30 Year Old Mama of 2 Toddlers - Want my Tummy Back! Getting Mini Tummy Tuck + Lipo (Stomach and Back) - Seattle, WA

I am a 30 year old working mama of two perfect babies - 4 and 3 years old. I've been exercising 5 days a week for a year as I've tried desperately to get my pre baby bod back. I am still 15 lbs over my pre-baby weight. Currently weigh 150 lbs and am 5'7.
I think I've picked the doctor I'm going with and am planning on surgery the week before Thanksgiving- I have one final consultation next week then will decide.

Questions:
-I'm trying to decide whether or not to do a fat transfer to my now deflated, post-breastfeeding boobs. I'm personally against foreign objects in my body and don't want a real boob job-- but am thinking this might be a happy medium? Part of me thinks I just need to call it good though and not get too crazy. My husband doesn't care either way... luckily he's never been a boob guy.

-Time off: I have a very flexible tech job. I'm wondering how long I need off 100% vs. working from bed. Thinking a week is sufficient? Two weeks?

-How long before you could do HIIT workouts? My doctor says 4 weeks.

I'm getting nervous and anxious already. I still feel guilty doing this vs putting into our 401K etc but I've been working out so hard to try and get rid of this mess naturally to no avail.

I've picked my doctor and am schedule for November 16th. I had to pay 25% today. While he is the most expensive I met with I feel great about next steps and can't wait. Going to focus on losing the last 10lbs as soon as I'm back from labor day vacation :)

I'm 8 weeks away from surgery and getting nervous. My latest worry is that I'm going to go through it all and somehow still have my pooch.
Makes no sense but I wake up worried it isn't going to "work" and ill have gone through a whole surgery for nothing!

I'm going to start documenting this better. I've never had low self esteem and until babies had always been able to get over any physical shortcomings via exercise.
As you can see by these photos that is no longer the case!!! ????????

I'm capturing this horrible belly here so I can hopefully remember how worth it it was when I'm in pain afterwards!
6 weeks from today I'll be in surgery.

So far I've purchased
-arnica
-heat pack
-cold pack
-loose pajamas
-magnesium
-b12
-spanx

I go in for my pre op next week which based on reviews I've been reading seems early but they said they like to do it a month ahead. I'll get all the pics and medical info then as well as pay the full amount.

I'm hoping to lose 10 lbs before the surgery- I'm at my highest weight (155, 5'7) in the past couple years and don't want to get discouraged after surgery.
I've cut out alcohol, bread and refined sugar and am working out 6 days a week. Will post again next week after pre op appointment!

Tomorrow I go in and pay the full amount and sign all my papers. I'm extremely nervous. I have a list of questions for the doctor and am mostly concerned now about:
-my belly button getting jacked up
-an uneven scar
-somehow still having this stupid pooch

UGH!! Will post an update tomorrow with pre-op pics.

I had my pre-op yesterday afternoon. I paid in full, filled out all my paperwork, and got the run down on day of surgery.

Some surprises:
-I am getting no pain killers (!?!?!?!??!) I got the prescription list and was shocked to see there was no pain killer listed. I asked them and they said this is always a successful method - they tackle the inflammation etc via other medicine and you can take some tylenol.
I'm freaking out about this. I was expecting to be able to get zonked out and sleep.

-They want me to get up EVERY HOUR and walk around for 10 minutes. Yikes.

-They don't use strips post surgery. There is a special cream which I still don't fully understand but most of the reviews I've seen have shown Embrace or similar strips. We'll see.

-Zero alcohol or medicine/cold suppressants 2 weeks before surgery. Will stop nightly glass of wine on 11/1 :)

Other than that things seem normal. I will show up at 630AM on 11/16 and they expect the surgery to be 3 hours.


More to come!

My surgery is 3 weeks from today. Crazy.
Today I've kicked off my pre-surgery plan:
-zero alcohol
-no refined sugar
-no bread
-no dairy

I'm hoping during this final 3 week push I can lose around 10lbs. I'm still exercising 5 days a week and I'm sure cutting out my 2 glasses of wine per night will help :)

Other than that I think I'm ready. I'll be recovering at my moms house nearby for the first 4 days or so . She can focus on me 100% and without my little toddlers running around I'll be able to get some uninterrupted rest. I bumped my surgery date up by 2 days to try and make my Thanksgiving just a little more pleasurable. I'm used to doing all the cooking so it should be interesting this year delegating :)

I'll post photos next week at the 2 week mark and check in on my diet progress.

I'm sick in bed with the flu and per my pre-op instructions not supposed to take cold medicine. I'm going to call Monday if I'm still feeling crappy and verify that but in the meantime I'm sleeping and in bed -- NOT what I was planning on doing this weekend! I have so much to do to get the house ready. We have family coming the week after my surgery for Thanksgiving, starting to wonder what I'm getting myself into...

As far as recovery prep I've not done much. I have a couple big comfy pajama sets ready and am trying to compile all the TV shows I haven't watched in the past 5 years of having babies :)

Caught a glimpse of myself as I was getting ready for yoga. Want to make sure I capture this look so I can remember why I did this when I'm recovering!
Finally starting to feel better after a bad cold thank goodness.

For the first time I woke up at 3am stressed out over the upcoming surgery. Its Friday and my surgery is Monday AM. I have a super busy weekend planned to keep myself active and mind off Monday!

Will post again night before with final pre op pics

I somehow slept perfectly last night. Woke up to my alarm at 530, took a shower with the Hibicleanse and now waiting for my mom to get in the car and go to the surgery. She'll be taking care of me for 4 days or as long as I need. Nice to be able to have my husband/au pair stay focused on the kids at home while I rest.
I feel what I'm assuming are nerves- my stomach feels tight and bothered. I swear I'm having phantom pains :)

More to come on the flat side!!! Wish me luck ladies! Xoxo

I got to the center at 630. They marked me up and washed me down in the surgical room and I remember being so cold!
They asked me what I wanted to listen to, I chose Marvin Gaye, then next thing I knew I was sitting in a wheel chair and my mom was right there.
I don't remember the ride home but got in bed and slept.
Then I had to get up to pee and things went a bit south.
Over my garmet is a tighter wrap that has to come off when I pee because of the location.
We took it off and I wen to them bathroom and immediately felt sweaty and saw starts. I woke up in the chair and had fainted.

Anyway I've been back in the recliner for an hour since then and am feeling much better- working to stay hydrated and snack on plain crackers.

Haven't even tried to look at anything yet - just trying to get through the day.

Pain is around a 6 and super sore but otherwise ok. No nausea yet.

Going to sleep again- more tomorrow:)

I had my surgery Monday and today is Wednesday morning. I come in and out of sleeping all night and some of the day but am so tired and sore.
Took a "shower" yesterday - what an ordeal. I have a garmet under my girdle thing which in looking at reviews isn't totally common? I shower with this on then my mom blow dried it dry, taking about 10 mins to get fully dry. It's nice after my day 1 fainting episode to feel stronger.
At this point my back pain is the worst. That and getting in and out of my recliner.

I haven't seen my scar or stomach other than in the garmet yet so I'll post pics tomorrow

Patiently waiting for progress!

I'm feeling so much better today. Still sore but moving around much better. As you can see I can't tell much yet and am quite swollen. I have this white binder over a black compression garment that goes to my knees.

I'm staying at my moms house and looking forward to going home this weekend- missing my babes but i think the peace and quiet has been good for my recovery!

I can now get un and out of the recliner by myself which feels like a huge accomplishment.
I finished my antibiotic last night and am just on a mix of Tylenol and ibuprofen.
I slept 6 hours straight last night which was also a first!

Getting stir crazy for the first time today... so sick of the dang recliner.

I'm going home to see my husband/kids tomorrow and couldn't be more excited!

My kids are sick so I wasn't able to be with them much today. I feel good that it took this long to officially be over it but man I'm ready to get back to normal. I'll post after after my post op on Tuesday!
Feeling so much better and happy with things so far