My Turn Finally! Full Tummy Tuck and Vaserlipo for This Mom of Three. So Excited and Nervous!

Hi.. I am just about 4 months post op now. I have not updated in a while, sorry. Things go so busy. I went back to work the end of October and with the holidays it was crazy. I am doing well. I just started working out recently. I am doing Yoga and Barr classes 3-4 times a week and will be adding some time at the gym in as soon as I feel like I get some strength back. I have lost a great deal of muscle since I had hip surgery last year and the abdominoplasty in September. I am soooo weak.
I had the dog ears corrected and that was pretty easy. Just took a little while in the office. An incision and some stitches and in a few weeks it healed. I did have some trouble with the stitches to my incision near my groin popping through. A 4 inch area of my incision reopened in a few spots and was draining fluid and pus because of the irritation to the stitches. My body was not liking them. So eventually they found their way out with some help poking around for them. I went to the office to have them check it out and they removed some of them but for 3-4 more weeks I continued to pull them out. So now it is healed. I am so happy about that. I am still pretty swollen so it is hard to see exactly how I will look. My lower abdomen is still very puffy and right above my belly button is swollen. It kind of sticks out. It is discouraging that I am healing slow and I keep having these complications but I try not to think about it. Eventually I will get there but it is taking longer than I expected.
My belly button came out great. I like it. There is some sensitivity but the doctor says it will go away soon. It feels like a big bundle of nerves and I really can't touch it or bump it. I am getting injections of kenalog to soften it and the laser treatment will help also and reduce the redness. I think the shape is nice and it looks kind of natural. I am happy with it. I was very nervous about how it would come out so I am relieved that it came out well.
My lower abdomen I am concerned about though. I have a vertical scar where my belly button used to be and the skin in the area there is still very wrinkly and the scar kind of indents and there is a little extra skin there. It doesn't look pretty, almost as it did before around my bb and bothers me a great deal. I thought maybe it would improve as time went by but I am 4 months post op and it doesn't look like that will happen. The good news is my surgeon said he can fix it. He says there is some extra skin and either he can do a revision and remove some extra skin or I can do skin tightening treatments or I could do both. I was starting to think I solved one problem in my upper abdomen and now I am stuck with another problem in my lower abs but I am relieved it can be fixed and lucky to have a wonderful surgeon who is willing to correct this. So, I will continue to wait for my swelling to go down and in 3 months or so I can revisit the idea of a revision and or skin tightening. I am looking forward to that For now I will start laser on some of my scars. I will try to update my photos soon. Be well everyone and hope my story is helping some of you get by.

It is definitely starting to get much easier. At this point in recovery I am starting to get feeling back in my belly and numbness is subsiding. It's slow but I feel the change. I have good energy. On my feet mostly all day. I sit a few times to put my feet up here and there. I have a love hate relationship with my garment. The constriction against my skin kills me sometimes and other times I like the support. 4 more weeks of it, can't wait to burn it though.
My skin biopsies on my ankle an hip were benign and the scars from those are not too bad. He did a nice job. I'm starting to use Scar guard now 2x s day. On all the scars with scar massage 4xday for a few minutes at a time. I'm still doing the lymphatic massage 2x a week and I like going forvthat my belly feels good after. My last sonogram there was no fluid to drain. So happy about that. I still have swelling in lower abdomen and lower back butt, all normal. I will be having a revision for a for a dog ear and to fix vertical bb scar in 4 weeks. I'm told it's a very easy fix so I'm not worried. After that heals I will start the laser therapy for scars. I am really happy with my results. Over time it is getting better and better. Even in my most skimpy panties its hard to see the scar, so happy about that. I'm just hoping the inner thigh lipo results are good because as of now I see no difference. Im not sure if it was worth it. My thighs still rub. I know there is swelling still as it all seems to end up in lower abdomen, hips and thighs. It takes time so I shall see. Next week I can start exercise finally. Can't wait to get moving again. Will post pics later on when I take the garment off.

Well things are getting better day by day. Everyday I notice I am feeling better and better and gaining more energy. I am continuing with lymphatic massage. I'm still swollen and still getting a weekly ultrasound assisted drain. The pain from lipo is getting to be less and less. Overall I am very pleased with my new body.I like my belly button, think its looking cute and think it's healing well. Ive gotten a few compliments from people saying I look nice and my husband thinks it looks awesome. He keeps commenting to me :) It feels nice to hear after going through all this. I may have a dog ear on my right side but I'm sure it can be fixed if it doesn't flatten. Although I still don't fit in my jeans I don't need to wear long baggy shirts anymore to hide my mommy belly. I'm noticing the difference in clothing for sure. I want to burn my compression garment though. Only 4 more weeks of that.
I'm having issues when I eat though not sure if it's related or not. Feels like food can't pass easy down esophagus? Not sure why. Next week I will start laser therapy for the scars. He said he will treat some old hip scars for me as well and see if it helps them. I still didn't get results back from the growth on my ankle but crossing my fingers. I will attach some photos so you can all see the progress. Be well everyone. Hang in there.