Full TT, Lipo, Muscle Repair - Minneapolis area, MN

My reflections a year and a half later... As I was going through recovery, people would ask me if I thought it was worth it. That answer can be answered in many ways and can mean many things.
Was the end result worth more than the money I spent on it?
Was the end result valuable enough that I would go through the recovery again?
Was my end result valuable or beautiful in my eyes?
I told people that I wouldn't even answer those questions until one year after surgery. I read many reviews on this site where people stated with 100% certainty that it was worth it and they'd do it again. At my one year mark, I still wasn't certain I'd do it again. It cost a lot, and I have a large family and a lot of expenses, so it was not easy to scrape up that money, nor was it easy for me to spend it. Also, I was not prepared for the difficulty of my recovery. When I first found this site, I hadn't explored it well enough. Had I, I may have been better prepared, or at least had a better idea of what to expect. I think that would have helped my mental state. It was hard for me. I don't know that I'd want to go through that recovery again. I was in my early 40's, had given birth to 10 kids (all naturally, and the last 6 at home so I'm no stranger to pain and recovery), physically fit, regularily exercised, 130 pounds, but I will tell you that recovery was still HARD. Trying to get back into exercising 2 months after surgery was exhausting. I couldn't even do it for 10 minutes. Yes, gradually I worked back up, but it wasn't easy. I also had to attend a wedding 7 weeks or so after surgery, 6 hrs away from home, with 9 kids going with me, and I still couldn't stand up straight. Not fun!!!
So, one year later, I would've answered that I was 50/50 on whether it was worth it.
But now, 18 months or so later I am more toward 60/40. I do think it was worth it for this one major and one minor reason...
Major: My doctor also did muscle repair on my abs that were streched and torn apart by my many pregnancies. I likened it to wearing pants that were too large with a belt that was too small and couldn't buckle. The belt does no good. Well, neither did my muscles. Now, my core is SOOOO much stronger, I am a new woman. I am active again. The best place I saw this was while in the Caribbean on a stand up paddle board. I could FEEL my core at work and it was amazing. I am very grateful for that repair.
Minor. I do look better in a swim suit than I did before. Yes, I can wear a bikini, but the $8800 output does not outweigh the ability to wear a bikini for me. So I just consider that a side benefit. If my core were not just a great improvement in the quality of my life, I don't think the value of my appearance would outweigh the cost of the surgery for me. But I am happier with the way I look.
That being said. I still struggle with my weight, and keeping my weight down. (Currently I'm at 140, when I'd like to be at 130) and I still struggle with the way I see myself. I still have body issues. Sometimes I still feel like I look fat. Now I'm self conscious about a scar line that goes above all my bikinis. I still have strech marks from my kids. I still feel self conscous when my husband sees me naked. I think these are issues I'll deal with all my life. For some reason I thought surgery would magically take my body issues away. Silly thought right? I will always deal with them.

My final thoughts then... Was it worth it? I don't know. Am I happy? Yes.

On a scale of 1-10, how much back to normal do I feel? Regarding activities, I'm about a 9.
Regarding the way my body feels - 7ish. I am still really solid feeling in the belly. Swollen. And the ends of my insision still feel like I have a stich poking me somewhere. I am able to strech and reach up for something high, but I don't like the way I feel when doing it. My flanks still burn when I strech or when I'm trying to sit up straighter in a deep peice of furniture, or when my hubby rubs my flanks.
Regarding my exercize endurance, I'm still at about a 5. I wear out really, really easily. I plank every day and now I'm up to 90 seconds and really can't make it past that yet. I can do about 20-30 min on the elliptical before I am exhausted.
I don't have any pictures to post because there isn't much visual change from last month.

When I scheduled this surgery, which was fast... Dr had a cancellation and could get me in in 5 days, my first question was: will I be healed enough in 9 weeks to go on my scheduled Caribbean vacation? "Oh yes," he replied. When that time approached, I said to his nurse (who's always better at asking questions than the doctor is) and she said, "Well technically you are healed and there is no danger than you will undo anything, but will you feel like snorkeling for 2 hours, riding a stand up paddle board, hike the trails for hours... probably not." Which was accurate.

I did snorkel, but no more than one hour at a time. I did stand up paddle board for about 5 minutes (that was hard!!) I did hike, but no more than 20 minutes. My endurance for exercise has gone down the toilet after this surgery. Holy Cow! I didn't expect it to be that bad. Still who can complain about laying on the beach all day. Right?

Sadly my laying on the beach and too many "rum and diet's" and "painkillers" (a tropical drink famous in the Virgin Islands) gave me a souviner for my vacation: 4 pounds and swell hell. So as much as I hate working out with this low endurance, it's back to the gym I go.

PS I was concerned that my scar would get sunburned and it does show above my swim suit a couple inches. I found an excellent product by 3M, it's just skin colored waterproof tape. I put a new piece on everyday and it stuck even while in the water for hours. I didn't care if I had funny looking tape tan lines later since it's Nov in MN when I get home, it's not like they will be seen. It worked great. Never fell off once.