38 Yr Old 2 BIG Babies and 2 Csections Left Me with Muscle Separation, Loose Saggy Skin and Apron Overhang. - Los angeles, CA

Despite its ups and downs. I am loving this. This process takes time to heal. But the good thing is you get to enjoy every minute of its benefits way before you're finally healed. I still have swelling. I still feel sore. BUT... In the end I look way better than expected. I still have the "phantom belly" syndrome. I have to constantly remind myself that I don't have the apron anymore. I keep slouching and reaching for the skin to hide it and it's gone! I can't believe how lucky I am to have had this procedure

Been waiting to wear stuff like this for years! Finally! I am so happy.

So as of today it's 18 DPO. And let me say that this swelling is insane! I know the part of the process but It can be a bit uncomfortable when it gets bad and cause me to hunch over more. it's a reminder to ease up on the activity and let the body heal I suppose. I hadn't had too much swelling up until this past week. All of a sudden on Thursday I woke up super lumpy and super swollen above and below the Bb. The day before I was so flat and got a little over zealous and wore my waist cincher for the day. By 4pm I had to rip it off because it concentrates the tightness like a band around the waist and pushes all the swelling up and down! (Plus I had two glasses of wine for the first time in months which may have contributed). Nevertheless Thursday was miserable. I was SO TIGHT and hunched over. I felt huge. By Friday I thought it would be gone but no. I was still swollen and lumpy. I tried on some clothes at the mall and was so bummed out when I saw I had a ridge of swelling along the incision which looked almost like the overhang I had before surgery. ???? I knew it was just normal swelling but still... I was discouraged. I immediately tightened up my binder (i have been slacking on the tightness the last few days because it was digging into my skin), upped my water intake and bought arnica gel. I massaged the gel into the hard lumps on my back and all over the belly. By bedtime I was feeling flatter and woke up this morning super flat! I must remember that I am still very early in my recovery and will have ups and downs. And of course... Not to slack on caring for my post operative body! The pics on the right show me last night. Really puffy especially on the right side, Like a big love handle. The left is this morning. Notice the striations from the binder along my lower abdomen. Evidence that my binder was TIGHT! My bb is healing but looking a little like a slit! At first it was super big and round. Dr said it'll change shape a bunch before it finally settles at around 3 months.