POSTED UNDER Tummy Tuck Reviews
Fat Girl's Journey to the Flat Side (Part 1) - Regina, SK
UPDATED FROM carolynburton
6 months post
6 months post op - first six months healing - next six months refining
carolynburtonDecember 20, 2013
WORTH IT$11,000
Operation getting rid of the garment is in full swing - I don't need it for work or just being around the house or out and about (like on weekends), for walking workouts, for weight workouts, and just last night, I was able to finally ditch it for teaching my fitness classes - now I just have to ditch it for running (cause I still swell sooooo bad when I run - evidence in picture three - the side evening shot), but since I have the next two weeks off for Christmas holidays - ditching it during running is my goal!!!
The scale is showing a bit of a gain - not as high as pre surgery weight, but still higher than I would like, so I am also taking my two weeks off to reset my eating habits - just got a bit too lax with the increase in activity - need to get back in control again.
The feeling is starting to come back across my abdomen - that same feeling when you have a cavity filled and they freeze your mouth - just across my whole abdomen - very weird, but kinda cool!
Scar therapy sucks - no other way to put it - it's working beautifully, as the scar is really whitening up, but holy crap is it inconvenient to put that stuff on every morning!!!
Now that I am mostly healed, my plan for the next six months is to drop my body fat a bit more, gain some muscle, complete a half marathon, and actually be able to do ab work - still can't really do ab work cause I can't feel what I am doing - very odd sensation...will update periodically.
The scale is showing a bit of a gain - not as high as pre surgery weight, but still higher than I would like, so I am also taking my two weeks off to reset my eating habits - just got a bit too lax with the increase in activity - need to get back in control again.
The feeling is starting to come back across my abdomen - that same feeling when you have a cavity filled and they freeze your mouth - just across my whole abdomen - very weird, but kinda cool!
Scar therapy sucks - no other way to put it - it's working beautifully, as the scar is really whitening up, but holy crap is it inconvenient to put that stuff on every morning!!!
Now that I am mostly healed, my plan for the next six months is to drop my body fat a bit more, gain some muscle, complete a half marathon, and actually be able to do ab work - still can't really do ab work cause I can't feel what I am doing - very odd sensation...will update periodically.
UPDATED FROM carolynburton
5 months post
Five months/22 weeks today!
carolynburtonNovember 21, 2013
It's still amazing how long it is taking me to get back into some things, but lots of stuff is finally returning to normal - I can get in the car the right way (one leg at a time, rather than having to sit bum first then swing both legs around) and I can get in and out of bed or up and down off the couch without thinking about my core...I am getting back to being able to hop up and do things.
In terms of results, through taking my measurements, I have lost another half inch off my waist - in a year, that's 22 pounds, 6 inches off the waist and 4 off the hips...so that's not too shabby!
I am ramping up the running - it took awhile to be able to do it post op, but once I could do it, it came back very quickly. I have also been doing a core rebuilding program that my phsyio designed, but am amazed that I still can't do crunches (the lack of feeling in my abs means I have no cues), but I try to do one or two every workout, and am slowly able to feel more and more. I am about to add weights back in to my workout as well, especially upper body.
I am very slowly breaking up with my compression garment. I can be out of it when I am around the house, and out and about (like on the weekend), but until this week, I was still wearing it to work everyday because of the swelling, and I am still wearing it for running and teaching, but on easy workout days where I only do a walk and my core, I don't wear it, and it's been okay - still swell, but not to a point where it's uncomfortable. My plan is to be out of it completely for work by the end of Nov, then tackle not wearing it for teaching in Dec, and then while I am off on Christmas holidays and able to be home and rest for two weeks, I am going to tackle having it off while running....will update next month on how that goes!
I had a consult to have my arms done, so prepping for that will be my next adventure!!!
In terms of results, through taking my measurements, I have lost another half inch off my waist - in a year, that's 22 pounds, 6 inches off the waist and 4 off the hips...so that's not too shabby!
I am ramping up the running - it took awhile to be able to do it post op, but once I could do it, it came back very quickly. I have also been doing a core rebuilding program that my phsyio designed, but am amazed that I still can't do crunches (the lack of feeling in my abs means I have no cues), but I try to do one or two every workout, and am slowly able to feel more and more. I am about to add weights back in to my workout as well, especially upper body.
I am very slowly breaking up with my compression garment. I can be out of it when I am around the house, and out and about (like on the weekend), but until this week, I was still wearing it to work everyday because of the swelling, and I am still wearing it for running and teaching, but on easy workout days where I only do a walk and my core, I don't wear it, and it's been okay - still swell, but not to a point where it's uncomfortable. My plan is to be out of it completely for work by the end of Nov, then tackle not wearing it for teaching in Dec, and then while I am off on Christmas holidays and able to be home and rest for two weeks, I am going to tackle having it off while running....will update next month on how that goes!
I had a consult to have my arms done, so prepping for that will be my next adventure!!!
Replies (2)
November 21, 2013
You look wonderful. .. Thank you for all your support. ..I really appreciate it. Great hearing about the exercise. ..and running. .I was wondering about the crunches. .I still have that complete numb feeling in front. ..I was prepared for that. . And our has happened. .I see my ps on thursday next week and will ask him about seroma and whether the spot that I'm concerned about will reabsorb into my body or what? Its on the left side of my bb. Did you have sore sides? I do and I still get tired really easy some days and feel like I have been run over by a truck...lol
November 21, 2013
My sides aren't sore, but by the end of the day, they are tender to the touch because due to the muscle repair, they are now in a new position (or I guess you could say they were out of position before and are now back where they belong, since everything got pulled in) and so they are getting used to the new dynamic. I used to have that run over by a truck feeling, but then my physio explained to me the purpose of recovery days, and since I have been taking true recovery days (where I do nothing), that feeling has gone away...it's really hard mentally to wrap your brain around the need to rest, but it's so essential to healing. I still have hard spots around my bb, but as I am able to do more, I am starting to think that that too is a result of muscles being moved back into place - our abs were not where they belong (and they were covered by all that excess skin) but then when you put them back in the middle and take away some of the skin and fat (lipo), and the swelling starts to go down, then all of a sudden, it appears that these hard lumps have appeared where they weren't before...but in fact, they are actually supposed to be there.....if you look at a pic of someone with a defined six pack of abs, they are six lumps.....if the lump you are worried about is hard, I would think localized tissue swelling, or actual muscle tissue and will not resorb, but if it's a fluid type lump, then likely it will resorb into the body.....I am finding it takes a whole lotta time though!!!!
November 21, 2013
Yes just when I get thinking I am doing wonderful I feel exhausted. Lol I am sure this will pass. Just tired today. ... lol my dog is going to have puppies soon now and not getting much sleep. Lol. I posted some new photos and itooo see a difference.
UPDATED FROM carolynburton
4 months post
Way more back to normal now...but still swollen.....
carolynburtonOctober 23, 2013
Completely back to all my activities, but I am still swollen about 2 inches more at the end of the day than at the start, so I am still (STILL!!!!) in my compression garment during the day, but am slowly weaning myself off of it in the evenings and on weekends (except for exercise, cause that still makes me swell like crazy!).
Scar therapy is okay - it's annoying to have to put it on every morning, but my scar is very flat, and there are parts of it that are very white, but there are still parts of it that are very red, so I will keep up with the scar therapy for awhile yet!
I had to replace pretty much my whole wardrobe of bottoms, cause none of my pants fit, and I actually now wear a size 12....which down from a size 30/32 at my highest weight is pretty spectacular to me!!! Some fits and cuts are still better at 14, and I had to buy the odd size 16, but being able to shop in regular stores is SUCH a great feeling!!!
I have started back doing some core work, but as I still can't feel most of my abdomen, I can't do crunches yet (no cues), but I love looking at the flatness in the mirror when I do squats or lunges.
Next week I have a consultation appointment for my arms, cause now that I have had the tummy done, these arms have to go!!!
Scar therapy is okay - it's annoying to have to put it on every morning, but my scar is very flat, and there are parts of it that are very white, but there are still parts of it that are very red, so I will keep up with the scar therapy for awhile yet!
I had to replace pretty much my whole wardrobe of bottoms, cause none of my pants fit, and I actually now wear a size 12....which down from a size 30/32 at my highest weight is pretty spectacular to me!!! Some fits and cuts are still better at 14, and I had to buy the odd size 16, but being able to shop in regular stores is SUCH a great feeling!!!
I have started back doing some core work, but as I still can't feel most of my abdomen, I can't do crunches yet (no cues), but I love looking at the flatness in the mirror when I do squats or lunges.
Next week I have a consultation appointment for my arms, cause now that I have had the tummy done, these arms have to go!!!
Replies (3)
October 23, 2013
I am in KY as well and my TT is scheduled for 12/19/13 with Dr. Wells. Who was your PS? He did a great job and you look amazing!
October 23, 2013
Thank you! Unfortunately, I am not in KY...for some reason real self wouldn't recognize SK (Saskatchewan, Canada) as a place, and substituted KY...so I am not much help in terms of my surgeon!
October 25, 2013
You look great! No feeling still at 4 months wow! I was wondering about that! Is your tummy soft now tho? Congrats on going down in size!
October 25, 2013
It is getting softer...it the morning it is very tight and hard, and then as the day goes on it gets softer, but I still have a hard spot around my belly button, and even though it's soft to the touch of my fingers, from the belly perspective, I can't feel my fingers touching it in some places. I am still swollen everyday though, so I think that is contributing to the lack of sensation. My physical therapist has me on a program to wake the muscles back up, and that is definitely working, but we are going from the inside (transverse abs) out (rectus abs) so I still can't do crunches, but I can do other stuff where I do feel it.
Replies (3)