49 with a No Drain TT and Lift Without Implants - Danville, CA

I started off getting a consult for a breast lift. I was a 32G and had been busty since I was 16. I hated the way my breasts looked after so many weight fluctuations. After my first consult, I was sitting with the patient coordinator and I asked, "So can he take the fat from my tummy and put it...in my butt?" She smiled at me. "Well, not IN my butt" I gestured using my hands "but ... you know IN my butt?" She nodded before telling me that he did indeed do fat transfers and I could talk with him about it. So I had a second consult to ask him about putting it "in" my butt but not "IN" there. He took a look, he grabbed at my belly and thoughtfully said, "You don't have enough fat in there to get the results you want. Its mostly skin. For the cost, and the recovery - it wouldn't be worth it for you. You would do really well with a tummy tuck. I think that would give you some features you want, along with your lift, that will be more worth your time and the results you want." I blinked. Tummy tuck. That was some invasive stuff - that's like 6 months recovery right? Lots of time off? Super crazy painful and difficult right? I fired off a bunch of questions, and he answered all of them, using my skin to show me what he would do and how. He told me to think about it but that a fat transfer from my belly wasn't going to be worth the cost and time. That my BL would be relatively pain free, and was one of the easiest to recover from, having the TT at the same time I could use the time off I already had. He explained that he did the drainless TT, one with the internal stitching and that was also a good option for me.
So I came home and said, "Wait. am I really thinking of doing this??" and I was. I mean - I've crunched, I've planked, I've eaten well but I haven't seen a flat stomach since I was 14. I have no kids. I can't blame it on childbearing- it was the weight over the years. 90 lbs to 130 lbs, to 165 lbs back to 92 and up to 150, down to 140 and 130.. I had held steady at 121 lbs for a few years. I worked out 3-5 days a week and I ate clean 85% of the time. I spent time looking in the mirror. I took pictures and I went on the internet to see... what was a tummy tuck and would I really do it?
I did indeed. On 12/30 I had both procedures done. Originally I posted only in the BL section but decided yesterday I should do mini posts here for TT folks, esp since mine is drainless.

It's been a few days - I'm at day 10 post op for the BL and TT. The BL has left me with itchy boobs but relatively ok to recover from. The tummy tuck.. OMG.... don't ....ever.... SNEEZE. or COUGH. or LAUGH. The first 3 days were the worst. I was in so much discomfort and pain, I never realized how many stomach muscles you use to do ordinary things. I am so grateful my sister, mom and a good friend were there to just help me. They made sure that I ate, that I was as comfortable as possible, that I was hydrated (VERY important) and my poor guy friend.... no one else was there - I was nauseous from the anesthesia and medication. Dry heaving (which was *&# painful) and no relief in sight. The doc had prescribed anti nausea medication - it was a suppository. My friend dutifully retrieved it from the fridge and helped me put on a glove. He left the room while I painfully rolled onto my side and tried to ....find... the ... spot. After 5 mins of fumbling and pushing around I started to cry. Tears of frustration, pain and humiliation that I COULDN'T FIND MY BUTT to stop this ridiculous feeling of yuck.
"You ok?" he called out uncertainly from the other room.
"Noooooo" I wailed back. "I can't find my butt!!!" I could hear his nervous laughter. "It's not funny!" I was so upset and it was so painful to balance on my side.
He walked back in and tried on a glove "These are too small." I told him to go to my kitchen and get one from above the sink. When he returned, he flipped me over, took the suppository and said, "OK,take a breath." before successfully inserting the blessed medication.
He was settling me back into the bed, enough pillows to keep me at the right angle, my catheter dutifully emptied and on the floor when I muttered, "You put your finger in my butt..." I was warned never to tell anyone or he'd take my pain meds and put them out of reach.
I faded back into some needed sleep, wet tears drying on my face, my butt a bit violated but no longer heaving.