Starting my journey - the time is right

Total was the pre-op for my SmartLipo and C-Section scar revision. After loosing about 60 pounds through smart eating and exercise, the time is right. I have never liked my stomach but now it is even more evident as the weight comes off and the tone and stubborn fat does not. My fear is that this procedure won't give me what I hope to see and that I should have gone the TT route. Guess we will see. First procedure on my back in October 31st and then two weeks later is the front. I can't believe how nervous I am. I have never done anything like this before, especially nothing just for myself and not medically needed. Fingers crossed as I enter this journey alone. My family nor my friends know what I am planning.

I don't want to sound like a whiner so here goes- this hurt like hell. Not the during- I slept through it but the days following. I am badly bruised and numb, which you think would be a good thing but it's not. My back was first and I look like I got kidney punched by Tyson, during his hey day. Sorry but it's the truth. Back hurts constantly and on day 4 I couldn't get out of bed. Now let me tell you I didn't do any down time except the day of the procedure and I participated in a 3 miles walk for a great charity 3 days post op but I was taking care of myself and wearing the torture garment (my new name for the hellish device worn to make me feel fatter than I have ever felt before and like I can't breath 3/4 of the day). So therefore, maybe my horribly painful day Sunday was payback, but dang! I feel like I could have been warned and not slammed in bed like I was. Regardless sleep is hard when you can't move very well and this is from a lady who had a C-Section, Hysterectomy and Gall Bladder removal and never missed a beat. I realize I am older now but this has thrown me for a loop and has me second guessing the front side procedure. I'm sorry if I am scaring anyone but I want to be honest. I promise as things progress, and I know they will, I will update but today I am 7 pounds heavier then I was when I went in and he removed 5 lbs of fat so I am a little discouraged. Here's to progress- slow and steady wins the race!

They say in every experience you should learn. I learned that I am not going to blame the doctor in this one and blame myself. I don't know what I was expecting considering this was, for me, going to be step one in a two step operation that included my front and next after my back but I sure didn't expect this. Not that this is bad, don't get me wrong. I am not holding my doc at all responsible for any of how I feel, just now I don't think the next step will happen. I had not only the smart lipo to my back, flanks but due to the enormous amount of water I was holding onto after surgery (and still am) I started going to have a specialized massage therapist for LDM once a week at the cost of $100 a week for the last 6 weeks. For those who don't know LDM is Lymph Drainage Massage which concentrates solely on the area in question and helping move the fluid out of that area for more relief. OMG did I get relief, it has been wonderful. I honestly don't think I would have made it through this without those weekly sessions. I was starting to get pockets of hard tissue and knots under my skin in my back (still am) and she works on all those so that I am soft and have better range of motion then I have had since the procedure (maybe even before). Do this for yourself, find someone that knows what it is, and have this done if you are having swelling and hard tissue under your skin for the cannula. It will be worth it, I promise. Anyway, its been a little over 2 months and I have been told and learned during the process not to expect to see much skin tightening at this point but I at least hoped that I would have feeling back in those areas and I don't. I still have incredible swelling after taking my bra off in the evening and still am wearing my garment. In the pics below I have not even put a bra on yet for the day and you can see the strap marks. And trust me it's isn't tight enough to cause that but it has to support me. I see my dermatologist Tuesday to talk to her about smoothing and skin resurfacing to see if I can get rid of the "spots" but I think that will be the last thing on my skin for a while. Gonna go back and see about a personal trainer and stay out of the doc's office for a bit. Good luck to all and I hope your journey goes very well.