Freaking finally, waited forever, and chose the BEST surgeon and staff EVER!!!

So it became clear to me that the pockets needed to be tightened about four months post-op. At my five month check-up with Dr. Richards we talked about it and I was given a date for revision surgery. A revision that the Dr agreed to do for no charge proving once again what an incredible practice he has because as anyone who's ever had any sort of surgery knows, results aren't guaranteed and MANY Dr's would have done even a nominal charge for the extra surgery!
THANKFULLY Dr. Richards has his own surgery center with a dedicated staff so even amongst the shut-downs the NV Governor rightly put in place I was still able to have the surgery. I had previously posted photos that showed the nipple asymmetry. There was also a small, extra bit of nipple tissue on both breasts directly under each nipple that needed to be removed.
I had the revision yesterday morning and am on my way for my first check-up and to get the initial bandages off so I don't know yet how things look. However, since this was a much simpler surgery this time I feel SO MUCH BETTER so that's a plus! Pictures posted show the bulge in my right side where the implant is coming out of the pocket and another photo that shows that in bras my breasts look good.
Again, I just cannot recommend Dr. Richards office, the Dr himself, and his entire staff enough. More updates to come as my breasts heal and crossing my fingers that this was the last fix needed!!!

So I had my official six week post op check up yesterday and everything was great! I was released from any restrictions and am healing great and right on schedule. Dr. Richards said that generally after the first two weeks the swelling decreases by 50%, but that it can still persist for up to another 6-12 months afterward. The stretched tight feeling in the abs will remain for at least another couple months as the body adjusts and occasionally there will be a burning sensation or a quick, sharp poking sensation as the nerves heal. Numbness will persist for some time also. By a year out the body should be healed and the FULL results can be seen.

I'm more than satisfied and every time I look at my before versus the after I still want to cry at the miraculous difference! Some days are better than others and I'm TRYING to be more patient with the uneven appearance of my breasts (see pics, the left one is fuller at the bottom and the nipple is lower). If it does not even out after six months I may consider a revision. It would literally only take another 1 inch by 1/2 inch tightening of the bottom vertical incision of the breast to bring them in line. We'll see. They still look good so I just have to BE PATIENT!

Another VERY UNEXPECTED after-effect of the tummy tuck is that it tightened my outer vaginal lips. That is the only way I can describe it. It didn't stretch them up but they aren't "wrinkled" and droopy like they were before from vaginally delivering three healthy babies. I'm not really sure how it worked out that way and I don't really care; it's kind of like I got an outer vaginal rejuvenation for free along with everything else!

I'm still wearing compression garments (Maidenform Flexees wear your own bra) every day AND to sleep in as the compression just feels better and more importantly, I swell up SO SO SO MUCH MORE if I don't wear them. I'm doing very well emotionally but I'm coming up on my second period after the surgery and I can DEFINITELY tell by how easily I've been tearing up the last couple days so I feel like there is some residual emotional upheaval from the surgery.

That brings me to my final thoughts. This surgery is a major undertaking and is SO MUCH MORE involved than many of the stories you will read or you tube videos you will watch. The recovery is no joke and involves many emotional upheavals along with the physical ones. In the first few days just walking to the bathroom feels like a ginormous undertaking that requires Herculean effort. Don't discount it, dismiss it, or downplay it! I've had an IDEAL recovery with full time help from my husband for my first three weeks (he was between nursing jobs). I don't work so I haven't had to worry about that and my youngest daughter will be 20 in two months so no juggling of little kids. I've had NO complications, necrosis, infections, seromas, hematomas, or even spitting stitches. AND YET... This kicked my butt HARD!!! PLEASE BE FULLY PREPARED FOR THE SURGERY AND RECOVERY!

My plans from here on out are to appreciate my new body and to get a gym membership at the beginning of this coming month. I'll be patient and wait to see if my breasts even out more, but in the meantime, I'm fully appreciating how they look in tight tops! I'm continuing to eat a LOT healthier than I did previous to the surgery and I'm loving the day-to-day changes I can feel as I continue to heal. I ADORE looking in the mirror at my cute lil belly button and FLAT tummy. Before this, I literally only had a flat tummy for about 7 months when I was 16 and I lost a lot of baby fat.... Before I got pregnant at a ridiculously young age and had my first daughter at 17. Even then, it wasn't as flat as it is now so to say I LOVE it is an understatement!!!

Lastly, as ALWAYS, I am thankful to my husband for being the best, supportive, freaking fantastic, loving man to me he's always been and to the amazing Dr. Richards and his fabulous staff for giving me this rockin' (mostly) new body!!!

THIS WAS WORTH IT 1,000,000,000,000 TIMES OVER!!!

No photos today but I'll make sure there are plenty after my six week check-up next Thursday.
So, yesterday my husband and I purchased a cheap reclining chair ($195 from Living Spaces) because I still don't feel comfortable sleeping on my sides and I am NOT a back sleeper. At least not according to the pain and stiffness in my lower back. Frankly, up until a couple years ago, I was a stomach sleeper my whole life except during the last stages of my three pregnancies, and sleeping on my back outside of the recliner in a *just so* position has made me feel like I've permanently damaged mylower back. At the furniture store it occurred to me that the price you pay for the surgery is the BEGINNING and not the TOTAL. So I thought I'd share some of the various other things that felt like necessities to purchase or have on hand both before and after the surgery. I understand everyone is different, so I know my list may seem long to some, but these are all things I purchased or rented or had that have been Mommy Makeover surgery related (in no particular order):
All prescriptions from the surgeon (I had four), probiotics, Arnica Montana, stool softener pills/laxatives, magnesium citrate (a less gentle laxative), multi-vitamins, additional vitamin C, a roll on pain reliever like asper-cream (for back muscle pain), a pill holder/reminder so you know what you to and when (additionally, thanks to my hubby the RN, I charted what was taken and when so there'd be NO confusion), flexible ice packs (two), two sets of easy on/off lounging pajama sets or clothes that you won't need or wear after you start to heal (they'll get gross OR soon be to big for you after the bandages and swelling are gone), a lanyard out two to hold the drainage bulbs while showering, a shower chair or bench or SOMETHING set up for you to safely and easily sit on while showering cuz it WILL wear you out the first 2-3 weeks, dial soap or hibi-cleanse, compression socks (for during surgery and the first week after), soft long tank tops for under the compression garment (one compression garment is usually provided by the surgeon), chucks (or use old towels/blankets) for any leaking that may happen, large SOFT pads for under the compression garment for making and comfort, bandages/first aid supplies (again, for any leaking i.e. the tiny wound from when the drainage bulbs are removed), any additional blankets or pillows you'll need for sitting and sleeping comfortably, protein drinks, Gatorade, sugar free juice, highly nutritious/low sodium meals or foods, a bowl or bucket for vomiting in the first 24 hours, a recliner (I rented a lifting recliner from a med supply store for a month and bought the cheap one eight days after it had to go back and I couldn't stand the low back pain any longer), something to do i.e. books/movies/etc. (even tho I'm a voracious reader I couldn't concentrate on anything longer than five pages for the first few weeks), additional soft bras (again, one was given to me by my Dr.) and compression garments (it feels better, more protected if you will, to have the compression and it helps with internal healing and fights the swelling), a silicone scar cream like biocorneum or mederma to help soften and heal the scar once it's no longer scabby, a gentle massager to help dissipate any excess fluid from healing (like in my previous post if preferred), and finally, if you don't have an entire wardrobe of clothes from your thinner days (and even if you do) you WILL be buying new clothes that fit your new body. You'll just have to and that's a good thing!
I'm sure I forgot something but that seems to be a long, exhaustive list. Today is five weeks and next Thursday I have my six week check-up.
Positive News: I'm down 12 pounds since my surgery day and am getting around so much better. I haven't had any emotional meltdowns down since my last posting so that's awesome! Most days I'm able to walk a mile without feeling like I just finished a triathlon. My swelling is barely noticable unless I eat crappy or do WAY too much during the day, so I've been learning what my threshold is and sticking to that. My tt scar and breast aug scars are healing so wonderfully I'm absolutely delighted! Lastly, I feel so much more positive emotionally, about myself, the future, just everything!!!
Negative News: Obvs my low back and sleeping situation. I get about 4-5 hours in bed with my husband before waking up in major discomfort. I've been moving to the couch the last eight days and get another 2-3 hours but the couch has made things even worse, hence the reclining chair that'll be here tomorrow. It won't be completely wasteful, it's smaller (cuz must recliners are huge and ugly) but it still fits my hubby, so he'll get naps in it I'm sure. My BM schedule is still not back to normal which is driving me crazy BUT it'll get there! Lastly, even tho it's normal, the feeling of being both numb on my stomach area but having the pulling/stretching/uncomfy feeling on the inside, esp as the day continues, is plain weird and I don't like it.
As always tho, this was a dream I NEVER thought was within my reach; having a *decent* body that I'm proud of and comfortable in after all these years (decades). I'm so thankful EVERY DAY, no matter what else I'm feeling, that my husband supported it and Dr. Bryson Richards, along with his staff and his skill, made it come true!!!