Abdominoplasty, Hernia Repair

Tell me there is a light at the end of the tunnel. So today is day 5 post and bruising is improving but tightness and tenderness is definitely prominent. I've been sleeping in my bed each night and actually sleep pretty well (thanks to ambien). When I stand up there is a huge rush of hotness and pressure in my legs. They feel on fire inside/out and feel like 1,000 lbs each. My husband says even with swelling they look amazing. I showered this am (3rd shower) by sitting in a chair in our walk-in shower. My husband helped me wash my hair, which was a huge help. My belly is flat until I stand up and then the blood and fluid rushes to my incision site and I have a pooch. I'm wondering if this would not be present if I had drains. My back is pretty sore from laying flat so often. Overall, I'm moving great once I get a achlimated to standing and can stand straight, do stairs, etc. my legs are numb from the knees up and my trunk is tender and numb in spots (lips). I definitely tire easily, but feel like I'm moving better than most. I can't imagine leaving the house...hopefully all will improve by Monday. My post-op appt is Tuesday afternoon. I'm living in my compression garment, which is super tight. Since I had Lipo to my thighs, it's compressing from my calf to under my breast. I feel like a sausage. I'm ready for regular clothes. I know it's important to tolerate the compression for as long as possible....but geesh. Here are a few more before photos. I hope all you ladies are healing well. If you have any tips to share, I'm open!

Feeling pretty good, still weak and worn out. The Lipo is most painful. I slept all night and really rested. I'm taking in tons of fluids (water with lemon, coconut water and organic broth). No BM yet. My oozing has stopped and I've changed my pads to bandaids (that were coving incision sites). Breasts down I'm swollen like a tree trunk. My husband picked up a new binder at the doctors office for me today that was a medium. Definitely much better and far more compression. Basically my routine is to rest, eat a little bit (I don't really have an appetite but I need to make sure I can tolerate my meds), take a walk around my house, go to the restroom and get back in bed. Of course I can't tell a difference at this point however my husband said it is night and day. My head hurts pretty bad and I'm not sure if it's from all the trauma or the meds. My bruising is pretty limited which is amazing for the amount of like a section they did on my legs. I've taken two showers so far and just did a sponge bath today because I didn't feel the energy to get in. How were you ladies day 3? Any tips/suggestions? I think I've watched every episode of Kourtney & Kim take the Hamptons:) Need to start a book! Here is a before photo and one after both the day of surgery. I'm shooting down in the after so it looks a bit odd.

I've been a Real Self reader for a few months. I couldn't bring myself to share until after my procedure. This site has been very helpful in my preparation for surgery and now post. I am 5'2, 145lbs and very active and healthy. I've had three babies (4, 6 & 8) and couldn't manage to reduce the projection of my abs. I had a huge diastasis and an umbilical hernia. I went for my first consult in January 2014. I was really torn on whether or not this surgery was right for me. I didn't feel comfortable in a swim suit and felt like I had to constantly engage my abs in order to not appear pregnant. In October I decided that I was ready to make a change. My surgery was on 12/30 and I am now 2 days post-op. Prior to surgery I worked out, ate well and tried to relax and remain calm. To say I was nervous would be a complete understatement. I was terrified that my "vain" choice could possibly kill me and what on earth would my husband tell our children. I prayed a lot and did a ton of research. My surgery started at 12:15 p.m. and concluded around 5:45. It was a long day for my husband and the doctors, but lucky for me, I was out and then back up again in a blink. I had my surgery in my plastic surgeon's surgery center. The staff was fantastic and made me feel very comfortable. I stayed the night in their facility because of the amount of lipo that was done. They removed 5 liters of fat (that is a TON) and my surgeon was even surprised that I had so much. He concentrated on my thighs, around my knee, behind my hamstrings and then also my flanks & hip rolls. Going into surgery I was told that I would have drains, but just recently my surgeon has begun doing tts without them. So, I sit comfortably in bed, propped up a bit, no drains in place. My incision is incredible. He placed it below my c-section scar and it is much shorter than I expected. Many of the reviews showed hip bone-to-hip bone. My incision begins from the inside of one thigh to the inside of my other. Overall I feel pretty good. Very tight and my legs are super swollen. The support hose that I was sent home with were filled with foam padding and were huge. I showered 24 hours post (I was terribly draining) and went to put my 2nd garment on that they sent home, only to find out they sent an above the knee compression garment, not ankle length. Without all the foam, the first one was enormous, so I've been wearing the knee one, with compression stockings and wrapping my knees with ace bandages for extra support. My husband will pick up the correct on from the surgery center in the am. I have quite a bit of bruising, from what I can see. I haven't really had a good luck at my belly yet and I'm patient as I know each day will be better. I was never "fat" but I did have that baby bulge that was unattractive. I took a few "pre-op" photos, so that I could compare. In 2011 I had breast augmentation & saline implants with the same surgeon. He did an incredible just and they are very natural. After nursing 3 kids for 3 years, my tissue was gone. Wednesday my surgeon also did fat grafting to my breasts to even out a bit of symmetry from them settling over the past couple of years. I don't feel any pain at all, just a bit of bruising on the breast. I'm hoping that day 3 is increasingly better from days 1 & 2. I can do stairs, walk almost upright and move around, but I've tried to spend most of my time in bed, feet in compression cuffs and elevated. I've promised to not over-do it, as I typically do. I'm definitely exhausted from small tasks. I've showered twice (with a chair in the shower and help of my husband) and it completely took all the energy that I had. I'm eating pretty well (hardboiled egg, applesauce, pears, turkey, broth, yogurt). No BM yet, but producing gas. I've been taking stool softeners since 2 days prior to surgery. I also started a multi-vitamin, vitamin c and CoQ10 (for the fat grafting). I'm on Torodol every 8 hours and pecocet for pain. I'm trying to keep something in my system at all times so that I don't have that sudden rush of pain. Good luck to all you ladies that are recovering or have surgery in your future. I'm happy to share more if there is any questions.