4 weeks PO - LOVING IT!!!!!

I had a tummy tuck with lipo on the thighs, flanks & upper back on November 1, 2012. My husband is the one that pushed me to schedule the first initial preop. I went to the PS that my next door neighbor had used, as well as some of her friends. I really liked Dr. Atun, I thought he was sincere and did not seem in a rush at all..either time I went int! I was sold after the first consultation. I had worked out regularly for years. I am 5'8" and weigh 160 lbs. I have 3 kids, 11, 8 and 7 and no matter how much I worked out or watched what I ate, I always had the pooch & saddle bags. At 33 yrs. old, I don't want to spend the rest of my life obsessing about what I eat or if I got a work out in that day and still not be happy with how I looked. Summer time is awful, I have a hard time finding shorts that fit...and they have to be longer shorts to hide the saddle bags. I am posting this at 6 days PO but will go back to day 1 as it's all fresh in my memory!!

11/1/12 - Surgery day - To say I was scared would be putting it mildly. I woke up at 1 am and spent hours reading stories on RealSelf.com and it actually calmed me down. I got a couple more hours of sleep in before heading to the surgical center. Surgery was scheduled for 8:30 and I was told i could expect to be in surger for 2 hours. PS came in, marked me up and mentioned he was going to do a little more lipo then what we originally discussed...which of course I was ok with!! Next thing I knew I was out of surgery and heading home. My mom & husband were both waiting for me and they told me I was back there for closer to 3.5 hours. My PS wasn't kidding when he said he was going to do as much lipo as possible! He ended up taking as much cc's as he possibly could, all along my thighs, flanks, and upper back...in addition to my tummy tuck!! Went home and dozed most of the day. I could only manage a couple bites of food but was not in any pain. Became more coherent around 9 that night and was suprised that it didn't hurt like I thought it would.

Day 1 PO - 1st day po was not so bad, though I made sure I stayed on top of my pain meds. Getting up and down is hard, recliner made it easier. Went to the PS for po visit, got to see my new stomach and I LOVE it!! My husband was very pleased with the incision. He told the PS that it looked like he had put my head on someone else's body because he had never seen my body look that good!!

Day 2 PO - 2nd day was a little better. Continued to take my vicodin so minimal pain. Walking to the bathroom is easier with vicodin in my system then without...so taking it like clockwork. Areas which got lipo'd hurt a lot more then my stomach. Drinking lots of water to help flush my system out.

Day 6 PO - Each day is easier then the last. Still having to take my pain killers. I could probably do with just motrin, but I won't be up and about as much and I need to get up more. Had a 2nd PO consultation with the PS and both drains are coming out. I guess all the water I drank (@100 oz per day plus tea. ect.) helped. Drains being pulled did not hurt, just felt weird! I am brused all over from the lipo as well as swollen so have no idea what the final product will look like...however decided I didn't care because I love my stomach so much! Love how low the scar is!

Day 7 PO - Took a shower for the first time...was sponge bathing up until now. Shower was great but tiring! I can tell I am already a little swollen without the drains, but figured I would be from everyone else's experiences I have read about on here! I am wearing my compression garment and drinking lots of water & getting up to move around in hopes it helps with the swelling. One thing that surprises me is how hungry I have been lately; I am trying to eat good, but it seems like I am constantly hungry. PS says I lost blood so I am low in iron, maybe that's why all I can think about is a thick steak!! I took pictures today. Haven't lost much weight, but PS says for every cc he took out, he put another cc of fluid in. Really wish I could nap more during the day as I am exhuasted....but I just can't seem to fall asleep!