Leaving the Tummy Behind

This hanging skin has got to go. I would love a flat tummy and a waist and my PS says I’ll have one, but my biggest focus is to get rid of all this excess skin and fat that has plagued me through years of weight loss and exercise. Surgery is a month out and I really getting anxious. Will keep up the updates as we get closer. For now, despite being mortified, I’ll post my before photos.

I went in today for my pre-op appointment. Hemoglobin/iron, blood pressure, urine test for pregnancy were all fine. We took before photos in those lovely paper panties. I asked the office manager to send them to me, but she said they would send them when we have side-by-side before-and-after photos.
Everything was very thorough, as far is information about process, risks, compression garments and binder, prescriptions (I asked specifically about how to deal with migraines and anxiety, and felt like things will be ok even though my normal 800 mg ibuprofen will be off the table), pre-op to-do's (including shopping list, prepping, etc.). No swimming or traveling for six weeks.
Day before surgery, I can't eat or drink anything other than water, gatorade, and apple juice. NOTHING. Morning of surgery, just 2 cups of water to wash down my anxiety meds (which he requires me to start taking two days prior to surgery).
My first post-op checkup with be the morning after surgery. They will remove all the bandages, clean me up, and put me in my compression garment. Then I'll be able to shower the following morning and every morning thereafter. This is something I've been oddly worried about: I NEED my daily shower! :)
She went into a lot of detail about how Dr. Ahmadi performs lipo to ensure that I really will have a waist and hips. If that actually happens to this no-hips/no-waist girl, I will be floored. Trying to keep my expectations managed here!
She also tells me that I will be able to work from home after a few days. She swears that his technique leads to patients having very easy recoveries and that the big risk is that I will push myself too hard too soon because I'll be feeling and looking great. She's not helping with keeping my expectations managed, so I sure hope she is right!
I'm sure I'll spend plenty of time in the mounds of paperwork they sent me with tonight.
It's starting to feel real!

Well, I'm within two weeks, so I can't take good meds for this headache I have! Here's what's ready.
* Plan to stay with my mom for first week of recovery; she took leave from work.
* Lift recliner chair booked for delivery to recovery location
* Walker and shower chair available for use there too.
* Prescriptions picked up (Ativan, Tylenol 4, Toradol, Keflex, Phenergan, silver sulfadiazine cream)
* OTC meds purchased (regular Tylenol, Colace, Medihoney)
* Zip-front sports bras in two different sizes (due to axilla lipo)
* Zip-front house coat with pockets
* Slide shoes
* Super duper loose lounge wear for recovery
* Several wrap and shirt dresses to wear when I'm ready to leave the house
* Hibiclens (started showering with this ahead of time, because I am prone to fungal infections)
* Rubbing alcohol and Q-tips (surgeon requires cleaning belly button with alcohol before surgery, and then using Q-tips to keep belly button dry after surgery)
* Maxi pads and medical tape for incision cover
* Giant heating pad
* 100% cotton, smooth fabric, fitted tank top to wear under compression garment
* Protein shakes (lean muscle milk)
* Makeup remover wipes and moisturizer so I will feel somewhat normal!
My surgeon has slightly different advice with regard to recovery/prep compared to what I've seen here. I go for my first post-op visit the morning after surgery, and I'm supposed to shower daily starting day 2. No drains. And not much in the way of pain meds--only 10 Toradol pills and 5 Tylenol 4 pills! I start Ativan two days prior to surgery to deal with anxiety. Also, starting two days prior to surgery, I am supposed to shower with Hibiclens and wash hair like normal, but not wear deodorant, makeup, or any lotions, etc. Day before surgery, only clear liquids. He recommends alternating 8 oz hourly of water, apple juice, and Gatorade. Only enough water on surgery morning to get the last Ativan in my system.
I'm thinking of asking him to add chin lipo while we're at it. When's the next time I will have enough time off work to have no public face bruising? Then again, will I be miserable enough without a face wrap? Probably. :)