Finally Got It Done!

Accidentally posted my last update before I got to upload pictures. These are from October (about 3 months po) and November (4 months po) 2021. I haven't taken more pictures since because it's just disappointing. In the first ones, my skin kind of looks odd (aside from the stretch marks) because I was wearing a faja just before and there was also some kind of bruising or something going on because of the chaffing from it at the top (under my bust). In the ones from October, I am wearing some tapes that are for reducing scars. I do think they helped.

So sorry for the long wait to those who have sent me messages. I have been so busy with school and work and family.
To keep things short, I have to have a revision. The left side is still this odd lump/pudge and on top of that, my belly button shrunk so bad I can't even fit a Q-tip in it to clean it out. Honestly, it's ugly and looks like a cat's butthole. I'm sad.
I spoke to the surgeon and he said he'd he'd do a revision but that it would cost me somewhere around $1500-1800. I don't think I should have to pay for them to fix their mistake, but I don't know if I have a choice.
There was a point after the surgery where I ended up with an infection (cellulitis) right where my left leg bends at my pelvis. I couldn't walk, it was so painful. I went to the hospital and they put me on morphine and checked me, did a scan, gave me antibiotics, and said I should go back to my surgeon and have him look into draining fluid that was building up. When I did this, he said that the doctors at the hospital aren't surgeons and aren't versed in what happens during these kinds of surgeries. He assured me all will be fine and to just continue the antibiotics that were given to me. This made me nervous, but I did so, and I suppose ultimately I am fine, but I don't know if that is the reason for the pudge (the use of only one drain rather than to and maybe that's what lead to the fluid that had built up there??) and the infection. After all this, I don't really trust him to fix this with the revision and I don't want to pay for an attempt by him.
One more thing... I don't know if this is normal, but there are many times even now (9 months po) that the area from behind my belly button down to my pelvis at the incision feels delicate/sensitive. Like it almost feels as though I still need a faja or some kind of support sometimes. When I press around my belly button area it feels kind of hard, and in my opinion, strange, but again, I don't know if this is normal. I don't like it though and until someone with experience tells me otherwise, I'm going to continue to be concerned.

I forgot to mention a while ago that while initially the total cost was going to be $10,500 , that changed because I did not get the lipo I originally was going to get with the tummy tuck. This was at first because my iron was too low (I'm anemic) despite my taking iron pills, but when they suggested I just come back and do the lipo later, I decided not to. They refunded my money (though they did try to short me $250 and I had to bug then until they gave that back too). Total cost of just this messed up tummy tuck was $6,500.

So, I had the drain taken out this past Thursday (7/29/21) and my surgeon had a chance to look at how things are going. My belly button is apparently starting to scar pretty badly and he recommended their medical grade scarring cream to reduce the scar ring I'll have. It would be $80 for a small bottle and I am just kind of over spending money right now, so I didn't get it (but I'll probably regret it later). I did ask him about the bulging on my lower left side and he did seem a bit concerned about it but said that we would wait until the next appointment in three weeks to see if maybe it adjusts with more healing or whether it may be fluid or something else that needs to be addressed. I check on it every time I shower and it bugs me. I'm thinking more and more that I am going to have to go through this process again because that looks like not enough tummy was tucked. I am moving about much better, still wearing a faja 24/7 except to shower, and sleeping much better. I still get some small pains some times and it still hurts when I cough or sneeze, but not as badly (still dread every time I feel one coming though). I still can't seem to stand up totally straight when I'm walking, and it is frustrating to me, but I'm trying to be patient with myself. If I have to grab something that fell on the floor I also get a little nervous to bend all the way down to get it (I do so very carefully), but I think it's mostly me psyching myself out. The steri strips still haven't come off even tho I read they typically fall off after about a week or so. I'm wondering if the faja is helping them stay despite my showers and whatnot. I'm not in any rush to have them off, so if it's not a problem, I'm fine with it. I guess I also hadn't realized how far back my incisions would go. Guess it's normal for some people tho?? Anyway, I'm still glad I did it despite the bulging and the likely scaring of my belly button. I didn't get any lipo, so I still have work to do to reach my body goals. I do have lots of pretty bad stretch marks, but I can live with those. The pictures I'm posting aren't great, but I think you can get the gist from them. There's also a lot of marks on my skin from the faja, so just ignore those haha