5 weeks post op. Couple new pics

5 weeks already. My days are pretty much back to normal. I still haven't attempted any exercise, as my abs are still sore. It seems as of lately, the upper area of my abs have ached. Still swelling as the day goes on, but it's nothing more than pms bloating. I can fit into all my clothes, but most my jeans tend to be low rise and the waist goes right over my incision. I don't want to irritate it, so I am still wearing my fat jeans, which suits me fine.

I started scar therapy last week. I am just using the mepitac tape. I like it because it offers protection to the incision site. I haven't worn my compression garment since my 4 week post op appointment. Maybe thats why my upper abs are little more sore.

The lipo pain is getting better by the day. The area is still sensitive to the touch, but it is minimal compared to where it started. My surgeon said I may want to consider a little lipo in the area above my belly button, as I seem to have a little fat there, but we need to see how everything heals up before making that kind of decision. Not sure I want to go there. It isn't bad, but is a tiny pouch if I sit and slouch over. One more reason to work on my posture.

Over all, I am so thrilled that I took the plunge and did this. No one else notices a thing. I disguised my muffin top quite well. It may be more evident come bathing suit season, but honestly, I don't spend much time in my bathing suit outside my back yard.

Venturing forward, I am looking forward to the residual pain being gone and seeing my final results.

Happy healing!

Post op 3 weeks and 4 days. Haven't been on here in a while. Just wanted to give an update. I am able to do most normal activities, minus the exercise, but am trying to take it slow. I am finally able to wear normal clothes again, thanks to spanx. I love wearing sweats, but not living in them! I feel great and each day seems to be better.

So, to back up a little, I got my drains out po day 9. What a difference that made. I didn't feel so isolated once they were out. I could make a quick appearance at the grocery or school pick up and no one was the wiser. I literally hid out in my house for the first 9 days, so it was nice to get out a little.
By week 2, I was feeling pretty good. Was still taking it easy, but able to do more. I was completely off the pain pills but still in terrible discomfort from the lipo, but the pills didn't help that. Overall, the lipo pain has been worse than the pain from the tt. I think it is because the pain pills work well on managing the tt pain, but don't work well on the nerve pain from the lipo.

Each day I feel better. The lipo pain is letting up and I have no real discomfort from the tt. My swelling has been managable. When I first got home, I was hugely swollen, but that was from the fluid used in the lipo. Once that subsided, I've had a good bloat going on, but nothing really uncomfortable. As the day goes on, I get swelling below my incision line and it gets hard, but is better by morning. And speaking of my incision, WOW. I've only seen it a couple times because it is still taped, but it is amazing. So thin. I start scar therapy at 4 weeks and am confident it will fade nicely.

Going into this, my greatest worry over the whole procedure was, is it worth trading the skin for the scar ? At this point I am saying yes! I know it is only going to get better and I am already pleased. I credit that to having a highly skilled surgeon. He is a miracle worker. At this point, my only concern is the lipo discomfort, but it has gotten better, so just hoping it continues to do so. I only had light lipo on my flanks, can't imagine aggressive lipo.

I will say, it is really important to have a good support system. My husband has totally picked up the slack and has given me the time I need to heal and get stronger. But, it did come at a price. My house has been a mess and I have had to let it go. I have cleaning ladies once a week, so it was clean, but messy. He was working so hard keeping everything afloat, that I simply had to look past the dirty dishes and junk everywhere. The kids were clean(kinda), fed and made it to school daily.....the important stuff.

I will add some photos later.

6 days post op. Wanted to do a little recap of my first week (almost) post TT. First day, complete fog as I could barely keep my eyes open from anesthesia. I remembering feeling fine as long as I didn't move and the only real pain was in my pubic area where the drains were. That was the pain that would prompt me to ask for pain meds. Basically, just slept through the day.

Day two, the itching started.Wow, I itched everywhere. I started getting benedryl, but still itched badly. Pain control was good and I got up and moving around with no problems. When I say moving around, I mean clinging to my IV tree for dear life and pushing it up and down the halls of the hospital.

Day Three, came home and took up camp on the couch. I started on a strict regimen of 2 percocet q 4 hours, soma q 8 hours and duricef q 12h. So long I kept on that schedule I was fine. I hurt, but nothing I couldn't handle. Besides the looniness made the experience a little more bearable. The swelling, WOW. I don't think the swelling was from the tt, but the lipo I had on my love handles. My doc said he was just doing light lipo and it wasn't a big deal. Well, I would hate to see what big deal lipo is.

Day 4, more of the same. My butt is swollen probably twice its normal size. I am huge. I know it is just swelling and that it isn't possible that I got bigger from having a tt and lipo, so mentally, I'm not bothered by it. I know it will pass. Physically, it is down right uncomfortable. My skin is hot to the touch, tender and every time I move, it feels like there is hot burning pain ripping my skin. I have also started to have to pee non stop. Think it is the pressure on the bladder from the tight compression garment and all the gas bloating. Started to back off my pain meds.

Day 5, first post-op visit. My first really bad day. Got nauseated, think the lipo pain was relentless and overall, I think I was just over the whole thing. I think the reality of the whole recuperation just caught up with me and I was tired of feeling like crap. Took me the whole day to get comfortable after returning from the docs office. Good news at doc was everything looked great. Got tape changed on my incision and go back Wednesday. My swelling actually went down slightly in my butt.

Day 6, actually had a great nights sleep. I woke up and found myself halfway on my side. I wasn't woken up in a wave of pain, but actually comfortable. Got excited today was the turning point and I was going to feel great. Got up and felt light headed and not all that great after all. Parked myself on the couch and am feeling somewhat human. I haven't had my pain pills since last night, so I'm actually lucid, but am planning on taking one and taking a nap.

I will get around to taking some pics at some point.

Happy healing!