So happy!!!!! - Surrey, BC

it has been almost 4 months since my surgery and life is back to normal, meaning i can do everything. I love my new body! i love looking in the mirror, i can wear lingerie now and look great! whoo hoo! i totally recommend this procedure! best decision i ever made!!!!! sorry for the delay but here are some before and after pictures.

First week is tough but week two -life starts to get back to normal. I have most of my full range of motion but my hips are still tender from the lipo. I am 12 days post op (operative) and some of my belly button stitches fell off in the shower this morning. Looking forward to week three to get my tapes removed. I prettied myself a little tonight, even though I was staying home and loved dressing my new body! I felt like I reached the stange where the caterpillar realizes it is no longer a caterpillar, but yet a butterfly. To look down on my belly, I no longer see a roll or a blob. I see a nice flat tummy :).

as well Dr. Ward removed 450cc of fat from my hips which is roughly one pound per hip. yay! I love my results and can't wait to see what it looks like with all my swelling gone!!! It is such an amazing feeling to look down and not see my over hanging skin on my lower abdomen, or my double rolled tummy if you include what my upper abdomen looked like when in a sitting position. day one was most hard for getting around, day two and 3 were most tough for getting around and dealing with the pressure of the swelling peak. Day 4 i noticed a difference in feeling better and getting around better. days 5-7 each of these days it got easier to move around. I am now on day 9 and am almost standing completely upright, can drive, take only advil and tylenol when needed. I can get around so much better but do tire easily and I make sure I don't over do it so I rest when needed. I have an office job and I do believe that 3 weeks is needed especially if you have your self and kids to get ready and off in the mornings. I have a week and a half before I get back to work. I am very blessed to have a husband that has been so helpful through out my recovery. He helped sponged bath me be fore my post op and washed my hair so I felt more refreshed. He totally took care of everything including the kids so I could focus on my recovery. He helped me with my first shower too as it's tough to reach your legs and back. Having a caregiver is very important for the first two full days and nights!
I had chewable gravol which saved me as it worked right away when I felt my getting sick in my throat. Very helpful and would highly recommend this type of gravol. I have had ones before that didn't taste good so this time I had some orange flavor which was much better.
Another tip, laughing, sneezing, coughing and blowing your nose are tough on your muscle repair! take your vitamin c even after surgery to keep colds away and stay away from anything funny for the first week :) lol
having a more solid smaller throw pillow for holding to your tummy when you need to cough is helpful or use your hands to push against your tummy.
gingerale can help with a sensitive tummy, although you should flatten it by transfering it from one cup to another to get rid of the bubbles as anything that can cause gas is very uncomfortable within the first few days post surgery.
I felt my lipo areas (hips) were very tender and actually more sore than my tummy tuck. I think that's all I can contribute for now. Very happy to be on the flat side and I highly recommend this procedure to anyone to is considering it. It is a tough recovery for the first week and a longer recovery than most surgeries as it is a big surgery but the reward is so worth it!