Tummy Tuck Forum
94%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
Tummy Tuckbefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average Tummy Tuck Cost: $7,925

Learn about Tummy Tuck

7,716 people and 861 doctors are talking about Tummy Tuck

Get Free Email Updates

worried day 5 post-op

By prissy1 on 24 Jan 2011

worried day 5 post-op

My sides look uneven and what happened to my previous hour-glass shape? There is also a round puffiness smack in the center of my belly. Am I being paranoid?

Comments (37)

Post a Comment Sort:
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 25 Jan 2011

That looks like Swell Hell to me!  You are just beginning the swelling stage.  You will wake up in the morning feeling good and looking small; and then by noon you will be a puff ball in the belly.  Frustrating....

If you have any areas in the tummy that start to feel like a water bed please call your doctor right away.  You will know trust me on that one.   

Just give this time because it will all take shape in the weeks and months to come.  It could take up to a full year to see the final results.
england4642 27 Jan 2011
oh kimmers, is it realy true that this can be the beginning of the swelling stage? (day 5 ). I have been a bit swollen up to now, but feel like i've gone back a step today. i feel swollen and bloated, although my bowels are fine.
I hate the binder, but have kept it on, as instructed. i too am short(5 ft), and the binder is so uncomfortable.
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 27 Jan 2011

England I am sorry to say your are hitting the Swell Hell stage.  It comes and goes and makes you nuts!   You are a shorty like me and the binder is horrible for us munchkins.  It goes from under your boobs and down past your hips.  Rubs, rides and makes you nuts.   How long do you have to wear your binder? 

Try putting a soft cotton tank top under it and that helps with some padding.  I only wore mine three days but always had the tank top and boy shorts under it. 

Hang in there it will get better.  What makes this really hard is that you will feel so awesome one day and then like crap the next.  It teases you...
prissy1 26 Jan 2011
Ugh! Patience is a virtue I wasn't born with :) thanks Kimmers I will relax and let my body heal the way its supposed to. What's really annoying is because I'm short this binder creates dents and ripples in my torso and that makes it hard to get a realistic view of my shape.

I'm really worried about what I will be able to wear to work next week, my office is business casual so sweats are not an option and I doubt I can get into any slacks or jeans.

Let us pray my doc allows me to switch from this binder to spanx! Speaking of, anyone know where I can buy affordable spanx that look more like lingerie? I only own the spanx brand and a couple of the control bottoms by dr reyes.
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 27 Jan 2011

Hi Prissy,

I know that darn binder thing again!!!  It is torturing all the women on the site.  Shitty things...we should have a big reunion and burning party in the end.  Instead of burning bras it will be binders.

The clothing for going back to work is hard.  Have elastic waist skirts and pants for a while.  I bought a few things at Target to get me through the first 6 weeks back to work.  Luckily it was May so it was warm and I could wear skirts without hosiery which helped.  I bought my spanx at Target for a pretty decent price.  I only had to wear them the first two weeks back at work.  The swelling continued but I needed to be FREE!! 

Hold on tight and try to focus on Spring and a hot body.
Angiemcc (Community Manager) 19 Sep 2011

I can't believe those binders are one size fits all. Someone needs to come up with smaller sizes!

prissy1 27 Jan 2011
I was so uncomfortable last night I had to lay flat and undo the binder to breathe...I felt so constricted. I kept it undone for a good 15mins.
Dallas929 27 Jan 2011
You look great! I'd be very happy with that belly. I'm 8 days post op and nervous too!
trishvan99 29 Jan 2011
Prissy-
I found some at target thet are very affordable. My favorite is a tank like one. I had TT and aug 4weeks ago. After 1week I was able to switch from the binder-it dug into my hip bones. I'm still wearing my spanx but will leave it off occasionally. Hang in there!
prissy1 29 Jan 2011
Trish-

I had the same issue w/ it digging into my sides leaving ugly indentations. I have spanx and dr reyes shapewear but they are a b*tch to get on and off when I have to pee.

Went to target today and got a tank one w/ a lace bottom. I guess I will sleep in the binder with a tank underneath it.
prissy1 30 Jan 2011
So today is 11 days post-op and I'm happy to say I'm feeling pretty good, although by mid-day I'm pretty exhaused.

I've only left the house 3 times...one for dr appt and 2 others for running errands and returned home zapped of all energy.

I had my drain removed Friday which didn't hurt, although I took a vicodin b4 my appt! The sweeling @ my appt wasn't too bad and I could finally start to appreciate my new belly. There is a bit of puckering of the skin above my incision line but my ps promises it will smooth out over time, anyone else have this? He also told me to wear the binder for 6 weeks but I'm free to wear spanx to work.

I start a new job tomorrow and am worried what the heck to wear to accommodate afternoon "swell hell". Although I'm 40 I look and feel under 30 so my wardrobe reflects that...I have no elastic waist anything!!! Currently in panic mode.

Question- at what point do you stop wearing pads on top of your incision? I feel like it needs to breathe but scared it will be irritated if I don't wear a barrier. Any suggestions would be apprciated.

Lastly, since I'm no longer on antibiotics I had a glass of wine last night..can we say heaven? Of course I was asleep in 2.5 seconds lol!

Sorry this post is so long guys!!
prissy1 30 Jan 2011
So today is 11 days post-op and I'm happy to say I'm feeling pretty good, although by mid-day I'm pretty exhaused.

I've only left the house 3 times...one for dr appt and 2 others for running errands and returned home zapped of all energy.

I had my drain removed Friday which didn't hurt, although I took a vicodin b4 my appt! The sweeling @ my appt wasn't too bad and I could finally start to appreciate my new belly. There is a bit of puckering of the skin above my incision line but my ps promises it will smooth out over time, anyone else have this? He also told me to wear the binder for 6 weeks but I'm free to wear spanx to work.

I start a new job tomorrow and am worried what the heck to wear to accommodate afternoon "swell hell". Although I'm 40 I look and feel under 30 so my wardrobe reflects that...I have no elastic waist anything!!! Currently in panic mode.

Question- at what point do you stop wearing pads on top of your incision? I feel like it needs to breathe but scared it will be irritated if I don't wear a barrier. Any suggestions would be apprciated.

Lastly, since I'm no longer on antibiotics I had a glass of wine last night..can we say heaven? Of course I was asleep in 2.5 seconds lol!

Sorry this post is so long guys!!
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 30 Jan 2011

Hey Girl,

I will be thinking about you tomorrow!  You are a brave woman to be starting a new job 12 days post OP!  I know..a girl has to do what a girl has to do!

Just wear the most comfy thing you have and keep the top button un done if necessary.  Do go out and get some elastic waist skirts and pants though.  Target has some pretty good things for little money. 

Just take it slow tomorrow and go rest in your car at lunch if necessary.  Try not to plan anything after work for the first 2-3 weeks back.  Just make your focus working in the day and going right home to the bed after work.  Your body will thank you :)

I will be anxious to hear how your first day goes...
trishvan99 30 Jan 2011
I wore gauze for about 2weeks at the incsion site if I went anywhere. At night I stuffed socks in between my binder and undies while healing. I went back to work after being homw for 11 days so I know what its like. You'll do great!
prissy1 31 Jan 2011
Kimmers my day was looong. I'm surprised that swell hell wasn't that bad. I sit behind a desk most of the day but when I got up to walk around I did feel a lil tightness.

The issue came when I left work, I took the wrong train home and got lost and had to walk about a mile. Felt like I had a boulder in my belly when I got home, not to mention my hands and toes being frozen.

Sigh..I hope this doesn't set me back. I just showered and took a vicodin and going to bed.
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 1 Feb 2011

The first two weeks back are really hard.  My swelling was awful and I was tired as hell!   I can't even imagine trying to learn a new job at 11 days PO...GOD!
prissy1 31 Jan 2011
Hi Trish-

I kept gauze over my belly botton but nothing over my tt incision...only issue is the "spanx" cami kept riding up since I wore a dress. It doesn't feel irritated but I came home and put peroxide then neosporin on it. I'm paranoid!
Country Gal 1 Feb 2011
Oh Prissy, how awful - sorry you had to go through that.

How are you feeling after a night's rest?
prissy1 2 Feb 2011
How long did it take for you all's belly buttons to look somewhat normal? mine looks like a black hole. I've been putting peroxide followed by neosporin on it daily. maybe I should just let it dry out naturally?
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 2 Feb 2011

Hi Prissy,

Mine took a good month for the big ugly scab to fall out.  I would just go ahead and leave it alone now.  Just keep it clean and dry and skip the ointment and peroxide. 

If it starts to get stinky, red and sore have your doctor check it.  I doubt it will though at this point.
prissy1 3 Feb 2011
Today was the worst ever dealing with "swell hell" I am getting ready to leave the office, but I feel pregnant and my incision area is sore. So glad tomorrow is Friday, I am putting my feet up the entire weekend!

I dont think I drank hardly enough water yesterday and today which is probably the issue.
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 3 Feb 2011

Hi prissy,

I am sorry you are feeling this way.  You have had a long week at a new job and not even two weeks post op yet.   Eeks!!

Kick your feel up, ice packs, pain meds and drink a bunch of water tonight.  One more day girl...you can do it!

My first two weeks back were the worst and then it was up hill starting week three. 

Hang tight and baby yourself at night and all weekend.
trishvan99 3 Feb 2011
Prissy,
Trust me it gets better. The swelling is very normal- for me it was worse after being on my feet all day. I used arinca cream on my tummy. Relax and take time for yourself. You will see this will all be so worth it. Hang in there.
prissy1 5 Feb 2011
So today is 17 days post op...if it weren't for the swelling and bloating I'd feel pretty good!

I think this is the last weekend I'm wearing the binder...doc said 6 weeks but all the research I've done I don't think I need it after 2 weeks...I'll continue with spanx @ work because of the afternoon swelling.

Trying not to feel guilty that I haven't left my bed today but going back to work was a doozey!
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 5 Feb 2011
Hi Prissy,

You just stay in that bed all weekend without any guilt. You need the rest :)

I am glad you made it through your first week and it will continue to get better. It just takes a long time to feel normal again.

Keep drinking your fluids, apply cold packs and keep those feet up.

Post a Comment

used for verification