“14 weeks tt, lipo flanks.back & MR”

I am a 33 y.o. happily married mom to two wonderful children ages 7 and 4. I am 5'5 152 lbs. I was 150lbs when I met my husband however my body looked completely different!!! I have always been pretty curvy, thick or whatever you wish to call it. Even when I exercised obsessively, I never really lost much weight. I have been contemplating and researching surgery for three years and finally made the decision to move forward with it just this past year.



My surgery is scheduled for Jan.13, 2012!!! I can't wait to get this show on the road!!!

Updated on 23 Dec 2011:
Wow preop was today! Surgery is still about three weeks out, but I am soooo excited. I can't stop thinking about it.

Updated on 30 Dec 2011:
OMG---two weeks left. I started my VitaMedica supplements today and posted some dreadful pre-op pics :( I am more excited than nervous. Although I am a little nervous about the recovery, I have to admit that I am looking forward to a couple of weeks of pampering ;)

Updated on 2 Jan 2012:
ll days left until my big day. I am going to do the majority of my shopping today. I am going through a major nesting phase right now....so weird. I am not big on cleaning but I just can't stop myself. I really wish that I could have a glass of wine :(

Updated on 9 Jan 2012:
WOW, ok I can't believe Friday is my day!!! The time has flown since I booked my date in SEPTEMBER 2011. I have not worn a bikini in years. I bought one last week just for my PS to make my marks. I am kind of bummed out that I am not having my complete mommy makeover due to time constraints under anesthesia...who knows when I will be able to have the boobage taken care of....oh well....3.5 more days.... :)

Updated on 14 Jan 2012:
1 day PO- Well lets see My doctor greeted me and we chit chatted a little before the procedure. He asked me where I wanted my scars placed which was great bc I didn't really think I was going to be the one to decide that! He drew a little smiley face on my upper belly and showed me where it should be after surgery. I then met the anesthesiologist who also had a great bedside manner. Next, I remember laying on the table, taking three deep breaths and waking up to my husband and PS 4.5 hours later (start time 1030am). Of course I was groggy and I was seeing double due to the tape I guess. I fell asleep shortly after talking to my husband.I then woke up again around 1100 or so and stayed up most of the night talking to my wonderful nurse. I felt bad for her bc I never shutup! She and I had many good (but painful) laughs. I actually rated my pain as a 2 after surgery. However, now it is closer to 5 or 6. As, most people have stated, the TT incision does not really hurt. Its the MR and Lipo that kills! My back is also in a lot of pain. I took a look at my belly last night before they put the binder....OMG amazing! My belly button looked like it was pretty cute too but I need to have a look again after it heals a little. I still have stretch marks of course but that was to be expected. Guess WHat he was able to pull my stretchy skin so much that the aforementioned smiley face was gone!
They only thing that is confusing to me is that I am not sleeping much. I haven't slept at all since leaving the surgery center this morning. Everyone else seems to sleep all day.....oh well whatevs lol! Oh yea BTW I rated the tuck as undecided bc im only one day PO!!!!

Updated on 15 Jan 2012:
I am having some serious itching all over! What gives? This is not cool....

Updated on 16 Jan 2012:
So my parents drove 12 hours to Florida to help with my recovery since they are both retired. My father has been dishing out my meds all day and all night. Last night however he started to complain of shortness of breath. He started to display very concerning symptoms which were characteristic of Myocardial Infarction. Needless to say, I have been a nervous wreck ever since. My hubby took him to the nearest er and they are keeping him overnight for observation. They also found some type of nodule on the right lung. I am praying that this entire process is benign. My husband works as a paramedic full-time and also helps me out whenever he is home. I of course have had MAJOR swelling which is just gross and somewht scary. I also developed some major blisters on my right hip. MY PS called to check up on me. He did not seem too concerned about it. I go back tomorrow for my 1st follow up.

my pain level is at a 3-4. EXCEPT fpr when I get up or sit down, then its more like a 5.

Updated on 17 Jan 2012:
post op day 4- So today I had my first post op visit with the doc and his nurse. It was a little painful too because of all of the repositioning and so forth. They changed my dressings and checked my drains. My cycle started yesterday and I had my first BM this morning thanks to some glycerin suppositories :( I am averaging about 35ml in each drain still. I was cleared to take a shower but I am not ready for that yet. I have been bathing with baby wipes. I was able to take a look at the incision and my BB again. I am SUPER swollen but all looks great. My thighs are so swollen that I am afraid that I will get new stretch marks. The doc seemed very pleased with my progress so thats always good news. My next appointment is this coming Friday.

My dad is still in the hospital undergoing multiple tests. They found a small nodule on his R. lung and the pulmonologist told me via phone that he should just keep and eye on it and get it checked again in 6 months. I guess I annoyed him by asking why they just couldn't do a biopsy on it bc he snapped at me and said "Do you want to remove his entire lung for such a small lesion that may be scar tissue?" I politely told him that I know that such an invasive procedure is not necessary. They could easily do a bronchoscopy procedure and remove the lesion based on the location. I work in surgical pathology as a PA and I deal with specimens and autopsies everyday. I hate when people treat you as if you are an idiot....but whatever, I have to wait for his CT report and the results from his stress test so that we can see how to proceed.

My body is so tired from all of the walking today. I feel like a water balloon that is about to pop :-O BTW I can barely eat a full meal anymore. I am now dealing with reflux....grrrr

Updated on 18 Jan 2012:
PO DAY5-I have got the blues today.....was starting to get around easier on my own but had a major set back after a cough attack. Still no answers with my dad. he is still in the hospital. I attached tw0 pictures including the blisters and the swelling.

Updated on 19 Jan 2012:
6days po- so today was a turning point in my recovery. I took my first shower and i was also able to get around a tad bit easier. However, i am still hunched over with crazy back pains. I have a doc appt. Tomorrow but i dont think that my drains will be out anytime soon. I only have ten more days off from work so Im hoping for a quicker recovery moving forward. I plan on taking post op pics once per week for as long as possible just as a reminder of the progress. On a side note, my dad was released from the hospital and he is doing well. My appetite is still large but my stomach must be smaller bc i have lot of reflux issues now. Oh well....until next time ;)

Updated on 19 Jan 2012:
6days po- so today was a turning point in my recovery. I took my first shower and i was also able to get around a tad bit easier. However, i am still hunched over with crazy back pains. I have a doc appt. Tomorrow but i dont think that my drains will be out anytime soon. I only have ten more days off from work so Im hoping for a quicker recovery moving forward. I plan on taking post op pics once per week for as long as possible just as a reminder of the progress. On a side note, my dad was released from the hospital and he is doing well. My appetite is still large but my stomach must be smaller bc i have lot of reflux issues now. Oh well....until next time ;)

Updated on 22 Jan 2012:
9 days po- wow so much has happened the paSt few days. My pain level started to soar and the blues started to kick in. My dad had to be rushed back to the hospital on my po day seven. He was at cvs with my husband at the time when he had severe chest pains again. he had to have a stent placed in one of his coronary arteries. On a good note, at least we know what the problem was. He should be released tomorrow. I guess we will both hang out and watch TV the rest of the week.

Yesterday I thought to myself wow maybe this tt was a bad idea. There seemed as if there was no progress at all. Then miraculously I woke up today feeling like a new woman. I would say my pain level was at level 2 or3. I went to the store and stayed out for about an hour. Meanwhile, I was on my feet most of the day which was .

One final question. I have noticed that my thighs are mega huge. Is it normal to have so much fluid in your thighs after a tt?

Updated on 25 Jan 2012:
12 dayspo- ummm can we just start by saying Swell hell... My goodness I swear I don't know if this is normal....smh I'm in so much pain from the swelling alone. The tummy tuck itself isn't bothersome. The incision looks great. I become tired after walking about five to ten minutes then rely heavily on my Walker. I am eight pound more than preop. I am still taking oxycontin every five hours even though I attempted ibuprofen. I attempted to sleep in my bed last night with lots of pillows but that didn't workout. My nest on the recliner would be fabulous if not for thigh and lower back swelling. I have had three postop visits andi have another tomorrow. Doc was concerned thati may have seroma on lower back. Will check again tomorrow with possibility of drain removal. I am also supposed to start synergie therapy tomorrow but don't know if I will be able to stand it BC back and thighs hurt to the touch...... OKi thinki have complained enough. I will update later with pics.

Updated on 26 Jan 2012:
13 days po- well today both drains were removed and the left one hurt super bad when it came out. I didn't feel the right one when it came out. They came out at the same time. I didn't have to take many narcotics the past 24 hours so thats major...... So I was thinking today was a great day until still ofa sudden I started leaking fluid from my incision all over my bathroom...... Had to call my ps. Have to go back tomorrow. Will update later.

Updated on 27 Jan 2012:
2 weeks post op- today i went back to the doctor for the drainage issue. I was informed that i have seroma formation in two areas. he was able to successfully drain one site. the other site was problematic and very little came out. we repositioned the binder and now i have a bulge in my pubic region :(

i will have to go back every couple of days to have the fluid aspirated. which hurts btw. i know it will be worth it in the end but for now ....it sucks!

Updated on 12 Feb 2012:
1month po!- OMG, what a difference a week makes. The ladies on this site had it right when they said it would get better. I should have been updating more regularly but oh well, I was busy and plus my tablet and phone do not like this site for some reason. Its actually rather annoying that I have to use my laptop to update :( My scar is healing nicely. I am doing a rather aggressive scar treatment with two different creams as well as palmers vit.E oil. I am massaging and grabbing and twisting and popping my scar and it is much softer now. I stopped my pain meds after about three weeks. I am about 85% back to normal. I am still a little sore and uncomfortable at night but otherwise just waiting to be cleared to exercise. I was 155 lbs the day of surgery. I went up to 164.5 after surgery due to swelling and now I am at 151.0. The clothes are fitting much better already even though I still have swelling in my lower lady lumps. I had three treatments for lymphatic treatment over three weeks and I liked it, I think it works. I will update with pics probably tomorrow. RIP Whitney Houston CRACK is WACK sorry....

Updated on 27 Feb 2012:
Sooo I am loving my results so far. I have been feeling pretty darn good. I am able to sleep on my side, stomach and back. I am walking on the treadmill however it hurts my back to jog:( I guess thats from the lipo or something. I have never been comfortable in a two piece so I doubt if I will ever wear one in public but I did have fun trying them on at VS. I snapped a photo with my phone for my 6 week update.

Updated on 4 Mar 2012:
So I am now at 7 weeks post op and I have increased my activity level. With that being said, I am noticing an increase in swelling by the end of the day. It actually looks like a have a freaking gut by the end of the day.....not cool. I have not really been wearing any type of spanx on a regular basis because they are quite annoying. I wear them when I work out and thats it. I imagine that in one year this swelling issue will be a thing of the past. I can't wait until then :)

Updated on 26 Mar 2012:
I am still happy with my decision 10 weeks later, however I must admit that I am not happy with the lingering pain, soreness, and burning associated with my lipo. I guess I assumed that the pain would be gone by now. I have seen some of the January tt's that have done 10K's and I am left wondering why the heck can I barely jog without back pain? Perhaps I am just a wuss who can't handle a little pain. Whatever the case may be, I really do want to hit the gym hard but my body does not seem to be ready :( I have my 3month po visit this week. I will post pictures soon. OH BTW my swelling some days is still really bad and then some days my stomach is so flat its unbelievable. I know that it will be this way permanently in a years time!!!!

Updated on 17 Apr 2012:
its been a while since I have updated. things are progressing as expected. I do have bilateral dog ears which I will probably have repaired. I also still experience lower back pain from lipo. other than that, things are great. i am still using the prosil stick and biocorneum scar cream along with bio-oil.