“Tummy tuck was painful but made a big difference!”

I had my tummy tuck with lipo on the flanks 1/23/09. Almost 3 weeks ago. I am 5 ft 5 inches and 125lbs. I am a stay home mom with 2 children, 3 & 18 months.

I always had a belly since I was a teenager and after having kids I looked like I was 5 months pregnant even though I eat healthy and work out 6 days a week. I was very embarrassed and self conscious about it and would wear baggy clothes all the time to hide it.

The first few days after the surgery were very painful which I expected. However, I caught the cold my children had and was coughing the day after surgery. Every time I would cough it felt like I was being stabbed from the inside and then it would burn. The Doctor recommended Robitussin which worked very well.

I couldn't sleep in my bed because lying down made me cough and it was too difficult to get up to use the bathroom so I slept on a love seat in my room. My husband had to take off a week to take care of me and the children and then my mother came for a few days. After they were gone caring for the children was difficult but manageable. I am only lifting my 13 month old to take him in and out of his crib. I can sit on the floor with him to hold him though.

I tried on a bikini yesterday and saw a big difference even though I am still very swollen and bruised from the lipo. I think it is worth it. My only concerns are that my belly button seems very high up but that may because I am still healing and the big scar that goes across my lower abs. I am going to ask the doctor about using Maderma on it to make it less noticeable.

Before

2 weeks after surgery, the lines are from the binder not the surgery