Transformation Tuesday

I have no fucking words.  All I can do is shake my head and cry.

Un Fucking believable!

String Bikini!

So I never ever thought in a million years I would ever be able to wear a string bikini.  And even after my Tummy tuck I never thought I would be able to because of the scar.  That is until today!  I was in Wal-Mart and I walked by a rack of polka dot bikinis.  I love Polka dots.  And I especially love pink and black.  So I grabbed a size I thought might fit and grabbed the matching bottoms and went to try them on.

Top fit pretty good.  I think I need to take it in slightly...but the cups fit and that is always the biggest challenge.  So SCORE!  When I put the bottoms on I realized they were strings only on the sides.  What?!?!  No way was that gonna work.  My scar stretches from hip to hip!  But I put them on anyway.  And was completely SHOCKED to discover that the strings followed my scar line perfectly!  Dr. Buchanan is amazing!  He continues to exceed my expectation!  I have no idea I would ever even want to wear a bikini when I walked into his office.  But he must had!  LOL!  It was like he had the bikini in the operating room when he made his incisions!  Perfect!  I am still amazed!  And I love the suit!  Thanks again Dr. Buchanan!  You are truly an artist!

Cant see the scar!  Yay!

NSV = Non Scale Victory

I have been attending the WLS support group offered through Rockwood Clinic weight loss surgery group. They offer once monthly support groups for their patients both pre and post ops. They have guest speakers and offer lots of cool information and help keep us on track.  This months was especially exciting because my Favorite Plastic Surgeon Dr. Dallas Buchanan was the guest speaker.  He asked me a few months back if I would like to attend with him and maybe help answer any questions people had about the process.  I gladly said yes!

Tonight was the night!  Dr. Buchanan spoke for over an hour and answered tons of questions from everyone.  He was his awesome charismatic and compassionate self and put everyone at ease!  I truly hope that he gets lots of inquiries from this event!

But that wasn't the cool part for me at this event!  Here is my NSV story.  So during the course of the questions it was brought up that some people that have weight loss surgery never get to goal weight.  They butcher their stomachs, change their anatomy, and someone how still resort back to bad habits and never hit goal weight.  This resonated with me because when I was a pre-op I was fearful that I would never lose the weight.  That I would fail.  And as I was sitting there I came to full realization..... I didn't fail.  I SUCCEEDED!  I lost 165 pounds.  And I have kept that weight off for 18+ months!  I did it!  I worked really hard and changed my life.  I never gave up.  I keep pushing until I succeeded!

After the meeting ended a few people stopped to ask me some questions since I have been through the process of a tummy tuck.  One very nice lady told me that she was shocked to learn that I was ever an WLS patient.  She told me I looked great and that she would have never known that I had any surgeries.  I was completely shocked and blown away.  I felt so validated!  I have SUCCEEDED! People can't tell that I ever weighed 340 pounds!  I am just a normal 39 year old beautiful woman!

It also was so awesome to be asked by Dr. Buchanan to showcase his work!  LOL!  He did such a BEAUTIFUL job on my tummy tuck that I am thankful every single day for his talents!  I am not shy at all about showing my scars, my nice flat stomach or the fact that I can wear a string bikini and the scars don't even show!  Dr. Buchanan is AMAZING!  And my flat stomach makes my breasts look great too! A few people have asked me if I got my breasts lifted when I did my tummy tuck.  No I did not!  Dr. Buchanan just made everything else on my torso look so amazing that my breasts are showcased perfectly!  Thank you So Much Dr. Buchanan!!!!  And Dr. Buchanan... if you are reading this... I would be happy to help you in any way in the future!

Thanks for being amazing Dr. Buchanan!

Scar Progression

I am so very excited to see my scar improve every single day!  When I saw the scar the first day it was unwrapped I was freaked out!  I was worried it would always look like wired Frankenstein skin.  But I am pleased to report that my scar looks better than I ever thought possible!

Here is where I started pre-op:

Here is my scar at 2 weeks:

Here is my scar at 3 weeks:

Here is my scar at 5 weeks:

Here is my scar at 7 weeks:

Here is my scar at 10 weeks: 

Here is my scar at 12 weeks:

And look at the scar symmetry!  Amazing!!!  I am so glad I found Dr. Buchanan to be my surgeon!

March 23, 2015 - 12 weeks post surgery!

Today I am one day shy of 12 weeks post surgery.  I feel great!  I am back to regular activities.  I can run, jump, play with my kids, have sex with my husband, dance the night away, lift groceries and my 5 year old. I feel like a brand new me.  My scar looks great!  It is starting to fade!  It is almost completely flat on the sides.  It is still bumpy directly above my pubic bone.   I am sure it is a combination or fat cells, scar tissue and the "gathering" process it took to get the 2 flaps sewn back together.  It is bumpy when you feel it... it looks flat.  I am sure I am the only person besides my Doctor that will ever notice or even care!  Now I just want the scar to fade.....

Close up of the scar

Dog ears.... I still have small barely noticeable dog ears.  My husband said they are getting smaller.  I think he is just trying to be nice!  LOL

Butterfly Tattoo Part 2

It's finished!!!

I got the color added last week!  Jonathan Tyor did such an AMAZING job!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!!

Bikini?!?!? Why yes, yes I will Rock one!

So my body is far from perfect!  I have cottage cheese on my ass and legs.  My skin is scarred and looks like a roadmap full of stretch marks.  But for the first time in 9 years I feel confident enough to wear a Bikini!

And here is the thing.... Bikini or not, anytime I wear a bathing suit the worst parts of my body show.... to me that is my thighs and butt.  However, unless I am gonna wear a bathing suit with  a skirt or board shorts.... my thighs are gonna show.  So I decided to embrace my chubby thighs and just get a bathing suit that I love and that I feel sexy and good wearing.

Here it is!