Full Tummy Tuck Dec 15th, 2011 - Its Getting Easier - Ottawa, ON

Hi ladies, I am having my BR on July 6th and my PS and I decided that instead of cutting my healing scar open again we are going to do lipo just below my belly button and my mons and am hoping that will help the scar to ride a little lower. Its hard to keep out of the sun and not have everyone see it when it rides higher then my pants but it is starting to fade in color and get slightly smaller. Crossing my fingers that all turns out ok. I am so excited to be getting my BR after so many years of sore shoulders, back and never being able to wear the cute little bras. July 6th is my day (big smile).

Thought I would add some four month post-op pictures and share how I have been coming along. I think the scar is fading some. Still red but lighter and thin (i wish he hadn't used staples on me though cause I do have those railroad track little scars across my large scar) and I almost got a pair of bikini bottoms to cover the scar. I know walking and such will cause it to fall some but I think (am really hoping) that it is starting to drop some. I am still very swollen and about 3 weeks ago it started aching each day. I have had feelings back in my belly since around 2 months but it didnt hurt. It is now...worst timing too.
I am in smaller paints then before TT but you know how even when bigger you could suck your belly in to squeeze behind a chair or someting well I can't do that at all. It wont go in and its still very hard to touch. Hoping that when the swelling goes down I will get some curves again. Dont have any yet and I think that is the swelling but I didn't look to bad in this bikini so felt really good about that.
I am VERY nervous as I have another surgery on Monday (april 30th) that requires me to recovery laying on my belly. I am having a philionidal cyst cut out my bum so can only lay on my belly (praying side is possible) but scared because of the swellling and the way my belly is aching. Hoping that all goes well with this recovery too. My scar is thankfully still flat and smooth. Kimmers I found the Palmers that you recommanded and it does work great and smells even better :)

I decided to make a list of my pro’s and con’s as I am really coming around a corner and am really starting to realize my pros far outweigh my con’s.

PRO’S

1. Love my new shape in my clothes
2. LOVE my new thighs – even as painful as it was so glad I got lipo on them
3. Went from a size 16 to a size 10 (that’s awesome ?)
4. I healed very well with consistent pain for the first 3 weeks but not an unbearable pain or stinging/burning pain. Slowly improved each day after. Was upright by 7 weeks.
5. Swelling was bad but it’s improving every day. Wore binder for first 3 months almost every day (it’s been worn and washed so much its almost in tatters?). Feel that helped a lot.
6. Have all feeling back in my belly. The numb feeling is gone and it feels like my belly again.
7. Numbness gone from thighs - was worried for a bit that it wouldn’t come back as it was a painful numbness but I’m good now. Did I mention I LOVE my new silhouette?!
8. PS did a great job on my BB and my incision is very thin and symmetrical
9. PS and his staff are great, will see me at a moment’s notice, takes all my calls to his office or cell and reassures me over and over that he thinks the scar will still drop some more.
10. My family has been very supportive of me through all of this.
11. Had no complications during healing.

CON’S

1. High scar
2. Not fading as fast as I was hoping
3. Not as flat as I was hoping


Guess my Pro’s do outweigh my con’s huh ? I realize I have been very lucky. This was really brought home to me by reading some reviews on here the last few days and for some reason having my faith in my PS restored made me view it all differently (knowing he is willing to work with me to reach a happy ending helped a lot, I can now stand back and watch for those improvements he says will show). Some of you are going through so much pain for this, horrible pain or open seeping wounds and I was so lucky I didn’t have that. I’m not the only one with a high scar and it will fade like Bejewelme arms did (thanks for sharing that) so not alone there and I am very thankful it’s not a botched job. Have seen a few of those too. I had a supportive husband and daughter who helped me so much through it, from helping me in and out of bed, change my dressing, take endless pictures, help me shower to taking over the cooking, cleaning and grocery shopping with no complaints. My belly feels like mine again. In reading the reviewer of the belly I most wish I looked like (private I LOVE your belly) you mentioned four months out your belly still feels like there is cardboard underneath it, I’m lucky to have all feeling back in mine so that is another pro.
Only had 3 cons and even then only 1 is a big one to me. I might not be as flat as I was hoping but I need to be realistic in what my PS was able to do with what he had to work with. I can continue to lose some more weight and as the swelling continues to go down I think my shape will start to look more womanly (hourglass shape). I have decided to just have faith in Time and my PS – my scar can still drop and it’s not done healing and fading yet. I’m panicking to soon (as a few of you have pointed out to me – you know who you are – thank you ladies, I could come to love it yet. We’ll see in 7 months about the scar revision (was thinking maybe just a bit more lipo might help instead of needing scar revision – if right above incision and my pubic area was lipo that might help. Above incision wouldn’t stick out as much causing the scar to ride so high and if my mons was done my panties could reach a bit higher if didn’t have to cover such big mound, we’ll see then as there is other options) even then I just might wait and give it the required year and reassess then. Mostly I am going to stop stressing over it. I will keep talking to my PS (together we will reach a happy medium), continue doing my scar massages to help it along in its healing and keep taking pictures to track my progress. I might still struggle along this journey but hope my new outlook will make it easier and I know you ladies will help too. I’ll post pictures again at my 4 months. I think I’m going to change my status to “worth it” (big smile).