57 Year Old, 60 Lb Weight Loss, Tummy Tuck & Bit of Liposuction & Some Facial Fat Grafting (Why Not I Was Already Asleep!) - MA

So here I am one month and a couple of days. I have very little pain, more like tiny tweaks when I get in and out of bed, sneeze or cough (I do not fear the sneeze anymore!). I decided to start treating the scar though mine is very low, thin and mostly white. I do have 3 small areas that are red and one of them is one of the drain sites that I accidentally pulled in my sleep.

I bought the Scar-guard MD and for the life of me cannot get it to stay put. It simply peels right off so I cannot tell you if it works or not. My doctor actually said vitamin E oil is an option but it is greasy so...

I graduated to a new CG and hate this one equally. I just do not like the feeling. I wear it because Dr. H told me to and I want to do everything I can to increase my chances of success. I do not have to wear anything at night anymore though so for this I am happy!

I have been back to see my trainer and he has been vigilant about not having me do anything that engages my abs even secondarily. I am glad to be back and working hard at not working too hard! I cannot wait until I can do everything again and go back to a full routine and 6 days but for now it is what it is. I do tire much quicker then before the surgery and while I find this frustrating, I have to accept that my body is still using a lot of energy to heal.

In the mornings I smile with amazement when I see how flat my tummy is and how narrow my hips are - is this really me?? Then by about 4 in the afternoon the swelling becomes more noticeable to me and I can feel the pressure. I hate this but accept that swelling is all a part of the process. It does not discourage me or make me fear something is wrong.

Although I was at my goal weight the day I went in, I have lost about 5lbs but think that is because I eat less to avoid the feeling of pressure and swelling.

Here are some things I learned:

The good: I was a size 8-6 when I went in depending on the brand. Now I am a 6-4 depending on the brand (and time of day for now). The scar line is very low and any residual scarring in the long run will still be less and better than the huge two finger width scar I had prior that ran from my belly button to the top of my pubic bone (from myomectomy and hysterectomy). I will be able to wear a bathing suit, proper sized tight dress and won't need blouses or shirts that are purposely long anymore! I will have the body I worked so hard to achieve.

The bad: I hate the CG. HATE HATE HATE. The late day swelling is uncomfortable and I am impatient and would like it to stop now (although I accept it is the process). I miss full workouts with my amazing trainer Peter Helmes (Vigor Transformations in Newton MA), and the additional 3 days of cardio (but again it is about process). I hate that I tire more easily than I am used to.

Misc: I still have some seriously numb areas across my tummy and I know this can take a year and that there may be some spots that never come back. I pee a lot more than I used to but that seems to be tapering off. I wonder if it had to do with the original compression belt I came home from the hospital with.

Tips: Accept the swelling as process; wear the blasted CG; avoid salt and soda; don't over do it; eat multiple small meals vs large ones.

Was thrilled to be back with my trainer. As expected, I could not do everything I could do prior to TT. We had to severely limit any AB work (even secondary AB work) and I got tired faster than I am used to. Ok...to be expected but glad to be moving in the right direction. Today I see Dr. Howrigan and she will remove the last of the stitches and I will be asking her the best way to now begin treating the scar. I will let you all know what she suggests!

Very happy I did this. Actually, I did not waffle once I made up my mind. Like most things I do, I plow right in. The pain for the most part if gone. I get occasional twinges mostly where the drains went in but pretty much nothing when I get in and out of bed. Most of the scabbing is gone and there are only two spots where the scar looks red (the rest is barely noticeable) and I had full TT and flank Lipo and face fat grafting.

Sneezing, coughing or hard laughing can cause a little pain but totally tolerable. I notice I pee a zillion times more than I used to and as the day goes on I swell a bit. Although I HATE the CG I wear it faithfully (24-7 actually)....the Maidenform Flexee in the day and the band from the hospital at night. What I hate about the Flexee is I am large chested and it pushes against the underwire in my bra and against by boobs so by the end of the day, I am miserable. But I will suck it up buttercup cause I have come waaaaaaaaaaaay too far.

I see the wondeful Dr. Howrigan tomorrow and get the last stitches out and I am allowed to go back to my trainer (who btw is awesome and I credit him for helping me through this whole process - from weight loss to doing so well post-op. His name is Peter Helmes and he owns Vigot Transformations in Newton, MA).

She said I can do cardio, arms, legs...just no ab work or deadlifting for now. I cannot wait until I am back full force. I do wish the swelling would go away and that I could ditch the Flexee but for now I have to do what I have to do.

I am a happy woman!