48, 4 Kids and Finally Getting Tummy Tuck!!! - Grand Rapids, MI

Hi RS ladies!!! It is about 2 1/2 months now since my surgery and things are really looking good. I am in love with my new breasts!!! I bought bras at VS yesterday and I measured 32 DD(but this was VS so I am really a full C cup)!!! I am very happy with the fat transfer. I have kept most of the size and they are fuller just like I wanted and not too big, really just perfect!
My TT is looking great also. I bought two pairs of new jeans and one was 00 and the other was 0!! I have not been able to work out as much as pre-surgery so I know my shape will continue to improve as I am able to do more in the gym. One big thing from the TT is that I don't have to yank my jeans over the extra skin when I sit down!!!! I just sit down and things are fine! Yeah!!!
My incision and BB are pretty red, but the doc is doing a laser treatment at my next appointment to help with the redness of the scars.
My lipo areas are good as well. So overall two thumbs up!!!!
My recovery has definitely been slower than I expected but the results are phenomenal. I still have quite a bit of numbness in my abdomen but everywhere else is good. I cannot yet run like before surgery, but yoga is coming along.
My doc told me that he took out 8 inches vertical of skin on my abdomen and removed a liter of fat and transferred 170cc to each breast. I also had muscle repair, not sure if I ever wrote about that. The muscle repair has been the biggest discomfort for me, but it is getting better everyday.
Anyhow, I just wanted to post an update since the last post was about the temporary drain(which totally sucked and made me very depressed....I am so glad that is over!!!). I think the fluid distorted my abdomen and made the last pics look weird...so here are new pics that look much better.
I wanted to be sure and finish my reviews on a good note and tell everyone if they are considering Dr.Bengtson that he is a great PS and I sincerely trust him, which is a big deal for me. He even called me after I had the temporary drain in because I was getting very discouraged and he made me feel much better.
I will post after a few months to give an update. I hope everyone is doing well and I wish you all the best and Happy Holidays!!!! God bless!!!

At my last appointment two weeks ago I had some fluid drained from my abdomen. Over the last few days I noticed a bulge again and it felt like a waterbed when I pushed on the area. The office got me in right away and the doc drained the fluid again. Normally he would have me come in every day or so to have the fluid removed but due to the long distance I live from his office he inserted a temporary drain instead. It is somewhat uncomfortable to have the drain but it is definitely working because it is drawing fluid off and my belly is much flatter. I need to keep it in until Saturday or Sunday and then I should be fine. I will update next week to let all of y know the final outcome!
I hope all of you are doing well! :-)

I had a follow up on Monday with Dr. Bengtson and he drained some fluid from my lower right abdomen. The draining was not painful except for two times I felt a stab deep inside, but nothing too bad...I didn't even say anything because the pain went away very quickly. It is amazing to me that I have so little feeling that a needle can be inserted in my abdomen and I feel almost nothing!!! He said no working out for 7-10 days to see if the fluid build up is better and then just easier stuff. However, back to everything in one more month!!!!
The surgical tape was removed from my incision and it looks pretty good. There is redness but I think that will clear up in time. Dr. Bengtson said the belly button gets red from the strain of the skin stretching and that he can laser it at my next appointment to improve the color if necessary.
The doc said I still have swelling from the lipo and tt and should expect to lose a few more centimeters as that subsides. He said at three months I will know the final size of my breasts from the fat transfer...I think they will probably shrink some. He spent a lot of time with me and answered all of my questions. It was a great appointment. I really did get a good doc for the surgery!
I had some emotional ups and downs but I feel much more like myself now. I am sleeping well and I can move around at night much better than last week. I still have some discomfort, but nothing too bad. I have been able to get into most of my clothes, some even with the binder on!
I guess at this point I am looking forward to unlimited exercise, the end to swelling, the return of normal, soft, supple skin on my belly, and feeling as good out of the binder as I do in the binder.
That is about it for this week. Thanks for all of the support and encouragement!! I hope all of you are doing well!