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

I have struggled with my weight pretty much my entire life. Diets, exercise, and the all too familiar, yo-yo loss & gain. At 5'4", I was precariously close to 190 lbs and knew, if I did not get some kind of handle on my weight, I would tip the 200 lb mark.

I managed to lose 30 lbs on my own, but it was a terrible struggle. It was all "white knuckle" and restrictive and it made me plain old MEAN. Just the same, I managed to do it. I maintained this weight loss for about four years, thinking to myself...okay 160 is still too heavy but better than 190. Then I tried again, this time adding in the gym but going it alone. I did manage to lose an additional 10 lbs, got to 150 and again, here I sat for about 6 more years. Then I added a personal trainer, religiously went to see him and on off days, did cardio or two 30-minute walks as many days as I could. Instead of calories, I focused on carbs and guess what... I was not miserable or hungry! I dropped the remaining 20 lbs and never looked back. I have maintained this total weight loss going on four years now!

I made a promise to myself, that if I was able to maintain the total weight loss for 3 or more years, I was going to get some help with the things that would never change, no matter how much weight I lost, or how hard I worked with my trainer. The stretched skin, scars from a myomectomy and hysterectomy and poochy parts - they all needed to disappear. As proud as I was of my loss and hard work, and as good as I looked, I could not wear a bathing suit, correctly fitting tight dress or shirt that did not cover the "pouches". I DESERVED to be able to wear the clothes I worked so hard to fit in. So I made up my mind, researched plastic surgeons in the area, got some recommendations and went to see Dr. Howrigan.

I was not afraid. I did not doubt my decision. I planned for help at home. I planned my work schedule. I pre-cooked meals and froze them. I purchased Gatorade, prune juice (oh yes do get some of that), yogurt, got books from the library, trashy magazines, arranged for help with the dog walking; got someone to take out my trash, charged up the I-pad, pre purchased my prescriptions, packed loose clothing and a small bag to take to the hospital, arranged for rides back and forth to the hospital. I was READY.

I went in at 6AM, Sept 30, 2014. I was not nervous. I was excited! I worked hard. I did this. I deserve this. It was a present to myself. The last thing I remember was the doctor drawing on my body with a marker and laying back down on the gurney. Some 4 hours later (or so they say), I recall being brought up in the elevator to my room. I was woozy and sore but happy just the same. I drifted in and out for several hours but was hooked up to an IV and pain pump (use it while you can! This was recommended to me by a lot of my friends as I have kind of a "wonder woman" attitude!).

A friend came and sat with me for several hours and this helped distract me from the pain. Your legs have to be elevated (make sure to do this when you get home too...it really helps with both the pain and the recovery). The wonderful nurses brought me ice packs for my face and helped me out of bed to clear my lungs, get the blood flowing in my legs and to pee (repeatedly!. THIS IS IMPORTANT!!! Get up and walk...ok...shuffle as you will not be able to stand up straight, but do it!).

I was able to get up and also sit down and get back up from the toilet on my own thanks to all the hard work for several years with my trainer. As many times as I groaned and whined about hating doing squats on an incline bench, it was what enabled me to engage my hamstrings and glutes when sitting and standing vs abs and back. It was a LIFE SAVER. Also pushing your but back and out helps take the pressure off your abs.

To make a long story a tad shorter, here are some things I learned and things I found very helpful:

1. Prepare ahead of time.
2. Ask for help.
3. Do not be wonder woman.
4. During recovery do not eat salt.
5. Drink prune juice even if you think you do not need it (you will).
6. Stay away from gas producing foods (beans, broccoli, apples etc).
7. If your tub does not have a hand sprayer attachment, get one ahead of time! Bed Bath & Beyond has them pretty inexpensively and they are super easy to install (I did it on my own).
8. Get up as much as you can even if it hurts. Lungs can get "wet" pretty quickly.
9. Take the pain meds BEFORE you feel the pain (stay ahead of the pain).
10. Sleep sleep sleep.
11. The drains are icky but keep a good tally of the amount of fluid you expel. I wanted mine to be gone, but came to accept they are what they are. Eventually the doctor will remove them.
12. Get Netflix access or something similar for at least a month.
13. Make sure you have baggy soft clothes and old t-shirts.
14. If someone is helping you clear the drains for a few days, ask for some rubber gloves before you leave the hospital.
15. Wear that blasted compression garment. Yup I hate it but I am wearing it. My doctor promoted me to the next stage of garment and it is something like Spanx. It is called a Flexee and it is made by Maidenform. They sell them at Kohl's so need to spend a small fortune. But, I hate that garment worse than the uncomfortable hospital binder. It does however, fit better under real clothes.

Few final words: a tummy tuck (in my mind) is not for someone who just got to their goal weight; it is not for weight loss purposes (although I did drop a few additional pounds). Be good to yourself during recovery. Expect some emotional swings (mine was about - when will I be recuperated.. as being still is not my strong suit!). You will have good days, bad days and GREAT DAYS! I am at 3 weeks out tomorrow and have some days where I am just so tired and other days I think i am ready for a half marathon ( I am not btw). Do not lift stuff, do not eat as much as you are used to eating (pressure against the swelling is very uncomfortable) and know your back my hurt a bit (both from the initial hunching and for me from having to sleep on my back all the time).

Good luck if you have yet to start your journey. This was one of the best things I ever did for me (the other things being losing the weight and keeping it off)!!

Well, I hit the three week mark last Tuesday. And just this Friday I feel like I really turned a corner in my healing process. I can stand up straight and I can get in and out of bed without feeling pain. I still have twinges every now and then, and little burning sensations where the drains were but that's about it. I still tire more easily than I'm used to and find back it's more comfortable for me if I eat A number of small meals during the day rather then three "regular"meals.

Up until now, I didn't really experienced a lot of emotional swings. But I do find myself really just wanting to be back to being me again. And I find that a little frustrating and that makes me feel emotional. What I have to remember is that I had major surgery. And being me this time…is that version of me but his travel to the flat side.

I have to admit I hate the compression garment NO I really hate the compression garment but I wear it faithfully. I didn't work this hard and come this far to mess up now.

Some days I can see swelling and some days I don't see any swelling. That doesn't worry me I know it's all part of the process. No regrets.

If you're Counting down the days till your surgery, or just in the process of making a decision… This is a great place to share and get information. Ciao for now.

I am closing in on my fourth week and have to say, I have truly turned the corner on pain, standing straight, increased energy level, and (singing now)..."I've lost that pulling feeling, oh that pulling feeling, I've lost that pullling feeling, now it's gone, gone gone....". Ok maybe not totally, but close! I was having a weird tightness about a week ago in the place where my leg adjoins my torso very close to my crotch. It was NOT a good feeling. The burning and itching where the drains entered...that is gone too! I tried on some real clothes (vs sweatpants etc) and found that the $100 pair of Lucky jeans...are about one size too large...suck it up buttercup. I should not have bought them so close to my surgery anyway.

One issue I have noticed is WOW do I have to pee about 10 times more a day than I used to...maybe even more. Is anyone else experiencing that?

Also, during my first few weeks of recovery, I slept in my own bed bolstered with pillows etc and found a good way to get up was to rock back and forth and then wrap my arms around my calf and use upper body and arms to pull myself up and out vs using abs.

Getting to the point now where I want to begin caring for the potential scar site and while I will ask the fantastic Dr. Howrigan when I see her Tuesday...any suggestions that worked for any of my "flat side" sisters?

Thanks for any input. And have I mentioned I HATE THE COMPRESSION garment???! (Flexee by Maidenform).