Extended Abdominoplasty with Lipo: Thrilled with Results!

Oddly, when I was younger, I thought that people who had plastic surgery were crazy and insecure. What a few years bring, no? I am 5'3" and average ~150 lbs. Five years ago I was 200 lbs, and in the Philippines for a wedding with lost luggage. I was forced to go shopping for clothes in a land where nothing fit me. It was a rude awakening...shopping in the men's store for pants that would button! Needless to say, a (much needed) divorce and the South Beach Diet put me on track.

I met my current husband about 2 months after I was divorced, and began to eat again like he did, piling on the pounds. When I was up to nearly 180, I realized again that this was a destructive pattern, and have maintained my weight for the last 2 years @150 with diet and exercise.

Of course, my midsection has taken a hit. I was always stocky. As a teen I competed in near national level gymnastics, lifted weights, was on the diving and track team. I rode bicycles in college and worked out in the gym in graduate school. But, I always had a gut, even when I was at my thinnest. I still work out 4x per week for an hour a day. Now that I'm 42, I have made the decision to undergo abdominoplasty with liposuction of flanks and possibly rectus muscle tightening.

I contacted a plastic surgeon who did a virtual consultation online after I sent him some pictures (as a pre-consultation,of course). I found him after looking through before and after galleries with a number of body types similar to mine, and consistently favorable results.

I have no intention of being a size 2, I just want to be able to button my nice jeans without praying to take them off all day.
After several decades of New Year's resolutions to (HA!) lose those last 10 lbs, I realize that I am where I'm going to be. I love my body, but really can't stand that gut. Yo yo dieting, and a genetic predisposition to be an apple has put me in a place where this midsection is untouchable except for a surgeon's knife.

My biggest impediment to surgery is taking time off of work. In the last 20 years, the longest I was off work for 4 weeks, and that was in between a job switch. I have to work double before and after a vacation so that my hours match up in any month. Even then, taking 2 weeks off is problematic for me.
I am glad I came across this website. I've eagerly read through the post-operative courses and realize that most people have some sort of an 'awakenings' moment around 10-14 days post op with a paradigm shift in discomfort.

Although my job doesn't involve heavy lifting, I am constantly up and down out of a chair, and moving around.(ok, spoiler, I'm an MD-we're people too!). I would prefer not to advertise in my workplace that I'm having elective surgery, but I don't think I'll be too spritely on return, and it will be noticeable amongst my peers, who notice every little tic and muscle kink.

In all, my husband is supportive. My sister is a general surgeon, and feels that I'm an excellent candidate for this surgery, in that I'm aerobically fit, nonsmoker, no medical problems, and with stable weight for several years. After telling her about my thoughts, she said that she was going to suggest it to me anyway.

My goal is to get into the best physical shape possible cardiovascularly prior to the surgery, as I see that this seems to speed recovery.
Thanks to all of you that have posted on here, even the gory details. These are what people need to understand the process.

Was looking forward to my surgery later this month, but wouldn't you know it...wiped out in a high speed ski area and had to have reconstructive surgery on my knee! I'm now 3 weeks post-op and have a little taste of what the post operative experience is like, and how good (or how my husband thinks)...badly I handle pain. I've been on crutches for nearly 2 months but weaning off. I thought about keeping my abdominal surgical date, but my priority is getting my strength back in my leg. I've put off abdominoplasty until late August as a result. There is no substitute for good health.
Interestingly, I've learned a few things about elective surgery from this debacle. Regarding the knee, I've found that the better shape one is in prior to the surgery, the MUCH faster the recovery. I would bet that this holds true for the abdomen as well, in terms of muscle tone and cardiovascular conditioning.

Also, I found that after all the anesthesia wears off (a day or two), its good idea to get up and move around as much as possible, as much as that seems to suck. I found that the less I moved around, the worse I felt, and as painful as it was, the more I moved around, the better I felt afterwards. Even just a trip out of the house to a local quiet restaurant or coffee shop (someone else driving) was exhausting, but really picked up my spirits.

Another thing...less mobility means less exercise, and watching what I eat. Its been difficult to avoid easy to grab and munch junk foods, and I have been less than perfect, but I didn't want to be on crutches for several months and hauling around an extra 10 lbs. (my deltoids are now fabulous). Just for ease, bought two family-size pre-made spinach salad mixes from Costco (has egg, a little cheese, cranberries, and some BACON-yum) and ate that twice a day post op. Helped with constipation from the pain meds, tasted fantastic, and was easy to prepare and eat. Stuck with similar foods for awhile, and have lost 4 lbs in past month with no exercise. Goal was to not gain. Bottom line, I found something that worked for me, was easy to do, and tasty.

Will take these lessons to my abdominoplasty in August. Good luck!

Well, the late April date was put off 2nd to a wonderful ski accident with surgery to fix my ACL, meniscus and let my tibial plateau fracture heal. Thought it was a colossally bad idea to have the tummy tuck right after knee surgery and being on crutches for 2 months...now everything is back on! The leg is about 50-60% but good enough to let me go ahead.
In the past month I managed to sell my house (for less than I paid for it, but better than paying a mortgage on a house I wasn't living in) buy a new house, and move out of a rental house. Everything is in boxes. Carpets need to be pulled out, tiles (PINK! Who puts pink tiles on anything??!!) need to be knocked out, new flooring needs to be installed, and old 70's panelling needs to come down. Normally I would get out the crowbars and tile scraper out, (in box in garage..haha) but if I can't get it done in the next month, will have to hire someone to do it. Certainly not doing it after surgery, but don't want to wait until winter. I figure that I can't do my usual short summer hiking trips cause of the knee, so might as well stay home and work on the new nest.

So, in the midst of this, I am looking into what I need to do over the next month to get ready for surgery. I was reading other people's post operative blogs (this is why I love this site, love to hear what motivates people, their frame of mind in each phase) and I see people talking about the usual post operative things like drains coming out etc, but I'm curious about what people think about diet. Not talking about weight loss, but rather, avoiding foods that might cause bloating/swelling.

I'm wondering if it is really a cause and effect with the salt and the bloating/swelling? Its not that I eat a ton of salt, but I do like to eat prepackaged foods like Morningstar stuff and Kashi, and even those have a fair amount of salt. I think that tissue that has been injured (on purpose by the surgeon's knife in this case) is going to swell regardless of what one eats. Anyone have experience or suggestions? I read the MD comments which reference high protein and high fiber. No issues there, those are my two fav food groups. Maybe it would be better if I stick to some homemade veggie smoothies for a few days without salt? I just seem to see a pattern of those who ate predominantly raw foods seemed to have a less rocky post-op course.

Also, anyone have any suggestions regarding the use of cool packs after surgery? I have this fantastic ice machine gizmo that I got to go with my knee surgery which circulates very cold ice water in a large pad. I was going to give it to the Goodwill, but would be nice to put on the abdomen afterwards, if tolerated. Doesn't go directly on skin, but with a barrier, like a towel or something. Wondering if that would help swelling as well, or if people have noted that they can't tolerate that kind of pressure.

Also, anyone swear by supplements or do they feel that it is all voodoo? I noted after my knee surgery that I can't stand pain medication because it turns me into a zombie. I don't want to eat or move or sleep, and was catatonic for days. As such, wanted to make sure that I had building blocks for healthy tissue to grow. I know most of that is from diet, but I would imagine that Vitamin C and calcium are needed for collagen production, as well as antioxidants. I feel a kidney stone coming on. ha. Has anyone taken probiotics with good/bad results? Just curious. I am partial to Kombucha to keep the gut flora balanced. Will ask my surgeon, who will no doubt think that I am the obsessive compulsive that I probably am.

Also, anyone have anything to say about caffeine? Withdrawal? I'm a junkie, can't help it. Will ask my surgeon as well. Doesn't do one much good to be caffeinated with nowhere to go while drooling on oneself with pain meds on board.

Also, any suggestions on setting up the house before hand? I saw that someone bought a recliner(!) just for the post operative period. Aside from new furniture, which is not happening, it seems that there are ways to creatively use pillows, attaching ropes to door handles to help sit up, even use a walker to help with upright walking. Perhaps I'm overthinking this, and although the husband is quite supportive, I find that we bicker at each other with him playing the RN and me playing the patient, so I wanted to be as independent as possible as soon as possible.
How do you shower? Best to sit on a bench? Best to sponge bath?
It seems that something like a MuuMuu might be the best clothing to wear (ha), someone mentioned swim coverup for high fashion.
Well, these are my thoughts in my head. I welcome any comments or suggestions that people might have. Thx!