(Pictured above: Pre-surgery, Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, and Week 5)
Hey guys!
It has been a while since I posted an update, and I know many of you have been asking to how I’ve been, and how the scar looks, so I wanted to give you a quick update. It has been almost 18 weeks since my surgery (where did the time go?), and I feel great. I haven’t had any surgery related pain, and the “stretching feeling I had when I would do ab workouts is no longer an issue. Although, I wish I could tell you I have been working out regularly for the last 18 weeks. Like everyone else, the holidays were a time of sweet treats, crazy schedules, and an all around desire to do, well… nothing. I have been working like crazy, so that’s probably the only reason I only gained 5 pounds and not 50.
Anyway, with the new year in full swing I have started working out again, and plan to kick these 10 pounds off asap. Because of my weight gain, I’m not sure if I’m still swollen or if I added a little padding to my tummy over the holidays, but it will be gone in a few weeks, if it’s fat so I’m not too concerned with it.
Speaking of weight, I can’t remember if I ever shared my weight before and after surgery so I will do that now.
Pre-surgery weight: 112
Post-surgery weight: 125
Post-surgery weight after 12 weeks: 114
Post surgery weight after 18 weeks: 119
My goal is to get down to about 110, but it will just depend on what my body looks like. Numbers are never really my gauge for measuring success. I just want to like the way my body looks in clothes, and have a slim athletic appearance.
Oh, and before I forget to mention them… my breasts look much more natural after 18 weeks. The implants have “dropped” into a more natural position, and they feel like real boobs again so that is really nice. I will say that I have noticed some rippling (which my Dr. warned me about), but it’s nothing I can’t live with. The only way I could have avoided this with my body type was to go with silicon, which I was afraid to do. I am considering going back and getting it later, but for now I’m happy with what I have. The only time I see the wrinkles in the implant itself are when I bend over, and I can see them only on the sides, not at the top or anywhere else. So just know that if you get behind the muscle implants and go with saline, you will possibly have rippling as well. This is something I would highly recommend you discuss with your doctor.
So now on to what you really want to see…. the pictures:
Here are my 18 week post-tummy tuck pictures:
Aside from loving my new body, one thing I got out of this experience that I wasn’t expecting was the chance to talk to other women considering this surgery. I get emails and comments daily asking for advice and questions about my journey, and I have loved every minute of it. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions, I would love to talk to you!
If you live in NC and are considering plastic surgery don’t forget to check out Dr. Davis online and follow their pages for monthly specials.
Any updated pics. I’m 7 weeks post op this week. I’m in the swell hell stage. How are you feeling now? 100% back to normal??
Wow. U look great! Itblooked horrific and now so amazing! Thank u for pistingbthis. I think it helps a lot of us who want to but r scared. U hav balls! Luv it!
You look amazing – your scar is really fading and there’s been a huge transformation!
Hi, lm getting surgery 22nd april…pretty excited, and nervous…could you tell me although you said you had gained after surgery, and still a few pounds over weight before surgery…did you go down in size in clothes as you no longer have all flab anymore, or did you stay in same size clothes x
I have stayed the same size. I really didn’t have much fat, just skin so I didn’t really lose any inches. I wasn’t over weight when I had my surgery though.
i think u looked better before. u have to walk around wit that awful scar for the rest of ur life. and u actually paid someone to make u look like that??? lol wow
vanity if the biggest sin of all……………..
Thank you Ana for reminding me why people hate Christians! I will be sure to use your comment to remind myself how not to act as a follower of Christ. I think being prideful and judgmental may be the biggest sins of all because they are so BLINDING to the people casting the stones
. Oh, no never mind God says that all sins are the same in his eyes whether it be murder or a lie. I’ll be praying for you.
Thanks for posting your journey. I’m scheduled to have my tummy tuck on March 21 with Dr. Davis. I’m so excited but very nervous at the same time!
thank you for sharing! I had my mommy makeover dec5th/12. I am starting my 8th week and still am unable to stand up straight for any length of time. my dr. says to keep doing my stretches. i am getting scared because i keep reading about peoples’ recovery time and mine seems so much longer! i am happy with my results but my fiance is very grossed out by my scar, i’m trying to deal with his dislike and my getting used to how i now look, it’s really hard, especailly when I’m stooped over like i am!….could you please e-mail me with any recommendations for exercise or stretching you found helpful? it will be greatly appreciated!
Emailed you
Congrats on your surgery!
How many weeks in were you able to exercise again? I am considering a tummy tuck, I work out a lot and one of my concerns is how long I will not be able to exercise.
Thanks!
I was supposed to wait about 6 weeks, but I started working out as soon as I felt I like I could handle it (week 3). You can see what I was doing here: http://www.faithfullyfrugal-and-free.com/2012/10/tummy-tuck-recovery-weeks-2-3-before-after-pictures.html – Good luck, and thanks for stopping by! Please be sure to keep me updated on how you’re doing.
I found your site today and am so happy I did. I’m going through the process of planning these surgeries. Your week one post op was very informative on what to expect. THANK YOU. Other wise I may have been horrified looking at myself. Now I know that there is swelling and blood to look at, not just the scar. Again THANK YOU so much. You just saved me some immense worrying. And it looks fantastic at 18 weeks!
Hey Jackie! So excited for you! I agree, knowing before hand is much better than being freaked out when you see it the first time. I am here if you have any questions so please feel free to ask! Also, please keep me updated, I would love to know what you decide to have done and how it goes! Good Luck
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Just got a second opinion on my surgery! One that’s in network so my insurance will cover the breast reduction!!!! And I have a surgery date……………February 20th! I still have to get the 100% ok from the hubby to go ahead, but it’s looking really promising.
You look great. I am having my tummy tuck surgery in about 3 weeks. Reading this i have a question, your post surgery weight was 13 pounds more than when you went in, is this because of the swelling? That makes me discouraged because I worked so hard to loss weight. So just wondered if that was in direct relation to the surgery?
Yes, it was mostly swelling and the implants. I always have pretty bad swelling so yours may be much better than mine was, and of course it’s temporary. Good luck and please let me know how your surgery goes!
Did you have the drain tubes or did you have the other type without the drain tubes? I could tell from your pictures if you has them or not. I am really scared about the swelling. Haha
I didn’t have the drains, thank goodness!
Ekkk… I will have to have the tubes. I do however wonder of that will lessen the swelling. I will keep you posted after surgery.
Just wanted to update you! I had my surgery February 14. I did have the dreaded drain tubes. That was absolutely without a doubt the worst part of the whole experience. They were painful and annoying! However I was lucky enough to get them out 1 week post op because my fluid levels were low enough! I live on a low sodium diet so the doctor said that helped alot with my swelling. The one thing I will say about drains is, I am coming up on 2 weeks post-op and I have very little swelling and I have actually lost weight from before the surgery because of the lack of swelling. For that I am grateful! And at least I was all kind of drugged up and slept alot so didn’t have to deal with the drains all that much!
I am scheduled for my surgery on April 2. I am very nervous after reading all the different post from different websites. I don’t want to gain weight. So you are on a low sodium diet amid this helped? Also, did your doctor tell you that the drains helped reduce the swelling?
I am so glad the results came out great. I’m probably going to have to get a few things done eventually, and it is reassuring to see a positive outcome.
Thanks, and go for it!
You look so amazing, I want to cry because I’m so happy for you. I want to have a tummy tuck as well but I can’t right now. I was going to take my tax return and get it done but now I’m taking that money and giving it to my step dad. He has stage 4 cancer and I want to help him for final expenses. That’s me though, always helping everyone else before myself but its okay in time I hope I can get this done. And have amazing results too. I hope you can do more YouTube videos as well. How is working out? Do you still hurt? Congrats!!!
Thanks! I’m so sorry to hear about your dad
. I am feeling great, and working out is 100% normal again. No pain and no stretching feeling! Keep me updated and let me know what you decide to do. I would love to support you as you go through the process!
Thanks for getting back to me I appreciate it. My dad deserves the world but I know they will appreciate the gesture because they will need the money for when that time comes. But I might look in financing the tt instead
. On a positive note I’m happy to hear your back to normal, your results look sooooo amazing. I’m not sure if you saw my other question on a different picture or if I even did it right but I was seeing if u had drains in when u had your tummy tuck? And did the doctor tighten your tummy? I’m doing turbo fire to get into shape first before I will do tt to get better results maybe. Lol. I will keep you posted for sure. Thank you so much for answering my questions.
I must have missed that one. I did not have drains and yes the doctor tightened it very well. It’s still weird to not feel the gaping hold in my abs now. My separation was pretty bad after 4 kids. I have heard great things about Turbo Fire, and that is a great plan. The better shape you are in when you go under the better off you will be afterwards. Work out your abs as much as possible! Also, I used Care Credit and it is awesome! They have some same as cash options so you don’t pay high interest rates!
You look fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing