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So I've always wanted a tummy tuck but wanted to make sure I was at an acceptable weight and had the funds to get it done. I had a number of consultations both at doctor offices and virtual consults but I finally decided to go with Dr. Nemeth at Plastic Surgery of Westchester for these reasons..........her lovely bedside manner, her credentials and the reasonable cost. Additionally, I know a couple of people who had procedures done by her. I have already ordered my raised toilet seat, shower chair, yoga pants, t-shirts, an additional abdominal binder, scar therapy products which I'll share later and some pre and post op vitamins to help me heal better and faster. I also bought some arnica pills and other supplements to reduce swelling and bruising. I'll post info on those in my upcoming posts as well. I am excited but nervous because I don't look forward to the pain and discomfort. However I'm tired of this gut and the rolls and I'm ready to be sexy again. Updated on 3 Apr 2016: So in my last post I mentioned that I bought some pre and post op vitamins as well as some additional stuff to reduce swelling and bruising. I also mentioned that I bought some stuff for scar therapy so I heal nicely. I have attached some pictures so you can see! I hope it wil work for me and help someone else out there. My pre-op appointment is on Tuesaday so I'll let you know how it goes! Updated on 24 Apr 2016: I can't believe that I'm actually so close to having my surgery! I'm super excited but scared at the same time. I've been taking my preop vitamins and will start my Bromelain and Arnica this week as well. I am also going to start colace about two days before my surgery so I won't have too much difficulty using the bathroom. The next post you see from me will be when I'm on the flat side! Good luck to all those having surgery this week! Updated on 29 Apr 2016: My surgery was done today and my entire experience was amazing. I would say my pain level is about a five right now......it does go up when I move. It's exhausting when I get up to use the bathroom but I did it. I'm very hunched over but I know that will get better over time. I can tell my tummy is flatter but I haven't seen it yet. I'll be sure to post pictures soon! Updated on 30 Apr 2016: Although I'm very tender in the areas where I had lipo........I'm staying on top of my meds and feeling good. My throat has been scratchy from the tubes they stuck down it but I've been drinking lots of tea and water. I want to cough so bad but I just can't. I just had to change my belly button dressing because it was going through my garment. After doing so I moved the garment to the second hook because it felt loose on the first. Yay! Although I'm still swollen I am pleased with my results I see so far. Updated on 30 Apr 2016: Today has been a good day. I sat at the table and had a small breakfast.......got up to the bathroom with assistance a couple times and got my first lymphatic massage. I've been draining less than 25cc out of each drain which is great. My PS called to see how I was feeling and said she removed 2000cc during liposuction and removed a lot of tissue during the tummy tuck. So far I have no regrets. Updated on 1 May 2016: So today has been a good day. I got washed up, changed my clothes, got my second massage and sat up for quite a while with my family to have breakfast. I have been having a rough time when its time to cough and even with the pillow it's crazy painful! I try to use my incentive spirometer regularly to help expand my lungs though. I'm now down to one Percocet which is great and I'm taking my vitamins and antibiotics. I haven't had a bowel movement yet but I'm passing a lot of gas. I'm hoping when I do have one the colace will make a difference. Today I'm on the third clip of my compression garment so I know I'm getting there!! It's getting better day by day. I'm just so thankful that I have help here because its not easy to do anything by yourself. Updated on 2 May 2016: So I've had a really great recovery so far. I can now make it to the bathroom on my own and although coughing is still a pain it's getting easier. I've been draining very little from my drains and so I'm thinking I can get it out during my first post-op appointment. I have also been urinating a lot so I'm getting the fluids out. No BM yet......just passing lots of gas still. I apply my bio oil and palmers oil every time I use the bathroom. I've continued to put Neosporin on my belly button and kept it covered. I plan on picking up some Motrin today so I can be off the Percocet. When I initially stand to walk to the bathroom I'm hunched over but by the time I'm going back to bed I'm pretty upright. Although I still have swelling I can definitely see the difference! Updated on 3 May 2016: So today was a good day with some bumps along the ways. The good new is I had multiple bowel movements with no forcing! I as so excited about that. On the down side I had a low grade fever of 100.1 but I attribute that to staying in bed too much today and being scared to cough out the phlegm in my lungs. I called my ps and she told me to get out of bed, take some Tylenol and check my vitals. All was good. I asked her if I could change all the dressings since I'm seeing her tomorrow and she agreed. So I got out of bed, got a second massage from my angel aunt, used my incentive spirometer, drank some tea and got in some good coughs. After all the dressings were changed I felt great!! I have figured out how to cough while splinting with minimal pain. I lean over the bed while holding my abdomen with one hand.....and leaning on the pillow which stays between the bed and my abdomen while I lean forward and cough! It sounds complicated but it works! I'm walking upright and no longer hunched over which is great so I'm pleased with my progress. I've attached a pic of my incision.....it looks great. Obviously I'm still very swollen but I know it will look great! Updated on 4 May 2016: It was a long day. I probably did too much and now I'm exhausted. I had my f/u with my ps today and got one of the drains removed along with the stitches on my back from lipo. Drain removal wasn't too bad........just a quick burn. After the hour long drive to my ps and then back home again we stopped at Walmart and that wiped me out. It's amazing how quickly you get tired. It's a lot but I think the final results will be worth it! I'm still struggling with the frequent need to cough and I'm still stuffy but I'm hanging in there. Updated on 5 May 2016: I had a pretty good day today. I took my first full shower and felt great after! I also went to Sam's Club and to the mall causing me to spend 5 hours on my feet! That was a major mistake.....lol. (No I didn't drive). By the time I got home my back was throbbing. However I opted to just take Tylenol. I mentioned previously that I had one drain removed.......well today I had some major leakage coming from the site although I had a dressing in place.........It was so much that it went through the dressing and through my pants! I think that was because I switched to another faja that is much tighter and The fluids needed somewhere to go. As I always say coughing is the worst!!! It burns and hurts so badly even while splinting. Of course I have a cold so im always coughing. I really hope I didn't mess up my muscle repair ????. Anyway overall I'm doing really well.......the most pain I experience is from the lipo in my back! I'm still very swollen but I slowly getting there. My ps says give three months to really see results Updated on 9 May 2016: Hello! I know it's been a couple days since I posted any updates but I haven't really gotten any feedback on here and so I started to feel that it was probably a waste of time. Anyway I decided to continue because just maybe my experience might help someone else. Anyway, I've been doing really well and my swelling is getting a lot better. I'm still very tight and sometimes I feel myself a little hunched over........it's so funny. I started using the silicone tape on my scar and it's getting better everyday. I'm completely off my pain medications now and all I take is my post-op vitamins twice a day. I took two additional days from work because I didn't want to return to work with a drain. I have an appt with my ps tomorrow and I'll have the last drain removed then. With my tummy tuck I didn't get a new belly button ...............instead I got to keep my own belly button with a new hole in the skin for it. So once my stitches dissolves and the swelling goes down in my button I think it will look great. One thing I will say is make sure to get enough rest because you'll pay for it later..........Your back will kill you! Anyway I've attached a pic so you can see how I'm healing. Updated on 17 May 2016: Hello! Just a quick update on how I'm feeling. I still have a lot of swelling which I was told I'd quite normal by my ps......she said give it three months before I see optimal results.....now that I'm getting back sensation in my lower abdomen I do occasional have some tenderness at the incision site. I've been back to work and it's been ok but by the end of the day I normally have to take some motrin. My belly button is healing nicely......I'm still using Neosporin and keeping it covered. I've also been using the silicone tape on my scar and I'm hoping it will help with the healing process. I've had days when I've questioned my decision to do this because I can't see the instant results I want.......but then I look at my before pics and what I am now even when I'm not 100% healed and then it all goes away! This is truly a process that requires patience! I've included some pics to show my progress. Updated on 21 May 2016: I'm doing well so far and starting to see the transformation. It's definitely been a roller of emotions but I'm starting to see it just requires time. I've seen pics of people with almost immediate results after a tt and I wanted the same for myself. I questioned my choice of surgeon at times and wondered if she did something wrong. Unfortunately everybody's build and recovery is different.........just be sure to watch what you eat and give it the time required to see results. I curves on my right side have come in nicely but there is still some swelling on the left.......at first I was nervous but I know it will bet better with time. The pouch above my scar is still there but it seems to be getting better. Here are some pics of my progress........ Updated on 25 May 2016: Hi ladies! I just wanted to give a quick update about how I'm feeling. So far I'm really happy with the way I'm coming along. My curves are continuing to come along and I'm so happy to get dressed! Everything looks better without a fat belly. I've been eating healthy and I've lost 10 pounds since the surgery! I can't wait till I am able to excercise. I'm currently using mederma at night and selevax during the day for my scar therapy. I never go without my silicone tape and I keep compression on at all times. Please feel free to ask any questions! Updated on 27 May 2016: Hi ladies! Today officially makes a month since my surgery.....I can't believe that 4 weeks ago I was in bed hunched over and in pain! Today I'm still amazed at the transformation that is happening. I used to buy a size 10 pants to cover my roles and today I bought a size 6!!! Omg it's amazing and I'm so happy I made the decision to do this. If I'm this pleased now I'm anxious to see how I'll feel in two more months. I still have numbness below my belly button but i do feel some sensation coming back. I also still have some soreness in my back and sides from the lipo but that's normal and will get better with time. Also I do have some tenderness on at my incision site when I massage the scar cream but that's all part of the healing process. If you're thinking of doing it find a great surgeon and do it! You'll be glad you did! Updated on 1 Jun 2016: Hi ladies! Just a quick update on how I'm feeling. So far I'm doing really well. Going back to normal slowly but surely. My curves are coming in like crazy! I can't believe the transformation and I'm so pleased with my results so far. I'm still eating healthy and I've completed my post op pill regimen. I plan on taking a daily multivitamin just to keep my body healing well. The swelling is still there but getting better everyday. I have to wear my compression garment till July 12th when I see my doctor again but I'll still have half the summer to enjoy my new body! I plan on hitting the gym as soon as I can to keep everything good and tight! Updated on 7 Jun 2016: Hello ladies! Just a quick update to let you know how I'm feeling. So far I continue to heal very well. The mederma and silicone tape are working wonders and my scar is healing nicely. What I've been doing is applying the mederma to the scar.....let it air dry......put on the silicone tape......then cover it with paper tape to ensure it gets more compression and that it doesn't move. So far that has worked great and the paper tape makes it easier to reuse the silicone tape. The swelling is still there but definitely getting better. My belly button is healing nicely and I have no regrets here. The pics I've included are with my dressings in place but I promise to take pics showing the scars in my next post!