I am nervous about my tummy tuck which is scheduled for 1/20/2011. I think I have seen too many videos on you tube. lol After six kids whose ages range from 1-16, I figured it was time to get rid of the prune stomach and get my body right. I am 5"10, 205lbs. I had my first child at the age of 16 and the last at 34. My stomach doesn't look big, but it is really ugly, full of stretch marks and excess skin. I will be posting several pics, post and pre-op, so stay tuned. I can't wait to get this over with. Beach body for me this summer! Updated on 20 Jan 2011: I tried to post a update earlier, but I was too groggy. When I went in this morning I signed paper work, took a pregnancy test and met the team who would be caring for me. Dr. H did my markings and answered all my questions and the anesthesiologist was so nice also answering concerns. I was given some steriods and it gave me a mild burn in the vaginal and butt area for a minute or so, but I was already forewarned. Then I was out by 8am. By 11:30 I was getting dressed. I woke up in moderate pain. I was given morphine which always makes me itch, but benadryl helped that. I have been taking 2 oxycodone every 4 hours. I have NO pain! Maybe discomfort when I walk. I empty my drains every 4 hours and chart the amount of fluid. The lipo is actually more painful than the tummy tuck. I still have many stretch marks, but I knew I would. My tummy is flat! I am very drowsy cause I just took my meds. I will not be doing spell check so it my typing is wrong I'm sure you all will figure it out! lol Well so far so good. I will keep you posted tomorrow. Updated on 22 Jan 2011: Well this is day 3 and I am feeling a little better. I finally took the bandages off today. It doesn't look too bad. I am still quite swollen. The medication has me in and out and I am still iching from the morphine. I took a really good sponge bath today because I'm affraid that the pressure from the shower will hurt. Updated on 23 Jan 2011: Well it's day four and I'm feeling a little better. Not in as much pain today and instead of taking meds every 4 hours I'm down to every 6. The drainage tubes is whats getting on my nerves. My tummy is still numb. I'm going to try and take a full shower tomorrow. I've been taking baths in the sink because I'm scared the water will sting my hips where I had the lipo. But I do smell good! lol Oh and the drains hurt when they dangle. Updated on 24 Jan 2011: I felt so much better today, well maybe I should say yesterday, I didn't realize how late it was. I finally actually got in the shower. I turned the shower pressure to a light spray and hung my drainage tubes on the safety handle in the shower. Therefore my shower was great and easy on my body. I went 8 hours in between taking meds. The lipo isn't nearly as sore. On a scale of 1-10, I'm a 1 and that is mainly discomfort. I haven't had any itching today from the morphine, but itcing from the healing of the cut. I go to the doctor tomorrow and maybe I will be able to have one drainage removed, but we will see. The more I look the happier I am. Did I mention that I'm already ordering from Victoria's Secrete? lol Oh I do need to shed about 20lbs so I'm thinking about starting Weight Watchers online tomorrow. I've got to be totally fine by spring. lol Updated on 25 Jan 2011: Well I went to the doctor this morning and wasn't able to have either tube removed. I go back on Friday. I will be posting more pics later. I am still a little swollen but it going down day by day. Pain much better! I am scared of getting the tubes pulled out though. Updated on 26 Jan 2011: I think I forgot to mention something oh so important. It has been a week since my surgery and a week since I have had a bowel movement. I took 2 dulcolax laxitives yesterday after noon, 2 at 4am this morning and just took 3 now. I know it's a lot,but I feel so packed inside. If nothing happens by 4, I'm calling the doctor. This may be the cause of some of my swelling. Oh I do suffer from IBS and take my meds daily, but that isn't helping. So we will see. Oh I'm loving the heating pad. Updated on 28 Jan 2011: Well it is 3am and I am up watching t.v and decided to do an update. When I finally went to the bathroom it literally felt like I lost ten pounds! lol My tummy look as if it went down. I felt so much better!The drains don't hurt as bad now, but I hope I can get them removed today.I still don't have much feeling on my tummy, but the incision is healing quite well. It doesn't hurt at all to the touch. My hips are still quite swollen from the lipo. The heating pad is helping my back sooo much. I am trying to make myself walk straight. I only took meds one time today. I hope my back gets better because I'm a hair stylist and I must return to work in another week! Updated on 28 Jan 2011: Well I went to the doctor today and still no removal of drains. I'm almost getting use to it now. Afterward I shopped for an hour with my aunt and found I got tired easily. My back was still hurting and the drains were bulging under my clothes. I go back Monday and hopefully I can get them removed. I found that I don't need the pain medicine for the incision or the lipo, I need it to comfortablely move around with the drains. Updated on 30 Jan 2011: Well it is day eleven and it seems as if all the days are running together since I'm not working. Last night I discovered I had an infection at the site of my right drainage tube. It look similar to green muscus and I had a slight odor. It wasn't alot, but I am very particular about things like that. I called the after hour number and the PS called me in a prescription and I can tell a difference already. I noticed that that the infected drain isn't draining as much and the other drain is draing more, but anywho I go to the doctor tomorrow so we will see what happens. Updated on 5 Feb 2011: It has been some days since I have updated you all on my progress. I have been so busy and will post new picks tomorrow. Well I got my second drain removed yesterday and I am now drain free! Thank God! My tummy is still swollen but by hips aren't as sore so that's good. I went back to work Thursday and went back full force, which I should not have. I'm a hairstylist and I have a huge clientel. I have been working 12 hour days and I have two assistants and it still has been rough. I find that my back is killing me. I have to pop the oxycodone at work cause the extra strenght Tylenol does nothing at all. I go back to the doctor on Monday. I may have to get fluid drained off my belly and I believe I'm retaining extra fluid because mother nature has visited. My PS said it takes months to see final results. But anywho I am patient. Summer is four months away, that is if you live in Florida. lol So I can wait to show off my new body. I wore a catsuit today and looked great. My clients and coworkers could tell the difference. Yea me! Updated on 10 Mar 2011: Well it has been seven weeks since my surgery and I am loving my new tummy. I am still numb and the doctor said it will take several months or even a year to get sensation back, but it's worth the wait. I thought I would update my pictures so here we go.......

I had a tummy tuck plus upper and lower eyelids, browlift, chin implant and mid face lift on 3/12...7 days ago.  I am very pleased with my results at this point and am looking forward to continued improvement in my appearance.  The first two days were uncomfortable, with my facial procedures being much more painful than the tummy tuck.  It took about 5 days for me to stand straight and sleeping flat is still a little uncomfortable, but it gets better each day.  I'm 54, 5' 7" and weigh 152 lbs.  I've had two C-sections and an abdominal hysterectomy so the sore stomach muscles weren't foreign to me.  It is wonderful to be rid of the scars, stretchmarks and belly fat that had plagued me for 34 years.  My doctor does not required any type of compression garment so I haven't had that to deal with.  I also only have one drain that will be removed on Monday, 3/23....what a relief that will be!  I plan to go back to work on Tuesday, 3/24 if everything goes well.  My face is still swollen, bruised and sore but that's another story.