48 Years Old and Fighting the Dreaded Menopausal Abdomen Spread

Okay, three months in and I'd say I'm mostly healed. My abdomen is still itchy sometimes, and I definitely still have a little swelling (everything is a bit bigger at night than it is in the morning, so I'd call that swelling). My measurements have reduced as follows:
Under armpits: 1 1/2 inches
Under breasts: 1 3/4 inches
Above bottom rib: 2 inches
Small of waist: 2 1/2 inches
At bellybutton: 5 inches (!!!)
Just above swimsuit waistband: 3 1/4 inches

When I took my pics this morning, I questioned if things really look much different. Then I opened them up next to the before photos and had a serious change of heart. I'm really, really pleased with my results. I have a small dent on the left side just above the line of my swimsuit bottom, and it's still kind of bruised there. (I don't think it really showed up in the pics, and I didn't try hard to make that happen.) Maybe it will go away, maybe it won't, but it's still just a big improvement overall, so I'm not complaining. My biggest regret is probably that I didn't do my arms, so if you're on the fence about that, I recommend going for it. Dr. Hagstrom is awesome at what he does, and I can't imagine trusting anyone else with this procedure.

11 days post op, I've decided I have enough info to start my review of this experience. My tummy was truly perfect most of my life, but about 4 years ago it just started getting out of control. Hormones, thyroid meds, nothing has helped. I trained and ran my 5th marathon last year, and even through that I gained weight. I'm 5'10, historically weighed about 169, but weighed in at 188 the weekend before surgery. I know if I'm still gaining weight then there is no point in getting lipo, so I waited to see if I could keep my weight stable for 3 months before I went ahead and took this plunge.
Dr. H did my full tummy, armpits, bra roll, flanks, and low back. I was awake for the procedure, as are all his patients, and it was fine. Yes, I could feel it, and yes, a couple times it went from uncomfortable to actual pain. That's okay, he backed off and gave me a break the (I think) 3-4 times I asked him. For the most part, we chit-chatted about relationships, kids, life in general, and I even told a joke at one point during the procedure. It was fine--not a picnic, of course, but better than general anesthesia as far as I'm concerned.
Here are my general observations/suggestions so far:
1. Since I came in from out of town, me and hubs got a room at the Hotel Vertigo, which is about a block away. We walked back to the hotel after my procedure. Very convenient. Left a bit of a mess behind (bloody puppy pads from #2), so left a note of apology and a $100 tip for the housekeeping staff. Manager called me the day after I checked out to thank me (!) and to inquire as to whether I was okay from my surgery and satisfied with the accommodations. How nice is that?
2. I know a lot of people recommend a shower curtain to protect your car/furniture, but we found the "puppy pads" were a better option for me. Easy to swoop into the trash and replace; I can't imagine having to clean off the shower liner when changing out linens. Yuck!
3. Seeing so many reviews (of liposuction, not of my doc specifically) where people talk about feeling like they didn't get results, I did a couple things that will help me know if this was a success even if I continue beating myself up when I look in the mirror. (And ladies--can we please stop doing this to ourselves? If anyone figures out how, let me know!) First, I took my measurements in all the places I was concerned about so I can track my progress that way. Second, I took pics, of course. Third, I have an electronic body fat measuring doodad I bought on Amazon, and I used it the morning of my surgery.
4. I would describe the recovery process as "excruciating discomfort". I didn't need pain meds beyond ibuprofen, but I was absolutely really uncomfortable. Day 1 wasn't that bad, but things got worse on days 2 & 3, stayed about that bad for days 4-5, then slowly started to be a little, tiny bit better every day thereafter. Day 8 was the first day where I really started to feel like there was a light at the end of the tunnel. I think the thing that's really tough is not knowing how long you're going to feel so crappy, so I wanted to give anyone out there in the beginning of this some hope. Yes, you will still be moving slow, feeling all sorts of weird things going on with your body, and have a hard time getting up and down, but if you're anything like me you'll be exponentially better on day 10 than you were on day 7. Hang in there!
5. I was able to drive on day 2, but it was pretty miserable getting in and out of the car. I'm lucky enough to work from home whenever I want, and I was fine to sit at my desk and work pretty much right away. Going to an office would have been miserable for me in the first week, but totally do-able after that. I suppose everyone is different.
6. So many women have mentioned wearing their garments for as long as 3 months post op. I can't imagine, ugh. I wore it 24/7 for the first week, and now I'm wearing it half time only. I also got some cheapo garments from Amazon (search "fajas"); they aren't as high quality, and not as breathable, but they work nicely as backups. And they're like $20. Especially nice if you're uncomfortable after your shower on day 2 and waiting for your garment to be washed and dried. I went to the theater on day 6 and needed something a little less bulky for under my dress. I got a really cute garment that zipped up the middle (front) instead of the side, removable straps, and it was a thong bottom. Me and hubs had a good laugh because he actually found it sexy. :) Don't get anything without a zipper, because trust me when I say you won't be sliding anything tight over any areas where you had work done. No. Freaking. Way.
7. Speaking of sexy, someone else posted that she had sex on day 4, and I really appreciated that info because I would have thought it would be impossible, but I was wrong. Just put your partner on his/her back, climb on board, and let the fun begin. Yes, Miss Kitty was a bit swollen, lol, but a good time was had by all.
8. Don't weigh or measure yourself too soon unless you understand (as I did) that things are likely to look worse before they get better. I've been about 2-3 pounds up since the surgery, and while two of my measurements are down about an inch (under armpits and just under breasts), most of them are the same or up (as of day 10) by about an inch. I can tell I'm very swollen, though, so no worries here.
9. The best way I can describe the pain/discomfort would be to say it feels like the soreness you get when you worked out WAY too hard while you also have a really bad sunburn. Basically if you stay still you'll be okay, but moving around or being touched is pretty awful. Again, it gets worse for a few days and then is gradually better every day thereafter.
That's all I have for now. I'll update with more info/pics around the 1 month mark, or sooner if I'm seeing significant progress before that.