Surgery results...

I don't know exactly how many inches I've lost just yet. I still have quite a bit of uneven swelling plus now my skin is starting to hurt because the nerves that were beat into numbness are starting to wake up. If currently feels like a cross between sunburn and how your scalp feels when you take out a pony tail that has been worn a bit too long.
I do know this: the day before my surgery, I tried on jeans at Old Navy--size 14 in the styles of Diva and Sweetheart. Last weekend, I went back to the store and was able to easily zip up a pair of size 12s. Granted, I had my girdle on but it doesn't hold in that much. Really, it kind of pushes what is there to different locations. I will go back in a couple weeks and try them on again, sans girdle, and see how well they really fit.
One reason that I know I still have swelling is how my bra is fitting. Pre-surgery, it was hooked on the smallest set of hooks. The week that I went back to work (and had to actually wear a bra again), I could only hook on the largest set of hooks. I am, currently, on the middle set. That tells me that I have at least another inch of swelling that needs to go down where my band sits on my ribs/upper abdomen.

Soon to be...

girdle free, during the days at least. I go see the doc for my four week post op appt. Four weeks, technically, isn't until next Monday but my appt is Friday so it's close enough. I'm completely bruise-free--I will spare you a pic of my bruise free butt 'cause then it's just a pic of a nekid tush rather than the horrendous bruise that I had three weeks ago.
I will tell you: it was totally worth it. I'm lovin' my shape right now. Once I'm able (allowed) to run again, I will be out on the road like a fiend. Don't get me wrong, I love to hate to run but I know how good it is for getting me in shape. My military medical profile doesn't expire until Aug 12th, so even though my surgery (civilian) doc will be clearing me to exercise come Friday, I still have to follow the limitations of my military profile. Totally bites!! cause that's still another two weeks away. However, it just says that I can't run. I can pedal and I can walk and I can use the elliptical.

My girdle...for the next couple weeks

It's very similar to this, except the zippers go all the way down...and it'sblack. Let me tell you...this is NOT comfortable to sleep in. I was also wearing an 8" x 10" piece of foam on each side that's 1" thick--in between me and the girdle along the sides of my body. I removed those today. Tired of wearing them.

The other difference is that it's "open" so that I don't have to doff and don it every time I need to use the bathroom. Very handy.

Imagine if they only showed "After" photos like this:

This was taken four days Post Op. Looks like I got my butt stomped.

Post-Op

I made it through and I'm still standing. We got up to Wilmington SurgiCenter shortly before 10 and they called me back a bit after. Four different people asked all the same questions. The doc drew hirogliphics(sp?) on me. I was lead into the OR at 11. I remember laying down and them injecting me with the "fuzzy" stuff. Woke up in Recovery feeling pretty good and wearing a two sizes too small girdle. They're like Spanx--they go from the rib cage down to my knees with accomodations for going to the bathroom. In between me and the girdle are pieces of foam in select places to discourage swelling and encourage shrinking.
Anyone want to guess how much fluid they removed?