I’ve been lurking around for a few months .. finally my day came! I had my BR on Friday 02/02. I’ve always been large breasted .. I was actually approved over 10 yrs ago, but I was super nervous and chickened out. Now that I’m married, and certain no kids are in my future.. I knew it was time. I started at a 40F .. not exactly sure what size I will be as soon as the swelling goes down. My Dr told me at one of our consultations .. he will make my breasts proportional to my body .. .. a sight I haven’t seen since I was about 12 !! LoL. I was super nervous on Friday before I went back, but I was ready. My Dr was awesome, and so was his team!! After everything was done, the recovery room sucked - I felt super nauseous, although I never got sick, thank goodness!! I stayed back there a little longer than some, but I didn’t want to leave until I knew I was safe to do so. The worst part about being at home was the drain tubes!!! Ugh, I’m not lying when I say I HATED them!! But luckily, I was able to have them removed today (Monday). I was producing about 5ml every 24 hrs, so they took them out this morning. If anyone tells you it doesn’t hurt, they are lying!! LoL - but it was worth it!! I feel SO much better now!! I’ll be off until the 19th .. working on my recovery. Now that the tubes are out, I have to say the pain is much less than I was expecting .. its just trying to remember I can’t do everything that I could just a few days ago. IE - reaching, lifting, pulling, pushing, (tmi) - wiping after using the restroom is a task, know that now!! My Dr says no bra, at all, for the first 4-6 weeks .. no arguments out of me on that one!! LoL!! Updated on 8 Feb 2018: All is good so far, I can finally wear a button down shirt!!!! Tomorrow will be 1 week and I couldn’t be happier. Today was my first ‘outing’ .. I had a funeral visitation to go to, then dinner after .. all of which took about 4 hours, and let me say, by the end of it all - I was worn out and very sore!! Slow and steady wins this race!! I still have my sticky bandages over my incisions .. it should last until my next appt, which is on the 19th. Updated on 11 Feb 2018: Just a thought for the day .. my Dr said he removed 1.5 and 1.7 lbs of dense tissue .. 3.2 lbs .. I’ve seen most ppl talk about the grams they had removed .. 3.2 lbs = 1451 total grams!! ???? Updated on 12 Feb 2018: Hey ladies .. I’m on day 10 now .. not too much has changed. Everything still looks about the same .. I go back to the Dr on the 19th (next Monday) to have my waterproof bandages removed. I’ve felt pretty good so far .. about the only thing that’s bothering me is my arms!! I believe subconsciously I’m holding them ‘out’, away from the sides of my breast by my armpits .. other than that, everything seems to be good - well, except for the fact that I have 1 ‘inney’ and 1 ‘outty’ .. but the office has reassured me that will change as things settle .. I sure hope they are right!!!! My Dr says no bra for the first little bit .. but I won’t lie, it feels soooooo awkward!!! I found 2 Nike Cropped Mesh Bras today .. they are SUPER comfortable and a bit longer so the elastic is no where near my incisions! Happy Monday!!
I had my breast implant replacement and pocket revision yesterday. 450cc saline changed out to 575cc moderate smooth round gel. Pain has not been even half as bad as the original surgery. So far, loving the look. I am in hopes they don't drop much because I like where they are sitting now. Because it's a revision I have to use extra support with an upward pull (so the pocket revision can settle). Updated on 4 Sep 2016: The post op ace wrap lasted me 3 days. For me it was too wide so it kept wrinkling and causing skin irritations. So yesterday I switched to a post surgical bra I got on Amazon. Ah, so comfortable. And supportive. See pic. Not sure what the surgeon will say on Tuesday but I'm supporting the new girls so hopefully I'm good. Updated on 8 Sep 2016: Today I'm exactly 1 week out. I had pocket revision so the bottoms of my breasts are sore. The left one is more so than the right. Especially today. Tylenol doesn't even touch it. My surgeon recommended keeping the girls lifted so the pocket revisions would have a chance to build some scar tissue. I think (at least in my head) that my left one is trying to drop which is NOT what we want yet. Needless to say I have a little bit of anxiety. Called the nurse and she recommended I go back to the ace wrap to lift the implants. Also going on Advil. Took about an hour but I'm starting to feel relief. Updated on 16 Sep 2016: Well it has been 2 weeks since surgery. On one hand that seems so long ago. On the other, the discomfort still reminds me it has not been long. I had surgery on a Thursday and went back to an office job the following Tuesday. Exhausted and sore. By the end of the day I felt more swollen and extremely sore. Enough to medicate with something stronger than Tylenol. Now, 2 weeks later I am feeling better. But just now. I can now make it all day on Advil. I'm still taking something a little stronger at bedtime to help me sleep comfortably and that usually holds me until 5am. Still not noticing a change from day 1 to week 2 but they have me wearing a very tight bra to lift up versus push down. What do you think? Honesty appreciated. Updated on 22 Sep 2016: Getting better every day. I'm down to 3-6 Advil a day. Still having to slightly medicate at night. It seems like the sides of my new implants get tight the longer the evening goes. This week I went to an outing and forgot Advil. By the end of the night I had flu like chills and skin sensitivity. I was sure I was getting sick. Got back to hotel and took a very hot bath (kept incisions about the water) and took Advil and the discomfort went away. So I'm thinking now that was my body saying I did too much. As much as I still ache, I can't wait to get back to exercise. Getting flabbier by the day. Senseless chatter. I know. So here's some real stuff. Still have minor discomfort at 3 weeks. Still wearing 2 bras during day and one at night for added support (and comfort). Not massaging yet. Steri strips fell off today. Next check up is on Monday. Updated on 1 Oct 2016: Well I've made it to week4. I had another follow up with surgeon this week. Weeks ago when I ran out of my one and only fill in pain pills I switched to Tylenol, which did not help at all. I called the office and his nurse said I could switch to Advil. So, I've been taking 3 Advil 3 times a day for weeks. This week my doctor thought that it may be too much. So he gave me another Rx for prescription pain medication. Wow what a difference that has made. I have taken 1.5 pills every night before bed and finally have gotten almost a full nights sleep. I feel like I have finally turned the corner. He also has now let me start moving my implants. I'm to push them up 10 times twice daily. Still wearing 2 bras to keep them off the bottom pocket work. But it actually feels good. Emotionally: I like the cleavage or closeness I have. My mixed feelings are in the size. Should I have gone bigger? They look the same as my ore op to me. Am I just not seeing the changes? Updated on 6 Oct 2016: Wow what a difference a week can make. Since last md visit I have done something. The pain meds he prescribed said take 1-2; so I've been taking 1 and a half almost every night. That has really helped me sleep more soundly. In return, the nipple sensitivity is almost gone and muscle pain where he did pocket work is also almost gone. A true testament of how important rest is to heal. I'm still wearing 2 support bras at all times. Still doing the implant movements upward. As much as I didn't want my implants to drop, it appears they have. But evenly. So that's a good thing. Feeling better about the results. Still haven't totally stopped thinking about "the next revision". Lol. Seriously. Next revision will be a little bigger and add an internal bra to keep the girls lifted up higher. But feeling better right now. ???? Updated on 16 Oct 2016: Had a 6 week follow up this week. Wow what a difference a few weeks make in this journey. 2 weeks ago I was still uncomfortable and unsure of my results. This week- I swing more towards the I'm happy stage and less towards the I should've gone bigger stage. Anyways, this week physically I feel like me again. No discomfort at all. It's as if I never had surgery. But, because my original implants had bottomed out and he did pocket work on the revision, no physical activity for ANOTHER 6 weeks. ????. I think this may be worse. Feeling great but not being able to get back into a workout routine. He wants zero bounce and feels like any activity may cause bounce. I feel like I have dropped too much but he says they look perfect. Maybe it's in my head. Would sure like some critical input from you girls.... Updated on 11 Nov 2016: I'm 10 weeks out now. Still playing it very safe. Still wearing 2 sports bras day and night. Doing the implant lift exercises once a day. Still not exercising...at all. Per doctors orders. So. As you can imagine I'm going nuts. We always want what we can't have right? Follow up and hopeful release to get moving in 2 weeks. Question for the masses: I think I might look a tad fuller at 10 weeks versus 6 weeks. Maybe because of the implant lifts every day. What do you think? Are my eyes seeing what they want to see?
This is not the first time I have used Dr Saar to perform the desired procedure. Before I had a lift with implants. This time he removed my implants. Another Surgeon performed my bilateral mastectomy, and Dr Saar the inserted expanders and closed me up. He also came back at 11:30pm to check on me because he was informed of some clotting. He massaged the area to work out any clotted blood in the newly closed area. He returned again at 6:00am to check on me again. He cares about his work and his patients. Every week I have gone into his office to have injections in my expanders. Every week he asks how your week has gone, any unusual pain, bruising, and he ask how you are dealing with new body. He always takes time with his patients. Updated on 5 Jul 2016: Dr. Saar informed me of every possibility of what could happen because of how much and where my lumpectomy was. I was very happy with the work he did. He listened to what I wanted, and did exactly that. My breast look symetrical and it is awesome not to have to put an enhanced with one breast. Plus I can no go bra less and look good. I will use him as my plastic surgeon for any and all surgeries I choose in the future.
I have been reading some of your reviews over the last month or two and doing lots of research on BA surgery. I have several family members and friends who have had it done. I had a consultation on January 19th and scheduled my surgery before I left that day for February 3rd. I went in at 9:15 that morning and they prepped me for surgery. I was a little nervous but super confident in my doctor. I was out by about 11:30, the actual surgery only took about 30 minutes. I wasn't in much pain at first but after they removed my IV and the pain meds stopped I was in so much pain I wanted to cry. They gave me a pain pill for the drive home because I live pretty far away from where the surgery was performed. The first 2 days were the worst and every day after that was better. I am now 9 days post op and still dealing with morning boob and my incisions are a little tender still but nothing I cant manage. I am so in love with my new boobs, although I do experience a little bit of boob greed every once in a while. I ended up going with the silicone gel, high profile, 450cc's. Submuscular. I am thrilled with my results and I know they will only get better from here. :) Updated on 12 Feb 2016: Here are some pre-op and post-op pictures:) Updated on 15 Feb 2016: I'm 12 days post op today. I feel like my left breast is bigger than the right! :( I really hope it's not going to stay like that! I'm not hurting much anymore, only the incisions are a little tender. Here are some pics! Updated on 20 Feb 2016: I'm feeling much better these days and able to lift my (almost) 5 month old now! I can lift my arms over my head and it doesn't hurt but every once in a while I get this feeling of an electric shock in my boob. It's so painful and random. I can't lay on my side to sleep at night because it seems like they occur more often when I lay on my side but I am sleeping on my back just fine and not propped up anymore. The doctor said they are dropping a lot faster than expected so he wants me to start wearing a more supportive bra from now on. I am loving my boobs so far! Here are some updated pics!
After my 3rd child was born 13 years ago, he changed my body for the worse. I had a bladder lift, and lots of other repair, due to him being a big baby. Should have had TT done then, but did not have the money. I finally made it my goad to do this when I reached 50. I had lost weight, but could never loose my belly...I was imbaressed to be naked in front of anyone. I was not nervous at all, just ready to change my life...all has been a positive experience. Updated on 7 Jan 2016: I am now 24 days post op. Its been a pretty smoothe ride. I weighed 206 in Sept for my consult visit. I worked out even more and continued to eat right before sugery. Weight was 195 at pre op. Sugery was on Dec 14. I had 6lbs of skin removed, and had a 6 inches of muscle seperation corrected. I stayed overnight. Had no problem peeing, or pooping. Before my sugery, I took miralax for 3 days and really watched my diet....nothing heavy..lots of veggies and fiber. I was not happy with my nurse on the morning after. She was not helpful and rude. I was not offered any pain meds but the pain pump, and finally took a hydrocodine the was prescribed before sugery, within a hr I felt good enough to go home. Once at home I had a nest in my bedroom premade.....used a oversized glider rocker, had my portable heater, all my meds, computer ect......I used a walker for a few days to get up off the potty and get around. Slept in chair for about 10 days, thats when my turning point was. Dr told me to walk all I could, and I might have done too much, just having this done before Christmas. I was really glad Christmas was over so I could rest......First drain removed at one week, it had very little drainage. At week 2, I still had 60cc per 24 hrs on 2nd drain....and redness on insion sight and tenderness, so I was started on antibotics. Finally at 3 week chk I got 2nd drain out out! Tried on some jeans....cant wear them et, have tender hips. Wearing binder 24 7, off on occasion to itch. I wear a seamless tank under it and thats a great hint. Also a shower chair. I tucked my drain pouch between my boobs. Today I weigh 182. Updated on 8 Jan 2016: 25 days po and still have swelling, but no flab Updated on 16 Jan 2016: Spent yesterday moving college daughter into apartment. Lots of stairs, only lifting groceries, bust walked 12,000 steps, and then too Casino last night.....Lots of fun, yes swelling. Just worn out today. Went out with jns and boots. Just ready to feel somewhat normal. Updated on 16 Jan 2016: Updated on 26 Jan 2016: 6 weeks post op. Everything is healing, swelling in the evening. I have rode my horses 3 times, and had to use a step stool to get on, but it was all good, just slow work. Only wear binder when active. Very frustrated with hubby. I feel so much sexier, bought some new undies, that are not Granny panties, and he cant even get a errection.....we had sex at 10 days on the side....idk. Bought some smaller tops, jeans are loose, but are not really comfy, so will wait awhile before I get new ones. I stay cold all the time. Updated on 15 Mar 2016: I have a very tender area that is on the rt side of bb. Umm, Dr hopes its just a pocket of fat, but its sore, and it concerns him. Going back next week. Iam 13 weeks PO. Updated on 24 Mar 2016: Huge bluge. Side od bb. Painful. Went in today and had tummy numed up, Dr went threw bb and palpated bulge with finger, determined it to be a fat pocket. So we did a lipo procedure and 75 cc of fat were removed. Back in binder for a few weeks and little bit of rest. Also corrected a dog ear flap on scar. Could have been worse. Could have had to had been in hospital for general, glad it was local. Still pretty painful, and sore. 14 weeks now. Updated on 17 May 2016: I cant believe my before photos.....its been a long long road of recovery. Still have a few numb and tender spots. Down about 40, and want to loose 30 more. 95 percent of clothes in closet dont fit. Sure have enjoyed shopping. I workout 5 or 6 days a week really hard and can see so much muscle improvement. You can see definition through my jeans. Enjoying compliments. Just wished I would have done this 10 years ago. Hang in there, healing is a long process.....mental as well as physical.
So I should have started this sooner but here it goes! In 2013, a year after my 1st child I had a lift done in Dallas by Dr Stagnone. I loved it at first. Fast forward to October 2014, after breastfeeding my 2nd child, the girls were emmmmpty. Decided on going ahead with aug, and also had to have my lift revised a little because I had too much skin left under my crease. Dr Saar (who did my Aug) said I had 8 inches of skin and shoud have only had 4. My nipples were pretty much poinrung to the sky after everything settled after my lift (He called this a "Dallas lift" meaning a lot of doctors give patients the perfect look right of out surgery instead of giving them a lift that will look perfect after they settle) My pics will explain this. Anyway- had the aug on a Wednesday, drove myself to my post op Friday, and went back to work the following Monday. I'll start here with pics. Updated on 2 Dec 2014: Ok so let me preface everything with this- my goal was not necessarily to look "natural". It drives me insane when everyone says "well you want to look natural" . Really? Do I? How do you know that?! LoL I dealt with "natural" for years- I want PERFECT and BIG. My wish was to be right underneath the line of big versus too big and wanted to go as big as I could without them making me look fat. I recently lost 20 pounds so I didn't want to add that back in boobs! So @ the consult, The first thing my doctor said to do was not worry about the number and not compare myself to anyone else. My sister who is 5 11 went with 400s and she kept telling me I should go no bigger than that. Anyway when I started I didn't ask what numbers they were putting on me. I ended up going all the way to 400 in my visit. at the consultation I decided on going with 450. However when I went in for my preop appointment the Friday before my surgery I was all alone and they didn't have a 450 Sizer. So I tried on the 400 and she brought me the 500 and we decided that that would be a good way for me to determine what 450 would look like. Well after I put the 500s on I realized that they didn't freak me out so I ended up going with the 500s. Looking back- My advice to you is to try on sizers until you say "that's too big". Don't just stop with big enough. Also, in the pics you will see me holding my hand under my boobs to flatten my shirt. Don't do that either because most shirts don't fit like that. DO take sever different types of shirts to see how they all fit. Updated on 2 Dec 2014: Left is dropping faster than right Updated on 2 Dec 2014: Trying on bathing suits. This was really when it hit me that I ahould have gone bigger. Updated on 2 Dec 2014: This was last night. Loving them in this tank top! Updated on 2 Apr 2015: I'm mostly happy with my augmentation. I still go back and forth with the size. I'm excited for bathing suit season!
With a history of cancer in my family I decided to have the BRCA testing done . I found out I had the BRCA 2 gene . It was a lot to take in ! After talking to several Dr.'s , I decided to have both breast removed and reconstruction done . It was a long process but well worth it ! It has been 9 years now sence I went through all that . I just last week had to have my implants replaced . And Im still pleased with my results !!! It was a hard decision to make at the age of 28 but I have no regreats . I wish anyone about to go through this process the best of luck !
Dec. 27th TT with MR and BL A little about myself... I'm 31, 5'3" and currently about 145 pounds. I've lost more than 100 pounds over the past several years and have been at a stable weight for about a year. I'm super active, I love to run and work out 5-6 days a week. I've never had perky boobs but while I was heavy at least I had something to speak of (a full C). After my weight loss I'm left with a full A small B. They're not that bad if I'm standing upright but if I bend over...I feel like they're just hollow sacks that hang there. Lol sexy right? I actually don't mind my small breasts I just don't like how saggy they are. My initial plan was to just have a tummy tuck to get rid of the also very sexy excess skin I have around my belly but once I really thought about it I decided, why just fix the belly? I'll just be more fixated on the saggy boobs then. I'd really hoped that I would get away with a minimal scar but upon seeing my PS found that in order to do any real good I'll have to have a full anchor scar. YIKES! This is one thing that scares the living crap out of me. Some of the other things being reading the "Not Worth It" ratings on here and seeing some of their after photos. I've gotten concerned that the T scar that should be hidden in the fold wont be hidden because my breasts are so small and I'm not opting to have an implant at this time. Make sense? I suppose that's a question for my PS though...Since my surgery date is set so far away I'm really still up in the air about the BL, I've always known I'd do the TT so as far as that goes its happening! A question to the ladies out there that are on the other side of the procedure. What questions did you ask your PS about this surgery that you feel like were vital to the success of your outcome? Any you didn't ask that you wish you had? Updated on 11 Dec 2012: I've decided to go ahead with the breast lift without implants. For a brief moment I was excited with the idea of bigger boobs but the reality is I'm just fine with my itty bittys....I just want them up in the place they belong. I'm well aware that there are scars involved in every procedure and I'm at peace with that. (Still would prefer perfectly healed super thin super light ones though.) Specifically my incisions will be the anchor style with an extension of the horizontal one along my bra roll to take up the excess lax skin there. There aren't many of us out there that have small breasts that opt to not have implants so its been difficult to gauge what my results might be but I'm hopeful! So on the morning of Dec 27th the girls will for the first time in their existence be perky. Updated on 4 Jan 2013: I had my BL and TT done at the same time so in realation to the TT the breast lift has been a breeze so far. I wish I had my before pic but somehow I deleted :/ Trust though my breasts were totally saggy and deflated from my weight loss. Hopefully this will help some poor soul out there searching for examples of BLs without implants for small breasts because Lord knows I had hell trying to find anything. Updated on 18 Jan 2013: Hi all, just wanted to do a quick update. I've got a more thorough review going on the tummy tuck thread than I do here since I originally created this one just to review my BL. Since I also had a TT at the same time this review got transferred here. I just can't bring myself to run two solid reviews at a time and not feeling like posting both sets of photos in both places so I'll just keep with the lift pics. If you want to check out the TT side of my experience its here: http://www.realself.com/review/tyler-tx-tummy-tuck-the-road-the-flat-side-tt-tylertx So here's the quick run down! Yesterday was 3 weeks PO everything is going fine thankfully no problems! My PS recommended I start messaging my scars with vitamin E oil at 2 weeks; I've been using Bio Oil and Golden Salve and already see a difference in some places laying flatter and feeling smoother. The fluid build up under my right arm has calmed down but there continues to be more of a firm bulge there than on the left side. I'm starting to resign myself to the prospect of excepting a certain level of side boob cause its still certainly better than the saggy old lady skin! The right breast is also a bit bigger and also firmer than the left but I was smaller on the left side to start with (still not complaining though). Anywho I've posted the progress of my scars and again hopefully this and possible also my TT review will help any of you ladies out there considering these procedures. Happy healing all!
I'm 30 years young 5'3" and currently weight 150-ish. I've lost a little over 100 pounds very slowly over the past few years. My overall goal has always been to just to try be healthy...but lately as I get nearer to my weight goal of 135 pounds I find myself really unhappy about my saggy skin and flabby belly. I've wanted this for quite some time now and warred back and forth with guilt over spending such a large sum of money and feeling like I'm just being vain about my appearance. I've finally decided that if I don't do it now while I'm still young I'll just look back and wish I had...vain or not. I'm in the process of working out getting consultations set up but probably won't be able to actually have one for a couple months since I'm pretty much tied at the hip to my job right now. In the mean time I hope to be able to drop some of the remaining pounds I'm working on loosing. Its been so exciting to read the experiences of everyone here, I can't wait to really get started on my own journey to the flat side :) Updated on 8 Aug 2012: I've scheduled an appointment for consultation on Sept. 25th with Dr. Saar here in Tyler. I've heard very good things about him and in doing some research I've found that I'm not so interested in checking out a few of the other surgeons I thought I would. I still have an open mind to my end PS but am excited about meeting Dr. Saar and his staff. I'm super stoked and nervous but so so ready to get this ball rolling and be rid of this tire around my waist! I wish I could go sooner but all good things come in time, right? :) Updated on 12 Sep 2012: Let me first say please forgive the fact that this post isn't really TT related... I've never been one to love the waiting process involved in making big decisions but I am well aware of how important it is to give yourself time to really think things through. I think I may have given myself too much time to think about what I want to discuss with my PS during my consultation though. Ever since I made my mind up to get REAL about having my TT and actually do it I've toyed with the idea of also having a BA. Just like my back and forth feelings on the TT I've gone back and forth on the implant situation. Several years ago when I was just over 250 pounds and sporting a full C I would never have thought I'd ever even want to consider implants. Now at 145 I'm working within an inch of my life to convince my bra that I've got half enough to fill a B. Soooo I started thinking implants are something I'm interested in. Don't get me wrong I actually like my small boobages. I'm a runner along with a whole host of other sporty like activities-er and my small ones sort of fit me. However, they are not perky or full at all and I don't love that aspect so much. I don't actually want to be bigger than I am now just fuller and perky. The thing is I'm totally terrified of implants. Just like I scoured every bit of information and stories I could on TTs I've done the same for BAs and let me tell you the stories there scare the ever loving crap outta me. Things like autoimmune illness from saline implants and huge complications from silicone implants rupturing. Not to mention one woman's sworn story that her husbands weight on her during/after sex popped one of her implants. HOLY CRAP! Now I've pretty much scared myself into thinking I can live with my deflated boobies. :( But since I let myself dream the dream of pert and perky tatas I'm more than just a bit down in the dumps about the girls staying the way they are. Anybody know where I'm coming from? Or am I just weirding out over here. Again sorry for the lack of TT related information, just needed to vent. Updated on 27 Sep 2012: Super stoked to have set my date but thinking now I might be a crazy woman. Surgery right after the stress of the holiday season? No probs I can handle it! Maybe?! I knew going into this that I'd have to schedule my surgery for shortly after Christmas, somewhere around the first of the year but two days after Christmas....jeez glutton for punishment table for one. But now down to the good stuff :) I'm scheduled for a full TT & MR with some small lipo around the flank/hip area and still in the air about this part but a BL at the same time. Since my surgery is set so far out I'm still swinging back and forth on the BL (also have a review going about that too if anyone is interested) thing but the TT is most definitely ON! I feel really good about my PS choice, he made me feel very comfortable and was completely honest about my expectations on what can and cannot be achieved. I particularly liked his conservative nature of going about things and he has a great reputation of achieving the most natural results possible. He assured me that what I've got going on around my belly is almost completely skin and not fat. A small bright point in the hugely scary/embarrassing thing of showing my naked body to one of the few other people that's seen it besides my husband, ever....and I use almost super human tactics to hide most of it from him. Another highlight of the whole thing was when the good Dr. told me once he's done tightening up my stomach muscles they could literally bounce a quarter off of them. I was like "Yes please, I want that thing you just said!" I'm still hoping to loose another 10 pounds or so before my surgery date but honestly I'm not sweating too hard about that part. I want to look the best I can but I pack a lot of muscle and just tend to be a thick girl. I kind of think if I loose too much weight I'll start to look not so hot, or like another member here said about themselves loosing too much weight "like a crack ho". Lol Sometime soon I'll get the courage up to post some before photos but I'm kinda thinking that might involve a drink beforehand. Until next time my tummy tuck ladies :) Updated on 29 Oct 2012: Less than two months and counting till the big day and TRUST I've totally been counting!! I finally worked up the courage to take some pre-op pics even though I'm still hoping to drop a few pounds before surgery. Still not on the freak out mode with the weight loss though because honestly having really taken the time to evaluate how I truly feel about my body lately I'm okay with the basic state of affairs so to speak. I'm healthy, I work out on the regular, I eat right (most of the time) and that's all that matters. I'm a thick girl and that's okay too. I've never been skinny in my life. Ever. That too is okay with me. The real bugger is the nasty dough boy pudge that refuses to go away no matter how much I tell it I hate it. I can't even describe the feeling of frustration during yoga in a low or forearm hover when my tummy skin touches the ground and nothing else does! Or how uncomfortable it is to feel my belly jiggling when I go for a run. I've been gathering things here and there trying to prepare myself as much as I can because I'm terrified it'll get right down to the wire and I'll not be ready for it. So far only a handful of people know about me doing this. Just my hubby & Mom and Dad. If I can help it that's were the train will stop. I didn't really want to tell anyone aside from my husband but I run a business with my Dad so telling him was just a hair unavoidable. I intended to not tell my Mom due to the epic nature of her mouth but decided it would be too difficult for my Dad to have to cover for me if I didn't. Aside from my mother keeping her mouth closed the only other major hurdle in the surgery secrecy alliance is my MIL. Did I mention that she lives with my husband and I? Did I mention that she actually tops MY mother in her epic relaying of everyone else's business? Yes and yes. Those are both accurate statements folks. My husband thinks its unavoidable but I think she has other kids that could house her for just a bit so that I can get back to normal enough for her to never know the difference. Besides the holidays are a perfect excuse for her to travel somewhere else for a while. Not only do I know with an absolute certainty in the nether regions of my soul that she will tell anything that will listen to her what I'm doing she will also hardcore judge me for it. Also she just kind of stresses me out in general....blah. Oh well for now I'll just keep truckin along counting off the days and trying to prepare myself as best I can. Hope all of you out there post and pre-op are all doing well! Updated on 27 Nov 2012: Whoa just 2 weeks till my pre-op and only one month until the big day!! I've been trying really hard to stay focused on the tasks at hand but I can't help but think throughout the day about THE day getting closer and closer. I thought that maybe because I initially had to schedule my surgery so far out I'd be over the flex of emotions by now but I still find myself ranging from excited to scared and still the guilt gets me sometimes. I know in my heart that this is right for me though. I know how much better and freer I'll feel personally and intimately to have the skin gone. I really look at this as the last chapter in my weight loss journey too. It feels like I can finally put my check mark of finality on it...if that makes sense. One thing I've been slowly working on is getting the little bits and pieces together. I just don't want to have to do any massive gathering of stuff close to Christmas. One thing that's really been freaking me out is the immobility of the whole thing. I'm an extremely active person and hate being restricted so I'm afraid I'll over do it. I know I'll miss working out and at this point don't want to miss any kind of activity I can get in since I know I'll be out of the game for a while. Also been concerned about having meals made ahead. I try to stay away from prepackaged and focus on fresh and non-processed foods but when the husband is in charge its peanut butter sandwiches all around. So I've been working on devising set of frozen meals I can make ahead....suggestions? Anywho hope all that have been there are healing well and to those of us anxiously awaiting our turn one foot in front of the other and we'll get there too :) Updated on 6 Dec 2012: Somebody talk me down. Lol I'm officially going through the OMG am I really going to put myself into elective surgery faze. All I've been able to think about the past two days is what if something happens and its all my stupid fault cause I just HAD to have a flat belly and normal belly button. Someone please reassure me I won't die on the table or have some freakish complication. In my heart I know everything will be fine but I guess the stress of Christmas shopping and making sure everything is together prior to surgery is really working on me. Maybe if I throw a few question for those of you already on the flat out there it'll take my mind of the other.... How long before you wore normal clothes and were comfortable? I wear fairly loose casual clothing at work but mostly jeans and I'm afraid I'll have to go buy bigger clothes to accommodate the binder/swelling. How active (normal everyday type stuff) were you a week out of surgery? Two weeks? If you slept in a recliner at first how long before you were able to sleep in your bed with a reasonable amount of comfort. Did you have a GC picked out before surgery or did you wait? Also where did you get yours did you order it or find it in a local store? Anyone take colloidal silver after finishing their antibiotics to help prevent infection? Updated on 11 Dec 2012: Did my pre-op today and holy crap none of this really felt real until I managed to scratch out the largest check amount I've ever written. Ouch! But great googly moogly am I excited now. I will officially be having a TT with MR and BL. I can't help be overwhelmed with the idea that for the first time in EVER I'll have a normal belly and belly button! I keep looking in the mirror moving my belly around this way and that trying hard to figure out what I really look like under there. Crazy? Haha probably. I'm still terrified of the recovery but I guess most of us are. As far as being prepared I've got almost all of my Christmas shopping done and have most of my make ahead meals made. I've still got some things to gather as far as post op supplies go but not so much that its unmanageable. One thing my surgeon mentioned that I wanted to throw out to you ladies is since I'm a red head my scars may stay redder longer than others. Any other red heads out there ever heard that? I don't have any other scars to really gauge with except a scar on my forehead from busting it open as a kid. But that healed so light you have to be right up in my face to see it. Updated on 18 Dec 2012: I'm like a kid at Christmas for reals, I can hardly stand the anticipation! Just one small week from Thursday and I'll have my new awesome flat flat flat tummy :) I'm feeling pretty prepared overall. I've manage to gather my post op goodies with the exception of my scripts which I'm picking up after work today. I'd planned on borrowing one of my parents recliners so I could have one in the bedroom and leave the one in our living room where it is so I'd have options as far as where I decided to hang out and sleep. I didn't have time to get it this last weekend though and I don't think I'll have time to pick it up before surgery. So I'm kinda thinking maybe I can manage sleeping in bed all propped up?? Of course I can sleep in our living room but that puts me out where the mother in law roams and her feet are constantly set on stomp. Not too mention I want to try to stay away from her prying eyes as much as possible since I'm not actually telling her exactly what I'm doing. Small worries though, I'm still smiling like a huge goof ball thinking the day is getting closer and closer! Updated on 21 Dec 2012: I've been talking back and forth with my pharmacy and Dr.s office for the past 3 days trying to get my prescriptions filled and I'll be if it still hasn't happened yet! I'm supposed to start taking my antibiotics Christmas Eve and so if the Dr.s office doesn't get my scripts in by the end of today I'll not be able to get them until the day before my surgery. Ugg! Updated on 21 Dec 2012: Whew! I was really starting to get freaked!! Thankfully whatever was kinking the lines between my PS office and pharmacy is resolved. Hallelujah Amen Updated on 26 Dec 2012: I hope everyone out there in realselfland had a Merry Christmas. I'm in the middle of East Texas and lo and behold I get snow for Christmas, what a trip! Finishing up the last of my cleaning and laundry today...whatever else I've missed or forgotten will just have to be okay. I still need to pack my bag for the hospital but not really sure of what to take. I guess I'll just bring a pair of sweats, socks and underwear? Anyway, to all my ladies going in tomorrow..good luck, you're in my prayers and see you on the flat side :) Updated on 28 Dec 2012: Surgery was yesterday morning at 7:30AM. All went well it took about 4 hours for my TT with MR and BL. They didn't use a catheter and I had to pee almost immediately upon being taken to my post op hospital room. Since I was already up and moving around my nurse had me walk down the hall and back...not too terribly far but enough to wear me smooth out and make me feel like I might vomit. Thankfully I didn't though. I ate a few bites of supper a little while after that and slipped in and out of sleep for a few hours. All throughout the night I got up on my own to go use the bathroom, after the first few times it wasn't any huge deal but I did almost always have to hit my morphine pump after I'd get settled back into bed. By morning I wasn't using the pump extra at all, although there was still a small drip going into my system anyway. Also, my drains were draining pretty heavily right of the bat but slowed way down later. This morning I had a little breakfast and waited to see my surgeon. He came in just after noon and took a look at my incisions. He said they look good (it was hard for me too see and frankly I was a little afraid to look so soon anyway) but I have a little bit of fluid build up down the center line of my belly. Nothing to be worried about he says just make sure I wear my binder nice and tightly all weekend. I can shower anytime I want to but I don't think I have the energy to do it today, maybe tomorrow morning. All in all I feel WAY better than expected not much pain just a lot of soreness and discomfort. Hope all my Dec. 27th ladies are doing well, off to check on all of ya! Happy healing to everyone :) Updated on 29 Dec 2012: I slept far better than expected last night and felt pretty good when I got up this morning. I took a pain pill first thing and ventured into the bathroom to shower. I was able to shower and wash my hair without sitting down although washing my hair was not quite a "real" washing, more of a rinse :) I dealt with my drains, put on fresh clothes and then ate a little breakfast. I'm not in too much pain just sore and a little nauseous. I've been dealing with a little chest congestion and trying to cough up whats in my chest is ROUGH but not unbearable. Pressing a pillow against my tummy helps when I have to cough. I took a few pics after my shower...sorry they're a little blurry and for flashing the boobages. The breast lift looks a little strange right now because of fluid collection in the underarm area but that should calm down soon. To be honest I was terrified to take off my bandages that first time but after they were off I was so pleased at what I saw I forgot most of my fear. I'm swollen and bruised but liking what I see so far. I still don't have much of an appetite but managed a protein smoothy with pineapple and spinach for breakfast this morning. Herbal tea is really the only thing that sounds good to me right now but I'm sure that will change soon enough. I hope everyone is doing well today! Updated on 30 Dec 2012: Actually its more of a love/hate thing. I love it cause its the only place I can really get comfortable and hate it because I'm stuck in it for what seems like forever. Seriously though how do people watch TV all day? I'm nearly in a freak out wanting to do something, anything other than watch people complain about the feng shui or lack there of in their dining room and kitchen. I've tried reading but every time I get really involved in my book my husband turns on some car show or wants to talk about something or another so I've given up reading until night time when the house is nice and quite. I washed my binder and bandage this morning since I had a little seepage on both, going without the bandages for a while was both liberating and awful at the same time. I had this feeling like my insides might fall out but still it was nice to actually take a good deep breath. The whole time I sat in my chair with my arms wrapped around my midsection like I could hold it all in. The husband found it quite amusing and also necessary to try to make me laugh, the cheeky monkey. I'm a little curious about my drains, they're not putting out much at all. Only 10cc from both overnight and from the looks of them now I don't even have 5cc in either. How bout my other post op ladies, how have your drains been doing? Does this seem normal? So far today I've only needed a little extra strength Tylenol still for the bit of soreness I'm feeling in the upper most part of my abdomen. I've wrapped my binder a little tighter than it was yesterday and that seemed to help with that too. Other than mass boredom and the fidgeting need to do things all is pretty well...except for the ridiculously hellish gas I've got for some reason or another. Updated on 31 Dec 2012: PO day 4 and dude am I swollen along my mid-line above my bellybutton. My guess is its from the MR? I've got the weirdest feeling there too almost like its squishy inside and pushing against my skin...if that makes any kind of sense. Its also the place I feel the most sore aside from my BL incision that extends under my arms, that's been a little sore too. The only thing that seems to make me feel any better is to tighten my binder up but then I loose the luxury of deep breathing. Side note, my PS office called bright and early this morning to let me know they moved my first PO appointment to Thursday instead of today. I'm sure his nurse could hear the devastation in my voice as I so pleadingly explained that surely these devil drains should come out since they're only putting out a minimal amount anymore. I guess my attempt at pulling her heart strings wasn't good enough. Though now I'm wondering if maybe its best I keep them for a while since I'm still so squishy along my center line and according to my PS the drains go clear up to underneath my breasts. Still I, like my sisters in drain incarceration, hate them more than anything right now. I've also formed a small blister right next to my belly button which as I suspected the PS instructed me to clean, put antibiotic cream on and cover with gauze. Apparently its no biggie and something that happens pretty regularly. I'm still pretty hunched over and feeling like a Mondoshawan from the 5th Element. Google it, you'll likely recognize the feeling. Hunched back, swollen midsection, arms dangling strangely at your sides, slow shuffle everywhere you roam...or maybe that's just my overactive imagination. Though my shuffle is getting pretty speedy, as far as a shuffle could be anyway. Anywho to all of you out there that are just starting your journey I wish you best of luck and to all my ladies in recovery keep trucking everyday gets better :) Updated on 2 Jan 2013: PO day 6 and I'm sick with the cold my husband had last week. I'm usually pretty immune to colds and things that go around but I guess my body just took to much of a hit with the surgery and was too week to heal and fight off a cold at the same time. Other than the stuffy/runny nose and cough that sneaks up on me and kills I'm pretty good. Oh and blowing the old honker is a real chore, if possible at all sometimes. Its crazy! I never ever knew how many mundane things I do every day that require use of multiple ab muscles. Cold withstanding the past couple days I've progressed back into doing a few "normal" everyday things like laundry, loading the dish washer and even semi cooked dinner last night (which means I put a meal I premade in the oven Lol). Every bit of normalcy I can put into my day both fights the boredom and makes me feel a little more human like again. I'm not sure but it feels like I'm standing just a tiny bit straighter and pain is pretty much nonexistent as long as I don't cough too deeply or laugh hard or bump up against anything where my incision goes around my hips. Every time I look at my tummy I'm in awe of it. I still have stretchmarks and I'll never be rocking a bikini but damn if I'm not over the moon and back anyway. I can't stress enough how much reading all the reviews and blogs here have so much helped me prepare for this and for that I am so so thankful! Thank you to all the ladies and gents that take the time to let all of the hungry new comers know at least to some extent what to expect on this journey. P.S. First PO appointment tomorrow, so fingers crossed that I'll be drain free when I return home. Updated on 3 Jan 2013: Woohoo I got em out! Dear lord did it burn like the skin of my hoohoo was being ripped off by one of those super sticky band aids but I am so glad to see the drains go. The burn subsided quickly so no biggie and the relief from having them out is immediate sisters, know that! My PS was quick in and out but evidently I'm healing normally and progressing as I should be and maybe this time next week I'll get my belly button stitches out. I couldn't help but wonder if I could fit into my pre-tummy tuck favorite pair of jeans but I decided no, don't do it to yourself. If by chance I couldn't get them over my hips I'd be devastated and then there would go my good mood from the drain removal. I hope all of you are doing well and all are finding your little triumphs in your days cause that's what seems important. Celebrate the little triumphs; happy and swift healing buddies :) Updated on 4 Jan 2013: PO day 8 and feeling good even the cold is getting a little better. So far I've been afraid I wouldn't be able to go back to work on Monday but I think I'll be okay. My energy level is really coming back, so I'm trying really hard not to do too much too soon. I've come this far I definitely don't want to do anything to compromise my results! Normally I'm standing/walking all day for 9 hours but I'll just have to make sure I take lots of rest breaks. I posted a few new pics today, I'm liking things so far but really anything seems better than the dough belly. The first set are right after I've taken my binder off in the morning and the others are about 20 minutes later after my shower. I wanted to see if I could tell a difference in swelling after the shower but really I don't see too too much of a change other than my left hip swells like there is no tomorrow. Question time! Anybody with me in thinking their belly button looks a little too small? Or am I just so used to the huge crater I used to have in my belly that a normal sized one seems tiny. :0/ Updated on 6 Jan 2013: PO day 10 Its crazy to think a week and a half has gone by! I'm going back to work tomorrow so this afternoon I decided I better see if any of my jeans fit (pajama pants/sweats, dresses or skirts won't cut it in my particular line of work). Thank goodness they all not only fit but I can get them over my binder with the 1/2 inch padding I'm supposed to keep under it for at least another week. I was skeptical that they would be comfortable all day long so I decided to go out shopping with my husband this afternoon. Somewhere around 3 o'clock I started to feel the swell kick in but the pants were still doable even after about an hours worth of house work to boot! I'm still not standing totally upright but straight enough that I'm not getting the "somethings wrong with that lady" looks. I kind of just look like I've got the chills or something. The hunch is also a bit worse after sitting for a while but works itself out after a few steps. I slept in my bed last night for the first time since surgery and was up most of the night trying to get comfortable. No matter what I did I just couldn't find a position that was good enough to sleep in. My recliner was getting just as bad and the numb butt from resting there all day and then sleeping there too is just more than I can bare so I'll try the bed again tonight. Any suggestions out there on how to manage a comfortable position? Also, anybody out there feel like they aren't able to get their binder tight enough around the lower part of the abdomen even though its pulled as far as you can around your waist? I sometimes wonder if I'm getting mine tight enough... Hope everyone is doing well, prayers for all of those starting their journey and all of us continuing ours Updated on 7 Jan 2013: PO day 11 My first day back at work and really it wasn't that bad. I had a few times in the day were I just had to make myself stop and rest for a while; thankfully today was pretty slow and I could take it a lot easier than normal. Sometime after mid-day I noticed I started to hunch a little more and felt a little more discomfort in my binder signaling bloat time. I couldn't wait to just get home and get out of the dang thing. So far I haven't questioned wearing it the full allotted time recommended by my PS but after all day in it at work I'm having second thoughts. Not to mention I'm pretty sure its at least half of the reason I can't find a comfortable sleeping position. Anywho off to make dinner and kick the feet up, hope everyone had a great day and is healing quickly and feeling good! Updated on 8 Jan 2013: Holy moly! After a full day at work yesterday I thought I was doing pretty good. I was definitely more tired than usual but I thought "Hey I'm doing pretty good!". This morning I had to seriously check myself cause OMG are my upper abs sore!! Consider lesson learned about over doing it. Guess I'll have to see were I can squeeze in a few extra rest breaks today. Any advice out there from those of you who spend most of your day at work on your feet? Updated on 11 Jan 2013: Had my 2 week PO appointment yesterday and got my BB stitches out...weirdest feeling ever! I could feel something in general going on there but am still so numb, lets just say creepy creepy creepy. They also removed my surgical tape which I was starting to think may never come off. I was somewhat afraid to actually see my scars for the first time too. Up until yesterday I'd sort of been trying to read them like braille under the tape trying to understand the shape of things underneath. I knew to expect some puckering and raised parts but had this fear that it would be monstrous under there. My worries are safely away now that I've seen them and know that (thank baby Jesus) they look perfectly normal at this stage. I was warned that for a little while after removing the stitches my BB might be a bit goopy and that proved to be accurate, I looks kinda icky but I expected that. I still have considerable bruising but again I was prepared for that, I'm a bruiser and my bruises tend to take a while to fade completely. My PS also recommended I start massaging my scars 3 times a day with vitamin E oil or lotion. After almost a full week back at work I feel like I'm coming along pretty well. My stamina is up I'm able to stand almost the whole day and am faster at walking without so much of a hunch now. Although once home, showered and out of my binder for a bit my whole mid-section seems to curl in on itself. Once the binders back on and I feel all supported again I straighten back up though I'm still not completely straight (but getting close) even at the top of my game in the day. Until yesterday I hadn't really known what feeling the swell meant, by the end of the day I felt like a cow! Bringing me to my frame of mind the past couple of days. Having read SO many reviews from you lovely ladies I've come to expect the lows in this experience and knowing myself I thought most of my downs would be related to not being able to be active. That has been a lot of it but I can't help but find myself looking in the mirror and having totally irrational mini freakouts even though my rational mind steps right in behind to try to smooth over the situation. Even in the midst of mini freak outs and totally uncharacteristic pouting sessions I find lights at the end of this tunnel. I took my measurements the day before surgery, mind you not because I expected a huge change but more because I was interested to see what measurable change would happen. Last night I decided to check my current measurements against pre-op, my waist at belly button level went down 2 inches. 2 INCHES! That's not even the craziest part, my thighs each are a full inch smaller! I knew my jeans felt different in the waist (even with the binder and padding on) and also looser in my thighs but I never would have thought such a change would happen. So lesson of my day, keep trucking if you're feeling wider/thicker/bigger than usual its the swelling. Avoid mirrors at all cost until you've calmed down cause its all going to be okay! I hope all recover-ees are doing well and healing happily! & welcome to the new comers glad to have you in the community :) Updated on 18 Jan 2013: Hi all, yesterday marked the big 3 week PO mark! Nothing super eventful happened in the past week other than I seem to be experiencing more swelling this week. No big surprise though since I've been taking a walk around my neighborhood at night when I get home from work when I can. I was hoping to acclimate my body to upping activity level so the swell wouldn't hit me like a brick when I start to work out again. Still its not major swelling and not really any problem other than in the wrong mood it can make me feel kinda cruddy. Although noticeable from the front some too, my swelling is mostly visible from the side and settles down low making me look thicker than normal and the mons area look a bit Ken doll-ish from the side. One other thing, my scar seems to be redder this week compared to last week. Not irritated red just brighter. It seems like I've read about this happening in other reviews maybe.?. For the past week I've been alternating between Bio Oil and Golden Salve on my scars. I've seen a little bit of difference in my TT scar but more in my BL scars since I started messaging them. Anywho I've been glad to read all my TT sisters are doing/healing well; hope everyone has a great weekend; happy healing! Updated on 24 Jan 2013: 1 month PO and feeling great in the sense that my energy has fully returned (somewhere around the beginning of week 3 I started feeling full on normal). I've been walking on the treadmill nightly...I started slow and have progressed up to 3.5 for 40-ish minutes though my treadmill is a little off I think and is more like 3 in comparison to the mills at my gym. Yesterday morning before work I decided to see if I could manage a bit of elliptical work and was able to do about half of what I could before surgery. That and then a full day of work and a bit of shopping after totally put me in swell town last night but it seemed to subside pretty much by this morning. I think I've finally hit that period of time where I start to waver in my fantastic happiness about my new belly. I'm prone to avoid looking in the mirror lately b/c I just don't see the waist definition I thought I saw before. I know these feelings are fully normal but still I'm at that point where I wonder if I've seen the best of what I can expect. And am I happy with it? Oh and did I mention my period is about 1 1/2 weeks late? Yeah that's a thing that's happening...I'm not totally like clockwork in that regard but I'm not usually more than 2-3 days early or late. Even though I know its not even a possibility my OCD couldn't rest until I made certain I wasn't expecting. So for the first time in my life I took a pregnancy test, negative of course. Its totally nuts but I think I may be having all the side effects of PMS without actually having my period. I'm cranky, I hate everything I put on my body and everything is 10 freaking billion times more irritating than necessary. A faze I know but I'm neck deep in it for the moment it seems. I don's see my PS for my next PO visit until this coming Tues. and hopefully he'll clear me to start weaning off the binder and just start rockin' the spanx, but we shall see. Posting a couple new pics with a close up of the weirdness at both hips...the left looks weird but aside from that doesn't really bother me too much. The right might have a bit of a dogear going on? Hope everyone out there post and pre-op in realself land is doing well! Everybody try to keep your head up even if your hanging out in "PMS" land with me! Updated on 31 Jan 2013: 5 weeks PO - Not too much to report this week (and way to lazy to take pics at the butt crack of dawn before my workout this morning) so I'll just hit ya'll with a quick progress report. -Tuesday I was cleared by my PS to pick up intensity on my exercise but still no running till at least six weeks. I've done a few feet of experimental jogging and I know my MR is just not ready for that yet anyway...but getting there. -I'm back to my usual 5-6 days of workouts at about 75% of my pre-surgery level sticking to elliptical work and stationary cycling mostly. Only experiencing the rare minor muscle spasms but no pain or soreness. Although I suspect that will change when I go back to running and other activities that are more taxing on my core. I've paid very close attention to how I feel during and after my routine ready to back off if I feel like I'm overdoing it. I wear both a binder and spanx during my workouts and although a bit uncomfortable together they keep me nice and supported/compressed. -No spit stitches on my TT incisions but have had 2 from my BL. No biggie though, my PS snipped them put a band-aid on it and that was that. -Swelling seems to be at an even keel only really super noticeable after a particularly long day or after eating an unusually salty meal...or after a glass of wine or two. I've made peace with the swelling at this point anyway. I look better now with whatever swelling I have than I did before the TT. Though I am looking forward to the results I'll see as the days go by. -Still no period. Still not preggo. Reassured by my PS that this happens and its not a huge deal. If I don't get mother natures monthly pain in the arse next month though I should see my OBGYN about it. Hope everyone is doing well and moving smoothly through recovery; happy healing! Updated on 6 Feb 2013: 6 weeks you guys. I'm not sure when this started to happen but at some point I came up with the idea that if I could just make it to 6 weeks there would be some magical rainbow style hurdle I would make it over and all of this TT business would be a distant memory. Seems I was w r o n g! Here's whats been going down this week: -I upped my intensity at the gym and guess what, my body fought back with more swelling. Its what happens I understand that, eventually the good ol' lymphatic system will work things out and it wont be so bad. This week by far has been the worst for my swelling but it's my understanding that it gets worse before it gets better. Movin' & shakin' is too much a part of my life to hang out on my butt just so I don't go all puffed rice by the end of the day. I figure if I just keep moving progressively up in intensity my body will figure it out as I go. -Still sticking to elliptical work thought I have re-tried jogging. I'll just say it can be done but it feels a little like I'm carrying a 5 year old on my shoulders. I kinda do the old lady curl up on my midsection and shuffle through it. 4.5mph is the extent of my comfort zone and only then for about 15 minutes at a time. -I've added in some yoga to but nothing too extreme. No up dog or cobra for sure and no other back extensions. I can lean back some but get a tight sensation in both my abs and in my upper thighs. -I get muscle spasms and zaps here and there mostly confined to the area under my belly button and sides. The spasms are not painful but really odd feeling. -For the past six weeks my weight has stayed at a stable 139 which is fine by me I didn't go into it expecting to loose weight from the procedure. -My incision has improved some in that it is laying a bit flatter where before it was puckered. It feels much smoother to the touch too and not so pronounced when I message it. Still using bio oil and golden salve. Still haven't taken any new pics but Will post some new ones tomorrow morning. Hope all of you post and pre surgery are well and that we all make it to our magic hurdle sooner than we thought :) Updated on 7 Feb 2013: added 6 week pics along with a progression series :) Updated on 21 Feb 2013: Not much has changed in the last two weeks my lovelies. I've weened off all compression for the most part, though I still have days that I'll wear my Flexees cami for a while after I work out. For those out there wondering about compression garments, this thing quickly became my favorite. Half the price of the Spanx cami and just as supportive. Also no struggling to get this thing down (like the compression panty like things) when I have to make a break for the bathroom and no weird contraptions in the crotch area to fool with. Though, I do wear a high waisted body tunic when I jog because it is a little firmer in its compression and it makes me feel all safe and protected. As for jog/running goes I still can't go full speed like I could before. My abs and upper thighs still don't love the idea of me running as fast as normal. I still have moments when I look in the mirror and love what I see and there are still those times when I'm less than thrilled at whats looking back. I still have swelling and when its at its worst is when I tend to have nasty little negative thoughts creep in. I've added strength training back into my workout routine this last week. Easy does it though, I find things that I could have done a ton of before kick my butt and make me sore the next day if I'm not careful. Example; I decided it was time to really work my legs so I pulled out P90X legs and back....dear God I walked like I had a condition for at least 2 days. All in all I'm kind of feeling like I'm at a stand still with my progress at this point. I don't see much change in my swelling situation (as in it going down much) but I kind of want to chalk that up to the fact that I've gone off of my compression and I've added even more activity into my daily routine. I still haven't had my period...if it doesn't show by the end of the month it'll be MIA for 2 months now. My OCD insists on taking a pregnancy test every once and a while and of course still not pregnant. So I don't know what the heck is up with my cycle but I'm continually told not to be too worried about it (says someone to which its not actually happening). I've added a new set of pics and again for those curious about working out and swelling these were taken this morning after a day and night without compression. Also they are the morning after an hour of cardio, full day of work and a 30 minute strength training session in the evening. I'd meant to take a comparison pic last night before bed but I forgot (for shame)...the swelling I get persists in the morning but its tolerable enough that I don't immediately snatch up my binder and strap it on as tight as I can. Hope you all are healing/progressing well and all of those waiting for your turn may the time pass quickly for you :) Updated on 21 Feb 2013: Ha I'm not sure how I could have not noticed this but reviewing my pics I now see how my left side is more swollen than my right. The pic of me sucking it in on the left actually looks like the normal version of my right...crazy. Updated on 28 Mar 2013: Hey all my TT lovelies! Today marks the 3 month PO milestone in my TT journey and I'm glad to say that I'm back at it full force. I'm fully back to all the activities I was able to do before including running without any discomfort or tightness. I've been off of compression for about 3 weeks now but still sometimes wear something when I run. I still swell and even though they say the bulk of the swelling diminishes by this point it seems I'll have to continue to deal with mine. Its not bad swelling though and never really has been with the exception of a few nights were I ended up feeling like an overinflated balloon of a woman. But by the next day its gone and I feel okay again. Its odd but I may be an odd woman out in that when I do swell a lot of it(or at least just as much) is above the bellybutton area up to my upper rib cage. I've still not had a period since before surgery making it 3 missed and counting. I've had a blood pregnancy test and also had my thyroid checked and not pregnant not experiencing any abnormal thyroid activity. I've started taking an herbal supplement to help balance my hormones, hopefully that'll get things straightened out. All in all I feel good I think I look pretty good and overall I'm really happy with my results. I'll admit I struggle with looking in the mirror and seeing the lax skin left on my sides and back but I shrug it off and remind myself I'm not trying to be a model just a normal everyday woman. I recently went of a shopping spree and for the first time in my entire life I had FUN buying clothes. For the first time I was able to buy jeans in the single digit sizes ya'll! Size 6 heck to the yes that's me! We'll that's all from my camp for now, hope all you out there waiting for your surgery or recovering from is doing well! Updated on 28 Jun 2013: Seriously I had to take a big step back when I looked at the calender yesterday and realized it's been a full 6 months since surgery. Whoa! For the past few months I've stopped and thought occasionally "I should update" but life gets hectic and busy and its hard to take the time to sit down and collect my thoughts and events into one concise informative post. 6 months feels like a milestone so I'll give it a go. Also let me say that when I first started reading posts I was starving to know what the girls this far out where going through. I continually searched to find those posts that could tell me if they where back to normal, better than normal, still swelling like a beast...what the heck was going on that far out from surgery. So I feel it doubly important to try to put some info out here :) At 6 months I still swell some and seriously I didn't really even know what real swelling was until after my 4 month mark. For some reason it hit me late and when it did I really understood how lucky I was to not have known it until then. I personally think the serious swelling I experienced around that time had more to do with hormones than anything since I've had trouble with menstrual cycle regulation since my surgery. (Side note the only thing that kicked in my cycle was starting birth control pills) At this point though the swelling is minimal and really only hits me up high just under my rib cage. I still feel tight through my mid line sometimes but mostly if I've worked my core more than normal. Since early on I've been back to my normal workout routine, I never was much of a core workout lover and am still not. I mostly let my yoga practice take care of my core and don't care to do much else. I've maintained a steady weight around 135 and feeling good about it. As far as my scar goes I've only been messaging it with Palmer's oil for the past few months and probably not as religiously as I ought to. It seems to be doing fine only fading slowly at this point but I'm not that worried about it. I can still feel what I can only describe as a firm area just under my scar that I assume is the internal scar but only if I really press into my skin pretty hard. It has softened up over the passing weeks so again not really bothered by it. All in all I feel great I'm SO much more comfortable in my skin and couldn't be happier that I was blessed enough to be able to have this procedure. Aside from that I can't think of anything new and entertaining to report but as always happy to answer any questions you guys may have. Hope all you lovelies are doing well and happy healing to all :)
I had a silicone gel implant from a Dallas surgeon that was leaking. I went to Dr Saars as he was local & reviews were decent. It was my understanding that he would remove leaking implant & replace with a new implant. To my surprise, he removed both implants & sent me on my way! My leaky breast is totally deformed looking. Looks like a bug that hit the windshield. I voiced my dissatisfaction “East Texas style” using strong language...he said he wasn’t going to do anything!
