120 Lbs Weight Loss = Tummy Tuck Time - Mount Vernon, WA

Since I was a year old I have been overweight/obese. I figured I would just be fat and gross for the rest of my life. Finally, my junior year in college, I got on the scale and it said I was 280lbs. HOLY COW... literally COW. I wanted to die. I couldn't believe I did this to myself. I just looked at myself in the mirror and cried. I had had it. I made a promise to myself that same day that I would do whatever it took to lose that weight, be healthy, look better, and most of all, I just wanted to be happy. At first, I was so embarrassed of myself that I would get up at 5 am every morning and do a workout just so people would not see me. In 5 months I lost 80lbs. Then I got pregnant, had a horrible pregnancy, and gained 65lbs. I was again depressed at myself for a little while after the birth, but then I snapped out of it and finally decided I was the only one that could change me if I was unhappy and I started working out again and dropped those 65 lbs plus another 40...of course, my husband and I decided to have another baby. I only gained 35 pounds with my 2nd, but lost most of it all quickly. After all that weight gain/loss/gain/loss, I was left with a not so pretty tummy. I do not blame my children because it was a mess before I even got pregnant. ha! I am 5'10 and I am tired of looking way bigger than I should look.

So a couple months ago I decided it was time to get a tummy tuck. I had been researching it for over a year and I went to go see some plastic surgeons to see what they all thought. My husband and I picked the doctor we thought was best and scheduled the surgery date for May 4th 2012.

So lets get all the bad things out first: The surgery went good, except for the fact that I woke up in extreme pain (they gave me meds fast that really helped) and I was so super nauseous and I kept gagging like I was throwing up but nothing was coming up. That hurt really bad. They told me it was a reaction to the anesthesia. The nurses kept trying to get me up and walk, but every time I moved I wanted to puke. It was horrible. Finally, about 8 hours after I got out of surgery, I got to go home because I didn't feel sick anymore. I pretty much laid in bed for about 3 days and only got up to go to the bathroom. I wasn't in pain, I was just really tired.

This may be TMI, but its worth saying for people who may suffer from this. The worst part of the surgery was the constipation. I am very active and I am used to going to the bathroom about 2 times a day. I didn't go for a whole week after surgery. I had horrible stomach pains for about 3 days before I finally was able to go. I have never in my life been constipated and I never want to be again. The doc did give me stool softeners, but I guess they didn't work. This was the WORST part of the surgery.

The only other problems I had was the blisters I got because I was allergic to the tape they put on my belly after surgery. Plus I got super itchy from the pain meds. haha.

The pro's? Just look at the pics and see for yourself. :)

So far, I am very happy with the results. I did not get lipo with my TT because I plan on going back in for a circumferential body lift next year and I figured if I need lipo to contour my body, than I will get it then. I think my doctor did a WONDERFUL job. I am only 3 weeks PO but as of right now I am so happy with it. I finally got my last drain out today and I am ready to get some new clothes! :)