Update - 11 days post-op

 Hi everyone.

Today I am eleven days out from having my tummy tuck and breast lift and all is going well.

Visited the doc today and my two hip drains were removed (Thank God), and stitches were removed in the breast area.  There are a few more to come out and that will be done next week at my next visit to the doc.  I was surprised to find out today that my stoma*****ision has absolutely no stitches that need to be removed...all will dissolve on their own.  The doc is very pleased with how I am healing.

I am so pleased with how the surgery went, and I "touch wood" every day that things have gone so well.

Had an amazing family who pulled shift duty and were here for the past 11 days to take care of me...my sister is here now and I think I will be OK on my own starting tomorrow.

Wishing all those who have had surgery a speedy recovery, and for those who are waiting to go, hang in there, you will be so happy with the results.

Take care and Happy Thanksgiving from Canada.

Linda

Glad things are going so well! 
It is such a relief for the drains to be removed.  I know for me though that I did swell a lot the next day, but it did disapaite within a couple of days. 
I was also super happy that there were very few stitches to remove.  I had never had any other stitches so I thought oh god that is a lot of stitches in my arm, but sure enough they just went away! :-)

Hope you continue to have a smooth recovery!

 Great news!!!!!!  Congratulations!!

 I'm glad your recovery is going so well. Congrats!

so glad to hear that things are going so well. Can I ask a few questions??  Did you do inplants with the lift?  If not..did you lose alot of size?  Cost for both?  I am going to the PS on Thursday for my consult..I would like to do both but I am still not sure about doing both.  want the TT for sure...  IF you are working...how long did you take off work?  So many decisions.

heal well and thanks in advance for any input...

Patty

 Hi Patty,

I didn't do implants, the surgeon said if I wanted them later I could get them, but to do them when he was doing tummy tuck, hernia repair, and breast lift, just would not be a good idea.  When I had my consultation, the doc asked what size I wanted to be and I really had no idea.  I told him I wore a 38 bra at the time, but the cup size was always unclear.  I told him perhaps I could be a 38C?  When he examined me, he said that I would be a good 38B, and that if I wanted implants later he cold do them.  I used to be a 44DD at my highest weight, and when I lost the weight, I went down to a 38.  I never knew what cup size to get because my breasts were hanging down like tube socks...lol  I just rolled them up into the bra and if it fit, good.  Now I am so happy with the outcome,. I am a good and perky 38B, and to me it is perfect....I am not going to get any implants.

As for the cost, my tummy tuck and breast lift  combined were $11,000, and add to that hospital fees of $900, fees for Anesthetist of $1000, and the darn HST tax here in Ontario which was $1677, and the total adds to $14,577 in total.  Having the two done together saved me some money as I only used the hospital and anesthetist once.  I spent one night in hospital.  If I had the tummy tuck on it's own, the total cost would have been $9,379, and the breast lift done alone would have been $6,836...so having them done together saved me around $1638.  The whole process is certainly a lot of money and I was second guessing myself if I really should do this or not...but my family and friends kept saying that you are worth it Linda.  So in the end I decided to go forward and I am very happy thus far that I have.  We have all traveled a long road to get to this point, I do believe we deserve to spend this on ourselves...no more guilt feelings for me....bring it on I say...   

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask...more than happy to share my experiences.

Take care and Happy Thanksgiving from Canada.

Linda

 Ooops, forgot to answer about time off.  I am retired, so that was not an issue with me.  But, the doctor said 2 weeks time off and you could return to work if you did not have a job with heavy lifting.  I am not allowed to lift more than 5 lbs for 6 weeks.  I will be 2 weeks post-op on Tuesday, and if I was working now, I would not hesitate to go back tomorrow.  I have been shopping 3 times and feel great.  I "touch wood" every day that things are going this well...

Good luck and let me know how you made out at your consultation.

Linda

Linda, I'm so glad that things went so well for you.  What a relief to be done with it, isn't it?  I can't wait until I can say the same.  How kind of your family to take shifts helping you.  That's very cool!

Please post updates as you're able.   I'm curious about whether you had implants too.  I know Patty already asked you.  I can't decide.  Implants/no implants.   I want the fullness but I don't want to look unnatural. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!