32yr old mom of 4, Tummy Tuck/Lipo/Breast Lift/Implants (350cc Smooth Round HP under muscle)

Hello!
I had a post-op appointment yesterday, and I have to say that when I see my surgeon having a hard time containing his excitement over my results so far, I feel really great!! I have not regretted choosing Dr. Pugash for a second this whole time, but somehow I'm just happier and happier with him and his office staff. So wonderful.
I was concerned about my belly button last week. After my 5-week photos where it looked fine, it started oozing fluid and looking crusty when it would dry... It was quite red and angry-looking, and I was concerned that the redness was spreading. I didn't quite feel worried enough to bother my PS's office about it, but did go buy some 3% peroxide so I could give it a good cleaning. Then I decided to (with very clean hands) roll up a bit of gauze and just stick it in there to absorb the fluid that was coming out. I did that partly because I wondered if the fluid was actually irritating the surrounding area once it dried, and also just so that I wasn't worried about it leaking out :/ Once I had cleaned it and had a good look, I could see some stuff in the area that was leaking. Hard to describe. Sort of like a scab, but soft? Anyways, I mentioned all of this to Dr. Pugash and he had a look and said he could see a stitch but was leaving it for now and he gave me a prescription for a topical antibiotic. So I'm putting that on twice a day. I felt better when he said that the belly button can sometimes take the longest to fully heal - apparently because circulation to the BB is poor. Good to know! I never feel like he's brushing off my concerns, he is always patient enough to explain things to me.
He also removed a couple of stitches that were sticking out from my breast incisions.
I mentioned again that my left breast had not dropped as much as my right... He said it will still take time, but that I am free to put some downward pressure on it every now and then if I'd like to. I guess that encourages it to drop.
I took my same old photos this morning, they probably aren't much different than last week's... Except that I had just put the ointment on my belly button, so please excuse the white stuff!! I also took a photo when my belly button was worrying me last week.
I've been on my feet almost all day today and the swelling started to make me more uncomfortable than it had for a while. So I'm resting now.
I'm excited that I only have two weeks to go until I can get back to the gym!!!!!!

Here are the fun ones ????????????
I also added a few side-by-side ones I just did.

August 14th marked one full month post-op, which was when I was allowed to:
• stop wearing compression garments,
•go get a (proper) bra fitting,
•start my scar treatment!

The bra fitting went well.... I knew that I would end up with a size that would sound crazy, because anyone who normally buys bras at VS or La Senza (Canadian) isn't really wearing the proper size.... Those places don't know how to properly measure, and their bras are not sized correctly. I already had about eight bras from La Senza because my size was always fluctuating and I could never bear to spend $60-$100 each on quality bras knowing they may not fit for long. Aaaaanyways, I am currently a 30G. It sounds insane, I know... But I don't think I LOOK like a 30G. I chose my implant size based on what I felt fit my frame, not based on a "dream size" so to speak. However, of the La Senza bras I had from beforehand, the 32DDs are a close fit. A bit small in the cup, but wearable if need be. Before the surgery, I was wearing a poorly fitting La Senza 32C...
Trying on all of the bras at the lingerie shop was just AMAZING compared to how incredibly frustrated I used to get trying to find something that I could stuff my deflated pancakes into before. I only bought one regular bra because I am unsure whether or not my boobs still have changing/settling to do. I also got a comfy bra to sleep in and to shlepp around the house in.... And then I could not resist the prettiest sheer robe. It is a Betsey Johnson robe and was on sale, so I treated myself (and let's be honest... Hubby will never have a problem with me spending money in a lingerie shop ??????).
The Scar treatment products I have were given to me by my surgeon. I asked him if he genuinely thought that any treatments were effective, or if it was just another money-maker for the industry. I love that I get honest answers out of him - he said that if plastic surgeons truly believed scar treatments were as effective as they all claim to be, they'd all have shares in the companies, etc. With that being said, they can't hurt to try.... What I have is by a brand called SkinMedica and I'm using their Kelo-Cote product. It's a silicone-based gel that you are supposed to apply in a SUPER thin layer onto cleaned skin. I am too lazy to shower/bathe twice a day (they recommend morning and evening applications) so I am basically only applying it after showers. Whomp whomp, I guess I am not going to be the poster child for scar treatment anytime soon :/ haha

Boobs--- my left boob has still not dropped and evened out with my right. My right boob basically feels normal and I've had regular mobility in that arm for a long while now. However, on my left side, I seem to be more prone to pain very deep in the armpit when I reach in certain ways. I'm now wondering if there is a connection between that and a shoulder injury that I had this time last year... It was mainly a rotator cuff issue, but my chiropractor at the time also had to work on the muscle that stretches kind of from your shoulder over into your pectoral. Basically the same one that is screaming at me when I make a movement it doesn't like. I will have to mention this to my PS on Monday.
The stitches that were poking out here and there have actually started to come off, so maybe by Monday there won't even be any left for him to clip off!

Belly button--- all of the stitches that were in there came out. There's still a chunk of gunk/scab that I gently tug on every now and then, but it does not seem to want to loosen, so I will leave it to heal. Ever since the stitches came out, the belly button opening seems more and more relaxed each day.

Tummy--- the incision is healing really really well. I am guessing that it will start to smooth out much more as the remaining stitches underneath dissolve in the next week or so... It seems like some portions have already smoothed out compared to prior weeks. I am pretty certain that I won't end up with a dainty little scar at the end of this. That's okay. I went into it with realistic expectations... I have stretch marks above and below (well, all around) my incision line, so that's not smooth in the first place. Plus, there is bound to remain some slight puckering when a surgeon has to join two lines of different lengths together. Anything will look better than what I had before :)
Swelling is still an annoyance each day. I love how I look upon waking... But it doesn't take long before the fluid starts to collect again. Patience, patience, patience I guess.

I got my period yesterday and holy sh*t..... Bloating and cramping while already dealing with swelling??? Shut up. This is awful.

I tried on some bikinis I already had prior to surgery... Was curious which ones would still work with my new jugs, and also with the TT incision. Took pics of them, and also of my end-of-the-day swelling just now.

Well, this was very long-winded!! I hope everyone is doing well!!!!!