Turning 50 This Year and Giving Myself an Early Birthday Gift! - Columbia, SC

I wanted to write an update in hopes I could find some answers to my problem. I have no complaint about my surgery outcome in regards to how I look. My surgeon did an amazing job. The scar is minimal and the affect is great. My only concern, and I feel it is huge, is that at 2.5 years later I still feel super tight. It feels like there is a rope or belt wrapped too tightly around my waist. It has felt this way since my surgery and has not improved. I have spoken to my PS and he suggested I stretch my muscles which I do hoping it will help....it has not. He does not seem to take it very seriously. I am soooo uncomfortable in a sitting or standing position. If I lay down it is better but I can not lay down forever. After I eat it is even more intense. I am wondering if anyone else has had this problem? Please help!!!

I have not posted to this thread in quite awhile. It is over a year now and I will say it was rough going for some time, probably over a year. Although I still struggle with some swelling on occasion it is rare. I still feel a bit too tight but the flat tummy looks great. My breasts are a lil less perky than I would have liked but I was told by two doctors that this could happen if I did implants at the same time. I thought I would post a final picture. I have put on weight since the surgery sadly. I have never gotten back to the same level of workouts as I had been doing prior to my surgery. Good luck to all who are planning this procedure. It is not easy but the benefits you get with the right surgeon can make it all worth it.

I will have to say after reading everyone's posts that time flies I was counting on that but my personal experience has been each day has been long and full of challenges. My last drain came out last week which was a "Yay" experience but in the same visit they gave me another compression garment that was sized one size too small on purpose. Oh my gosh people I feel like a sausage! The nurse said it was to get the last of the swelling down but I will have to say that my swelling has increased this week. I don't know if it is normal at the third/fourth week to swell more or not. I have been miserable. I feel like I am pregnant (even more so) and I waddle when I walk. I have also found that the more I swell the numbness increases which does give me hope that once the swelling decreases (anywhere from 3 months to 18 months) I will get my sensation back. As for my breasts, they look incredible and I am very satisfied. I still have a spot under each breast where the breast attaches to the body that is still irritated. I have started to use a hair dryer to attempt to dry it out a little in hopes of healing. My energy level is still low and I tire easily but I am definitely doing more. I am able to sit up using my stomach muscles (usually) and bend over to pick things up off of the floor. I am still tight but can now stretch without feeling like I am ripping stitches out. I was advised by my PS's nurse to begin stretching to elongate the muscles that have been sutured together. I am also finding that I unconsciously keep my stomach muscles tense and I have to focus on relaxing them. It is as if I am in a constant defensive mode. Since I am off for summer break I still have four more weeks until I have to be back to work so I am hoping I am in much better shape by then. Each week does show improvements and sometimes they are pretty significant. My heart goes out to women who have to be back at work in two weeks or so. I know I couldn't do it. However, that said, the nurse said that women who do tend to heal quicker and the swelling goes away faster so maybe it is actually a good thing. I think I am just a wus. LOL I am hoping to add photos of me in a bathing suit. I am not buying a skimpy one yet until I am fully healed and the swelling is gone so that may be next summer. My son saw me in the two piece I had and said he would be embarrassed to be seen with me....Bingo ladies we have a winner :)