Larry A. Sargent, MD, FACS

I met with my surgeon when I was 19 or 20 years old. I ended up getting divorced and in a different place in life so a boob job was no longer in the cards. Fast forward ten years, a new husband and two children later.. March 9, 2022 I was finally able to get my boob Job. My husband treated me to it as a gift for my upcoming 30th birthday. He knew how badly I wanted them and I used the same surgeon I met all those years ago! Starting with a size 34D pre surgery- I had a lift and implants, and trying to correct some asymmetry that got worse after breastfeeding. I got 300cc moderate plus in my right (larger side) and 350cc mod+ in my left(smaller one). I was thrilled with the results, the shape and everything was much better. Once the swelling went down, my right one seemed a little larger still but also, they weren’t as big as what I was imagining in my mind. I love the fake boob look. I just HAD to get them done again. I waited four months and went in for surgery again on July 13, 2022. This time we went a little larger than just 50cc different to fix the asymmetry. I got 600cc mod+ in the right and 700cc mod+ In the left. I’m only 2.5weeks post op but I am in love with them. They are finally almost identical and they have that big “fake” look I was always imagining. I’m so grateful that I was able to do this for myself, not only once but twice. As a mother, it’s hard to put yourself first, but you are worthy and you deserve it. I mean come on, we made tiny little humans! For reference I’m 5’6” and maybe 160-165lb Updated on 10 Aug 2022: I’m four weeks post op and still in love. I still have my days that I wish I had gone the full 800 but I’m sure once I can wear a normal bra and am done dropping and fluffing, I’ll be able to dress them up larger if I want. Updated on 29 Aug 2022: Now that I’m over the 6 week mark, I can wear normal bras. My size went from a 34D pre surgery, to a 34G. It’s hard to find cute bras for large boobs. I guess that means I don’t have to wear one LOL Updated on 10 Sep 2022: Still in love. Pretty sure I’m done dropping and fluffing. The upper part isn’t as full as it was and they’re wider at the base now. Still look great, I can show them off or keep them covered and they’re less noticeable. Everyone tells me they’re huge which is exactly what I want to hear. Money well spent. Updated on 1 Dec 2022: The middle of December I’ll be at five months post op. I love my boobs but still wish I had went the full 800cc. maybe bigger than that. I know what I’m seeing in my mind of what I want but idk what cc it is. Idk if I’ll ever do them again bc I do love them the size they are, but if I do, I will definitely go bigger. Updated on 2 Dec 2022: turning and showing angles. Also, I bought some bras in a 34G, they were balconette bras.. like the half cups and my nipples showed. I had to send them back and reorder in a 34H. I haven’t received them yet but I hope they fit. I know sister sizes can go all over the places and different made bras can require different sizes. I like having a large cup size since my goal in mind was large breasts. Updated on 2 Dec 2022: I posted a video a few minutes ago but it cut out so I’m adding another. Basically the same thing, just with a few more added seconds moving my implants around and squishing them. Again, on the 13th of December I will be five months post op. Updated on 9 Dec 2022: I was asked to post some bra photos to show how I can dress them up. I’m still looking for a really good push up bra so I can reallllly enhance them. Sports bras really push them together. I actually wear a front close sports bra most of the time unless I’m fixing up or something. I feel like my left breast is still dropping and fluffing a bit. My right is/was a bit lower and I noticed my upper crease seemed higher on the left. Granted, the implant is 100cc larger on the left, but it seems it’s getting lower and they’re balancing out much better. The selfish part of me hopes it drops a tad more and matches the right one perfectly, but if it doesn’t, that’s okay. My natural right breast was quite uneven to start with, especially after breastfeeding both of my children so I’m thrilled with the results I was able to get. I know they can continue to change for up to a year, I’m only almost 5 months so I’m sure they’re only going to continue to get better. Either way, I love them so much. 10/10 would recommend. Updated on 29 Dec 2022: My scars are fading nicely and I don’t use scar treatment a lot because I never think to. I have some, just one of those things I don’t remember everyday. I love the moderate plus shape on my body. It gives nice cleavage and side boob. If I ever go bigger, idk what I would choose as far as profile. I love mine and Dr Sargent did a FANTASTIC job but I will always have boobie greed and wish I had gotten 800cc. Wearing a normal bra is fine but when I wear a sports bra, I notice the back of my neck and shoulders hurt. Otherwise the weight doesn’t bother me and they aren’t terribly heavy. A little, but not enough to be an issue. I still am so glad I was able to do this for myself and I hope I never have any issues down the road having such a large implant. Updated on 13 Feb 2023: I’m pleased with how my breasts have settled. They feel like part of me now. Still harder to reach across my chest in a higher angle but everything else is fine. I’m a side and stomach sleeper and if I comfort myself with pillows, I can still do that no problem. Best decision I’ve made for myself. Updated on 8 Mar 2023: I’m going to sum up the past year in all these photos. As stated, I had my first breast augmentation and lift on March 9, 2022 so happy boobiversary to me! I started with asymmetrical, deflated after breastfeeding small 34D’s. After my first surgery and lift, I realized my breasts were still uneven in size, my right was still larger and I had only went up one cup size. They looked great overall, just very natural and kind of “restored to their youth” looking. Lol. I wanted a big fake look. Four months later I had my second surgery. We went with 100cc difference to balance the asymmetry. the right is still like a centimeter lower and I have wondered if the implant bottomed out at all. That being said, when I look at pictures from right after surgery, it still sits the same as it always has, so I think it’s me nitpicking. My results are overall fantastic, my nipples Are level. They have stretched a bit from the large implants, I wish I could get them cut down smaller but if I did that, id want to go larger in my implants ;) I better leave well enough alone. I love the breasts Dr. Sargent gave me WAY more than my natural breasts. I have photos of them but I was so embarrassed of them, I can’t bring myself to post a photo. I tried to include everything I have been asked to post. Erecting nipples, side view for projection, showing whether they fall into my armpits (which they do not) I may post more when I hit my one year mark for July, when I got my larger implants. Updated on 28 Jun 2023: In two weeks, I’ll be one year post op from my second BA using mentor moderate plus implants. 600R/700L. Haven’t updated in awhile. I still wish they were completely symmetrical but going from what I started with plus having two different size implants to even out my breast, I think that’s a very unattainable goal. Lol. I’m still thrilled that I was able to do this for myself and would 10/10 recommend doing it if you’re able and want to change, enhance, fix- whatever the case may be- yours. I’ll post again later on. I searched the internet over to find results and pictures and read stories to know what I wanted and be prepared before I ever had surgery. Hope my updates help someone too. Updated on 21 Jul 2023: My 1 year since my revision has come and gone. I’ve had a few things going on so I didn’t get a chance to post anything when it came. I don’t know if my breasts will change anymore or if they are done. They are almost perfect, but the almost gets me. Then I remember that it’s very rare for two breasts to be identical, even after surgery. My scars from my first surgery which include the lift are nearly invisible. The scar on the back underneath where I had my revision is still visible but it doesn’t bother me. I think people can look at me and tell that I have fake boobs so scars are to be expected. You can barely see them when I wear a bikini top. Overall, I’m so pleased and will never regret this decision. Also, I still wish I had went bigger LOL Updated on 10 Aug 2023: Okay, I found a picture pre surgery that my doctor took and even though I’m hesitant to post it, at least they are fixed now. It’s a before and after showing how close Dr Sargent was able to get my breasts, using the 100cc difference. As I say every time, they are not perfect but they are much better than before. I hated my natural breasts so badly. I never understood why one grew so much larger than the other and it only got worse after having children and breast feeding. As a woman, self confidence is very important and I had none with my pre surgery breasts. I recently learned that PCOS can attribute to those negative things (which I was diagnosed with at 18 years old). At least now I have a nice set of boobs to show off in certain clothing that I couldn’t wear braless before. (: So here is me being brave and posting my requested “before” photo. Go easy on me. Lol Updated on 9 Sep 2023: I swear the left one is continuing to change. It has dropped even a little more. I wish I had went a bit larger on the right side sometimes because I can tell the implant size is larger in my left because the breast is bigger around than the right. However, I also think they might not match as well as they do if I had went bigger with the right side. My dr. Promised he would make them look like sisters, but not like twins. Lol Updated on 8 Nov 2023: I deleted most of my photos because I was getting inappropriate messages on here, but from other women requesting my journey, I’m going to share again because that’s what this site is for. SO GO AWAY DIRTY MEN! My breasts were very swollen at first, then they were extremely tight, like two balls on my chest. Very uncomfortable to reach around. They healed at different rates. My right dropped and fluffed first. My left one has a mind of its own. I believe it took up to a full year or slightly over before my left breast started settling and looking more natural like the right. These pictures might be all mixed up so, the lift was included in my first surgery, then they extra swollen breasts switch to my second. The last photos are them today, a year and four months post op from my revision. Updated on 30 Dec 2023: I obsess over things and I can’t help it. One of them being my breast implants. Sometimes I look at them and I think they’re so close to perfect that I’m not sure why I’m complaining to myself and other times all I see is the difference in sizes. I wish instead of 600 we had done like 650 on the right side because I can tell that the 700cc on the left is bigger around and fuller at the top. We went with 100cc difference because after the first time, we did 50cc and the right was still SO much bigger than the left. I can’t help but wonder if we had done it again, being that the implants are so large, maybe the result would’ve been closer. I honestly wish I had done a 700 and 800cc. Or 725 and 800. Something like that. I’ve also lost 44 pounds since my revision to this larger size and maybe that’s why I’m noticing it so much. After I’m done picking them apart for not being perfect, I look again and tell myself that anyone would be thrilled to have these results and even though they aren’t perfect, it’s very rare to find a set of boobs -real or fake- that ARE perfect and identical. My sister tells me they are so big but I don’t see it and I think in a few years, unless I have a change of heart- I’d still like to go bigger. It’s hard being a woman sometimes lol. Here’s an update of the girls today. I haven’t dressed them up to take pictures but when I do, I’ll post some. Updated on 4 Apr 2024: The girls are still looking good. I love to go bra less but I don’t do it a lot. I’m afraid gravity will pull them down. I’m ready for this new bathing suit season. I have a really cute new bathing suit that is so flattering to the chest and I’m ready for summer clothes. Updated on 6 Sep 2024: As I’ve stated, I have days when I’m in love with my breasts and days that I criticize and wish the right one was bigger around. They pretty much hang the same at the bottom but I can tell the left is about half an inch further off my body when I look down and I can tell it’s bigger around. I wish the right had the same amount of fullness at the top. HOWEVER, I know they look great and if I never have them done again, I’m thrilled they look the way they do. If I ever do decide to do them again, I think maybe I could get two of the same size because the left side has been stretched and surely could match the right now. Hahaha Updated on 17 Oct 2024: As I’ve stated in previous updates, I’ve lost weight since my surgery and my left breast being the larger one- really shows the implant shape around the bottom. I think it’s almost a little too big for my frame now. The right side isn’t like that. I wonder if it’d be better if it was 650cc instead of 700cc. I still wish they were the same size implants, but I try not to pick them apart because they aren’t perfect, because who’s actually are? i will say I have this burning sensation between my shoulder blades a lot. I think it’s the weight of the implants along with my not so great posture. Would I still go bigger if my body would support it? Absolutely. If I HAD to go down any, I would do 650cc in both lol. I love the big fake look. Updated on 31 Dec 2024: I have days when I love my implants and days when I wish I had chosen something different. More than anything, I wish they were the same size now. I think my left should be smaller and my right to be a little bigger and I would like my nipples lower but I’m sure if I had exactly what I want- I’d still find something to complain about. Sad but true reality when you have body dysmorphia. I like reading others reviews on their surgeries and seeing that a lot of us go through ups and downs after breast augmentations and reading the positive opinions of others to help ease any insecurities one may have about themselves. I don’t know if I’ll ever do another revision, trying to achieve what I “want”. I would really hate to do it because I’m nitpicking and cause myself a complication in the future that might botch my breasts. Updated on 23 Apr 2025: Crazy to think it’s been 3 years since I got my BA. I had them done in March 2022, and again in July 2022 with the bigger ones. Best decision I’ve ever made for myself. Dr. Sargent couldn’t have done a better job.

I've been waiting 20 years and it's finally here! In less than 3 weeks I will be having my surgery ! My last doctor who I thought I was definitely going with no longer practices. With that being said, I am now going with Dr. Larry Sargent. We are going to do 375CC Mentor Moderate Plus Profile. I am so excited and nervous (mainly of the pain after and them being too big/small)! Updated on 10 Aug 2022: I am almost 3WPO! I am still stiff and sore. Still have limited mobility of my arms and showering takes it out of me. They look amazing already and I’m glad I listened to my surgeon and got 375CC Moderate Plus!

I was so nervous about finally having an abdominoplasty done and getting my diastasis recti fixed. I started scheduling consultations. I actually met with Dr. Sargent first. He was very kind and to the point. I left knowing I wanted him to do the surgery. I did attend another consult and that sealed the deal. I am so happy with my results and with the team at Dr. Sargent's office. They are all knowledgeable and kind. I feel like Dr. Sargent is thorough and really cares about his outcomes. Brenda his wife/nurse is awesome. She always is happy to see his patients and makes you feel welcome. I am only 13 days out from surgery and I have no regrets. I am so glad I chose Dr. Sargent and went with my initial gut feeling. My incision is beautiful and I bawled when I saw my stomach. I would recommend him to anyone!

I'd been trying find a doctor who would replace my 700 cc silicone implants with saline implants filling to 950 cc he said he could do it for me. When other doctors said they couldn't do it for me. I'm 100% happy with the outcome their just what I always wanted. Doctor Sargent was great answered all my questions his staff made me feel right at home.

Had my first consult 2wks ago. Will be going from a small 36B cup 5'6 190lbs. 4 kids 32 yrs old to a large C Full D 650CC (wide shoulders). MENTOR moderate plus silicone implants. Office was very clean.Kit was amazing answering all my questions and fears.Doc Sargent and his wife Brenda were friendly but very professional.

I had a lower face lift and a breast augmentation revision. I did very well after my surgery with minimal bruising. Dr. Sargent is highly educated, very experienced and has stellar credentials. I would recommend him to friends and family.

Feb. 4, 2012 10 days til surgery I'm 30 years old and have been thinking about a tummy tuck for about the past year. I had a breast augmentation about 5 months ago and I have been looking into having a tt since then. I have had a few surgeries that have left my belly with lots of scars and an appearance that embarasses me and makes me very self conscious. I had a hysterectomy at the age of 25 because of cervical cancer and my bladder was damaged. Five months after that my bladder ruptured which left me with a scar vertically all the way from the top of my belly to the very lower part. Then as a result of that surgery I ended up with a hernia I had to have repaired. I feel like I could lose weight and the appearance of my stomach is never going to change regardless. I have the extra skin that I cant get rid of. I had my BA over 5 months ago and it ended up somewhat of a nightmare. I got an infection about 3 weeks into recovery and had to end up having my right implant removed so it could completely heal. I went to see my PS a few weeks ago and he has cleared it for me to have my implant replaced and I talked to him about the tt. Talking to him helped me with alot of the doubts that were going thru my head. He assured me that it could help remove some of the scars on my lower stomach and definitely give me a tighter belly. I am about 5'0 and I weigh around 135lbs. I feel that is too much for my height. Im ashamed to say that I dont really work out much but Im hoping this motivates me to do better afterwards to keep my results from the tt. (thinking about joining a gym after I recover)So I am very excited to be having this done but also very nervous. Finding this site has helped me so much. I swear I feel like I've probably read about every review on here. I kinda freaked myself out the other day bc I checked the "not worth it" box and read some of those reviews. I felt almost sick and had to make myself stop reading. Lol I am a single mother with 3 beautiful children ages 12, 10, and 5. Knowing that they are all pretty independant will hopefully benefit me in the healing process. I work a full time job and one of my biggest fears is that I am planning on returning to work at about 2 weeks post op. I am able to take more time off but I would really like to be able to go back then. It would be nice to hear some feedback by people that went back to work soon after thier procedure. I am a Quality Control Auditor for the company I work for which doesn't require physical work but I am on my feet alot during my 12 hour shift (I have a desk I dont get to use much!). Another of my biggest concerns is getting an infection. I'm very nervous about that. My parents will be helping me during recovery so all that is covered. Well I feel Ive somewhat gave a little history on myself so I'll be checking in again soon. Im working on a list of some things Im going to buy before surgery.Updated on 17 Feb 2012:I went in on Feb 14th(yes Valentine's Day) and met with my doctor to have my tummy tuck. He showed me were my incision would be and explained the process some to me. I was put to sleep and the next thing I know Im awake and the nurse is helping me get dressed and into a wheelchair so I can sit up awhile. I went home shortly after that, the ride home is about 45 mins. I had no problems at all during the ride. The first night I tried to stay on the pain medicine and I was very surprised that I had hardly any pain. I came home with 2 drains which are connected to one drain bag, its really not bothersome at all. I was sent home with antibiotics, nausea medicine and Oxycodon. One day post op the tightness and pain are a little worse. But it still isnt anything that one pain pill won't knock out easily. Mostly I stayed propped up on the couch and slept alot. I am taking one pain pill about every 6 hours and emptying my drain around the same time. Its went from about 30cc's to about 20. 2 days post op I actually had to leave the house to go to the bank, and it went well. I tried to stay in the car and take it easy but I had no problem at all getting around. I came home and cooked dinner and rested for the rest of the day. Im just really surprised because I expected to be in a lot of pain and it isn't near as bad as I thought. So far the worst of the pain is my lower back and tightness in my stomach. I can tell my belly is swollen but it doesn't seem to bad. Day 3 post op and today was a little rough. I had my first follow-up today so I thought I would get up and it would be easier on me if I took 2 pain pills to get ready and make the trip. My prescription says I can take 1 to 2 every 4 hours for pain but it was obviously too much for me. I had a reaction from the medicine and it caused extreme itching and my skin felt like it was on fire. So I had to take a Benadryl to ease it up some. My doctor took off my binder and changed my bandages and said everything looked really good so far. I got to see my new belly and even though I can tell its swollen I know I'm gonna love it eventually. My doctor called me in a new prescription and so far so good on it, and I'm hoping I wont need it much longer anyway. I didn't get my drain out but the nurse is gonna call me Monday to see how much I'm still putting out and let me know when it can come out. Ive been trying to drink lots of water and my appetite hasn't been great but Im eating some applesauce and stuff like that. I have a couple before pics to post so hopefully I can get to that tomorrow and also take this binder off long enough to get a shot of the new tummy. I'll post those as soon as I do.

I went in for my first consult with Dr. Sergeant in early September at this point, I had already seen three other plastic surgeons for consultations and quite honestly Dr. Sergeant was the first one who didn’t want to sell me the moon. It was as if he immediately knew what I wanted By just listening to me (a little bit of sarcasm,) but seriously after going to three other practices for consultations, it was a breath of fresh air, and I immediately knew I wanted him to do my procedure. I did schedule a second consultation about halfway through, waiting for my surgery date just to answer some questions and address some concerns and I am two weeks away from surgery and I can’t wait I will update once I have my procedure.

I am a 38 year old wife and mother (although I've never been pregnant or had a baby biologically). I work full time from home as a nurse and home school my daughter (who will be a Senior in the fall). I have always struggled with my weight and last year I decided that enough was enough. The closer I got to 40 the harder I knew it would be to get to a healthy weight. So, I got serious for the first time in my life and made some great lifestyle changes and dropped 70 pounds with diet alone. In the last 2 months I've added back cardio and now am trying to add strength training to my routine. So, I am at 140 pounds right now. My heaviest was 217. I would love to lose another 10 before surgery to give myself some weight gain cushion but I'm not sure if I can do it without some hard core exercising. I had a hydrostatic body fat test and only have 10 more pounds to lose to get to 'optimal' body fat. With all this great change, however, I still see myself as a fat person. I have a large stomach both above my belly button and below. I have always gained weight in my abdomen and the area of fat above my belly button protrudes beyond my breasts. Oh and the breasts! They have fallen southward and lost so much volume. So, I started consulting with local PS and have scheduled myself for a TT with breast lift and augmentation. My husband is supportive - although terrified of my drains - and my daughter (age 17) is ready to be my nurse for a few days. I look forward to posting updates along the way. Right now I'm 82 days away. With vacation and all the summer events I know it'll be here before I know it. Will post pictures closer to my surgery date. Updated on 30 May 2015: Waffled on telling my mother about the surgery (I'm an only child)...but, we are very close and I decided I'd be upset if my daughter (also on only child) didn't tell me she was having this done as an adult...I'm glad that I did! She and my dad - being the avid yard sellers they are are on the lookout for some soft button down short sleeve shirts for me. I work from home so I don't care how they look or how big they are. I realized today as I was pulling my tshirt over my head when changing out of my pjs that those were not going to work for post op. I have some long sleeved button ups but I can't sleep in them as I tend to get hot. My mother - ever the southern lady - suggested looking for some 'dusters' also! She is hilarious...these are just some thoughts I'm having and since the weather is warm and I bet most of you guys have yard/garage sales and flea market type things going on. It's a good place to look for clothes on the cheap that we can toss if they get messed up during recovery. I'm currently kicking myself for getting rid of my XL panties that I shrunk out of. Updated on 7 Jun 2015: Stocking up for my procedure. I bet I'll like these enough to keep wearing them. They are 50% off! http://www.zulily.com/invite/kingle202/e/coobie-134197.html?tid=social_email_android_phone_shareviaicon_na_modal_0c27b768eef4660b8f93c2acd7da57f8&eid=134197 Updated on 13 Jun 2015: Talked with my PS's MA yesterday who assured me I would not have [RS bleep] star [RS bleep] boobs. Growing up I always thought my breasts were a good asset for me...but after this weight loss they are just sad and point south. I don't really want a done look - I know there are those out there that do and that's great for those that want them. She read me the doctor's notes and I'm getting Mentor silicone implants. He'll use sizers in the OR first but i'll probably wind up with 450cc (I have some breast tissue), under the muscle, and they will be moderate profile. I'm planning to take some pictures tonight and I'll upload some before shots later. I'm 66 days out! Updated on 13 Jun 2015: as embarrassing as it is..it's only fair to post these. I'm 5 foot 4 (almost) and my weight is 140. I have included a picture of my upper body (collar bones and chin) because I look thin in my face and legs. My PS even said I didn't have a lot of flank fat...However, when I let my belly loose this is what you see. This is why I can't feel slim even though I've lost about 70 pounds! No one thinks I need to lose anymore weight but it's because I dress to cover up my gut. All of you know how hard it is to take these photos and not 'suck' in. Also, my breasts are WAY different sizes..I've known this my whole life but never until this weight loss has it gotten THIS noticeable. so here you ladies go... Updated on 17 Jun 2015: I have purchased this brand of Arnica: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001EPQ4Y6?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00 Can someone give me an idea of how you used it dosage wise? Updated on 19 Jun 2015: 60 more days! I have a vacation thrown in the end of July so I know time will fly by. I am very frustrated because the scale isn't moving. I've decided to give myself a month - basically now until vacation to lose 5 pounds and see what happens. I am planning to run 3 days a week and swim 4 days a week. My lowest weight was 134 but it seems like my body just wants to be at 140. Do any of you have any recommendations? I follow a mainly low carb diet (under 100 grams some days, some days under 50 grams) and I do not eat refined sugar except maybe once or twice a month. I was having half a banana and some milk in a smoothie but decided to cut that out this week to see if that would help any. So far it has not. On the surgery side of things I feel more and more confident going through your journeys and reading your updates. But sometimes I find myself feeling like I'm being foolish for doing this. I really would like my exterior to reflect all the hard work I've done..my highest weight was 217..when I started losing I weighed just over 200 pounds. But, then I have conflicting emotions when I continue to eat the way I should and have really ramped up the exercise but no scale movement. I can tell from most of your posts that this is an emotional thing and I can see how it starts way before surgery. My PS office has been wondering answering my 'dumb' questions and I've met lots of helpful people on this site...I am confident I have chosen the right doctor for me and although I'm nervous about my breast size after surgery (being too big) I'm trusting his decision once I'm on the table. It's hard to keep in mind all implants aren't the same for each person when I see the results and cc sizes though :) Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend...we are celebrating Father's Day on Sunday here in the US...it's hot and muggy in the South and a perfect time to fire up the grill to keep the kitchen from getting too hot...enjoy your weekend, lovelies, and happy healing to all that are in recovery! Updated on 1 Jul 2015: so I'm now 48 days away and I keep having thoughts that I'm going to wind up with HUGE boobs. I don't want huge boobs. So, I dug out the old rice and made sizers and found the ONLY bra that exists in this house that does not have a single ounce of padding (lol). I'm posting some pictures with me sucking it in to see what ya'll think about this size compared to a flatter tummy- if I measured correctly they are 450 cc. I would also like to point out that I immediately made up my bed after these were taking so sorry for the mess :) Updated on 11 Jul 2015: Found this online and an praying for myself to remember later. Thought others might find it helpful as this lists a progression of swelling http://tummy-tuck-abdominoplasty.com/how-long-does-swelling-last-after-tummy-tuck/ Updated on 3 Aug 2015: so, here I am 15 days out...I went ahead and paid in full on Friday after getting back from a much needed vacation..that was an expensive day! I posted a couple pics online while were were out of town and people were gushing over how TINY I look..I've posted the photos here so you can see them (edited, of course) but I don't feel as TINY as people say. The belly has to go! It's a constant reminder of how I've always been a chubby chic. You'll notice in the one with the white shirt I have on a heavily padded bra that lifts and a loose top to hide the bulging belly. In the other photo I love the romper I'm wearing but you'll notice how flat chested I look in that as I'm wearing an un-padded bandeau. I'm hoping by next summer I can wear that without a bra and I'll look even better! I gained about 6 pounds while I was gone (!!) but I know that's from the meals eaten out and I did have some treats while we were gone. Back to my routine and I'm down 3 pounds in about 3 days..so I will be back to my start weight by surgery. My goal was to lose 10 pounds before surgery but that isn't going to happen...I'm making peace with that as best I can. A few of you have procedures today and coming up before mine on the 18th...I'm thinking of you all and can't wait to see all our afters! xxoo Updated on 10 Aug 2015: Well I've made it to single digits on my countdown...now I can't find my list I made while I've read everyone's updates...I 'cleaned' out my home office so well I have no idea where anything is now. Yesterday we had to help one of our doggies cross over the rainbow bridge..we are very sad in our house today..school is starting to gear up and all the busy-ness that comes with that so we are on a roller coaster in right now. Trying to see the positives in having to do that yesterday rather than while I was post op...Need to find my list or make a new one and get stocked up this weekend for me and for school. I had my pre-op blood work done last week and should get a call this week from the operating room nurse to go over instructions, arrival time, etc. I had to take Tylenol last night after a day of crying and surprisingly it helped my headache...that's small blessing since normally I am an Advil girl :) also, I won't lie..I had a milkshake, popcorn, and buttered bread for dinner for dinner last night...apparently carbs and grief go hand in hand in my world! Happy healing to all you guys who are in recovery! Thinking of those who are headed under today and through the next week.. xxoo Updated on 18 Aug 2015: I've been home about 4 hours. Pain meds keeping me comfy but not knocking me out so I'm good with that . The surgery was done at the surgical suite in Dr. Sargent's office and took about 4 hours. The staff was fantastic. Had a CRNA, circulating RN, and a resident in training whom I was assured would only act as first assist. Those are the folks I met anyway. All very professional and had great personalities. Boobs are just tight. Pain is not really pain. The stomach....PREPARE. I have high pain tolerance. Got Exparel and was told it would kick in over next 24 hours. We have all read that you have no clue how many ab muscles you use when doing normal stuff. It is, unfortunately, true. I have peed twice on my own and had my drain emptied once with 35 cc out. I'm attaching a clothed picture where I an completely lax...after the procedure the surgical tech told me she wanted my belly....made me feel good but she might say that to all the girls...either way I cant wait to show you my immediate post op results from my appointment Friday. Which seems forever away. One thing I didn't anticipate is in recovery I must have rubbed my eye bc it hurts like I have something in it. That hurts worse than boobs. Lol Updated on 19 Aug 2015: well the pain was pretty awful most of the day. I didn't get a phone call from the office so I called them. The nurse told me to take Benadryl in addition to the Percocet. That seemed to help me to be able to get a nap. I didn't sleep well at all last night and I feel like I need some restorative rest to help the healing process. I am very thankful for the sleep mask I bought. I have to have it completely dark where I sleep and I'm in the family room for a few more nights. As long as I have a drain I don't want to sleep with anyone else (or any fur baby)... With an open floor plan that means I see the microwave light and the home alarm light and I hate any kind of light so yeah for the mask! The drains are so annoying. I have 2 exits to the left and right on my mons pubis (not my vagina, people..it's not your vagina..trust me). The drain tends to angle toward each thigh and so I have to make allowances for my panties and pants to be all the down before I try to ease onto the toliet. You've read it all along on here and they ain't lying. The drains pinch..right now my exit sites are oozing just a wee bit and I used my mad nursing skills to make a little dressing to help absorb it. My implants make a funny squeaking noise when I move a certain way. I played a squeakie toy sound for my hubby and told him they'd sound like that when they were healed! lol. It cracks me up when they make that noise. My breasts have hardly bothered me..I did ice them a few times today even though they didn't ache but it felt good to put the ice on them..if that makes sense. Oh and get this...I hadn't even considered I'd need a scar leading up to my new BB...he explained this to me in pre-op but luckily I wound up with only one horizontal incision and it is super low! I wear a tiny bikini bottom here at home in private when I lay on the deck and read and he used that as his guide. If that scar stays there and doesn't move up over time with healing/swelling that man is awesome... Still not sure I'd wear that bikini in public though. I think the Exparel has kicked in as my tummy isn't as sore. Hoping that continues as the days pass. I took a quick tube side wash today and that felt so much better. I would like to formally admit that I make a great nurse but I am a horrible patient. I am such a control freak and apparently no one can do it my way..which, of course, is the right way. I need to work on that. My sweet mom brought us dinner and I have a few girlfriends who want to bring us food the next 3 nights so that is helping a TON. I have managed to get up and make laps around the house and I helped throw things away after dinner...I feel like I'm not walking as hunched as I assumed I would. I did confirm on my call to the PS office - NO PEAKING...so I'm not. Everything remains clean except for small spots of old blood on the bra and on the binder. Hoping tomorrow is a better day and pain free...happy healing to those out there in various stages! Updated on 20 Aug 2015: So thankful for the Exparel. It is doing its job and I’m feeling pretty good today. I was able to do a full pain med at 6 am and then do half at noon and around 4…I did take a full one though before bed. I’m not afraid to use these pain meds and I encourage you all out there to not be worried about using them. There is no need to suffer if you don’t have to! My hubby went back to work today so it was just me and my daughter (17 and homeschooled). She did some studies and waited on me when I needed her. We took the time to watch a movie…it was funny and laughing wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be. I just needed something cheery. The biggest aggravation is the @#$! Drain pinching when I try to get up and sit down. We have automatic recliners but the seats are large and wide and I have to scoot to the end and then scoot to the back to get positioned. VERY frustrating..I’m about 5 foot 4 and my legs are so so short! It is an ordeal to get up but once I’m up I feel ok. The left drain exit continues to ooze a little. My output is minimal but I know they will be staying for a while. I will do a happy dance when they are out..a hunched happy dance but happy it will be. Tomorrow is my post op apt and I have a list of questions to ask. I’m getting up twice to empty my drain and I’m hoping I can get a pass on that overnight. We go to bed early here and so I’d like to go longer w/o having to get up….the drain holds 400 CC and I haven’t put out that much total since Tuesday… My daughter took photos for your viewing pleasure. I can’t believe how clean I am. He drew all over me prior to surgery and you can only see a faint line from my sternal notch down my sternum but it’s super light. They must have scrubbed me up before stuffing me into this getup. I feel like a stuffed sausage wearing a too tight sports bra. I feel like I have a body shape and hope this will not look like this when it’s all said and done. My top looks huge, my waist small, and my legs are small. So, hopefully once my breasts drop and fluff I’ll look proportionate. Thanks, everyone, for checking in…and for those ahead of me keep posting…your success gives me hope and something to look forward to! Updated on 21 Aug 2015: Had my post op apt today and was told everything was looking good. He did do a muscle repair and said it was quite wide...which is shocking since I've never had a pregnancy before. He did not remove any tissue from my right breast just used the larger implant to even things out. I got 425 on my right breast and 450 cc on my left- Mentor smooth moderate plus profile. The MA adjusted my bra for me - which felt much better and the doctor was pleased with the way they look. Now I just keep the incisions covered with an abd pad and that's it. As far as my tummy goes he cleaned out the packing in my belly button and cleaned it and cleaned it and then cleaned it some more. I could feel it so I am guessing that means the belly button is alive. Happy days.. My binder is riding too low so he wanted to make sure I pulled it higher up and I am using my tube top now under neath it to keep it from itching/pinching. I'm posting some photos and you can see a faint horizontal line of redness that is from the garment...I will eventually move into the next phase of compression after my drains are out. So, I'm to call back first thing Monday morning and if my drain output is low I can go in and have them removed. Fingers crossed for that! I was able to go to my hair stylist and have a shampoo and trim. It felt good to have my hair washed but I was gone from home about 4 hours including the post op visit and now I'm pooped! Good news is I do not have to get up to empty the drains in the middle of the night. My stomach is not 100% perfect but looks so much better and that is what I have told myself all along I wanted. Just a better looking me..perfection is a hard goal to attain. Updated on 22 Aug 2015: Y'all, last night was miserable. I've been taking Colace since surgery but could not use my abs for neither love or money..to top that off I tried to sleep in the bed and that was even worse. We have a memory foam mattress and it does NOT give. Moving up in bed is not easy...I'll be back on the couch tonight..which is fine b/c I sleep just fine in here. So, this morning I got some Milk of Magnesia and it worked! I read later that one PS recommends Colace daily post op and then MOM starting on day 2 post op. My surgeon had recommend Metamucil and I started adding psyllium husk to my smoothies about 2 months ago to see what effect it would have. Apparently all that prep work doesn’t do squat when you are on meds and you have had anesthesia. So, at least now I have a game plan when it comes to that. Pain wise I’ve done well this morning. My incision burns sometimes and I’d like to formally apologize to my drains as I’ve been blaming them for my pain but holy bruises, bat man! I have a major bruise just above my left side incision and that is where I’ve had the most pain…my incision is so low I blamed the drain but it might actually be the incision/bruise. I’ve posted pics for you to see. I have mainly taking Tylenol today and I did take a muscle relaxer before my bath time to make sure I could stay relaxed. OH! I sneezed today! Sneezing is worse than coughing and laughing…it was like a sneeze echo because the abs kept hurting and hurting and hurting after the fact… Drain output was about 30 cc over 12 hours…I have be 30 cc in 24 hours. Hoping for this to magically change overnight but I’m not hopeful. Maybe Tuesday will be my lucky day if something doesn’t happen overnight. I am returning to work Monday. I work from home so I’m able to sit and take it easy and work at my own pace. My boss is super supportive and as long as I work more than 4 hours I don’t have to take any hours of vacation..surely I can manage that..even if it’s 2 hours in the am and 2 hours in the afternoon. I’m sitting her typing and my husband is across the room. Today is the first day I’ve had on a tshirt instead of a button up top that was too large on purpose. He just said, “You look busty!” lol..gotta love the men and their encouragement. I cooked some strip steak tonight on the grille. Had my daughter open and close the lid but I was able to turn the steak… I’m very surprised at how little pain I have in my breasts. I ice them on and off through the day but they haven’t given me any issues. I assume they are numb still but they have been surprisingly pain free and I have pretty good movement in my arms. I’m not reaching over head or pulling/pushing but it’s not near what I imagined it would be. I have a lot of midline swelling but it’s not painful. I do have a question..does anyone have a binder that does not cover their incision? If you noticed from post op day 1 my binder showed how swollen my upper abs were..my PS wanted me to wear it higher so that’s what I’m doing but that means there isn’t much compression on my incision. I have a tube top under my garment and it covers my incision. I padded it with extra gauze to be safe but I was just curious if anyone else’s garment was like this. Also curious at what point do I move into a compression garment? My PS mentioned it but didn’t specify a time..is that after the drains are removed? What has been your experience? For those of you with incisions like mine did the PS put tape over your breasts/tummy after the fact? Right now I am suture only with tons and tons of glue..I didn’t know if something else would be added later of if you guys started out with the tape right after surgery. Here is to a better tomorrow! Happy healing, ladies! Thanks for your support and well wishes! Updated on 24 Aug 2015: Well, I returned to work today. I didn't post yesterday because it was apparent the Exparel was wearing off and I was very tight and just not feeling like doing much. Today the abdomen pain was better but I returned to work and by the end of the day I could feel my lower abdomen was very swollen along my incision. I don’t think that's a good thing...my binder is to be adjusted under my breasts and it leaves the lower incision exposed so I quit working about 15 mins early and came and sat down with my feet up. I have to have a different plan for tomorrow and am thinking of a way to move my equipment in to my den so I can work from the couch. I’m wondering if working reclined will be something I need to do for more than just this week. Sitting with my legs down caused my incision to burn like fire. I decided to and prop my feet up on another chair but I really need knee support…so I ordered a long Ethernet cable off amazon (thanks Prime shipping). Tomorrow I plan to work a couple hours, take an hour break…then work another couple hours, take an hour break and see if that helps. Breasts are still swollen but causing me zero issues. I was home most of the day by myself and managed to get a few things out of cabinets and the fridge but it sure was nice when the family came home. It’s amazing how there is just hardly any pain or discomfort with them. My drain isn’t coming out any time soon. Still have 50 or more cc out the last 24 hours. I wonder if the sitting not as reclined today caused more drainage than normal because I had more swelling. Tomorrow my daughter starts dual enrollment classes through our local community college..wish her luck with me! Thanks for checking in. Posting pictures after my tub side bath today. Did a close up of my belly button. When I posted the first straight on shot I noticed a weird vertical crease and started freaking out. It is very shallow..not as deep as it appeared to me at first (thank goodness) and I’m pretty sure it’s occurring b/c of the swelling and the pressure from the binder. Now, I did not have lipo suction and so that crease might remain even after the swelling is gone but I have my fingers crossed it won’t remain..or if it does some lipo might fix it…not worrying about anything until after I’m 6 months post op! Updated on 26 Aug 2015: 3rd day working. I ordered a 50 foot long Ethernet cable and can now sit on my couch in my recliner and work to my heart’s content and be comfortable! My incision has not felt like it was going to explode since Monday night! Thank the Lord! My drainage is finally slowing down and I’ve got fingers and toes crossed that tomorrow is my day to get these drains pulled. Just checked the calendar and my time of the month is next Monday so I’d really like to have these drains out before I have to deal with that. Have slept in my own bed with about 50 pillows the last 2 nights. It cracks my husband up. He has enough room for himself and his one pillow and then there is me all propped up. Wondering when I can start trying to side sleep again. That is definitely on my question list. My breasts remains swollen and puffy. I’m up about 7 pounds. I couldn’t resist weighing. I know that I’m swollen and comfort eating but hoping when these drains come out things will change. I accidentally overdosed on Milk of Magnesia…oops…but, hey, there are worse things to take too much of. I haven’t had any in 2 nights…but things are just fine in the going department so I am thankful for that. Been off pain meds (except at night) for the last 2 days. I am taking a muscle relaxer mid-day but that’s because the cable just came today and I’d been doing half day of work sitting at my desk..it makes my abs really tight. I’m hoping that I won’t need those after today since this nice, long cable came. I might even use it this winter and work sitting in front of the fire..why not ? I can’t believe how much of a non-issue my breasts have been..they are feeling great. I don’t even feel like I’ve had anything done there..other than the swelling, the incisions, and the fact that I have to wear a bra 24/7..that’s the only thing making me realize that they are different but as far as pain I’ve had none. Posting pictures after my bath tonight…really looking forward to a nice shower (again, hoping tomorrow). I ordered 2 garments from Leonisa and I can’t wait to try them. The gussets are all hook and eye so I won’t have to peel them off in order to use the ladies. I also placed an order for a separate surgical binder because I feel like this might be my go to when I run or go to the gym. Updated on 27 Aug 2015: DRAINS OUT! Thank you, merciful Lord! Never in my life have I longed for something so much! I took a shower and washed my hair and patted dry and PUT ON LOTION...Man, I feel like a woman! lol! The drain pull was painless but burned burned burned. The MA showed me the openings along the tubing and how my tissue connects to those openings and thus the burning sensation. I hate seeing those holes. I covered them with polysporin and a little bandaid. I want to keep them this way overnight at least. I was able to take off my binder and put on a garmet today but I am not sure it's secure enough - could be size..who knows. As soon as the binder is dry I am going to put it back on. My next apt with the doctor is Monday and I'll be 13 days post op. I still feel cubby but that's ok. I didn't have lipo and I had a lot of extra chub..not just skin. I sat on the potty today w/o my binder and I did not have tummy in my lap so I consider that a victory..especially since I'm still very swollen. Thanks for checking on me and happy healing, ladies! xxoo Updated on 28 Aug 2015: My what a difference a week makes! I have managed to successfully work from my couch the last few days and it has been very comfortable. My incision has felt bad at all. I occasionally get some weird burning sensation that I blamed the drains on at first but then noticed that horrible bruising on my left side so it must have something to do with the bruise. Although it is fading. It's almost like a pulled a groin muscle. If that makes sense. Anyway, I washed my binder and let it air dry and wore my Leonisa garmet to sleep. I had a cheap pair of high waisted compression panties that I wore over it and woke up feeling pretty good. Tried side sleeping - no dice. But, I'm managing just fine on my back. I bough a boomerang pillow from walmart.com and I use that across my body to kind of hug during the night. Never done that before but it helps. I also got an inexpensive wedge pillow from walmart and have used that the most. I used it under my legs just after surgery to keep my knees elevated and now I'm using it to keep my chest elevated while I sleep. I've managed to now only use the wedge, one bed pillow, and my boomerang pillow to sleep. Pretty good considering I think I had about 5 others in the bed with me 2 nights ago! I actually am doing ok sleeping without my knees elevated, however, I work with a couple of pillow under my knees, my monitor is on a tv table beside the couch, and the wireless keyboard is in my lap :) Had my 2nd shower today and yesterday I didn't even need the shower chair. Managed to stand the whole time and wash my own hair. I'm kind of thinking I'm doing something wrong. I am standing almost straight...not 100%...I have very little pain...I hope I'm just a good healer and that the supplements I've been taking have helped how I feel. I have gotten a little sleepy about 3 pm this week but I just sign off around 4:00 (only 30 mins early) and then take a little nap. I haven't done this the last 2 nights so maybe I'm on the up swing. I took some photos that I'm attaching. I think the result is good. I only have 0.2 lbs to lose before I am back to the weight I was the morning of surgery. So, essentially I'm there. The funny thing is I'm still quite swollen so I assume my actual fat/muscle weight is much lower..so yeah! Again, I did not have lipo but I am happy with the way my tummy looks. That weird belly button crease isn't really a crease at all..something is there that is coming off when I'm in the shower. not sure if it's dead skin, marker, what..but anyway...you can tell it's just from swelling. Looking forward to a nice weekend. Unfortunately we had a good family friend pass away yesterday very suddenly. The visitation is this weekend and the funeral is on Sunday. I'm going to try to do both. I'm also going to try the grocery store. Fingers crossed! Updated on 31 Aug 2015: Happy Monday, ladies! I will be 14 days post op tomorrow. Went to see the surgeon today. Sutures were removed from my belly button. He didn't mention any kind of training but his MA did so I'm going to try some marble therapy and see how that helps. I asked him about the midline crease and the tissue there looking pink. He said the crease is from my left and right sides being smashed together from the compression garment because of the swelling. It is apparently staying hot and sweating and I have some skin maceration. He recommended keeping some gauze there to keep it dry. So, I'll be changing that a few times per day. I tried to get a close up of my belly button so you can see that crease isn't actually a crease (thank God!!) but now I need to do some research and see how to best take care of this situation. I could go w/o a garment but I think that is a bad bad idea. He also recommended moving in to a spanx type garment. I went online shopping on the leonisa site last week and bought a couple different options. One I wore when I went out this past weekend (it was a high waisted post-partum panty) and the other I put on today when I got home. Oddly enough it isn't terribly uncomfortable. Perhaps it's too big? I'm attaching photos of it. It has a hook and eye gusset which I like a lot and has straps that I could wear over my shoulders but I don’t want. You will notice the rear is quite see through and that is because there is no support/compression of the rear area..Which I don’t need. Maybe that is why it’s more comfortable because everything I have ever worn has squeezed my waist, tummy, and booty… I am not thin by any means and these pictures prove it. However, the result is much better than the before shots. I am pleased with the way my tummy looks compared to before. I’d love to be super flat but without lipo and some more weight loss on my own that won’t happen. I am really liking the way my boobs are turning out. They look good so far and I’m still very swollen. So, over all, I'm pleased. The breast incisions ache a little from time to time but other than that they feel good. He told me I could move into a sports bra if I wanted but honestly this surgical bra is comfy and I have 2 so I will just stick with it for a while. They aren't expensive and one is already popping some elastic pieces so I'll wear it til it’s shot. I have lots of options I purchased pre-op that hook or zip in the front anyway. I do not plan to go bra shopping for several more months. Tummy pain wise I'm good. That pesky left side gives me trouble from time to time but I just take Tylenol and I'm fine. I told him whoever retracted that side had their way with me. The resident that assisted him during surgery was there today and I asked, “Was that you that man handled me?” He got a laugh out of that..I can start taking Ibuprofen tomorrow if I want and I might if the incision starts giving me any more issues. Honestly it’s hard to tell if it is the incision or just the tissue around it. It was pretty bruised on that side post op and it feels like a runner’s side stitch but very deep and a lot more painful. I am walking pretty straight but as time goes on the longer I'm on my feet the more hunched I get. I tried grocery shopping and the funeral visitation on Saturday and that wore me out. By the end of the shopping trip I had to let my husband do the check out and I just went to the car. I'm a regular there and one of the nice ladies asked me if I was ok and if I needed some help. I think I over did it but I did not leave the house on Sunday and that helped me recovery. I’m taking pain meds at night to help the incision pain I get from time to time but probably don’t need it. Still taking the Colace just in case and Milk of Magnesia every 3 days or so. I have no pain when I laugh and just little pain when I cough. Sneezing, on the other hand, is ouch city! I drove to the apt today and have a big extended length Yukon. I was able to get out of the garage and drive to my husband’s office. He drove to the doctor’s office and they do complimentary valet so parking was a non-issue. I then drove home from my husband’s office and put the car in the garage without problems. All in all I feel pretty good. I am not following my low carb diet like I should. I haven’t really felt like meal planning but plan to get back on that pronto since I can’t even go for a walk until I’m four weeks post op! Good grief! Other than that things are good. Just need time to pass so I can continue to hurry up and heal. I ordered a pair of pants before surgery and they came and don’t fit. I can’t get them buttoned. I am hoping that is because of the swelling because they fit great everywhere else. If the swelling goes away and I still can’t get in them I guess those are my new goal pants :) Happy healing, everyone! Updated on 8 Sep 2015: so 3 weeks ago I was in a totally different state of mind at this time! I am super pleased with my boobs. Luckily my belly button is healing nicely and the shape is coming out. The creases aren't there but there is a little bit of maceration still in the lower part. Will just take some time. And that's all we have, right..time :) Trying not to let the fact that my tummy scar is not symmetric bother me. I have to continueally look at my before pictures and remind myself that I was not at a goal weight and that I did not have lipo when I am unsure about how happy I am about the tummy tuck. I have not been able to go to the grocery store and shop the whole time and make it through check out yet. My husband goes with me..I do the shopping and he does the check out while I hobble to the car. Now, I have not tried to just go to the store only..it's always tacked on to a trip of going to eat or like Sunday going to church, then to eat, then to the store. Speaking of Sunday..I helped lead worship Sunday at church..do you know how many ab mucsles are used when you sing? I couldn't believe it. I was super sore after we were done and we did a short worship set this week. On the medication front I am not taking any pain medication. Only take some Advil from time to time. So, now it's just hurry up and wait...not freaking out about anything for a while and trying to get my carbs cut down in my diet. I allowed myself a few weeks of comfort..about 2 pounds above my surgery day weight.. Updated on 8 Sep 2015: Updated on 22 Sep 2015: I had my 5 week check up yesterday. Everything looks good. I have a spot at the junction under my left breast that is slower to heal but was told to just apply peroxide and it'd clear up. I return again at 8 weeks. The area of maceration at my belly button is gone! I am keeping a marble or a soft ear plug inserted in my BB through the day and wearing a Leonisa 'high waist slimming cincher' during the day. At night I wear the Leonisa"invisible strapless classic shaper." Both work well and are comfortable. I did get the high waisted post partum panty but can't recommend it b/c it is just not comfortable and the hook and eye gusset is hard to deal with, especially at night. The hook and eye gusset in the invisible shaper is much easier to deal with b/c there is more stretch. I have learned, for anyone interested, that the Curad brand of bandages and tape that you find in the store are actually made by Medline and Medline is the company that supplies all of our hospitals with their bandages, tape, and gauze. So..if you want hospital grade supplies for your recovery go with Curad. I am a nurse and we had an inservice about this recently so that's how I found out about it. I bought a bunch of their stuff and gave my other things to my mom for her first aid kit and I can tell a difference in the quality. I'm sleeping on my side ok. Like EVERYONE I swell at night and go flat by morning. The swelling at my sternum is just about gone and my breasts are looking good. they are softer and not as high and both look pretty even to me. I'm about a pound away from my surgery day weight but that's still a little higher than I want to be. I plan to just keep trying to eat lower carb/lower sugar and hopefully once I can get properly moving again I'll be able to get back down closer to the 130s like I was before. On the up side I still weigh less that I did this time last year. So, that's a positive. I still have 'pulling' when I sneeze, cough, or try to have a BM. Sneezing is the most painful but it's not excruciating. I actually haven't had any trouble with pain in a long time. I just take Advil when I need it and an occasional muscle relaxer at night but that was normal for me b/c I do have some back pain when I'm not in surgery recovery. I blame that on working at a computer all day. Lots of neck and shoulder pain from time to time but, again, normal for me. About a week ago I had a massage but only stayed side lying. It was very relaxing and helped the tightness in my back, neck, and shoulders. I still don't feel I"m standing perfectly erect but that is normal. Haven't been fitted for a bra but my old 38Cs fit so I assume I'm a 36D. I do have to put the hook in the tightest hook but I"m not shopping for bras anytime soon. I only go out of the house a couple times a week so I picked up some cheap underwire bras from walmart plus the ones I had are plenty to get me through until I get fitted and I plan to wait several months. I have, on the other hand, bought 2 bras for running. One was recommended by a PS on this site called a Z bra. It isn't pretty and it wasn't cheap but it's very well fitting. The other I found using instagram and I think will be good for anyone with a large bust who wants their girls to stay put. It is not that pretty but does come in fun colors and is very soft but your girls do NOT MOVE. It is called Enell Maximum control sports bra. I ordered mine from Amazon because the price was the same as the Enell site BUT Amazon prime and the free shipping were the better deal b/c Enell wanted around $10 for shipping. so, there are a couple for you guys to check out if you plan to do high impact exercise. I will say I'm not 100% happy with my results just because I have seen heavier ladies have a flatter result. But, I keep telling myself that I did not have lipo and I am still a few pounds away from my lowest goal weight, and I am only 5 weeks out, AND I am giving myself an entire 12 months before I complain. so I tell myself that. A LOT :) and then I review my before pictures and remind myself that it is much much improved...so quit belly aching and get on with life :) I did wear a form fitting top out the other day which was crazy b/c I never, ever have done that. It looked good AND I didn't have on a garment. oh. My PS says to keep in the garment til i'm 6 to 8 weeks. I take evening showers around 5 or 6 and after that shower until bed time I do give myself a break from the garment and he said that was fine.. I am able to work now without propping my feet up but I still do from time to time. just not all day long as I did immediately post op. Last week I went for a couple of walks. I felt ok afterwards but my PS told me to keep the walking to more of a stroll so I just took it easy. Plan to try to do that a few times a week so I dont feel like a total loser. My husband has a business trip coming up just after I hit the 6 week mark so I'm going with him to enjoy the spa that is on property while he is in meetings. Looking forward to that but curious how an 8 hour car ride is going to go with me in a garment :) Plan to drink lots of water and just enjoy the trip and not worry about the swelling... Posting some photos I took this morning and the one of the more fitted top