Tummy Tuck: Stories

I was always "small" with my 5'4" weighing around 118-120lbs. After having my first child at 31 I was back to my "normal self" within 4 months even though she weighed 9 lbs and was big as a house when i was pregnant. I figured, if i could do it once, i can do it again... WRONG! Before i got pregnant with my second at 33 i was in the best shape of my life! Then i had another big baby, weighing 9 lbs 4oz. Time around i was even bigger, my friends joked that i must be having at least two!

I guess the two Cesarean Section and my muscles being stretched to the limit twice was just too much for my body. I worked out harder than ever before. I was a professional gymnast when i was young and a regular gym-goer ever since so never really slacked off... but this time i put everything in it! This time it took me longer to loose the weight but about 6 months after having the baby i was back to the weight i wanted to be. Unfortunately my stomach just wouldn't go down and even after a year i still looked 4 months pregnant.

As it turned out i had a 2,5" muscle separation in the abdominus recti. I have done special exercises to "cure" my Diastasis Recti, but nothing worked. It was extremely frustrating. When i looked at myself in the mirror i felt like i had my head put on the "wrong body". My husband and i decided that since it's been long enough since my second cesarean, i did what i could by working out, plus we weren't planning any more children..... let's do it!

I went to several surgeons before i found Dr.P. The first time i talked to him, i knew he was the "one". The one, that i can trust enough with my body and my life, the one that will put me back the way i was supposed to be. And i was right! He was wonderful!

The procedure itself is kind of a blur. I remember some of the drive home, i was a bit uncomfortable and very sleepy. I pretty much slept through the first two days. Fortunately i was lucky enough having my mom around to help with the kids. I highly recommend having someone watch kids, pets,house, whatever for at least the first 3-5 days!

After two days i only took 1 painkiller a day and after 4 days none at all. 4 days post surgery i was walking the 3 levels of my house like nothing happened. My tummy was a bit tight as expected but the pain was mostly gone and only had mild discomfort. 7 days post surgery the 2 drains came out FINALLY!! I think the drains are the worst. They didn't hurt they were just a pain to deal with. 7 days post surgery i was back to work! 1 month after the surgery i felt almost totally healed although i could feel the stitches that pulled my rectus abdominus together. It didn't hurt, i just kinda always knew they were there.

Another hard part was that i couldn't lift my kids for a good 3-4 months even though i felt like i totally could, i followed my wonderful dr's instructions and didn't. I definitely didn't want to risk the beautiful results i could already see i had. Now i am 10 months post surgery and back in my bikini! At 36 i again can be proud the way i look!

Pros: I got the body back i always knew.

Cons: not even sure if i can call it a con since it doesn't really bother me.... the scar. It's low enough that i can hide it even underneath a bikini. Since i didn't have too much extra skin i ended up with a small vertical scar along with the regular horizontal one where my belly buttton used to be. Again, since the scar is low and light, it doesn't bother me.