September Tummy Tuckers - check in here

Hello... It has been a while since I checking in and I don't know if any of you are still posting or following this thread... but i wanted to check in an update my progress and see if any of you are having follow up procedures done on your TT area. I am going in for a "dog Ear" procedure and some more lipo on my flanks on June 7th. My scar is realing nicely, but my sides are pretty uneven and kinda lumpy on my sides. The dod said this could be corrected with an in office procedure that will take maybe an hour where they will numb my sides and my nerves with some Valium forst... then do some more lipo on my sides and hips.... I am nervous and excited.. as I have come this far, but its not all done. Has any one else done this after their surgery? My scar is quite a bit higher on one side and comes up out of my jeans and swim suit... He said he could fix that too... I am looking to know how other people's follow up procedures have gone. The doc said his time is not charged for, but I need to pay for the "tray fee" which is 325$ I am thinking of also having his lipo my chin at the same time as That will only be 400$ and since I am already there for the hips... why not! Any advice or suggestions? Thanks and I hope you are all doing well and healed up!.

Well, I am almost 5 months out and still pretty sore! I have been skiing regularly about 3 days a week and feel pretty good. Its weird to feel my core so tight! But at the end of the day after about 3 hours of skiing I am SORE! I got the bright idea to go snowboarding the other day. OUCH my stomach was so sore after I was worried ! I had a hard time turning around or getting myself up from the snow with out help. (There was a lot of snow) My husband was very helpful but my friends who I was with, who don't know about the surgery couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. I wont do that again unless its a sunny day and I am only on the groomers. Over all, I am happy, I would do it again in a heart beat. I am going back in a month to get his opinion about my sides being uneven and maybe a lipo revision near the scar where its a bit bumpy. But I went shopping and got some new pants and shirts that are not all stretched out and I feel great! Hope all of you are happy too!

I am doing very well. Ready to get my exercise routine back. I will next week. Uncomfortable lying on my tummy. It is numb too. Still slight pulling in the center, muscle repair. I would do it again without hesitation. I had a perfect experience with no complications. Patience is the key.

R

I haven't really posted anything since surgery, didn't want to scare anyone, and yes I would do it again (mine wasn't really optional) but when the doctor opened me up I had a 6" wide, 9-10" long Complete vertical diastasis recti split. It was 6 hours of muscle repair, and it has been an incredibly painful recovery. This coming from someone who's had 3 surgeries & 2 babies in 4 years... the pain of the muscle repair was and still is absolutely incredible. Of course I'm 1000 times better now, but I've delivered a baby sideways without an epidural, requiring 100s of stitches and 4 month recovery.... this was worse. I had NO idea what I was getting myself into. I am still in awe, my doctor was and is wonderful, he said it was the biggest muscle split he'd ever seen. I don't know when I will ever feel normal again. It's almost been 3 months, husband stopped all concern at about 3 wks.... all this was due to having my 2 beautiful babies, during pregnancy with second son (both large, me small, short-waisted with no hips, not good for pregnancy i discovered!) I knew my DR split was getting bad, at like 8 months I could see vertical line going from top of breastbone down across whole huge tummy, my 2 yr old used as train track!
Anyhow, when I read your post, i wanted to share.... I am scared i will NEVER feel normal! Muscle repair 100 times worse than anything...i feel like I am wearing internal brace from under breasts on down to huge scar. Doctor did great job. Booked 3 hrs on table and it too SIX HOURS!! It was 7-8 layers of muscle repair, no idea how he pulled it together. SOO. I know. Someday, hopefully this spring, I will NOT be swollen (still totally swollen!!) I STILL have to wear huge brace (anyone else?) and I just got tape off a WEEK ago- now onto these $20 Mederma cream tubes!! Hurts all the time. But when I remember those first 2-3 weeks, I feel better, that was surreal I need to pass out pain. First 2 days I thought I was going to pass out every second so YES better but NO I am still scared to exercise....on top of all this husband has about ZERO tolerance for hearing about any pain (GOD if MEN had to have babies), treats me worse than before and tonight told me he's moving out on Monday. Holy cow. Never in my life did I imagine having a divorce... hard-working mother of 2 toddler boys, took time off to raise them for first years, but i have/had a successful professional career. If he could only IMAGINE going through 2 pregnancies, 3 MAJOR surgeries, in 4 years, all raising the toddlers with a few weeks off. OMG. Talk about zero empathy.
so i didn't want to write on here, and be a downer.
But it's been incredibly hard, and he's been incredibly without understanding. Been a month at least since even asked how scar or my insides feel. OMG. Scar hurts to touch but bearable, numb, swollen, insides still feel so weird I am scared to exercise....
BUT - REMEMBER - my case is about DR repair, allll muscular, so it was a bad example. Not like a "regular" tummy tuck. But very similar scar :)
Thanks for letting me share, it's been long time since I opened up again about but this site has been AMAZING resource and the DOC I found on here is PERFECT- replies to my EMAILS even at like 10pm!!!! Better crash, my gorgeous sons who would have been the end of me in 1800s will be up soon!!
Love
DR SPLIT Surgery Queeen :)

Thank you for the encouragement. This week I have also had some burning in my muscle repair, near my belly button. My theory is that the nerves are healing. Glad to hear that you ladies are exercising without any trouble. I'm probably just being paranoid!

Hello my fellow September Tuckers...hope you all had a wonderful holiday. I am curious how everyone is doing at three months out. I am still so dang tight down the center of my belly. Is anyone else experiencing this? Feels like I am being pulled from the inside. Don't think I've had a single day since surgery that I have not felt at least some uncomfortable tension. Another concern I have is exercise. My doctor said I could dance, zumba, yoga, etc...my usual activities...but I worry about pulling something or stretching out what he has sewn together. I certainly don't want to affect my permanent results but I need to move! Any advice or thoughts?

I got up today and weighed my self... 124.. horay and then got on the eliptical and went for 30 minutes. I made it 2 miles and felt awesome. My heart rate was higher than I would have liked, but I felt good. I am going to make this an early am habit! My Abs are still a bit sore and my incision is kinda raw feeling on my hips, but I am dealing well. I am going to try some oblique ab work tomorrow. Hope it feels good.....

Just wanted to share my excitement...I'm 9 weeks post op today, and completed my first workout yesterday....Ran interval sprints on the treadmill for 4.5 miles - and it felt amazing!!! I was soooo expecting the worst in that I would feel too uncomfortable to even jog on the treadmill (my diastasis repair is still quite tender)...however, it went absolutely fine!! I was estatic. To celebrate my awesome workout, I went shopping...and jean shopping at that....I bought jeans in a size 6!!! WOO HOOO!!! I'm thrilled!!! When I began my weight loss journey, I was a size 16 and 187 pounds. After three years of attending a BootCamp fitness class, I was down to a size 10 and 145 pounds....and stuck there. Then came the mommy makeover.....I am currently 139 pounds and holding (I haven't been able to work out and it's been driving me crazy!!!!) and a size 6. I still can't believe it!! I am so thankful for this surgery and as difficult as the recovery was, I would do it again in a heartbeat!! AMEN!!! I wish you all continue healing and happy upcoming holidays!!! :-)

Hello again! I had my 8 week post op and my Dr was pleased with my results. He gave me clearance to exercise and do oblique work, but not center core exercises for another month. He agreed that there is an un-symetry on my side and he said that I would have a decrease in swelling continue, but likely only about 10 percent more. I am still ab bit sore in my upper ab area and my flans are render, but my swelling is mostly over and other than my incision on my side being rubbed by my jeans, I feel great! He wants to see me back in February and said at that time we can talk about him doing some more lipo on my hip areas and evening out my sides. OH MY! I told him I cant go through with the same kind of process or recovery from before an he assured me that this was an office procedure and "not a big deal" . I am curious if anyone knows what this "office Procedure" would look like and if it would be covered by the previous price tat I paid? I was not expecting this answer from him, and forgot to ask the details, like price or if its included, and to find out what he was planning on doing in his office. I guess I will find out in February, but thought I would ask! Take care ladies! I hope you are healing well and happy and healthy!

Hello Fabulous! I am 8 weeks and one day post now and so happy I have done this for myself. I feel much better overall, even thought I am still sore in my upper ab area from the muscle repair and on my flanks from the PAL lipo. This is so worth the money and the recovery time. My clothes fit and I feel pretty in them, compared to feeling like a frumpy and blown out mom. I am happy with my Dr. and feel he did a great job. I do have a bit of a lopsided look but am not sure if that is just delayed swelling, or from the incision or just the way my body is... but whatever it is from, I feel so much better.
The recovery is not easy. Take it slow and relax and heal. Eat well.... Protein, Protein, Protein and lots of the regular healthy stuff, plus vitamins and extra supplements do help. This forum has been very helpful to me and I am so glad to be able to share and by witness to others journey! Haven taken pictures every out on week on my healing has made a big difference for me in really seeing the changes. Its hard to really tall day to day whats happening with the recovery but on a weekly basis it is much easier to see the progress.

Hi my fellow flat-bellied friends. Eight weeks post-op here and feeling pretty normal. Still in a Spanx girdle (size small for compression)but going without it more and more. Still have swelling on my flanks from lipo and swelling in pubic area. Also have fat necrosis just under my scar. It feels like a quarter size flat lump and I know it's fat because when I poke it with my fingernail, the dent stays. Still have some discomfort from my belly being so tight. Feels like I just don't have enough skin! What has really helped is emu oil. It adds moisture to the cell and has made a huge difference. Much better than lotions, vitamin E, essential oils, or aquaphor. My scar is flat everywhere except at the lowest section, over the pubic area. I have dropped one pants size and hope to drop another (or two!) as the swelling continues to go down. I am so glad I had this surgery and think the results are fabulous. I look so much better in my clothes and my proportions are more flattering. Driving the hubs crazy around here too :)

Best wishes for continued healing to you all.

Yes it is good to hear from the September tt's. This has been helpful to hear about all of the experiences on this elective journey. It is still hard to believe my tummy is flat. The first few days are rough. Pain meds important along with patience. My next checkup is this week. Six weeks post op. I am eager to get back to the gym. Swelling is minor. Weaning away from the binder.
I wish you all the best as you prepare for this surgery. Listen to your dr. And don't overdo anything. I have learned much by all that has been shared. Thank you for the best support!

Wow -- I am so glad that I'm not the only one still checking in here! And, it sounds like I am in the same place as everyone else. Generally feeling great, still tire a bit in the evenings. Totally flat tummy in the am, a bit poofy in the pm. I haven't really gotten back to working out (just walking everyday). I go for my 8 week post-op tomorrow and am looking forward to being released to work out and stop wearing the girdle-type garment. Still numb from BB down, but it sounds like this is normal -- could last up to a year and may never return completely and I am really OK with that!
Best wishes and happy continued healing to you all!!

HI Ladies! I am happy you are still checking in! I have been and posted some new pics last week. Get those pics up and let us see how you all look! I am 7 weeks and 1 day out and over all, I feel pretty good! I get really tired in the later part of the day and am in bed by 8 most nights! I have a very flat stomach in the AM and then swelling in the belly as the day goes on. The swelling is not really bad, just a puffy feeling and an area above the incision line that is more tender as the day goes on. The same goes for my pubic area. That is still tender too, from swelling. My flanks are looking much better and not as sore as last week, but still tender to the touch if I am touching a bit hard. They actually started to looked bruised again last week... weird! The area that goes over my hips is still kinda raw feeling, and I don't like that at all.. My distasis repair is AMAZING!!!! I cant believe how flat my stomach is and how tight the muscles are. I don't think I have had a stomach like this sine I was 6 years old. Sneezing and coughing are very uncomfortable and I have to hold my self and brace to help quite the pain when I do sneeze. I have tried on a few of my older clothes and am over the moon at how they fit. I thought I would be going down sizes, but am still in my same clothes, they just fit so much better. Last night I put on a pair of jeans I have really liked, but hated to wear because the muffin top was just so horrible that they looked bad on me. I came out wearing them and my husband said, "oh I see you have decided to go shopping... good for you, those look AWESOME on you". He laughed when I told him which jeans they were. Then he commented on how happy he is that I went thorough with the surgery because I am so much more confident and look so great! HORAY!!! I have a numb area below my BB and out and down about 4 inches. My doctor said there would be an area that likely always stayed numb. He called it a bonus if I ever have to inject myself with something in the future as the injections wont hurt! (WTF) I am so happy that I have had this surgery and that am on the recovering end now. The process was scary, but in the end worth every penny and all of the down time!

Well I'm 13 weeks today and I still have the numbness, my ps said it could take up to a year! It does feel that the area is getting smaller than what it originally was, but It's still there, and i still have swelling off and on.

My doc told me the numbness may last for 4months before it is gone. I am 5 weeks post op. I also have the small vertical line and a very smooth scar. It feels so good to wear my jeans with my shirt tucked in. No rolls, muffin top or belly in my way. Sneezing still hurts though. I would do it again because the results are great.

PhillyMom,

I hope I can help in any way...I know what you kinda mean by still a little numb. I am 8wks 3days post op and I am still partly numb around my belly button and then downwards to the pubis area. I'm not sure if mines because I didn't have enough skin to stretch my "old" bb hole out and I have a vertical thin line scar directly beneath my new bb where my ps had to sew it up or if it's from just what you're describing? I'm not too upset that he wasn't able to remove the "old" hole though because already at 8 wks post op...I can't even hardly tell that it was even there...I'm impressed!

Hope this helps in any way! ;-)

I'll check in Phillymom! I too am still numb in sections of my tummy. Good news is, I have complete feeling back in my boobies...yippee!!! I still feel like I'm a little swollen in the evenings above my pubic bone. I have another post op appt. next week so I intend to ask the PS if this is my final result. I'm 8 weeks tomorrow.

I too am fitting into all my old jeans, but they look much much better...and I'm buying smaller tops. Most my old ones look dowdy:)

I feel mostly normal. I've taken a couple of big trips lately, Italy, Hawaii, and a 6 hour car ride to my Grandfather's funeral, I am NOT the same...I don't know how to explain it...it feels like my stomach and hip area are falling off. Very uncomfortable. I can't get away from some sort of compression garment.I totally relate to the security blanket issue.

Husband can't keep his eyes off me when I'm showering or dressing...yahoo! I proudly prance around the bedroom naked instead of hiding behind a towel. Worth every stinkin' penny. Ready to start exercising and keeping everything where it is!!!

Are any September tummy-tuckers are still checking this thread? Anyway, I am 8 weeks post-op this Monday and am generally feeling pretty much back to normal (a bit of swelling at the end of the day, but not too bad), fitting into all my old clothes, but looking better in them(!)... However, I still feel numb in a little triangle from just above my BB down to the incision line (about 5" wide at the bottom of the triangle). It's not a big deal, just a bit disconcerting. And, I wondered if everyone else experiences this... Also, will I ever get the feeling back in that area, I wonder? Or, is it going to be a small, permanent price to pay for the otherwise great results? Just wondering... Thanks!