I have wanted work done on my breasts since I had my daughter in 1994. I have 3 children total and life has taken its toll! Have my augmentation scheduled for May 1st- 550cc high profile saline. Lift after implants are where they are going to stay. Doctor doesn't want to do it all in one surgery. Looking forward to feeling like a woman again. Love my PS. No matter how brutally honest she is. Updated on 12 Apr 2014: I had gone for a mammogram a week or so ago and got a call back while I was traveling home a couple of days ago. Doc's called and said they would like to get a closer look on something.. Had set an appointment for next Monday and the mammography center called me in early (Friday-yesterday). To make a long story short the spot they found isn't of a concern and I am now fully cleared for surgery!! Pre-op is April 22nd and after speaking with daughter and husband ( my 11 year old is a very honest kid) we all agree I should go bigger than originally planned. I have been wearing my rice sizer's around so that it's not such a surprise to everyone when I am post op. My PS had told me she would not do the surgery unless I quit smoking. I quit that day, I am now 12 days no smoking and realizing I should have done it sooner! Anyway, wanted to share my scare and let everyome know.. I'm getting boobies! :) Updated on 17 Apr 2014: I am beside myself! I think the next 2 weeks is going to drag on. :) Have my Pre-Op next Tuesday, have my "sick time" scheduled off work.. Got my "mom-sitter" all set up for myself ( my sons GF is coming to take care of me :)) Going to spend this weekend with the in-laws for Easter and hope after that time flies!!! Hope you all are doing well! Updated on 23 Apr 2014: I am adoring my doctor at this point.. I thought I had chosen 550- she said nope you chose smaller, so got that straightened out. She told me that she was very proud for me to quit smoking. Stated a lot of patients haven't. Tomorrow marks my 1 week until surgery and I am completely obsessed! Everything is boobies! Already got my post op bras, got my meds ready. My entire surgery is paid for- with cash... Didn't want to owe any credit companies.. I apologize for being all over the place but wowsers am I excited!!!!! Updated on 27 Apr 2014: Down to the wire and the closer it gets to the surgery the more obsessed I become. Surgery center called after I broke my phone on Friday, got the message late that night. I am supposed to call them on Monday... Not sure why, just hope it's routine. Have everything set up, medications within arms reach of my recliner. New bra's, new button up shirts for a while and "lazy girl" clothing for the beginning. Have quite the entourage going with me to surgery. 2 out of the 3 of my kids are going to be there as well as my sons girlfriend. Not much more to update. Will make sure I get the afters.. A little scared considering this is just the implants and not the lift yet (wouldn't it be wonderful if my body just ignored gravity) :)... Good luck to all! Updated on 29 Apr 2014: I am down to hours!!!! Final cleaning done by my amazing 17 year old son. Making sure there is no chance of mom getting sick from the house. Sent off my daughter's boyfriend off to Bahrain, she will be without him to have my grandson this this Nana has to get back in to tip top shape! Also found out my 20 year reunion is the 6th of June.. Please let the "ladies be in a semi settled spot" :) Updated on 1 May 2014: 15 minutes until surgery!!! Not looking forward to the pain bit definitely looking forward to the future and boobies :) will share afters as soon as I get done! Updated on 2 May 2014: So I can honestly say the first day was a breeze. Meds were all I felt. Today--- a lot of pain and bleeding out of where my pain pump is. Very swollen, causing pressure-- vomiting a little. Pictures are on my phone will try to get them up ASAP. Need to get more rest. Hope all are doing well. Updated on 2 May 2014: Wanted to share with you guys pictures of day 2. I have pain pumps (which I TOTALLY recommend). I have become swollen to the point of bleeding through my pain pump spot. Advice-- USE ICE!!!! I wasn't very diligent yesterday ( of course I was on cloud nine with all drugs and the reality of new boobs). Today I was very diligent- kept boobs and incisions iced and swelling has gotten so much better! Will be trying to post every day. Updated on 3 May 2014: Been down most of the day. Still on the very swollen side. Held down only a few things like celery and vanilla ice cream. Not sure if it's pain pills. Have given up on the anti nausea because it was obviously not working. It was giving headaches as well. Husband got to come home and hang. Started feeling better after he got here and told him maybe he was all I really needed :). He asked if I had any second thoughts. I just said I didn't like not feeling good but not a second thought.. Wishing I could have had the lift at the same time so I don't have to deal with all this pain again, but oh well! Would be nice if I didn't have to worry about a lift, but I am not going to kid myself. Sorry if I sound grouchy.. I think I am :) Updated on 4 May 2014: Doing great today. Looking forward to my first real meal since surgery. My husband removed the pain pump for me. He's a champ. Only felt a little discomfort on left side when he pulled it out. Have only had one pain pill today. Took a walk halfway around the block with my daughter. Glad to be feeling like a human again. I'm attaching some updated pics. Everything seems to be healing well. Updated on 6 May 2014: Made it through a half day of work. Swelling still very pronounced but slowly settling. Pressure more than pain with swelling. Did notice that percocet slowed down the BMs and had to make sure I was eating fruit to help the process ????. Updated on 13 May 2014: Still feeling like there's something weighing heavy on my chest.. oh yea, they're called boobies! Almost at my at my 2 weeks and can't believe how much things have changed.. I can almost sleep on my side! Updated on 19 May 2014: Well been kind of busy with work and kids... figured maybe I deserved a moment to myself to visit with my lovely friends here! Okay.. so the ladies are making their slow journey down.. have still had to take my pain pill at night because of the discomfort. This Thursday marks my 3 weeks and I will finally get to sleep without a bra! Nipple and incisions spots have been very sore. Have dealt a lot with the booby blues... good news is I have boobies still!!!! You'll have to excuse my messy bathroom pics. My kids aren't very good housekeepers. Updated on 1 Jun 2014: It's been a while since I have been on here. Trying to get over my ugly duckling phase and keeping to myself. Breasts are finally starting to feel like they belong to me and not just foreign objects :). Get the zingers everyone talks about 2 to 3 times a day. As you can see from the picture I got my first sunburn of the season. I always start my season really burned and from here on all it's all tanning :). I still am not allowed to carry anything over 10 pounds, still no pulling or pushing. I can feel when I'm going against docs orders :). I see my doc on the 4th for my 1 month post op. I'm in hopes I'll still hear "don't think you need a lift". If she thinks I'm gonna need the lift I'm waiting until January when I don't have to worry about overgrowing weeds and missing out on fishing :). I noticed yesterday at the pool I received more attention than usual. Still deciding if I like it or not. Thank you to all the women who have been here to help me along the way. There's one in particular that I want to thank-- Redglory. One day I hope to actually meet her, she's beenot such a blessing. Love all my RS ladies!!!
Ok it's my turn! After having two sets of twins 8, 15mths and one single birth 7, I knew getting a tt was the my next step. Im 36 and weigh 130lbs 5'2 and looking to first fix my muscle separation and loose skin, boobies later lol. I remember my ob saying after my last birth that I had muscle separation and at the time I didnt think it was a big deal until I started back working out and my stomach was getting bigger. Than I remembered what my ob said so google was my new past time and I learned this was a result of muscle separation. Well my date of change is 6/12 and I'm very excited! Updated on 9 Jun 2012: OMG! my nerves are kicking in big time, just praying everthing goes well. I cant help but think about my kids and how much they need me. I've had two c-sec and those same feelings are coming back not to mention speaking with my mom earlier and she asked me why cant I just live with it just as she did. She is supporting me but I think her mommy worries are the same as mine. My husband has been a great support system for me but I cant help feeling very emotional right now and I have no control over it. I hope tomorrow's different. Updated on 11 Jun 2012: OK this is the day before my tt and I'm feeling much better, a real since of calm. My changing point came once I recieved a call from my overnight nurse yesterday, she asked me how was I feeling and I laid it all out on her! (poor lady) She made me feel very comfortable and so I'm ready! I have to go to the store and grab a few more things the nurse suggested like gingerale and crackers for nausea and pick up my pain meds. I have to give my kids the final run down of the procedure and how fragile I will be so no jumping on my bed lol! I have to check in at 11am and tt starts @12 noon so I'm not sure when I will be home but wont keep you waiting to long! OMG Updated on 13 Jun 2012: I made it! But too tired give entire update:) Updated on 18 Jun 2012: po day 6 so far I must say I was expecting this to be a little harder than it has been. The first 3 days I think the pain pump was helping big time because I never had that 2-3day horrior that most ladies talk about and I've been keeping up on meds and I think I could possibly come off but I'm scared if I go to long the pain will just kick me in the face. Hubby has been taking good care of all 5 of our kids and has allowed me to focus on recovery so this has helped as well. I have found out very quickly that snezzing, coughing, laughing are out of the question! Oh and can someone tell me why my MIL told me the day before surgery of a friend who died after her surgery but it was in no relation to what I was having! So you can imagine how my emotions where before I went under. Anyway I just had a moment sorry. OK I have posted pics and I'm a little swollen and not all of my stretch marks were'nt removed but she did tell me that would happen but its ok.My first post-op appt is 6/20 so i'll update than, oh yeah drains are definitely in my way! Happy healing everyone! Updated on 27 Jun 2012: It's been two weeks since my tt, my pain has subsided alot. I my feel sore more so than pain, I got one drain removed last week along with surgical tape. Tomorrow I should have the last one out! My swelling isn't slowing down it swells the worst down below my belly botton and is very hard to the touch I got a little worried so called my ps and she said it was normal. She also mentioned how tiny I was and felt no reason to tuck to much in that area. I know she made the right decision, but I can't help but to wonder will this be a problem for me later. I really have'nt been totally flat since the second day of surgery so I keep reminding myself how I looked before. I'm hoping to start some scar cream soon, not sure which would give best results so ladies your recomendations would be great. I will also see what my ps office is offering, but the last cream I was told about cost 95.00 not sure what the name of it is, but if there's somthing out there that cost less I would love to know about it. I will post pics once drain is removed soon. Updated on 5 Jul 2012: Hi Everyone! Things have been great lately, it's been 3 weeks now last drain was removed last week and I hear most people say its painful when coming out but my pain came after it was out. I've started using scarguard ( thanks for recomending) as of last week only on my navel but not tt scar my ps has me using micropore tape for 6 days straight with one day off and to apply scar cream on that day. I also have to wear a compression garment 24hrs a day for 6 weeks except while showering of course lol. I found a few but not one that is comfortable yet, anyway I have posted my 3 week pics, still swollen but that goes with it. I wish you ladies all the best!
Hello Everyone...I guess I can start again by saying that I am happily married and a mother of two boys, ages 5&7. I originally started in the tummy tuck community because originally a tummy tuck was what I planned on doing first but I later decided that it would be best to start from the top half of my body and work my way down since it was simply not in my budget to do both procedures all at once. I have always had fairly large breasts since high school. I was around a size 36C when I was in the 10th grade but by the time I graduated high school, I had grown to a 36DD. Unfortunately, when I reached my mid 20's I gained quite a bit of weight and was tipping the scales at 218lbs and went up to a bra size of a 38DDD. Shortly after, I lost weight and got down to 153lbs however, my bra size didn't really change much b/c my breast were still there but the fat tissue was gone. It was nothing but skin left and they were so saggy. They almost looked like someone had let the air out of them and I was walking around with two socks full of nickels attached to my chest....In addition to this I got pregnant with my two sons and they were even worse than they were before. So, I decided after years of frustration of layering my clothing, and trying to find a bra or swimsuit I can wear, dealing with neck and shoulder strain, and bruising and shoulder strap groves in the shoulders I finally decided to go forward and have a breast lift/reduction. After much research and several consultations, I finally found Dr. Rebecca Glasser and made my decision to go with her. My surgery date was May 8, 2012 and I am now 1 week post op. I am not sure what cup size I am now, and according to my PS I won't know for quite some time due to the swelling. I did however discuss with my PS that I did not want to be larger than a c cup, so I guess we shall see. In the meantime, so far so good. Even with all of the swelling still, plenty of soreness and pain, I am so pleased with my results thus far and I can't wait to see my final result.
I am 32 y/o, 5'5 and weigh around 157-162lbs. I am pleased to say that I am happily married with two wonderful boys, ages 5 and 7. I never really had a lot of belly fat before having kids. However, before giving birth to my first child, by way of c-section i not only inherited stretch marks but also the extra saggy skin that hangs over my underwear, and also seems resistant to any exercise or diet program I would try. At first I thought well most women after giving birth have this same issue and they have learned to live with it and so should I so I decided to buy a girdle to help suck me in so my tummy doesn't poke out under my clothes but it's just way too hot here in Florida to wear all of that material year round. So, I decided that having a tt would be the best decision for me. I feel as though, if I can endure delivering two babies both weighing almost 9lbs via c-section then I can endure having a tt. Finally, I did some research and stumbled over my P.S. whom I've decided was the best choice for me. I haven't had my surgery yet but I put down a nice deposit towards my total cost of the procedure and plan to make my last final payment next month. I am scheduled to have my surgery sometime in May and I am very excited about my decision. Lately, it seems the closer the date gets here the more nervous i get and the more I start to second guess my decision to have this surgery and I start feeling really guilty for being so selfish. However, reading the reviews and experiences of previous tt patients who have gone through this already has really given me the strength to stand firm on my decision. I am so thankful for everyone who has shared their experiences and P.S. and I am really hoping that my results will be amazing as well. I will keep everyone posted as the time draws near for my surgery and I also plan to post some pics once I get my camera fixed..!! Updated on 4 May 2012: Hello everyone...I know it has been quite a while since I have updated you with info on my upcoming surgery and for that I am sorry. However, I decided to postpone my still much needed tummy tuck and to get a breast lift/reduction first. I will still be having surgery on May 8th 2012@ aprox. 7AM (4 days from now) but just not the tummy tuck like I had hoped. However, the good news is I really need a breast lift/reduction equally as bad as I need a tummy tuck, if not more(lol) Babies, I tell ya, boy don't they just drain the beauty right outta ya..(jus kidding) but at least you get to keep the inner beauty, well most of us at least. anywhoo..I will be posting pics of my saggy saggy chest and I can only pray that no one passes out from the sight of them but they do pretty much resemble two socks full of nickels and that's the honest truth. I will still be keeping my same PS, Dr. Glasser, because hands down she is just one of the best PS's here in Jacksonville, FL when it comes to breast augmentation or reconstruction of any sort. She is truly gifted and I was blessed enough to find her. As my upcoming surgery draws near, I am now starting to get a little anxious and ready for this to be all over. If you can please everyone keep me in your prayers!! Thanks in advance for your support my realself family....!! Updated on 25 Jan 2014: Hello my real self family: I haven't been on here in a while and decided it was time to update everyone on my status. As you all know May 8 2012 I decided to have a breast lift and reduction instead of the tummy tuck. I can honestly say it was the best decision I could have ever made for myself and I have absolutely no regrets. However, now that my breast are lifted and off my belly(saggy), my tummy has now come out from hiding under my clothes. Unfortunately, because of this I am not fully able to enjoy the results of my breast lift because of the peek a boo belly I have. I've always had it however I never noticed it as much in my clothes as I do now that my boobs aren't dragging the floor(yuck). So, now I'm ready to have my tummy tuck. It took me a while to save the $ and recover from spending out of pocket $ for my breast lift and reduction( my insurance did not cover breast procedure) and now I'm working my way down and ready to fix this unattractive gut of mine. The problem is the original PS I used for my breast surgery relocated to Colorado and although I've been on a few consultations the past few months, I haven't found anyone quite yet that really wooed me. However, I did see one PS on here that I was pretty impressed with, Dr. David Nicholas Cskai. I've seen the work he's done on some of his patients and I really love his technique. I'm going to schedule a consultation with him soon. (I hope he's the one) I'm somewhat of a perfectionist, but I am in no way perfect. However, I can be a bit anal at times with just about anything and that's something I'm willing to own about myself.(LOL) Now that I have saved for this procedure, I am looking for the right PS that will take his/her time to explain their way of doing the procedure, who is gentle, and has warm hands.(cold hands make me uncomfortable). In addition to this, a PS that is sort of a perfectionist themselves(always puts out their very best), listens to their patients no matter how minor their concerns may be, and will be realistic with what they can and cannot do. If anyone has any advice for me or recommendations, please, please, please, let me know. Thanks. Updated on 25 Jan 2014: Now do you see why I need a tummy tuck!
6 years later, I am enduring and suffering from a nightmare because I was talked into having the implants placed on top of the muscle. I have no idea why Dr. Glasser decided to go this route and to be honest, I was naive as this was my first procedure and was by myself. The implants are literally protruding out of my skin on both, severely capsulated and it will now cost me over $4,000 just to have them removed. Not including what it will costs me to have my breasts reconstructed and/or to have implants replaced. WISHED I HAD NEVER DONE THIS!!!!!!
I recently had blepharoplasty surgery done on both eyelids and levator repair on just my drooping left eyelid on October 1, 2009.It is now October 14, 2009, I am 2 weeks post op and still have a drooping left eyelid. There is still some swelling mostly in the mornings but by mid-day my eye looks mainly like it did before surgery. At my 1 week post op appt I explained my concerns to my ps that I was afraid the surgery didn't work. She then told me there was no way it did not work because she attached what little bit of levator muscle I had to the tendon under my brow (not sure if I'm explaining this correctly) but nevertheless she calmed my fears. But now I am very depressed because I really feel like I'm going to end up looking like I did before after paying $3100 and waiting through the healing period (which seems like forever when you are walking around with one swollen eyelid looking worse than before).I must say that if my end result is going to look like before surgery then I will not be satisfied. If my ps would have explained to me that the surgery may not work I could have expected this atleast but she never once said it was a possibility even after me bringing it up to her. Updated on 5 Dec 2009: My question is if I look close to normal now and it is only 2 weeks does that mean my levator repair surgery did not work OR will my eyelid really change that much after the 2 week point. I really don't understand how it did not work..Can someone please explain to me...I have been searching all over the internet for before and after post op photos at the 2 week, 3 week and 6 week point but cannot find any to compare my eyelid too....PLEASE HELP!!!
I am a pretty practical person and to be honest I never thought I would ever seek out plastic surgery. However after years of pilates and core exercises did nothing to help my deflated balloon belly, I realized that there is a time and place to get help. I have four sisters, and two of them have gotten a TT, both of them are extremely satisfied. I did not decide to go with Dr. Vath who performed their surgeries because he is over four hours away, outside of Denver. I chose a local Doctor at a hospital near my home. Updated on 16 Nov 2016: So, I am uploading some before photos . . . ooh, rough. I went to visit my God-daughter who is doing a semester abroad, and those pan au chocolate's forced me to eat at least two everyday! [RS bleep]! Anyhow, so I'm up about ten pounds from 60kg to 64kg :9 Updated on 22 Nov 2016: So, I went in for my pre-op appointment and was told that my PS's contract has expired and so she will be retiring at the end of January. She says she usually like to have three months follow up care, and will refund my deposit if I would like to cancel my surgery. What does everyone think, is a little under two months too little time to resolve any problems? Updated on 28 Nov 2016: After talking to my family Practitioner (about my PS retiring Jan 30), and other ladies who've had a TT done, I've decided to go ahead with the TT on December 8th, 2016. I think it comes down to the fact that I trust my PS, and from what trusted doctors and friends have told me, the retirement should not be an issue. I'd like to just say a word on what I believe is prompting my PS to retire early, this is my opinion only and completely speculative. Grand Junction - where I live - is a "good ol' boy" town. Most docs are "good ol' boys". My PS is from out of town and a woman. I cannot imagine that it has been easy for her to work in a town with such out-right sexism and exclusivity. I am guessing that she is being forced out because of those things - this is only my speculation. Hopefully, all will go well with my surgery and my PS will enjoy her early retirement. Updated on 2 Dec 2016: There was a time when my belly was cute and small and I had a little piercing with a stone that hung into my navel. The horror that my belly became after pregnancy! The stretch marks and general pooch that no amount of pilates can ever reverse. During and after my pregnancies I did everything right. I exercise, I eat right, I gained the recommended amount of weight, and lost it. I did pilates and core classes and yoga and I run and bike almost every day... AND NONE of it, NOTHING has fixed the muscle damage or sagging skin. So, yes! I deserve to feel whole again, a woman again instead of a skin sack. BECAUSE I did create life and carry life inside my wonderful, beautiful, strong body. I love my body, and just as I had come to accept my drooping sack of a belly, I realized that I don't have to. I'm not going to accept the fate of pregnancy. I want my cute, tight, (not sure if I'll go for a belly ring again) sexy belly again. I want to be not just strong but I want to feel good in my own skin. I want to feel like I am me again. So in six days I will be cut open, and the damage that had been done will be fixed. I will heal and my life will move on, but instead of a one piece, I will be wearing a bikini. ;) Updated on 6 Dec 2016: I am getting everything ready for surgery on Thursday. I was told to take three showers with anti-bacterial soap. One today - which I will do after I do my Zwift cycling workout, tomorrow after I work out and another Thursday morning before surgery. The surgical nurse told me to begin colace or fiber before surgery, so I am eating light and taking fiber Wednesday and post-op I will move to something stronger if needed. I have to be to the hospital by 7:45am. I was told that they would check me in, get me into a gown and I would meet with my PS before surgery. The surgery should be around three hours long. When it is done, they will put me into recovery and the PS will go tell my husband how things went. After that, I will be taken to a room, have something to eat and stay the night until Friday morning. I will have a catheter in until Friday (hmmm - fiber . . . I hope I don't have to poop right away!! I am going to eat light tomorrow. I am going to have my hubby take some "before" photos and get a final weight measurement before I go in to surgery. I have my prescriptions - Ondansetron HCL, generic for Zofran - for nausea Hydromorphone, generic for Dilaudid - a pain killer Cephalexin, generic for Keflex - an anti-biotic The cream was recommended by my PS - Skin Medica - Scar Recovery Gel with Centeline. I bought Diet Ginger ale and fruit packets - which I have put in the fridge to be cold for after I get back from the hospital. I have three compression garments. I also bought these super cheap ice-packs from Walmart. They are really pliable even when fully frozen and at less then $3 each cheaper than peas. I am getting a little nervous. My twelve year old son squeezed me tight last night and asked me not to have the surgery, I told him everything should be fine - but seeing my little man with love and worry in his big blue eyes nearly undid me! My precious boy. I remind myself that most things worth having are worth the risk. Updated on 11 Dec 2016: I finally gave in and took a didaudid for the first time today, so I might be a bit difficult to follow this morning. A few things. Yes, I have had moments of extreme pain but for the most part I have been okay and just weak. Things that are different than I thought they would be - 1 drains - I was told I do not need to strip my drains. 2 The pain pump - it totally doesn't look like it's getting smaller for a long time. Yes - it actually is working. 3 The dilaudid - ah yes. I really pride myself for only taking the occasional pain pill for a headache and nothing more. Take the freaking pain pills! At the peak of my pain, I was taking 1 pill about every 2 hours. Do not try to be brave. There was a moment in the hospital where I was trying to wait to receive the morphine injections only every 2 hours - I broke out in a cold sweat and began to be swallowed up by pain. (I had extensive muscle damage that my PS fixed, so this strong pain may not be normal.) As far as the dilaudid - it makes me feel weak, tired and mentally unclear - and a bit nauseas so yes, I will be happy to be done with it. However, for now it is a necessary evil. One last thing - they gave me a huge ice pack at the hospital that been great. I'll take a pic of it when I get a chance. Here are some post-op pics. It's rough doing pics while you're freezing and your teenage daughter is turning you into a reindeer using snap chat and asking which "friends" I want my reindeer pics sent to. "Only my sisters! No one else!" Also, it doesn't help when my shower helpers tell me to "smile" while taking a nude "after" picture. Oh lordy! LOL! Updated on 12 Dec 2016: Apparently my pain medication was working too well when I wrote my last up-date. I was only 2 days PO, not 3. Oh yes and I did take the gauze out of my BB, why? I don't know - my brain was off playing in pain killer land. So, yesterday when the fog cleared a little, I kept thinking, "OMG!! I f*ing took the BB gauze out! FTFWIT?" I've left a message at my PS office. Anyhow, I have not had a dilaudid since last night (for some obvious reasons like the one above), only one tylenol (I'm due for one soon). I'm not trying to be brave or be better than everyone else, but I just want to feel like myself again - normal - even if it means dealing with a little pain. I am absent minded normally, but on pain meds - I don't even want to think about it. Apparently, according to my teen daughter, when I was taking the gauze off, I said, "should I take the belly button gauze out?" Supposedly, both her and hubby yelled, "no!" I said, "Okay, I took it out." This is all heresy from a fourteen year old so. . . it may (probably) or may not be true. ;) I will most likely take a pain pill this afternoon though. Afternoons for me are the hardest and the time that my pain usually peaks. Okay, so the pain pump. Strangest little thing. For the first several days it was like a solid rock, now it's mostly deflated. I think I need to wait for the center area to deflate to know it's done. As far as the zofran for nausea, I've been really lucky and haven't needed it - hopefully that trend continues. Another word on the fruit and veggie squeeze packets - refrigerated like another lady suggested - they have been wonderful. I have mostly lived off of them because I'm not really hungry but need something to eat with the medication. They are cool and settle well in my stomach. Well, that's all for today. If you're recovering - I hope your recovery is going well! Let things go for now. If you're getting ready for surgery - don't be afraid. Relax and try to prepare things for your recovery. It won't be nearly as bad as you think. Updated on 13 Dec 2016: I took a shower by myself, put a plastic folding chair in and sat on it most of the time. The woman who suggested the exercise band - genius. I knotted the end and wore it as a sash for my drains to pinch onto. I also came up with this looping idea for the drains - see the picture. I was sick of the drains being just a tiny bit snagged and they would hurt like heck! This is what I have come up with - WHY oh why did I not think of this before!!?? So, last night my daughter helped me take out my pain pump. We both tried our best not to laugh as I peeled the tape off and began to pull out the "wires" as she called them from my abdomen. Oh boy! My stomach hurts just thinking about it! The situation was just so surreal. I'm sitting there naked, pulling "wires" (it is really just really small tubing) out of my body while my teenage daughter stands there in case I need help of some kinds. I have been monitoring the pain, ready to pop a dilaudid if things got bad but so far my pain has been manageable with only tylenol for the past two days. I feel like a fog is lifting from my brain! I would take more after photos with the binder off but I have no idea how all those women manage so many selfies. First off I am like a mix between a sloth and a turtle on it's back right now. It is a miracle for me to do something and it takes me forever! I did take a good look at the bell when I was drying off and carefully applying lotion to my non surgisized parts. My belly now rivals that of my teenage daughter! Actually my belly looks like a teenage belly now! It looks beautiful. So, I don't know if I've written about this but since I had my babies I have had constant back pain. When I spoke to my PS after surgery she told me that I had extensive muscle damage - and she fixed it all. So now I wonder. . . is this what caused my back pain for so many years? Could this surgery help really help me? I don't want to get too excited, but the idea thrills me! I literally have suffered years. . . Updated on 14 Dec 2016: Argh! My back. So, after my surgery I was told to walk stooped over like a little old woman. I really can't walk another way and I don't want to damage anything. So, walking like a little old woman for almost a week is exhausting and painful. I'm slowly trying to straighten a little but I don't want to go to fast. I'm finding the squat to be my new favorite position! I am so thankful for strong legs! I am constantly using a leg beneath me as a lever or to do a squat for some relief! I can't imagine have a Brazilian but lift also with a TT - I would be screwed! I made myself breakfast this morning! It felt like I had run ten miles afterward, but at least I ate! Our light ikea bar stools were my saving grace. I would push it around the kitchen like a walker, sit on it to work on the counter or open the fridge. So sitting straight is fine and actually feels good. Wow! The electric kettle filled with water felt like a hundred pounds! I made a mixed coffee of mostly decaf in my french press and I also made toast with peanut butter. Whew! That was actually pretty challenging and painful to do, but I did it! Oh yeah, hopefully my drains come out tomorrow! They are collecting under 5ml or less every 12 hours now. Yes!! The drains have annoyed me and soon they will be gone!! I'm posting another picture of one of my drains. It's just so weird. I've read about these but seeing is completely different. Don't be afraid of them, don't worry about emptying them, it's super easy and doesn't hurt. My drains come out in the front center groin area. So, while a little annoying, that's probably the best place for a tube to come out of my body. I'm still icing as much as I can during the day. I was told there is an awesome ice pack recipe on pintrest. I can get really cold so I've been putting a hot water bottle by my feet to help. I'm trying to take it easy, which is super hard. Updated on 15 Dec 2016: I saw my doctor today. She had the nurse remove the tape from my incision, clean my belly button and take out one of the two drains. I still can not walk straight, and being bent over while walking takes it's toll on my back and my energy. I still have not pooped either! My PS said to add more fiber to my diet. Okay :( I've noticed a rash occur on my stomach -and decided to put a clean t-shirt under the binder. I took off the binder and like another lady said "was a little underwhelmed." I think the worst part about this time of the recovery is that nothing looks very good. Everything is swollen, stretch marks are popping out, and my incision is probably at it's all time ugly having just had the tape taken off. I that everything will get/look better from this point, but it is a bit of a downer. This is why I posted a picture of me with my binder on. To remind myself that I have a lot of healing to do. Updated on 16 Dec 2016: My house basically looks like a frat house now. I was able to pick up the kitchen a little and run a load of dishes, but there is only so much I could do before heading to my bed to rest and ice atop my wedge and mountain of pillows. I seriously need to get my kids to step up, they are driving me crazy. This morning, I went to use the toilet and found that my children had pillaged my bathroom's toilet paper supply! They are also slobs. Where is Nanny McFee when I need her?! So, a weird thing has been going on with the one that is left. I'm not worried about it but figured I would share. I have whitish clots floating around in the tubing, they have been there for several days. It's just kind of gross. I tried to push all the clots into the bulb but I can't seem to wrangle them in. I'm tired of this recovery. . . I keep trying to find new and interesting ways to amuse myself. Netflix just posted some new shows. I'm finishing up Mr. Selfridge on Amazon prime, while reading "The Chemist" and listening to some audio books and podcasts on the side. I also have downloaded the Sims 4, worked on my rosetta stone Spanish and written on my true self review. Updated on 17 Dec 2016: I pooped! Yea! It actually wasn't bad at all! This is after taking stool softeners for a week and triple dose of benefiber for two days! Apparently when it rains it pours - Aunt Irma has also decided to visit. However, a lightbulb came on when I realized a panty liner would be great used to soak up spillage from my drain. When I use a gauze pad, it always falls out or shifts. IDK, I haven't tried it yet. So, I tried to change my sheets today - hence the reason I'm sitting on my naked bed typing right now. I would go longer than a week if I wasn't in my bed so much. I'm just grossed out. Now I'm stuck because I'm not only exhausted but my husband told me not to do it so I don't want to ask him for help. I don't know. I may put a show on my laptop and see if I can manage it sloth style. Slow and careful - because I'll be damned if my bed does not have new sheets!! Today!! BTW- I know I'm a b*tch today. I can't help it. I'm having my lady time, I'm dripping fluid and I'm uncomfortable in any position, especially walking hunched over! I am going crazy sitting around! Doing anything requires ab use, and I am a person with high exercise needs!! AHHH! Updated on 20 Dec 2016: So, I really hope that this is swelling. My belly button is noticeably off center and holly heck I hope it heals a lot nicer than it looks right now. My incision line is unsymmetrical, and wraps around to my back. (Breath. . .) I feel like the bride of frankenstein. There is no bikini that will cover that sh*t up. Okay, things I like - my incision is for the most part very neat and thin, this may be my saving grace - that hopefully I can get it to fade so much to where it is not really noticeable. I am trying to have faith that my PS didn't just jack me up. After all I picked her especially since her after results looked much nicer and her belly buttons looked natural. I just looked at the picture of my belly button and I feel sick. I need to calm down. This is swelling and the button just needs to heal. Oh Jesus. Updated on 21 Dec 2016: So, I'm a bit embarrassed about my last post. I went for a slow walk around my neighborhood yesterday and it seemed to clear out the cobwebs so to speak. I felt the sun on my face and fresh air in my lungs and realized how silly I had been. I think it goes to show the emotional highs and lows that come with surgery. I'm sure that being on my period had nothing to do with it ;) I realized that two of my main surgery goals were accomplished by having the TT done. 1. My muscle repair. I really thought I didn't have much muscle damage but my PS told me that I had quite a bit that she repaired. Already, I feel more support even without the binder. 2. I had a lot of extra skin. I know that I look chubby in my pre surgery pics, however I wore/ wear a size 4 women / 5 missy, pre-surgery. My weight fluctuates like most women and my low (during summer cycling season) is around 125lbs - even at that weight my belly although "flattish" was just wrinkles of nasty stretch mark skin. Also, after talking to another patient from my same PS, my ugly duckling belly button is normal at this stage. After even one night with some vaseline on it, it looks less red. **An update - I am walking almost completely straight. My belly is a little tight, and I feel a little bit of tugging but the nurse told me to try to straighten up so that I don't heal hunched over. Yikes! I've been putting unscented curel lotion on my skin all around the incision and my belly button. I put the skin recovery gel on my incision twice a day and I put vaseline on the edges of my belly button last night. Thank you so much for helping me through this journey! It's a lot more mentally tough than I thought it would be. Updated on 22 Dec 2016: Two weeks! This means I am supposed to switch to the compression garment instead of the binder. Although, seriously anyone who choses to wear these things is crazy - putting one on should be an olympic sport. I don't remember this being so difficult to put on when I tried them on in the store. I will keep my binder close at hand to if needed. I've been managing the swelling with ice packs - which works okay. I'm still pretty much swollen in the flanks, lower belly and mons area. BUT - I'm wearing normal clothes!! I'm standing straight (for the most part!) And Aunt Irma is on her way out! Yes!! I've showered, applied lotion, and scar cream and got dressed! Look at how much I have done today! Wow - lol! I am planning on watching a show on Netflix while icing and then dicing up some veggies to throw into the crock pot for veggie chili (even my ex-Texan hubby likes this one). I may even go to the grocery store! But whoa - one thing at a time. In the mean time it is holiday break and both kids have turned into turned into sloths. All they do is watch TV on their laptops or play x-box. They only come out of the tree to poop or collect food. What can you do? Updated on 24 Dec 2016: I've taken a picture in one of my compression garments. This one reminds me of cycling bib shorts. When I first was put it on, it really hurt my incision. Also, I'm not really a big fan of the hooks in the crotch area. However, overall this CG has good compression. I actually really liked the "tank" CG. I'm pretty small chested so I could wear that instead of a bra. It made me feel like I was just wearing an under shirt. Updated on 29 Dec 2016: So, after switching to the compression garments at 2 weeks, I began wearing the binder over the CG in the afternoon, and if I'm walking or moving a lot. I have been wearing only the CG, no binder at night. I'm standing and walking straight easily unless I am super swollen. Everyday seems like there is less of a stretching feeling in my bb or various parts of my belly. I'm sleeping with just one pillow and completely flat. I found that I can also sleep on my side if I put a pillow up against my stomach - I don't know why, but that just feels better. I'm trying to be patient when it comes to my belly button, I feel like the cute "hooded" bb my PS designed has stretched out into something else. It dried out and cracked along the top where the stitches are, so I've been putting vaseline on it, which made it begin to (my eyes) heal and seem to get better. My incision looks pretty good. The edges have already begun to blend into my skin and disappear. Another word on this - even though the picture doesn't really show it because the incision is right where the shadow is on my belly - my incision line has always been really nice and clean. I have been frustrated with the follow up care from my PS's office. I've left messages with a promise that I'd get a call back, but no one calls me back. I have seen my PS only once after surgery, with one more visit scheduled on Jan 12. My PS is retiring on Jan 30 - and I knew this but it doesn't ease my frustration. I have already tried calling this morning and they are not open until later - I will try later. So, for the most part I feel pretty normal, until I begin to swell. Then, I lay down and ice and can usually get going again. I'm excited to begin to exercise again. After the new year, I plan to start back on Zwift - a computer simulator that I use with my bike, a smart trainer and my computer. I won't have to balance and can stop when ever I need to. The thing that's on my mind is, do I think it was worth it? I am glad that I got my muscles repaired, and I don't have that over hanging skin. I think when everything is healed up and my BB is somewhat normal looking - that I will look back and say - Oh yeah, It was worth it. But right now, 3 weeks out I can only hope it was worth it. Time will pass and my skin will heal. Updated on 1 Jan 2017: I did an easy ride on Zwift (computer/ bike smart trainer) for my first workout. Realizing that I'm at 24 days out I think I should've been able to do more, sooner but I know that's not true. I rode about 20KM in 50 minutes, and it really took it out of me. On one hand I feel like my little ride was pathetic, but I am proud and I know I have to start somewhere. I wore my compression garment and my binder to keep things supported extra well. I kept my heart rate low just to make sure I wasn't going to strain anything. I also rode sitting up instead of leaning down toward the handlebars so that I wasn't engaging my newly repaired muscles. This isn't the first time I'm bringing this up and probably won't be the last - recovery from this surgery is hard. I was in shape before and now after being inactive for about a month I feel like someone has picked up my playing piece and moved it to square one. This is why I'm definitely making my fitness a priority. I think it would be so easy after surgery to fall into complacency and use the excuse "I'm still recovering." So, I've done "day 1, FTP builder" on zwift. I've even begun in the "if you're in shape, skip this part." (tear down my cheek -lol) I still feel a stretching sensations in my stomach. I also have mapped out on my stomach where my skin has no feeling. It's kind of like a triangle with the apex at my belly button and the bottom of the triangle being my incision. No feeling there... Well, I do have feeling inside my belly button. I notice that no one talks about this. I'm still icing every once in a while, maybe four times a day for about 20 minutes each. I ice mostly in the afternoon or evening when swelling is at it's worst. My belly button is actually starting to look better and my incision which has looked good from the beginning is still continuing to fade and shrink. Updated on 3 Jan 2017: In my zeal to get back to exercising, my weenie interval workout did me in yesterday. I had those horrible thoughts like, what if I popped a stitch? However, I haven't used my ab muscles in a month. Using them even a little would probably make them hurt." Please let me be right! I remember reading some poor lady's review saying she popped a stitch, it makes me cringe even now. So, I have promised to take it easy - no intervals until I'm six weeks out. I've decided to try a new oil on my belly, Palmer's cocoa butter formula 'skin therapy oil', I'll post a picture of it. I'm using it on my belly and belly button. I'm still using the scar recovery gel on my incision which I think is working well. So I've taken some selfies - I still struggle with this. I wanted to show my incision which looks better every day. If you wonder why my incision looks like it's peeling or shiny, it's not, its just the scar recovery gel. On my belly button I've been using that pink night emollient cream from Mary Kay but I will begin to use the Palmer's oil on it. I did use the scar recovery gel on it once and it made my BB skin crack - So, I will not use that on the BB again. Like many other's on here, I have come to accept that my body was never perfect to begin with and I'll be happy with my results and think it's worth it. I'm trying to trust my PS, after all I did go to her because of the natural look her belly buttons have. I need to trust her and allow my body to heal. Updated on 4 Jan 2017: I am feeling better everyday! I'm still swollen but it's getting better. I did an hour long "fat burning" workout this morning, I'm not tired! I'm not exhausted! I even went to lunch with my husband afterward and then did some errands. Yeah, I'm a little tired now, but the workouts are really helping me get my stamina back up! I figured I'd post some full body pics - close up pics of my short waisted belly have been super unflattering. I love wearing regular clothes! I am so happy not having that belly dimple anymore. Even swollen, my stomach looks really nice and good in tight fitting shirts. This blue shirt, I would never wear unless I was down to 57kg (that's maybe 125 or 130lbs.) I see my PS tomorrow about my BB. I am still unhappy with it. It's looking better and fading but - it kind of prolapsed out after the first week. After surgery it was hooded and looked really good, then it bulged outward : / Anyhow, yes, this curvy ikea mirror is the full length mirror I have. LOL. I stole it from my teenage daughter's room. She has selfies! Who needs mirrors? Updated on 4 Jan 2017: Okay, so you ladies know about that numb belly triangle that sits between your new belly button and incision? Okay, so I have jabbed myself twice now because I have no feeling there. Both times were in the evening because I'm swollen and the numb part of my belly is what is sticking out a little farther than the rest. Okay, this sounds weird but both times it happened while making dinner. The first time I only realized I had jabbed myself on the corner of the kitchen granite because I felt the pressure! The second time it was against the flat part! Yikes! I have got to pay more attention. I'm okay and nothing was really injured but just thinking about it makes my skin crawl! So, will this always be numb or will it go away? Updated on 5 Jan 2017: So, I saw my PS about my bb today. It's scar tissue and I'm supposed to massage and press in the lump every day. She says it may take 6 months to a year to resolve. I'm doing my workout while writing this which shows how motivated I am today. Either way, if my button heals with this lump or not, I'll still be better off. Feeling freaking super unmotivated... and my freaking smart trainer will not hold at 90w! Jen suggested I put a marble in, I should have asked but forgot. Updated on 11 Jan 2017: I am posting pictures today of me wearing a pair of jeans that I easily wore BEFORE surgery, that are too tight to button - I am about 5 weeks post-surgery. This is to show how crazy swelling is and what a mind F this surgery can be. This is in the morning too! WTF!? MORNING. Okay, so for full disclosure - Aunt Irma is visiting me right now. Updated on 11 Jan 2017: I've been able to begin taking baths again. I am really beginning to love my results. My incision is beginning to sit in my crease when I bend and I am starting to see how my ugly duckling of a belly button can turn into a swan. :) I sat there in the tub looking at my belly and it looked sexy and beautiful and natural. It looked like my 14 yo daughter's belly (except with faded silver stretch marks.) However, I suffered for those and even though, it would have been nice to be rid of them - I am actually fine with them. Updated on 19 Jan 2017: A little less swelling, the swelling seems to be getting gradually better. My belly button is improving. My scars are fading a bit but not as rapidly as at first - maybe because I've begun to use the scar cream only once a day instead of twice. I have one spot on my incision where the scab fell off that is having trouble healing. I showed my GP it and she said it was fine, so I guess it just needs more time to heal. I'm going to continue to use my camisole compression tops. My PS retires on the 30th. I've gone over everything and I really don't have any reason to see her again. I still feel tight in the belly area on my skin and in my muscles - although it's normally not very noticeable. I still have the occasional twinge of pain and my numb area beneath my bb is still there. I don't really look very different with clothes on but realize that I'm not choosing my wardrobe based on hiding the belly. I can pretty much pick anything out of my closet, put it on and I'm happy. Updated on 27 Jan 2017: I've been sick, so I haven't been on Real self too much this past week. I still have a little swelling. It's become a way of life. I still can't wear my favorite pair of jeans from before surgery. However, for the most part my belly is pretty flat. I have been working out pretty regularly, cycling and working out on the elliptical. However, I thought that since I was over six weeks out that I would do some crunches. :/ This was a very, very bad idea, as I did half a crunch - and got a sharp pain in my internal stitches near my belly button. I've been doing yoga - with tons of planks and side planks etc. So I thought it would be fine. It doesn't hurt all the time, just when I engage those muscles at all now. :( I'm kind of down because I'm afraid to do my regular exercise now. I've been waiting a few days for it to heal but I think it may take longer. Updated on 31 Jan 2017: After hurting my stomach muscle around my bb last week, I haven't worked out until today. I wore my binder just in case and did a brisk hour long walk. It felt so good to get outside! My face was a little cold but the air was crisp and I was able to snap a few photos of the lakes partially frozen. I haven't had any pain - other than a brief twinge in my stomach today. So - I'm hoping that everything is healing up. I'm really disappointed in the pre and after care of my PS's office. She is really great but her staff really restricts access to her. I tried to make a last appointment with her before she retired - which is today - but they never answered and I was never called back. That's probably fine, I'm healing up really well with the exception of the one set back. I would have liked to have been able to e-mail at least her nurse during my recovery time and get a response. I felt really neglected during the time that I most needed guidance after my surgery. Well, whatever - I'm really happy with my results, I liked my PS, I trusted her. The rest is water under the bridge I suppose. Updated on 11 Feb 2017: I feel pretty normal now. The stitch in my belly is gone. I am rarely reminded that I have had a tummy tuck. The only time I am aware of the tt is when I'm naked and see my scar or I'm doing upward facing yoga positions. My stomach is slowly deflating from the swelling and I'm beginning to see a little muscle definition on the sides. Now - I am under no delusion that I'm going to have immediate definition but I believe that with careful exercise and watching what I eat that I can get there. Rome wasn't built in a day, and even though my surgery was, the results will still come in time. I've done my first outdoor road ride (cycling) the other day. I felt great and performed decently. I felt it in my belly a little on the steeper hills, but I kept it in the small ring and tried to work on improving my cardiovascular shape with a faster cadence. SCARS - the weird and wild things. The weird thing about my incisions are that sometimes they can be really light and almost invisible and other times they are bright pink. This morning is a bright pink day. Time. . . time. . . Updated on 23 Feb 2017: As of about two weeks ago I've been pretty much back to normal life. Other than feeling a lot stiffer and still a bit out of shape I've returned to all my usual activities. Running, cycling, circuit workouts and yoga (I'm still tight on the tummy especially in poses like upward facing dog and cobra which I am slowly working into.) I notice how weak my abs are and that they're sore but not hurt now when I work them even a little. I still have the triangle of numbness beginning at my belly button, but I feel twinges sometimes so that makes me hopeful that I'll gain some sensation there. Swelling - yes, I still have some swelling left in that "triangle of numbness but it's gradually going away. I have completely stopped wearing any compression garment or binder. I don't know exactly when that happened, I didn't have a clean one and didn't wear a CG and I felt so much more comfortable that I just stopped wearing them. Scarring - Okay, so about 6 or 7 weeks out I stopped using my scar cream and my scar began to turn dark. About week 9 I broke down and bought more from Amazon which cost $52 instead of $103. I've been using it religiously and my scars have begun to fade again. I personally really like the Skin Medica - scar recovery gel but I've seen great results from Embrace as well. Happy Healing everyone! Thank you so much for helping me recover from my TT! I don't know what I could've done it without you all here at Real Self. This is such an epic journey and I'm not quite done yet ;) Updated on 17 Mar 2017: Hey guys! I know it's been awhile. I guess I feel like nothing has really changed. My swelling is so minimal that it's either gone completely and I just have some chub left or I have very little swelling left. LOL, either way I'm back to normal. However, there is one weird thing that I've noticed during my recovery. My strong, hard, sharp fingernails have turned into these crumbling fragile things! I began to notice this around 2 months post op. I started to add unflavored gelatin to my morning coffee which has helped. Also, I was recently sent a jar of gummy vitamins specifically for "hair, skin and nails" so I've begun that. I think my body has been busy repairing my skin and making scar tissue that it was using the minerals and vitamins that normally made my nails strong. Has this happened to anyone else? Updated on 6 Apr 2017: So, it's been awhile since I've updated my review. I've been dealing with two traumas involving my children - which each alone would have devastated me, let alone together. Everything will be okay for me and my family, I know time heals all wounds. I'm not really comfortable or ready to share on here, so I'll leave it at that. Needless to say, I haven't been as active as I was pre-surgery and along with some depression I've stabilized at my "fat" weight - around 140lbs. I guess this is good : / considering my recent DNA test showed that according to my genes I should weigh 160. There really hasn't been much of a change. My scars are fading - slowly. I'm unsure whether the scar cream really worked or not. I am happy with the overall result, and muscle repair but I do have a few complaints. This really sucks because my PS has retired! #1. My scar is low at first, but curves upward at each end. I assume that she lengthened the incision to avoid a dog's ear - which is why it's off the crease after a certain length. This makes it difficult to hide the line while wearing bikini bottoms. #2. I think I have a slight dog's ear on my left side : / . Yes, this blows. #3. Where was the lipo wand? I was supposed to have lipo on my flanks but it must have been minimal. I know I've gained around 5lbs post op but come on!! Anyhow, I'm going to wait until the dust settles on recent events and see how things look at the 6 month mark to reassess. I've wondered if I should have looked for another doctor when I found that my PS was retiring, but she was really good and I could have easily had the same if not similar problems or worse with another PS - and have had to drive 4 or more hours them, along with delaying my surgery for maybe a year or more. Here are some more follow up pics, I snapped while making this post. They're not the best, but I'm not very motivated. Updated on 14 Apr 2017: I wanted to post this picture to show the truth of a tummy tuck. It's getting up in the morning, throwing on my gardening jeans and even though my weight is up 13 lbs, my underwear and jeans are flat and I'm not frantically looking for a shirt that will hide my belly. My tummy tuck just made me normal - which is all I wanted. My back pain has been noticeably less - which I attribute to my major muscle repair. However, I'll be the first to say that there have been many times I've questioned my choice to have surgery. There have been many hard moments and stray thoughts and regrets - BUT, the things I wanted from this tt - I got. Are my results perfect? I am far from perfect, but that's okay with me. I love my body, it's strong and healthy and beautiful, no one in the world is quite like me. So, my goal today (well everyday) is to appreciate the small things in life and look for ordinary happiness in everyday things. Happy healing! *hugs* Thank you my friends for walking through this journey with me. Updated on 5 May 2017: Ten years ago this spring, I suffered a life threatening injury, had a stroke and spent a week in the critical care unit at Swedish Hospital. I was placed on bed rest and tons of restrictions. My life was dramatically changed. I went from kayaking and rock climbing to watching "The Office" on DVD (still a fan!) I put on some weight. I was depressed and I felt like I had lost myself even when the restrictions were gone. One day, while talking to a friend of mine who is a breast cancer survivor, she told me how she was figuring out who her "new" self was. The facts were that she had changed and would never be the same person post-cancer that she was pre-cancer. This really struck a cord with me. This was a turing point in my life where I began to figure out who I was - post injury. I write this because that conversation changed my life - and yet again I'm coming to terms with the fact that I'm not the same person pre-tummy tuck that I am now. I realize that I have to find my new self. We all have to find our new self, our real self everyday. Adapt, change, move or we become stagnant. Updated on 9 Jun 2017: I wanted to post some incision line updates. Last night I felt tingles under my belly button where I haven't had any feeling. It makes me so relieved. I thought I'd never feel anything in between my bb and my incision line ever again! Also, as a RealFriend for RealSelf, I was given some scar cream called biocorneum, I began using it last week. I'll post a picture of it.
I am a 41 year old nurse, wife, and mom to 4 boys, all of whom were over 10 pounds at birth. I'm having a tummy tuck and breast lift on 12/2 and couldn't be more excited, but also quite nervous! Being a nurse, I'm very familiar with pre and post-op general protocols, but going under the knife myself is a scary prospect. Full steam ahead, though!
I have finally scheduled my explant procedure! I was disappointed with my implants and my decision to get them. My right breast never 'dropped' and soon developed a hard and painful capsular contraction. Seeing your photos of what to expect and reading your stories has been such a comfort that I wanted to share my own story. ! I am fully confident I have made the right decision to have my implants removed. Updated on 23 Feb 2016: Only getting more excited as the day approaches! Everything in my life is coming together after much self improvement; the boobs being gone will be an outward reflection of the confidence and love I have for myself. Last week I told my 16 year old daughter about my surgery which naturally led to me telling her about the implants- FOR THE FIRST TIME. I never told her about them because I had preached to her to love herself. It was a great bonding and educational moment I could embrace knowing they were COMING OUT! Updated on 1 Mar 2016: I am nothing but excited about my 9:00 explant/no lift tomorrow!!! Thanks to all of you for sharing your stories and adding to my confidence! Updated on 1 Mar 2016: Home from 9:15 surgery! Zero regrets! Little sleepy but so happy snd will share more! Updated on 2 Mar 2016: I am still elated with being implant free! I showered and saw the girls for the first time; I know they are only going to get better and I am thrilled. My right breast is more tender due to the scar tissue that was removed but is draining well. Updated on 4 Mar 2016: I'm feeling great and want to be doing more than I should so I'm icing like a good girl. My incisions are itching which means they are healing! I'm so ready to get dressed and show my real, confident self!
Hello Realselfer's! I'm happy to have found this site and I'm looking forward to sharing with you our journeys along the way! I hope to find others getting a TT the same week as me so we can give each other support during our recoveries. I'm less than one week out from my Tummy Tuck. I've already had my pre-op visit and It's all paid for. Per PS instructions I have stopped all supplements 14 days prior to sx. Every morning I wake up and ask myself why I am doing this and especially at this advanced age. I have a brief moment of fear and doubt. I then walk straight over to the full-length mirror lift my night gown and gather all of my loose skin into my hands. I look at my profile and imagine myself with a smooth flat tummy. I think about how my undies will no longer roll down when I sit and how I will look naked. My fears are based on the bad things I have read here on RS. I try to avoid them but somehow I allow them to suck me in. Prayer is huge to me. I believe in the power of prayer. I try to push the thoughts out...you know the ones I'm talking about, I know you do. The ones that say if anything goes wrong during recovery that it is my own fault, that I was stupid in doing this cosmetic procedure and that my people may say that it was my own fault..... I then promptly remind myself that many, many women and men have done this, that I am very healthy, and that I must keep a positive attitude and believe that I will have a great recovery and that I will be so happy with my results. I take a deep breath and get busy with something to stop thinking about it. Thank you RS people for taking the time to read my review. Pictures to follow some time in the next few days. Updated on 12 Oct 2014: I got my call from the pre sx nurse last Thursday. I was told to shower with an anti-bacterial soap of any kind and that Dial was a good one. She asked if I had any allergies to latex, medications, or food allergies. I was asked if I had prior surgeries to know how I handled anesthesia. I did have a D&C after a miscarriage in 1980, but don't remember much about it. Also asked it had been taking any medications and supplements. Zyrtec is okay to take for allergies if needed and no problem with me taking my bio-identical hormones. Wear loose clothing and no jewelry or contact lenses. Stop all food and drink (including water) after midnight and okay to brush teeth but do not swallow any water. I have to be there at 7:00 a.m. and surgery will be at 8:00. Hubby and I will have to leave our house at 5:15. I will be spending the night in the hospital and we will see if hubby can stay in my room with me. If not he may get a hotel room nearby or drive the 1hr and 45 min. back home. My prescriptions are: Dilaudid 2 mg. for pain, and Zofran 4 mg. for nausea. No muscle relaxer (?) I will have a pain pump. Updated on 13 Oct 2014: I just had my 57th birthday. I'm 5'3" tall and weigh 138lbs. I've been married 33 yrs. and have two kids ages 38 and 31. I was a skinny kid, average weight teen and went through my first pregnancy at 18 without gaining much weight. I began overeating in my 20's and ultimately gained 100 lbs. At my highest weight I was 236 lbs. I struggled with diets going up and down with my weight for several years and finally with healthy diet and exercise lost 100 lbs. over a 2 year period and have kept it off for the past 14 years. I've gone as low as 128 lbs. but found that weight very difficult to maintain and have pretty much decided that about 135 is a good weight for me. I do a cardio work out with light weights for one hour per day 6 days a week, eating no more than 1,200 cal per day. I'm almost 3 years post menopausal and find it much more difficult to maintain than before. My research shows that I must begin a strength training program to build more lean muscle mass. I have lost fat in places like my face, neck, ear lobes, and upper arms making me look a bit skeletal up top and I have loose skin in my upper arms, upper thighs, and tummy. My breasts have fared pretty well as they were very small to start with and although a bit deflated at the top they really don't sag, they are not pretty but not horrible either. My bottom is larger than most, hahah, and again not horrible and can probably firm up with some weight training. I do have a lot of cellulite in my thighs. This is the first of many cosmetic procedures that I am considering. I'm starting with the tummy, Considering a breast aug (but must do more research), botox in forehead, possible filler in cheek area. I'm taking a year to work on firming up my thighs but will consider lipo next year if needed. I may also consider having my arms done. I'm starting with the most lengthy and difficult surgery (for recovery) and the area that bothers me the most. I am so looking forward to a smooth flat tummy! Updated on 13 Oct 2014: Well, here we go. I'm not so good at taking headless selfies, hahah, but fair is fair. You ladies are kind enough to show the ugly the bad and the good......I must do the same! My husband is documenting this process on a regular camera...with head attached. Whew, took me a while and definitely one thing to remember is that photo's make everything look bigger than it truly is. Updated on 13 Oct 2014: 1. Walker: 2nd hand store $5.00, 15 minutes of cleaning and some $2.99 tennis balls from Walmart. 2. Female urinal: Forgot to add to the pic. White plastic with a handle on top. Amazon $11.00. I gave it a trial run. First time ever that I have stood up to pee. Hahah, went well. I had no idea that I peed this much volume. Got a little drippage down the leg when I removed it....didn't love that. Hope to avoid using it but if I need it, I need it! 3.Toilet seat height extender: Amazon $27.00 Same thing at Walmart is $57.00!! 4. I already had the back massager and foot medi massager. 5. Shower seat: Amazon $22.00 again was twice that much at Walmart. 6. Hand held shower-not shown. Lowes $25.00 Hubby will temporarily replace our regular shower head with the hand held one. Also in my recovery room; hubby was sweet and brought in from another room a larger screen TV and temporarily replaced the little one that was in there. The bed comes in from an outside shed. It's quite heavy and hubby needs our son to help. It's a twin craftmatic the kind that raises and lowers the head & feet with a controller. The nerves are setting in. Tomorrow: Getting my hair done at 9:30 a.m. Finishing up some work up at the office and going to view a home that is for sale. Taking the pictures of myself really helped to confirm just why I am doing this. Praying that I come through this with no problems, that my ps does her best TT ever:-) that I love my result and that I have a smooth recovery. Thanks for being there RS friends! Updated on 15 Oct 2014: Today is an interesting day.....I feel surprisingly calm, much calmer than I was a month or two weeks ago. Last evening we got the bed moved into my recovery bedroom and I tried laying on it, getting out of it and making the head & feet go up and down. I have very good Ab strength and was trying to test and imagine how I will get in and out of bed without engaging those muscles...At this point I'm glad that I chose to do one procedure at a time, i.e. I can use my arm & leg strength. I'm listening to coffee house music which is very calming. I've had my first carrot, beet, cilantro, lemon, apple smoothie and will drink one more this afternoon. Eating clean and light today. Hoping that the smoothies take care of the dreaded 3-day constipation I've heard so much about. I showered this morning with the white Dial Antibacterial bar soap. No lotions except for my face and neck. I'm not wearing makeup today. Getting ready to straighten my overly kinky, curly hair. With my pale skin, dark hair and light eyes this hair and no makeup resembles the pic's you see of Einstein. Uh huh, not kidding! leaving out all hair products...What, no hairspray??? Yikes, yes it's true but since I have no idea when I will wash my hair next best to keep the crud out of it. It's not oily at all so I'm sure that I can go several days and be fine. Had a huge scare yesterday! My 14 yr old granddaughter was accidentally (what the h*ll!!) over-immunized (how?!#??) and came down with a nearly 104 fever! She's a tiny girl at only 89 lbs. She was in the ER with IV, Blood work good. She's home, fine, fever's down and she's keeping fluids down. They say that she will be fine and may take a few days for her body to process. Boy oh boy!! Updated on 15 Oct 2014: No food or drink after midnight. Don't forget a barf-bucket, a pillow to put between me and the seatbelt for the ride home, and a neck pillow. Lay out the clothes....I'll wear the same ones home that I arrived in. Guess I'll take my prescriptions along with me. Get 6 yr old granddaughters birthday card ready, must have hubby send it on Friday. In between this I am devouring a sleeve of (unsalted) saltine crackers with I can't believe it's not butter on top.....Gee, I'm feeling pretty calm.....1 Cracker, I must call my daughter and tell her I'm having surgery tomorrow....3 crackers, Should I leave an envelope in my dresser drawer.. You girls know the one I'm talking about, right? The letter inside reads "If you are reading this, I must not have.." 5 crackers. Why am I eating these crackers????? I finish them off. Good Lord in heaven!! It feels surreal. I'm getting up at 3:00 a.m. I'm having surgery at 8:00 a.m. I'm spending the night in the hospital.....this is really happening! Ladies, I thank you for your kindness and support. See you on the flat side, prayers and hugs to all! Updated on 17 Oct 2014: Hello! My surgery went well. We had a 1 hr. 45 min. commute and left early. With no traffic the drive was faster than usual and we arrived 1 hr. early. Everyone at the hospital was so nice. Dr. Glasser marked my incision line and made a circle around my BB while I was lying on the bed. I was pleased at how low she made the line. I haven't seen it yet. The sx was 3 hours, recovery 45 min. and off to my hospital room. I am SO glad that I had one night in the hospital....Holy Cow. Hubby stayed with me, slept fully clothed, shoes and all in a recliner. He had a ceiling light shining right down on top of him so that I could see him every time I woke up. I had a clicker that would administer dilaudid every 8 min. They seemed surprised that I didn't use it very often. Get this girls/guys.....3lbs. of skin, no fat! 3-4" separation. I'll find out the exact measure at my first post op visit in 7 days. I asked to get up and walk at 8 p.m. took 2 laps and could have kept going but they said that was enough. I had the leg compression things on my calves the whole time. I'm so glad to have had the catheter! That came out at 5 a.m. I was up to pee at 6:00. No problem peeing at all. I had to pee on the drive home...ugh, at a rest stop. I'm fairly sure that I splashed the toilet seat and feel really bad about that. I'm drinking water like crazy and getting up every hour to pee, make 2 laps around the living room/kitchen and take deep breaths into the plastic breathing thing.....I'll post a pic later. Pain pump is great and I don't feel that I have missed out on anything at all by not having the Exparel (sp) injection that others have talked about. Thank God I got the $5.00 walker and the toilet riser with arms. I don't want to shower yet so I'm using the large medical wipes from WM on arm pits and china. Speaking of china......SX did a mini lipo on the mons which was a bit on the chubby side. I'm ready for another nap...hugs to all! Updated on 18 Oct 2014: We got home and we both forgot about icing the tummy. I bought 2 icebags at WM. It was actually less expensive to buy these than to buy the extra large bags of peas. They look small but hold alot of ice. If you don't have an icemaker, then def get the peas. I like the idea of reusing the bags after recovery. I've responded very well to the pain med dilauid. I'm tired but I have my senses and am cheerful. I purchased several fruit pouches.....It's the fruit in a little pouch that you suck out. Keep in fridge. This IS THE WAY TO GO people. You have to eat a little to take the pain meds. It's wet, cold, and refreshing. The thought of trying to chew dry crackers is not appealing at all right now and I don't want anything high in calories/sugars. I was careful to get fruits that are low on the glycemic index, as I don't want to start craving sugars. I have berry blends, sweet potato and fruit blends, peaches......very tasty. 1/2 pouch is plenty. I'm getting the hang of stripping & emptying the drains. So much Thanks to you RSers that have come before me. I'm not shocked at all by what I see down there in the mons, and only because you wonderful ladies have posted your pic's. I'm not anxious at all to look under the CG or to see BB or incision....If I had my way it could stay all covered up and one month from now get something like "the big reveal" hahah, but I'll get braver as we go. I started Miralax the day after sx. I wanted to follow my PS instructions to a Tee and she said nothing before sx except Tylenol or zyrtec for allergies. Oh, one more thing; my hands haven't looked like this since I was 25.....hahah, at my age they are very thin and you see veins and bone definition, I'm puffy and they look fabulous, lol! It's nap time girls. Updated on 18 Oct 2014: I'm not using the walker this afternoon, still it was well worth having ($5.00) for the first day and a half. The toilet seat riser with arms is the very best investment so far. I'm doing fine with the hospital type bed. It's very comfortable. My husband has to help me in and out. There is no way I could do that alone on day one and two. If you don't have a strong helper who can take both wrists to pull you forward to get out and lift one leg to get you back in I would def recommend a power recliner that stands you up. I think that I will be returning a lot of supplies to W/M. I began RS by looking at MM's. At this point I gladly will wait on year to decide on a BA. My breasts are small and don't need a lift so I'll be happy with just tummy. My PS includes a little lipo to the hips through the TT incision. She wants a nice smooth transition from waist to hips and as mentioned she did a little lipo on my chubby mons area too. This is a little direct but I love what one RSer said that her ps told her. He said that the gal had her first orgasm during intercourse alone after having that done!! Updated on 19 Oct 2014: Feeling good. Every day I'm better and stronger. I'm keeping ice on tummy 99% of my day. I got myself out of bed by lowering feet and raising head at the same time. I'm still not showering.....call me a coward, but I'm just not ready. I use my wipes to clean under arms, where my thighs rub, my fine china, and bottom every time I pee. I strip lines every time I pee, it's just easier to remember that way. I'm extending my one pain pill to every 6 hours and having no problem with pain at all. I've heard others raving about the Exparell (sp) injections. I have the pain pump and it's awesome.... It will come out today, I'm just waiting a couple hours to see if it gets anymore deflated than it currently is. I fried one whole egg along with one egg white in some coconut oil. My husband is keeping a watchful eye. He got the cast iron skillet for me. I'm standing straighter than I had envisioned. The first day I was bent at nearly 90 degrees and looking at the ground. Today I'm bent at shoulders and still looking at ground simply to make sure there is nothing in my path. I have taken one dose of miralax each day since sx. No BM but not much to eat either. Today I passed gas and hahaha, considered that a milestone. Who knew it took tummy muscles to let a stinker, lol!! If no poo by tomorrow I may use an enema.....any idea's?? I stand and look at myself in the mirror and can't see anything of course but she took 3 pounds of skin off and repaired 3-4 in of separation.....there's definitely a difference even if I can't see what's underneath the binder. Happy healing sx buddies....time for a pill and a nap. Updated on 19 Oct 2014: I should have added that I raise the head of my bed and lower the foot of bed at the same time. While I'm here I'll add that I needed my coffee today. I reasoned that I would not need my caffeine because I'm napping so much and I wouldn't get the caffeine withdrawal headaches.......logically how could I when I'm on pain meds...makes sense right? I am a very disciplined coffee drinker. I get 2 and only 2 cups of 1/2 calf coffee each morning. Any more and I'd have issues. I began having headaches yesterday..2 days off coffee. I drank 1/2 cup of 1/2 calf and hahah, headache is gone. hmmmmm Updated on 20 Oct 2014: Hello! Here we are at day four post op...already. Since I spent the night after sx in hospital and saw my ps next morning my first post op visit is 7 days from sx. I'm going to email the office and ask if it's okay that I have not showered, i.e. is it better to shower or does it matter one way or the other? Here's why I'm nervous girls. I lifted my cg a little and under the gauze right in the middle of incision is a clump of what looks like dried blood. The steri strip is not stuck to it. I'm afraid to get that wet. One RS'r said that what she thought was dried blood was really a brownish colored glue. I'm using cleansing cloths to clean the parts that get smelly and my hair is fine. I'll call the ps office about it. My question is how high up do they begin pulling the skin down? So when you aren't getting a BA with your TT how close do they get to your breast crease? Updated on 20 Oct 2014: Post op day four. Yesterday I went from 1 pain pill every 4 hrs to one every 5-6 hrs. I have not needed 2 pain pills at the same time. (my rx reads 1-2 every 4-6 hrs). I chose to take my one pill every 4 hrs for the first 3 days no matter what. Today I decided to test my pain level and took over the counter Tylenol instead of the rx at 8:00 a.m. It's now noon and I still have no pain (short of quick movement) so I took Tylenol again. We'll see how this goes! The pain pump is good for 3-3 1/2 days. It looked deflated yesterday morning (3 days) so I gave it an extra 3 hrs (now at 3 1/2 days) to see if it would change and it didn't so I removed it. My husband has been a champ and truly amazing through this experience but I could see the color drain from his face at the very mention of it, lol!. It was super easy. I removed the tape very slowly (cut a little tape away from some gauze it was stuck to. (DO NOT CUT TUBE!!) and was a bit puzzled that there was 2 tiny yellow colored tubes not 1.....hahah, read the rest of the instuctions (normal to have 2) and slowly/gently pulled one out at a time. Absolutely no pain what so ever. Piece of cake. Hubby was relieved when I yelled "all done" I'm so glad to be rid of the little black bag as it is one less thing to haul around with me. I'm pro pain pump all the way and happy that Dr. Glasser uses that. Although it didn't seem like it was needed I went ahead and put a little Neosporin over the tiny holes and a sterile pad. I used gloves for removal and for the Neosporin. I'm washing and using gloves for the drain emptying as well. Updated on 21 Oct 2014: Oh my, the first poo. I have mentioned it before but I'm a "do it right" kind of person and details are important to me. I love my PS and at this point I can think of one thing to change....not about her it's about the office post op instructions. It would be a more detailed account of timeline and step by step instructions to make me feel that I am doing what I need to do when it needs to be done. Exactly when should I shower...days one to three is too vague for me. Exactly how is that to be done, i.e. a certain soap, is it okay for the soap and water to run over the Belly button and incision, is the shampoo hitting it okay, is it okay to remove the guaze from the BB....These are things I don't do well with. I do not like to assume things. Then there's the Poo. How many days can I go without the poo happening before we need to worry. What is a good way to get that going and is the goal to not push at all or is a little pushing okay?? In my company we have a saying; "When in doubt, leave it out" I seem to have applied this to the above two subjects. Yesterday (p.o. day 4) I thought I had better figure out the poo. I had taken Miralax 3 days in a row. I attempted an enema and was not strong enough to squeeze more than 1/2 the water in. I sat and waited......it's working, it's working!! I produced 1/2 bottle of enema water and one marble sized poo. Good Grief!! I waited a couple hours and decided to glove up and insert a suppository. Reached from the front (couldn't do it the other way), no biggie, that was easy. I spent 15 minutes brushing teeth and washing face. Hubby kept asking if I was okay. I used a step stool to set my feet on (elevate my knees) which was helpful since I'm using a toilet riser. It was rough going to get started but then everything came out fine and I flushed once in between for fear of clogging. Honestly I don't know if I went that much but hahaha, had concern. I opened the door a crack and yelled "SUCCESS!!!" My husband did an exaggerated happy dance to show support. Updated on 21 Oct 2014: If I had my way I would keep my lovely binder on for weeks and never peek underneath. The big date would be set. With much fanfare complete with colored lights and confetti, a spotlight would shine directly down on me. I would be wearing nothing but stilettos and a CG. I would rip open my binder and there would be applause!!! Instead, because of the spot I had mentioned that looked like dried blood and the worry that the steri-tape may not be covering it......I emailed the ps assistant asking if it's okay to shower. I sent her a picture. I called to confirm that she received the email and the office was closed. Guess I won't shower today, Aw Shux....!!! This morning (post op day 5) assistant at ps office called back to say that I must shower!! Her tone of voice had a hint of disbelief. There was mention of old smelly glue and bacteria. If I had been a cartoon character you might have heard a loud horn blow and seen the top of my head blow off. My eyes would have been bulged out a foot from my head. I immediately called my husband and requested he rush home for an emergency shower!!! Thankfully he is the boss and can do that, plus he's only 5 minutes from the house. He rushed in, grabs the shower chair and I get into the tub. We point the warmed up shower at my knees and on it goes. He is right there, I'm sitting but we both wonder if we will pass out at what is about to unfold. I carefully undo the taped down gauze and everything was just fine. Hooray, no oozing no smelly anything. It's a beauty! I convince my husband to peek around the shower curtain and he smiles!! We are okay!! But wait. The Belly button has yellow gauze....oh my god, am I supposed to remove that????? I yell to husband "grab my phone and dial Dr. Glasser's office" Tell them I'm in the shower and there's gauze in my BB!!!! I hear him saying "but we need to know now, she's in the shower"....Yes, remove the gauze, it's okay he yells, just don't remove the tape". At this point I had calmed down and realized that it wasn't really the shower that was scaring me at all. I was so frightened that I would not like what I saw. I was so fearful of an unhappy outcome or that I would be scared by the sight of the incision or that my belly button would be hideous. I finished my shower, hubby turned the chair and I even washed and conditioned my hair. Thank goodness our hot water heater is big.....I've never taken that long of shower. The water running over the BB loosened the gauze and I had a little cry. It's freakin fabulous!! This bb looks like the one I had as a little girl. My tummy looks amazing! I want to hug Dr. Glasser and tell her thank you and I love you!!! I'll leave out the I love you part but oh my gosh! My husband just stood and stared. Like everyone else I'm quite swollen. The longer I was out of the binder the puffier my belly got. I'll give you a better picture down the line but here's what I have for today. Oh, PS: For that first shower find something to stick your drains in. I used my pain pump bag by extending the shoulder strap most of the way, hanging it around my neck, and zipping the drains and tubes inside. Updated on 21 Oct 2014: Ladies and Gents, Please don't let this site get you all worked up about the AMAZING MUST HAVE Exparel injection. Our Plastic Surgeon knows what is best and what they are comfortable using. I feel foolish asking my PS about that shot when I know absolutely nothing about what I was asking. This is my first and only TT, How the heck do I know what my PS should use?? She used the pain pump and my experience was excellent! Updated on 22 Oct 2014: I kept thinking that my Dr. appt. was tomorrow but alas, it is today. Total commute time is 3 hours. My first fresh air since coming home. Asst. to PS said that she is using a product to apply for removal of the steri strip. I don't know if she is covering it again or not. I needed the walker for the first 3 days. It helps the back, balance, it will keep you from stumbling over anything and this is crucial when on the heavy pain meds. My sleep is off and on. I haven't slept long stretches (not over 4 hours) since sx. I've had a day or two when I didn't use it at all but when I first wake up I feel groggy and find comfort in using the walker for trips to the bathroom. By the time I've peed and stripped my drains I'm fully alert and usually ditch the walker. At this point I'm walking normally ( I don't shuffle) and with normal speed. My shoulders are still hunched. I have not had anything at all for pain in over 48 hours!!! I have a medi-massager for the feet and a shiatsu chair massager (straps on to chair) which I use at least 4 times a day. I'm careful to only massage the middle to upper part of my back only. I LOVE this thing!! Updated on 22 Oct 2014: It felt great to get outside today! Temp in the 70's, Blue sky, billowy clouds, and changing colors. Arrived at the appt. 1/2 hour early and there were kiddo's in the waiting room. I chose to wait outside as I am avoiding children, and the public in general like the plague. I feel a bit freakish keeping a medical face mask in my pocket but I simply cannot chance getting a cold while in this healing phase. I paced the sidewalk back and forth for several laps for exercise while waiting. PS assistant had me strip-down to all except bra and undies. (I wore some for the visit but haven't been wearing any undies.....just hate how they feel rubbing against the drain tubes). She moved the chair arm quickly....my arm was on it, and I just about jumped through the ceiling! I asked the ps assistant to please tell me everything she is about to do as she does it and to please do it slowly. Absolutely no fake-sneeze/pull out the drain fast shenanigans!! At this point I'm fairly sure they think I'm a crackpot. Dr. Glasser came in and said that everything looks great. Confirmed that she took off 3 lbs. of skin and zero fat. It was ALL skin! She showed me with her fingers how much repair was done. I told her that I'm very happy with my result and that I love my belly button. She said that the TT is her favorite surgery because she gets to see immediate results. She took a look at my drainage numbers and said that we would remove the one that had the least drainage and that I could possibly expect the remaining one to have a little more than usual. She wondered if I had any questions for her and honestly I couldn't think of any. I wondered why they remove the steri strips and she made a joke about me being the one and only patient that they have ever done this with and then quickly told me that this is just how they do it. It's the same with all of her TT patients. Meanwhile the PS asst. is applying an adhesive remover and slowly removing the tape. My skin is super sensitive to tape glue. If it gets taken off quickly I will get raised red areas that will begin to itch and takes a while to go away. I don't want that directly on top of my incision line!! I feel like one of those super sensitive, allergic to everything, fussy kind of gals and It's really not like that.....so..much, Whatever. Anyway she began cutting pieces of brownish paper tape in approx. 4 in strips and sticking them to the metal tray. She showed me how to apply the strips and said that I would keep them 6 days on and 1 day off, to flatten the scar. I was given the remainder of the tape roll and an instruction hand out. I remembered that at the next appointment I want to try botox on the elevens and thinking that this is a good time to do it since I'm not in the public much anyway. I'm sure that I will bruise a little. SOOOO, next weeks appt. is removal of the other drain and Botox. Oh....almost forgot!!! Drain removal! Asst. snipped the stitch and I reminded her again to please do it slowly no matter how painful I can take it, just do it slowly.....Jeez, I looked away, she said "Done" Good Greif I was expecting pain. I've heard on this site that it was painful, just awful....Honest to God I didn't feel a thing, not one thing!! Yay!! One down One to go! Updated on 23 Oct 2014: I almost cannot speak when my ps is in the room. She is amazing. I have this feeling from her that I can completely trust her. I somehow sense that she will do ONLY the very best job possible and that I am safe in her hands. To me She is just this package of quiet, calming, confidence, no arrogance........and real. Her level of intelligence just radiates and for me seems untouchable. I am a person whose mind is never quiet it's always full of chatter, and I don't trust easily. Her presence quiets me. Updated on 23 Oct 2014: At the Dr. office yesterday PS asked if I was standing straight yet and if not I should start working on that. For the past few days I have been walking with shoulders hunched but otherwise straight. I feel no pulling, no pain. (still haven't had ANY pain med since post op day 4) I'm still sleeping in "beach chair" position. Back to that in one second..... *********************************************************************************** When I started this process I vowed that my only job for the next 6 weeks is to follow all of Dr. Glasser's instructions to a Tee. The RS website is so wonderful in terms of seeing before and after pic's and reading of others recovery tips and collecting ideas plus comparing our recoveries. We must remember that we have no idea who is writing what they write and if they are telling the complete truth about following the pre and post op instructions......What do they really know about the exparel injection vs. the pain pump if they haven't compared both first hand?? I read a post from a gal who actually admitted that she was sneaking a vapor cigarette In the recovery center post Mommy makeover. What the H*ll woman?? One said that 10 days post op she was in a bar having a beer and just had a few puffs off her hubbies cig....Really??? Your Doc says to wear the binder 24/7 and really you are taking it off for several hours at a time?? They say to apply ice for the first week and you ice it "not as much as I should" You lied about being a smoker or about when you stopped smoking pre-surgery?? Why then are you wondering why you are having problems?? Okay, rant over. *********************************************************************************** Standing straight......when she asked if I am standing straight I had to think about that for a moment. In my mind "from what I've read on RS" I'm not even supposed to be standing straight. I was thinking, "You mean it's okay to stand straight???" (Remember...I am the do it perfectly person)So when I got home I tried it!!! I'll be gosh darn, People I CAN STAND STRAIGHT...I'm FLIPPIN STRAIGHT AND hahahah, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT! 6 DAYS POST OP AND I'm STRAIGHT!! Nothing is pulling, I have no pain. I have to keep reminding myself to un-hunch my shoulders. Yay!! Updated on 24 Oct 2014: 1. The Bed which has kept me in beach chair position goes without saying. An electric powered recliner would do the same. 2. Neck pillows (travel pillows) : I took one along to the hospital. I use one in the car and I've used one to sleep with every single night since sx. There is simply no full sized pillow that fits right when in beach-chair position in a bed. I have a variety of neck pillows ranging from the firmer kind with memory foam to the type with the little beads inside. These have saved my neck!!! 3. The fruit pouches. Used for the first 3 days. Without this I wouldn't have wanted to eat or take my pain meds. I could easily suck it out of the pouch and the coolness and taste was refreshing and comforting. 4. Toilet seat riser with arms. This was valuable! The seat made me feel secure as in not falling off, and the arms for getting myself back up. This is as much to do with being on pain meds as it is on strength. As good as I felt on the pain meds, in retrospect.....I was definitely not real steady on my feet. I wouldn't have been able to do it without help on days 1-3 otherwise. I worked pretty hard on my leg/knee strength a couple months prior to surgery, so by day 6 and no longer on meds I was ready to try it without the riser and did just fine. I haven't used it since. 5. Walker: Much needed first 3 days when on the pain meds and for support while being hunched over; helps save the back. I'm keeping it around in case I need to take any pain pills down the line. 6. Zip-up light to medium weight house coat: Keep the sleeves at short to 3/4 length; long sleeves get in the way. I lived in this the first 3 days. 7. Sweats or baggy yoga pants. I like my husbands size medium sweats with large openings at the ankle and deep pockets. They are thicker (good for concealing) than ladies sweats and run big. I can pull them up high, not wear undies and the drain tubes can move freely. I almost feel normal wearing them with my slip on Dansko's and a nice but oversized pullover type shirt. 8. Rubber gloves: I have used them to strip and empty drains. I def did not need a big box of them though. Stripping drains is so much easier with the gloves because you get a good firm grip and it saves your fingers. 9. Ice bags: I bought 2 ice bags. My icemaker couldn't keep up so I ended up filling them 2/3 with water and laying flat in the freezer. Per ps instructions I used them 24/7 for the first 7 days. I lay one of them directly on my binder being carful not to touch bare skin and it lasts the entire night, then I replace with the other one. After day 7 I am using them when reclining, napping or sleeping. 10. Arnica: Using them sublingually (under the tongue) 4x a day. 11. Misc. I feel better putting a dry sterile pad over my healing bb underneath the binder. I'm using Band-aid brand medium non stick pads. I don't use tape, the binder keeps it in place. Something for your water with a lid and straw. I've been using the one I was given at the hospital, I drink water constantly. Drink carefully people!!! Going down the wrong pipe is completely unacceptable as you must avoid even the tiniest cough for the first 6 days!! Trust me on this :-) Should it happen straighten your neck and begin taking slow deep breaths and think of something different until it passes. HAPPY HEALING!! Parts of my mouth and throat were a little sore from sx and cough drops helped. Updated on 25 Oct 2014: I had my first Zinger on day 7. At this point they don't come often and they are not long in duration. What is a Zinger? Whomever coined this word did very well! This is my experience so far.....I'll let you know if this changes but for now It is a sudden needle-like, electrical pain which pinpoints one tiny spot in the tummy, hips, incision, or mons. It happens quickly, literally stops you in your tracks, makes your eyes open real wide and is gone within 3 seconds. No pain meds needed. If this was frequent I would consider Tylenol, but at this point it's gone quickly. Be happy and feel grateful for the zingers as it is said that this means there is some healing going on!!! Hahahah, this is what I tell myself each time one happens. When Hubby sees this happen his eyes get as wide as mine and he worries. First couple times will take you by surprise but after that I have tried not to react as I don't want to worry this man who cannot bare to see me in any pain and feels like he must fix all things that are wrong :-) Updated on 25 Oct 2014: When I was pre-op I had absolutely no idea what this meant. There is no visual that fits these words so I just waited until sx to learn what it meant. Being a person who likes to know what is happening beforehand I will describe my experience for those that are pre sx. I had two drains. Mine are tubes coming out of the mons leading to a plastic bulb which holds the drainage and is safety pinned to my binder. Every so often you must strip, empty, and measure. It is my understanding that stripping should happen several times a day, where emptying was less frequent. I chose to strip each time I peed as a way to insure that I was doing it at least or more often than needed. (enter one of the horror stories read where the gal didn't strip...ah jeez!). I wash and glove up each time I empty but not each time I strip. Stripping is very simple. With one hand you pinch-off the tube using your thumb and first finger closer down toward where they are coming out....I did it about 4 inches up from there. With the other hand you simply slide your thumb and finger along the tube going up towards the bulb. This is easy but a little tougher where the tube thickens in the last 2 inches. It goes quickly. My big fears were that I didn't want to be pulling with force and accidentally loose grip with the pinching fingers.......oooh doggies that just makes me cringe thinking about it!! IT NEVER HAPPENED. Be carful when on the heavy drugs that you trace the tube from mons to bulb before stripping, otherwise you risk stripping in the wrong direction......Not Okay according to the nurse in the hospital who said it with much conviction. Updated on 25 Oct 2014: I thought of this a few hours ago when I took a shower. A few years back while taking care of my sick Mama she had been on a quest to find an old-fashioned terry cloth Robe. We went from store to store and this went on for months!! We finally found one at Ross for Less, it's Tommy Hillfiger of all things and was under $20.00. My mother is gone now but I've kept this darn heavy thing all this time as I just haven't had the heart to let it go. Well, I finally get why Mom wanted this robe. The thing weighs a ton, it's like wearing a giant oversized heavy white towel and goes down mid-calf. Mom had cut and hemmed the long sleeves to 3/4 length. You get out of the shower put on the robe, sit on the extended potty seat and rest; Because in those first days the shower experience might kind of wear you out. No towel is needed to dry off because this robe absorbs all of the water, no bending or stretching.....Though it's not just that , it's warm and comforting like a big 'ol hug and we kind of need a hug right now. At post op day nine I clearly no longer need this robe as I can easily bend and stretch to dry myself yet it's still hanging on the back of the door and after every shower I still look forward to snuggling up in it! Updated on 25 Oct 2014: 1. Stand straight 2. Go poo without any over the counter help and no more toilet riser P.S. Never used the female urinal....that's for someone with a full binder having just a cut out in the crotch. 3. Take a shower with no one watching over and without a shower chair P.S. Never did need to install the handheld showerhead! 4. Sleep a solid 5-6 hrs. without waking 5. Sleep with the head of my bed a bit lower 6. Fix a small dinner for two all by myself 5. Make my bed, dust the furniture, empty trash 6. Walk long driveway to mailbox and back several times 7. Put hot rollers in or straighten my hair 8. Blow nose, clear throat gently, and gargle mouthwash while sitting. Carefully laugh but not often. 9. Sit in a regular recliner and carefully put the leg rest down w/o help 10. Pick up lint from the rug ********** Time passes quickly and we heal so much faster than I ever thought!!!! ********** Updated on 26 Oct 2014: Last appointment when I was 6 days post op, the assistant removed my steri strip tape using an adhesive remover and replaced it with the tan colored Medipore tape. My instructions are 6 days on and one day off. The strip is placed over the incision in approx. 4 in strips, looks smooth and flat after placement and I am SO glad I was told that it will wrinkle waaay up afterward. I'm a little anxious...no a lot anxious about getting it off because it is really stuck on. My worry is that my skin will have a reaction. I'm fine when tape or a band-aide is on, it's when it comes off that my skin may or may not react. It seems to be more related to how fast it's removed and how much pulling takes place when removed. Sometimes all or just a part of what was stuck will cause a raised red area, sometimes itches sometimes not and it takes days to go away. No big deal most of the time but over a fresh incision???? Never done this before! It holds up in the shower so I don't think that water is the answer. Can any of you RS gals give me suggestions? Updated on 26 Oct 2014: This picture shows my new tummy. You can see the medipore tape. I'll post a before pic next to it! Updated on 30 Oct 2014: Hello! Yesterday I had my 2nd Post op visit! I fixed my hair, wore close fitting clothing, cute shoes, and Undies, Yay, undies!! I had to fold them way down under the drain tube which is very uncomfortable hence, my not wearing undies since sx. Having that drain removed was the best!!! Again, no pain what so ever! J. the med assistant did a wonderful job of explaining everything she was doing as she did it, (hahahah, I was so jumpy at my 1st post op appt.) My BB was looking red and dry. PS had J. remove stitches; they are self absorbing and well on their way so they removed easily and quickly and there was absolutely no pain. The Medipore Tape: Oh boy.....my instructions were six days on and one day off. I removed it the evening before my appointment. It was stuck on there good and getting it off was a challenge. I first got it wet in the shower and then sat on the toilet seat and painstakingly began the process of removing each strip by keeping my gloved finger on the skin next to the tape and lifting a few millimeters at a time. . I gotta tell you girls; I haven't been too awful squeamish about most of this process but when it comes to that incision.....yikes! My fears were/are that the over-stuck tape would pull little bits of scabbing out of the incision and that it might bleed, which in my mind could lead to something......I don't know, something bad?? It took a good 35 minutes to remove and towards the end I did pull a little scabbing and it did bleed a tiny bit. I couldn't bare to go through this again and asked my ps if we could use something different. Without hesitation she said that I could use a scar treatment cream and that I may buy an over the counter brand or purchase the one that they sell, so I purchased theirs. It was pricey (I've heard that they all are) and J. said that most of their patients use it with good results. It goes on twice a day and I'm using gloves to apply it. Already this morning my red & dry BB is looking way less red and not as dry. Happy Healing!! Updated on 1 Nov 2014: I had a couple days of worry over scabbing on the BB and the incision. I had it in my mind that it's not good to have any scabbing and somehow just got myself worked up about it. There is also some noticeable dryness on my belly. The scar ointment didn't seem to help with the dryness so I decided to moisturize both my belly and the incision including the belly button for a couple of days and then start back up with the scar ointment. I already had Vani-Cream so I'm using that. For anyone who doesn't know, Vani-Cream is a non-RX lotion or cream that you can get by asking for it at the pharmacy. They use it as a base for dermatological prescriptions where they add steroids or other rx for skin conditions. It is absent of any scents, colors, lanolin....pretty much anything a person can be allergic to. It comes as a thick cream in a tub or a thin lotion in a pump bottle. My skin reacts to some perfumed products so we've used it in our house for a few years now. After one day of use my skin and incision already looks less dry. ************ I'm still sleeping in a separate room from my husband. It feels very strange to meet in the hallway, kiss goodnight and go off to our separate rooms, hahahahh!! I love my hospital type bed and I'm so glad that I'm using it over a recliner! I've graduated from sitting fairly straight (with feet up too)to having both my head and foot of bed reclined at about the same low incline but definitely not flat. I told hubby I'm going to at least try lying in our comfy bed tonight but I'm not ready to stay. I'm still falling asleep late, around 11:00 and waking up around 3:00-4:00. I stay awake for an hour, use the bathroom and then usually fall back asleep for 1-2 hours. I can turn on the light and the TV and not wake him. I'm guessing another 2 weeks and I'll give it a try. I still don't feel comfortable sleeping directly on my incision, I can shift almost to my side but not really it's more like leaning. Happy Healing and Hugs to all of you wonderful RS ladies! Updated on 1 Nov 2014: I worked two days in a row for about 3 hours each day. Felt great to be back in the saddle again!! Swelling: Post having the drains removed......lots of swelling in low abdomen just above the mons area, right around the incision. Holy Cow it gets tight and bulges. I now think I understand the meaning of "Swell Hell." I began using my Walmart high wasted girdle on the two days that I worked; it's the one that you pull on and then hook up the last several inches. It unhooks in the crotch which is a lovely thing! I was wearing bikini cotton undies underneath to wick any sweat away, fully cover the incision and to avoid daily washing of the girdle. I stick a round cotton pad in there to cover the BB, again just in case the girdle is sweaty. I don't know if it is due to my having just gotten the last drain removed or sitting at my desk or a combination of the two but my evening swelling seems to be mostly in the low area that I mentioned. When taking off the girdle I realized that the swelling is exactly in the area beneath the hooked up part on my girdle, leading me to wonder if that lower area needs to have a bit more compression. Boy oh Boy!! I love the binder that I got after sx, it's my Happy Binder.....We are bonded. Nothing feels as good as that one. I slept in it last night and have had it on all day. I took a longer walk today but other than that I haven't done much and still this evening I am quite swollen so guessing that Swell hell is going to happen no matter which compression I'm wearing so I may as well wear my happy binder. I was told of a homeopathic that is good for swelling. This one is in spray form and you spray once a day under the tongue. I ordered it and will let you know how it works. I hear that swelling can go on for months but would be so Happy to hear of suggestions and to know how long the initial swelling lasts. I'm drinking a lot of water and not sure but I think it helps. Updated on 2 Nov 2014: This update is sort of a mishmash of different information. I'm posting pictures of the Wal-Mart high wasted girdle that un-hooks in the crotch $11.77, and my bed at the incline I'm currently sleeping at. I went shopping in my own closet and found a shaper that goes just under the bra line and down to mid thigh. It's Dress Barns version of spanx. I have a good sized bottom and thighs so it's tough going over that area, making it tough going over the incision......What were "they" thinking when they designed these garments?? I mean really? Getting this up and down on a good day is difficult and we go how many times a day? No peep hole for the Pee? Clearly this will have to wait until I'm further along in recovery. Oh, and while on the subject of shopping my own closet....Holy Cow!! I have so many shaper type thingies!! There are shaper slips in black and nude, shaper undies in black and nude, some still have the price tags attached. I have tight fitting tanks in every color imaginable. That was my way to hold in the tummy and add camouflage at the bottom of shorter tops, I wore a long tank under every top I own. OMG, I rarely say that but I am truly having an OMG moment!!! Hello! I don't have to do that anymore!!!! ********************* I took back all of my unused supplies to Wal-Mart for a refund of $51.00!! I'm really glad that I made my pre-sx purchases all at one store and on the same day.....one receipt for returns! On a separate receipt I returned compression garments for a refund of $49.00. I wanted to buy them in advance since I knew that I wouldn't want to shop too soon after surgery. Conclusion is that we need decent compression but it's not good to go too tight. I kept only the garment that I show in the picture. It digs into the tops of my thighs when I sit too long but otherwise it's comfortable. I think that it will be great once I'm not so swollen in the lower body but until then I will continue to wear my happy binder! ********************** I'm Including a picture to show how I've progressed in sleeping. I started out with the head of this bed nearly as straight as it will go and legs up a bit. PS calls it "beach chair position" It's now been at this incline since po day 13. The flatter my head goes the higher my legs need to go. It's kind of odd.....I stand very straight with shoulders back yet I cannot sleep flat. I tried lying in my regular bed and was fine with head on pillow as long as my knees were completely bent. I gradually attempted to straighten them thinking I may be able to sleep in my pre-sx position with a small pillow under knees but this is not happening as I could feel the pull in my stomach muscles. I'll give it 2 more weeks. Updated on 8 Nov 2014: Hello! It was 3 weeks Thursday that I had my surgery, and healing is still in progress. I found the high wasted girdle that I'm wearing for the long haul. I've gotten the hang of pulling it up and down without sliding it over the incision; I'll post a picture of the tag. The other one I was using with the hooks in front and in the crotch didn't have an even amount of compression from top to bottom. The one in the latest picture is from Wal-Mart, under $8.00, and comes n black and White. My incision and belly button is healing well. I'm putting scar ointment on in the morning and vanicream lotion on at night. The bruising on my hips have been gone for a while now. I still haven't graduated back to my bed. It takes a while to get to sleep and I wake up every morning at 3:00 a.m. use the bathroom and go back to sleep until 6:00 or 7:00. My goal is to transition back to my bed by Thanksgiving......hahah, mostly because I will need the guest room for guests! I've become a little too used to having my own space, turning the TV on and off as I please, no hubby snoring......I've always been a light sleeper. I'm back to somewhat normal activities such as going to the office, driving, grocery shopping. I still haven't gotten back to using the elliptical but plan on starting slowly this week. I've been taking long walks with no problem. The main issue right now is swelling in the lower abdomen. Gosh, I will be so happy when that goes away....When? When? It is lowest in the morning and then varies throughout the day but is worst starting at about 4:00 in the afternoon and into the evening. I still use ice in later evening but no longer fall asleep with the ice bag. I've started back on my Vitamin's again. PS wanted me off of them for 3 weeks after sx. Need the B vitamin's for the hair......It's been falling out a bit since sx which I've read is very common. I'm also back on Vit. D and C. My energy level is fairly low; I get tired easily and need a 30 minute nap at some point during the day or else I'm exhausted by 7:00! My weight has been stable throughout the process but in the last couple of days I've really had an appetite. Well, that's about it for now RS ladies! Hugs!!
