POSTED UNDER Mommy Makeover Reviews
42 Yr Workaholic Mom Learning to Love Myself - Folsom, CA
UPDATED FROM LoveMyselfat42
1 month post
Just Over 5 Weeks Post-Op
WORTH IT$15,200
I have been back to work for about a week and a half now. I'm able to get thru the days, but I'm definitely pretty tired by the time I get home. I'm sleeping better, and able to lay on my left side for a short amount of time now. For some reason the right side is a bit more tender where the lipo was done. Overall the pain/discomfort is diminishing everywhere, and I only get aches and little nerve zingers occasionally. I still have quite a bit of swelling above my abdominal incision late in the day, despite wearing compression garments 24/7. The small seroma area I had drained a few weeks ago does not seem to have refilled and is no longer bothering me.
My boobs are settling in nicely and I'm getting used to them. I haven't gone bra shopping yet, as I'm waiting until I hit at least the 2 month mark for that. I'm looking forward to getting sized and picking out some pretty bras. Also, for the first time in my life I am actually looking forward to swimsuit shopping this Spring!
I've been obsessed with finding comfortable compression garments the past couple of weeks. I have tried Spanx, Flexees, my abdominal binders, and I have a Fajate that is great. The Spanx and Flexees are comfortable for a while, but honestly they all end up driving me nuts after I've had them on for hours and hours. I'm really looking forward to the time when I can ditch the compression for good, but I know that will be a long time from now. My PS said to shoot for 3 months, ugh. Although, my stomach is still very numb and oddly sensitive, so wearing the compression does feel like a layer of protection over it and makes me feel a little less vulnerable in that area.
I bought a few new size 10 dresses for work, early in my recovery, and had to return them yesterday because they were way too big for me now. I tried on jeans, suit pants, and dresses yesterday and I now wear a size 4-6 in most brands! I was in total shock! I haven't been this slim since my early college life. I honestly never thought or expected to lose this many inches with this procedure. I just wanted the loose skin tightened up and had no expectations of getting so much smaller. It's a great bonus, except I'm going to need a whole new wardrobe again! I tried on all of my jeans, and they are all huge on me now.
Earlier this week I had a few awkward conversations with some family members that I haven't discussed my entire surgery with. We had a family dinner last weekend and apparently my looks were a topic of discussion among them afterwards. I told all of them I was having a tummy tuck, but didn't discuss the boobs or lipo. So one of them called me up and started asking a million questions. I was mortified and didn't really want them all to know my personal business, but I felt so cornered and after being interrogated I just said "so you can all stop gossiping, here's what I did.". My mother actually thought I'd had a facelift too, which made me laugh. Really, Mom? People are so nosey.
Next Friday will be 6 weeks, and I'm really looking forward to seeing my PS for my follow up visit and getting released to full duty/exercise again. I believe my recovery is going great and each week seems to be a little easier than the week prior. I'm so glad I did this!
My boobs are settling in nicely and I'm getting used to them. I haven't gone bra shopping yet, as I'm waiting until I hit at least the 2 month mark for that. I'm looking forward to getting sized and picking out some pretty bras. Also, for the first time in my life I am actually looking forward to swimsuit shopping this Spring!
I've been obsessed with finding comfortable compression garments the past couple of weeks. I have tried Spanx, Flexees, my abdominal binders, and I have a Fajate that is great. The Spanx and Flexees are comfortable for a while, but honestly they all end up driving me nuts after I've had them on for hours and hours. I'm really looking forward to the time when I can ditch the compression for good, but I know that will be a long time from now. My PS said to shoot for 3 months, ugh. Although, my stomach is still very numb and oddly sensitive, so wearing the compression does feel like a layer of protection over it and makes me feel a little less vulnerable in that area.
I bought a few new size 10 dresses for work, early in my recovery, and had to return them yesterday because they were way too big for me now. I tried on jeans, suit pants, and dresses yesterday and I now wear a size 4-6 in most brands! I was in total shock! I haven't been this slim since my early college life. I honestly never thought or expected to lose this many inches with this procedure. I just wanted the loose skin tightened up and had no expectations of getting so much smaller. It's a great bonus, except I'm going to need a whole new wardrobe again! I tried on all of my jeans, and they are all huge on me now.
Earlier this week I had a few awkward conversations with some family members that I haven't discussed my entire surgery with. We had a family dinner last weekend and apparently my looks were a topic of discussion among them afterwards. I told all of them I was having a tummy tuck, but didn't discuss the boobs or lipo. So one of them called me up and started asking a million questions. I was mortified and didn't really want them all to know my personal business, but I felt so cornered and after being interrogated I just said "so you can all stop gossiping, here's what I did.". My mother actually thought I'd had a facelift too, which made me laugh. Really, Mom? People are so nosey.
Next Friday will be 6 weeks, and I'm really looking forward to seeing my PS for my follow up visit and getting released to full duty/exercise again. I believe my recovery is going great and each week seems to be a little easier than the week prior. I'm so glad I did this!
LoveMyselfat42's provider
UPDATED FROM LoveMyselfat42
30 days post
4 week post op
4 week post op pic. Healing well, feeling stronger every day.
Replies (1)
January 10, 2016
You look great! And you've got cleavage now, lucky! Did you go with smooth or textured? Mine are textured and don't seem to be dropping nearly as much as yours.
January 10, 2016
Mine are smooth. They are finally softening up and seem to be dropping a bit. I'm looking forward to seeing what they look like in a month or two finally. I still have loose skin and breast tissue on the bottom, so I know they have a ways to drop still.
UPDATED FROM LoveMyselfat42
26 days post
First day back to work
Today was my first day back to work since surgery. I'm pooped, but doing really well overall I think. I am trying to take it easy still, listen to my body, and rest when needed.
Two days ago I saw my surgeon and she drained a small (40cc) seroma on the right side of my abdomen. It looked like some old blood and fluid was accumulated there, likely from when that drain was removed. It felt great to have the fluid removed. The needle didn't bother me, as my skin is fairly numb still. It is not likely to need further drainage and seems to be doing fine now.
I put my hospital scrubs on this morning and they about fell off of me. Even though I feel swollen and bloated, apparently I'm skinnier.
I wore my new compression garment under my scrubs and it seemed to work pretty well. Its kind of a one piece, zip up that I got on Amazon for $65 (Fajate brand) and its relatively comfy. I'll post a few pics.
I'm still sleeping on my back on a wedge pillow, and thats driving me a little crazy. I'm normally a "side sleeper", but my sides are still pretty tender from the lipo and its uncomfortable. I tried to lay on my side last night, and that lasted about 5 minutes. My nipples are also quite tender, and as I understand it, this is very normal from the stretching of the nerves. I've been doing the breast massage my surgeon recommended several times per day. My incisions are totally healed and look great. They are not sore really much at all. My stomach muscles are doing well, and only hurt a little if I cough, laugh, or sneeze now, which is a HUGE improvement! Each day I get better and I'm really encouraged.
Two days ago I saw my surgeon and she drained a small (40cc) seroma on the right side of my abdomen. It looked like some old blood and fluid was accumulated there, likely from when that drain was removed. It felt great to have the fluid removed. The needle didn't bother me, as my skin is fairly numb still. It is not likely to need further drainage and seems to be doing fine now.
I put my hospital scrubs on this morning and they about fell off of me. Even though I feel swollen and bloated, apparently I'm skinnier.
I wore my new compression garment under my scrubs and it seemed to work pretty well. Its kind of a one piece, zip up that I got on Amazon for $65 (Fajate brand) and its relatively comfy. I'll post a few pics.
I'm still sleeping on my back on a wedge pillow, and thats driving me a little crazy. I'm normally a "side sleeper", but my sides are still pretty tender from the lipo and its uncomfortable. I tried to lay on my side last night, and that lasted about 5 minutes. My nipples are also quite tender, and as I understand it, this is very normal from the stretching of the nerves. I've been doing the breast massage my surgeon recommended several times per day. My incisions are totally healed and look great. They are not sore really much at all. My stomach muscles are doing well, and only hurt a little if I cough, laugh, or sneeze now, which is a HUGE improvement! Each day I get better and I'm really encouraged.
Replies (1)
January 10, 2016
I understand your sensitive nipple concerns. My right nipple was super sensitive a week or two ago, but it's getting better. Meanwhile, my left one was completely normal.
January 10, 2016
Mine are still sore, but they seem to be getting a tiny bit better each week. I think it just takes time for those stretched nerves to adapt and calm down. They look normal, but feel bruised.
Replies (3)