3 Weeks Post TT - Bergen, NJ

My only regret is that I waited until age 43 to have this done!

But my kids are all grown up now (ages 13 and 16) and it was time I did something for me. I always hated looking at myself naked in the mirror. That awful pouch of extra skin caused by childbirth and weight fluctuations. Even at a size 8 I was self conscious because I was always aware of the "muffin top" hanging over my pants.

My hubby told me I was beautiful and that I didn't need to change anything. But I told him "I'm doing this for me and no one else" I went to see 3 different surgeons for consults and they all agreed that I was the perfect candidate, having small thighs, butt and hips and just a lot of excess skin in my abdominal area that would never go away with exercise (they didn't need to tell me that!)

I chose my surgeon based on referrals from other people as well as his personality and before and after pics. (The most important question you can ask is how many tummy tucks have they performed). I went in for my surgery on 3/22. It was performed at an outpatient hospital facility. I arrived at 7:30 for an 8:30 appointment, checked in and was provided with sterile garment to change into. After a short wait my surgeon arrived they brought me into the OR where I had to stand naked while they painted my whole body with iodine. That was humiliating and cold. I remember shivering and someone calling for extra blankets. The next thing I remember I was in recovery. Then they were taking me through the lobby and putting me on an ambulance to go to a nursing facility where I would spend the night.

My mom had decided that she would come up from Florida to help me out post-op. I was concerned beforehand that having her there would only drive me crazy but having her there was actually the best! They initially placed me in a semi private room but my mom complained and had me moved to a private room. There was an extra bed in the room and she stayed with me overnight jumping up every time I flinched to make sure I was alright.

Although I was supposed to go home the next day we decided to spend an extra night at the facility. It was a great decision! I didn't have to climb any stairs, they had that great hospital bed that I was able to raise and lower to get up easier, and on my second day the nurses helped me shower.

I used the Percaset and Tylenol w codeine that were prescribed for the first 2 days but after that I decided I no longer needed it and it was making me really constipated. I started taking Colace (stool softener) and that would up giving me horrible stomach cramps. It was nearly a week before I was able to make a BM. That sucked and was really uncomfortable!

My first week home I didn't leave the house except to visit the doctor for a post-op check and to have the drains removed. Having the drains out made a huge difference. I was able to stand up a little straighter, taking a lot of strain off my back (which hurt more than anything else). Most of my time was divided between the recliner and taking slow walks around the house to keep the circulation going.

By week 2 my mom was headed back to FL and I was headed back to work. Although my job requires me to sit at a desk most of the day, after about 3 hours I found I was exhausted and had to go home. I'm trying to take it slow.
The swelling is the worst part now, it's really uncomfortable and sometimes it's hard to breathe but I feel myself getting better everyday and although I am swollen and have a big puffy scar right now I am already blown away by the results. Bye-bye tummy pouch!