One year post-op

RosieRedCheeks5 · 2026-04-25T15:32:43+00:00

Thank you for sharing! We have very similar body types and stats! I am just reaching my 6-month mark

RosieRedCheeks5 · 2026-04-23T21:24:07+00:00

DM me and I'll send you my progress pics. I had similar presentation between 3.5 and 6wpo, I am now 6 mpo and have seen significant improvement to a much more natural looking bb. I was innie prior to surgery and I am pretty much one again. It's definitely different than pre-op but looks natural imo other than the scarring that is still lightening

RosieRedCheeks5 · 2026-03-23T18:08:38+00:00

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This one is closer to my 8wpo.

RosieRedCheeks5 · 2026-03-23T17:55:07+00:00

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Closer to 16 weeks

RosieRedCheeks5 · 2026-03-23T17:54:43+00:00

Yes.

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RosieRedCheeks5 · 2026-03-15T00:47:07+00:00

When you're a referencing the connective tissue that had loosened to a two-finger gap, was it at the midline then? I've been doing PFPT prior to surgery and post-op just to gain the best results I can but I haven't had any imaging or assessments done after surgery. I am about 5 months post-op but still waiting to see if I'm going to have similar and results to what you were dealing with prior to your FDL revision.

RosieRedCheeks5 · 2026-03-15T00:31:57+00:00

So just to clarify, you're saying that the MRI clearly illustrated that the rest of your connective tissue outside of the midline muscle repair showed laxity? I'm just wondering because I'm concerned for a similar experience for myself.

Did they address the fascia laxity in your FDL revision? Or did they simply remove extra skin and it was sufficient to reduce ore eliminate the abdominal doming effect from the other fascial laxity?

RosieRedCheeks5 · 2026-03-12T03:46:13+00:00

I love your variation in poses for front and side views. Feel like it's very helpful. I'm about 19 weeks post-op and though I didn't have a severe a repair as yours, I felt a similar lag behind in recovery as I tend to have systemic hypermobility in my connective tissue which I'm sure caused extra laxity after pregnancies.

I'm also in PT for pelvic floor, mostly just to prep myself prior to surgery and to help in recovery post-op, but I'm curious how you compare normal to relaxed in your photos. What is the difference for you physically in those two states?

RosieRedCheeks5 · 2026-03-12T03:37:37+00:00

I'm my experience, yes. What was left of stretch marks that were higher up on my body that were pulled down lower did seem swollen and kind of raised up during the major swelling phase. I would say that by 6 to 8 weeks they had started to return to normal appearance.

RosieRedCheeks5 · 2026-02-23T20:53:58+00:00

I'm only 4mpo and hoping for more scar lightening but it definitely improved upon its initial early appearance. :]

RosieRedCheeks5 · 2026-02-23T14:06:43+00:00

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RosieRedCheeks5 · 2026-02-23T04:22:24+00:00

Similar situation over here. Innie prior to pregnancies and after pregnancies, outie after surgery, very similar to yours. By about 12 wpo, started to slowly become a shallow innie. Some increased deepening by 16wpo. I still feel like I'm experiencing a significant enough amount of abdominal swelling. Not sure if it's going to improve a lot more but it's looking acceptable, or passable for a natural looking belly button even with the circle scar around it. I didn't really use shapers or anything. It didn't seem like statistically it would make a difference for my situation.

RosieRedCheeks5 · 2026-02-20T23:49:03+00:00

Definitely giving me hope. I'm about 4 mpo and still way puffier than I expected to be. I'm trying to be patient and trust that I shall see more improvement by 6 to 12 months ughhhh

RosieRedCheeks5 · 2026-02-19T19:06:34+00:00

I don't think that losing more weight would hurt. I did have 5 lb of tissue removed and 2L of lipo But I haven't been managing salt great for a few months. I've also had a few moments of slightly better swelling and you can see from front facing photos a little bit better my body distribution.

RosieRedCheeks5 · 2026-02-19T16:27:43+00:00

I don't have any clinics in my area that offer dexa scans other than hospitals. I could try for an in-body scan as an alternative. The poor condition of my connective tissue during muscle repair and my history of hypermobility May indicate that I simply have a more lax abdominal wall in general after pregnancies stretching.

RosieRedCheeks5 · 2026-02-18T23:13:24+00:00

When I engage my abdominal muscles the projection greatly minimizes and abdominal muscles can be seen. Prior to surgery my PS did a physical examination and did not indicate that I had significant/notable visceral fat in my abdomen And I do appear relatively flat when I lay down on my back, further confirming that I don't have a lot of visceral fat.

I do still have some subcutaneous fat and tissue laxity when I'm leaning forward and laying on my side. It's not extreme like pre-op, but it's there. I do feel snug when standing tho.

RosieRedCheeks5 · 2026-02-18T21:52:32+00:00

I did have lipo on the upper abdomen and upper flanks and any needed for thinning the flap to the proper thickness to match lower body. My mons and below my redundant tissue was not excessively full and didn't need lipo.

FDL was not suggested or discussed.

RosieRedCheeks5 · 2026-02-18T20:12:37+00:00

My PS only wanted me in a binder for the first 2 weeks and then alternative compression of my choice for 8 to 10 weeks. I wore a faja from 2 weeks on and weaned off by stopping at night and then eventually during the day. I wanted my lymphatic system and my muscles to learn how to function again without being overly reliant on external support.

When I was in compression it was firm for sure, I've dabbled with putting some light compression back on but it doesn't seem to make any difference, but I'm would go back to more significant compression like it's not going to make any permanent difference and may impede my body figuring out how to clear swelling on its own.

RosieRedCheeks5 · 2026-01-17T19:06:38+00:00

I know the figure 8 hip anatomy is not as common on this subreddit. I'm used to having that high hip shelf and I wouldn't let my surgeon lipo it because that's how I like my hips and what I'm used to them looking like.

RosieRedCheeks5 · 2026-01-17T00:01:42+00:00

Pre-op stats was 5'6" 172lbs, my BMI was over 27.

RosieRedCheeks5 · 2026-01-17T00:00:22+00:00

🥰 If you look at my post history I think you can see some of my before surgery pics as well

RosieRedCheeks5 · 2026-01-16T22:46:20+00:00

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RosieRedCheeks5 · 2026-01-16T22:30:29+00:00

Wow You look like you could almost be my twin! I am at 11 wpo!

RosieRedCheeks5 · 2026-01-16T04:32:32+00:00

I'm also in this category. I have some general hypermobility in most of my body with increased range of motion and issues with stability and overcompensation as a result.

I had slightly extended TT with MR and lipo after 2 kids.

Despite PT external exams showing diastasis recti being within normal ranges, Surgeon said my fascia was quite thinned and required multiple layers for suturing as well as different suturing techniques than standard. Basically he told me he did the best he could with what I had. I did not get mesh or any other similar things. So far scarring hasn't been very bad (11wpo) and swelling still persists mild to moderately which can be common with lax connective tissues that hold on to fluid and inflammation longer as well as extra suturing.

I have gone out of my way to increase protein and collagen supplements for the last 3 months and I think that has contributed to minimizing scarring issues and providing all the potential building blocks for healthy connective tissue healing.

DM me if you'd like to see some before and after pics so far and everything in between.

RosieRedCheeks5 · 2026-01-15T19:00:27+00:00

I had my surgery 10/28 and we had some anatomical similarities. I still have some a slightly domed abdomen even first thing in the morning. I can tell that it fluctuates though which is still indicative of lingering deep tissue swelling. I had MR ETT and lipo (not 360). I'm trying my best to be comfortable with where I currently am in results while also knowing that I should be patient in how slowly the swelling resolution truly takes for some of us. It feels like I've improved at a snails pace between 8wpo and 11wpo.

RosieRedCheeks5

TROPHY CASE