I'll start by saying I never thought I would actually share my own before and after photos or a post. However, I was always on this site leading up to my surgery looking for "my body type" to see how that person changed afterwards.
This photo is pre-op and 12 weeks after.
This is also me at exactly the same weight before and after. Seems crazy right? Not 1 lb. lost, but I went from the hang over muffin top to a flat stomach. These are the pictures from the doctors office in the awful underwear, but seeing the before and after in the same pair is eye opening, especially for me!
After my 2nd C Section I got down to 135 lbs. and I am 5'9". For me, that is REALLY skinny. Even then, although the before would have been better (this is +30 lbs.), I still had the stretch marks, the "hang over" (although it was smaller), I knew I would never show my stomach again.
Today, I am so comfortable as me again. I am happy in my bra and underwear (my underwear don't show the scar so badly), and when the scar improves it will only get better.
The pain afterwards. Yes. It is intense. You are straight up bed ridden for a week. I had to get back to work on day 6. Was I walking slower than normal, yes. Could I stand straight up when most people said that would take longer, yes, I could. Did it feel like I was going to pull the stitches and undo all of this, yes it did, but my Doctor told me to get up as much as possible, and to stand up straight to avoid back pain. I listened, and it worked.
I just started back to running and exercising and it feels soooo good. It had been a while for me, once I gained the 30 lbs back I was lacking motivation, kept postponing my surgery until I was back to the weight I wanted to be and finally I just did it. I am so glad I did. Will I lose 10-15 again to get my legs back where I want them and tighten up, absolutely and quickly now that I have the body I want to work for. But if I didn't lose a single pound, I am confident in my own body again, and that makes every day better. I don't have to buy loose shirts! I can tuck in again, I can wear outfits that I love not just those that cover me.
At my pre op appointment I had a last minute decision to also raise my breasts. I always thought I was pretty lucky with my chest, having a C or D depending on my weight, and I guess it was due to my bras and bathing suits they seemed perky. Wow. The before and after on those are amazing too! And if you are considering, do them both at the same time because the stomach hurts so much you don't even feel the breasts...at all!
Hardest part of it all for me was not feeling like I could go conquer the world for a while after. I am a busy body, and it slowed me down. I was more tired than usual, the numbness and swelling get old after a while. I still have both, and it could be for 6 months more, but I can do what I want again, I have energy back to my normal level, and there isn't a sport or activity I feel I can't do at 12 weeks. It was so worth it. Main benefit, sex is exciting again. When you don't feel the need to cover up, you feel so good!