33 Year Old, 3 Kids, and a Much Needed Tummy Tuck - Austin, TX

I am a 33 year old mother of 3 children. I had my children in my early 20's and all 3 in less than a 3 year time span. I have always been small, 5'5" about 120 pre-children. I did gain 50+ pounds with my first, 15 with my second, and about 20 with my third. After the birth of the third I started running. For the last 10 years I have maintains a weight of about 110-115 lbs. Nothing I did could correct my sagging breasts, sagging tummy or love handles. Nothing. I have dreamt of a breast lift (30DDD) since I was 15 and my tummy tuck for 10 years. I decided this was year. I had my tummy tuck about 9 days ago. First off I am totally in love with my breasts for the first time in my life! Second, I love that I have no sagging skin, but the recovery has been hard. I still cannot stand all the way straight. The bruising is so painful from the lipo.
The first days after surgery were very rough. I did rent a lift chair to help me getting up and had a friend who let me borrow a walker. It was great. Most of the pain was from the lipo, not from the lift or tt. I did have severe constipation from the pain meds and that was no fun at all! 9 days post op and I am working from home. I have a lot of swelling and deep tissue bruising that black and yellow. I have been using arnica cream, taking arnica orally and bromelain for bruising and swelling. I will wear the compression garment for another week and then to spanx for another month at least. I do feel a bit like frankensteins bride at this point and not loving my belly button. I know it is to early to tell the results and my belly button looked better at day 1 because of swelling. I'll keep you updated.

Well, I am almost 13 days post op. I find it easier to get around and to be up for 30 minutes to an hour at a time. I still tire very easy. Most of my bruising is still visible, but the pain with it is gone. I can finally sleep on my side without a pillow under me and am sleeping through the night again. I did switch to spanx with my binder.I am having to head back to the doctor today. I think they may have to drain my tummy of fluid. Drain came out at day 8 and I had very little fluid less than 25cc in a 24 hour period for multiple days so they removed it. I had to be pretty active this weekend and not sure if that caused more fluid to build up. I hope they can just drain it and not have to put a new drain in-ouch! My tummy is songy feeling which is my sign to head back in. Feeling very tired today too. I will post new pics of tummy tomorrow. My belly button is very funny looking, but I know it will be okay once the swelling goes down.
Dr. Craven has continued to be amazing!!!

Yesterday was eventful. Dr thought I needed the drain put back in order to get rid of fluid that was not being absorbed. Bad part, after several attempts and nearly passing out twice he decided we would watch it. He could not get the catheter in. It kept buckling. I have abs of steel! Lol. He felt terrible and it was more than pleasant for sure. Everything is healing great and I now have everything covered with the silicone strips. I have a burning pain (almost like let down) in my breasts. I can stand up straight. I still have bruising and it still hurts and I get/ am very swollen. Tends to increase as the day goes on. I am about 70% back to normal. Tire very easy. Here are some updated pics of my tummy.