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Funny Things Said During the Tummy Tuck Process

By Kimmers25 on 07 Sep 2010

Some funny statements that have come out of my mouth during this process:

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
  • Look… my Who Who is so swollen that it looks like a baseball.
  • What is that leaking out of the whole in my hip….ooh nasty!
  • Help me, it hurts and I have to poop. Seriously…UGH Like my husband could go for me.
  • You are going to put what where?
  • What is that? Where did that bump come from? I didn’t pay for that.
  • The playground is closed…sorry!
  • Who shaved me there…was it the nurse or a Keebler Elf. Keep in mind I said this to the nurse while I was on heavy narcotics at the hospital. Boy I don’t do well on drugs. At least I provided some good comedy to the nursing staff.
  • My body is spitting out stitches again!!
  • Can you please rub my butt because it hurt’s. Now what makes this so funny is that I asked my teenager this question. His face was worth a million bucks! What I meant to ask was will you rub my back….came out all wrong. Again, I blame this on the pain meds.
  • Keep your sense of humor through this process because you will need it. It is all good but you will face some challenges and a long healing process. Just make sure that you go in with realistic expectations. You will not come out looking like a Victoria’s Secret model and your stretch marks will not all be gone. Also make sure that you are healthy and in good physical shape, and that you take time for yourself with some pampering and relaxation prior to surgery. I hope sharing my experiences and craziness helps you in your journey.

Best of luck to you on your Tummy Tuck journey!

(PLEASE SHARE IT ON REALSELF.COM!)
 

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Comments (415)

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sicily35 8 Sep 2010
Fantastic article Kimmers, Thanks so much for sharing it! I am officially 8 days pre-op. I just dropped off my prescriptions at the pharmacy, picked up stool softener, gas-x and tabloid magazines. The bathrooms have been scrubbed, the closets are organized, the floors are vacuumed, mopped and everything is dusted. The garage, well I'll leave that for my husband. I feel nested except for a few things I still need to pick up, granny panties!! thanks for the reminder! I keep telling my husband I'm worried that he has to see me go through all that pain but he assures me that he will be fine with it and it will be worth it. I have the most supportive man in the world. I think he is well aware that this procedure is going to make me feel more confident and therefore the "playground" will be open more frequently! I feel like this is going to be the longest week ever. I am still waking up very anxious during the night and having crazy dreams. maybe I should get that Valium Rx filled afterall... thanks again for the article, just what I needed to hear today!
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 8 Sep 2010
Hello...I am glad this helped you! The week will fly by and it will be the morning of surgery before you know it! It really helps to have the husbands support during the process. Mine is also very supportive and took excellent care of me. They are strong and can take it. My hubby said that the worst part was seeing me in pain and not being able to do anything to take it away...except drug me :) Really though the first week is the worst but it too will fly by quickly. Call and make an appointment for a massage sometime this next week. That is really relaxing and helped me. I had one three days before surgery and it felt great. Just stay excited and know your new body is just around the corner. I can't wait to see your results!
kathy is ready 19 Apr 2012
Kimmers, omg, i am scheduling my tummy tuck for sometime in the next 3-4 weeks, i have went back and forth about everything and have thought of every horrible thing that could possibly happen to me, you have given great advice, some humor and realistic expectations, I know it wont be easy and i have had several surgeries before and recall going back and forth emotionally after each of them. thanks so much, im going to save this and read each time i start to freak out. it does sound like we should eat, lean proteins, fruit and veggies, what about non fat greek yogurt, that always souns good to me when i dont feel well? thanks
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 19 Apr 2012

You can do this kathy!!   Email me anytime you have questions or want to chat.  

Greek yogurt is awesome!  I eat it every morning for breakfast.  Try mixing in a serving of almonds with it!  

kathy is ready 19 Apr 2012
omg your a sweetheart, this site has taught me so much and your humor and insight have made me feel better already, i am back and forth about how i feel about getting this done and scheduled, the results seem to be great but i know im in for a long recovery. I have had a hysterectomy and also a colon resect from colon cancer and tubes tied and 6 years ago some liposuction, however i need this tummy tuck with the lipo, you are wonderful, thanks for being there already.so how would i email you or you mean chat on here?
kathy is ready 19 Apr 2012
i couldnt believe i posted pics today but thought i would join the crowd, i think if it helps others than who cares, we are all pretty much in the same boat and when im going thru post op depression, being scared etc., it will be nice to talk to you ladies who have been through it, so glad i stumbled across this blog.
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 20 Apr 2012

After all you have been through you are a pro!!  You got this one my friend:)

You found the link to email me so are set now,

sicily35 9 Sep 2010
I'm planning to have a deep tissue massage this weekend. I've heard some talk about lymphatic massage for the areas that on the belly getting liposuction. Do you know how long I should wait to have that done? I'll check with my Dr the day of surgery. Just curious. 1 week!! So excited!
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 9 Sep 2010
One week and counting..very exciting! Talk to your doctor about the massage because they are all different. I started massaging my own belly, hips and thighs two weeks after surgery. I used the Palmers Vitamin E Skin Therapy Oil. It is awesome and makes your skin and scar so smooth. I actually went in and started getting massages three weeks after surgery. It really makes a difference in the healing process. I still to this day massage my scar two times a day with the oil. I have also ben using the Mederma Cream three times a day for the past four months and my scar is really smooth and fading fast.
Julie9848 11 Jan 2011
how long do u wait before u can apply cream to the incision? im having my |TT in 15 days and im thinking of these things and getting really nervous...i found this site all of a sudden tonight...i am thankful!!!!
sicily35 12 Sep 2010
4 days! nerves area roller coaster. Thinking about how I'm going to be feeling this time next weekend, if I'll be able to enjoy Sunday football. God knows I'll be sitting around, that's for sure. I have the best most supportive family. My sisters are all excited for me and as anxious as I am for Thursday. I'll keep you posted and hope to get some pre-surgery shots up soon!
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 12 Sep 2010
I remember those nerves! Scared and excited. It makes a world of difference when you have family support. My sister is my rock and helped me through every step of the way. I am so excited for you :) The Sunday football may be a total blurr but that is ok. You will be good as new for the following weeks game. We will chat again before your surgery :))
9386anon 15 Sep 2010
Thanks Kimmers!! I really appreciated all of your comments and suggestions. Today, I am 6 days post-op after my Tumm Tuck surgery Sicily35 - Sounds like your surgery will be Thursday (tomorrow). Mine was last Thursday. Don't worry about a thing. Be more excited than scared!!! One minute I felt the wave of relaxation from the anesthesia come over me, and the next thing I was in the recovery room waking up. There wasn't a lot of pain really. I am lucky because my sister is a nurse, and she picked me up after surgery, drove me home and stayed with me for three days. There was some bleeding through my dressings for the first day. On the second day, with the help of my sister, I took my first shower. When I took off the compression girdle, I was really suprised to see how swollen my tummy was. I guess I expected it to be completely flat right away. I haven't had much energy, so I have been enjoying watching TV and reading. I really haven't had much pain. I have been taking Advil a few tiimes a day. The absolutely wierdest thing for me are the drain tubes!!! I don't mind emptying them or anything, but the are hard to manage when showering. Kimmers - I used your suggestion of the rubber band around my neck to hold them up. And sitting during a shower was key as you said. Everyone once in a while I feel a little tug where the drains come out of my body on my upper thigh, but overall they really don't hurt or anything. It is just that having tubes come out of your body is a little freaky. I had a check up with my doctor this morning and he said he would take the tubes out next Wednesday (13 days post op). Does that hurt? How do they seal up the holes where the drains were? Do they bleed??? Keep in touch!
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 15 Sep 2010
Hello, I am so glad you have had such a smooth experience! That is wonderful that your pain level is low..that is fantastic. I am really glad that some of my tips helped you for your first shower. I was very happy to share my experiences in hopes it would help someone else. I figure that nobody knows better than the patient who actually went through the process. Yes the swelling is a bit of a pain in the tush. I also did not expect to have the swelling that I did and for so long. It is all part of the process though so just hang on tight. It gets better each month...I promise you that! You are correct in saying that the drains feel a bit strange. Mine were on my sides at each end of the incision. I was so happy that he placed them there insted of in the pubic area. I hear that area really hurts. I also had lipo on my hips so he used those holes for the drains. It they really did not hurt coming out...just felt really strange. He kept pulling and pulling and I was wondering how far they went into my body. It was in there pretty far! No pain though coming. Just a little pinch when he snipped the stitch but that was all. The holes just closed up on their own and there was no need for stitches or anything. They closed up within 24 hours and just scabbed over. Thye healed very well. So so happy you are doing well and feeling good. Don't worry your energy will come back in time. Just rest all you can and take good care of yourself. I will definitely keep in touch!
9386anon 21 Sep 2010
It is great chatting with you about this Kimmers!!! Today is day 12 post -op. I get my drains out tomorrow and I can't wait!!!! They are so hard to hide in my clothes. I haven't had to go out much except grocery store, etc. Thanks for your reassurances that it won't be painful when they take them out!! It is hard not to become impatient to see the results. My tummy is still so swollen. I feel bigger than I was before. The other thing is just getting tired of wearing the girdle. Well, I appreciate all of your advice to remain patient to get to the end result!!
miss piggy 23 Sep 2010
Did you have lip as well? I was told that if you have lip along with your TT, that most of your pain will be from the lipo.
9386anon 23 Sep 2010
Yes, I had lipo as well - I think that is most often the case, but that did not really affect the pain I don't think. One thing my doctor told me is this - often with TT they suture your abdominal muscles together which adds to the toned tummy look. I didn't have this done. My doctor felt that, because I had never had children, I didn't need it. But I do understand that that part of the surgery adds to the pain and longer recovery time - Kimmers - did you have sutures (stitches) on your abdominal muscles???
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 23 Sep 2010
Oh I sure did have the stitches in the abs. He zip lined me up so tight I could hardly breath for the first week. I am so glad he did though because my abs now look amazing andmy waist is tiny. It was worth the pain.
9386anon 16 Oct 2010
Hi Kimmers - I haven't been in touch in a while. Just wanted to let you know that I am now 5 weeks and 2 days post op. The swelling has really gone down, and the flatness of my tummy is really amazing. I went shopping for new pants yesterday - which was really a pleasure for the first time in forever. I also found that between what was surgically removed, and the fact that during the first four weeks after surgery, I didn't have much energy or appetite, I am down about twelve pounds overall. Now I am motivated to loose another 10!! I wanted to ask you when your navel started looking normal again. Mine is still kind of red and shiny inside. Also, did you stop wearing your girdle at six weeks, or did you wear it longer than that?
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 16 Oct 2010

Hello,  I am so glad you are doing so well.  That weight loss is amazing...congratulations!  Good job :)    The flat tummy is so nice to have now.  Makes your pants fit so nicely.  Are you just so glad you did this!!   My navel started really looking nice at about 4 months.  I seem to carry the majority of my swelling in that area.  Now at 6 months it is totally normal looking.  The redness lasts for a while so just hang tight...it will fade soon enough.   I hated the girdle so only wore it the first 3-4 days.  My doc is one that is not so strict on that device.  However when I returned back to work at 4 weeks I wore spanx.  I needed something for support at that time because my swelling was horrible by mid day.  I bought the one's that went from just under my breasts and halfway down the thighs.  It was pretty comfy though.  I looked a bit like my grandmother in the 1940's.  Pretty funny.  Please keep in touch and let me know how you are doing.  My doc told me that I will continue to see changes for up to one year!  Yippi...
onewomancircus 19 Sep 2010
Hello! I am brand new to realself.com and your TT Survival Guide to be very helpful... bookmarked! thank you :)
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 19 Sep 2010
I am so glad this was helpful to you :) This is a wonderful site and you will find endless help and support.
Julie9848 11 Jan 2011
i agree you have been a great help for me....as i am going in for my TT in 15 days...Oh my after waiting all these years...i am 29yrs old never had kids...but want this tummy gone as it has stopped me from living..well enough was enough and i quit smoking and now getting her done...i will be doing videos and pictures of before and after...that i will share as well...Im just so scared of the pain...and how its going to look after..because i say i have 2 tummies..2 big rolls...because i still have some weight to loose for sure...about 30 after teh surgery...and im worried about how i will look like after...silly eh
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 12 Jan 2011

Hi Julie9848,

You are going to do just fine!   The pain is all temporary and will be gone before you know it.  The end results are so worth the pain.  You are going to feel and look like a new woman and build so much confidence.

It is the best thing I ever did for myself and would do it all over again if necessary.

Congratulations on the weight loss and stopping the smoking.  That is so great and you should be very proud.  They are both two really hard things to do..I know because I have been there myself.

Don't stress about the last 30 pounds.  It will come off and once you feel better after the surgery that will jump start you.  You will get there and soon be smoking hot in a bikini. 

I am excited to see your videos and pictures.  Let me know when you get these posted so I can take a look.  Hang in there and keep me up to date on your journey.
Julie9848 12 Jan 2011
i sure will let u know when i post them...it will be after the surgery i believe so i can add the before and after!!! i know im not going in there expecting a hour glass figure..but atleast ONE stomach and not two as i say it is...the swelling stays for how long???

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