It's all new

That is very sweet! My niece is 8 and has been transfixed by my transformation. Her mom and I have often been confused as identical twins - I would imagine it was quite strange to see me melt before her eyes! She ultimately really enjoyed all of it - especially my newfound interest in looking my best. Who would have thought?

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I had a neck lift, eyebrow lift, and had my lower eyelids done. I'm 37 but with the volume I lost in my face didn't look very youthful - my surgeon said she removed the same amount of excess skin that she does on the average 65 year old. I'm very happy with my results.

You look great! I think your results are fantastic already - and as the swelling goes down they will be even better. Yes, the incision goes around the sides but it seems totally worth it to me too - no dogs ears, great contour, and the scar will be faded so that with a little time you will barely notice. Your incision looks really nice, too - straight and perfect. I'm so happy with my extended tummy tuck - I can only imagine you will feel similarly with your results! Congrats.

You should keep 'shopping' until you find a therapist you click with. Someone who is at least respectful enough to keep notes and review them before you meet - no one has a perfect memory, but the big stuff should be there. Maybe the therapist won't remember the names of people in your family initially (for example), but he/she should certainly remember the plot line! Finding that right person will make all the difference in the world.

I either stood up or was lying down, 100% for the first two weeks, for weeks 2-6 I sat maybe a couple minutes per day initially (long enough to use the bathroom), and by the end probably half an hour to an hour per day if you added it up. At six weeks I was cleared and the day I was cleared I flew from Washington state to Florida. So, plenty of sitting. It was a bit difficult but doable. I was able to walk comfortably by then, absolutely. Sitting was still a bit uncomfortable though, particularly for long periods of time.

Plan to follow in your footsteps! Great Work! Thank you!! I'm doing it, too - I'm finally gaining muscle.

I say absolutely go for it. If you have complications it would be problematic - but that is always true! Otherwise, it would give you just enough time to be getting accustomed to your new tiny tummy, and you will likely have an extra burst of confidence knowing you have taken such positive steps towards a healthier future.

My incision goes down my thigh about midway. I needed more than the groin incision, but could get away with the thigh incision stopping midway down.

For the first two weeks the only time you ALMOST sit is when you poop - sorry to be graphic. You get a toilet riser with handles and attempt to hold yourself up putting as little pressure as possible on your posterior, and you have the least pain if your are successful and hold yourself suspended over the toilet without putting any pressure on your posterior. For peeing I got a female urinal. Oh, the other time you sit is in the car coming home/going to appts with your surgeon. But you quickly learn how to avoid putting pressure on your incisions by getting in and out of the car creatively, putting the seat back all the way back, resting your feet on top of something, etc. After the first two weeks and up until six weeks I was strongly discouraged to sit although no longer forbidden. It's not too tempting given how uncomfortable it is. I did spend the entire time either standing or lying down, pretty much. At six weeks I no longer had restrictions. It was about right because I could sit at that point without too much discomfort. I carried around an extra jacket to use as padding for another 3 weeks maybe.

I had the extended TT and medial thigh lift done together in March. I will not lie - it was a rough recovery. But I would do it again in a heartbeat. The recovery from the thighs is pretty difficult as you can not sit for about 6 weeks. No sitting whatsoever for the first 2 weeks after surgery, very limited sitting until 6 weeks. At six weeks when I was finally cleared for sitting was about the time I was ready. I am thrilled with my results, absolutely thrilled. At three months out I would say my thighs are 95% healed - in that the incisions are healed but I occasionally have some minor tenderness still at the "T" juncture where the incisions meet, for example. My abdominoplasty continues to be uncomfortable off and on - not from the incision or incision line, but from where they stitched the muscles. I'm trying to work out pretty aggressively and my abs hold me back. Today I am walking hunched over for the first time in a LONG time, due to overdoing it. In any case - feel free to ask any questions that you have -

You look amazing - I have never had a flat tummy and that is what I really want! I am wondering how much did you weigh when you had the TT and at what stage (just by your stats I am guessing you are about my height). I am looking to have a TT' date=' lift and lipo on my bra line in July/August. I am wondering if this might be too soon....I also am curious on the practical recovery time? The reason I am asking is that I am switching jobs so this is the best time for me to have the surgery - and take the most time off.[/quote'] I am 5'6". I had my TT/thigh lift at 139 lbs., it took 4lbs 6 ozs. I then lost down to my current weight - today I am 127. It's a moving target based on how sore I am from exercise! My VSG was May 10, 2012. My TT/thigh lift was Feb 5, 2013. So, 8 months. I had a facelift Dec 31, 2012 - I weighed 145 and thought I was at goal. My surgeon had told me it wouldn't impact my results of my facelift if I continued to lose some, and it didn't. I did not expect to lose as much as I did. For recovery time, I think 4 weeks off work is a good idea. 6 weeks would be ideal and you would feel much better. It does depend on how active your job is - for an active job you need 6. It is not the incision line that will cause pain, it's the tightening of the muscle through stitching. Ouch! Worth it, totally 100% worth it!

Yes, you were right. I wanted to totally focus on building muscle. My trainer told me to get in some cross training on a bike. Well, the minute I started biking I got hooked. So, my adding muscle mass priority is still there - still hoping to compete in figure in spring 2014. But over the summer I am going to lift three days per week, bike six days per week, do hot power yoga once a week, and maybe throw in a little horseback riding. All told - too much cardio! Come fall I will see if I can cut back on the cardio addiction in time to add muscle. My old version of having my cake and eating it too was about cake - and more cake! Now I want more exercise. Very weird.

Thanks for asking! I'll PM you the long answer. Trying to keep it short, I love lifting. The problem is I am also doing a lot of other exercise. Too much cardio for putting on much muscle. It's hard to prioritIze one form of exercise over another now that I am finally fit enough and trim enough to try it all. With adding muscle mass you can't have your cake and eat it too - as in, you can't do a ton of lifting AND a ton of cardio and expect to make gains the way I want.

Well, just wait and see what happens... I was a 44H, now I'm a 32D - and once I get a lift I'll be a B! I had planned on getting implants but decided that after being busty since I was 10 that it wouldn't be so bad to be relatively flat - and the price is right. At this weight previously I was a D. Something about the weight loss... I lost all volume!

Yes - the TT is very painful. The pain meds will not address the pain adequately, it is just that painful. But it's temporary. As you said, it is already improving. I think day 5 is when I noticed the biggest improvement. And just focus on the positive - how incredible the outcome will be and the progress you have made. Try to distract yourself from the pain the best you can, and when you can't - just remember that pain is temporary but these improvements to your body could be permanent. You can do this!

Did you get anything else done? Your arms ... breasts' date=' everything looks awesome!![/quote'] My thighs and my neck/brows. My arms really aren't too bad. I have been keeping them covered to the elbow, always searching for shirts that keep them covered - and I'm getting over it. I have developed a decent amount of muscle. You will always be able to tell to some small degree when I make certain movements I think. The breasts are a disaster! They can be poured into a bra and look fine but are mostly empty. I went for an H to a D. I will get a lift which will leave me a small/mid B. What I have left is mostly skin. I was going to get implants but it is expensive, they require replacing over the years, and I think with as much as I exercise and the size frame I turn out to have, small breasts won't be a big deal. (Not that they will be perfect for my frame - but as long as they are lifted its ok!!).

Yes - Without the TT I would not have a flat-ish tummy. Thanks!

First bikini season in many years! I've bought several. Can't help it.

I think your nerves about transitioning to maintenance are a natural part of the process that is not spoken about enough. I found it terrifying to go from my sole focus being on the daily or weekly victories on the scale to... well, what was my focus going to be! It was scary. So, I made new goals and for me they were fitness related. I'm training for some specific events and measure my progress not by the scale but by whether or not I'm moving forward towards those goals. And because I work so hard on my fitness, my weight management falls into place. I am struggling with the best way to eat to support my activity, with making healthy choices - but I don't struggle with keeping a healthy weight. I encourage you to just work on not stressing too much about the transition, continue to reach out for support, and make the choices that will allow you to have the lifestyle you want. You can do this.