53 Years YOUNG - Albuquerque, NM

I had decided to go through with Tummy Tuck after many years of wanting it; I didn't think plastic surgery was for someone like me. I had a breast reduction last year and loved the results so much; I started to revisit the idea of a Tummy Tuck! Mine was not covered by insurance, so I had to get over the guilt of spending the money on myself! I also wanted to ensure I had the best surgeon at a cost I could afford, so I went to 3 surgeons; I got a variety of opinions. I'm so glad I did! I'm about 8 weeks from the surgery; I love the results (though not the scar). I do know the scar will fade! The procedure itself did not take long at all, about 2.5 hours. I had the full tummy tuck, I had a large amount of stretch marks both above and below my navel. Now I only have a few left, the stretch marks from above the original belly button are now below my new belly button. I went home from the hospital with 2 drainage tubes, not a big deal at all, just cumbersome at times. One came out about 10 days after the surgery and the other came out about 2 weeks after. NO pain or any sensations when they were removed. The pain...well let’s say yes there is discomfort and soreness. Not so much pain that you are screaming, but enough to be uncomfortable. Little by little week by week it eases. At 4 weeks I was almost completely pain free, mainly I just felt the stretching. At eight weeks, if I sit for long periods of time, when I get up I still feel the stretch. Not pain, just a sensation, and each day it's less and less. I did start to worry at about week 3 if I was ever going to stand up straight again. I did at about week 5, I started my walking routine again at week 2 with just a walk up the block, then around the block and at week 8 I'm back to several miles a day. Before the surgery I had lost about 30 lbs, but never felt thin, after the surgery I have a flat and I mean very flat tummy. I'm feeling good about how I look for the first time in forever! I have a pocket of something (fat?) on my left side at the end of the incision, about the size of a base ball. I talked to my surgeon about it and decided to give it more healing time, if it doesn't go down, he can fix it!!!