How long to fit in clothes?

CinnamonJones 16 May 2013

Hi all, I'm 16 days post TT and I'm feeling awful. I took my first shower today, and, for the first time took a look at the results. I feel somewhat like the bride of frankenstein. what used to hang over is gone, but now it seems as if the upper abdomen is huge, swollen and mishapen. I can't get into my size 18 jeans prior to surgery (that were too big). I lost a total of 16 pounds of skin during the surgery and I thought that I'd be down a couple of sizes. I'm absolutely depressed and lost. Please tell me that this swelling will go down? I'm feeling absolutely freakish and hopeless. Thanks so much for your input ahead of time!

Ravens78 17 May 2013

It can take months for the swelling to go down. My ps told me not to really weigh myself or try on any clothes for at least the first few weeks. I am 4 weeks po and I can't get into any of my pants. I just wear dresses or stretchy pants. Be patient the swelling will be better.

CinnamonJones 16 May 2013

Hi all, I'm 16 days post TT and I'm feeling awful. I took my first shower today, and, for the first time took a look at the results. I feel somewhat like the bride of frankenstein. what used to hang over is gone, but now it seems as if the upper abdomen is huge, swollen and mishapen. I can't get into my size 18 jeans prior to surgery (that were too big). I lost a total of 16 pounds of skin during the surgery and I thought that I'd be down a couple of sizes. I'm absolutely depressed and lost. Please tell me that this swelling will go down? I'm feeling absolutely freakish and hopeless. Thanks so much for your input ahead of time!

yamy 16 May 2013

be patiente it takes a while, but in a while you will be so happy as I am today! you will look so pretty and proud! I had mine one year and a half ago.

tuck61 19 Jul 2012

I am 61 and am close to my fourth week after tummy tuck. I didn't need any muscles tightened and decided not to include the added risk of lipo so I'm not sure if this will apply to you. I could fit into my regular jeans after a week, but felt snug. They got looser almost daily. Now some fit loose, some fall off and some are snug depending upon how they fit before. Doc says swelling will continue to reduce until four months, so I'm waiting to buy new clothes.

SOFLAgal 6 Nov 2011

When I was back at work, I explained my predicament to my 8 months pregnant co-worker. She offered to bring me some maternity pants. She brought me some high waist jeans and black dress pants and they are SOOO comfortable and they fit my legs much better than larger size regular pants. I'll probably need to wear them at least 3-4 weeks.

Country Gal 31 Oct 2011

It does seem to be discouraging, when you think you should fit the small clothes, doesn't it?

I was still wearing my binder at 17 days. I wore it for nearly 2 months. It was a huge comfort to me, and helped the swelling when I had to go back to work. Of course, it also meant I couldn't wear smaller clothes, but in reality, they didn't fit yet, even though I was down about 14 lbs.

I had my TT and lipo on Feb 2nd. I still get some swelling when I overdo, and I still have the numbness in the belly. I do however, now wear a size 6 pants, instead of size 12! :D

The PS did tell me earlier in the spring, to not think about buying a new wardrobe until at least 4 months post-op.

Just keep comfy and don't push it. You'll feel much better in the long run.

SOFLAgal 29 Oct 2011

I'm 17 days post op. I'm 5'3 and I was 135 before surgery and now I'm 127. I was a size 4 before the surgery and now I can't even button a size 8 pair of jeans that fit when I was 150. I pulled out all of my looser clothes in anticipation of being swollen, but I can't get any non-sweats on. I may need to search for size 16 pants I wore when I was 190. I go back to work Monday and I only have a couple dresses and skirts I can wear. Strapless bras add my back pain, so I have to wear a regular bra and it limits the dresses I can wear. I saw a commercial for Pajama Jeans today and I actually wished I had them. I used to wonder who would ever buy them! I've worn my pajama pants in public several times now and I wish they looked like jeans.

Country Gal 28 Oct 2011

I think the doc said 6 or 8 weeks for sex.

Don't do situps so soon.

babe28 26 Oct 2011

i am 9 weeks and it still hurts to do setups and cough does that mean i am still swelling??

majatummy 28 Oct 2011

You probably are still swelling, but I don't think that is causing your pain. I was not allowed to to sit ups until I was 6 months post surgery!! Things are really tender inside and there was a whole lot of cutting and stitching. It takes a long time to heal completely. I think it is very normal to feel sore when coughing at 9 weeks. Fold your arms tightly across your abdomen and push in when you sneeze or cough. It helps.

yamy 25 Oct 2011

some of you have to have the answer for me, how long after surgery is safe to have sex? I am still afraid! I had mine 32 days ago! and how long it takes to the tape and the numbing of the tummy to feel normal again? thanks

yamy 25 Oct 2011

I meant to the tape over my scar to be off by itself like the DR told me!

majatummy 26 Oct 2011

I think we had very gentle intercourse at 5 or 6 weeks, but my incision had pulled apart in two places at 4 weeks (DO NOT ARCH YOUR BACK!!!), so my healing was a bit delayed. I didn't have tape on my incision very long...maybe I wish I would have so it wouldn't have torn open, which was really gross and upsetting. The open places eventually healed normally,about 3 weeks behind the rest of the scar.
Regarding numbness, mine has lasted for many months. Feeling has slowly returned from the edges of my abdomen toward the center. Also, the tummy feels softer, still flat, but not hard like a snare drum. At 8 months I have feeling everywhere on the surface, but still feel numb under the skin in the center 4-5 inches.

yamy 26 Oct 2011

Hi Majatummy! thanks for your advices, it really helps knowing from someone has gone thru the same, Drs tells you but they dont know the feelings I thinks since they just do it, not have done! u know what I mean?. so, now I know I dont have to hurry up removing the tape that's been there for almost 5 weeks, it looks fine and I dont want to take any risks! thanks for the advice about intercourse I will wait one more week and as you said it will be very gently, I want to feel and be healded the best possible, thanks!!!!

room2improve 24 Oct 2011

I wore real (not stretchy pants) about 10 days PO and they fit pretty much the same as before surgery. They look better b/c the tummy is flatter, but the waist is not much looser b/c of the swelling. Other clothing already looks a TON better b/c of my new, more shapely waist. You will eventually look awesome in all of your old clothing. Hang in there!

Country Gal 24 Oct 2011

I was still swelling at about 4 months, although I was fitting into my pre-TT clothes much earlier. Actually, I could wear them when I still had the binder. I've got rid of them all now; they are too huge. I'm down 17 lbs., and so many clothes don't fit well, because I used to have pleated front pants to hide my belly, and looser blouses, that no longer look good. I like showing off my flatty. :)

yamy 24 Oct 2011

Thanks for your advices and comments! I will try to be patiente, I see myself better day by day and I am looking forward to the day I can see my flat tummy! I will be posting to let you all know! thanks!

babe28 22 Oct 2011

i had a full tummy tuck and i am 8 weeks and my jeans dont fit me well at all they are not comforable and my 5/6 dont fit me at all:( can someone help me!!

Acworthmom 23 Oct 2011

I was 3 months before I could get into any of my pre-tummy tuck clothes. I wore size 0/2 before, but because they pull the skin that is thicker down, the hip area seems to stay a bit fuller. I just had a revision with some lipo, and it did seem to help some. Don't worry too much though, 8 weeks is not very long in tummy tuck time.

babe28 26 Oct 2011

thank u for your in put i have dog ears and hopping they will go away!! thank u

yamy 18 Oct 2011

Four weeks after my tummy tuck my back still hurt and I can not stand straight yet, most of my clothes fit, but my jeans doesnt, so sad I love my jeans! I have lost almost 10 pounds from 126 i am today 116, so my belly is still big!

majatummy 22 Oct 2011

Yamy, you need to be patient! It's been months since I've posted on this website. I am now 8 months post surgury. I feel like I have settled into my "permanent" body now, but it was easily 4-5 months before the swelling was under control (before that it was flat tummy mornings and puffy tummy afternoons). One trick you might try is to put a rubber band through the button hole side of your jeans, bring one end of the band back through the other, and loop the long end around the button!

Country Gal 22 Feb 2011

I tried on a pair of pants today, from before. I can do up the button, even over the binder, but the thickness of the binder makes them ride up a bit, so they will be uncomfortable.

I am going to try a jean jumper next, to see if it's loose enough to wear a shirt under - or if I can even get it on over my head without help. It only buttons to the waist.

Acworthmom 23 Feb 2011

I know how you feel. I am not a warm up pant, yoga pant kind of girl. Everytime I leave the house dressed in them I feel horrible. I have actually thought of buying a pair of materrnity jeans to wear for a couple of weeks until the swelling is gone and then passing them along to my daughter as she is expecting a baby. I am going to try to wear my spanx today instead of my binder to see how it feels. I think that is the only key to wearing semi-normal clothes any time soon. Hope everything goes well for you at work.