http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/ Plastic Surgery (CAUTION!) After losing 125 lbs., I was left with a lot of loose skin. So I decided to have a lower body lift and breast augmentation. Surgery was on April 9, 2008. http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136516 7136516 Big blob! http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136517 7136517 http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136518 7136518 Droopy butt! This is the reason I needed to extend the incision all the way around -- to pull up the butt and outer thighs.

On another note, I *LOVE* how slender I look in my upper torso. No fat there, baby! All that working out DID help! :) http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136496 7136496 http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136497 7136497 http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136519 7136519 Surgery day is here (April 9, 2008, 8:00 a.m.) and I was sooooo excited on this morning. My husband, on the other hand, was a basket case! :) http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136498 7136498 2.6 lbs. of skin removed from my backside. http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136520 7136520 1.5 lbs. of skin removed from the front. http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136499 7136499 My doctor started the surgery on my backside. http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136521 7136521 Even though these are very graphic, I'm really glad the nurse got these shots! http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136522 7136522 I was feeling no pain! http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136500 7136500 Had one overnight stay in the hospital. http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136541 7136541 Waiting for my doctor to come so I can be discharged. Here I am in all my glory -- with 5 drains and a catheter. The drains were removed 1 at a time, with the last one being removed on day 16. http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136523 7136523 Here is my WONDERFUL plastic surgeon helping me into my garment for the first time. My garment = my new best friend. It's a love/hate relationship. LOL http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136524 7136524 It takes so long to get into this thing, plus it was too small. As you can see, it's a suspender-type garment that goes from the breasts down below the knees. VERY tight and compressing (which is the idea). They ended up re-ordering the next size up for me. http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136542 7136542 Garment on, catheter out, and just waiting for the wheelchair to take me to my car! http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136543 7136543 This was where I slept and spent most of my time the first week, which is basically a blur. http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136525 7136525 So swollen that my belly button looks totally off center. http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136526 7136526 http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136527 7136527 Very swollen. The blisters you see are from an allergic reaction I had to the tape that was used. http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136544 7136544 Blisters still look bad. And yes, I'm extremely hunched over. That's about as straight as I could get at that point. http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136545 7136545 Still swollen., especially in my abs. http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136528 7136528 Back abs incredibly swollen too. http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136546 7136546 Swelling getting better, but still there. http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136547 7136547 You can see how swollen I am above my back incision. Still some "puckering" going on too. http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136529 7136529 Swelling getting better. http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136530 7136530 Day 18 -- I went to Nordstrom's for my first bra fitting, and was pleasantly surprised to find that I went from a pre-op 32A to a post-op 34D! Very pleased with how the girls are turning out. http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136548 7136548 Day 18 -- You can see all the swelling at the top of my incision in the back. http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136531 7136531 Day 18 -- Still some droopiness, but NOTHING like before. http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136549 7136549 Day 18 -- Had to throw this one in for good measure. Same pink panties as in the "before" pics, but a very different fit now! http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136532 7136532 My torso/waist is looking less swollen, but my tummy right above my incision looks the same to me. :( And this was in the morning. By late afternoon/evening, it's even more swollen and very hard. http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136533 7136533 The dark spot you see is a scab. Still several scabs left. http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136550 7136550 More scabs on this side. And you can see the scars on my back. Those are from the allergic reaction I had from the tape. My skin is S-U-P-E-R sensitive. http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136534 7136534 Still lots of puckering. This is from swelling, but also I understand a lot of plastic surgeons do a "pleat stitch" to help the skin lay better after the swelling subsides. http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136535 7136535 Shaping up, but I just wish that swollen "bump" of a tummy would go away. I want to be flat! http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=7136551 7136551 The ropey, bumpiness is looking better in the front. http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=8034202 8034202 These side pictures are where you can really see the swelling I have right above my incision. All the scabs on this side have closed now, THANK GOD! You can still see some puckering in the back. I'm told the puckering will go away once all the stitches have dissolved. http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=8034186 8034186 There are still about 3 residual scabby areas on this side. This past week I've been dealing with some dissolvable stitches that aren't dissolving, and instead popping out, which is causing these scabs to hang on longer. But they're a-l-m-o-s-t gone. http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=8034204 8034204 The puckering seems to be smoothing out more on the right side. Still swelling, though it's much better. http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=8034205 8034205 In my panties, the swelling doesn't really show much at all. I'm LOVING how flat my tummy is on non-swell days. This is the flattest I've been in 30 years (since I had my first child)! http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=8034187 8034187 http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=8035203 8035203 http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=8034207 8034207 I can tell from these "back" pictures that I really, REALLY, need to get back to faithful exercising again. These 5 extra pounds really show on my petite frame. :( http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=8034188 8034188 I went lingerie shopping and have to share what I bought! :) I absolutely love how Springy this set is! http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=8034189 8034189 I'm glad the stripes weren't horizontal. My butt would look bigger than it is. LOL http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=8034183 8034183 http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=8034184 8034184 http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=8034185 8034185 I didn't get matching panties to go with this bra, but I do love these panties. In fact, I can't post the "back" picture because it's a little too revealing. :) http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=8034203 8034203 Front View (marks on abdomen in "after" picture are from my jeans.) http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=21314019 21314019 Side View (marks on abdomen in "after" picture are from my jeans.) http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=21313685 21313685 Oblique View (marks on abdomen in "after" picture are from my jeans.) http://cheryllac.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=21313684 21313684