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12 things I wish I knew before tummy tuck surgery

By Kimmers25 on 07 Sep 2010

Tummy Tuck Survival Guide
Part 1: 12 Things I Wish I Knew Before
Part 2: Feelings: Before and After
Part 3: Supplies You Will Need
Part 4: 7 Tips for Showering Post-Op
Part 5: Do's & Dont's After Surgery
Part 6: Funny Things Said During This Process
  1. It is going to take a long time to heal. I went in thinking I was going to be up and running in two weeks. What the heck….I am an intelligent woman but this was really stupid thinking. Please plan on taking a minimum of two full weeks off work and three to four if you can swing it.
  2. They tell you that you will have swelling…whoa. That is an understatement so hang tough.
  3. Your clothes won’t fit for a while so don’t think you are jumping into a pair of skinny jeans any time soon. So not going to happen ladies. I guess I had visions of the tummy being removed, fat being sucked out of my hips and running out to a party the next week. Dreamer….
  4. Do not…and I repeat do not weigh or measure yourself for the first 8 weeks. Your weight will most likely be up and you will be swollen and full of fluid for at least the first month. Well the swelling lasts for weeks so hang on tight.
  5. Do not eat Mexican food the day before your surgery! Totally stupid idea on my part. I got to the hospital and while waiting to be taken back my IBS kicked in. Holy mother of God…I really didn’t think I would stop pooping in time for the surgery. I had visions of being on the OR table, ready to be put under and screaming STOP. I need to go poop. LOL
  6. Please let people take care of you and wait on you hand and foot. Don’t be a hero and try to run any marathons or be super woman. Yes ladies we all know we can run the show and manager everything and everyone in our life….but not now! Just surrender to your care takers and heal properly! Oh yes; and if the spouse is not doing things the way you would normally do it just let it go. You can straighten everything out later. Nobody will die if you are not running the ship for a while.
  7. Eat a light diet the day before surgery; trust me on this one!
  8. They tell you pre op that you will have some discomfort for a while after surgery. That is a lie because it hurts like hell. Obviously the people telling you this have never had a tummy tuck. As long as you don’t laugh, cry, sneeze, take a deep breath, move, poop, try to push and pass gas or any other sudden movements you will be fine. Basically just lay in the bed and play dead for about a week and you will be fine.
  9. Ok the pain meds do a number on your system. Constipation sets in quickly and hurts like hell. Make sure you take Milk of Magnesia the day after surgery; or some sort of stool softener. It hurt so bad that I felt like I had an army of little men with swords in my belly. Miserable!!!! I was gripping the rails of my bed as if I was giving birth. This was the time I wished my IBS would kick in. All I wanted was a nice easy pooh.
  10. Three to five hours after you take the MOM your tummy will start to rumble. Please be near a bathroom and start heading there right away. I was moving so slow after surgery that it took forever to get anywhere. Well when the rumbling started I laid in the bed thinking I had time….hmm. Really I swear I am an intelligent person. I couldn’t run so this was going to be a challenge!
  11. Make sure you have all the necessary supplies on hand before the surgery day. You won’t be able to drive to get anything after. I will include a supply list shortly.
  12. Do not watch any funny movies the first two weeks. I made that mistake and it hurt like hell. You do not want any deep gut laughter for a while. My son laughed so hard watching me try not to laugh. I thought he was going to wet his pants laughing. Apparently the face of a woman in pain after a tummy tuck is quite comical to a teenager. The little shit!

NEXT:  9 feelings You Will Go Through Before/During/After Tummy Tuck Surgery >>

Comments (174)

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holdingforty 7 Sep 2010
Kimmer25 these are great tips!!! I love them all are so very true!!! thanks for this. I am hoping that everyone on the site that is pre-op will take them to heart. And prepare for the worst and if you are one of the lucky ones how wonderful for you. Better safe then SORRY!!!!
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 7 Sep 2010
I really wanted to provide some good advice based on my experiences. Yes everyone is different in their own experiences but sharing what worked for me and how I felt during the process will hopefully help someone else. Don't you just love this website!
Neicygirl 9 Sep 2010
Thanks a lot for this very thorough article. My procedure is in 7 days. I am excited and nervous in the same breath.
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 9 Sep 2010
Hang in there! You are almost there and will do great I am sure. Nervous is totally normal. Can't wait to see your before and after pics. Keep me updated - I am very excited for you :)
Tom at RealSelf (Community Manager) 13 Sep 2010

momonthego just published her Tummy Tuck story that includes a list of things to ask before TT surgery

If you are considering a TT, make sure you talk to your doctor about

(i)if you have enough excess skin to avoid a vertical scar from your old belly button;

(ii) if you have enough excess skin to have your scar in a low location [some doctors avoid a vertical scar by moving the horizontal scar higher, or to get the horizontal scar low you have a vertical scar because there isn't enough excess skin to completely take out the old belly button and get a low horizontal scar ~ vertical/high horizontal scar is fine ~ just make sure you understand so you have reasonable expectations];

(iii) any concerns about how your new belly button will look; and

(iv) how they will address transitioning your new belly to your pubic area. [If this is not addressed sometimes there is an appearance of a "bulge" in this region.]

I really think talking through these items in detail with the various doctors I visited helped me make an informed decision about the doctor I chose ~ and is a significant reason why I am so happy with my results.

mkell 8 Oct 2010
Just curious, what do you take to wear home from the hospital/surgical center after your surgery?
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 8 Oct 2010
Take a baggy t-shirt and swet pants! You will want to be comfortable. I wore an oversized zip up sweatshirt and a pair of stretchy yoga pants. All soft and light weight. I can remember my hubby trying to dress me to get ready to go home and it was a total circus. I ended up leaving my bra and panties off. It was just too hard to get everything on. My feet were also very swollen from all the fluid so my shoes did not fit. So I ended up riding home with no shoes, no panties, no bra and in the very beautiful binder and bandages...oh yes and hospital slippers on my feet!! Woo Hoo can yo say sexy! Lets not forget about the puffy eyes and bruised arm from the blood pressure cuff. I had a large hickie all the way around my arm from that darn cuff.
spinmama 17 Dec 2010
Just curious how you get in and out of the car and up the stairs into the house? Then what??? Just sleep or lay there and cry? DO you think its a good idea to have my kids stay with friends for the first couple of days? They are 11, 13, 15...just dont want them worrying about me?
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 17 Dec 2010

The getting in and out of the car is a "Go Slow" process.  Don't try to sit and then turn.  You have to get your butt in the seat straight forward and then lift one leg at a time into the car.  You can do this very slow with minimal pain.  Just go at your own pace and no hurry.  I found that I could not sit back in the seat though.  I was sitting straight up and kind of holding the sides of the seat to keep still. 

The steps are another trick.  You just do one step at a time.  I mean one foot up and then the second foot up to the same step.  All while keeping hunched over..LOL  you will look a bit like a 100 year old woman.  Give yourself plenty of time if you are heading to the bathroom.  Really though after the first week this gets easier and easier as you go.  I had a walker in my bathroom to help me up and down off the toilet the first week.  But to be honest I only used that the first day.  My legs are strong and you just learn how to use your leg muscles to stand up. 

It might be good to have the kids stay some place for the first three or four days.  That way you can relax and not worry about them being upset etc.   If you get to being home two days and are doing well they can always come home early. 

You will want to be walking around every couple of hours for a little activity.  But mostly resting the first few days.  When you are laying in bed make sure to flex yur feet up and down to move your legs.  Just keep on top of those meds, have plenty of pillows under your knees and head and you will make it through fine.  Is someone going to be with you 24/7 for the first 3-4 days?  You will need the help and want it.

Did I read you were maybe going to back out of this???   I assure you that you can and will make it through this process.  Yes it hurts the first week but it does get better and better each day/week.  You will be happy that you did it in the end. 

When I think back to my first month yes it was rough but bearable.  You have labored and delivered three children so you can do this girl! 

I am here if you have any questions or just need someone to chat with.  It will all be fine and you will be out bikini shopping before you know it.
Kimmieeee 29 Aug 2011
I wore a terry cloth beach cover up.....It had a velcro closure in the front.....Easy on,Easy off! Easy access!! And it was very cute! My Dr. said he would start recommending this to his other patients.
mkell 10 Oct 2010
Kimmers, I was wondering about a sports bra during the surgery. Or are you just "out there"? Thanks for this info about dressing afterwards.
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 10 Oct 2010
Hello! When you get to the surgery center they will give you a gown and slipper sox to wear. But they did ask that I remove everything under the gown. So yes you are pretty much just out there :) It is ok though they will probably give you some pre-op meds and then you won't have a care in the world. After that little injection into my IV I had no clue what went on.
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 18 Mar 2011

Mkell how are you doing these days??  Your pictures look wonderful.
remove 15 Oct 2010
Great article, love the humor! Sounds like stuff I had to do for my c-sections. Does anyone know how TT recover differs from C-Section recovery? Which is worse? I am getting a TT in a few months (22 Dec) and really want to know how much time is sufficient to take off of work. With a C-section I had 8 weeks maternity leave. thought I would shoot for 4 weeks for the TT, maybe 6 weeks if I could swing it.
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 15 Oct 2010

Hello,  If you can manage to take 3-4 weeks off for recovery that would be great.  I would ask for the four and if you are feeling better sooner you could always go back early.  Don't rush the healing process; take it easy and make a full recovery.   This is a major surgery and you will be glad in the end when you are healed properly.  Keep us up to date as you go through your process.
Providence4488 21 Jan 2011
OMG, I had two c-sections, back surgery, carpel tunnel surgery, bunyon surgery, cortizone shots, etc. I figured I would be able to deal with the pain but NO WAY! It was ten times more painful. Probably still more painful than having all my surgeries together! I thought I had a high thresshold for pain but apparently NOT! the first week you just want to die. Do everything in your power NOT to cough, sneeze or laugh. Its like being stabbed in the stomach with 1,000 knives over and over. I just passed my 2nd week and still pretty sore but nothing like before. Its only getting better so I see the light at the end of the tunnel. So prepare for a ton of pain, probably the most you've ever had. I also had a lift with implants but my chest didnt bother me at all compared to the tummy. Wowsers! good luck!
MicheleinJersey 17 Oct 2010
This is so helpful and funny - I'm so glad I found it! I'm scheduled for 3 days from now and so happy to find a "real" story. Thank you so much for sharing it all!
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 19 Oct 2010

You are very welcome..glad to help :)  Look forward to hearing more from you!
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 17 Oct 2010
You are very welcome! So glad it was helpful to you. I believe that hearing about actual and real experiences os the best info you can have. I look forward to hearing more about your journey as you go. Please keep me up to date. Kimmers25
Mae62 18 Oct 2010
Great information, wish I had it before my TT.
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 19 Oct 2010

I wish I could get this to everyone before their tummy tuck!
Kanajune 21 Oct 2010
I am so glad you are doing this. I am scheduled TT & lipo for Dec 16, just enough time to get my house clean and worry myself into a frenzy. I have a boyfriend to help me for the first week.....will I need more help dod you think? I plan to return to work (a desk job) Jan 3.
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 21 Oct 2010

I absolutely love this site!!  It is really nice to be able to help others through his process.  There are so many questions a patient has before a big procedure and you will definitely find everything on this site.  You have references from patients, doctors, articles etc...it just goes on and on. 

If you have help for the first week that is wonderful.  Since this is the roughest time after the TT you will need someone pretty much 24/7 the first week.  Let him take care of you so you can get plenty of rest.  It is such a short time so just surrender. 

You have over two full weeks off work and that is great.  Just know the first two weeks back will be hard but it will get better.  Having a desk job is also a bonus.  You will probably swell a good amount when you first go back but just kick your feet up under your desk as needed...and have the ice packs ready to go.  You will do great. 

I also worried myself into a frenzy prior to the surgery.  I think that is just part of our genetic makeup.  I was a one woman freak show before the surgery and then Cybil for two weeks after.  God bless my hubby!  We are still married even after all that :)

I look forward to hearing about your process as you go.  Stay on line and all the women out her will help you through.
Kanajune 22 Oct 2010
I really appreciate your sharing your "adventure", makes me laugh and at the same time helps me calm down a bit. The unknown is the scariest, and reading here I feel like I know a lot of what to expect. How did we cope before we had online forums?

I worry about the midline pain I keep hearing about that keeps you doubled over. Does that last long?
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 22 Oct 2010

Right!  What did we do before this site????  I think everyone suffered alone and was scared to death.  It really helps to have all the lady friends out here who understand.

When I wrote this Survival Guide I did so in hopes of putting others at ease.  I am so glad this has helped you.  I have had many say that it makes them feel normal...it is not all pretty and fluff but it is real life....constipation, pain, swell hell and all.

Try not to focus on the mid line pain.  Yes it is going to hurt but it is temporary and will end.  The worst part is the first week or two.  After that is gets better and better each week.  Now everyone has a different pain tolerance so what hurt badly to me may not be so bad for you.   Keep you eye on the end prize and think about how wonderful you are going to look in the end.  All totally worth it.  I am six months out now and I can honestly say I would do it all over again if necessary.  Now, I was not saying that the first 12 weeks. 

Keep in touch and hop on line when you are feeling that panic come over you.  Have you read through some on the articles and doctors answers on the site?....very helpful information on here.

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