Almost 3 months out now.
- Are you glad you did it?
Yes, since I needed hernia surgery anyway and didn’t want mesh. Not sure at almost 64 it would have “been worth it” just for cosmetic reasons.
- How painful was it?
Not as bad as I feared, but very painful at first and I’ve had multiple surgeries before. About the same level (though different in kind) as a C-section. More than the DS hurt. Abdominal muscles are still very sore if I try to use them.
- How long did the pain last?
I am a bit of a wuss - I was off the heavy narcotics at 5 days post-op, off the codeine about another 5 days later. Took Aleve for a while after that. Still hurts if I use my abs. But not when just sitting or walking. The majority of my abdominal skin above the incision and above the belly button (which looks weird because it over-healed and is almost flat) is completely numb.
- did you lose a size or do your clothes fit better?
Didn’t lose a size, but yes, clothes fit a bit better not having the suprapubic poodge, and the second roll above the waist (and not having the lipoma on my waistline too). I have a waist again. But it kinda makes the contrast with my saggy ass and saddlebags more apparent. And actually the difference between my smaller waist and saggy thick hips actually causes issues with a gap in the back of my non-stretchy pants.
Note about my scars - they are mostly flat and not quite as dark in real life. But I am olive complected and my scars always start out dark (and sometimes keloid). They will fade over time. The surgeon wants me to let him fix the slight dog-ears at the ends of the incisions in his office but I said no thanks. They don’t bother me.
The wound in the center of the suprapubic incision is just now closing. There is a big stitch or six forming a hard lump under it, holding things together (there are two others about 2.5 inches from center on both sides, also with lumps - they should soften over time), and the bad spot was the top edge of my old bellybutton, plus being at the end of the line from the blood supply. I gently scraped the little scab off of it a couple of days ago as instructed and had a bit of pus come out - I squeezed it a bit and more pus and a small plug or lump of something came out. I dabbed a little antibiotic ointment on it, and it now seems to be healing over.
Sorry these pix are so big - Liz
southernlady - can you make them smaller so they are side-by-side and easier to see (and easier on the eyes)?
Edited to make about two thirds of original since much smaller and they get too small. 
