“my journey to a new me!”

Hi Everybody! I am 40 years old with one 21 year old daughter. Ever since being pregnant ive had a saggy belly with a ton of stretch marks, it hangs over in 2 big rolls and limits the clothes i can wear. i am so self consoius of it. Ive never worn a bikini in my life and it affects my confidence and self esteem. anyway i am scheduled for a tummy tuck with kipo on upper and lower abdomen and love handles. I am very nervous and i wonder if i am still a bit overweight. im 5'4" and weigh about 160 pounds.. im trying to lose another ten pounds before surgery in a month's time. my husband says i need to lose the weight before i go for surgery otherwise i wont get as good a result and better to lose it naturally than have more lipo. what do you guys think? also Im really nervous the main thing is the drains and whether i'll have some horrible complication and end up regretting it but im sure thats perfectly normal! I cant believe im actually going to get it done after 20 years of worrying about it!!

Updated on 23 Mar 2012:
Hi Everybody
I am now 8 days post op.
I feel really happy and full of energy today im soo excited about the results and i know they will get better as time goes on and the swelling goes down.

I think i underestimated how full on the process would be- being wheeled into the operating theatre and seeing about 10 people waiting there for me was pretty scary! I was under for 8 hours which seems like a long time compared to US procedures. they kept me in intensive care overnight as part of their procedures because of the length of time. wheni woke up i was in agony i was given morphine for pain. my throat was sore and i got horrible cramps which were just like contractions. sometimes when i moved there was this sudden sharp pain which Kimmers talked about i think thats from the muscle tightening.

I had a couple of low points the worst was when i got my period on the seconf day and stodd there in tears until hubby came to help me change knickers etc. i said to him in 40 years this is the first time anybody has seen me change a pad! LOL he was great.

Id really recommend you have support person to help you with all the little things and just for moral support cos its pretty scary the first few days. i was shocked at how tired i was. of course its natural but i guess i didnt anticpate it enough really.

still im only day 8 now and feeeling great. i got my drains out yesterday they didnt hurt was so glad to get rid of them one leaked over the bed in the hotel one night (luckily there wasnt much in there!!) and we had to scrub the mattress thank god dodnt leave a stain LOL

I still havent had a shower just the old sponge down :) but am not too fussed as a bit scared of getting the wound wet...

i love looking down and seeing a flat tum after all these years and not having that big old belly sitting on my legs when i sit down. i honestly feel like its going to be the start of a new chapter in my life as i work toward achieving my health and fitness goals.
Im so grateful to this website and Kimmers for all the stories, help and advice. thanks so much for sharing its been soo helpful and I will post more soon!