xpost - Musings on 1 Month Post-Plastics

Well - my 1 month "surgiversary" from plastics has passed.  I feel pretty good - slowly approaching normal.  All my bandages and binders are off - that goes along way to feeling normal.  I LOVE not wearing my "sausage casing" to work each day...that feels like freedom!!

I still have lingering numbness at my incisions - and anticipate having that for some time.  My arms swell off and on - but not horribly.  I can tell when they get tight - they feel a bit weird - but they don't look horribly LARGE or anything.  My tummy swells too - mostly at the top of my vertical incision.  I have a few "wrinkles" there when the swelling gets bad. 

Scars are settling well.  I have a few "spots" that aren't totally flat - but overall I think they are healing well.  Using Bio-Oil to help them - hoping that will lighten them right up real quick!  My left arm probably has the worst scar - it is widening a little bit (about 2mm I'd say) at the elbow part.  Hopefully that will be all.

I have some limitations in my range of motion from the scar under my arm pit.  Not huge - and it is getting better each day.  I know that some shelves I couldn't reach last week - I can reach today.  BUT I still have to be careful not to overextend or I get a sharp pain.  My ROM in my left arm isnt' as great as my right.

That's all the details - here's the pictures.  I know there are a few people coming up after me..so hopefully this post will give you some ideas of what to expect.

Here's my newly shaped belly....


My before and after of my left arm...you can kind of see the "tight" spot under my armpit that limits my range of motion a bit...

Click on people's faces in the photo to tag them.

Here's my right arm - it was the best from the beginning, and is still better in looks and feel.

Click on people's faces in the photo to tag them.

Here's what I lost, and what I gained.  The scar is SO much better than what I had before!

Click on people's faces in the photo to tag them.

The kinda weird thing to me is to see those stretch marks in my before that are above my belly button - and know they are now below my belly button!! ;0)

Hey Erica,

You look great! I love the definition in your arms and your waist is so tiny! Your scars look really good and thin. Mine have widened a bit around the elbows since I started physical therapy and went back to lifting weights.

About the range of motion, I did have a couple of tight spots in my arm pits and on my elbows that limited my range of motion. Starting at about 8 weeks out I massaged the scars daily with coconut oil to keep them supple and did all the stretches that I learned in physical therapy. Last Friday the physical therapist took measurements and evaluated my strength and flexibility. He said that I have full range of motion back in my left arm and approximately 90% in my right arm. My right arm is weaker than the left due to a torn rotor cuff, and chronic inflammation of the pec, and bicep tendinitis (hence months of physical therapy). Hopefully you see more improvement in rom over the next month.

Thank you for sharing your pics and you look absolutely fabulous.

Take care,
Ole

I've been massaging them daily since they were mostly healed (2 weeks I guess)?  I started with polysporin, then used vitamin E and now use Bio-oil.  I do noticed that at the end of the day (I massage in the am), they feel tighter - so I think it does help.

Thanks for your comments - glad to know it is normal. 

Erica,
Wow! What a difference! You look terrific- arms so slim and belly so small and defined. Glad you are feeling better and better. I know what you mean about the new location of your stretch marks. I had a small mole on my side that was up by my ribs, and now it's down at my bellybutton level.

Continued healing to you!

Erica,
It's nice to see a body type close to mine, and see your fantastic results.  It's a trip seeing your stretch marks are almost gone.

You're looking great Erica!
I know about those things take can shift downward after a TT.  My lapband scar has moved south big time and when I got for a fill the PA always remarks how his "landmark is now gone."  I love!

I love your arms Woman!  You are Rock!

Wow!  Erica, you look awesome!  Your arms are so toned.  Even before surgery, I can see you have muscles!!  Your arms look GREAT and the scars are so thin and it's only been a month.  Also, your tummy is GREAT, too!  You are an inspiration to me and others.  Thank you so much for posting.  You rock!

Thanks!  As soon as I'm cleared at 6 weeks I'm going to start my tummy routine and get those abs super toned!  I'd like to see those show through like the arm muscles!! ;0)

Dang you Erica!!!!!!!  Reading your post is going to cost me big buck because now I want arms like yours! ha ha!!!!!  You look AWESOME!!  I can't get over the transformation.  You looks so natural and perfect in your new slim shape.  You are one of those people that others will never believe you "had a weight problem".  Way to go!!!! Thanks so much for your advice and encouragemnt to all of us.  I know it i has helped me.

Thanks.  I'm getting to that point now where new people I meet don't know I was big - and its a bit weird.  Having people comment on my WL has been such a big part of my life lately - even though I get tired of it, it is kind of weird not to have it - KWIM?  Kinda like losing that "thrill" of seeing the scale move downward.  Seeing the same couple numbers each day...weird.

Looking foward to seeing some pics of your results!  I wish I could have afforded at LBL instead of just an x-TT.  I'm going to start back to running next week and hope to get my A$$ back into shape somewhat!!