“No more drains, 11 days post-op”

I am a 41 year old mom of 4. I have an 11 year old, 7 year old twins and a 5 1/2 year old. I'm 5'6" and have always (Except when pregnant) weighed between 120 & 140 lbs. I am at 130 now. I'm pretty much content with my weight. I prefer 125 but 130 is ok. I year ago I got down to 120 and everything started to sag, so I don't want to go belwo that. My first child I had vaginal and got no strech marks and loose skin. The twins I also had vaginal and got a little sagging and loose skin but not too bad. My 4th child I had by c-section and now I have a lot of loose skin and an "apron" that hangs over the c-section scar.

I am nervous about having the surgery but I hate the way it looks now. I know that loosing weight will not make it go away so this is the only option. I'm nervous because some of the pictures I've seen end up with really weird looking belly buttons. All the ones my Dr. showed me that he has done look natural so that's a good sign.

I am printing pictures of belly buttons I like to show my doctor on my pre-op appt. on Oct. 31.

I'm trying to read and prepare myself. I've been wanting to do this for several years now but I can't believe I'm doing it in 24 days! I'm excited and nervous!

I'll try to post some before pics in the next few days. :)

Updated on 30 Oct 2011:
My pre-op visit is scheduled for tomorrow. I'm a little nervous. I don't feel like I even know what questions to ask. The hospital called my on Friday and had me mixed up with another patient. Then, they asked for me to go ahead and pay over the phone. I told them I would wait until I got there. Then, the nurse from my doctor's office called me at 4:45 and told me they wanted to make sure I knew that they didn't take checks and I should bring cash. This was the first time this was mentioned. I find it odd because my surgery is not until the 10th. I would think the check would have cleared by then. I had intended to get a cashier's check from my bank but she said they won't take it. I think I'm going to pay with my credit card now even though they charge 3%. It just feels weird to me to go in the doctor's office with a wad of cash. I don't know if I should say anything but it makes me feel weird.

Updated on 3 Nov 2011:
I went in for my pre-op on Mon. Oct. 31 and it made me feel a lot better. first, I met with my doctor who was really nice and supportive and told me that he wasn't nervous at all about my surgery, that it would be an easy one for him. He was very nice and reassuring. then, I went to the hospital to do my per-op and they were really nice, I got to meet and talk to then anesthesiologist and he was very nice and reassuring, also. the nurse that did all my labwork etc. was very nice and said that Dr. Suber was wonderful and he operated there every Thursday and sometimes on Fridays, plus he operated at another hospital too. He's been doing it about 14 years I think so, he should do great. I liked all the pictures they showed me from past surgeries but who would show you ones that weren"t good. :) I'm actually feeling pretty relaxed about it now. It helps that my mom just committed to coming Wed-Sun and I have a babysitter, Mon-Fri the next week that will pick up the kids from school and bring them home, feed them and get them into bed before she leaves. My husband works long hours and so it's hard to count on him being there.

Updated on 5 Nov 2011:
I went yesterday and filled my prescriptions and got my shapers. My docotor said he will pur me in a binder serger the surgery and I will wear that for 2 or 3 weeks then switch over to a body shaper that he recommends brcuase they are cheaper and work as well as the ones made for plastic surgery. He recommended the flexees style 3915 or 3939(which I found was discontinued). I bought one of the 3915 in my regular size and it almost killed me trying to get it on. I'm thinking I may need to go up a size but I' m not sure since he said this was for a few weeks after surgery maybe it'll work in my normal size then. I also bought two pairs of drawstring cotton pants in a larger size. I didn't know what to do about shirts. I think I might just wear some of my husbands t-shirts.

Updated on 18 Nov 2011:
I finally looked at my new tummy last night. I had one drain removed and finally got to take a real shower. Yeah! I will update more of my experience later today. Just wanted to put the pictures on from this computer.

Updated on 19 Nov 2011:
I didn't post much for my first week post op, so I though I'd add a few of my details here. The surgery went well and I didn't seem to have too much pain, just uncomfortable with the binder and the drains. I took Lortabs and muscle relaxers for the first 3 days and then I switched over to Extra strength Tylenol. I do pretty well during the days but nights are hard, because I have a hard time sleeping. I did a post-op visit the day after my surgery and my ps changed the dressing and checked every thing. I went back for another check on Wed. Nov. 16th and he took out one drain and took off the horrible binder that was wrapped around me one and a half times and all bunched up. He put on the Cupid "waist cinching brief" I bought from Wal-mart for $11.94. He said it was better than the flexees that from Kohls and wanted the tag to recommend to his other patients. I'm feeling much better now and hoping that he takes the other drain out at my next appointment on Monday, Nov.21st.

I had a hard time at first with all the drains and the yuck factor of the surgery and I didn't even have the courage to look until after my ps had changed my binder and and finally let me take a real shower. At first, I was a little upset at how long my incision was and not sure how it was going to look, but now I'm feeling better and better about it everyday. I'm glad I did it and I think once it's all healed, I'm going to be very happy with it.

Updated on 22 Nov 2011:
Yesterday I went for a check up with my ps. He said sinceI was so nice and brought him the tag for the binder I bought at Wal-mart, so could recommend it, he wouldntake out my last drain. Lol. It feels so good to be free of all that! Even with loose clothes on, I can tell such a difference in my shape now. Today, I have on jeans!!! (with my "girdle" on underneath of course). It is feeling so good to have normal clothes on again. He also took some sutures out of my belly button. He had told me that all the stiching would be on the inside and dissolvable and only glue on then outside, but there are a few sutures here and there poking out of my incision and I guess some were tucked in my belly button. He said they were all dissolveable and he didn't have to take the ones out of my belly button, but he did anyway to speed up the healing process. So far, I'm very pleased with the results. The only thing I didn't like was that my incision goes almost around to my back on both sides and I didn't expect it to be that long. I think it will be hidden in anything I would wear. Now, I am focusing on taking care of the incision and doing everything I can to help it heal well and minimize the scar. I'll try to take some updated pictured later today.