Look at Me!!!! I Have a Better Reflection!!!!!

Hi, RS! Sorry I've been MIA. Once school started, life got very hectic around here. I've also had some things going on with my family, so it's been a very crazy six months! So, here is my update:

Scars-- They are all flat, fading nicely in some areas, not there yet in others, but with time I know they will, and my husband and I don't ever even think about them. They aren't as dark as the pictures show (for some reason, my skin color is all whack, as well, in the pictures--sorry!). I use bio-oil, rose mosqueta oil, and vitamin e oil on them. No special regimen, I just mixed all the oils together and rub them on my scars when I get out of the shower.

Sensitivity/Sensations-- I have full sensitivity in my nipples!!! Yay!! The weird feeling in my back, where I had the lipo, comes and goes now. For the most part, I feel completely normal. I haven't tried to do crunches or sit-ups, but then I never did them before the surgery, either, haha! I don't feel any pulling or stretching that is uncomfortable when I exercise. I have full movement of my body, and I think it is really cool when I move my hips teaching cardio dance, because my belly is flat, and there's no jiggly extra skin anymore!

Weight-- my weight fluctuates still. Currently, I'm at 155, which is 8lbs. over my comfortable weight of 147. What can I say? The holidays! But I know it will come off, and I'm not worried about it. In the mean time, I've noticed I gained the weight in my upper arms and thighs, not so much in my belly. THAT is a huge change! No more preggo look if I've overeaten, either. And I am very happy about that!

Swelling-- my swelling is resolved completely, as of about a month ago. Now, I would attribute any "swelling" to my salt intake, water retention, etc., so it is actually bloating.

Interesting bonus-- I can't eat as much as I used to. By that, I mean yesterday I pigged out completely at my family Christmas dinner. I had.....ONE plateful of food. Didn't even finish it all. Plus I grazed on dessert items like peanut butter fudge and my mom's amazing pumpkin spice bread. This was over a 6-hour period. And I felt like I was going to burst, I was so full! Before the surgery, I would not get that feeling unless I had eaten at least twice as much food! I asked Dr. FG about this when I had my surgery, because I had read in other reviews, and he said because of the repair to my abs, that might cause it. So, there you go!

Faja--all I can say is, "WHAT faja?" I STILL have hated memories of it! I stopped wearing it after 8 weeks. I don't care if it shapes your body better as time goes by. It's a human torture device! In fact, if I had known beforehand all the ins and outs of what I would go through, the only thing that would give me pause would be the stupid faja. NOT kidding. My husband very lovingly thought I was behaving like a petulant child about wearing it, but I didn't care. I stomped my foot, crossed my arms, made a mean look, and REFUSED to wear it at one point (okay, so he may have been right, haha!).

I forget the "before" me sometimes. I don't know if that means I'm getting used to my new body, or if it's normal to just "move on" with life. Either way, I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to go on this journey. To anyone thinking about having a mommy makeover, and especially going to a foreign country to do it, research all you can, prepare as much as you can, and then have a positive mindset about everything. That is probably the best advice I could give you. For me, weighing the risks of travel, surgery, etc. (even the FAJA!) versus the benefits I've experienced, hands down I would do it all over again.

I still love my breasts! My hubby and I went on a cruise in the beginning of December, and I went braless in two dresses that I wore!! I felt sexy and beautiful, and it was absolutely wonderful!

Have a lovely day, and happy healing!

I'll write more later, but here are some photos. I'm doing great!