“Finally Going to Do It - Atlanta, GA”

Since puberty I have had a widows apron (the lovely flap of skin a lot of us get only after prenancy/ c-section). I have lost a lot of weight and the flap just hangs down lower. Since having my two kids - and gaining and losing 60lbs both times, I now have a bigger, flabbier, flap that hangs down and covers most of my pubic area. I had my tubes tied with my last child and I am comfortable that I can maintain my weight. I exercise 4-5 times a week and try to eat the best I can!

I went for a consult after my daughter was a year old, but I was SO scared...I had to think on it a long time. I finally went back about a month ago and scheduled this time. I'm having a full mommy makeover, tummy tuck, breast lift, lipo, the works.

I'm very nervous about being put to sleep and especially pain meds afterward. I have a sensitivity to both and vomit after general and with pain meds. My PS assure me that they'll do what they before surgery so that I'm not sick when I wake up, but I'm still really nervous that zofran with diuladid won't work and I'll be puking non-stop post op. Then, I'm scared of how I'll control the pain if I can't take meds. I only used ibuprofen post both c-sections, but I know that this pain is much different. I can take the muscle relaxers, so at least I know that won't make me sick.

My pre-op is scheduled for 2/16.

Updated on 16 Feb 2011:
Had my preop today. I got a list of a bazillion medications to go get filled. I was a little overwhelmed at all of the info. Glad to know I can shower 48 hours after my surgery. I ran into another mom that was 9 days post op in the waiting room and she was absolutely GLOWING in her review of the whole experience. Still pretty nervous about nausea/vomiting and pain control - but we'll see. I am getting percocet, robaxin, keflex, some anti-clot drug and something else...it's all in my car, can't remember - oh the PHENERGAN!! lol. Yay! 12 days is so short of a time, but I keep thinking - 12 days will come and go and I'll have done it. I'll really have done it.

Updated on 17 Feb 2011:
I think I forgot to mention that I was asked to do tissue donation for tissue/skin grafts and I said ABSOLUTELY! It's like being an organ donor but LIVING! Yes, that's how much skin I have. Blech.

Updated on 24 Feb 2011:
I added some before pics. I'm very close to pre-pregnancy weight with #1, but unfortunately gained/lost 60 lbs with each child. Also, the flap of skin has been there since puberty. Ugh. Can't believe time is just FLYING!!

Updated on 27 Feb 2011:
Finishing up the last bit of laundry that gathered over the last couple of days. I had a whole thing typed for my sister that I didn't save - so I have to re-type, telling her what goes on with the kids for while she's here. I have to take her grocery shopping for easy food for the kids and food for her (she's a vegetarian). I don't think I'm majorly nesting, just prepping. Praying for the best tomorrow, that everything goes as smoothly as possible and that a little more than 24 hours from now, I'll be in recovery - should be by noonish.

Updated on 1 Mar 2011:
ladies - be prepared to not even recognize the person in the mirror, every time you walk by it!!

I weighed myself just to see and I'm 8lbs down even with the swelling. I'm super excited about that! She said that the flap was probably 8-9 lbs by itself, so I'll be interested to see what I weigh in a couple of months!!

Updated on 1 Mar 2011:
It's totally unreal looking at myself in the mirror. My husband keeps bringing a mirror to me because he wants me to see what he sees!

Updated on 3 Mar 2011:
Took a shower last night. Apparently I went between green and white. Had to stop andsit down for 10-15 mins and then tried again. Couldn't do it long enough to get my hair washed, but at least the rest of me is clean! Super duper tired from the pain meds.

Updated on 3 Mar 2011:
oh and I was so scared about taking meds and so MANY meds and the anti-clot shot - but phergan is my friend and I've been doing great!

Updated on 3 Mar 2011:
not as much pain, but sore today. Really wiped out and the lower back has kicked in. The muscle relaxer is my friend!

Updated on 4 Mar 2011:
Had my post op today. good bit of bruising. Left nipple is purpleish because of bruising, but she is not worried about it. Took all of the tape off everywhere - Just have to wait until my drains fill less than 25CC in 24 hours for 3 days in a row until I can get the tubes out. Oxycodone is my friend...couldn't do this without pain meds.

Updated on 5 Mar 2011:
should have known better. Got a pressure sore. I had one after my daughter (c/section) It happens from laying in the same position. I was afraid to lay on my side, but now know that I can. Luckily, I think I caught it before it go too bad. My butt bone sticks out just enough that that area is really sensitive. PS was not concerned, just told me to stay OFF of my butt bone and use pillows to make myself comfortable. Ugh.

Updated on 7 Mar 2011:
Ups and downs. I am only taking tylenol and ibuprofen as needed now. The muscle relaxers help more than anything because my back/hip area is so tight. Up and around more, but tired easily. Everyone is back to work - just me and my princess home today - so far so good! Tired.

Updated on 8 Mar 2011:
Holy muscle spasms batman! Yesterday, even though I'm taking muscle relaxers - starting having muscle spasms. My WHOLE midsection squeezes all at once - makes me feel like I can't move or breath. Dr. says that with the muscle repair that they do, this is totaly normal. Upped the muscle relaxer to every 6 hours, but it's not helping - trying to figure out ways to relieve the spasms

Updated on 9 Mar 2011:
Going to wait a little bit to do my afters. Having some wound healing issues. Just my luck, we have some infection setting in. Luckily, we caught it early. Hoping to go in mid to late next week to get my drains out. PS said that I look great and that the infection is nothing to worry about. I had some bruising/blood pooling under my left nipple that is scabbing/peeling and looking kind of sad...

Keeping in touch with your ps is super important and if you have ANY questions/doubts/concerns - go in! We had all kinds of situations built up in our heads and she was like, aside from some swelling, you're looking SUPER!! I went away feeling much more at ease. It's a process, for sure - for me anyway - the healing and feeling more human is coming in little miletsones...my next one - getting these drains out next week hopefully - and then getting this infection/wound healing going on!!

Updated on 14 Mar 2011:
2 weeks today! I have to say, I'm finally really starting to feel more like myself. Everything seems to be healing nicely. I still have the infection on my left hip, but I also still have 6 days of antibiotics left. It does seem to be getting better. Starting to have some indigestion, but the SQUEEZING feeling that I was getting in my midsection is not nearly as bad as it was.

It is *so* crazy to put on a pair of paints (yoga pants or whatever for now) and not see a big old bump, but just flat front and my BUTT! Yay! Exactly what I did it for!! My husband keeps saying how he wants to buy me a sundress for my new boobs (reduction and lift) to hold up! lol.

I'm ready to get back to keeping up with my house, but that is going to be slow for sure. I have a trashed kitchen and tons of laundry to fold...*if* I can do any of it, will take me a while, but I'll be happy!

We went to Lowe's and I ended up having to sit down (tired) after walking around a while. Then we went to Publix, where I went in by myself and just grabbed a few supplies - little oozy spots I wanted to have nontick gauze for.

Hope all of my fellow recent tummy tuckers are doing well!!

Updated on 16 Mar 2011:
Getting SO close to getting the drains out - I was 25 and 23 cc's yesterday. I need to be below 25cc's for three days. Don't know if it'll be Friday or next week, and although I *want* to - I'm not trying to rush it. I have to do some wet to dry dressings twice a day for two spots that opened up, but everything else is looking really good. Can't wait for the swelling to go down!!

Updated on 23 Mar 2011:
Still have my drains, BUT the measurement on the measurement on the left one was only 10cc yesterday!! Yay! I'm PRAYING she'll at least take the one out tomorrow, even if I have to wait for the other for next week, but they're both really low so far and it's be 13 hours since I emptied them.

The bad thing - having a cold (thank you to my kids) and sneezing (trying really hard NOT to sneeze hard) and then having a braxton hicks as I like to call them because I sneezed. Oh jeez.

Updated on 24 Mar 2011:
Drains out today!!! Now, to heal up those little holes!! On my way!!

Updated on 8 Jan 2012:
Revision time! I have dog ears almost on my back, from how far around the incision went so those will be revised. I am having another mini tuck, as the ski. Has loosened up since I've healed and I'm a little pouchy. Also, upper abs need lipo.

I don't see if I mentioned I had fat necrosis in my left breast and it is still quite big, so she will be removing that and refilling little by little with fat grafts.

Updated on 8 Jan 2012:
Btw, meant to mention, I've maintained my weight. The surgeon said is such a large removal of skin often requires a little revision.

Updated on 15 Feb 2012:
I just posted a new review for Tummy Tuck Revision. I'm having it done tomorrow.

Updated on 16 Feb 2012:
Home from my revision. Waiting for the other review to become active so I can post there. Super tired and a little sire, but feeling good!