BEWARE, LONG POST, I have a lot to say. So, I've been here on RS for a long time and I'm so grateful for all of the reviews I've read through the years. I am hoping to encourage someone else through my journey. I am scheduled for my tummy tuck with muscle repair on June 22, 2023! That is just 16 days from today!! I am beyond excited and maybe/probably/definitely a little nervous too. I have had a few surgeries (LapBand in 2007, revision to gastric sleeve in 2015) and lost a bit of weight in the last 19 years or so. I am the proud mom of a 22 year old and 19 year old twins. I am 50 years old, 5'1" and weigh about 187 today. I saw my surgeon for the first time in April. He is kind and I felt comfortable during our consultation. He asked what I wanted to talk about I told him that want this awful flap that I have gone! Maybe I shouldn't have said this but I also told him that, as much as I hate this part of me, I'm looking for an 80% improvement and might even settle for 60%! Desperate much? Ugh! On the plus side, I have seen his work, he did a mommy makeover on my best friend and she looks amazing so I know I'm in good hands. He asked if I am losing weight, at my goal weight or comfortable where I am. I have decided at this time in my life I am comfortable. Would I like/love to be thinner? Maybe. But I really think that the main reason I would want to lose weight is to get this apron off of my body. And y'all, let me tell you, she's not budging through weight loss! Been trying that since my twins were born! Back to the consultation.... I was honestly afraid he was going to tell me I'm not a candidate because of my weight. He didn't! He did recommend abdominoplasty with muscle repair and lipo 360. He told me that I would need Lipo on the flanks to help with smoothness but he recommends Lipo 360 to get the best shape for me. The tummy tuck alone is $8000. And the Lipo 360 is another $7000. Then the hospital portion will be another $5000. I left the office in tears. I truly had a whole "I am the most selfish person in the world, I have a husband, 3 kids in college, and too many responsibilities monetary and otherwise to spend this kind of money on my BODY. JUST FOR ME! No one else in my family will benefit from this, I could buy a CAR! My daughter needs a car. What am I doing!?!? Talked to DH and he is only worried about recovery, not the money, we will finance it from here to forever. My surgeon didn't even recommend any other procedures (whew! I feel like he could've recommended a lot! Eeek). I called the office back a little over a week later and scheduled the procedure. Next task, all of the doctors clearance and supplies I'll need. I've seen my cardiologist, had a stress test and an echocardiogram. Went to my primary care doc for all of the blood work yesterday. Now, we wait for labs to come back and if they look good, doc says she will sign off. Last Cardiologist appointment is on Monday and as long a he signs off, we are good to go! EEEEK! Then on June 14th I see the surgeon for pre-op! I can't believe it's almost here and really happening! As for supplies, I have only gotten a few things. * a small pillow for holding when I cough or sneeze and it will also work to hold a cold pack and as a seatbelt pad * leg massagers (the kind they put on you in the hospital for circulation) * sports bras that are front closure * compression socks * a robe that has inside pockets to hold my drains * a few night gowns that button up the front so my drains can go out * wet wipes so I can clean up for the days until I can shower Still wondering about a walker, a recliner and wedge pillows. I think I may wait on that stuff until I decide I actually need it. I will post my before pictures soon and I want to weigh an do measurements the night before surgery so I can see what changes.Updated on 8 Jun 2023: I think this is the most nerve wracking time since scheduling! I am kind of a control freak so I am trying really hard to get everything in order before my surgery date! Having things in order will help me actually rest. When things around me are in disarray, my brain feels it and even if I don’t pick up or arrange, I will stress over it. That said, I really want/need to have my closets clean, pantry clean, house, in general, clean, groceries bought and put away, meals prepped or planned, fridge cleaned out, plants watered, fish and bird fed and everything I will need within arms reach. That’s just at home! I also run a business, alone. I do have a helper that will be there with me for a few weeks when I go back to work so that makes it a little better but my store is retail and service. I still have to place orders so everything can be put away and ready for my return, have clients orders ready to be picked up until the day I close for 2 weeks and have everything clean and tidy for my return to alleviate any “mess stress”. Not knowing how I will feel at the 2 week mark when surgeon says I can go back to work and what my stamina, I’m on my feet all day, will look like makes me nervous. I have 9 more business days to get everything ready and my clients prepared. Clearly, I am a person that overthinks everything! When I leave for vacation, my house and business have to be spotless. I am realizing as I type that I am probably a lot more anxious that I thought before. I am so grateful for this site! I have read so many reviews and updates, I truly feel like I am prepared mentally. The fear of the unknown is REAL though! What is my body going to look like, will I like my new shape, how much is it going to hurt, will I recover quick, will I develop complications, I could go on and on. I am hoping to read this back in a month or 2 and tell myself “look how much worrying you did for nothing”. If you are a praying person and you’re reading this, say a little prayer for me, please. P. S. Sorry for the rambling.Updated on 12 Jun 2023: So, today was my final doctor appointment for cardiac clearance. Doc says that I am good to go. I bought a recliner today too. I am so excited, this is really happening... I will post my before pictures tonight after I take them. Updated on 20 Jun 2023: Y’all, I have to work tomorrow then surgery is the next morning!! I am so excited! It really hasn’t been a secret to my clients and to my loved ones. So everyone is asking about nerves and excitement. I am all of it!! Talking about it makes it feel like it’s taking so long to get here. I started taking arnica on Saturday and bromelain today. Hopefully they will help with some of the bruising and pain. I have pineapple in the fridge and owing to the grocery store tomorrow for last minute groceries. Looking for low sodium foods. Not looking forward to swell hell. Eeeek! I am so excited. I am aware the pain will be intense and that I am probably going to have a moment (or 200) where I question what I’ve actually done to myself but I am ready! I am so ready! Just 1 load of laundry to wash, 2 more dinners to cook 2 more sleeps, then my new me will begin. Can I say that my biggest worry is that my PS will be too conservative? I really am a little concerned. He told me at pre op that he won’t go crazy with the lipo so that my body will be proportionate. I do want to be proportionate. I also want to be flat! But not necessarily “Snatched”. I jut need Thursday to be here an over with so I can have the fear of the unknown resolved. I finally included pictures, ugh… can’t believe I am going to post them. I hate the way I look in them but it’s real. That’s me. 3 babies, 50 pound weight loss (that I’ve kept off) and a lot of bad decisions through the years. Come on Thursday! I don’t much like wishing my life away but I need to fast forward just a little, haha. If anyone is reading this, keep me in your prayers, God is so good, I will be fine and happy when we are through. Updated on 25 Jun 2023: Wow! I can't believe it's done! The night before: we almost had a fire in our drier at home! And, there was a huge storm! A lot of places were without lights. Ummm, including my surgical hospital! Ugh! So the special prayer blanket my friend made for me for surgery had to air dry. I had to take a shower with liquid antibacterial soap and put nothing on my skin. Day of surgery: again, I was to shower the same way and nothing on my skin. I didn't have to be at the hospital until 9. My procedure was scheduled for 11. When the doctor came in to mark me up, I was so grateful that it was happening. That this extra skin was going to be gone for good! Surgery only took 3.5-4 hours. Then they took me to my room. I was soooo tired. I slept most of the night with only a few wake-ups for blood pressure. I didn't move from the spot I was in for almost 15 hours. I had a catheter, which I have decided now was the best thing ever. First day post surgery: I was able to eat breakfast but I wasn't super hungry. The pain was still manageable. They were giving me a muscle relaxer and a pain pill with iv antibiotics. Getting up to go pee was SO HARD! I am 5 feet tall, hospital beds just weren't made for me. I had to sit up, turn and slide off of the bed. Getting back into the bed was almost just as difficult. You know, if your butt isn't all the way back it doesn't fold you in the right spots. Doc came in to check on me in the afternoon and said he was pleased and everything looks good. He removed between 10-12 pounds of skin and fat. WOW! I still can't really see how it looks. He told me to leave on my cg until I see him. The ride home was fine, my sweet daughter was worried over every bump but I was good. When I got home and set up in my recliner it was lights out again. My daughter helped me stay on top of meds through the night. Getting up to go pee is still hard I have a couple of pinches and pulling, which scares me) but, I'm figuring it out. Second day post surgery: today was the hardest day so far. Each time I go to the restroom, I do a little walk around my house. A couple of times, I wasn't sure I could make it even though it's a short walk. Feeling pretty weak. The drains are a pain. I worry about pulling them out, I logically know that they are ways in there but it’s still scary. You have to “strip” them when you dump them because they get clots and won’t drain. The one on my right side keeps leaking at the entry point. Pain is manageable but I need meds sooner that the 6 hours and 8 hour marks. Ha! My book that doc gave me said I should be tapering off of the narcotic meds by tomorrow. Not sure how that can happen at this rate. Basically my day was eat, pee, walk, repeat. Pain was intense when I move too much but hey, I was jus cut in half, what else should I expect?Updated on 25 Jun 2023: So, overall, today has been much better. It’s 5:30pm and I’ve napped a lot today but I am more alert and less pain than before. That is so exciting for me. Not much new to report. Will upload pictures when I get to take off my binder. Updated on 28 Jun 2023: Day 4 was the day hubby came home from being gone for a week. Yes, I did this while he was out of town. He wasn’t too happy about that but like I’ve said before, I waited so many years for this that nothing was going to slow me down. I guess when I decided to be a little selfish, I went all in. Ha. On day 4, my hips, upper and lower back are all still numb. It’s weird to scratch your hip and feel it as if it’s going through 6 pair of jeans. I still didn’t have much appetite. I bought Adkins protein shakes for the extra protein I need for healing and I’ve been trying to drink one for breakfast every day. I had one this morning but could only finish about 3/4ths of it. Still doing a little walk each time I get out of bed, walking a little further than before though. Each time I go to the restroom, I try to strip my drains. I’m hoping to keep them working as well as possible. I hate them but swelling hurts. I had a ham sandwich for dinner and slept most of the day again. Pain is so much better than day 2 & 3 but still not easy to get away from the narcotics. I did add Advil for the times I am starting to get super uncomfortable and it’s still 2 hours till I can take the stronger stuff. Sleep, eat, drink, walk, pee, repeat. That’s my day. Day 5, today I went see my PS. he say’s everything looks good. We have been measuring the output of my drains wrong. I realized that there are 2 and that people do sometimes just get 1 removed, but we were dumping both and measuring total output. Still have too much output to remove any but it’s only day 5. I did tell him that I’m feeling pain up high and realized when he took the binder off that I’m feeling pain in my belly button! I have a new bellybutton! I forgot about that part, I was so focused on the skin removal that I truly forgot about it. But, my new belly button really, really hurts. It looks so high to me. I’ve always felt like my bb was lower on my abdomen but the shape is nice and it looks centered so I’m not much concerned except that it really hurts at the top right side of it. I guess I was shocked at what I was feeling and didn’t get to really tell him how bad it hurts. When we got home, my knees buckled getting out of the car from the pain. If it’s not feeling better by tomorrow, I will call the doctor. I’m wondering if it is jut waking up. Like I said, I didn’t even realize I had one till that morning. When I got inside, they got me settled in my recliner, I ate a few bites of fruit and sandwich took a pain pill and a muscle relaxer and I was out till around 9pm. I wiped off with baby wipes, changed my nightgown, ate a little dinner and went back to sleep. Sweet daughter gets up at 2am every morning to give me my pain meds. I am so lucky. I haven’t taken pictures yet because I can’t stand up long enough. Will try hard tomorrow.Updated on 28 Jun 2023: So, the pain in my bellybutton is still bad this morning. If I put pressure on it while I’m standing, it seems a little better but really painful. I was up at 2am to take meds. Since I was up and alert, I decided that I should empty drains each side separately, of course. I drank a shake for breakfast with my meds and tried to go back to sleep. I’m feeling pretty restless now. I’ve had enough rest. But, I also can’t do anything because I can’t get around well. Ugh. Later in the morning today, I did move to the living room and hang out for a while. I did finally get tired and go back to my recliner but it was a nice change of scenery. One of the best things I bought for recovery are what I call my leg squeezers. They are cordless leg massagers like they use in the hospital free surgery for circulation. They make my legs feel good an it’s good for the beginning when you can’t walk as much. I took a picture so you can see. I bought them on Amazon. Another thing I got that I’ve been using is arnica massage oil. I’ve had to use it in the crease of my leg and public area. I’m stretched pretty tight there and sitting so much it hurts when I stand up. So, I figured out if I put the oil on before I try to stand up it’s much easier. There are no incision or bandage there so I think it’s ok. Back to the belly button issue… it’s feeling better! I think it woke up yesterday and was unhappy. It still hurts, just not like it did last night and this morning. I did take pics today. Yay for being able to stand up steady for 3 whole minutes! LolUpdated on 28 Jun 2023: Updated on 30 Jun 2023: Wow, what a difference a day makes! Well, that and fresh clean hair! I still haven’t showered. I’ve been keeping clean with baby wipes and brushing my teeth, but my hair. My poor hair. It felt so gross that it was actually giving me a headache. Weird, I know. So at 6am this morning when I woke up, i made a decision. I was going to wash my hair. No if’s, and’s or but’s, it was happening. And, I had to figure out how to do it on my own because everyone in my house is sleeping. So, here’s what happened… I have a standing shower, basic, builder grade glass box. I managed to get in front of the standing shower, door open, sit on a vanity chair tipped onto its 2 front legs, bend into the shower and first wet my hair with the handheld nozzle. At this point, I’m committed, right? In for a penny, in for a pound. I still can’t comfortably hold both of my hands above my head so I had to spray, rub, spray, rub all while thinking ‘holy cow, what have I started here!?!?’! So, hair is wet. Now, shampoo. Ok, shampoo in and properly scrubbed. Now to drown myself while rinsing. Remember, spray, rub, spray, rub, no way to keep the water from my face since I’m essentially one handed and trying my hardest not to spray the entire bathroom behind me. Whew! Done! Now for conditioner. Repeated the whole process once more. DONE, I did it! I didn’t drown, my nightgown was soaked but the bathroom around me was dry. Success! I was able to sand up and wrap the towel around my hair. That was tough y’all. But I feel like a new person. Was hardly able to brush my teeth afterward because my belly button was pulling so bad and painful but I managed that too! Now to start he rest of my day, hooray! This morning I weighed in at 174. That’s 12 pounds less than I started. . Didn’t do this for weight loss, but the weight lost makes me feel happy. I will take measurements as soon as I can stand up. I can’t believe it’s been 9 days. I’m still hurting when I am up too long still pretty hunched over when I walk which really hurts in my outer hips, not my joints or back but the sides of my butt. Maybe from Lipo? Not sure, but when they are done, I’m out, screeching halt, sit wherever I am and wait till I can get up again kinda thing. Still not much appetite. Smaller portions when I eat has been ok. I haven’t had caffeine in 10 days. Still haven’t pooped. Feeling like I need to do something about that soon. I am beginning to feel uncomfortable. I started my period the 2 days after surgery so, dealing with that too. Can I tell you that tampons are so much easier to manage now? I knew I fought that extra skin but wow, everything is so much more accessible. 9 days in and it’s still feeling a little surreal. So far, I am still happy I made the decision to go through with the surgery. Hopefully in 356 days I will be even happier! Updated on 1 Jul 2023: I pooped today! It was AWFUL! I wound up drinking magnesium citrate. I took half of the bottle and about as much water. All of the sudden, I was so nauseous. I sat down, put the fan on high facing me and tried to breathe through it. Nope, I felt it coming and ran to the toilet and threw up. Ugh. Then, it had already moved through me and it was time for it at the other end. I mean 15 minutes for all of this to happen. It hurt. A lot. If you’re reading my story and thinking bout this procedure, don’t wait 9 days to poop. I have been taking ducolax chews since surgery, 2 per day. That wasn’t working. Start taking milk of magnesia or miralax before you need to. It’s hard to go, it hurts worse if you wait too long and you don’t want to hurt yourself. I’ve also had more fluid in my drains today than the last few days. Wonder if it was vomiting or pushing? There’s all of that… I’ve been up all day. No nap! I’m uncomfortable but not really feeling pain. I’m worried about my binder. I’m short. My binder was riding down on my legs or up over my boobs, when doc looked at it after surgery, he said I could cut off 1 layer of the garment. It’s 4 pieces of elastic sewn together. After I saw him day 5, husband washed my binder and it split 1/3. There it is, I cut that layer off and it’s been more comfortable. BUT, today I decided to worry about how I’ve been wearing it. I had Lipo 360 along with extended tummy tuck and pelvic lift. I’ve moved my binder up and down for the last 9 days. I’ve been wearing it low because my outer hips have been hurting and I know you’re supposed to use compression after Lipo. But I had Lipo all the way around under my boobs, around my back, hips and flanks. Where does my binder go?! I’ve just been putting it where I felt most swollen but always covering my incision. Then today…. Now I’m worried that the binder was to protect the newly corrected abdominal muscles. Omgsh! Just giving myself anxiety today. So, now, I’ve moved it up under my boobs. Other than all of that, I’m good, standing a little straighter, walking a little more. I’ve taken Advil once today and have only been taking my pain meds at night before bed. I took more pictures today to see my progress. I can see that I am up a little straighter. Feeling a little less swollen too. I had a tiny waist most of my life but so far in my pics I feel like I look pretty square. Ehh, need to heal, it will be a whole year before I really know how I will look. Like I said before, just wanted that skin gone, this is a beautiful improvement if it never looks better than today. We have to love ourselves. Updated on 2 Jul 2023: Today was a pretty good day. No real pain, a few muscle zings, a lot of walking around my house. I have a hard time being still. I washed a very small load of clothes and the waterproof blanket I’ve been sleeping on, changed the duvet cover on my bed, washed the previous one, folded and put away all of the things. Husband took me to Walgreens for some gauze to cover my incision because it’s a little tacky and likes to hold onto my binder. When I adjust my binder I have to unstick it, it’s not super stuck but it worries me that the pull will make the glue come off too soon. Doc said I can put gauze on it so I did. I am becoming so tired of the drains. I told myself I wouldn’t complain but…. I’m always worrying with them. Strip them twice per day empty them twice per day mark down the measurement, do it all again tomorrow. Also tired of having to sit straight. I typically sit with my knees bent and my legs to my side. I am scared that if I sit the way I like to sit that I will pull my sutures or make my drains leak. Ok, rant done. I won’t complain anymore. I am glad that I had the ability and support to have the surgery, i am glad that I have the drains so that I don’t accumulate too much fluid in my abdomen. I am glad to have to sit straight because it is better posture, maybe it will be a habit that sticks. All in all, I am truly stating to feel more normal. Still not straight up but by the end of the day each day I am a little closer. I am the tightest from my neck to my belly button. Weird, right! Just need that to loosen up and I’ll be upright in no time. I am still a little (a lot) nervous about going back to work on Thursday. I will have a helper and I made my appointments light for the day but I am still nervous. Hopefully the next 3 days will be better and better, like they’ve been so far, and I’ll be ready for real. Updated on 3 Jul 2023: Day 11. Ok, today was challenging. For some reason, I am exhausted. I napped on and off most of the day. My mons area is really hard and swollen. It’s really uncomfortable. I am feeling more discomfort everywhere today, my abdominal muscles are super tight. Maybe it’s just swelling that everyone talks about. I can’t tell if I am swollen more than usual, I wear my binder day in and day out, I look the same to me. Just don’t feel the same. Hopefully it will resolve itself by tomorrow. Oh well, tomorrow is a new day. Happy Independence Day!Updated on 6 Jul 2023: So, I went back to work yesterday. I have set my return day for today so I only stayed for about 2 hours. I think I went just to check on things and make sure I could drive and be present. Then visited my mom for a couple of hours. That was the longest I’ve been out of the house in two weeks. I have a leaky drain site and it was the worst yesterday. My right drain leaks at my skin. It’s not bleeding, it looks like the same fluid that is in my drain, just coming from the drain site. It doesn’t hurt , smell, or look weird, it’s just wet, and frustrating. I feel like it’s dirty so I wash my binder, put it back on, put all of my gauze in place (a long piece for my incision, a rolled up piece for my belly button, large gauze pieces for around my drains and extra for under the right side) let me tell you, it’s a whole production. Only to feel wet in 30 to 45 minutes! I did get to talk with the doctors office about it today. They asked me to send in pictures. I sent shots of each layer and after reviewing, doc says to keep using gauze and he will still see me on Tuesday. I have to do this for 5 more days, at least. Maybe more if he doesn’t remove the drain. My right side has also begun producing a lot of fluid. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m driving, and moving around so much more than I was but it’s a lot, nonetheless. It’s back to the levels I was recording when I came home from the hospital. I feel like I am whining. I guess I am, a little, to be honest. I’ve done this. I wanted this, I knew some of the things that could happen and that it is a long recovery. I’m just feeling a little overwhelmed, I think. I’m still glad it’s done, and so far, I would do it again. I did work a full day today. It wasn’t terrible but not super easy either. I was on my feet, retail, most of the day. My clients are amazing and so understanding, I just don’t like to show my weakness to people, ya know? But, I did it! I pushed through. I worked the full day and only took Advil once. Now it’s midnight and I’m miserable. I’m tired, can’t sleep. Hot, but need the blanket or I’m cold. Sore, I took a pain pill first time in 2 days. Waiting for it to kick in so I can rest. I have work tomorrow and Saturday then 2 days off to rest again before I go to “real” full time next week. I want to go back (not really) to when I was really feeling little stronger every day. Feeling like I’m having a recovery stall. I don’t think that’s a thing, but it’s how I’m feeling. I do have more energy but tire more quickly. I guess when you’re barely moving being able to walk a little further each day is big. The progress is still forward movement but it’s like going 20 mph instead of 80. My incision is still super tight and glued closed. That makes me happy. I am hoping that when the glue finally comes off I will just have a scar there and no need for worrying about it opening up or not healing well. Probably won’t go quite like that but, hey, girl can dream, right? I do hope that I will at least be able to sower after I see the doc. I’m growing weary of diaper wipe baths. I’m clean, just not clean like I would like to be. I need hot water all over my skin, soap and shampoo, all at the same time. I will wash my hair in the morning. I hope it will be a little easier than last time, that was a fiasco! I miss my bathtub the most. I might shower 1 or 2 times each year but I take a bubble bath every day. Maybe I’m having withdrawals from my tub? Lol. One day soon! I will get to take a bath again. I. Can’t. Wait! Ok, meds are finally working. I am going to sleep will take updated pictures soon. That’s what I always wanted to see was the progression. Updated on 8 Jul 2023: Today is my third day at work and I’m glad it’s a short day. I’ve had a helper for the last 2 days but I was able to manage clients without her so I gave her the day off today. Last night after work, I couldn’t stand it for another second. I cooked dinner for the family and turned on the shower! I have a handheld shower head so it didn’t get me completely wet (these dang drains=can’t get them wet), BUT, I washed the lower half of my body. I didn’t shave my legs, boy do I need to though, not enough energy for that. Then I was able to bend at the waist and wash my hair. After that, I wrapped my hair up, dried off and went to the sink with warm water and soap and washed my paper body. Can I just say, I feel like a whole new person! I haven’t tried any of that till now because I wasn’t sure I had the stamina for it, moving forward, that’s how I will manage! Bye bye baby wipes twice a day. I’m still not sleeping well. I was hurting last night so I slept without my binder. That felt good but worried me a little too. All of my paperwork tells me that the binder is 24/7 for the first 2 weeks then just during the day for 2 more weeks. I am having to wear a smooth stretchy tank top under my binders because they are irritating my skin. They make me itch so bad if I don’t wear something under. Oh, I bought a new binder on Amazon. It’s not just the giant elastic. It’s made for postpartum. It still covers from breast bone to the hips but it more comfy because it has boning top to bottom instead of elastic horizontally. Then sewn from the middle of the back, it has 2 pieces of wide elastic that come around and Velcro in the front for extra support. So much better than the elastic binder. It feels like it’s giving compression the way I need it to. Hopefully I’m not doing the wrong thing. I will ask Tuesday. Only 3 more days until I see my PS. I hope he will remove both drains. I know for sure he will take the left one. It hasn’t had much of anything for 3 days. The excessive fluid and leaking on my right has subsided, thank goodness! It’s been 24 hours since I emptied it and there was only 30ml. Just the day before it was 30ml twice per day and leaking. Please, please, please let the trend continue down so I can have them removed. I also want them gone because of the antibiotic I have to take every day. It’s a gigantic horse pill. I have to break it in half to swallow it and I think it’s causing me to have some reflux. The bottom of my throat/collar bone area burns after I eat. Nothing comes up and it doesn’t burn down further, just super uncomfortable. I’m not sure what’s happening that’s never been a thing for me. Praying that it’s the antibiotic and not a new ailment, fingers crossed. Happy Saturday everyone, I’m off to work.Updated on 8 Jul 2023: Today, I am so swollen. My legs and feet especially. I have no ankles, ugh. Today after work, I put on my old binder. I still don’t like it. I have a spandex tank top, I cut the top off to make a tube, I am using that as a liner for the binder. It feels a little better. I just wish I can figure out how out to have this again. Nightly night.Updated on 11 Jul 2023: Ok, I’m so itchy and uncomfortable tight now at 3:47am. I can’t sleep. Nothing is helping. I just took a Valium to see if that will calm it down some. I took off my binder. Going to sleep without it if I can go to sleep at all. It’s mostly my-mid to lower back where I am still very numb. I wonder if the missing limb thing is anything like this. I am positively miserable. Scared to s rat too much and hurt myself. Excited to see doc tomorrow and hopefully have my drains removed. I can’t see why I wouldn’t at this point. I have less than 10ml in my left and around 20 in my right once per day. My appointment isn’t until 3:30 though. Updated on 11 Jul 2023: I saw my PS today. When he came in, I knew that we were ready to remove the drains because of the low output. I was a little nervous. I’ve read about people saying it was painful, some say it’s a weird feeling, I’ve read about a lot of different reactions. For me, I didn’t feel it at all. Nothing. There was 1 tiny ouch when he pulled a stitch on my left but then I saw him hand the drain to the nurse. Wow, that was it, was only thought. But eeeek, before that, he started by pulling off the tape and glue along my incision. I wasn’t ready for that! I actually said “wait, you’re taking that off too? I thought it was supposed to come off on it’s own?” Nope, he said, it’s time for it to come off of there. Y’all, I’ve been anxious all day. Now that the glue is gone from my incision, I am scared it will just open up to a gaping wound all the way across. I am aware that that is dramatic and that logically it shouldn’t happen like that, it’s pretty well closed across, still, I am very anxious about that glue being gone. Im ok, maybe even elated with the drain removal but that tape/glue was security I didn’t know I was leaning on. Doc said that I can shower tomorrow. All I have now is a bandaid over the drain sites. He did use silver nitrate on 1 little spot, maybe the size of a dime or smaller where the incision is seeping some. When I got home, it’s still seeping. I put a bandaid over it, I’ll probably just use gauze tomorrow. He said whatever I am doing, keep doing it, everything looks perfect. He gave me a new garment to wear but said I need to stay in my compression garment 24/7 for another 7 to 10 days to keep any fluid that may want to start back up in check. I was sure hoping to graduate from this binder but I will manage. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now. He wants me back there in 3 months. I guess I will start scar therapy then. I’m so excited to shower in the morning! To have hot water all over me, to be clean head to toe. I feel so silly about being scared of my incision. I’ve had surgery before. Nothing big like this but 4-5 inches from back surgery and I’ve never been scared of it before. This is actually freaking me out. Sorry for the rambling, anxiety is talking for me. I will post pictures, before and after shower for progress in the morning. It really looks nice in a few spots, a little scary in others. I thought that when the drains are gone, I would be able to curl up I’m my corner of the couch and relax. Nope. It still hurts to do that. So, straight forward legs up and pillows behind me to keep me straight is how I am still sitting. Ehhh, soon enough, I will be back to comfortable. Ok, it is late. Going to rest now. Nightly night! Updated on 11 Jul 2023: Updated on 12 Jul 2023: This morning I took a shower! Now, to the average person, that’s an everyday statement. To me, not so much! It’s been 21 days since I felt the water run over my whole entire body and I felt clean from head to toe. Face, hair, skin (all of it, not just parts), all clean, dry and happy! So, it felt weird to wash my stomach. My bb is still kind of hard. I can’t feel much between my bb and the incision. My lower back down to mid hips is still numb. Other than that, to not have to lift the apron and wash well underneath, to rub the sponge over a flat mid section, amazing. Still a little shy with scrubbing the incision. I said before, I’m afraid it will all just split open. It looks the same after a shower as it did before. I put a new bandaid over the drain holes and over the one seeping spot. It is still seeping, not sure what he did with the silver nitrate yesterday, maybe that will just help it close faster. Then…I tried on my new compression garments. Ok, that’s fun. Not really. If you need a good workout after a great shower, try on compression garments! Haha. The one he gave me (super high waisted panties with a hook and eye crotch) is way too tall in the front. I can’t fold it down because it cuts off my circulation. I bought 3 different ones just in case and had them all washed and ready for when I need them. I tried #2, Spanx, mid thigh split crotch, full back coverage under bra style, it’s ok, still a little tall for me but it’s comfortable. The last one I tried is Maderna, under bra, full back coverage, bikini bottom with hook and eye crotch. I think the last one, I left it on, might be the best for me. It isn’t quite so tall, there is plenty of compression. Not so sure how it’s going to go when I have to pee for the first time, we shall see, haha. I decided that it has good compression so I wasn’t going to wear my binder today. Then, I panicked. Doc says to wear it for 7to 10 more days to be sure I don’t have excess fluid building up without the drains. So, I put the binder on over my cg. I am well and truly bound. I put extra under clothes in my bag just in case I can’t stand it all day. Whew! What an adventurous morning! Now I’m off to work! Updated on 12 Jul 2023: Updated on 15 Jul 2023: Woohoo! This morning, I feel great! Like, really great! I moved from sleeping in the recliner to sleeping on the couch 4 nights ago. On the couch I am able to prop my feet pretty high, I can’t do that in the bed. Today, after work, I will change the sheets on my bed and sleep there tonight! For the last 2 days I’ve been able to, not just roll to my side to sit up, like you’re actually supposed to do, but to lay/sleep on my sides. I’ve often wondered and maybe even doubted when I read that someone else said they were able. I wasn’t sure it would ever happen again for me. The worry about the 47 inch incision (exaggeration) and the stress on it, the drains, the actual discomfort, the numbness in my hips, all of the things. Last night, I curled up with my legs under me to watch tv with hubby, let me just tell you how I’ve missed sitting that way. Sitting straight up all of the time is for the birds. I don’t think I ever mentioned my neck pillow I used while sleeping in the recliner. That was SO important for me. You know, the “U” shaped ones like for airplane or car rides? Side note, did you know that the opening goes in the back, not the front? Anyhow, that pillow saved my neck! I couldn’t lay real flat in my recliner so I was always kinda upright. My head would turn way to far to the right or left when I would sleep, especially when I was on pain meds. That pillow kept my head from bending to my shoulder or turning too far to one side. I put it away this morning and remember I hadn’t mentioned it before. It was a “can’t live without” item for me. When I got up this morning, I feel great, I said it earlier but it was worth saying again! I straightened my house, put away allllll of the “sick” things away! Neck pillow, tv tray and baby trash can beside my recliner, leg squeezers, all of the gauze, scissors, bandaids, baby wipes, antibiotics don’t need them now that drains are gone, the pillows an blanket I used on the couch and emptied the trash can in the bathroom. I’ve been busy this morning! It feels really good to look around and not have to see all of that. I think the visuals being put away make me feel even better and more healed. I am still only 3 weeks and 2 days out from surgery but I am truly beginning to feel like me again. As far as the surgery stuff goes, my incision is looking amazing (to me). It has 1 dime sized place thats going to have to scab and heal. Other than that, it’s well and truly a scar already. The tightness from the muscle repair is definitely still healing. I am 95% upright but as the day goes along, I feel my shoulders start to curl forward and not use those top abdominal muscles as much. Hips and mid back are starting to have a little more feeling. There are still a couple of places that are just so numb I feel like I m touching someone else’s skin. That should get better, doc says it could even take a couple of months. Today is a good day! I hope you’re having a great day too! Updated on 16 Jul 2023: I slept in my own bed or the first time since surgery last night. So good. Today, I am awake and my back, right around my waist, not in front, just my back, is so itchy! It’s still completely numb. I. Can’t. Feel. The. Scratches! I am having major anxiety over it. I’ve tried everything except a shower. That’s the next plan. I took half of a Xanax hoping to calm it but it hasn’t kicked in yet. Sometimes pressure helped my hips when phantom itching started but even my binder isn’t helping. Sorry for the rant Updated on 16 Jul 2023: Updated on 24 Jul 2023: Today marks 4 1/2 weeks since surgery. *Wound care. I still have a place, about the size of a nickel, that is open. It was really small but opened up pretty quickly. I have been sending pics to the doctor since Thursday and I will see him tomorrow. He says it’s not infected, I need to put betadine and gauze in it and keep it clean with soap and water in the shower. After just a few days of the packing, it looks like it is making a scab. It is healing from the inside out. It’s really gross in there. But, the seeping stopped and the scab is forming. Today when I took out the packing, it bled. Not sure what that means, hopefully good, blood supply=healing. I had so much skin removed. That part of my skin was so thin I am a little surprised that I didn’t have more trouble. Just 1 more ting to be grateful for. *Sleeping. For the last 2 weeks, I have been sleeping in my bed. I sleep better there than in the recliner but I toss and turn so much all of the time that I don’t know if it’s actually better or worse. I do try to sleep on my back. I put 2 pillows under my calves to keep from feeling so stretched. When I do that, I have to get rid of the sheets and comforter because it just doesn’t all work together, lol. When I lay on my sides, it hurts a little. I almost feel like the old skin is there, so heavy and pulling, and needs to be supported. I put a pillow, kind of, under the edge of my abdomen for the support but it doesn’t help. I worry that sleeping on my side is going to hurt the muscle repair. The info from my PS says I should be sleeping more normally now. I think I just want to take good care of me and not ruin, or have to revise, the surgery. Sleeping…. Actual sleeping is still an issue anyway. I find it hard to stay asleep. When I toss and turn, the sensations/discomfort wakes me up. Even after 4 weeks, If I don’t take Tylenol or Advil right before sleep, I will have to get up in the middle of the night to take something. I don’t need to take and meds during the day. I am still a bit uncomfortable but so much better every single day. Seriously, every day I am able to move a little better. Sitting on my couch with my feet under me, I can do that again! I always feel best when I am standing and moving. But I need to rest after a long day/week at work where I am on my feet the whole time I am there. If I don’t rest enough, I definitely feel it. *My binder. We have a love/hate relationship. I know when I’ve gone too long without it. Those are the times when I just feel heavy through my whole abdomen. I feel swollen and full. I put my binder back on and I feel secure again. And I also know when I’ve had it on too long. Those are the times I am so itchy and tight. I take it off and I am afraid I might actually make myself bleed with the scratching. Hurts so good kinda thing. My belly button is healing so well but, I forget sometimes, the placement isn’t where I expect it to be that if I’m not careful, I’ll scratch it too. That really hurts. Those times are when I take off my binder and shower and let my skin rest. On Saturday, I actually forgot to put my binder on before I left for work. That was a weird day. Don’t get me wrong, feels good without it but still insecure about protecting my muscle repair. That was my first outing for a whole day without any compression. Still not comfortable in any of the compression garments that I have so I am sticking with the binder until I am released from all compression. *Lymphatic massage. I have had 2 lymphatic massages. I don’t actually see a lot of difference in swelling or feeling. The massage feels good. Kind of a light sweeping of ll of your skin from under the breast down to your incision. From mid back, down and around your sides, down to your incision. He presses on the lymph nodes in the crease o my legs, under my arms and in my neck too. It definitely doesn’t feel like a traditional massage but I can feel the fluid moving around. And, you’re a lot after! My masseuse tells me that I don’t need too many massages because I am so far out from surgery. That’s good for my wallet, ha. He says some people start as soon as the first day after surgery! I can’t imagine that at all. I was miserable for 3-5 days. I could barely get out of the recliner and walk to the bathroom, much less go to a massage location. But, hey, each person should do what their surgeon recommends. My surgeon didn’t recommend massage. I went on my own after the drains were removed. That surprised my masseuse. *Numbness. The numbness in my scar doesn’t bother me much. Under my bb down to my scar, that’s ok too. I still have major numbness in my lower back hip areas (bra strap to butt crack). That is terrible. I talk a lot about being itchy. That’s one of the places where I itch so much. When I scratch, zero feeling. As if I am scratching someone else’s back. If I rub it with my knuckles, I can kind of feel it. I think my skin is numb but my muscles might be mostly awake. PS says that the numbness will go away. That’s from the liposuction. It may take 2 months! I might actually lose my mind in that time, it’s one of the most frustrating parts of this journey. *Weight. I was 187 when I started this journey. Today, I am 169! I am hoping to continue to go down to about 150. If I don’t, I can still be happy her for the rest of my life. Honestly. I am a small person so 170 pounds is way overweight but that’s who I am. The reasons I have always dieted were not related to the number on the scale or the size on my clothes. It’s always truly been my stomach. Now that it’s gone, I am relieved and secure. *Exercise. I never thought I would say this but, I’m ready for it. I am ready to go for a walk. I don’t think I’ll make the 3-4 miles I used to go but I wanna build back up. It is so hot here in Texas right now that I know I will sweat. I like sweat, it is fat crying as it leaves your body. However, with the wound I am still doctoring, I don’t know if that’s a great idea. Even the mornings are 90*! I am going to try to be patient and know that good things come to those who wait. All in all, recovery from surgery is no walk in the park, it truly is a marathon not a race. I thought I was prepared. I was. I am also impatient. I want to be fully recovered already. I want it all and I want it now! Lol. Really, just venting. I am feeling so much better than even 1 week ago, how can I complain? Updated on 31 Jul 2023: Wow! Time flies, right?! It was so slow waiting for my surgery date once I decided I was ready. Now, it is flying by. Feeling more like myself every day. Still struggling a bit with having to pack and care for my “wound” twice a day. I want to say that even hat isn’t so bad. I am wearing a night gown tonight hat just before surgery was a little “not loose enough to be comfortable”. It wasn’t tight at all, just clung to places I wished it grazed over. Tonight, it feels like it’s supposed to, confirming my feelings of happiness that I’m on the other side. Grateful it’s done! Still recovering, for sure. Still get tired but not as quickly, still little sore in places, a little numb in others but, overall, so happy. Updated on 2 Aug 2023: Still fussing with my wound. Feeling a little sore all through my abdomen. I am probably overdoing it if I’m being honest with you and myself. I think the wound might be getting better, I can’t fit as much gauze in there as I could before, fingers crossed! That the goal, keep it moist so it can heal from the inside out. Really, I just want to take a bath. My bathtub misses me and I miss it. A shower is just not the same. Clean but not relaxed. I have been swelling at night and it makes me pretty uncomfortable but that’s the only, really bothersome, thing anymore. The swelling is all in my abdomen and makes me feel like I am deformed. Kinda like a frog really, ha. I get super full through my rib cage and middle. Then my scar stays tight and flat but my pubic area gets fat and hard. Again, uncomfortable but manageable. Around my outer hip and lower back I’m still pretty numb. I really need that feeling to come back. I am afraid that I might actually hurt myself with all of the scratching. I can feel it if I hit or slap my skin but an actual scratch I just can’t feel. I do think it’s better than it was, hopefully that’s a good sign. Doc did say that it could take as long as a couple of months but that it will come back. Overall, I would say that I am 95%, 90% of the time. I am still so very glad that I did it!Updated on 2 Aug 2023: Updated on 7 Aug 2023: I can’t believe that I am 6 1/2 weeks post op! Time really flies. This week I haven’t had much change. **Disclosure** the last 2 pictures are of my wound for anyone curious. I’ve kept it covered in the pics because it’s kinds scary, * I have slept on my stomach a couple of times mostly by accident and it wasn’t terrible. It wasn’t as comfortable as it used to be, I don’t know that I like that position anymore. I think all of my skin is too tight for that and that I might get stretch marks if it happens too often. * Still working on my wound healing. I notice I am using less gauze to “fill it up”. It changes so slowly that I can’t imagine it ever actually being completely closed. Also, when I zoom in on the pictures of the inside, it looks like a hole right in the middle of it, really deep. I’m wondering if it’s a stitch that’s unhappy. Hopefully we don’t have to do anything surgically, eeek. On my left side I’ve had a really black scab that finally came off, probably with a little help from me. It is sore and it is a tiny bit wet. I will ask doc next week when I go for and update on the other wound. * Weird but true. I tried on a bunch of my swimsuit bottoms today and they all kinda fit like they did before. What the heck is that?? I know I am still swollen but I am down 20 pounds! Seems like that should count for something. As a matter of fact, most of my clothes still fit like before. I have a few pair of pants that I can’t keep up. My favorite ones actually, the ones I took the first pictures I posted here in. I am glad to see them go though. I may not look so different in clothes but I see it when I am naked and I like what I see! I am still so happy I did it. * I have almost zero pain anymore. Yay! I can sit and lay like I want to. Very little discomfort. Still hurts to cough and sneeze but i think that as I get to use those ab muscles and strengthen them that will go away. I do still have zings and twinges but they are tolerable. Overall, was it painful, yes! Was it manageable? Yes!! Would I do it again? Yes!!Updated on 10 Aug 2023: As I lay in bed on my left side, I am realizing that just a few weeks ago I thought this would never happen again. Logically, I knew that it would. Emotionally, I didn’t believe it. I am so grateful for the surgery and healing after. I really do feel mostly like myself, most of the time. Yesterday, my upper abdominal muscles were really sore. Not sure why really. So, I put my binder on with my pjs and wore a compression garment a work today. I definitely feel better now. I should start my period in 4 or 5 days so I’m pretty bloated and thats uncomfortable but manageable, especially with compression. Honestly, I never really understood what being “bloated” felt like. My stomach was just always big, never changing enough to call it bloated or flat. That’s not the case anymore though! Yay me! That’s all for now. Feeling happy today.Updated on 14 Aug 2023: So, it’s been 7 1/2 weeks now. I’m still doing about the same as last week. Working on wound care, I go see the doctor tomorrow so I may have new news then about that. Haha, that’s a funny sentence. Fingers crossed for a good report, for real! I do think it may be getting little more shallow still just as big around. I included a picture of it open again this week. There is nothing these days that I can’t really do. I can reach, bend, even sleep on my stomach a little easier now. I m feeling like I would like to workout a little. I was walking 1.5 - 4 miles at least 3 times per week before surgery. I didn’t do any other exercise but I think I would like to start. I’m weirded out by it though because of sweat and my wound. It’s so HOT here in Texas right now. My clothes fit weird. I can’t wear anything I could wear before, comfortably anyway. I dressed to cover my stomach and needed a bigger size for it, so I thought. Turns out, I knew this already but it still stings a little, that all of the other part are still the same size. I still need larger bottoms because my butt and legs aren’t small. My stomach is pretty flat so clothes fall down in front. Tops all still fit through the shoulders and bust but now they look sloppy because I always needed the length and “bagginess” so I was covered. Leggings are my friend! Lol I’m working through all the things. Figuring it out, slowly but surely. Still so grateful for the ability to have surgery and even for the tiny troubles I’ve had. I would still do it again tomorrow. Updated on 14 Aug 2023: Updated on 16 Aug 2023: Saw the surgeon yesterday to check on my wound. He says it looks just right. It’s healing like expected. I asked him to take the bandage off that I put on in the morning so he could tell me if I’m doing it right. He said I was and to keep with the same regiment. He did say I can change the bandage just once a day now but I think I’ll stick to twice. It’s kinda dry and hard sometimes if it goes too long. Then I feel like it pulls too much on the tissue we are trying to build in there. He also looked at the big scab that wasn’t closing up and still a little sore on my left side. He clipped a stitch out of it and did the silver nitrate thing, put on a bandaid and sent me home. Fingers crossed it starts to feel better soon. The opening is tiny and shallow, nothing like the one in front. He said he doesn’t need to see me again until my 3 month (after drains were removed) follow up in October. Yay! Please let it all be closed before then!! He did say if the scar heals too ugly he will go in and do a little nip tuck to fix it. I’m happy with that. Not even sure I’ll opt for that, honestly. I do appreciate that he mentioned it though. That’s all the news I have for now, I’ll check back in in a few days. Updated on 23 Aug 2023: I started walking again today! I walked 2 miles, wanted to go further but I needed to get showered and get to work. It felt really good to sweat. I felt the desire to run a little but I’m still a little scared. I am by no means a runner. I never have been but I’ve done intermittent running before. Seriously, run between the light poles or 5 driveways then walk again. Not real intermittent training but keeping my heat rate up. I’m feeling excited to live normally again, I feel it coming. My wound is definitely getting more shallow! So exciting! It’s still bothersome to dress it twice a day but I’m so grateful there’s no infection and that it’s healing. So grateful! The smaller hole on my hip is still about the same. I wash it out with soap and put Bactroban ointment in there every time I change the dressing on the bigger wound. It hurts a little but I think it’s just because I have more feeling there. The hole is almost too small to really fit a q-tip into but the it is about the size of the cotton part of a q-tip. I can get it in there but like I said before, it hurts so I don’t. Just keeping it clean, open and medicated waiting for it to close too. One day y’all, I will feel healed! My energy is great, I woke up in a great mood today, ready to seize the day. I am able to lay in my bed and on my couch any position I want to, loving that. Coughing and sneezing still hurts but not as bad. Wondering if being able to do abdominal exercises will help that get better. Like when you work out and your muscles are sore for a few days then they’re recover? Hoping that’s going to be the case. They can’t stay sore forever, right??? I do still have some swelling around my rib cage and upper abdomen. Not all the time and it’s not terribly uncomfortable but it makes me feel sore, like I need to massage my muscles. I am numb across my back flanks still too. Numb in a really weird way though. It’s almost like the skin is awake, the tissue over my ribs is sore but something in between (honestly, there’s not much there, I can feel my ribs) is numb. It itches but hurts like a bruise to scratch but I also get no satisfaction from the scratches on my skin unless it’s with something kinda sharp. Weird, right!? I am also still numb on my outer hips. Numb, numb there. Feels like I’m touching someone else’s hip. When I am in the shower and I wash with the loofah, it seems like I can feel it more but maybe not. Hoping it will all wake up but I do understand that it just might not. That was a risk I took and will live within it turns out to be the case. I haven’t taken pictures in almost 2 weeks, I’ll try to remember in the morning and post them. I don’t look much different than last week to me but I do like to see the week after week shots. Good night, if you’re dreaming about having a tummy tuck, do it! The confidence I feel now is like nothing I have ever felt in my history. Well, except when I was 17- 18 years old. My body is older but I don’t feel like I am hiding such a big part anymore. Flabby arms and legs are ok with me, maybe hot loving them but I am 50. I’m ok, not happy, with my body changing. That’s life. But girl, that tummy, it is gone! Updated on 4 Sep 2023: 10 and a half weeks! I will be 11 weeks post op on Friday! I can’t believe how fast time has gone. I am still packing and caring for my wound twice a day but it’s really looking good now! It’s not very deep anymore, that’s exciting to me! Hoping that in just a couple more weeks I can stop packing it and let it heal flush. I just want to be completely healed and not worry with a “wound” anymore. I do think doc will have to do a scar revision on my left hip. The hole is still there, it doesn’t seem to be doing much of anything. It has healed as a hole but sill has a center that looks like a wetish scab. It doesn’t hurt, it’s just gross to have an actual hole there. Fingers crossed that it fills out like the other one is doing. Ok, real talk. Something no one mentions here. Post surgery Hair loss. I am losing a lot of hair. Not just normal shed, a lot. It started a week or 2 ago. Hair loss is scary. I do know that usually from around week 12 and through about week 22-24 a lot of people will experience hair loss. I wish I wasn’t and I hope it stops soon. I finally got my hair back after having Covid exactly 2 years ago. I lost about 75% of my hair then. Finally, I have nice hair again, not so many lengths throughout my head and it’s been looking so healthy. (((Waaaah))). I’m done. I won’t complain any more. I just wanted to put it out there that it is a thing, it really does happen and I’ll let you know when it stops. Please, let it be soon. Clothes sill fit kind weird. I like the way I look without clothes the best, lol. Never thought I’d say that! I do still have the numbness through my hips and weird numbness through my flanks. On the flanks, it’s kind of like my skin is super sensitive but when I scratch it doesn’t relieve the itch. Like the itch is between my skin and my rib tissue. Odd, I know. I would still do it again, (TOMORROW) even if where I am at never gets better than today. I am so happy with my shape. I will post pictures soon. I pretty much look the same, still taking pictures but it’s hard to post them. Updated on 22 Sep 2023: Are y’all tired of hearing how time flies? Well, it really does! Quick update and pictures from weeks 8, 9 and now. I got a little busy and didn’t take the time to post and take pics for a while. My wound is closed! It just closed up, it seemed like overnight, about a week and a half ago. One day, I went to change the dressing and there was no more “flesh” look, just skin. Scar skin, but skin. It’s ugly and maybe I’ll think about scar revision someday but I so happy that it’s closed, I’m not sure I can think of any incisions for a while. The rest of the scar is healing nicely. I have a few really hard knots through it but massaging them seems to help soften them. I still feel a little swollen in my upper abdomen, through my rib area and above my bellybutton. I do wonder if he did lipo there, I think I am overthinking everything. Things are healing great, just picking at myself, maybe. My clothes are harder and harder to wear. Everything falls down. The waistline on all pants, even leggings, seems to want to slide down to my scar. That’s really low! That’s pat of my thought on lipo through the upper abdomen. Unless I am just always swollen, I am bigger there and tight through the scar, I’m shaped kinda like a funnel. Lol, funny, not funny. I have been trying to do planks for 30 seconds twice a day. Y’all, my abdominal muscles are non existent! When the 30 seconds gets easier, I’ll try longer then try side planks. I want to strengthen these muscles! Ok, just took pictures. I look really swollen from the side to me. I am still happy that I did the surgery and would still do it again tomorrow. I am not completely happy but that is jut me. I absolutely got improvement! I am so happy that that big hanging belly is gone! It’s not letting me attach the pictures. I will do a separate post.Updated on 22 Sep 2023: Week 9Updated on 22 Sep 2023: Today, 3 months! Still swelling more in the evenings but happy!
Dr. Correa and his team are amazing. They are so kind and patient. Dr. Correa goes out of his way to achieve the best results for you. He is also very honest about what to expect. He never makes you feel rushed if you have questions. With his talent he could easily intimidate or make a person wanting to fix flaws self conscious but he does not. Quite the opposite, he is most calming. Gabrielle and Rochelle are so helpful and sweet, if they have a bad day, you never know it. They make everything very easy and clear. I researched al LOT of Dr's and went through photos of work for days. Dr. Correa's stood out as the best and I am so glad I chose him to do my procedure. Totally worth it and I would trust and recommend he and his team to anyone that listens.
Before choosing dr Correa, I went to see a very well known PS that spent no more than 5 minutes with me during my first appointment. That was not a good experience, as I felt just like a number and I’m glad I left that place quickly. Then, decided to make an appointment with Dr Correa. (Best decision EVER!) During the appointment I was actually surprised about how dr Correa took his time to go over all my questions , what my goal was and genuinely listened my concern. I was very hesitant to do surgery because of my petit frame. I relied upon Dr. Correa to give me his honest opinion on what would look the best/most natural with my body type and I am so happy that I trusted him and went with his suggestion. He is an expert on proportion and natural appearance! My breasts look so natural and so proportional to my body. He is an artist! Also, I was very impressed with his post-op care. He called to check how I was doing and quickly texted me back anytime I had any questions or concerns. His staff was very professional and always making me feel welcome. I urge anyone who wants breasts that look natural to their body to fully trust him and his expertise.
I met Dr Correa for a consultation and I knew he was going to be my guy! He is very personable, funny, knowledgeable and professional. His staff is very sweet and friendly, I always felt very welcomed. When Dr Correa did my surgery, he called me that night to make sure I was okay. He also checked on me a couple of times before my follow up appointments. He is very caring for his patients and he listened to my concerns. I am very happy with my results and I would highly recommend my family and friends to see him. His office is very clean, wait time is very minimal and I absolutely love him! Thank you Dr Correa for everything!
After two babies, and loosing 75lbs my once big beautiful boobies became sad depressed things :( . it was mentally defeating to finally loose alot of weight i gained after some medical issues, and being lazy ;) to also loose a part of my body i have always loved. Having an amazing supportive husband on my side we decided we would look into fixing my issues.. we both were against fake boobs, we just always thought they werent for us.. so having that mind set going into consultations made it kinda difficult to also hear not only do i need implants i also need a lift...AHHH the scars - i was so bummed and considered not even doing it because of the scars.. but [RS bleep] it! i healed so well after my c-sections and my knee surgeries, my scars shouldn't be that bad... right??? i went to a good amount of consultations.. one telling me exactly what i wanted to hear, one telling me everything i didn't want to hear PLUS telling me i needed to add on a nose job, lips, lipo, tummy tuck, just to name a few... i left after voicing my thoughts on that and then cried in my car like an adult... then i found DR. Correa... omg was he a godsend for me... he spent the most time with me during my consultation out of 7 other drs, he went over everything possible with me and my husband, answered our multiple questions with detailed answers- we left with a SHIRT which was super exciting for me.. and a gift bag of skin care stuff which i thought was such a classy nice touch! ( no other drs did this at all) we stood in the parking lot and both agreed he was the one. Dr Correa made us feel comfortable, safe and welcomed. Gabrielle was hands down a dream.. she was so helpful, sweet and comforting.. we had some laughs with both which was nice to be able to joke around and feel good while discussing such a big change in your life. I went the next day to drop off my deposit and confirm my appointment for my pre op and surgery date... now you do have to go to a surgery center and that price is not included in the price you pay for Dr. Correa.. so you have two separate payments. This seemed like a 50/50 thing some had surgery centers on location with the cost included ( cheaper overall cost) and some didnt ( more expensive option) . Dr Correa was in the middle for cost between the 7 other drs and we are getting a slight discount for paying cash over CC ( 3%). I will post updates and pictures as i go through this process :) Updated on 27 Mar 2019: Updated on 29 Mar 2019: Went to my pre-op appointment yesterday and decided on 775-800ccs in high or ultra high profile.. Dr. Correa will decide what’s best for my body while in surgery.. I’m nervous but super excited.. i took my old bra in that i wore before my weight loss to figure out what I’ll need to be back to where i was and i was pretty shocked to see 800ccs!! But they looked and fit my bra the best. One more week!! Updated on 29 Mar 2019: Updated on 29 Mar 2019: Updated on 5 Apr 2019: (I’m still pretty doped up while writing this so don’t judge my grammar and stuff lol ) Hey ladies! I’m currently laying in bed, it’s been 8 hours since i got wheeled back into thee OR. Last-night to prepare for today i had my mom put two French braids in my hair so i wouldn’t have to worry about it at all for a few days, i shaved and showered, i did a face mask, and went to the gym for the last time for 4-6 weeks with the hubs.. i was so depressed knowing i wouldn’t be able to lift weights for a while but ?????????????????????? what can ya do. The morning of- i showered just my body, and put deodorant on that’s it.. and threw on comfortable sweats and a zip up jacket. You don’t want anything you gotta put over your head for a while. We headed up to the surgery center around 540am had to be there by 6:00am to pay the fee and sign the papers.. they took me to the back and hooked me up to the IV quick. I get super nauseous with general anesthesia so that was my biggest concern .. i voiced it a lot and they ended up giving me a patch and 4types of medicines to help me. It for sure helped! Request it and voice it if you get nauseous. I had my surgery at the memorial Hermann surgery center in Conroe.. the nurses where all AMAZINGGGGG!!! Everything went quick and pain free.. the last thing i remember is being rolled away from my husband. I woke up and felt good.. a little sore but nothing of what i thought so i will for sure have to keep reminding myself to take it easy. As i stood up to get dressed i got nauseous for the first time i said it and my nurse took off and came back with some stuff to put into my IV i laid back down and napped for 15 min and then was good to go. The drive home was easy- i wanted a shake and fries so we went to chick fill around noon and got everyone lunch. Got home ate it and chit chatted with my mom and husband .. i dosed off a few times with fries in my mouth and in the middle of some sentences.. ?????????????????????? I finished eating and went to sleep. Now sleeping is tough when your a belly sleeper! Ahhhh this on my back crap is for the birds. I’m glad i got the pillow chair thing to sleep on, it’s helped in keeping me supported and comfortable. I’m sore but I’m okay. Now my results.. I’m really unsure about them at this moment.. my husband and i really thought i was getting 700-800ccs my dr knew big time we wanted BIG but I’m sitting her with 610cc on my Left and 650cc on my left Ultra High Profile. They are swollen right now and even the swollen size isn’t very big for me and is making me sad. We will see how it goes. Trying not to cry about the size. I’ll keep updating. Updated on 6 Apr 2019: I’m sore! Like super sore. Everything is right and i can’t move one inch with out feeling the pain. I’m okay though. My dressings have some blood on it. Updated on 7 Apr 2019: I had my surgery Friday morning and it is now Sunday evening. I finally took my dressings off this evening. My left breast is extremely swollen on the side- i pulled it earlier so I’m thinking it’s due to that. I get nauseous when i stand for too long, which sucks! I’m sore big time but nothing unmanageable. Updated on 8 Apr 2019: My soreness isn’t as bad. Skin feels super tight!! Like I’m going to rip it open. Bruises are showing up now. I showered alone today.. that was tough- I’ll have my husband washme next time. Updated on 9 Apr 2019: My left under/side boob area hurts pretty bad. I feel like my right breast is loosening up. The left breast just hurts. Updated on 10 Apr 2019: I started drinking this tea yesterday and again today and it has helped so much with the bloat and swelling! Google the benefits of drinking ginger turmeric tea! It’s awesome i feel incredible today on day 5 Updated on 11 Apr 2019: I think i slept twisted lastnight.. i woke up with actual pain today on my side of my left boob near the stitches.. it’s kinda hard and very tender. By 1200 i was good again. Obviously still high and tight but not as tight. I’m wearing a band to help push them down a tad. To me this recovery is wayyymore mentally draining then physical. I hate that i can’t clean, work out, pick my daughter up, have sex.. i gained 10Lbs over night with this surgery.. I’m down 2 lbs so far but that was a huge shock i wasn’t expecting.. was expecting more of 2-3lbs of implants.. so not being able to work out and knowing i gained weight is mentally messing with me.. I’m bloated and swollen everywhere and just don’t feel pretty right now- hopefully the swelling and bloat will go down soon. Updated on 12 Apr 2019: Updated on 14 Apr 2019: I woke up today with both boobs on the bottom outside edges hurting. Left boob seems to be fuller and lower. ( tattooed arm breast) I took off the tape around my nipples and replaced it with clean tape because i was curious what they looked like.. and my areoles are so small makes me sad. Updated on 15 Apr 2019: Went to my post op appt today and the dr is loving my results. Continue to wear bralettes and sports bras.. sleeping on back for a month total and no sweating! Got it ???????? Can’t wait to get back to the gym! And sleep on my side/belly. Im missing those things! I’ve already had sex.. i asked today if it was okay to continue and he said as long as i don’t sweat and don’t get too wild ;). I said I’d be a pillow princess and hold the girls. We made that agreement for future adult time ;). All and all I’m super happy with my boobies and so glad i did this. Loosing 77lbs murdered my boobs, thank the lord for plastic surgery! I replaced my nipple tape this weekend bc it was starting to peel.. the other tape is still on from surgery- he told me to wear it until it comes off on its own. I am doing basically everything i did before surgery minus vacuuming and mopping. I feel great. I stopped pain pills and muscles spasm pills after 2.5 days.. i haven’t really experienced pain.. just some soreness but feel completely normal now, just gotta keep reminding myself to take it easy and do things slow and listen to my body :) Updated on 20 Apr 2019: I’m two weeks and my tape was starting to peel up on some spots so i removed it and the dry blood off my boobs, cleaned the areas and put new tape on because it freaked me out.. everything looked great, i just mentally am not ready for not tape, i feel like the incisions will bust open or get infected ??????????????????????... ever since doing this my boobs have been sensitive to the touch/material of my sports bra.. not sure if it’s me messing with myself or real.. I’m over sleeping on my back, OVER IT! I’m ready to actually sleep through the night. Updated on 2 May 2019: Sorry I’ve been a little MIA. I’m loving my results! I had a little rubbing issue on my T incision but it’s already basically healed.. took 5 days to heal. I don’t do massages due to having a lift, but they feel great and I’m comfortable. I go back the 15th and I’m hoping to get cleared to do minimal things at the gym.. I’m dying to go back. Also, really wanna sleep on my side again. I did the moisture stick massage on my incisions lastnight and had a few pops which i was told was extremely normal.. didn’t hurt but also felt kinda relaxing afterwards. All in all I’m very happy with my boobies!! Oh yea- randomly through out the days my nipples will become ultra sensitive and then it goes away and my boobies itch randomly. Updated on 5 Jun 2019: Loving my boobies more and more each day. I’ve had some exposed stitches but nothing major and healing great so far! Updated on 2 Feb 2021: Updated on 23 Jun 2021: Still super happy with my choice in doing a lift and implant. I’m a 34 G bra size. Updated on 24 Jun 2021: 2 years and 4 months later Lift and implant. 650cc. I’m a 34g bra They bounce and jiggle but still sit firmly in clothes.
As someone who has struggled with cellulite their entire adult life I can honestly say this treatment is life changing! The day after the procedure I could see results and they have just gotten better over the past month. Dr. Correa and his staff were very professional and comforting. The procedure was quick and virtually painless. Overall the procedure is well worth it for people who have struggled with cellulite.
I went to Dr. Correa to have excess skin removed. I have never had surgery before and I was very nervous about every part of the procedure. Dr. Correa and his staff made the entire experience a very positive one. He even met with me an additional time because I had so many questions and I was still nervous. I had a wonderful experience and I highly recommend Dr. Correa to anyone in need of plastic surgery. Dr. Correa and his entire staff care very much about their patients, and they provide an excellent overall experience.
Although I was very nervous to speak with a surgeon about having a breast reduction, Dr. Correa's kind and gentle manner put me right at ease. He took the time to explain the procedure and what it would entail. Afterward the surgery, I definitely knew I had selected the right doctor for me. Everything has progressed just like he shared from day 1. I have followed his instructions for my post-op care, and I must admit I haven't had any surprises. He was on point, and I knew what to anticipate. I'm confident that if I or my family, for that matter, would need any type of future cosmetic surgery, Dr. Correa would be our first choice. Thank you Dr. Correa for your professionalism, kindness and overall care. I am very grateful for you.
Dr. Correa is absolutely amazing! It hasn’t been the easiest recovery but he and his staff have been very helpful and attentive. He has called several times to check on me and Gabrielle is very sweet and helpful - even when I have called to ask the same questions probably more than once lol - top notch surgeon and staff , he is definitely the best and I am very happy that I chose to go with him.
I had a great experience with Dr. Correa. He answered all of my questions and has an amazing bedside manner. He perfectly and realistically explained the procedure and recovery and I was prepared for every step. I was also extremely pleased with my result. His office staff is also great. I like the office and doctor enough to continue to drive an hour each way to take advantage of his medspa.
Yes it is ok. If you are having an active infection that affects the surgical area (eg. shingles) it will be important to discuss this with your surgeon prior to surgery.
It is difficult to guide you based upon the available information. Patients with wide chests require larger volume implants to obtain their results, so it is entirely possible this makes sense with your goals. I would review your concerns with your surgeon. Best.
it is still quite early in the postoperative phase. I would cont regular follow up with your surgeon and follow their postoperative recommendations. Your appearance will change significantly over the next 8-12wks. Best.
Yes it is possible to use the Keller funnel via IMF incision. There is not strong data to support one method as significantly safer than another, but philosophically it makes sense and does facilitate the surgery. Best.
I would recommend patience and allow complete healing. Though the vast majority of implant settling occurs over the first 8-12 weeks, there can be additional settling over the course of a year. Additionally, the appearance of scars usually looks significantly better as you get closer to a year. Discuss your concerns w your plastic surgeon. Best.
