44 Year Old Single Mom of Three (All by C-section) New York, NY

Hello RS family,
It has been a while since I updated, though I have enjoyed reading about your journey throughout this process. What can I say, I'm still all in and happy I made the decision to have my tt. It has been interesting settling into this new me and figuring out how to be comfortable in my skin. I've discovered some things about myself along the way. I think, perhaps, I have always been thoughtful about this body from my earliest memories. I remember watching my mother, aunts, grandmothers wear girdles and being told..." This is what a woman wears." Well grandma, a woman also takes control and does something about needing all those girdles! Go US!

I'm including some pictures...in collage. You'll see the progression of the scar left from the drains. I am planning to have the revision in April being I'm out of two half of March. In April I will be 8 months out so that feels appropriate.

I still wear my binder and suit often, 3-4 times a week. I wear silicon tape over my scar almost constantly. I'm going to start putting it on my navel...I think the scar is looking a little puffy. Still swell some in the afternoon and evening. But I'm happy with my results, with how I look in clothes now...no girdle!

Hello everyone, I had my three month follow up and the scar looks good for the most part. I've noticed that the incision line is very light...which seems to make the scar more visible to me. I don't know...I'm still using the silicon strips and will use them into the new year. That would give me four months of application...I may go even longer, I want a good result. I also use bio oil and the scar treatment serum purchased in my doctor's office.

My doctor wants to do a small revision by liposuctioning under the two drain sites. He thinks that will pull the areas down more effectively than opening the incision and re closing it. I want to do a bit more research and ask a few more questions before I go through with it.
Could you guys look at my pics...especially those of you who've had revisions. I don't know that lipo will lower my left side. The doctor said that lipo will smooth the area and reduce the way it seems to protrude out. I thought that opening the incision on both hips and angling it lower was a reasonable solution. I think he's concerned about my previous issues with closures (I sometimes have a hard time closing...hence all of the scar tissue).
Pics are from a couple weeks ago...no time to take new ones this morning...they give you an idea of how the scar protrudes a bit.

I guess life has returned to normal...well my new normal that is. My body seems to be healing nicely. I still have no feeling below the bb, but I know that will change in time. My clothes fit in new funny ways. So the tightness in the waist is obviously gone but my hips feel just as tight as before the tt. Still clothes look great...and these are not new, so I'm happy about that. I wear some form of cig and my binder everyday because I feel weird without it. There's some swelling in the evening but not too much usually. My "package" has gone away leaving my normal mons where it use to be. So happy about THAT.

I broke up with the boyfriend...healing just gave me no tolerance for neglect. I don't know if I found myself more alone than not because of the surgery, but he just fell off, our multiple daily contact turned into every other other day...idk? I think it started in July before the surgery and then recovery and his impending deployment just demoed our connection. So I'm navigating getting comfortable in my new skin without the help of physical intimacy. In any case, it's all good. I'm at peace and open to love...especially given the fact that this body looks damn good!

This surgery has meant so many changes and a good friend asked if I was happy I did it. I'm able to heartily respond YES. I wish I'd had it years ago. I turn 45 in a few short months, I successfully defended my doctoral dissertation (so I have a new title) and I'm determined to live life like the gift it is. I'm thankful for each and every one of you Real Selfers. My mother thinks I'm addicted to you all. My iPad shares my bed so any time I can, I check in on you all. I have my three month check up next week. I'll check in after that. I'm including a few picks of my scar progress and my Saturday running errands outfit (the top was pulled down for going outside)...lol.