Seeing my belly button for the first time since I had my first kid

I wanted to pay it forward and leave a review of my experience since I spent so much time on here during my decision making stage. I had an abdominoplasty with diastasis repair and breast augmentation with Dr. Tiffany Ballard (and hernia repair by another surgeon). I'm 12 days post-op and feeling great today. I'm still swollen, a little bruised and a little hunched over, but overall feel like I'm recovering very quickly. I'm not doing much as far as activity goes and have only been focusing on nutrition and gradually straightening up when I walk. The first 3 days were painful, but managed well enough with prescription pain meds. The next 3 days I felt pretty tight and swollen, but the discomfort was managed with Tylenol after day 4. I had my follow up appt on day 6 post-op. Some stitches were removed then and my drain was removed (I only had one). Each day I wake up feeling noticably better (less swollen, pain free, less hunched over). On my next follow up appt we will discuss scar care. My incision is below my underwear line. My breasts are still swollen, as well as my belly. I'm pleased with the whole experience so far. I'm seeing my belly button for the first time since I had my first kid (almost 13 years ago) and that makes Dr. Ballard my new best friend. It's important that she's board certified, but also important that she takes an artistic approach to her work. I'm looking forward to my next update.

Two weeks post-op. Still swollen around navel and lower abdomen. Breast are still a little swollen (left more than right) and sitting high. Overall the swelling is decreasing faster than I anticipated and I'm feeling good. 2nd post-op appointment is still 2.5 more weeks away.

Sort of hit a wall with the swelling that stopped decreasing. Those salty pumpkin seeds probably didn't help (but I couldn't stop eating them). I also started some light exercise which probably increases the swelling. I researched DIY lymphatic massages and chose what I think is the best and most accurate information. So now I've started adding the massages, followed by drinking a bunch of water before I exercise. I don't know why I'm so surprised at how effective it he as been. I don't feel like the lymphatic system is talked about enough.
The swelling is decreasing behind my belly button so it's becoming more of an innie as the swelling subsides. I haven't started scar treatment yet. I'm still just changing the tape once a week per surgeon's order. I feel like that's been the right call though. I think the tape is what's forcing the incision to heal properly and in turn will make the scar milder. It's tape changing day, so I'll post a pic of the incision. I still have stretch marks, but most of them were removed during surgery.