So my surgeon sent me my "before" pictures yesterday, which of course made me want to take an "after" pic to compare. My surgeon does the "official" after pictures at the 3 month appointment when the scar is more healed. So I snapped a couple of pics today. It amazes me. There's only a difference of about 5 pounds in my weight since before and after surgery, but it seriously looks like a huge difference. I couldn't be more pleased with the results so far.

I have scar sheets on the scar, so we will see how that ends up, but so far so good.

Wow!!! Looks great. How do you feel?

WOW. Just...wow. And the swelling hasn't even gone down yet and you look like that! There's going to be nothing of you left by the time it does!

As I get closer to goal, this is something I've been thinking about. My insurance will cover the panni but not the tuck. I figure my tummy will look pretty close to what you had going on once I hit goal. I've still got some fat in my panni, but it's getting floppier and saggier each additional pound I lose.

I know it's hard to recover from, so I'm weighing options. I'm not as young as you are, so at almost 50 I need to decide if it's even worth it.

But when I see results like yours, man it makes me want to do it!

Wow!!! Looks great. How do you feel?

Thank you! I feel pretty good. It's been a painful recovery, I'm not gonna lie. But at 4.5 weeks post op, my energy has pretty much returned to normal. I had a lot more muscle repair with the abdominoplasty that I needed to be done than normal, so I sstill have a fair amount of soreness in my abs, and I still wear my ab binder for support and to keep the swelling down, but that 's no biggie.

WOW. Just...wow. And the swelling hasn't even gone down yet and you look like that! There's going to be nothing of you left by the time it does!

As I get closer to goal, this is something I've been thinking about. My insurance will cover the panni but not the tuck. I figure my tummy will look pretty close to what you had going on once I hit goal. I've still got some fat in my panni, but it's getting floppier and saggier each additional pound I lose.

I know it's hard to recover from, so I'm weighing options. I'm not as young as you are, so at almost 50 I need to decide if it's even worth it.

But when I see results like yours, man it makes me want to do it!

Thank you! I'm not sure I would have been nearly as pleased with just the panni. I also (as mentioned above) had a lot of muscle repair that needed to be done and wouldnt have been through the panni. I also would have had a little belly overhang at the belly button, etc. Luckily my insurance covered both.

I say if you are on the fence, go for it. I can't imagine living the rest of my life with all that excess reminder of how I used to basically abuse my body with food now that I'm on the other side of it.

Wow!!! Looks great. How do you feel?

Thank you! I feel pretty good. It's been a painful recovery, I'm not gonna lie. But at 4.5 weeks post op, my energy has pretty much returned to normal. I had a lot more muscle repair with the abdominoplasty that I needed to be done than normal, so I sstill have a fair amount of soreness in my abs, and I still wear my ab binder for support and to keep the swelling down, but that 's no biggie.

How long before you could return to work? I'm a nurse so this is a big factor for me. I'm not ready at all to do this as I'm only 8 months out and 18 lbs from goal. I will have more questions in the future. I'm really hoping my insurance will cover this. Your results are amazing and I'm glad you are returning to normal!

Hey Babbs, I'm 47 and getting mine done next month. I'm terrified but thrilled to have a flat tummy.

Shelby

Why did you need more muscle repair work?

Wow!!! Looks great. How do you feel?

Thank you! I feel pretty good. It's been a painful recovery, I'm not gonna lie. But at 4.5 weeks post op, my energy has pretty much returned to normal. I had a lot more muscle repair with the abdominoplasty that I needed to be done than normal, so I sstill have a fair amount of soreness in my abs, and I still wear my ab binder for support and to keep the swelling down, but that 's no biggie.

How long before you could return to work? I'm a nurse so this is a big factor for me. I'm not ready at all to do this as I'm only 8 months out and 18 lbs from goal. I will have more questions in the future. I'm really hoping my insurance will cover this. Your results are amazing and I'm glad you are returning to normal!

I returned after 3.5 weeks. I felt pretty good. Probably could have used one more week but I had some complications like reactions to the Percocet & I developed an infection.

The type of work you do matters I would think. I'm not sure I felt up to bending, turning, lifting until at least 4 weeks

Hey Babbs, I'm 47 and getting mine done next month. I'm terrified but thrilled to have a flat tummy.

Shelby

Don't be terrified!! Just do your research & know what to expect & what you'll need after. It's definitely worth it.

Why did you need more muscle repair work?

I had 4 very large babies (9-10+ pounds) plus with the 150 extra pounds my ab muscles got very thin & very stretched apart.

You look great. Looks like your surgeon did an excellent job! Good to see!

You look great. Looks like your surgeon did an excellent job! Good to see!

Thanks! Yes! He took his time (7 hours!!) and did a great job. Doing your research & picking the right surgeon is so key!

You look fantastic. Isn't it exciting to have a cute belly button again? I had mine done when I lost weight around 5 years ago. I was very happy with how it turned out, though it is a pretty big surgery and recovery was rough.

Luckily I didn't destroy it when I gained that weight back. Other than the sleeve surgery scars, my abs look great now. I just bought a bikini top today for my trip to Cancun in a few months. Oh, just imagine the possibilities ahead of you now!! Congrats!! What a way to reward yourself for all your hard work.

Wow!!! Looks great. How do you feel?

Thank you! I feel pretty good. It's been a painful recovery, I'm not gonna lie. But at 4.5 weeks post op, my energy has pretty much returned to normal. I had a lot more muscle repair with the abdominoplasty that I needed to be done than normal, so I sstill have a fair amount of soreness in my abs, and I still wear my ab binder for support and to keep the swelling down, but that 's no biggie.

How long before you could return to work? I'm a nurse so this is a big factor for me. I'm not ready at all to do this as I'm only 8 months out and 18 lbs from goal. I will have more questions in the future. I'm really hoping my insurance will cover this. Your results are amazing and I'm glad you are returning to normal!

I returned after 3.5 weeks. I felt pretty good. Probably could have used one more week but I had some complications like reactions to the Percocet & I developed an infection.

The type of work you do matters I would think. I'm not sure I felt up to bending, turning, lifting until at least 4 weeks

I could probably take off 4 weeks but that's about it. Can I ask you what was your starting weight and how much you lost?

You look fantastic. Isn't it exciting to have a cute belly button again? I had mine done when I lost weight around 5 years ago. I was very happy with how it turned out, though it is a pretty big surgery and recovery was rough.

Luckily I didn't destroy it when I gained that weight back. Other than the sleeve surgery scars, my abs look great now. I just bought a bikini top today for my trip to Cancun in a few months. Oh, just imagine the possibilities ahead of you now!! Congrats!! What a way to reward yourself for all your hard work.

Yes! I was SO excited about my belly button! And yes I bought my first 2 bikinis ever!

Wow!!! Looks great. How do you feel?

Thank you! I feel pretty good. It's been a painful recovery, I'm not gonna lie. But at 4.5 weeks post op, my energy has pretty much returned to normal. I had a lot more muscle repair with the abdominoplasty that I needed to be done than normal, so I sstill have a fair amount of soreness in my abs, and I still wear my ab binder for support and to keep the swelling down, but that 's no biggie.

How long before you could return to work? I'm a nurse so this is a big factor for me. I'm not ready at all to do this as I'm only 8 months out and 18 lbs from goal. I will have more questions in the future. I'm really hoping my insurance will cover this. Your results are amazing and I'm glad you are returning to normal!

I returned after 3.5 weeks. I felt pretty good. Probably could have used one more week but I had some complications like reactions to the Percocet & I developed an infection.

The type of work you do matters I would think. I'm not sure I felt up to bending, turning, lifting until at least 4 weeks

I could probably take off 4 weeks but that's about it. Can I ask you what was your starting weight and how much you lost?

My starting weight was 278.4

My weight at the time of my TT was 133

My weight now is 125