Tummy Tuck: Stories

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Tummy Tuck with Lipo of the Inner and Outer Thighs, Flanks, and Upper Arms - Atlanta, GA

  • posted 8 months ago
  • updated 7 months ago
  • markings before surgery
  • 5 days after post op hunched over they took out alot
  • 8 days post op half way up drains still in
  • My invention. Gitting out of my recliner. I should of got an automatic the one
  • me in same underwear 12 days after
  • side view, swollen
  • my scar - 12 days post op
  • brusing on my legs - 12 days post op
  • side view
  • side view

I am 30 years old. 5'4 169 lbs. After having two...

  • 24 Oct 2012
  • 1 day pre

I am 30 years old. 5'4 169 lbs. After having two kids and being very over weight throughout both pregnancies. I finally started a weight loss plan and I have lost 75 lbs. I have kept it of for 4 years. But I am left with loose skin in the stomach.
I have been thinking of doing a TT for 3 years now. I have researched, looked at tons of photos, read lots of peoples reviews. About their fears and their recovery. Iam super scared and excited at the same time. I hope my recovery will not be so bad and I will be able to handle it. I am afraid of waking up in real bad pain. Wishing for the best.
I have finally decided and my surgery it tomorrow at 12pm. I have been preparing for a week. Bought all of the supplies I need. I even went out and bought a recliner to sleep in. I have read that it’s the most comfortable position and place to sleep in. Cooked, cleaned, and prepared everything.


My husband has been so supportive and encouraging. I want to have a flat tummy again. He says the scar will not bother him. He will be with me throughout the recovery.
Tomorrows the big day........

Surgery went well. Woke up with pain in arms and...

  • 28 Oct 2012
  • 3 days post
Surgery went well. Woke up with pain in arms and legs. My stomach did not hurt. I had a on q pain pump. So good to have that. Came home the same day. Pain medicine is good and i dont feel anything.. Just walking hunched over.
post op day 3 still doing good. So good to have a recliner. Dont know what i will do with out it. Stafted to eat normally today.i did not take my binder of yet. Iam scared to maybe tomarrow. I will post pictures soon before and after.

Iam 5 days post op feeling much better. Took a...

  • 30 Oct 2012
  • 5 days post
Iam 5 days post op feeling much better. Took a shower today. When i took my garments of i felt real dizzy and faint. Looked at the scars and every thing looked like it should. I am glad i had shower chair and could sit. With out a chair i would have fainted. Took it slow and everything went well. Diefinatly have some one help you for the first time.
I still can not stand straight. Still hunched over and back pain. I have muscle relaxers and that seems to help. My drains are still in and producing less and less fluid. Hope fully by next week i can stand straight and the drains can be removed.

10 days post op. I am doing good standing more...

  • 4 Nov 2012
  • 10 days post
10 days post op. I am doing good standing more staight now. I am not taking no prescription medication any longer just motrin for swelling and discomfort, mostly for lipo areas. They are real brused and uncomfortable. Muscle relaxer for back ache. This helps for me to walk more staight up. My tummy area have not given me any pain in the last 5 days. What really bothers me are my drains. They are coming out tomorrow. That would be awsome. I have pictures on my phone will try now to download and post some.

11 days post op. I got my drains removed. It did...

  • 5 Nov 2012
  • 11 days post
11 days post op. I got my drains removed. It did not hurt as I thought it would. Just felt weird. I can walk straighter now and it does not hurt . My doctor gave me a size smaller compration garment said it would help better with skin thighting on my thighs. I am ready to sleep on my own bed but I dont know if I can, I will try today.

2 weeks and 2 days or 16 days post op. Iam doing...

  • 10 Nov 2012
  • 16 days post
2 weeks and 2 days or 16 days post op. Iam doing great. I drove my car today for the first time. It was not so bad..i thought it would be difficult because I have a big suv. We went out to dinner and movie last night. During the movie my compresion garment started to pinch my incision and it hurt. I think due to position i was siting in.
Every day its getting easier and easier. Iam walking 90 percent straight, trying to stand straighter everyday. Through out the day I get exhausted. So iam taking it slow day by day.
I have made some more picture of my progress and my results. My legs are so bruised from the lipo on my thighs. Some areas have hardining under the skin. Iam trying to massage those areas and hope that will resolve the problem.

3 weeks post op... Today doing good. Couple days...

  • 15 Nov 2012
  • 21 days post
3 weeks post op... Today doing good. Couple days ago my period started and it was real bad. I had lots of swelling and cramping. I have never had it so bad. So i was pretty misrable for a couple days. With my garment on and underwear on top. Best thing for me were tampons. Good thing its over.
I have a sore and tender swollen are right above the right draine and it goes up past the insicion. It might be a small seroma, I am not sure. I will go see a doctor tomorrow and let them take a look at it.
My insicion area have been healing real good. Almost all of the scabing and glue is off. As soon as it is I will start my scar therapy.

I went to my doctor on friday. She said everything...

  • 17 Nov 2012
  • 23 days post
I went to my doctor on friday. She said everything looked good and Iam healing real well. So my tenderness on one side was due to healing and i need to massage that area. Everyday Iam getting stronger and able to do things. Iam walking more and more straighter. When i get tired i tend to hunch over then my back hurts. The lipo that was done on my thighs is healing. There is still lots of brusing and knots under the skin. I have been massaging those areas everyday and its getting better. My legs are still sore from the bruises. But not bad at all.
I have finnaly slept in my bed last night. I have been sleeping in my recliner for 3 weeks. Every time i tried the bed i could not sleep. Everything was uncomfortable. I feels so good to sleep in bed. But with out the recliner i would have been miserable. I do diffenatly recomand a recliner. Before the surgery i went out and bought one. This website and evreyones reviews helped me get ready for my operation and throught my recovery. Thank you to everyone for posting your experiences :-)

Great review?

Carmen Kavali, MD

My Doctor: Carmen Kavali, MD

My rating:

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Comments (13)

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Wow you look like a different person. How much weight did you lose ?
  • Reply
You look fabulous!
  • Reply
You look amazing!!! Thank you for sharing your experience. My TT is schedule for Monday and reading your experience helps!
  • Reply
You look amazing!!!!! Congrats on the weight loss!
  • Reply
You look absolutely amazing. What I would do for that waistline! Wow!!!
  • Reply
Your results are fantastic, hope rest of your recovery goes well, bet you are very pleased with the results, fantastic they are xx
  • Reply
omg too funny with your home made chair lift. But your results are stellar!!!!!
  • Reply
Hi I also had a full tummy tuck with muscle repair on 10/25/12 at Duke University and am concerned about my inability to stand straight on post op day 10. My drains were removed on day 6 ( Wednesday ) and I do not miss them at all. Just glad to see we are not alone. I keep reminding myself that I chose to do this and what my ultimate goal is. A bikini by 40 in July.
  • Reply
Hi, I got my drains removed and feel better already. Iam standing more than half way up. My doctor said i should stand against a flat wall and try to streach out slowly upright so my shoulders are flat against the wall. I have been doing it and its working. Dr. said dont push yourself. usually it take one to two weeks to stand straight. Lets hope soon :)
  • Reply
Hello, Im also in Atlanta, Ga and seeking a good surgeon for a tt, do you have any recommendations?
  • Reply
Hi, I had a couple of surgeons that I was looking into but I chose Dr. Kavali. She was honest and made me feel at ease. I Think she was diffinatly the best choice I made.
  • Reply
How did you like Duke? What kind of pricing do they offer?
  • Reply

Congratulations!   Sounds like everything went well and you are doing pretty good:)

Stay on top of your pain meds, rest and go slow for the first 7-10 days.  Listen to your body and give it what it needs.  

Keep us up to date on how you are doing.

  • Reply

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