2 weeks post op- all is well!

I have had several women contact me asking about the surgeon I chose and also about why I had never posted photos either befores or afters. I cannot say enough wonderful things about Dr. Wooten's practice. When I met her I knew that's who I wanted and I'm so glad I made that decision. I am posting photos today that hopefully will be helpful to others along the way. Post-childbirth I had several hernias and about a 3" diastasis. I had a full abdominoplasty and a breast augmentation.

Some things that I think could be helpful nuggets of information for those going into this surgery:
1. Expect to be in a fog for several days so have someone that is able to take care of you, get your meds in order and give them to you at the right times.
2. If you have small children, make sure you either A. stay at someone else's home for several days to a week or B. have someone in your home who can take care of them full-time while you are resting. The last thing you need is to have little ones trying to climb up on your lap when you can hardly even adjust yourself in your chair.
3. Sleep in a recliner for the first few days. You will need help even going from sitting to standing at first and vice versa.
4. Get lots of large gauze bandages from the drug store or your doctor. Use them as padding between your legs inside your garment instead of underwear. Just unhook your garment in the crotch and move your pad to use the restroom. Note: someone will probably have to unhook your crotch for you for the first day or so. Right after surgery my garment was tight around my hips too, so I used the gauze there as padding and it helped me feel more comfortable.
5. Set really low expectations for yourself. I mean really low. Don't judge what anything looks like until at least several months later. And you may feel like you're on an emotional roller coaster in the first few weeks post surgery. Totally normal. Let yourself cry and feel crazy without judgement. Just whatever you do, don't be hard on yourself. There is truly a healing period and you need to let yourself have that time.

The women on this site were so helpful to me when I was in need of support before surgery and in the first few weeks afterward, so if you have any questions please feel free to ask me. Thank you.

Well what a difference 2 weeks makes! Once the second drain came out last Tuesday I started to feel more human again and was able to move more easily. Last night was the first night that I slept all the way through the night and felt completely rested when I woke up. However, my belly button is bleeding a little, which is weird. I have a disinfected tiny pearl from a bracelet wrapped in xeroform and bacitracin resting in there and it just looked funky in there and now is a little bloody. I am going back to the doc tomorrow and will have it checked out then. The scar looks better every day. Once the swelling started to go down it made a huge difference. How long was it until your belly wasn't swollen around the scar and it all blend seamlessly together? Mine is still puffy but again, it's only been two weeks. Trying to remember to go easy on myself emotionally and physically. Back at work and put in a long day today. Feeling pretty good though overall! The breasts are looking great too. I'm supposed to do breast massage 3 times a day but is it ever harmful to do it more frequently? When I do it it helps to make them less sore. Healing well!

Wow today was an awesome day. I went to my second follow up appt and got my second drain out. Surprisingly, this one hurt coming out! The first one was a breeze last week, although I was pretty heavily medicated, and today it tugged and burned coming out. No biggie, it was quick and it was over. I had lots of questions because I have been so upset about the scar from the TT. The PA for the PS, who I love and was in on the surgery, explained that I can absolutely not gauge anything based on what it looks like right now. She explained that the thicker puckered skin in the front, even the skin between my new belly button and the scar that is puckered like a butt, is like that because as I heal and stand taller and the skin stops swelling and relaxes it needs some give. She swears it will flatten out and said there are many patients who would love to have my result, so that made me feel better. I really didn't feel like it was a line, I do trust her. And she checked out my belly button and did suggest putting a marble in there to keep it open/open it a little wider. Well, I had in my purse my son's Hungry Hungry Hippo marble that I was going to ask her about. My husband thought I was joking but I have read a lot about people doing that. So we'll try the little marble thing for a while and see what happens. It feels so great having the drains out! She showed me how to do the breast massage so I will start that tonight I guess. Just feeling way better about everything once I got to see her, ask my questions, and get some answers. And HB feels better cause he keeps fielding my crying every night :) also checked out the new Victoria's Secret catalog today with the bathing suits and found some great ones! So excited that I will have boobs to fill out and hold up a bathing suit! And a belly I will be proud baring to the world (well, a some beach or at the pool anyway)! Yay, what a great feeling today :)