57 Y.o. Mom of 4 Grown Children. I've Hated This Muffin Top for Years. Sooooo Excited for Tummy Tuck! - Charleston, WV

Hi! I had a breast lift one year ago (Jan. 29, 2015). It was the best Christmas gift ever! So by summer I was already thinking about THIS Christmas! Decided very quickly that TT was next. I have never had a flat belly. I can remember in high school doing 200 sit-ups a night for a loooong time because someone had made a comment about my belly that made me paranoid. I swear I got more toned but that little pooch never left! i was a small gal--118 pounds for years. At 27 I had my first son and in the following 7 years had three more children. (haha-thus the need for the breast lift! I SO enjoyed breastfeeding all of them!) With all those kids and trying to maintain a work schedule (sometimes part-time, other times full) the next few years were so very busy and I, as I so often do, put everybody else first. Therefore, didn't take care of me much. In July of 2014 after I left my super busy job and found myself with a lot of time on my hands (in addition to all of my kids living out of state, my husband had to take a job several states away) I decided it was time to take care of ME! It was kind of weird at first, but as each day went by and the extra pounds I had been carrying started to fall off with my new exercise regimen and diet I found that I REALLY LIKE THIS TAKING CARE OF ME STUFF! The breast lift wasn't bad at all and I healed really well. You can hardly even see the scars now. So, the journey continues. My TT is scheduled for Jan. 21. I went for my pre-op yesterday. I am very comfortable with the surgeon. I have known him for years. We discussed everything in detail and he explained why he doesn't like to lipo other areas when he does this surgery (a bit of a disappointment but I understand his logic--I had hoped to hit the back roll particularly) He is a big advocate of cool sculpting and feels that will work just fine for the back. I hope he is right!!! I have my prescriptions in hand and one of my daughter's has arranged her schedule to come and stay with me for several days. Hubby is now based back home but has to spend a good bit of time out of the country now. He is not as on board as I wish he were--he keeps telling me that I'm 57 and it's ok to have a belly when you are 57. Yuck-not when I have dreamed of this for years!!! Besides--this daughter is getting married this summer and as you know, the mother of the bride needs to shine!! Ok--countdown on--9 days til the flat side!!

I'm a lot excited and maybe a tiny bit nervous (mostly because our weather forecast for Friday-Saturday is 24 inches of heavy snow). I have wanted to do this for such a long time. My daughter is here and will be with me tomorrow and she is staying for a week. She is an RN like her mommy. Hubby is now on board--just doesn't want to see the drains...I can handle that! I think I have everything I need. Except I keep forgetting to take pictures. Better hurry, huh! That flab will be gone this time tomorrow!!!!!! Prayers much appreciated.

I was just too sleepy yesterday to post anything. My surgery was scheduled for 8:30 and the last time I remember looking at the clock was 8:40 and I told my anesthetist (an old friend) that I loved her and knew she would take good care of me. That is the last thing I remember and suddenly I was in recovery and she bent down and said, "you're gonna look great!' YAY!!! I guess I AM officially on the flat side. Pain has not really been an issue--ha! I haven't given it a chance! My theory is always take the prescribed pain med every four hours regardless for the first 24-36 hours. Will take it at bedtime tonight and plan to switch to Ibuprofen tomorrow. I feel more sore than anything--like I've been hit by a truck. Lucked out! Only one drain! My daughter has been so helpful. I don't know how I could do this without her. We are in the middle of a snowstorm--about a foot so far. Thank God we still have power--praying that we will keep it! My biggest surprise so far has been swelling in the peri area which made it difficult to pee--dribble, dribble. Used an ice pack for awhile this morning and the swelling has decreased, making things easier. I love my raised toilet seat with handles--makes it a LOT easier to get up and down in the bathroom. A good (and much needed) arm workout! I will try to post before pics tomorrow...