TT and Lipo of Upper Abs and Love Handles - Castro Valley, CA

Just posted some pictures I took at 4 weeks, but I am at 5 weeks. I have since shrunk even more! I've lost about 10 lbs too. My burning on my tummy is much better now. I used to feel like I had the worst sunburn ever internally. I also felt like I had a vice gripe holding down my tummy! I mean talk about tight! Ladies you want flat tight abs, you got it with a tummy tuck. I haven't been back to my excersize classes yet. I'll probably wait and see at my 6 week appt. What the Dr says.
I love my new belly button. I has some problems with the slits on each end of my incision when the evening after I removed my CG and taking a shower it was burning like a cut. Sure enough the disolvable stitches were gone cuz my PS removed them but I had small little openings that were bleeding a little. I bought some bandaids that come with antibiodics on them so I put some of those on with surgical tape just to make sure by the next shower the bandaids didn't come off. I changed the bandaids about three different times and on the 5 day I started using gauze and tape so the area could breathe. It healed up but I did check with my PS office to tell them what happened and they said I was doing the right thing but if it was getting worse or bleeding alot that I should call them and come in to be checked. So everything has been ok. I find that I can't eat much and I guess thats why along with releasing alot of fluid is why I'm shrinking. I wear a CG all day until the evening and then I take about 1 hour break before I put on my compression binder. My back seems to hurt if I keep the CG on 24/7.
When I take my clothes off I can't the difference. I'm so proud of the small low scar and the fact that my bra doesnt bunch under my breasts (as I had lot of lipo done in this area) and the fact that my underware sits right on my waist without those horrible love handles I couldn't stand! I used to look at all women bodies and admire how even if they were chubby if they didn't have love handles I wished I could look like them!
Anyways I give another update and probably a post some more pics in a few weeks.

I went to my 3wk plus appt as I am at 24 days post op. I had no drains and I had disolvable stiches with some sort of new product that is a sticky steri strip. I was able to take a shower with it on and it never came off. Today my PS took off the strip as easily as pull of a piece of tape. He sniped of a few of my stiches on each end of the incisions. My belly button had a little plug that was similiar to a scap. He pulled it off gently and it looks fantastic. I have no more love handles and I finally have definition on my belly. I used to have this annoying extra fat under my bra as well. I have a very thin and unlifted scar, which my PS said looks fantastic and I probably won't even need the steri silicone but I already bought some and so I just go ahead and use it. I go back in three weeks and they will take my post pics then. I am to continue to wear the stage 2 compression garment 24/7. I have a extra large one that I will change out at night cuz the one during the day is a large and it is very tight. I had a wide waist and I am still kind of swollen in my lower ab. I always had a wide waist but I get the feeling with time I may finally see maybe a size 28 or 26 waist. I always had a 30 waist and my bra size was always a 36. I find that I get full very fast and try and drink lots of water with lemon in it. I eat fish, chicken. beans and a handful everyday of mixed nuts so I get in protein! I am so happy that all my hard work is finally starting to shape up! I am wearing the same size clothing right now so now adjustments needed right now. I just cant' wait until my figure warrants me not having to wear this compression garment. PS says to see great results that will last longer Ideally I should wear the compression garment for 3 months.; I say to anyone wanting this surgery, please do research on the Dr and read all the posts so you get a good idea of some of the different recoveries individuals have. I think I'm pretty stong and worked out with walking and excercise classes for 3 years so I knew that I could probably handle a major surgery like this. I'm 55 years young and hope to look good for at lease another 10 - 13 years!

I am about 12 days post op and still wearing my stage one compressioj garment. I try and take a nap daily as im wiped out in the afternoon. I walk about 500 steps a day cuz i notice if i sit to long i get really stiff. Im just on extra strenghth tylenol and miralox for stool softner. My compression garment is a little to long in the torso so it has been soo tight under my breast bone. I wake up with a sore neck somtimes becwuse i have to sleep on my back. I can feel like Im getting stronger. I think my work outs befor surgery really has helped with my post recovery. I stretch every morning while sitting. I stretch all of my upper body. I got a mani and a pedi and drove to the shop myself. Im real itchy on my suctures and still have my tape on. My tummy is still swollen too which I expect to last awhile. I also try and ice my tummy about 3 to 4xs a day for 20 min to aide in the swelling.