$8,20016 days post-opTummy Tuck

itstimett

July 1, 2017

40 Year Old Mom: Hernia and Muscle Repair/tummy Tuck

I am a 40-year-old mother of two children who works-out 6 days a week alternating between cardio and weight training. I have a clean diet and live a healthy lifestyle. Despite all of this I could not get rid of my belly. Actually, it would never go away without surgery. I had an umbilical hernia which was very obvious and severe muscle separation after my second child. The only way to fix it was with surgery. Many people looked at me like I was crazy because I am not overweight nor am I unhealthy. For me this wasn't about the scale but more about helping my body catch up to all the hard work I put in on a weekly basis. Updated on 2 Jul 2017: Surgery is coming soon. My nerves have been crazy. I go from second-guessing to the point of wanting to cancel to being super excited about the outcome. I worry like crazy and really have had to pray to God for peace. Thank goodness for my faith during this process! I will talk more about that later. Ironically, the night before surgery I was pretty calm and although I was typically nervous going into the hospital, it wasn't taking over my body and I didn't run! Lol My preop at the plastic surgeons office was uneventful. They give you a book of what not to do and what to do before surgery. I read that thing from front to back making sure I wasn't missing anything. The biggest issue I was having was they said no shaving in the surgical area. Well, that's a problem because I shave every day. It certainly wouldn't be pretty if I missed a week or two. I called and they said as long as there is no razor burn I should be fine but not to shave a day or two ahead of time just to be safe. Also, no ibuprofen for two weeks leading up to the surgery. This is my go to for headaches so that was a conscious decision not to take it for those two weeks. Other than that, I borrowed a recliner from my neighbor and took a trip to CVS to grab anything I thought I may need. I also filled up my three prescriptions which were a painkiller, muscle relaxer, and an antibiotic to prevent infection. After doing everything I was supposed to, surgery day was finally here! The nurses were great and the anesthesiologist was very kind however after telling him I get motion sickness he put a patch behind my ear to help and he told me to leave it on until Friday. Surgery itself was uneventful and I barely remember rolling into the operating room. I woke up no problem and I was not sick or in pain. My biggest issue was peeing which I should have remembered from my second child (I need to be Catherized after having her) I peed enough to leave the hospital but as I will write later I had issues when I got home. Oh and I should mention, I had no drains. My doctor does not use them but said if he feels necessary he would put one in. I was happy to wake up without a drain attached to me. I wish I took some pictures the day of surgery but let me tell you, I was so out of it and didn't even know where my phone was. Updated on 2 Jul 2017: I can't stress enough how much you will need help after the surgery. Especially within the first week. I felt blessed that I was able to get up on my own and go to the bathroom as I have read many stories where people need help just for that small task. I have two kids, two dogs and a husband and thought it would be easier to recover at my mothers house for the first week. I'm a super organized person, so I did a ton of grocery shopping and wrote out 10 meals for my husband to make for the kids and himself while I wasn't able to. Don't get me wrong, they were very easy meals but at least I knew they would be fed. So, when I was picked up at the hospital, my husband brought me right to my mothers and I was able to relax there. She gave me her first floor master bedroom with attached master bath, fed me, and made sure I was taking my medications on time. That's a challenge in itself, I set timers on my phone for each medication and wrote out a spreadsheet. I couldn't wait to be done with those medications. I had to wake myself up in the middle the night to take them and it was a real pain when I was so tired but the plastic surgeon kept saying stay ahead of your medication. Looking back, I really should have assessed my own body to see if I actually needed the meds and I could've gotten off of them even sooner than I did. Days one through three were tough because I was peeing every 20 minutes or so. At first, I thought it was just from the surgery and all the fluids they gave me but by Friday I felt something was wrong. I called my plastic surgeon who told me to call the urologist. They took me right away on Friday which was day two postop. To make a long story short she put in a catheter because I was retaining a ton of fluid. She told me I had to wear it until Monday which I did not think was a huge deal. She showed me how to take it out myself on Monday and that was that. I was kind of excited to not have to get up every two seconds to use the bathroom but the bag prove to be just as much of an annoyance. She thought it was probably because of the patch that they put behind my ear, the anesthesia, and the meds I was on. She is convinced that they all retain urine as a side effect which if you're prone to that, is not good. As soon as she said that, I ripped off the patch behind my ear but but still took all the other meds not thinking that would be a huge deal still took all the other meds not thinking that would be a huge deal. Once again, if I knew then what I know now I would've stopped the medication immediately. To be honest, I wasn't in a ton of pain just uncomfortable and sore. Monday comes, and I have my sister-in-law come over who is a nurse. I was super nervous to remove the catheter myself. She takes it out and leaves but during that day, I am definitely still peeing often and don't feel much different. I call the urologist again, and they tell me to come back in. After being assessed with a bladder scan, she finds out I am still retaining water. She puts the catheter back in and tells me not to come back until next Monday. That is a full week! I cried right there in the office. She said my bladder needs time to rest because it was expanded so much. You are just so emotional and it's tough to swallow the fact that you need a catheter for that long. But it is what it is. My family kept reminding me it's not forever but of course you go to worst-case and scenario and I'm questioning why I even did the surgery. I'm not even focusing on my flat stomach at this point because I am so upset. It really took a toll on me emotionally. During the week, there were lots of tears, I felt totally depressed, and questioned my decision often. The only thing that got me through was my faith. It really was the only thing I could lean on. I read my Bible often and prayed that God would just give me a spirit of peace. It's really hard to explain unless you are in the situation but this surgery makes you very emotional. I am typically not an emotional person and I am pretty levelheaded but I can't explain what this does to you. It was just a very rough week. Oh and on top of the catheter, I got my period and had to deal with that as well. Luckily, my period is not very heavy as I have an IUD but it was still a nuisance with the catheter. I kept a journal during that week and I will try to post some of my entries below. I stayed at my mothers until Tuesday which was almost one week after my surgery. It felt good to come home. Updated on 2 Jul 2017: Well, I'm home but I still have the catheter. I did notice on day eight I have slightly more energy. Trust me, I'm not running a marathon but I can stand more than two minutes. I'll take that as progress. In the beginning just going to the bathroom, wipes you out!! I'm sick of sitting down already. Updated on 2 Jul 2017: Today, my sister-in-law came by to change my faulty catheter bag. Thank goodness she is a nurse and I didn't have to go back into that office. The valve which releases the urine was taking forever. We switched bags and it's so much faster now. I can't stand any urine in the bag so I get up often to release it. The feeling of warm urine on your leg is disgusting. I cannot wait for this to be over! I pray every day for my anxiety to be released and for me to trust His plan. Updated on 2 Jul 2017: Today I had a burst of energy, I took a shower by myself and washed and dried my hair. It started off as a pretty good day, but by nighttime I was feeling overwhelmed and full of anxiety. Your mind definitely plays tricks on you! I had a little bit of a panic attack at night and had to lay on the couch fanning myself. It took so much out of me that I ended up falling asleep for an hour. I was just having trouble catching my breath and I was letting my anxieties get the best of me. As you can see, I'm a work in progress. This was definitely testing my faith but I have to trust there is a plan and it will all work out for the good. My emotions are just all over the place! I can go from having a great morning but a crappy afternoon. It's the strangest feeling. Updated on 2 Jul 2017: Today was a decent day just very emotional. On top of everything, one of our best family friends passed away. Although she was sick, it's never easy to lose a loved one. So, combining the death of a good friend, the tummy tuck, and this catheter, i'm really an emotional mess. My mom came over today to paint my toes which is really sweet and my kids have been great. They are super helpful and I'm grateful they are big enough to feed themselves. LOL I do feel guilty for not being able to run around with them this summer but hope I will be a new woman, August at the latest. Tomorrow is the big day, I am hoping to get the catheter out. Once again, my mind is playing tricks on me and telling me I will have it forever. I have been praying often and even had a dream that it came out. My mother is busy tomorrow so my sister-in-law's taking me to the appointment. Here's to a catheter free recovery!!!!! Updated on 2 Jul 2017: Excuse the choppy sentences. This is an entry from my journal. PO 12: cath removal appt this am at 8. It's 7am. I'm ready. Still nervous. Normal. But meditating on His word and worship music. Putting total trust in Him. All ready. Even put on jewelry. Focusing and grateful on how well the other parts of recovery are going. This will end too. Just a matter of when. ???????? Came home at 9:30am. Got cath out. Seemed good at doc office. Got home and feeling like I have to pee often. Not sure if it's in my head. The doctor said if anything feels off, to call and they will do a quick bladder scan to make sure everything is OK. But I got to be honest, the last thing I wanted to do was call that office and go back with the fear they would put it back in. On the flipside, I didn't want my bladder expanding so much that it burst. At 2pm: went back in to get rechecked and I am emptying my bladder enough. Was at 79CC which doctor said anything under 100 is fabulous. She said things need to relax from the surgery and it will get better. Gave me exercises to do to help strengthen my pelvic floor. They took a sample of my urine which they did not do in the morning and send it out to be tested for infection. This is Monday. Wednesday afternoon, I get a call from the urologist. They sent my urine out and found out I have a UTI. Figures! That explains the weird feeling I've been having. I've never had a UTI in my life but I guess it's very common after a catheter. She called in antibiotics and I started taking them right away. Five more days of being on a drug. Ugh. I can do this! Isn't it crazy? I haven't even really given it much thought to my actual tummy tuck. I just want to be healthy. Updated on 2 Jul 2017: I figure I should probably put a post in here about my progress related to my tummy tuck. I have been so focused on my bladder that I rarely post about the actual surgery. I have to say, it has been pretty uneventful. The worst part is the fact that you cannot just hop up and do what you want to do. You're mind says you can do it but your body tells you otherwise. You just feel so weak! I have my two week postop, she said everything looks amazing. I have to say, I looked pretty good that day. LOL I actually did my hair, put on make up, and had a dress on. I find addresses the easiest thing to wear with this binder. I looked and felt halfway normal. The catheter was gone and I got a good review from the doctor. She told me I could sleep anyway I feel comfortable and to where the binder for two more weeks. She wants me to work on standing straighter although I didn't think I was that bad. She put my binder so tight and said that should help. It definitely did help but there's no way I could wear it like that all the time. I felt like a stuffed sausage. She couldn't believe I have a UTI and was a little frustrated that I had that patch during the surgery. She said that causes urinary retention and it's not necessary since their TT are only an hour and a half surgery compared to some others that are much longer. She said the effects of anesthesia are very small because I was not under that long. Oh I wish I would've known. I would've never said anything about getting motion sickness. She took my stitches out on my bellybutton and it was uncomfortable but it didn't hurt. She also took the tape off my scar and it didn't look that bad. I don't know what I was expecting but I definitely thought it would be worse. She told me to leave my bellybutton alone and it should heal on its own although it looks disgusting right now. She thought it looked great and it was still alive so that was a positive. The tape needs to stay on the scar for five days and then rotate with scar cream for two days. She wants me to continue doing this until my four week postop which is my next appointment. Updated on 2 Jul 2017: Well, my appetite has not been that good. I have been forcing food down. I kind of thought I was losing weight but unintentionally. I got on the scale this morning and I found that I lost 7 pounds. I went from a healthy 135 to 128 in a matter of two weeks. Not that I am complaining but it makes me nervous that I don't have much of an appetite. Again, I just think it is the emotions of the surgery and the inability to go about my regular routine. I'm sure I will find that weight again as soon as I feel better. LOL Yesterday, I got ready and put on shorts and a tank. I looked pretty normal and went to my mothers for breakfast. It was the first time I was going to have other people besides my immediate family around me. My cousins were there from out of town. I lasted about an hour and then got really weak and had to leave. I came home, and sat down for a bit before going back out to lunch with my husband. It felt good to get out for lunch but I had plans to go to T.J. Maxx afterwards and that was not happening. I wanted to go so bad because I'm trying to add some color to my back deck and I needed some household things but that will have to wait for another day. I told my husband, I should probably just take one task a day. At least to start. Planning more than one thing, it's just too tiring. And by tiring I mean I feel weak. I don't feel like I could take a nap but my body just feels weak. Updated on 2 Jul 2017: During this process, my friends and family have stepped up to the plate in so many ways that I honestly do not think I could have done it without them. Not only did they bring us meals, but they took my kids out for the day which helped ease the guilt. One of my friends has four kids and she picked my two up and brought them all to Six Flags waterpark. Isn't she an angel? My kids had the best day and I was able to rest without feeling guilty. I also had many meals come by which helps in the first couple weeks. Even though my friends think I'm crazy for doing the surgery, they have totally supported me. Those are true friends! My husband and my mother have also been a huge support. My husband has really had to take on my role plus all of his responsibilities. I honestly do not know what I would have done it without his support. He even fluff my pillow is at night to make sure I'm comfortable! What a guy! My mom as well. She had a tummy tuck when she was 60 and is the bravest woman I know. She totally understands my situation because she was in it 13 years ago and has never regretted. She is such a good listener and really puts me in my place when my mind gets the best of me. Ha! My faith has played a huge role in this journey. I spend every morning reading a little bit of my Bible and praying. It has just grounded me and although I hate it when people call me religious I have definitely leaned on my relationship with Christ during this time. Updated on 2 Jul 2017: Today has been a good day so far. I slept pretty good last night and was able to comfortably sleep on my side after I got up at 4 AM to pee. I went back to bed on my side and didn't wake up until 7:30 AM. That was pretty good. I so miss sleeping comfortably. I brought my son to a play date for the afternoon and my daughter and I swung in home goods to do a little shopping. We came home and had lunch and my brother came over for a visit. I didn't find what I needed at home goods and I actually felt like I had enough energy to try the Christmas tree shops at the mall. My brother has been such a good support so he drove me to home goods to check it out. I walked around the whole store, pushing a cart which is nice to lean on. Here's the best part! I may have not found exactly what I need but I did walk around the store without feeling the sudden urge to sit down. That must be a good sign! I even came home and put my feet in the pool water. Perhaps I saw a snippet of my old life today. I'll take it! I hope this is just a taste of what is to come. It feels good to do normal things and even if I can get out of the house once a day I think that will help my mental state over the next two weeks. Here are the pictures of what I looked like this morning in normal clothes. Updated on 2 Jul 2017: Since I was wondering myself before surgery, this is how I roll. I have a very fitted tank on first. Then I put the binder over it. Finally, I slide my underwear over the binder to make it easier to go to the bathroom. The tank makes the binder so much more comfortable and I will be in this look for the first four weeks. Updated on 3 Jul 2017: So I guess according to RS, I have my days wrong. It's actually 18 days postop today. Had another really good day. I am off of all pain medication but have an aching pain in my butt area/lower back. And my left leg feels tingly like it almost has fallen asleep. I honestly am attributing it to all the sitting I have been doing so I've made a conscious effort over the last few days to get up and walk around more. It seems to be helping and today I did take one Advil which seemed to take the edge off. I just need to be patient with my body as it recovers. I woke up this morning after sleeping pretty good, and decided that the kids and I would go to Barnes & Noble and to marshals. After going to those stores and feeling pretty good, we decided to hit up target and had Chick-fil-A for lunch. This is the first time I have gone out alone and it felt intedible. I wasn't tired or weak. I came home and sat down for a little bit (because I felt like I should) before heading out to the grocery store with my brother to pick up my pre-ordered groceries for the week. They loaded everything up in my car and we never had to get out. Thank God for Peapod! I will definitely continue to use the service untill the full six weeks is up. I just don't like wasting energy on grocery shopping. LOL I've been feeling so good that tomorrow I'm hosting a Fourth of July party with my immediate family. Keeping it simple and I'm sure my mother will help. Thank God! It feels so good to be normal and join society. It's funny how we take the simplest things for granted before surgery. The surgery has made me appreciate the little things in life. Finally, at Target I looked for the second stage in my compression garment. Check out what I found in the pictures. They are compression underwear but extremely uncomfortable to get on. They aggravated my incision and I can't imagine pulling them down every time I have to go to the bathroom. That's on my list: I need to find something else that will work after this binder. I have one and a half weeks to do it. Any suggestions? Check out these pics! I even made my bed. Another small step towards my old life. Updated on 4 Jul 2017: Well I must be feeling pretty good today because I decided to host a small family party at my house to celebrate the Fourth of July. I will just have to remember to rest and take help from the people that are offering. Although, I have to say it feels good to get up and walk around versus sitting constantly. The big TT news today was that I took off my scar tape. I was super nervous about it because I feel like that thin piece of paper was protecting my scar. This will be the first time I got a close look at it as well. It was a very weird feeling taking it off. I felt like I was going to rip the incision open. After slowly removing it I applied the scar cream which I will continue doing for the next two days per my PS instruction. The scar looks decent considering it's the first time I really have seen it. I'm only hoping it will improve as the days go on just like my bellybutton has. It's amazing how quickly our bodies heal. I am going to try and be extra careful today because the tape is no longer protecting the incision. I wasn't sure if it was OK to put my tank top over the scar cream but I'm assuming it is considering they still want me to wear the binder. Here's to hoping the incision fades quickly! Updated on 6 Jul 2017: This morning my girlfriend picked me up and we went to get pedicures. It felt really good to be pampered! Boy my feet needed it. After our pedicures, we went to TJ Maxx. For some reason I've been dying to shop. But to be honest I don't have the energy to try anything on so I kind of walk around and pick things up before putting them back quickly. The thought of undressing with my binder is too overwhelming. Hopefully soon though. I have noticed over the last few days that swelling has kicked in. It's hard to explain but you just feel extra full. It's probably happening because I have been moving more out and about. It's definitely worth it though. My new routine is popping one Advil before bed and I seem to still sleep soundly. I'm just so happy to be able to get out of the house. I'm looking forward to my four week mark next Wednesday. I find if I set small goals it's easier than thinking 6 weeks from now or 3 months etc. Baby steps... Updated on 7 Jul 2017: Today was a long day. One of our family's very good friends passed away and the wake, Mass, burial, and reception were all today. I was worried that my body would not make it through everything but I was fine, thankfully. It was just very emotional. On the tummy tuck front, it felt good to wear a dress that I didn't feel self conscious in. Maxi dresses have been my best friend during recovery. It hides the binder well. I can tell that I have turned a corner because the day did not completely wear me out. It's such a good feeling to be getting back to normal even if it is slowly. Looking forward to more improvements and I am finally able to focus on my results. Still moving slowly but it's better than not moving at all... Updated on 9 Jul 2017: It's funny, the further you get past your surgery date, you start to forget the days. When I first had surgery, I knew every day and it seemed like a year!!! I guess this is a good sign that I'm not so focused on the day! I know I'll be 4 weeks this Wed. I was able to finally go back to church today for the first time since the surgery. It felt good to be back into my routine. I wasn't sure what to wear (although church is NOT fancy at all). I tried on a pair of jeans but before even pulling them past my knees, I started to get a weird feeling about the zipper and button and my incision. I'm still so sensitive when it comes to that area. I ended up wearing elastic waist since that is all I've worn since surgery. I wonder when I'll feel less sensitive with the incision?? I even have thought about swimming in our pool, but have ordered 10 different bathing suits to see what is comfortable - even some sexier one pieces which completely cover the scar. I'm finding some bottoms just hit the scar and it's super uncomfortable having something rub up against it. I'm sure this will pass, but it's just what I'm dealing with now. Swelling: I notice I don't really swell except in my pubic area - it's so strange but I read it is normal since gravity hits. I'm hoping that goes away since I'm not thrilled the way it looks. I'm going to mention this at my 4 week PO. I try to wear my binder lower to help but it still swells by the end of the day, mostly, but even in the mornings it looks "puffy". Hoping it ends up being fine because honestly, at this point it's my only complaint. Belly button looks great and stomach is flat! I need to work out though - I feel flabby. My butt is so flat and I feel weak - not weak like I did in the beginning but weak, like not muscular. I used to work out 6 days a week. I hope my body responds fast when I get the aok. I'm going to ask to at least walk at Thursdays appointment. My appetite is back in full swing and I need to start moving so I don't gain weight! That's it for now. I'll take a few pictures with the suits that come in. I had two from Amazon today but they sent the wrong sizes. I should get the ones from LandsEnd and the new ones from Amazon this week. I hope something works. I even ordered a high waisted bikini from Amazon hoping it will make me feel comfortable in these early stages of the new incision. I also don't want my scar to see sun right now so we will see. I'll keep you posted. Updated on 9 Jul 2017: Updated on 10 Jul 2017: Today I decided to try a new compression garment. They basically are Spanx underwear but after wearing them for most of the day I noticed they were causing swelling above where the top ended. I quickly put my binder back on and will have to talk to my PS on Thursday. I haven't really experienced swelling until I hit three weeks. I'm assuming it's because I have been moving around more. It's kind of annoying and hope it goes away soon. Check out the compression fail in the pictures. Updated on 10 Jul 2017: Here are some pictures from when I first wake up. It seems like there is swelling in the Pubic area but perhaps it's just because my stomach looks so flat. Another question for the PS on Thursday. Updated on 13 Jul 2017: Today I had my four week post op. I was a little worried because I feel there is a bulge in my lower tummy down to my pubic area. I just wanted to make sure nothing was wrong and she reassured me it's fine. Most likely, it's because my stomach is so flat now. She did say it should go down in time. I also was concerned because two days ago I was slowly rolling out of bed and I felt a knife feeling go into my upper belly. Ever since then, I have felt the pain on and off but it hurts! She said it's totally normal and I probably pulled a suture. I was cleared to wear a regular compression garment but she said if the binder is working out to continue with that. She said there is very minimal swelling and no fluid that she can feel so I guess that's good. She wasn't overly concerned about my garment because of that Whatever is easier. It will only be for another two weeks. I don't have another appointment until eight weeks from now. I'm kind of nervous to go that long without seeing the doctor but I must be doing pretty good if they feel that way. As far as the incision goes, she wants me to continue with tape on for five days alternating with tape off and scar cream on for two days. She wants me to continue doing that until six weeks. Bellybutton looks great. And the scar will only get better. Updated on 14 Jul 2017: So for the next 2 weeks I was told I could wear a spanx type Garmet if I felt comfortable. Or just stick with binder. I have SEARCHED for the best Garmet for me. I ordered about 5 online, went to Target and finally Kohls where I found the best one - exactly what I was looking for. It's a high waisted underwear by Accents which is made by Spanx. Compression is good. Stays in place and best of all it has a hook and eye crotch so after I spend 20 minutes getting it on in the morning it stays put for the day! Score! I like it a lot and think it will be a good next step - moving away from the binder. I'll try to find a picture from kohls and post it here. Updated on 14 Jul 2017: Updated on 16 Jul 2017: So I wore my new compression garment all day yesterday and this morning but felt like it was suffocating me after church. Come to find out, I got my period shortly after coming home from church. I ripped it off quickly and put my binder back on which is more adjustable. So today I felt regular swollen in addition to bloated from my period. Yah! I am so sick of letting this surgery control my every move so I decided to throw on a new one piece I bought and go in the pool despite the fact that I felt like a stuffed sausage. It felt really good to join my family while we all cooled off from this beautiful summer day. Just another step in the right direction and closer to my previous life. Happy healing RS! :) Updated on 17 Jul 2017: These pictures were taken two days shy of my five week postop Updated on 17 Jul 2017: Updated on 20 Jul 2017: I had my dates wrong from my last post regarding swimming. I was actually 4 1/2 weeks. Today I'm one day past the 5 week mark. Today I felt like some of my mobility is coming back. I wasn't acting like an old lady too much. I'm hoping as the weeks go on and even the days, it will get better and better. One hiccup today is that I think I may have a UTI again. I will probably call the doctor to get tested so I don't have to wait the weekend. That's such a bummer because I've been feeling good regarding the surgery recovery. It just never ends it seems. I'm still swollen below my belly button but I've come to accept it and if it goes down even better. I feel grateful because besides that one area I really am not as swollen as some other ladies that have had surgery around the same time. I'm looking forward to starting walking next week and was really worried given the fact that I was still acting like an old lady so today was encouraging. Hopefully by my six week mark (next week) I will feel even better. I got in the pool again today and it seems my one piece is working out perfectly. I still am very tired however if I don't wear my binder. I don't know what that is all about but I hope I can wean myself off of it eventually. I just can't imagine going more than a couple hours without it. Updated on 23 Jul 2017: 6 weeks! There seems to be something special with that milestone. I will be six weeks on Wednesday. In some ways it seems like the surgery was years ago but in other ways it seems like it was just yesterday. I've been feeling OK lately. Definitely managing to get around and do what I need to in order to keep life going for my family. I've been so fortunate to have the summer off from work! Thank God! I'm still very numb and muscle soreness in the belly. There are also periods during the day where I feel sore around my flanks which had lipo. Today was my first day that I didn't put my binder on. I wore a highway waisted spanx till about 2 o'clock when I decided to put my bathing suit on for a couple hours. After I laid in the sun, I put on a compression tank. I find that the spanx are just way too tight by the afternoon. It must have something to do with my swelling as the day goes on. Anyway, I am really looking forward to the six week mark and hope something drastic happens. Ha! That seems to be the magical week where all goes back to normal. I know it is wishful thinking but if I can take a few more steps towards my normal life I will be happy. Hoping to start walking, at least, next week as well. A little worried about how that will affect my swelling but I so need to get moving again. I'm feeling very flabby these days!! Updated on 24 Jul 2017: Today was the day I've been waiting for since I had surgery. I "worked out" today! I really was not supposed to work out until my six week mark on Wednesday but I couldn't wait. I got up and put sneakers on for the first time in six weeks and followed my PS instructions to take it easy. I was told to go half the time I normally do with half the power. It was not a sweaty workout by any means but it felt good to get moving. I walked at a very slow pace for me for 30 minutes. 3.5 on the treadmill. I tried going faster but I felt my body resisting. It's so important to listen to the cues your body is giving you. After walking I did some free weights and the back of my legs are sore already. It's kind of funny because I used half of the weights I usually used. You can tell I'm out of shape by how quickly I was sore. It doesn't bother me though. It actually feels good to be sore in areas other than my stomach. LOL I plan on keeping this up and getting back to working out six days a week. Even if I go slow I'm fine with that. It just feels good to get moving! Hopefully, I don't pay for it too much tonight (swelling). I'll keep you posted. Updated on 26 Jul 2017: There's something about the six week mark. I kept telling myself after surgery, "I just need to make it to six weeks! Everything will be better then". Although things are much better I am still not 100% which I find a little disappointing. I was not overweight and I was in very good health so I thought my recovery would be much easier. Today, at the six week period, my muscles are still extremely sore. Almost painful at times. I realize my plastic surgeon told me I had extensive muscle repair so I'm assuming that is why it's taking so long to recover. Not to mention, the muscle strain or pop stitch or whatever happened at four weeks is still bothering me. Again, I read that could take months to heal. It's just very frustrating because I'm going on vacation soon and I was hoping I would be able to do everything I want to do. I don't think that's going to happen. Anyway, I'm trying to stay positive and look at how far I have, instead of being down on myself about how slowly I am recovering. As far as the way I look, I'm happy but it's hard to even focus on that when you're not feeling that great. I just want my old life back. I want to be able to work out in the morning, do weight training, cardio, and just get back in shape. That has always been my sanity. ever since my workout fail two days ago, I have been reluctant to get back on the treadmill because my muscles hurt so bad. I really am hoping that they are only hurting because I did free weights on Monday when I probably shouldn't. It is so important to listen to your body. I shouldn't have pushed it and I did and now I'm paying. It just set me back even longer to work out. Well, that is me at six weeks. I'm happy with the way I look but I'm frustrated with the way I feel. Especially at the end of the day. My muscles are definitely hurting more by the end of the day. Praying next week is a different story. I attached a few pics from this morning. Updated on 29 Jul 2017: My muscles have been slowly healing through the week from my workout fail on Monday. They went from being painful to just sore. I went back to Kohls this week to try on my 20th pair of compression garments. After reading another ladies review, I realized I probably need something with straps. I kept the tags on and have been wearing them for the last two days. Definitely the most comfortable and perhaps this is my ticket to ultimate freedom. It is certainly better than the binder during the day. I have been wearing the binder in the morning because I pee so often and it's just easier and also when I get ready for bed at night. I've been sleeping with nothing on. It seems fine since I'm laying down and there is no increased swelling. I'm leaving for vacation a week from today and really hope the soreness will have subsided. I think I'm going to put off working out, although it kills me, until after vacation. I certainly don't want to be in pain on the one week we took off the summer. Another change is, I'm noticing that my incision is not as sensitive. I have been using scar cream and I don't seem to mind my underwear rubbing on my incision. This is definitely something new. Before I didn't even like touching it with my finger never mind having my underwear rub against it. Trying to celebrate the small accomplishments and stay positive. Updated on 30 Jul 2017: OK, this might not be the biggest secret but it is to me. I really wish someone would've told me this before I purchased about 15 compression garments. If you read my previous posts, you know I have struggled to find the perfect compression garment. I need something to replace the binder. After reading another review, she mentioned that the most comfortable garments have shoulder straps. Bingo! I headed to Kohls immediately. I purchased two different kinds of shoulder strap compression garments. One was made by Maidenform and the other one was by Spanx. Both have a snap crotch to make it easy to go to the bathroom and both allow you to wear your own bra but have adjustable straps over your shoulder so you're not constantly pulling the garment up. I kept the tags on both of them and have worn them for 24 hours each. I would say they are pretty comparable and definitely the most comfortable garments I have found. I really think the shoulder strap is the key. Now let's be honest, they are still sucking you in most of the day and how comfortable can that be really? But despite all of that, if you have to wear one I would say go with the shoulder straps. I think I'll keep them both! The Spanx brand leaves zero marks on my body but gives slightly less compression. The Maidenform seems a little bit more fitted but does leave some seam marks - not horrible though. I actually think they both might come in handy. Happy healing RS! Updated on 30 Jul 2017: Updated on 1 Aug 2017: Well, I tried working out again yesterday and I had pain while walking extremely slow on the treadmill. I got off after five minutes and decided to give my body a break. It's just not ready. To cheer me up, I tried on a bikini that I bought for next summer. It looks good now even though I'm not working out and haven't in the last seven weeks. Can you imagine what it will look like next summer? Updated on 2 Aug 2017: Today marks seven weeks! I can't believe I made it to seven weeks! I celebrated with my first beach outing of the season. Long overdue! So with the beach comes I'll bathing suit. All day! I'm a diehard beach goer so I was in a bathing suit from 11 o'clock till 4 o'clock. That's right ladies, no compression garment - just my one piece that I found a few weeks ago! One of my dearest friends help me lug all of our crap down to our spot and my kids also pitched in. I think they were extremely excited to get out of the house! Normally we are super active and the summer has been kind of a dud for them comparatively. We did go for a little walk on the beach but it was extremely slow. When I finally got off the beach at 4 o'clock and cleaned up in the bathrooms, I really didn't feel like putting on my compression garment after having sunscreen etc. on all day. I decided to skip it. We went out to dinner but while I was eating I felt a sudden urge to grab my binder. It had been a long day! When we got back in the car I literally wrapped my binder around me on top of my dress. LOL that's how I remained for the rest of the drive home. Luckily my friend and I are in a no judgment zone. It was quite the site. Lol. I felt pretty good most the day but I can say when I came home I looked the most swollen that I ever have been. I was wondering if the compression garments did anything but I suppose now I can say that they definitely decrease swelling. I'm sure I will wake up tomorrow just fine but without a doubt after not wearing my compression garment all day, this has been the most swollen I have ever been. Either way, it was worth it and it was a great day! Updated on 4 Aug 2017: Tomorrow we leave on our first vacation since my surgery. I will turn eight weeks right in the middle of the vacation. I'm excited but of course I'm still wearing a compression garment so I'm bringing 2 binders, two compression garments, and two compression tanks just in case. I even tried on my tankini with my binder underneath since going all day on the beach without compression did not do me any favors this week. (Swelling!!) this tankini used to be tight on me but since the surgery, there is room to spare so you really can't notice the binder. I guess I won't be going in the water but if I need to it's a good back up to my one piece that I bought previously. Anyway, my wifi will be spotty so I probably won't update until I get back. It's probably in my best interest to take an RS break anyway. I have been obsessed since my surgery. This vacation in particular, is a very active family vacation with activities planned all day long. I will definitely have to sit out a few which is kind of a bummer. I told my kids I would be the designated photographer! Who knows though? Over the last few days I've been feeling pretty good so I'm hoping it continues through vacation and I can do even more than I'm thinking. I even brought my sneakers hoping to get in a few walks. Happy healing ladies! PS: weighed myself today. Still down a solid 5 lbs since surgery. Hoping it stays off after vacation!! Updated on 12 Aug 2017: Hello RS! I'm back from vacation and I had a much needed break from this site. It was really good to go a full week without checking updates etc. I think it's so easy for someone to become so wrapped up and every little ache and pain and sometimes obsessing over it doesn't help. I needed the break! I had an incredible family vacation and I definitely pushed myself physically. This was a very active trip with my extended family. I walked a lot, paddle boarded on the lake and probably did not eat the best foods. Oh, and I definitely had more alcohol than I normally do. LOL either way I was pushing my body to the limit and I think I did pretty good. I would say by the end of the day, I was pretty sore and I threw it in my binder for maximum comfort. Our days were really long but so fun! The most exciting part was, I started working out slowly on vacation. I was walking so much just to get from point A to point B that I thought why not try and go for a 20 or 30 minute "power"walk. I did it and felt pretty good. When I got home, I didn't want to lose the momentum so I got on the treadmill and walked for 30 minutes without stopping. Granted, I was walking slower than I normally do but it is something. I felt no pain and I am super excited to get back at it tomorrow. I'm hoping my endurance builds up quickly and I can get back to where I want to be. I did wear my binder while walking and I'm really not sure if there is a better option. I've seen some women wearing these waist trainers but they don't look very comfortable. I have been noticing some lower abdominal swelling. I've been struggling with this from week 2 but lately it seems more pronounced. I think it is because of all the activity this week so I will see how it looks after getting back into my routine. Overall, I would say I have turned another small corner and continue to see progress. I need to focus on the small steps in the right direction. Now that I'm home, I really want to get back to a healthy diet and continue working out. I see some of these women eating the most bland diet and I just cannot live like that. They look incredible and I wish I was that disciplined but there has to be a happy medium. I was able to maintain my weight prior to surgery by eating 80% healthy and 20% cheating. I'm hoping to find that balance again. Updated on 13 Aug 2017: Bikini you say?? Updated on 15 Aug 2017: I will be nine weeks tomorrow. It's hard to believe. I would say I turn the corner at 2 weeks, then again at four weeks, and finally at eight weeks. Looking forward to continued healing. I've been working out consistently for the last five days with power walks only. I'm happy with that for now and will continue to work out my endurance to a jog soon. I do not feel any pain anymore which is great just tightness in my abs. I guess that is to be expected. I think my scar looks great and my bellybutton is healing nicely. It looks a little red in the pictures but you really don't notice and less you're super close to it. And compared take away the hernia but it looks fantastic. I do still wear a compression garment during the day, a binder while I work out, and nothing around the house or to bed. Updated on 15 Aug 2017: These two dogs have been by my side since surgery. They were pretty depressed, along with me LOL, the first two weeks and haven't left my side since. They are happy mommies getting back to normal. Updated on 18 Aug 2017: Just a quick update today. I weigh myself every Friday morning and I am still down 8 pounds since surgery. Not bad considering I just got back from vacation last week. Also, I read some other real Selfers use a waste trainer while working out. I looked them up on Amazon but they seem pretty bulky so I went to TJ Maxx and found this Slimmer belt for five dollars. It definitely increases my sweating which I like and gives me the support I need while working out. I would highly recommend checking out your local TJ Maxx. I also was able to try it on in the store so I didn't have to deal with returning stuff online. There were a few options and I happen to like this one the best. I have been consistently working out the last couple weeks and even picked up my power walking to a slow jog today for a total of 10 minutes which was great. I see myself moving in the right direction and that's all that counts. Feels amazing to be working out again!!! Updated on 23 Aug 2017: Not much has changed since last week. I have remained consistent with working out every day although I wouldn't say it is a hard-core workout. It just feels good to get moving and I think I will pick up the pace in the fall. My only complaint as I've mentioned before is my lower belly looking a little swollen especially at the end of the day. I Will see the doctor when I'm officially three months and I'm curious to see what he says. I still am very tight in the abs and sometimes a little "too tight/stiff" but certainly no more pain. I do wear a compression garment of some sort during the day and also while I work out. My doctor told me I could get rid of it at six weeks but I just don't feel comfortable. Rather than obsessing over it, I'm just doing what I feel most comfortable with and know it will eventually wean itself. As of last Friday, when I weighed myself, I was still down about 7 to 8 pounds from pre-surgery. Weighing in at 129lbs. Scar looks good. I still use that Advanced scar treatment from my doctor morning and night. And honestly just looks like a thin red line at this point. It doesn't bother me at all. Happy healing. Updated on 30 Aug 2017: Hello RS! Today I am officially 11 weeks and it was my first day back to work. I work in a school so I was fortunate to take the summer off. Recovery seems the same as of last week. I still feel like I definitely need a compression most of the day. My muscles get very stiff and tight without it. I'm working out six days a week again and have picked up my pace to a slow jog. I'm still very worried about pushing it too much and setting myself back so I have been really taking it easy in the work out department. I'm looking forward to adding more variety to my workouts but won't do so until I meet with the doctor next week. I attach some scar pictures so you can see where I'm at. Still putting the advance scar cream on twice a day. The scar does not bother me at all because it is covered by all of my underwear and my bikini bottoms. I definitely feel pressure and/or swelling in my lower belly down to my pubic area pretty quickly after waking up. I will be curious to see what the doctor says about this. My most comfortable position is laying down for sure. I thought by 11 weeks all my discomfort would be gone but I guess not. You can see the swelling mostly from my side view. It's not very noticeable when looking at me straightforward. On another note, I ordered a second bikini today and it looked pretty good. Can't wait to wear it next summer! I also received my first new stitch fix with updated sizing. I liked everything that they sent me which was a first. They sent me a really cool, fitted fall dress that I normally would have to suck it in just to wear, but it fit perfect even with my swelling. Updated on 1 Sep 2017: Jean weather. First time since surgery. Compression tank under sweater. Updated on 5 Sep 2017: Today I went in for my 12 week postop. I addressed my lower abdominal concerns of protruding slightly. He reassured me that those are my organs and it's just the way my body is made. Not everyone is going to be flat as a board. It doesn't really bother me that much. I just wanted to make sure it was normal and not excessive swelling. I also asked him about how my muscles feel tight and stiff when I am not in a compression garment. He said that's also normal and I need to build up my endurance. Essentially, my muscles have not worked in 12 weeks. He did notice that my scars seem to be a little raised and he wants me to massage Cortizone cream on my belly button twice a day. He also wants me to continue with the advance scar cream and my incision twice a day by massaging. My next appointment is not until December. Everything seems to be moving in the right direction. Today was the first time I did strength training and it felt really good. I am so weak and need to build up my strength again but plan on integrating strength every other day now. I even did push-ups which totally use my ab muscles. I did some ab work but not much because it just felt weird. My doctor did say I cannot hurt anything at this point and to push myself when comfortable. I am just so looking forward to feeling "normal" again with no memory of the surgery. The recovery is a real b*tch. Lol. I feel like I'm always wearing these shorts in my pictures but they are my go-to workout shorts and I work out every morning when I take photos. I will try to upload some different ones later today. Updated on 9 Sep 2017: Updated on 13 Sep 2017: The big news this week is that I am going on my fifth day with absolutely no compression except when working out. To be honest, I was just so sick of wearing it that I stopped cold turkey. My muscles still feel tight and stiff at times but not painful so I'm working through it. It seems to be better when I'm moving around rather than sitting still. I feel like I could work out without compression but I think I will continue wearing it as I work harder because I'm not afraid of hurting something. I started to incorporate some light ab work in my workouts as well and it feels very strange. I also finally made a chiropractic appointment for Friday and plan on getting a massage as well. I think I really hurt my back from being hunched over for so long. I finally feel comfortable enough for someone to touch me so it's time I get back to my routine with my chiropractor. I'm back to working out six days a week alternating between strength training and cardio. I just need to get my food under control. I notice I cannot eat as much as I used it without feeling disgusting. Having a tummy tuck gives bloated a whole new meaning. Ha! My scar is looking good and I'm continuing it rubbing the advance scar cream on it twice a day. I had to buy a second bottle for $60. I'm glad my doctor gave me the first bottle free. After I finish this I will probably switch to cocoa butter. Unless anyone else has better ideas of something over the counter? I posted a picture but I'm really horrible at taking a picture of myself with my phone. I feel like I look much bigger in the pictures then I do in person. Until next week RS... happy healing. Updated on 20 Sep 2017: So I am still compression free and the big news this week is that when I cough and sneeze I don't feel like I'm going to die. LOL my only remaining symptoms from the surgery is that sometimes my abs feel very stiff and tight. Especially towards the end of the day. I also noticed that I cannot eat as much as I used to which isn't necessarily a bad thing. My stomach feels very bloated quickly. It's a very uncomfortable feeling probably because the skin is so tight. In the meantime, I'm taking advantage of my smaller portions. Still working out six days a week alternating between strength training and cardio. I still do wear compression when I work out but I'm not sure that it's even necessary. It just makes me feel better. Updated on 20 Sep 2017: Updated on 24 Sep 2017: Since I haven't posted any pictures lately of my scar & my belly button, here they are at 14 1/2 weeks. Neither bother me at all and both are pretty flat. I'm hoping the red color goes down a little but even that doesn't really bother me. I'm hoping the red color goes down a little but even that doesn't really bother me. I do use the advance scar cream at least once a day and rub it in pretty good. Updated on 27 Sep 2017: Well, today, I'm officially 15 weeks and after a long recovery (and it still not being totally over), I'd say it's worth it, as long as you have realistic expectations. Below are my tips. 1. A TT is NOT an easy fix. It is a very invasive surgery that can cause lots of different complications (see catheter story above). Anyone who thinks this is an "easy way out" is completely ignorant. The surgery is not for the faint of heart. I also don't see this surgery as a weight loss surgery. It was simply to fix my muscle, get rid of my hernia and remove the excess skin from having children. I was at my ideal weight, and in perfect health which set me up to have the best results. I knew weight loss may have been a byproduct of the surgery but that was not my focus – it still isn’t today. 2. Be realistic with your results and your recovery. Understand, there is a good chance you will not come out of surgery looking like a super model. You will most likely look WAY better than before, in 99% of the cases, but not perfect. Use the surgery as continuation of a healthy lifestyle. Your body will respond - even better than before to eating healthy and exercise. Enjoy YOUR body and how it responds to surgery. Everyone will look different so try not to compare to someone who has a completely different body shape. That is what makes us all beautiful – our unique shape and curves – embrace it, don’t fight it! Onto the recovery, I thought I'd bounce right back - I was healthy, and fit! Why not? Ugh...so wrong. It was hard. Really hard. And depressing at times. Just stay focused on the end result and be PATIENT with your body. I found this site to be helpful. Checking in with other ladies who had surgery around the same time as me was incredibly reassuring. There is something nice about feeling like you are in this with other people – even if they are strangers. HA! I also would advise you keep a journal - even if you don't share it publicly - so you can remind yourself on bad days, how far you have actually come. 3. A support system is a MUST! I honestly could not have done it without my mother, husband and friends who watched my kids, brought me meals, visited me and of course prayed for a full recovery. In my case, my faith in Jesus also played a huge role. I reminded myself daily of his encouraging promises. 4. PREPARE! PREPARE! It is so important (especially if you have kids and a husband) to prepare ahead of time to avoid stessers. For example, I planned 10 meals before surgery and wrote them out with instructions to my husband. He was so grateful and could focus on other things besides what’s for dinner. I also used Peapod grocery delivery when I needed to and hired a cleaning person for the first month. This was a huge help! I also set up my “recover station” with recliner, meds, water bottles, etc. ahead of time. Trust me – it isn’t easy to get around in those first few weeks. You don’t want to have to worry about running to CVS to grab your meds. 5. This is obvious, but must be said. Be selective when picking a PS. Ask around. Visit a couple of different doctors. I went to two and had COMPLETELY different initial experiences. The one I chose, didn’t have the best bed side manner, but included lipo on my flanks, and worked on two women I knew, so I knew this is who I wanted to go with. This tip is crucial – they are cutting you open after all. You don’t want to go through all of this and not be in the best hands! So….was it worth it? Yes. Would I do it again? No. LOL I’m very happy with the way my clothes fit, the way I can wear a bikini comfortably, work out in a sports bra and shorts without feeling like my spare tire is showing, etc. There is nothing better than throwing on a pair of leggings and not having to worry about wearing a baggy shirt to cover my “roll”. I am still compression free (except when I work out) and my muscles do tighten up as the day goes on – it’s not painful, but it’s a reminder of surgery even 15 weeks later. I’ll be even happier when those two last side effects go away. Other than that, I’m totally back to my normal routine. Eating healthy, working out 6 days a week and even running again. Life is good. Be healthy RS….enjoy the journey. It will not last forever and before you know it, your TT will be a distant memory. Cheers to that! ****Sorry for the long post, but it was necessary. There were times, I never thought I'd say it was worth it.**** Updated on 3 Oct 2017: So, a few changes since last week...I went on a mini weekend away with the family to Burlington VT (great place if you have never been) and my hubby and I worked out in the hotel gym before our day. I actually took off my tank (which I never would have done in the past) and worked out in my sports bra and shorts - I was totally comfortable and I think my hubby liked the view. LOL No compression needed since I was on the elliptical. I was able to walk around on the trip which was super active and had no problems. No compression. No tired feeling. Nothing. Just felt great! When I got home, I ran for the first time without compression. Again, a first and it felt fine. I think I may need the compression for ab work only since that still feels so weird. I will be happy when all reminders from the surgery are gone, but this is a step in the right direction. Finally, It looks like we will be booking a cruise in May to Bermuda! Super excited to show off my new body for the first time. Let's be real - last summer was a wash. Ugh! I can't wait to take back my summer this year and what better way to celebrate than to go on a cruise! It will be the perfect jump start to our New England summer! So, I am looking forward to that. I've continued to work out 6 days a week - alternating between cardio and strength and eating healthy most of the time. Tummy still feels tight, but not painful or uncomfortable. Wonder when that will go away??? That's about it for this week. Happy healing, RS! Updated on 11 Oct 2017: Hello RS! Well, let's see. Changes from last week. I'm not wearing compression at all except when I do ab work. It still feels weird when I work my abs so I guess the compression is a comfort. I ran today for 20 minutes straight without compression and felt good. Moving in the right direction! Still working out 6 days a week; eat clean for 80% of the time and feel overall good. My abs are still tight and stiff at times, but again nothing crazy. Scar looks good; belly button is good. Need to post pics from my phone so this will be in two separate posts. That's it for now...I'll leave you with this...if you feel like you will never heal; never go without compression; and never feel like yourself, hang on! You will! I was you! I seriously thought I'd never get better. I went there in my head - I was depressed and mad at myself for putting my family through this recovery, but trust me you WILL get through it! I'm proof! It may not be as fast as you thought or hoped, but full recovery will come. Just be patient. Hang in there and happy healing! Updated on 11 Oct 2017: Updated on 24 Oct 2017: I didn't have time to do an update last week, which I guess is a good sign. I seriously judge my recovery on how often I check RS. Isn't that crazy? In the beginning I was OBSESSED with checking and now, I can go days without logging on. So...not much has changed. I'm sort of annoyed with the stiff/tight feeling I still have in my abs. It's really frustrating at this point and I want it to just go away. Other than that, I'm recovering just fine. Working out and eating 80% clean. Living life again as normal. Another "issue" I'm having is shopping/clothes. You would think I'd be so excited - shopping with this new bod, but I'm struggling. Everything I pick fits, but it doesn't look right. I'm wondering if I need to change my "go to" stores. Or, if I need to really have a different mind set. What looked good before surgery, doesn't look the same. I really need to mentally remind myself to pick clothes that perhaps I wouldn't have before. I don't know. It's kind of strange. Oh and I think 90% of society is looking to cover up their mid section because most tops are super baggy! I really am looking to accentuate my flat belly, not hide it! All my old clothes still fit nicely as I didn't do this surgery to loose weight so it's not like I need a new wardrobe. Actually, my current clothes look way better (without the tummy roll). BUT....I really wanted some new items that would spice up the closet. Oh well...for now, I've been buying a bunch of new shoes! LOL<br

$7,90020 days post-opTummy Tuck

windee52

December 9, 2014

35 Y/O Mom of 2, Taking the Leap!

I've wanted a tummy tuck since my daughter was born 8 years ago. She was a huge baby at 9lbs 13oz, and being 5'3" with a short torso, well you can see the pictures. I knew we would have more children, so I put the surgery out of my mind. My kids are now 6 & 8 and my husband had a vasectomy so I am ready to fix this belly! I weigh between 149-154 (depending on the time of month) and work out 5-6 times per week - kickboxing, running and strength training. Having hypothyroidism makes it very difficult to lose weight and the belly is always the last place I lose. Not that it matters, the skin is so loose I just end up with deep craters from the stretch marks anyway. I finally went to a consultation in September with Dr. Brooks in Longmeadow, and after my examination he told me I was a good candidate for a TT with muscle repair. My surgery is in 3 weeks and my emotions range from excitement to pure terror! The "what-ifs" usually sneak into my head around bedtime which is making sleep more difficult. I have soooo many questions written down to ask the surgeon/nurse at my pre-op next week - thanks to this site (I don't know about you, but whenever my doctors ask if I have any questions, my mind ALWAYS goes blank!). Dr. Brooks put me at ease from the first minute and I've had friends use him with fantastic results as well so I feel like I'm in good hands. I've paid the anesthetist as well as the hospital fees and the balance to the PS is due at my pre-op. The only thing I didn't factor was the cost of the pain meds. I didn't really think about it before, but that's all out-of-pocket too. Anyone care to share so I can get a ball-park? I hope that the surgery goes well without complications, I hope recovery isn't hindered by infections or the dreaded constipation, I hope the scar is low and clean, I hope my belly button isn't a vertical slit and more of a natural oval, I hope my kids don't freak out when they see the hot mess I will most likely be, mostly I hope in the end I will be happy with my decision. Updated on 12 Dec 2014: I am so anxious and I feel like I really don't have anyone to talk to. My sisters are jealous that I'm having this done. My best friend is having a procedure the week before me that is medically necessary so I feel ridiculous telling her how nervous I am when she has so much to worry about herself. My husband, although supportive and generally fantastic about all of this, is still a guy with typical guy answers ("Don't be nervous, you'll be fine. What's for dinner?"). I haven't told anyone else that I'm doing this - I will ,however, have to tell my in-laws soon because I know I will need help with the kiddos. Why does that scare me? I'll probably tell my dad after it's done. The more I'm on this site, the more excited, anxious and confused I become. I'm looking forward to my pre-op next Tuesday because my questions list is growing every day................ Updated on 17 Dec 2014: Yesterday was my pre-op appointment and I feel a little less anxious. I met with the nurse practitioner who went over surgery day and answered all my questions. I told her my concerns (scar placement and belly button) and she explained their goal is to make every patient's outcome as beautiful as possible. I don't know why that one statement put me at ease, maybe it was her sincerity? Either way, it'll still be better than what I have now. I have no expectations of wearing a bikini after this (I will more than likely still have a lot of stretch marks), but my shape will undoubtedly be better and that's what I really want. And if I get the courage to wear a bikini, then - bonus! I dropped off my scripts, got my blood work done and now it's just time to wait. I was supposed to have received a packet in the mail from the PS's office with detailed instructions and lists of this-and-that,so hopefully that comes soon. The day after Christmas, next Friday, I have an appointment for a bikini and underarm wax. My PS doesn't want you to shave prior to surgery but waxing is ok. I will also be taking down the Christmas decorations :( and doing a heavy cleaning. I am borrowing a recliner so that will be dropped off sometime over the weekend and I have to do a LOT of grocery shopping. I want to be stocked for at least 2 weeks and have the bulk items (toilet paper, paper towels, cat food/litter etc). We also have a wedding 2 days before surgery. Guess who the designated driver is? Yup! This girl. My sister is taking my kids for 3 days and the hubby has that time off to care for me. Once he goes back to work on day 4, I'll have my bff, who is a nurse, and my sister rotating through to check on me. I also told my mother in law about the surgery and she was surprisingly on board! Don't know why I was so nervous to tell her... I think the hardest part of all of this will be weeks 3-6. I have a hard time sitting still, I am constantly moving, cleaning, cooking, working out, playing with the kids. I know I will still need to take it easy once I start to feel normal again. I have never taken more than 7 days off from exercising. I'm not too worried I'll gain weight, I'm more worried I will lose muscle tone and I'm dreading working back up to the level I'm at right now. I know I will be very frustrated. Exercise is my outlet. Maybe I should learn to knit? Well thanks for reading my ramblings. Off to wake up my loves! Have a great day :) Updated on 19 Dec 2014: Just a couple more pics for documentation. I want to look back at these when I'm second guessing my decision on day 3! LOL! Updated on 19 Dec 2014: So my insurance did cover my meds. I guess they don't know exactly why they are ordered for you anyway. I paid about $23 for all 3 scripts. I also picked up stool softeners and laxatives but forgot the Tylenol. I was going to pick up gauze and tape and all that, but I wasn't sure exactly what I will need so I'll just send the hubby when the time comes. Updated on 22 Dec 2014: So one week from today I'll (hopefully) be through the surgery and resting in my living room. It's odd how calm I've been the last few days. I think I've just gotten to the point where I'm tired of being anxious and just want to get it done, ya know? I do worry that I forgot to pick up something that I'll need later for recovery, but that's what the husband is for I guess. I still have a few things to take care of for Christmas and then Friday, Saturday and Sunday are going to be jam-packed with preparations. I have to work for a short time on Friday, have a wedding on Saturday and still need to go get waxed, grocery shop, clean the house, laundry (including ALL the bed linens) and put away the Christmas decorations. I've been doing so great with my workouts these last few weeks. I hope that I don't lose too much of my conditioning over the next 6 weeks. I did a nice 5-mile run yesterday and tonight is my last kickboxing class for a while. I plan on doing shorter runs and weight training through the rest of the week, including 2 leg days because I know all the sitting I'll be doing is going to suck. I want to post a few more pics for comparison later. I need to get some truly terrible ones so I can look back and be like "THAT is why you did this to yourself" LOL! Hope everyone has a nice holiday! Updated on 27 Dec 2014: 48 hours from now I'll be in pre-op getting all marked up. I'm a bit anxious, but I try to keep busy (not too difficult!) so I'm not dwelling. I got waxed yesterday and had a reaction to either the wax or the strips or both. My bikini area and underarms are extremely red and bumpy and still tender. I hope this goes away before surgery... The last few days have flown by and today is going to be just as busy. I still have grocery shopping, laundry and house cleaning to do. We also have to attend a wedding this afternoon, so that kills half the day. I'm trying not to obsess over the scar and belly button, but I'm really worried. I know the surgeon will do his best, but every body is different and I really want low scar and natural BB. I have a feeling that scar will be higher than I care for because I have a short torso. I keep telling myself it's better than the mess I currently have going on, but still... I just found out a good friend of mine is having surgery the same day, a couple hours after me (she has an enormous kidney stone and they're going to lazer it and put a stent in). We may end up in recovery at the same time. I should get going, the bed sheets aren't going to wash themselves! Updated on 28 Dec 2014: Just to document why I am going through with it. I figure I can look back at these and remind myself why I did it whenever I'm having a bad recovery day. Updated on 29 Dec 2014: Just a quick update because I'm exhausted. Made it through, no problems, minimal pain. The incision was nice and low. I cried when I saw the picture - tears of joy!!! I'll post again tomorrow... Updated on 30 Dec 2014: Just wanted to post these. I'm so happy with my results right now! Updated on 30 Dec 2014: I guess it went pretty much like everyone else. We checking in at 7:15 and were ushered to a room almost immediately. The nurse was a sweetheart and we talked about how we both had gigantic babies. She had nothing but praise for Dr. Brooks too. While she was going over some medical history I noticed a nurse at the nurses station who turned out to be a friend of mine! She came is and talked to me for a while and started to cry! Nerves! They were so wonderful and calming. The anesthesiologist came in and did his spiel (super nice guy as well) and then it was a 20 minute wit for Dr. Brooks who was finishing with another patient. He has such a calm demeanor and although I was standing naked while he drew on me, it wasn't that bad. We were both cracking jokes. He reassured me everything would be fine and then the guys with the drugs came in! I remember asking my husband for a kiss and reminding him to call the kids and that was it - next thing I know I was in recovery! The pain was central to my belly button area. Probably a 3 or 4, nothing terrible. It has been pretty manageable thus far (knock on wood) with the drain sites being the most annoying. Sleep comes in spurts on 2 or 3 hours and I've been eating yogurt and protein shakes and crackers mostly. I am so happy I finally did this, I look forward to seeing the end results - in a few months! Updated on 1 Jan 2015: Today is a lot easier in terms of pain and mobility. I can get up and down on my own and I've started spacing out the meds a little further. No BM as of yet, but I'm not uncomfortable either (very gassy so I know things are working in that area). Hubby's going to pick up some magnesium citrate for me later. My kids are home so its harder to nap now, but I really missed them so it's nice to hear them around the house. I am so happy that I did this, I look forward to seeing progress over the next few months! Updated on 3 Jan 2015: Yup this is a TMI update, LOL! The magnesium citrate took care of things overnight and I was able to have a substantial and painless BM this morning. I feel like this is a milestone LOL! I'm also spacing the meds out 8-9 hours and walking around more and more. My lower back gets very sore very quickly so that's probably my one complaint. Even the drain sites aren't too bad, just annoying. I've had 2 showers since surgery and they were both the greatest 10 minutes EVER. I attempted to take the second shower on my own, which I did just fine, but then I was freaking out because HOW THE HELL AM I GONNA GET DRESSED AND PUT THE BINDER ON AND OH MY GOD I DIDN'T THINK THIS THROUGH! LOL, luckily my best friend was dropping off more of her amazing yogurt just as I was getting out and she helped me get dressed and milk the drains and everything. Having a nurse practitioner as a BFF has a lot of perks! My in-laws took the kids to Yankee Candle for the day too so I got plenty of rest. I feel so lucky that I have so much support, I really couldn't have asked for more. I've been eating very clean - protein shakes, BFF's power yogurt, chicken with leafy greens, oatmeal and gallons of water. I feel like that has definitely helped with the healing. My post op appointment is Tuesday and I am so curious to see how much fat/skin they removed. I also had a hernia it turns out so I want details on that as well. For any one on the fence about having this surgery - it is so worth it! Please get a support team and plan! Good conditioning before going under the knife is important too! I am so thankful for all the squats I've done these last months. I cant tell too much because of the tape, but the incision looks pretty thin (YAY!) and I am so excited to see my BB. I went into this hoping for a nicer hour glass shape, I had no intentions of wearing a bikini, but if things only get better from here, I may wear a bikini for the first time in 10 years!! Good luck to anyone going in soon, positive thoughts! Updated on 4 Jan 2015: The Pros of having this procedure have completely crushed all the cons at this moment. Yes there is a little pain, completely tolerable even just with Tylenol, and being on my butt the majority of the day is rough but all-in-all I have nothing to complain about! I was up quite a bit today, took a shower on my own and was able to dress on my own as well. I made the kids lunch, did a few dishes and picked up. Just that amount of activity wiped me out (and swelled me up) so rather than push it, I'm relaxing in my 'spot'. When I look in the mirror, I see what I felt should have always been there. I don't feel like a 'NEW' me, I feel like ME. Updated on 7 Jan 2015: One drain down, thank goodness! I have to go back on Friday to have the other removed, so hopefully the output slows down. It didn't hurt too much, about 30 seconds of burning and that was it. I also got to see my new belly button finally! Its going to look pretty cute when it heals up I think! I forgot to ask how much skin/fat he removed but he did say the muscle separation was pretty substantial (4" I think). He said the hernia was right above my belly button, which makes sense now that I think about it - I've always had a small lump of fat above my BB even before kids that never seemed to be affected by diet or exercise. He was also impressed at how well I was moving around 8 days out, and off the pain meds (CONDITIONING PEOPLE, IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE!). Anyway, I'm posting a (grainy) pic for reference for later on. I need to remember to take pictures after I shower while I'm standing - all my pics are me laying on the couch!!! LOL! Updated on 7 Jan 2015: All of my other pics, I'm reclining on the couch....I noticed some rippling on the right side flank which I'm not sure is from swelling or the CG. I think I may switch CG's and see if that helps.... Updated on 9 Jan 2015: The second drain came out today! YEEESSS! This one had zero pain or burning but I could feel it snaking under my skin which was SUPER weird. They also replaced the steri-strip so I saw my scar (forgot a picture, damn it) and it's low and clean and symmetrical THANK GOODNESS! I go back again on Monday to have the stitches removed from my BB. It feels so freeing not to have to worry about those damn drains, now if I can just find something to get the marker off my skin!! I feel really, really good too. Plenty of energy, very little pain, not too much swelling. So happy!! Updated on 11 Jan 2015: I'm not sure if I need to be worried or if I just over-did it yesterday but I'm getting a stabbing pain about 3 inches to the left of my BB. If I sit still it subsides, but when I move it's fairly intense. Maybe I pulled something? Anyone else have this? Updated on 13 Jan 2015: Got the stitches removed today as well as an ok to switch to spanx (YEEESSSS!). The nurse practitioner was very pleased with the minimal amount of swelling and fluid I have. I'm beyond happy with the outcome, it just gets better every day! I'm also starting to see my upper abs! Whoohoo! Updated on 14 Jan 2015: So I slept in my high-waisted Spanx last night and it was awful!! They were so tight! I think my stomach is too sensitive for the vice grip they have. I was planning on purchasing some shapewear today and I would love some recommendations! Updated on 17 Jan 2015: I've tried really hard to not complain over the last few weeks because this was an elective procedure and I chose to do this to myself, plus I am super happy I did it. That being said, I do have a couple of issues I will voice on RS because you guys understand, right? First, I am 20 days post and I still cant sleep in bed. I tried twice and its just easier and more comfortable to sleep upright on the couch. I think this may be tied to issue #2 - Spanx. I have 3 different compression garments (a high waisted / mid thigh pair pair of Spanx, a high wasted / boyshort pair of CG briefs and a high waisted / snap crotch briefs). I've given each of these a fair run and they are all so uncomfortable! My skin feels so sensitive and getting them on and off hurts. Plus I have a wide back and rib cage and I feel like they are suffocating me. I usually end up back in the CG from the hospital. I hope that eventually I can wear the briefs comfortably and actually put on some 'normal' clothes and not just sweats. Ok, I'm done complaining - feels good to dump it sometimes! :) Updated on 22 Jan 2015: Things are much better than last week. I've been sleeping in my bed the last few nights (yay!) and I've decided to just stick with the binder from the hospital rather than be uncomfortable in Spanx. At my follow up I was told I should wear the binder full time until the 6 week mark and then part time for the next 2 weeks after that. I was also given the ok to start light cardio ( I immediately went home and cleaned my house!!). I stepped on the scale this morning and I'm down 8 pounds since surgery day! My only concern right now is that belly button is getting squished in the binder and is becoming less of the oval I had at first. Has anyone else done the marble therapy? I might call and ask today. The pics I posted are from this morning. Happy day! Updated on 23 Mar 2015: This has been the best decision I've ever made! I'm back to all my normal activities including kickboxing and I stopped wearing the compression garments all together. I've started getting Lazer therapy on the BBC scar as well (Dr. Brooks' office includes two sessions with the surgery cost). I went shopping for myself yesterday and for the first time in years it was actually fun! Wish I had done this years ago! ! Updated on 30 Jun 2015: Cannot stress how worth it this procedure was! I bought 3 new bikini, first since before my daughter 9 years ago. I have so much more confidence and I just generally happier. Can't say enough good things about Dr. Brooks and his staff as well.

Glen Brooks, MD reviews

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4.2

21 reviews

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Glen Brooks, MD

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$17,0006 months post-opTummy Tuck

Jsland

August 31, 2022

tummy tuck and breast augmentation

I'm so happy I did this. Dr Brooks and his staff were incredible from start to finish. They gave me my body back. I have given birth 5x and my muscles were unrecognizable. I had tummy ruck MR and lipo and am back to my former self. Could not be happier. Updated on 13 Mar 2023: Last year I had tt with muscle repair and lipo. It could not have come out better, it’s amazing. After being slim my whole life I suddenly could not lose belly fat or flex my abs at all after my 5th birth. Dr Brooks gave me my own shape back and I recognize myself again. My bellybutton could not be more perfect and I am in awe of how he repositioned my tattoo. He also offers laser scar treatment included in tt. So my scar looks amazing. Everyone at Dr Brooks office is incredible, kind, and professional. Dr Brooks himself is so funny and gentle but also super transparent and lets you know exactly what is possible and what to expect. They called me at home afterwards to check on me and I was still so groggy from anesthesia that I think I rambled to them about Euphoria on HBO. They were still so patient with me! Lol! I was on the fence about a full mommy makeover so I took the year to consider and now I’m booked for breast aug 3/27/23. I’m currently about 32D but lots of loose skin so I initially asked about just a lift. Dr Brooks said I don’t quite need a lift but a modest implant could give me the lifted look. After my consult I am looking at 300cc silicone gel subfascial for the slight lift. I added my wish pics bc I realized how much I like that round look most of my wish pics look the same! Will update more after my pre op this week. Current Stats (pre BA, post TT): 5’4” 125lbs (US size 4) Before 32D 5 births, more years breastfeeding than I can count Age 40(ish) (Some blur on photos to minimize some tattoos) Updated on 13 Mar 2023: Wish pics

$12,00023 days post-opMommy Makeover

crivera2037

March 14, 2018

32 Yrs Old, 2 Kids, 210 Lbs, 5' 7" Mommy Makeover

Finally went through with this Mommy Makeover!!! Four yrs ago, I began to make the decision that I wanted this flappy skin/kangaroo pouch gone; the hardest decision was do I choose a Dr. within the States or travel to another country. The only way my husband would be on board would be if I chose a local surgeon. I found Dr. Glen Brooks in Longmeadow, Massachusetts whom I've heard nothing but great things about, consulted with him 6/2017 where he recommended me to lose about 15-20 more lbs as he would want me to be happy with my results, I was pretty bummed out; returned 11/2017 & was given a surgery date yay! Day of surgery went great, all my prescriptions were given & filled 3 weeks prior @ my pre-op, came out of surgery with no drains, which many question...Dr. Brooks has not been using drains for the last 2yrs, just firm on compressing the area. Updated on 21 Mar 2018: This is week 3 for me, I'm still super sore, my Dr. Appt was cancelled due to a snow storm, so I now have to wait 3 more days to see Dr. My right side is in the most pain, i still am really swollen as can see in pic, and feel super bloated, almost like I'm 6 mths pregnant lol but overall am feeling a lot better than 1st few days Updated on 21 Mar 2018: So, Finally saw Dr. last Friday, 3/16, Dr. BRooks says I'm healing great, he took off all surgical tape, all incisions are completely closed & looking great, although I still feel ugly-he quickly whipped out a before pic of me and shute up...I guess being patient is the key. Updated on 16 Apr 2018: I'm feeling so much better painwise; soreness is pretty much gone, just feeling tightness inside. I'm not happy about the way I look, I'm starting to feel super depressed :( Updated on 11 May 2018: So, it's been 3 months since my surgery & I'm still feeling blue :( I am seeing very lil improvement in the swelling going down. I did notice that I now have no sensation in my right nipple-Dr. Says this may very likely be permanent :(

$5,94928 days post-opBreast Reduction

molzep

December 5, 2017

54 Years Old 34 H - Waited Years to Do This!

I've never felt like someone who should have large breasts. I've thought about having reduction surgery for years. During the consultation, the PS said my breasts would be reduced 2 or 3 cup sizes. I was hoping for 5-6! I would love to be a B, but there's only so much that can be done. At 27 days post op I measure as a DD. I am usually just satisfied with how I look now, and hope as more swelling reduces I'll be even happier. Sometimes I'm very happy with how I now look. The other day I went shopping for a sports bra and grabbed a shirt off the rack to put on over it to see how it looked. I loved it!

$7,8252 days post-opBreast Augmentation

bbliscious

June 6, 2017

37 Yr, Married 2 Kids

Pleasant experience, very patient n passionate about his work..very knowledgeable n thoughtful, i initially wanted 375 cc or less, but at the end i went with 410 moderate silicone..1 day post op n feeling well. This is a graduation presents for mr, from my hubby. Still swollen but doing okay, take my meds as needed Updated on 18 Sep 2017: So its been 3mths since my *ba*, everything is ok except my scars , which the doctor is addressing right now with laser treatments.

Rhinoplasty

jlucky7

May 24, 2017

Amazing results!

Absolutely amazing! I'm 21 and had a rhinoplasty with a small chin implant. I was very nervous but Dr. Brooks is truly an amazing surgeon who really knows what he's doing. He made me feel comfortable and knew exactly what I wanted while keeping it subtle. This has changed my life and I am glad I put my full trust into him.

$10,0003 days post-opBreast Implant Revision

kmb1478

May 19, 2016

Removal of Saline Plants and for New Silicone/ and Lipo - Springfield, MA

Dr. Brooks is a great surgeon as well as his staff. He answered all my questions made best decision based on my needs and followed up with me the same day. And I look great so far minimal bruising and swelling. No drainage office was clean procedure done in hospital. Have great after care instructions

$8,200Tummy Tuck

Jjm05

May 3, 2016

33 Y/o Finally Got a Tummy Tuck - Longmeadow, MA

I am about 1 year post op from getting a tummy tuck. Took me a looong time to write this review bc I was hesitant due to me being private, but I would like to help others out there that are deciding on getting this surgery done. I had 2 kids by c-section and due to the c-sections it messed up my stomach drastically. I was left with a saggy pooch and stretched skin that never went away even with diet and exercise.. all it did was make it smaller (sigh). I would hate too look at myself naked so I hardly ever did and when I did I would cry. When having sex with my boyfriend I would always leave a tank top covering my mid section bc I was so self conscious. It didn't matter how many times he would say he didn't care...I cared and I did not feel sexy whatsoever. After years of hating my stomach and nothing working I decided to get a tummy tuck. I saved for years and it was the best decision I have ever made. Even as painful as it was I Would do it all over again as crazy as it may sound lol. I've done extensive research and when I finally decided on a surgeon I called in for a consult asap. When I got to the office it was very clean, and the staff was superb. The wait was fast and when I got called in they brought me into a rm and had me undress into a gown.. when the doctor came in he had such a nice presence about him I automatically felt comfortable with him. He had a great smile, a pleasant voice and overall great personality. He asked what I knew about the procedure and I basically said everything, bc he didnt have to go into any details since I already knew lol. He then took a look at all my problem areas. He took my before photos from all angles. He explained that he was going to lipo my stomach as well as my flanks up to my bra strap area. I wasn't expecting all of that lipo so I was extremely ecstatic. He then asked if I had any more questions and then I got dressed and went into another room to get my quote. I booked my surgery date right then and there. The day of surgery I wasn't nervous I was more excited than anything. I couldn't wait to get it done already. All the nurses and staff were so kind and they all told me I was in good hands as many of the nurses there also got a tt from the same surgeon so that was great to hear. Dr.brooks came in a short while after to mark me up and his voice again put me at ease .. (I Love his voice lol) it's so pleasant. After that was done all I remember was being wheeled in on a stretcher into the operating room and I was ko'd. I woke up in the recovery room and I was soooo dizzy no pain just very very dizzy. They gave me ice and juice. When it was time to get up I had to grab a hold of something for leverage bc I was so dizzy. You definitely need help after this procedure as moving is very minimal and hard to do without help. You will be hunched over like an old person for several days as ur stomach is soooo tight u cannot walk upstraight. If you have a recliner that would be perfect since you CANNOT sleep normal. I didn't have a recliner so I slept propped up on pillows. I had a huge back pillow with attached arm rests (got at bed bath and beyond) , neck pillow A MUST, and I had about 3 pillows right under my knees elevating my lower legs up...thats how i slept. (Fun times. .NOT!) LOL. Sorry this is so long, but I wanted to give as much detail as possible. Any questions pls ask. :) Updated on 4 May 2016: Here are some supplies I needed the most.

2 days post-opBreast Augmentation

Mama Bunny

December 12, 2014

300 Mod+ Perfect Fit for Me. Longmeadow, MA

After having breastfed 2 children each for 1 year I felt it was time to get my body back. I work out 5 days a week and my chest kept getting smaller and smaller and one was smaller than the other. I had a consultation with Dr. Brooks and felt comfortable with him, his knowledge and training. All of the before & after pictures on his website are so natural looking and that was exactly what I wanted. I will admit that leading up to the day of surgery I was doubting my decision to have the breast augmentation but I followed my heart and I am now 2 days post op and I couldn't be happier. I know the first few weeks they look the worst, but mine already look great! I have minimal pain, more like a dull ache. I'm taking the medications prescribed and that helps as well. I went with 300 Mod+ and they fit my frame perfectly, very natural looking. Best wishes to everyone considering this type of surgery. Updated on 14 Dec 2014: You know you have a good surgeon when you can go shopping 3 days post op (I didn't drive). I'm extremely happy with my results and I feel great! Beyond happy with my choice of Dr. Brooks and the size I went with. Updated on 8 Jan 2015: Before & After photos

Glen Brooks, MD

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Jsland

tummy tuck and breast augmentation

crivera2037

32 Yrs Old, 2 Kids, 210 Lbs, 5' 7" Mommy Makeover

molzep

54 Years Old 34 H - Waited Years to Do This!

itstimett

40 Year Old Mom: Hernia and Muscle Repair/tummy Tuck

bbliscious

37 Yr, Married 2 Kids

jlucky7

Amazing results!

kmb1478

Removal of Saline Plants and for New Silicone/ and Lipo - Springfield, MA

Jjm05

33 Y/o Finally Got a Tummy Tuck - Longmeadow, MA

Mama Bunny

300 Mod+ Perfect Fit for Me. Longmeadow, MA

windee52

35 Y/O Mom of 2, Taking the Leap!

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crivera2037

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