FInally Done - or So I Thought - Ontario, CA

Since my late teenage and early twenties years- I have had a tummy - even though all in all I was fairly slim. I had one miscarriage, and one full pregnancy term pregnancy. I gained weight and struggled for a couple while to lose it, but in general - I kept fairly slim. While I do not excercis regularly, I do eat helathily. I wore body teddies, which held me with my tummy shape under clothes. Last year - I was transitioning between jobs.. and for that reason I decided to go for liposuction. I did my general research and chose my surgeon - who explained that liposuction will not be enough in my case, and a tummy tuck is neeeded - but no muscle repair required as I don't have muscle separation or damage.
I was very concerned about the scar and its length - but it seemed that the results will outweigh the ugliness of the scar. The area around the belly button - remains red all around but I know the scar has closed . the central section in the scar remains swollena and a bit hard closer to the stitch line.

In addition - the cost of this surgery was much, much higher than what I had initially thought. I did more research and decided to go for it.
This weekend is 3 months since my surgery.
The surgeon and staff were wonderful. I was fairly swollen for the first few weeks. THe scar was awful looking and too long but I was hoping to finally have a flat front. There seemed to have been some complication with the scar concentrated in the C section.
In my visits - the surgeon was not too concerned, explained that area will take longer to heal and that eventually all be ok. For the first two days I took the medication for pain..but since there was no muscle repair -the pain I went through did not seem as high as I read from some of you. I was under the impression that in a couple of days I would be able to move around.. so I actually started to lead my normal life, but not with a straight back.
I was not wearing a binder or compression garment ( my OS did not feel the need for it ) - and had no drains either - due to the type of stitching used.
The scar looked ugly and a bit zigzag.. but also asymmetricaly - I was not balanced on the sides - just above the hipbone.. The first few weeks, and visits to the OS - my focus was on the scar healing. It was taking much longer than I read from some of you...nevertheless it was slowly progressing. At the two months mark - I was still fairly swollen..and frustrated beause in clothes - I still looked like I have a protruding tummy - but without the teddy. Again - was advised to be patient - and that the welling will go away.
I started using the silicone strips at the 7 week mark - just before I left on a trip. Amost three weeks now - but I honestly do not feel they make a difference.
When I last visited my OS - he said scar in the center will take a bit longer to disappear and to keep on with the silicone strips. He also said swelling might take a few more weeks to subside..and that the removal of the excess skin was as aggressive as possible. He explained that the operation is not about losing weight ( which I understand) and that he removed the excess skin, but that if there is fat in the abdomen - its removal is not part of the surgery..
First week after the surgery, I actually weighed more than I did before..but stabilized.
My weight has been the same throughout - not up or down. A little less than 2 lbs - was removed.
I still look the same around the tummy area with my clothes on, which is frustrating...except now I do not wear a teddy...and I gained an unsightly, long scar.
Some of the stitches started to pop-out - and I had the doctor remove a few of them.
This week - there are a few more pushing against the skin. And I am still with a tummy basically..I have seen so many before and after photos on several different sites including this one. Some patients started out a lot worse shape than me - whether in weight or shape or complication -but seem to have ended with a much flatter tummy almost immediately.