TT, MR, Lipo (Flanks) and BL (No Implants) - Edmonton, AB

Gaining and then losing 60, 70 and 80lbs with 3 pregnancies did me no favors. I am 46, 5'3". It was time to take control because even at my lowest adult weight since children I still carried around baggage. I had a BR in 2001, 2 weeks before I found out I was pregnant with my second child. I managed to nurse and then found myself pregnant again and had my last DD at age 42. She is 4.5 now. I also nursed her. My breasts were a saggy 38D.

I am now 3 weeks PO today. What a whirlwind it has been. The fog of the drugs, the shock of my first peek under my binder, the drain removal and still the shock every day when I see myself in the mirror. Dressed or undressed.

My Mom stayed with me for the first 2.5 weeks, she and my hubby took over EVERYTHING and I am especially proud of my hubby for everything he has done. We planned the SX for when he was off work for 2 months.

My DDs are 12, 9 and 4.5. They have been amazing nurses. Bringing me water, fluffing my pillows and I am loving my coffee through a bendie straw. Last time I used one I think I was 6 when I had mo tonsils out.

My pain is bearable now. I was on oxycodones for 4 days, then Tylenol 3's with codeine for 3 more and then I was popping XS tylenols, pushing those to the max. Now I only take them at bedtime because my back and hips are so sore from sleeping on my back. I cannot WAIT to sleep on my side again.

I had the drains out on day 6, the worst part about that was the 2 hour drive each way to the city to get it done. I happened to have my before pics on my phone and I showed them to the nurse who changed my dressings. She does this a LOT and nobody has ever show her before pictures before. She said she has a whole mew respect for women who have this surgery done. She has only ever seen the after.

My binder drives me batty. I think because I am so short waisted. It is a 9" binder and I think I would better fit an 8" but cannot find one online in Canada. PS wants me to wear it until my 8 week PO visit, which means 5 more wees ugh. It fits fine while laying down, but as soon as I stand it rides up, if I sit it rides up higher until it is right under my breasts, sitting on the BL incision.

The lipo areas are tender and probably the most painful. The TT incision feels very tight like a tight rubber band around your wrist would feel. My scar is VERY low and I am beyond impressed with how that turned out. I am told to keep replacing the tape on it as well until my 8 week PO visit.

My BL does not really hurt at all. Sometimes a throb pain on the sides. I am really impressed with how they turned out. I had a BR 10.5 years ago and have since had 2 babies so I never really got to enjoy having perky breasts. I was also left with one breast a 1/2 cup larger than the other, and the PS addressed that by taking only skin from the smaller breast and a teeny bit of tissue with the skin on the larger. My areolas look great and the incision is healing really nicely. I was worried at first because they looked so small and flat, and were looking a bit like I had implants, but as you see in my pictures they are falling softly and look great. Right now they look a lot like they did when I was 15 LOL. They also measure the EXACT same size as they did pre surgery. Just now, they will not spill out of my bras when I bend over. I was using double sided skin tape before to keep them in place.

Cost (after taxes, included all visits and garments):

TT: almost 10K
Lipo: almost 4K
BL: almost 9k

BUT I paid 2K less because I got them all done at once and saved on the anesthetic fees. Best money I ever spent, I am so glad to be free of that baggage.

Well, 5 weeks have gone by. Definitely not FLOWN by, but it does not seem like it has been that long.

I am still in the $#@%ing binder, and my next PO visit is not until March 22. That will be 9 weeks. He said to wear it until then. I was also told to keep wearing the surgical bra, but the bottom elastic rides right on my incisions (BL). Add to that my short torso and the 9" tall velcro binder riding up you can imagine my discomfort. I have been switching out with a snug fitting sports bra from Old Navy that has a much nicer band at the bottom than the bra.

I probably adjust my binder 15 times a day, it really makes me crazy and the swelling on my hips right under the hard plastic 'ribbing' pinches me when I sit.

I am also super sick of sweat pants and yoga pants. I wish it was summer because baggy shorts look way better than baggy pants. I went and bought myself a pair of low waisted jeans yesterday, I only paid $24 for them because I am so swollen in the upper thighs and hips I had to go up a size and I am assuming they will not fit after a few months. I should say they BETTER NOT FIT because I am down 7lbs from pre-surgery but none of my pre-surgery pants will even go up past my a$$. I am hoping that is swelling from the lipo and TT. Please tell me it is? Even my 3 day PO pics look smaller (less poofy) than it does now.

I do love how my front looks in those jeans though, even thought they are bigger the front is so flat. It looks like the front of jeans on someone else!!! I can even tuck in a t-shirt and wear a belt and there is no more overhang!!! WOOT!!

I miss the tanning bed though, I use them all winter for a little color and to perk up my moods. I feel so blah without my 8 minute tan once or twice a week. It is like getting my battery recharged. I might try to find a way to do it while protecting my scars, I am not sure how much longer I can take it... winters are long here.