“28 Year Old Male Tummy Tuck Journey - Bergen, NJ ”

I am a 28 year old former bodybuilder. Upon stopping bodybuilding, I ate myself into a stupor for a year. This resulted in stretch marks and loose skin. I have since been back to bodybuilding for 3 years, but could not get ride of the excess.

So on August 10, 2010, I had a tummy tuck. As of right now the pain in intense, but definitely bearable. I can see the difference in my stomach contour when I take off the compression garment, but extremely swollen. One thing I will tell those who get it done. Do your research. I went in well informed knowing that it would be a minimum of 4 weeks before I saww the results I wanted, and most likely longer. Even knowing this, the past few days have been an emotional tornado. I tend to be a cold calculating person always in search of perfection. I tend not to show emotion at all. In the past three days, I have alternated between wanting to cry for placing my body through this, to being happy my loose skin will no longer be on my mind.

During my highs, I am up walking around every 20 minutes. I walk to the door, the kitchen, I just walk. The pain is basically gone during these points. During my lows, I hate myself. During my lows, I think of the fact I can't workout for a month, nor have sex for several weeks. I know I will have residual swelling for up to six months. No one but a single person knows I have gotten this done. So that also makes itr difficult. That being said, I believe I will only get better as time presses forward.

My doctor has been active for over 20 years, has his own practice, and positive results on males. Right now, it simply feels like my life is at a standstill as I recover. I know my overconfidecne will increase even more as I heal though. I recommend it at this point to anyone, but prepared to be pulled and twisted thorughout your mind as the healing occurs

Updated on Aug 17, 2010:
So two days after my original post, and 1 day after getting my drains removed, I went from undecided how I felt to saying it was worth it. The torrent of emotion still surges through my veins at times. The peaks are now higher and longer compared to the valleys. Being able to walk without worrying about the drains changes everything. I have spent much of the day with my heels against the wall, teaching my muscles to stand upright. It is a journey as I fight my abdominals from pulling me down. Exhausting, but well worth it. Few people now I had the surgery. Today I was with friends who did not know, and not a one said a word to me about my posture. I am growing more content by the moment.

Updated on Aug 19, 2010:
SO I uploaded two photos. Not of best quality, but since basically no one knows I had this done, I had to shoot them myself. I like the results so far. On the side shot, you can see how swollen I still am down by the incision where it protrudes. I measured my waist. I was a 32.5 before surgery, and am currently at 37.5. So I have an extra five inches of swelling. Minus the extra skin I had removed and another inch may even be called for. I have been taking bromelain, and will continue to take for another 2 weeks. I'll stop on day 22. Depending on how I am healing, I may start up again at day 29 if I am still swollen. I am hoping to be down to a 34 by then

Updated on Aug 26, 2010:
SO today is day 16, and I am feeling great. Still pretty tight, but I am working on that by laying flat on the ground and breathing. I am slowly working my way to having my arms over my head. I am back in the gym, but light and easy for the next two weeks. Here are some extra photos. If you take a look at the side, you can see the swelling has really subsided. There is still some serious swelling under my belly button. My waist is still 2 inches bigger than pre surgery. I weighed myself today, and am 2 pounds lighter than previous. Overall, I am extremely happy

Updated on Sep 2, 2010:
SO I went for an unplanned stop at my doc's today. I'll take the photos tomorrow to show why. The short of it is I have some serious swelling I wanted to make sure was not a seroma under my belly button. It is normal swelling for my activity level along with scar tissue so everything is still healing fine.

Updated on Sep 3, 2010:
So here are my photos, a little late.

Updated on Sep 21, 2010:
So I am trying to post the before and afters from my doc's office.

Updated on Sep 30, 2010:
So it is a little over 7 weeks, and I am loving the work. The swelling is gone in the monring and afternoon. There is still some there at night. Today was the start of my second intense week in the gym. Last week I did my normal split, ran, biked, and finally sneezed wihthout worrying!! For those of you debating, find a good surgeon and go for it!

Updated on 17 Nov 2010:
So it has been just over three months now. I still had some swelling and hardness (scar tissue) until the last 7 days. Last week, I started feeling uncomfortable below my belly button, where much of the hardness is located. I especially hurt whenever I used the transverse plane of motion.

It last for two or three days. I woke up one morning, the swelling and hardness was basically gone!!! MY abs are as flat as they have been since my bodybuilding days. I could not be happier with the results!!! That being said, follow your doctors orders and you will be okay