I Now Recognize the Girl in the Mirror! - Walnut Creek, CA

It's been 1 year!!! When I started this journey all of the stories on this website were a huge help...but I always wished to see what happened after that 3 month mark. Not many posted pictures. After 3 months you're pretty much back to normal and my new Breasts and Stomach just started feeling like who I really was.
It took some time getting used to the new girls while running, now I hardly notice them and am not as paranoid about what kind of Bra I wear. Supportive, yes, but it doesn't have to be an ugly bulletproof stiff vest thing!!
I noticed that the super tight skin I got after the tummy tuck did start to sag a big. Even my healthy looking skin isn't as elastic as it used to be after having 3 kids and I'm sure that's normal. It need to be able to stretch a little bit to raise your arms!
I don't go around telling everyone about my surgery. But if I ever hear my friends talk about how they'd "like" to get a tummy tuck or breast aug one day, I don't feel too shy to pop up and announce, hey, I got mine done, totally worth it!

6 months! For the first time EVER (because I wasn't a fitness but before having kids). I was able to do a proper bicycle ab set and push myself by lowering my legs lower. I was always restricted by my separated and and protecting my innards from poking out.

I'm not too thrilled by how much stretch mark skin is left, and as time goes on my skin gets a little more relaxed and they are more prominent. BUT, I remind myself that I knew this was a possibility and my goal was to get flat. I needed a new evening dress for my husbands work function and wow I look smoking hot! Finding a dress I liked would have been impossible instead of fun without this procedure and I am so so happy to be lucky enough to have it done.

Ugh, for goodness sake I don't know how to get these pictures to download upright.

But mostly I wanted to show the scaring. The middle is really starting to turn white.

It's amazing how fast this month has gone. Those first six weeks after the tummy tuck were so slow, the next has flown by. I truly amazed at the difference just this last month. The swelling is really starting to go down, although at my last check-up Dr. B mentioned I still have swelling, but I'm already loving the results. I truly am so grateful for the opportunity to have this procedure done, and as imperfect as my body will always be, I'm excited to move forward with confidence about my body.

I asked my surgeon a couple of questions and wanted to post them here in case anyone else comes across these.

Can I sleep on my stomach: Yes

Can I go braless: Yes. Because I went with modest 350 implants (as opposed to 500) I won't have to worry so much about needing constant support.

Can I do chest presses and push-ups: Avoid them. Contracting those muscles will push the implants down and out. That's okay, I hated push-up's anyway.

Since I stopped wearing the binder, I've felt some discomfort sensations coming from my umbilical hernia repair, especially after I exercise. Almost like it's pushing out on my repaired muscle. It's been frustrating holding back from running as far as I'd like to not from pain, but from fear of ruining the hernia repair. He said that those kinds of feelings are still normal and will go away with time. Still I plan on keeping it slow. Also I cut my abominal abdominal binder in half and am using it almost like a hernia support belt when I exercise, hopefully that will help.

When do I know if I need replacement implants? He said he's never seen a silicone implant rupture, but I'll just not be happy with the appearance of my breasts anymore, and that would be the time to come in for a revision.

Again I am just so so happy with the surgeon we found. I get so nervous and worry about this and that, and he answers my quesetions i a way not only that assures me of his confidence, but also improves mine.

He asked me how I felt about the size I selected. 350's are exactly the look that I was looking for. I was so nervous about going too big, never having large chests before, I was afraid they would be cumbersome. However, now that I know just how fun they are, I find myself wishing I had gone 375 or 400. He said that when I do come in for a revision if I'm on the borderline of needing a lift I can avoid it by going a little bigger, which I have a feeling will happen down the road. But for now I am loving all my new curves.