40 YO, 2 kids, want to stop hating my body - Katy, TX

A couple of weeks ago I learned from my aunt that she and my cousin were both really sensitive to medical tape. That made a lot of sense for me because I have also been irritated by the tape I've been using. Not sure if anyone has noticed the pinky irritated skin in my pictures. I usually try to put the tape in a different area when I change my bandages. Sometimes I'll get a blister from it. I don't like wearing a shirt between my skin & the binder because it rubbed more that way whichever caused more irritation and blisters. Call me crazy, but keeping the bandages on for this long has been like my comfort blanket...until my incision is pretty healed up, I'll be keeping it covered mostly to protect it from getting irritated when my clothes or binder rub up against the incision.
My doctor suggested that if the surgical tape wasn't bothering me to just keep it on which would help my scar to heal better. So I haven't been in a hurry to remove it as it hasn't bothered me at all. The only thing that has had me concerned was right in the center there has been some kind of liquid leaking out. It has a sweet scent to it oddly enough. It's not red or warm and since I'm still pretty numb in that area, I can't tell if it's hurting so I can't decipher if it's infected. I decided I should remove the surgical tape to finally see how the incision looked. I put some neosporin on it and put fresh bandages on. Is it weird that I feel vulnerable without the surgical tape on? Haha like I'm going to bust open because the protective tape isn't holding me together anymore. My imagination is getting crazy haha.
I'm still swollen so even though the doctor says I'm clear to remove the binder, I'm still wearing it. I've decided to buy a new waist cincher with the 3 rows of hooks. It will probably work better than this velcro one. I have to have my husband wrap me up. I shouldn't need him so much once I've got the new waist cincher.
I'm starting to feel a little more normal these days. My skin is feeling less and less numb which is great! I'm trying not to measure my progress against others here because I know everyone heals differently. I just hope I'll feel comfortable enough by July to run around in a bathing suit because I'm expected to attend a beach weekend Bachelorette party get away.

I'm anxious for my 1 month follow up appointment with my doctor on Thursday. I really am hoping he'll tell me I can get my incision wet. Waterproofing my incision so I can enjoy a full shower is time consuming and those bandaids aren't cheap. It basically costs me $12 per shower. And in 2-3 more weeks I'll be cleared to start exercising again! Part of me doesn't want to push my recovery too hard and the other part of me thinks I'm babying myself too much. All I know is I don't want to have to redo this experience haha
So, the stabbing on my belly button is slowly starting to clear up. The drainage holes are pretty much healed; one has healed faster than the other.
I have this fear of being resentful from the residual numb areas, like regret because I'll never be completely normal again. Or I'll be forever uncomfortable & weirded out because of the numbness. How have some of y'all coped with it? I mean, how awkward is it really?

All the bruising from the lipo is gone now. Luminescent seems to be smoothing out. Still feeling numb in certain areas. When did y'all start noticing the numb areas get feeling back? The area between my belly button and incision is still tight. That's the area I feel the most numb. It's such a strange feeling when I touch it to clean, even more so when I don't look. Shaving is awkward since my drain holes are still healing. I don't have the courage to take my razor to it so I trim with these super small pointy scissors. Gotta do it ever so carefully so I don't accidentally stab or cut myself. Feel like I've gotta buy stock in those waterproof Band-Aid pads that I use for showering. I don't have to rush through bathing...ahhh...
I'm getting antsy to start working out but doc said I couldn't until 6 weeks post op. Are any of y'all doing any kind of exercises?
Started taking 500mg of Bromelain twice a day. I'm still quite swollen too. If you're taking Bromelain, how much & how often are you taking it? How do you know if it's helping?