I'm not gonna lie -- in the days immediately after my surgery, I was in a lot of pain. Getting in and out of bed hurt a lot. My incision felt like it was splitting open every time I moved. The walker was really helpful -- I highly recommend one to anyone considering an operation like this.

Although I was in a lot of pain, I could already tell how much smaller I was. The surgeon said he took off about 22 pounds between the lipo and skin removal. I kept my "before" pictures close by to keep my spirits up -- it was a good reminder that I had already come pretty far!

I started feeling a lot better about three days after the operation. I was really impressed with the results. So was my sweet husband, who took a week off of work to be with me. I used the arnica regularly, and my bruising was minimal. By day four, I was able to get in and out of bed by myself without the walker.

The worst part about the recovery: those drains. I had four of them. They got in the way, pulled and occasionally burned. The drains were removed about a week after the surgery, and I was ecstatic to see them go.

The first week after the operation really was difficult, but I kept my mind focused on my results. Each day was a little bit better. Even when I was in a lot of pain, I didn't have any regrets about going through with the surgery.

Twenty days in, my incision split open slightly. I was concerned that it was infected, so I had it checked out. They told me that I wasn't getting enough blood flow to the region, which caused the issue. I was given a topical prescription cream (Silvadene one-percent) and told I needed to add more protein to my diet to encourage new cell formulation and healing. Incredibly relieved that it wasn't infected, I stocked up on protein bars, eggs, nuts and chicken, and vowed to be diligent about applying the cream.

I went back to work three weeks after the surgery. I was still a little swollen, but I felt great about how I looked. I took things slow and tried not to put any stress on the stitches. At one point, I dropped something underneath my desk and had to ask someone else to get it for me because I was afraid the movement would put too much pressure on the stitches!

My tummy tuck and lipo scars were still bumpy and red at this point, but my plastic surgeon told me they would eventually start to flatten out. It's really low (you wouldn't be able to see it in a bathing suit), so I wasn't too concerned about the scarring.

One totally unexpected but major (and incredible!) benefit of this surgery was the impact it had on my back problems. I was afraid that this surgery would set me back, but I've experienced the exact opposite. My surgeon says it's because my core muscles weren't being used the way they should have been, placing a lot of extra work on my back. Since the surgery, I have felt ZERO back pain.

Two months in, and I couldn't be happier. I don't have any limitations physically and I'm able to do whatever I want. I went to my stepson's wedding and danced the night away. It felt so good to be able to get out there and not worry about how I looked. A year ago, I could never have imagined being able to dance in front of so many people.

I tried on my wedding dress from eight and a half years ago, and it's looser on me now than it was then. I used to hate shopping, but now I love it. Before the surgery, I was in a 2-3X, but now I'm in larges. I even have some mediums.

One of the biggest obstacles was flying on a plane post surgery. I was a little worried about swelling, but mostly feeling anxious about the seatbelt, having flashbacks to having to ask for an extender. Thirteen weeks in, I boarded the plane and was so excited to find that not only did I not need an extender, I actually had extra belt left over to cinch!

It's been five months since my surgery, and I'm down from a size 24 pant to a 16. I know I have more work to do, and as my body continues to heal I'm looking forward to being more active. My incision was completely closed at two months, and now the tummy tuck scar is soft and smooth. It's lightened up a lot, but it's so low on my body that the only person who will ever see it is my husband.

The total cost of the surgery was about $12,000. The procedure was entirely out-of-pocket and not covered by insurance, but after spending so many years thinking about it, I felt it was worth the cost. Prescriptions were about $50, and they were covered by insurance. I spent between $100-200 for recovery items, like the walker, various scar creams and vitamins.

This surgery has been incredibly life changing. Sometimes I look in the mirror and think, "Wow, I'm still so big," but I have these before and after pictures to remind me of how far I've come. I never set out to be a swimsuit model, and I'm thrilled with my results. I feel happy in the skin I'm in, which I haven't felt in a really long time. I look people in the eye now instead of looking around for a chair to stand behind. I seek people out when I have something to say, rather than trying to hide. There were times during my recovery when I wondered, 'Am I doing the right thing?' The medications made me hazy and the pain was intense. But each time I asked that question, looking at my before pictures was enough motivation for me to answer, 'Yes, you ARE doing the right thing,' every time.

Interview and photos courtesy of RealSelf.