35 Years Old, 5'3, 2 Kids Via C-sctn at 7.8 and 10 Lbs - Ready to Stop Looking Pregnant!!! - Atlanta, GA

I went to the Dr today for my 6 week update (almost since i'm out of town on my actual 6 week day). I have pictures included of the tape and the scar. The bottom line is, I look great, I feel great, but I am still super swollen. I personally do think I look great, but when I mentioned to the doctor that I'm down a dress size, he cautioned me to not go out and buy anything yet since he said I will get smaller in the next 2 months. Sounds like month 4 is going to be my magical month, swelling on my hips, lower back, scar line, and belly button should all go down by then. Also, he advised against any running or spinning or raising my heart rate over 120 until the 4 month mark. He said, at this point to walk and start stretching. It seems very cautious, but i'd rather take the time and force myself to eat well than try to overdo it physically and raise my BP and then put my body in defensive/swelling mode.

I am down 8 lbs since before surgery. This is remarkable since I'm certain I still have a lot of the swelling which must mean fluid retention which usually means extra lbs. I am sleeping comfortably on 1 side (the side where the swelling has gone down alot). I still have some trouble getting very comfortable at night, but its a big improvement from the days post-surgery where I was confined to a recliner! I have been back in the office since end of Week 3 and everyday I'm getting stronger. I even wore boots with small heels yesterday and was on my feet running from place to place all day. Working and getting back into the routine has been great. It makes the time go by, makes me feel like i'm contributing to my family.

I am wearing a spanx for about 12-14 hours a day and then switching to a binder at night. I am definitely still uncomfortable to touch in the recovery areas. Everything is still numb. When I asked about massage, he said to just do it myself lightly and not go to a professional yet. At this point, I wince when I put my spanx on, so I couldn't imagine a deep tissue massage anytime soon!

In terms of scar, one side is nice and flat while the other is bumpy and looks like twine. Its just the nature of the swelling. I'm happy to know that my bumpy side of the scar will look nice in a few months. I was officially told to stop taping it and to start applying cocoa butter, oils, whatever to keep it moisturized.

I think I can officially scream from the rooftops that this has been the best thing I have ever done for myself! Although I still have another good 10 weeks of healing left until my body will start to show "final results," I am enjoying the preview right now! Happy Holidays ladies and good luck!

Hi everyone! It's hard to believe today marks day 21 PO for me. This past week was full of continued swelling (mainly on my right side) and still continuing to walk hunched over. We had family and friends over last week for Thanksgiving and the hardest part was not being able to help. I did have a couple of glasses of wine Thanksgiving night. Drank just enough to not feel the anxiety or pain, but switched to water quickly and took it easy. It was very nice to drink wine again!! (I've been off narcotics for 2 weeks now).

The swelling really is out of control! My left side looks pretty good. I can see what the results will look like and i'm getting excited. The waist/hip shape and the scar is looking great. Switch to the right side and its still a hot mess! The overall lower back is still very tender to touch. The center of my scar has a weird puss looking opening. The doctor said to leave it untaped, put neosporin and gauze on it. The office said its not puss, but instead oils that collect on the skin in that area since there is a lot of blood flow and twisting and turning. I'm not worried. I do love the doctor's office. They use technology! First talked it through with me on the phone and then said email them a picture and they can confirm to save me a trip down. LOVE IT!

I went back to work yesterday and it was a 14 hour day! We had our annual team end of year fancy dinner and I didn't want to miss it. I had my feet up at my desk and an ice bag on my back in the afternoon. I was walking around like an old lady hunched over. One of my coworkers asked me if I was having a bad day!! I was definitely beat by the time I got home and worked from home today. It was a marathon of a day and I hope the rest of the work week is a little more "normal."

I have 3 concerns as I settle into the overall healing process:

(1) As we get back to life and being more active, anyone paranoid you will undo the results of the tuck? Like the stitches will give way and we will be back to being all loosy skin?

(2) As we still can't be too active and we are in the midst of cold weather outside and parties for the holiday season, anyone worried they'll get fat? I wish I could say I had the mental willpower to stick to some kind of regiment, but i'm using that mental strength to not freak out over swelling and walking like the hunchback of notre dame :)

(3) Swellhell timeline. All I see from everyone on RS is that there is swelling for up to a year. But what does this mean?!?!? Does anyone have a good sense of timing and percentage? Let's say if week 1, it's like 50% and then week 2-4 its 100%, what is month 2 like? Is it still 100% or does it go down? Does it go down over time or is it just this constant uncomfortable swelling till month 3 or month 6? I wonder if i'll ever fit into pants again!

Any ideas or thoughts on how to handle those fears? I also posted pics so folks could see what it looks like. Keep in mind. I had my feet up all day today and only had on a binder (took a day off from the CG since I was at home) and did nothing so pics don't show what end of day swelling usually looks like.

Hi everyone! It's the Monday before Thanksgiving and it's my 2 week post-op! (Almost!). This past weekend I shared some moodiness that has been heightened by my surgery. I know its common for most women who are super busy and being forced to take a back seat in their household while they recover. My husband got us netflix and after 10 episodes of Master of None and Arrested Development, I was definitely laughing and enjoying the Netflix & Chill moment. My parents had the girls for the night and we would normally KILL for a Saturday where we can just watch TV all day. I'm trying to remember the little things even if I suffer from a "Grass is Always Greener" complex :) Thanks for the encouragement and support.

Overall, i'm doing great. I am able to slowly do more at home, with lots of breaks. Yesterday I went for a 1/2 mile walk. It was a beautiful chilly and sunny day and my right side started to swell up as I was walking, so I didn't push myself. Today i'm officially sitting upright in our office and "working" to force myself to function normally. Tomorrow I have a Video Call bright and early with Europe so I get to test out waking up for normal work hours and showering and looking presentable. It's a good test run since i'll still be working from home. I go back to the office next Monday (almost 3 weeks post-op).

I have officially started swelling around my waist/scar/hips. It feels super tight and at night when I get into bed, i'm afraid i'm going to tear open my scar. I've said it once and i'll say it again, I don't mind the swelling as long as its not debilitating! I just bought 10 dresses from Old Navy to help me out the next few weeks as I swell and have to go back to work and look presentable without stressing to get into my pants and jeans. I read on RS that Swelling is part of the healing process and is a signal that your body is repairing itself. I can live with that. I do hate that by the end of the evening, because of the severe swelling and tightness, I'm hunched over and my back gives out. I also hate getting so tired (its like total newborn hours). But for 2 weeks post-op, this isn't bad. I'm able to shower, dress myself, work, pitch in here and there at home and with the kids.

I do continue to read stories on RS of the other TT ladies who are further along from me and do get sad that the swelling lasts for a really long time! However, hearing them exercise and go on vacation makes me happy. Getting back to Normal is the goal here after all!

Last night I had my first moment where I was actually happy I had the surgery. Over the summer, I started exercising everyday! Eating well, lots of cardio and weights and I looked good; however, could not get small because of my belly. I remember one 5:45 AM spin class during the work week, I looked in the mirror while on the bike and saw my horribly huge tummy flopped over and remember the shame and sadness I felt. Lying in bed last night, looking down, I was so proud of what I saw. I told my husband i've been so frustrated with recovery, and this was the first time I felt victory. When I saw the PA on Friday when getting my drains out, she validated me by telling me it was all muscle repair and hardly any extra fat or skin. No matter how much I starved myself or worked out, I would of never gotten these results.

Remember - this is a very tough surgery, but I can see the blessing behind it. The struggle is real! :)