12 days post op tummy tuck and mastoplexy

What a roller coaster ride this has been. I am doing well, but have had to learn to pace myself. I overdid it on Friday. I had stopped my prescription pain meds 10 day post op, and was feeling great just maintaining with tylenol. I drove for the first time on Friday, I wanted to go pick up a couple of skirts because I'm going back to work on Wednesday and I'm trying to find a way to deal with these horrible drains. I feel more comfortable in skirts than leggings, though I will probably wear both until the drains come out. I went shopping and instead of doing the smart thing and getting a motorized cart to get around, I decided I was feeling good enough to walk it. By the time I got done, I was so wiped out and my poor feet, calves and thighs were swollen up like crazy. since then I've been spending a lot of time with my feet up trying to recover from that one day. I did go shopping yesterday, but used the cart.

Anyway, I initially said that i wasn't going to share before and afters here, but I've changed my mind. So below is my official before pic from my surgeon from that morning. and the second is day 6 post op. Since then I've had a bit more swelling and some more bruising. Everything seems to be healing fine, and I see my surgeon again on Thursday. I'm hoping for him to remove my drains, but by the output, I don't think he will. His policy is 25cc or less per drain for 3 days. I'm still draining 55 to 65 a day for now.

I have to say, I am blown away with the difference that 6 days can make. I will never regret having this done.

6 days post op:

Wow, and there's still swelling?! Fantastic!

I know! I didn't realize how stretched out my ab muscles where. He tightened me up in the front, and also on the side to bring it into an hourglass look.

I'm more swollen now than I was when I took that picture, and a lot of my bruising has turned nasty yellow, so the pics are nowhere near as pretty now as they were 6 days post op.

I really can't wait until I get my stitches out. I just scheduled a weekend beach vacation for the weekend after I should be able to get in the water again. Of course, if I heal slowly, then I'll have to skip the swimming and just lay in the sand. Can anyone say new bathing suit?

Just remember to use all the sunscreen!

• Lol, did you see how white I am? I'll be under an umbrella and definitely be slathered in sunscreen.

Your doctor removes the stitches? Mine does not. It is interesting how different surgeons methods are.

Looks great so far. Did you have a lift or lift and implants? I went with lift only. The initial plan was for me to go back for implants a few months later but decided not to.

My mom just got a fb reminder that my lbl/bl was 6 years ago. Time flies and the pain will be a distant memory before you know it. Hang in there!!

Just a lift. I have a lot of breast tissue. Implants are always an option, but honestly, I think they will look great.

They do look great and look similar to mine which is why I asked (I thought you had mentioned implants in the past).

The surgeon said I could go as big as 700cc, or as small as 400cc and look natural! I was afraid that they would be too small with just a lift, but he assured me that I had enough tissue that I should be fine with a lift.

I didn't want to be huge, but I want at least a full C, but would prefer a D. I'm not sure how big they are going too be, but they seem to look proportionate with the rest of my body.

I wanted to update about the stitches, because as I found out, it's not really removing stitches. He leaves a bow type knot at the end of ea*****ision. At the two week follow up they just snip the bows off. The sutures dissolve on their own.