June 19th TT w/MR & Lipo of flanks- 6 Months and Feeling Great! New pics! - Draper, UT

I'm 5'4", 135 lbs., 31 year old mother of 3 (all c-sections.) On June 19th I had a full TT with muscle tightening and lipo of my back flanks.

My story: I gained 70 lbs. with my first pregnancy and was basically one big stretch mark from my thighs to my breasts. #1 weighed over 10 lbs. (was an emergency c-sec). My body was never the same after that. After #3 turned 1 year, I still had another 40 lbs I wanted to lose so I signed up at a local gym, hired a personal trainer, and started eating better. After about 7 months I had lost the 40 lbs., went from a size 14 to a size 6, and had ran a 5K, 10K, and a half marathon. Exercise and eating right are now a way of life for me. I love sweating and pushing my body hard. Two years ago I was training for my first full marathon and was having some breathing issues. I thought it was just asthma or bronchitis. 3 x-rays and a CT scan later I found out I had a cancerous tumor in my right lung. 13 days later I was in the hospital and had 70% of my right lung removed. The surgery got rid of the cancer and I've been cancer-free since then. I go in every 6 months to check and make sure it isn't coming back and so far so good! After my surgery I was more determined than ever to keep working out, get my body used to my new lung capacity, and just do my best to stay healthy and fit. I've done that (ran another half marathon last summer and just finished a Ragnar relay race 3 days before my TT.) Despite working out and getting down to my goal weight, I still had not been able to get rid of that loose skin and had been saving my pennies for this surgery.

In May we found out my husband was getting a check from work that we had not planned on. My husband was sweet enough to suggest we use the money for my TT and I was ecstatic. The next day I made 3 consult appts. I ended up going with my first consult and I have no regrets. My decision was mostly based on time and money. I needed a dr who could do the surgery right after my relay race. Also, my mom (who lives in OR) could come out and help me but she only had from the June 18-July 1, then had to go back. I also am planning on running another relay race at the end of August so wanted to do the surgery as close to the 18th as I could, to give me more time to recover and heal. The dr I chose was perfect. I had 3 people who raved about his work he had performed on them, he was so patient and answered all my questions, gave me a big discount on lipo of my flanks, and worked the surgery around my schedule.

I was never nervous about the surgery. I had done my research and knew what I was getting into. After 3 c-sections and lung surgery, I felt I could handle this no problem. I was so excited! I had been wanting this for years and the time had finally come! June 19th I got to the surgical center around 6:30am. Surgery started around 8:15am and lasted about 4 1/2 hours. After I woke up I spent about 30 minutes in the recovery room and then my husband took me home. I remember not being able to keep my eyes open because I was so sleepy. I was pretty drugged up and didn't feel too much pain, everything just felt very tight. Overall this first week hasn't been that bad. The pain and discomfort is definitely worse than my c-sections, but the fact I don't have to take care of a newborn AND recover from surgery helps immensely. I have an abdominal binder I got from my dr that holds me in pretty tight. My drains came out yesterday and that made me feel a lot better. Still can't stand completely straight up but getting there. Just going slow and taking it easy. Loving my new stomach already and it's only the first week. I told my husband how excited I was to go to the bathroom and not have my loose skin touch my thighs, or not have to clean out my belly button after a shower to make sure it doesn't stink because the skin hangs over it. (Gross, I know!) Not going to miss any of that! My lower back is still swollen and bruised from the lipo but in time I know it's all going to get better. I'm off dilaudad now and just take the occasional Aleve or Tylenol for the aches and pains. I'm very pleased though with my results and how the whole past 9 days have gone. So thankful my mom has been here to help out with the kids, laundry, dishes, dinner, etc. I know that has really helped my recovery, being able to take it easy while my mom takes care of me and my family. She leaves to go back home on Sunday and we will all miss her.

Overall this has been a great decision and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I love my new, flat stomach and can't wait to feel 100%!