47 Years and Discovering the New Me - Waterloo, ON

It's now been almost 5 months since my tt revision and I am thrilled with the results. My recovery from this surgery was much smoother and quicker than the original surgery (mind you I was also recovery from arm lift surgery at the same time).

My stomach area is nice and flat and I am thrilled. I love how my hip bones are noticeable--not used to seeing bones! :) The scar has not faded much but that is because I've not been as attentive as the first time around with the massaging and scar cream.

I had my 3 month follow up appointment in November and the nurse who works with the doctor said there is no need to go back so I'm a free woman!

And...for the first time IN MY LIFE I will be "rocking" a bathing suit on a beach come May when I'm on my honeymoon! Yes...I'm getting married. God has blessed my life with a wonderful man who has been able to look past the physical scars from surgery and the emotional scars that I'm still dealing with following a life of being morbidly obese. Following surgery he was present and active keeping me comfortable and encouraging me through recovery. Today he is just as encouraging and is the main reason why I bought a bathing suit in the first place. I've purchased my wedding gown--a figure-hugging lace gown--and I'm now working to tone up my upper body so that I can do my dress justice!

For those who may be reading this and considering tt surgery I wholeheartedly encourage you to take a serious look at this step. It is an outlay of money, but it is also a huge investment in yourself--your self esteem and body image will thank you. It has given me the courage to look in the mirror and begin to like the person that I see staring back in me. No more do I see the sagging apron of skin around my mid-section. Very thankful for the new lease on life that I am enjoying!

Yesterday I had my first shower since surgery. Last year after the first tt surgery I came way too close to passing out from the shower. This time I took it slower...left the bathroom door open and fan on so heat didn't build up, took the bandages off before getting in the tub, used a shower chair. Didn't have any issues this time. The sight of the scars and extent of the surgery is overwhelming but I had an idea of what to expect.

My drain is ready to come out so I'll do that Monday. I'm extremely swollen -- look like an inflated beachball --but I've hope that will go down. My bb seems higher than before, my incisions has been raised high than previously because the mons area was pulled higher. My upper ab area (under my bra line but above my bb) is quite swollen and hard. Not sure what this will all look like a year from now but am excited to see the change.

Today is the first day of recovery following a "tummy tuck revision" yesterday. Last July I had a full tummy tuck as well as an arm lift. I had a couple areas of concern with my tt: one right below my new belly button (that I called my "baby bump" as it was a small mound of fat and excess skin). The second area was a fair amount of hanging skin under my breasts. Early on in my recovery I mentioned this to my surgeon but he recommended we wait to see how the recovery went.

In June we again discussed both areas of concern and we agreed to remove the baby bump with an initial plan to reopen the original incision by about 4-6 inches so that lipo could be done and the excess skin could be pulled down. We discussed the other area of concern(excess skin under my breasts) but he indicated it would not be a part of the tt revision. While I was disappointed with that mutual decision, I respect my surgeon's recommendations and abilities, knowing he has my best interest at heart.

Yesterday I went for surgery and a resident student who was at the clinic doing a cosmetic surgery rotation had the "privilege" of drawing the pre-surgery lines on me. He marked the areas that he felt needed revision. As the two doctors discussed my situation my heart began to soar. The outcome: another full tummy tuck was done including a full cut, lipo of my flanks (thrilled about that!), a bit of tightening of the ab muscles (following surgery the doctor mentioned he pulled me VERY tight (!), detaching my bb, pulling skin up from my mons area and down from the bra area and cutting a new bb hole.

I arrived home last night in much more pain than last year. I slept much of today and am trying to keep on top of my pain pills. My boyfriend (bless his heart) has taken wonderful care of me and has confirmed his suspicion that I make a terrible patient (okay...so I struggle to accept help).

I am SO excited by the surgery! The night before I was taking pictures and had moments of disappointment and regret as I knew that the surgery I was scheduled to have would not give me the outcome I wanted. The change in plans, however, has given me hope.

My recovery has gone from 1 week to 2 weeks with the new surgery, and I will not be able to return to the gym most likely for another 6 weeks (instead of the planned 3).

I am extremely thankful to Dr. Shenker for his willingness to change the original plan. He made me extremely happy!!!!!