefer I wear nothing as far as a bra goes but they know many are uncomfortable doing this. So, really something very soft like a built in shelf bra or soft sports bra. No underwire! I ordered a 36DD sports bra from JCPenney. I figured that is one size up from what I typically would wear (32D/32C), so hopefully that will work. I'm keeping my receipt though.

Tomorrow is almost here. Say a prayer!

Thanks for the well wishes. Yesterday was my big day. We started surgery later than planned by like 45 minutes. Fortunately, my husband made it there to wish me good bye just in time (He had to drop the kids off at school). The staff was great, ps even better. He has THE BEST bedsidemanner. I walked to the OR, everyone introduced themselves. They put in my iv, and gaave me some versed (the no memory med). She asked if I was feeling it yet, and I said 'No". I started wondering to myself if I was going to be one of those patients who can' be put out all the way! The Nurse Anesthetist put a mask over my face and told me to take three big breaths. I remember taking two, and next thing I know a nurse is calling my name and telling me I was in recovery. My boobs hurt so bad! That was the first thing I complained about. They gave me a shot of something, but t hey still hurt. I was rating my pain at a "8" the whole time in recovery even after they gave me percocet. No problems with nausea/vomiting though--hooray! I couldn't seem to stay awake. My PS came in and got me a diet coke to help wake me up, but I still slept the whole way home. So, after I got home, I went right to bed. My bed is very high off the floor, so I had put a foot stool nearby before we left for surgery. Last night was HELL! My boobs hurt so bad! I felt like someone had cracked open the center of my chest, even after a muscle relaxer and two percocets. Getting in/out of bed pretty tricky too. I can't use my arms barely, and of course, not my abs muscles either. Legs are strong though! My husband was a dear and basically lifted me into sitting position everytime for me to get out of bed. He's taken over my meds for me, keeping track on when I'm due for what, and he keeps an eye on my one drain too. What a hero.
We visited the PS this morning for postop appt. He is trhilled with my results and says I look great. I just glanced down after he took off the bandages. My belly seems flat, and he made the scar lower than the C-section scar. My boobs are big, but I haven't had energy or interest to examine anything yet. My husband was pleased though.

Just taking it hour by hour right now. One thing that the PS did was take my bandage off my boobs, and they instantly felt better. I think most of my boob pain was from the bandage being so tight. He said I could have taken it off, but I was so zoned out last night, I never would have thought that was the problem. Now, I'm just siting on the couch, dozing in and out with all the drugs in my system. Hoping things start to move along to my old self soon!

So today is looking up. I managed to put my contact lenses back in and took a shower by myself this morning. Something new is that my bellybutton hurts. It woke me up stinging last night and all this morning. I'm not sure why it just started. It seems to look ok though. I'm off muscle relaxer and percocet, just alternative ES Tylenol and 600mg of ibuprofen, and of course the antibiotics. I took a good look at my profile today. Although my incisions look Frankensteinish, I have a very flat belly and giant boobs. Mission accomplished I guess. I have a lot of bruising on my flank area where the lipo was done. I'm drinking prune juice and milk of mag daily hoping for some movement on that end if you know what I mean. Hoping for some results soon.

Anyway, the house is a mess, two of my kids have diarrhea for some reason, so my poor husband is at his wit's end. I feel pretty helpless to do anything. I'm just happy I managed to get out of my bed by myself finally!

I am 3 dpo and just coughed for the first time; I thought I would die! My abs are still on fire from it. Can I damage them from coughing? I hope I don't feel that again any time soon. Right now I'm ambivalent as to whether I should have done abs and boobs at the same time. I feel doubly out of service since I can't use my core muscles and barely use my arms. However, I think once I did my tt, there is no way I'd go back again and do my boobs. My first night was soooo bad. Much worse than any C-section. Maybe that's because they didn't use morphine as the surgical center? The nurse said they had such problems with people getting nausea/vomiting from morphine that they didn't use it, and I know they used it at the hospitals when i had my C-sections, at least initially when I was in surgery.
My husband is stir crazy, and tired of watching the kids (two have been sick with diarrhea), not fun! My house is a mess. He tells me he doesn't know how I do this all the time, and he can't wait to go back to work! Maybe I'll be appreciated a bit more after this whole endeavour is over. I am so tired though. I only walk around the house a bit and that is all I can handle, then it's back on the couch in my mountain of pillows. He's still real good and monitoring my medicine schedule, and will come wake me up when I'm due for my Tylenol, etc. I still haven't pooped yet. Things are rumbling, but nothing so far despite daily Milk of Mag and prune juice. Patiently waiting. Although I'm wondering if some of my ab bloating is from no number 2! I'm so ready to be done being an invalid and to get back to my life!

So it's day four postop. I took a shower again on my own. I'm taking care of my drainage tube by myself now, and drum roll please, after several attempts, I pooped! Hooray! Pain is not as much an issue today as is exhaustion. Taking a shower is an event in itself which requires at least 45 minutes of sitting around to rest afterward. I have been able to do a couple of minor chores such as wipe down counter tops and wash some bottles in the sink, but I only do tasks where I don't have to bend, reach, or twist. I continue on ES Tylenol alternating with ibuprofen around the clock. I have occasional burning in various places that last a few seconds at a time. It mostly happens on my incision in my right breast and in an area along a muscle in my belly. No more belly button burning today though. My husband is super excited about my boobs. They are definitely larger than I planned, but the PS said they should settle down some. I hope they do because...wow! Biggest enemies right now are laughing and coughing--avoid them at all costs. I have another followup appt with PS tomorrow. I called to ask if they were going to take out my tube tomorrow, and the person told me not likely. Damn! I hate this tube. It is such a PITA. It's also a constant reminder of being somewhat immobile. I want my life back. I did actually fix my hair and put on makeup for the first time also, which is an event requiring more rest time. Can't wait to get back to normalcy! I guess we all need reminders on how valuable health is to us.

So, I am day 6 postop today. Yesterday I saw my PS again. He is happy with results. I told him my boobs are a little bigger than I'd hoped, but my hubby likes them, so.... He told me that everyone says that initially, and they will settle down, and I'll like the size after they settle. He also told me that most women are disappointed they didn't go bigger, so if they're starting out "too big" now, then once they settle, they'll probably be just what I wanted. I also told them I hate my binder and my drain tube. I have to keep tube until I drain less than 30cc/day for three days. I'm not there yet. If he takes it out early, my body won't absorb it, and they'll have to draw it out with a needle. I guess I'll try to be compliant with that then! His nurse cut my binder in half, and adjusted it so it's more comfortable. It still rides up a few times a day, but not as bulky. I asked if I can stop wearing it, and he said that I could, but would probably be more comfortable with it on; however, if I lift anything, I need to have it on. So, I'm sitting hear typing, and I still have it on because I feel more comfy afterall. He said it is ok to lift my 15lb baby at this point, but def wear the binder, and try to avoid it as much as possible. So, I will wait until Monday when hubby goes back to work before I lift him. I have lots of bruising on breasts and flanks where lipo was done, but he says it's all normal. The bruising on my boobs is yellow, which is the next step to disappearing. Last nt was uncomfortable, so finally around 1am, I took a muscle relaxer. I think it was probably because I am sleeping flatter maybe? I also was running a lot of errands yesterday, so maybe I was paying for it. I was stiff this morning, but feeling better now.

So, it's day 8 postop. Doing well. Have more energy, doing some light cleaning around the house, made breakfast and lunch for the kids. I still need breaks to sit and rest though. Last night I accidentally yanked a bit on my drainage tube when I was sliding into the car. That hurt like heck! I started having terrible muscle spasms a little while after, so I broke down and took a muscle relaxer and that helped. I feel like I may even be able to take a walk around the n'hood this afternoon because it's such a nice day! I took some pics this morning, so will go ahead and post those today. I'm a bit swollen of course, but I'm sure the pizza I had for dinner last night did not help that factor a bit! I also have a lot of significant bruising in my flanks from lipo. I have been taking the Arnica and Bromelain frequently, and I honestly don't think it helps the bruising a bit. I will keep taking it because I bought it, but I would not invest in it again. I also put some Mederma on my incisions for the first time, but I think I will buy the silicone strips online here pretty soon instead. Mederma wants you to apply 4x a day. Who has time for that? Anyway, as far as my tummy, my PS did tell me that I will always be a bit rounded because my pelvis tilts forward and there is no way to change that. I'm just fine with that, as my main concern was the muffin top and the "apron" hanging down. So glad that's gone!

Today is day 10 postop. I had my drain removed---HOORAY! It hurt. I really didn't think it would, but it felt like someone bit me just as she started to pull it out. I had also built up some scabbing around the tube, so she had to cut that all away. No fun. The nurse said my incisions looked good. I still have some swelling, as to be expected. I will see the PS again in three weeks. Anyway, today was my first day without hubby. It was my first day lifting my 15lb baby, and I'm pleased to say there is no pain or discomfort at all. I just make sure I keep my binder on all the time. The nurse said my incisions looked good. I still have some swelling, as to be expected. I will see the PS again in three weeks. Otherwise, I did get back on the treadmill today. I'm thrilled to say I made it to 2.5 miles at a leisurely pace. It took almost an hour! Slowly but surely, I'll work myself back up to presurgery where I was doing 4-6 miles four days/week (two of those miles I ran). Feeling remarkably better and just so glad to have that stupid leash a.k.a. tube out of me. We were not friends. I can walk standing straight, but I do have to make a conscious effort to expand my shoulders straight. It seems hardest when I've been sitting for a while, I naturally want to stand up and hunch. Right now I'm wearing my nursing bras from my postpartum days. They seem to fit snuggly but comfortably. When should I start bra shoppiing for real though?

One of my breasts feels weird over the last couple of days. It feels like something needs to pop under the breast. There is no pain. Is that just the implant settling in? It's like a pressure feeling where if whatever it is were to pop, it would feel better. What's up with that?

So, in analyzing my new body, I've noticed some things that I never anticipated going into this whole surgery. For example, moles and freckles that were well known are now in completely different parts of my body now. I had a mole since childhood right next to my nipple. This mole is now on the underside of my breast---so bizarre. A freckle that was once on my upper abdomen, is now right beside my belly button. A mole on my lower abdomen is completely gone now. The majority of my stretch marks were fortunately on my lower abdomen, which means, they are all mostly gone! Another thing is that you do indeed get a vaginal "lift". Things are a little higher and tighter in that department--a little perk that I didn't anticipate. One other thing is you know that area from your bellybutton to your pubic area that grows a little trail of hair. I think some call it a "happy trail". That is gone too. I've realized I'll never have to worry about shaving that area because my upper abdomen that had no hair is now my lower abdomen. Kind of weird to wrap my head around these things sometimes!

So I'm 2 1/2 weeks postop and feeling great over the past couple of days. I'm back walking 4 miles/day. I feel like I could start running again, but I don't ONLY because PS specifically said not to. Bummer because I am dying for a good jog or sprint maybe! My tummy muscles are sore, but that seems to be a chronic symptom and not terribly bothersome, just notice whenever I engage them to lift my baby or something. I still def limit anything I have to lift. The most I've done is sort of pull along my tantruming 2 year old when she did that "go limp" thing they do. I wear my binder all the time. I took it off last night to wash it and had to wait around for it to dry. I made sure it was late at night when all kids were in bed, so I knew all I had to do during that timeframe was sit and rest. I felt quite insecure waiting for that thing to dry. I hope I'm not becoming one of those "binder addicts" I've read about where they can't part with it even when the PS says to get rid of it! Anyway, boobs are still big and perky. I've been using Mederma on them and a silicone strip on the tt scar. I can't wait to go clothes/bra shopping because I'm tired of wearing my old nursing bras all the time. I still have a weird "creaky" feeling in one of my breasts whenever I move my arm/contract my chest muscle in a certian way. I will ask PS about that when I see him next. So glad things are moving along in the right direction. I will have to get some pics posted soon without the tape and tube this time.

Well, I weighed myself finally today, and I'm at 119 completely naked. I'm thinking that is a result from surgery rather than exercise, etc. I was just telling my hubby the other day that one would think I'd lose some wt from removing a roll of skin and sucking out FAT. He reminded me that it's about my shape and not the weight. I tried on some old clothes last night. I got into things I haven't worn in years--no belly roll!!!!!

I'm not real happy with my belly button. It has been slightly protruding since a week or so after surgery. Now, I had a deep inny belly button all my life, even after having babies. I realy liked my belly button preop. I even mentioned this to my PS preop, and I asked him then about needing a marble in my belly button or other things I've heard. He basically scoffed during that conversation saying his belly buttons are great and don't need them. Well, today I went in for my five week postop check, and I mentioned how it is looking more and more like an outie. It varies from flat to slightly out, but never a deep inny like it was preop. He said, "wear a marble in your belly button at night." Really?! Really?! We had this conversation preop, and he totally thought it was all needless worries then, now he was all laissez faire about it. I have been wearing a cotton ball taped to it since a week postop, but that only seems to hold it in while the cotton ball is in place. After I take it out, within ten minutes, it's sticking out again. I'm bummed. Has anyone else had this problem? Did the marble trick work? Any other thoughts? Don't get me wrong. I'm still VERY GLAD I had this surgery. I'll take an outty belly button any day over a fat roll, just hoping I can get this take care of.

Ok, so I went in for my four month postop check. I love my breasts, no concerns whatsoever with them. My abdomen looks great except for the belly button. My tummy is flatter than it has even been, even back when I was 110lbs in high school (I'm 120ish now). Dr. said he will do a quick revision on my belly button in the office with some lidocaine. My bb is still a partial outtie with a weird snail look. I had a great bb before surgery, it was a small deep inny. So anyway, we are supposed to fix the bb in the office, and its supposed to be a quick thing, in and out. He said something about my bb being a "longer stalk" than others. Whatever. Anyway, my complaint is my flanks. I had lipo on my flanks along with my tummy tuck. I still have a muffin top! I pointed this out to the doc at my 4 month postop this week. At first he said, "I think that is just skin." When I showed him I could grab a handful of this "skin", then he said, "well, I think that is just your body...there is nothing we can really do about that." Ok, so what the heck does that mean? I'm a little irritated, because he said I wouldn't have a muffin top anymore, and I certainly do. Don't get me wrong, my abs are beautiful, but once you look behind, I still have this bulge despite having the lipo. I'm very active, run four miles four days a week, plus weights and crunches. Frustrated that after $15k, I am told my muffin top is just my "body type." Whatever that means. I also got a phone call today from his office telling me THEY need to reschedule my revision of my bb due to a "schedule change". The time they offered me did not work (I have four kids, schedules are tight), so now they are booking six weeks out for office revisions. So much for aftercare at this point. To be honest, I was quite impressed with my PS initially, now not so much. I feel like now that he has my money, I'm getting blown off.