2-days Post-op: 43 Y.o., No Kids, 5'5", 175 Lbs, Standard Tummy Tuck/Lipo- Pismo Beach, CA

I tried to have children in my twenties and I last two pregnancies. I figure I've lived long enough now that I know I'm not having children so I'm focusing on my future without that possibility. I have always (since childhood) carried a load of fat in my mid-section even when I was running and going to aerobics as a lifestyle. Even as a child my mean Big Brother called me Jabba the Hutt and told me there were ditches because I laid on the ground (and many other mean things consistently for many years until my self-esteem was beaten to a pulp) so I am sure there's some mental scars there. Anyway, I eat very good. I can eat too much sometimes but no binging style eating and no fast food, candy, cookies, donuts...to explain how disciplined I am. My fat rolls are the type of fat that pushes up my boobs when I sit down. I always wear frumpy clothes to hide the rolls. I won't even tuck my shirt in even if it's encouraged for a company photo. I work in a professional office setting and I feel that my insecurities with a lot of professional outfits that keeps me from wearing them would be hurting my career growth. That probably sounds silly but I just look at my competition and it is a characteristic that sets us apart. When I starved myself to my lowest weight 10 years ago, my face arms and legs were skeletal and my hip bones stuck out and my ribs showed yet the shape of those fat rolls always remained just in a smaller version. That was incredibly frustrating. I could not get rid of them even if I worked out 2 to 4 hours a day. Sorry, I have a life and I'm not going to do that. So after many years of dreaming, I finally realized I don't have to be a celebrity to give myself this tummy tuck gift and my husband is very supportive. People are living longer these days we might as well make ourselves during the roller coaster ride. Yesterday at 1 Day post op I had some rough spots in my fresh recovery and I even threw up a little bit so that was a bummer. Here I am today, two days post-op and happy and spunky in a way; today I washed my hair in the kitchen sink and took the dogs for a very slow walk for about a mile. I have had enough surgeries (including back surgery and a breast reduction) to know that this kind of recovery isn't possible without a skilled surgeon. Yesterday I went in for my first day-after post-op appointment and the Doc took off my garment so I got to look at my pretty, smaller tummy for the first time. I like my whole self a little more for the first time possibly ever...fresh wounds, bandages and all. My shape is smooth...no more "lady lumps" as my husband affectionately called them. I took before pictures the day before the deed and when I get a chance to get after pics I will post some to share.