Mommy Makeover, 3 Pregnancies, 91 Months of Breastfeeding, Diastasis

I found the reviews and pictures on Real Self to be the most helpful so while I am recovering I will aim to post notes and pictures to help others. 

I had my procedure with Dr. Ladak who is just a very nice, soft spoken Doc with an excellent resume. My primary goal was to repair my separated abdomen, which I have already done a ton of physio for. I also really disliked my loose skin from the 60 lbs I lost and gained three times. I requested a letter from Dr. Ladak indicating this repair as medically indicated as I have low back pain, incontenence & do not have core strength due to my Diastasis Rectus. This will allow me to write this portion off on taxes and perhaps run through my health spending account. For me the Breast Augmentation was more optional and I went for a “refill” to restore the natural shape. I did not want a lift so I ended up with 400 cc High Profile Silicon implants under the muscle in order to fill my loose skin up without requiring a lift and to have a more natural bust. Teresa is Dr Ladak’s assistant and she is excellent. Booking a consult comes first and then you go for a sizing. Interestingly the sizing was quite straightforward. I wanted a smaller look as I am athletic so Dr. Ladak helped to pick a size that was proportionate 385 cc.

I had a morning surgery arriving at 7 am and after meeting the nurse & Dr. Ladak for Sharpie drawings (landmarking) I was right to the OR. I quickly went to sleep and don’t remember a thing. During the surgery he actually placed a 400 cc implant as that was what looked the best. Under the muscle will settle and look about 50 cc smaller than over the muscle. I had 980 grams of excess skin removed and 120 cc of liposuction on the flanks to even out my abdomen.

I was very weak after as my BP was low from the medications. You basically cannot use your arms or core muscles so be prepared! You cannot stand up straight and you will have a drain to manage. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND renting, buying or borrowing a lift chair so you can sleep in it and stand yourself up. I rented a lift chair from Healthcare Solutions for $100/week with another $100 for delivery & pick up. I also got a big reading pillow. I picked up a few button up PJ tops, slip on slippers and hospital underwear (basically shorts undies that you can tuck your drain in). I also had my heating pad, cozy robes & scrunchies.

I was very Fortunate to be away from my kids and home and stayed at my sisters. She did everything for me. I couldn’t even open child locked pill bottles, do my hair or position pillows. This got better over time but the weakness was surprising. It hurt to pump soap from the bottle! The pain was manageable with medications, I had many people tell me not to fall behind on my pain meds so I stuck to a schedule. I also took Restorilax, drank tons of fluid and ate fruit, bran muffins, fibre one bars to prevent constipation. I drank chocolate milk, ate nuts, yogurt and precooked hard boiled eggs (high protein) and took vitamin C, Multivitamin & Probiotics to help with healing.

I’ll post some photos as I go and hopefully you find them helpful.

Had to leave the house today. Walking hunched over I made it in to the check up. Unfortunately my blood pressure dropped and I had a Vaso Vagal nerve reaction and felt quite Sick. I had to just lay in the chair, drink juice and wait to feel better before I was allowed to walk. My incisions apparently look great although I think they are atrocious. The swelling is yucky I try not to look much I can’t wait for it to look more natural. I’m pretty sore today as I’m on regular Tylenol now & Advil. I can really feel the soreness all over and my back kills when I walk. Heating pad is a must.

Ok day 4 & 5 sucked. I had no more Percocets and the Tramacet made me so tired I only took it at night as I was too uncomfortable to sleep well. Advil & Tylenol were not as strong odviosly. It didn’t help that my lift chair was broken (was stuck in recline) and they brought me a new one that was not as comfy. GET THE GOLDEN BOY lift chair rental from Health Care Solutions in Edmonton, trust me on this. It wasn’t pain in my incision but my back killed if I got up to move around as I’m bent over & have no core to hold me up. The swelling & healing is itchy & tight.
I keep eating protein all day long, using Restorilax daily and having fibre foods daily (bran muffins, Muslix cereal). It is hard to eat much with the swelling & binder on! I’m regaining my arms back with full range of motion though! I can shower sitting on a high step stool (with great effort) which is great.
Definitely depressed day 4&5 with lack of sleep, so uncomfy & missing my family. I figured out to take 2 Tramacet & use tons of comfy pillows (like 6) all around me and I got my sleep back!

I went home day 6, yay! I was shocked at how little I could do. I cannot lift the milk, I have to sit at a chair to make toast & I can only put a few dishes in the dishwasher. I have three demanding kids that I’m used to doing everything for. My husband had them for one week and kept the house looking great but he looks like he is fully burnt out. I still cannot sleep laying down, it makes my heart pound. Anyway I have read upright sleeping is best for healing & reducing scars so I sleep on our sectional chaise lounge with pillows all around.

Day 7 my sister drives me to the surgical centre at meadowlark mall for my follow up. My steri strip tape comes off & my drain is removed - yay! The nurse said my incision is almost healed and my breasts are starting to soften. My belly button will take time to heal but looks just fine.

Dr Ladak said I had a large gap (diastasis) that he repaired all the way from my breastbone to my pubic bone. I also had a hernia behind my belly button that required a lot of work. So no wonder I am sore! Teresa is sending me a note for my abdominal repair so I can send it through my health spending account & im also planning to write it off for taxes. I am so excited to have my core back together! I have spent a lot of time & money on physio to fix it and on massage etc. to treat my back pain! I also have my fingers crossed it may help my bladder lift up in my abdominal cavity to stop my stress incontenance. Based on my research it helps many women & it would help me avoid another surgery for a hysterectomy & bladder lift….

My sister helps me at home carrying things to & fro and I have a housekeeper coming this week. I have my kids doing all kinds of things for me, I guess it’s about time they learn…