7 Months Post Detailed Update

This will be short, I'm on my phone. Things have been great. I've been back to full activity for 3.5 months or so now. I feel like I've returned to top cardio and strength, and have been consistently working out for the past 2 months. Currently finishing up Insanity, and I start a really intense bootcamp tomorrow night. My current goals are to decrease my body fat by at least 2% and maybe lose 5-7 lbs. I've been able to maintain my weight at 140 for quite sometime but I recently backslid and am up a few. I am still very happy with my overall results and would do this again. My love handle area is looser and fluffier than I want, hence the goal to lose the few extra and the bf%. Need to see if that's really something I can change or not. I have no noteworthy swelling issues, no dog ears, nothing to be revised, my scars are fading. I don't do anything other than moisturize with coconut oil. One thing i will note is that my scar area is still quite numb and the skin has some strange sensations when i touch it. my guess is that its going to stay that way. full nipple sensation though, they are a little more tender than before. Waiting to see if that changes.

Ill post updated pics soon. Probably use them as before/after of my little lean down challenge. Hope you are all healing nicely and enjoying your journey!!!

At 7 weeks, Im back to life as usual. My surgery and recovery seem like a distant memory at this point. There is no pain or discomfort at all from the BA, and the only TT reminders are a little scar itchiness, and muscle spasms along my muscle repair when I stretch in the morning. Also, numb still in the abdominal area while skin continues to regenerate nerve system.

Exercise: Ive been cleared to resume all exercise and all normal activities, but I must avoid all pectoral exercises permanently or risk the BA. Abs, I can resume all regular ab work in another 3 months while the muscle repair continues to heal, but for now I can do pilates, yoga, isometric type ab work that doesnt require repetitive flexing and contracting. Running feels wrong in the ab area but building back up to it will help that. My cardio endurance is surprisingly good, I thought it would be dismal. My muscle endurance has definitely taken a hit though. It will return though as I resume everything.

Breast update: I was cleared to ditch the strap!! Lefty has been behaving better and is dropping. Righty is almost in place. Dr. G. approved some bras I brought in and told me I could start wearing them full time once my implants have both dropped all the way. Until then I need to remain bra-less. Tanks with the built-in soft bra are ok though. I could wear a bra temporarily if necessary but instructed to take off asap. He wants me to wear under wire with a molded cup (which I prefer and always wore anyway), with no lift or pushup features. Sports bras must have a cup. No compression bras at all, ever. I went to Macys and was sized at a 34DD or a 36D. Im actually going back today to return unapproved bras and get re-sized cuz the D's I bought feel too big in the cup and they make me look way too big when Im dressed. If the size is right, its a look and feel that I will have to get used to. My scars have softened up and are no longer lumpy or palpable. I will post an update pic. They are still very visible and pink, to touch, they are almost undetectable they have healed so well. I am really enjoying how they are looking and feeling. My implants cause no more pain or discomfort. I have all sensation. I am to maintain them daily by pressing down my my nipple and pulling down and pressing toward my ribcage. This causes the implant to move upward toward my collarbone which will keep that pocket open. Its painless. I guess all the [RS bleep] torture paid off!

TT update: I dont need to wear my velcro abdominal binder anymore. I stopped wearing it 2 weeks ago and havent missed it like I thought I would. He approved the cupid walmart waist cincher if I feel like I need it. I still have swelling of course, but its minimal. The scar is healing well still. He said the double muffin look on the hips is from the scar shrinking and pulling in as it heals and will not look like that for long. I was getting nervous about that so Im glad to know its temporary. That double muffin effect has already lessened since my last visit. He said I dont need to put anything on it unless it makes me feel better, but he recommends getting the TT silicone scar strips if I start to get too itchy. I may order them, but they are pricey. I am using Palmers Scar Therapy oil twice a day, it does make me feel better to use it and is very moisturizing to the surrounding skin. My belly button is looking better as time passes. As my swelling improves, its relaxing and looking good. I havent used a marble or ear plug but I may try it if I think its still too small after another month or 2.

I dont know if I already posted this, but one very cool benefit from the TT is that it gave my "hoo-ha" a lift. Im so happy about that! Its not that pretty cuz all my deep horrible stretch mark scars are now flattened out and on full display (I'll try and post a pic that isnt too personal), but it makes all the sensations in the nether region readily available, for the first time in decades! Before, there was so much loose skin that it took serious maneuvering and gymnastics and positioning to get anything going. Hooray! Not only is my body image confidence back, but the sensations are easier than ever to achieve! Hooray!!!

Over thanksgiving week(6 wks post op) we went to CA, and to Disneyland. I went on all the rides and only felt like one ride was a little too jerky. I did swell more than usual by the end of the day, and it lasted into the next day, but other than that, I was fine. No extra fatigue or pain etc.

I do get very tired at night. Night physically, but just dead tired. Its deeper than pre surgery so I will assess and see if it improves given time and healing.

Ive recently been through a mental phase of overly criticizing my body, wishing Id had lipo of the flanks, noticing how pathetic my butt is and how flat as a board and uncurvy I am on my backside, etc etc. What Ive realized is that lipo isnt the answer for me. My skin is stretched out and flaccid. Im leaner than Ive ever been and healthier than ever. Im super happy with that and I can either nitpick my body or embrace and enjoy its remaining imperfections. I can build a better booty. Now that my tummy and breasts are perfect after being so hung up on how ugly they were for 20 years, I refuse to let that body bashing tendency switch to another area. I feel very blessed to have had this surgery and will continue life with gratitude and health, in spite of my other physical flaws. I will not get hung up on that negativity again, life is too short.

I dont need to see my PS until next October for my one year follow up unless something comes up or I feel the need.

Life is busy around here and its hard to find private time to update, comment, and post pics, but Id like to keep updating every couple weeks and make it to the year mark. I really appreciate the gals who have done that to let us all see the full story of what this surgery is about. Ill update photos soon and put together a few progression pics. Im watching you all even though I may not be commenting much. Blessings, happy healing, and congrats to all us Mommy Makeover Sisters! Mwah!!!

5 weeks post op. Things are going great still. I am STILL wearing the dang boob strap. My left breast is taking forever to drop! Its definitely lower and almost* there. I started wearing jeans again about 3 weeks post op, but made sure they were loose around the waist. For the past week or 2 ive been wearing them normal. I feel like Im running at 80%, really want to get back to full exercise and I think then I will feel closer to 100%. I dont tire out much at all, and swelling has been minimal this whole time. I have watched the salt intake a little but I eat a generally clean diet anyway ( minus the halloween candy over the past 2 weeks :) ) I do notice a difference from morning to night, but its not bad at all.

I am beginning to feel a tad flabby and really want to keep my tone Ive worked so hard for and take this old body to the next level and really lean down. Not looking to lose weight, Im down to 142 now and am happy with my size, just replace more fat with muscle. My trainer told me I would need 2 months of training for every month I take off. I have absolutely NO butt, so my main goal will be to build what I can down there.

When I twist or lift things I have no pain and only minor discomfort occassionally. Im still being careful though per PS instructions. I think my belly button is teeny tiny. Im going to ask my PS about using an earplug or marble to shape it.

Tomorrow I take bras in to have my PS approve the right kind of shape he wants me to use. I think my breasts look huge at times. They are not swollen at all anymore and I have really been enjoying them ;)