Tummy Tuck: Stories

I will turn 41 years old on the day I'm scheduled for surgery. I am the mother of 1 child, he will be 21 in a few months. I've battled with my weight for years, its been a rollar coaster. I'm weiging 212 now and I have just decided it's time. I've never been thin, but I would be thrilled to be a size 12 or 14. I'm excited but yet I'm nervous about this surgery. I'll post before pictures next weekend. Thank you to all you ladies for the helpful information you have provided. Many of my concerns have been answered by this website. Best of luck to all of you!

Here are the dreaded Before pictures.

Just got the call, my scheduled report time is 7:30 AM tomorrow!!!

Here I go!!! : )

Well surgery went well!!! I've been home since 11:30, took pain meds and fell right to sleep. Just woke up and I'm feeling pretty good!
I'm dying to see my tummy!!! : )

Today seems to be another good day. I have a little spot on my hip that burns but no real pain yet. I think I am more hunched over today. Been able to sit on the front porch both yesterday and today to enjoy this wonderful weather. I haven't removed the wrap yet but I am dying to see my tummy! Maybe tomorrow night I will check it out. So far things are going better than I expected. No regrets.

Well here I am 2 days post op and still feeling really good. I am hoping to shower today so I can see my tummy. I'm dying to see it! My husband has been my saving grace. I'm blessed to have him home with me. I'm starting to get myself up alone he just stands with me as my spotter lol.

Well I just removed all my dressings and showered. I got to see my tummy for the first time. WOW! I'm impressed. I'm still swollen but what a difference.

3 Days Post Op - Just showered again and I feel pretty good. I even had enough energy to fix my hair. I had my first BM this afternoon and that wasn't near as difficult as I expected. I will say I'll be glad when these drains are out, but I realize they serve a purpose and I want them to be in as long as they have to be. I uploaded new pictures and realize that I have some love handle work to do once I'm able to exercise again. My husband has been so wonderful through all of this, I am going to owe him bigtime! I'm still swelling as each day goes on, I'm trying to ice it a few times a day I'm not sure if that helps or not but its worth a shot. My BB is very tender so I'm washing it out and drying it with a Qtip.
I owe all you ladies a thank you for all your support and reading your posts is very helpful for me, I know I'm not alone. I'm afraid of the day when the depression sets in, I have a feeling it will be early next week when my hubby goes back to work and I'm sitting here all alone... : (.
I hope everyone is healing and healthy!!!

6 Days Post Op - Well here I am 6 days post op, last week at this time I was gearing up for my big day. I don't have any regrets at all. I feel pretty good for the most part, I am tender around the drains and my BB seems to be tender too, but I don't have pain. I am so anxious for these drains to come out. I was feeling really good on Saturday and totally over did and paid for it that night. I won't be doing that again. I realize that I need to just take it easy and relax and this process will go much smoother. I believe when the drains are out I will feel much better. My swelling is way down in the morning and then by mid day I start to feel like a balloon. I know that goes with the territory, I try to ice it a few times a day I don't know if that helps or not.
My son has been in Hawaii since January 1st attending the Univeristy of Hawaii at Hilo for the semester. I miss him so much and I can't wait to visit him on May 15th. I need to take this recovery nice and slow so I am feeling great when I get to see him and enjoy a vacation in Hawaii with him and my wonderful husband.
I can't thank my husband enough he has been wonderful. First for even letting me do this due to the cost and secondly for being here for me and taking care of everything while I'm recovering. He's back to work today, I had a melt down last night and just cried and thanked him for all he does for me. I am so blessed!
I hope everyone's recovery is getting better every day! All of you waiting for your big day, good luck to all of you!

7 Days Post Op - Well I figured I was doing too well, last night the bomb dropped. I had pain that I didn't have since the beginning and I was very sore. I ended up taking my heavy duty pain meds. Today I feel much better. I'm still not sleeping in my bed, I tried it Sunday night and it lasted about 45 minutes before I was back in my recliner. I miss laying in bed next to my husband.
Today the nurse called to say that they will take one drain out tomorrow, so I am looking forward to that. I'm trying to just relax and take it easy but I feel so lazy...I just want to do the things that need to be done here while I'm home. I hate leaving everything for my husband to do.
I was scheduled to go back to work next Monday but I think I might extend that date, I work 9 hour days so when I do go back I think I will ease myself into it part time. I don't want to go back at all until both drains are out.
Keeping my fingers crossed that maybe Friday the second one will come out...

Day 8 Post Op- got up this morning took my good pain Meds because I was afraid of the pain from having the drain pulled. Got very nautious, felt terrible from them. Had the drained pulled with no pain at all, got a new garment and I feel almost 80% normal. Nurse said maybe they will pull my other drain tomorrow!!!! Yippee I can't believe the difference in me already! I want to exercise its killing me, I think I have to wait till next week when I see my doctor though.

Oh my god...what a relief! Both drains are out and I'm in a Spanx!!! I feel like a woman again! I'm down 10 lb's, to 202 today. When I look in the mirror all I see are those big inner thighs, love handles and hips, now it's time to get rid of them. Seeing my tummy gives me the incentive to get back into my exercising. I actually miss Jillian Michaels, I thought I would never say that.

What a night!!! Last night was the first time I've been back in my bed since surgery. Fresh clean sheets and blankets and right next to my hubby!!!
It's the simple things in life!!!

12 Days Post Op - So hard to believe it's been 12 days already. I'm starting to feel good other than the swelling that occurrs during the day. My steri strips have all come off and my scar seems to be healing nicely. I did notice that it isn't straight but I'll take that over the flab and skin that was hanging before. I'm walking on the treadmill at a very slow pace trying to work myself back into exercise. I have 6 weeks till I leave for Hawaii so I need to get in gear. That's when I will see my son for the first time since January 1st, so I want him to be surprised.
I get to see my doctor on Friday for the first time since surgery, I'm anxious to hear what he has to say. I hope he says I can start some minimal exercise and I need to start tanning so I'll be covering my scars.
It's back to work for me on Wednesday, I'll work Wednesday and Thursday 4 1/2 hour shifts just to see how things go then maybe the next week I can go back full time.

14 Days Post Op - Back to work tomorrow, part time...I'm ready but yet I'm nervous. I know I'm going to swell up sitting at my desk. I still have no regrets, I know once I can exercise the reward will be even more incredible and life changing!!!
Again, I can't say enough for my husband. He has stuck by me through all this even when I know I was miserable. I'm so blessed to have him!
I hope everyone is healing well and anyone counting down the days has the best of luck! You won't regret it!

Back to work for me....worked a half day today, I'm glad that's all I had to do. I came home for an hour nap. I will admit it will be good for me to get back into the groove again, I just hope I don't swell up like a balloon. I came home and put my binder right on.

Well second day back to work...today I've been getting some weird pinching, twitching feelings all over my stomach. I hope it's my body healing. I'll have to ask the doctor about that. I noticed too that I still hunch over a little bit. I'm gonna work on making sure I am standing up straight.
I had a nightmare last night that 1/2 of my incision split wide open....woke up and pulled off the binder just to make sure it was a nightmare. Shhhwwww.....
I still feel like I'm swelling, or maybe that pouch under my belly button isn't going to go down. I'll ask the doc tomorrow.

17 Days Post Op
Had my first follow up with my doctor today. He was very impressed, he said things look great. (He told me I have a sexy tummy...lol.) I am allowed to use the treadmill and in 2 weeks start jogging. No Jillian Michaels for another 4 weeks, no ab or core exercise...I don't want to tear what he repaired so I'll have to wait. He said the little pouch is fluid and that will go away, he said I will still see my tummy go done further and further over the next 6-12 months. I'm just so thrilled with what he has done for me. This is a life changing experience. No regrets at all.

Well I'm 20 days post op and back to work full time. The 9 hour days are going to kill me this week. I came home tonight more swollen then I've been since surgery. I got on the treadmill for 2 minutes and decided I was not going to overdo so I got right back off of it. I am in bed with my binder on and an ice pack on my tummy. I feel like a stuffed pig. Even my BB is sore tonight. This is going to be a very long week. I've decided that I'll wear my garment and the binder tomorrow to see if that helps. I'm going to force myself to drink even more water. I can't wait for this swelling to go away.
Well I knew it was too easy so far, my doctor told me swelling could be 6 months....
I hope everyone is healing and healthy!!!

22 Days Post Op: Well last night seemed better than Monday night. Today is about the same with the swelling. I'm going to see my PS tomorrow afternoon just to be sure this swelling is normal. (I'm sure it is, I'm just not being very patient.) My schedule this week consists of working then home to the recliner with an ice pack.
I still find myself looking in the mirror in disbelief that that is my tummy. Even with the swelling it's absolutely amazing what can be done.
TMI-It's funny how we are all thinking about the sex after this surgery. We did it for the first time this weekend and I have to say it was great. Both of us are afraid and very cautious, I'm sure that won't last long... :).
I don't regret this surgery at all!

Back to see the nurse today. She said she really feels that most of what I am concerned about is normal swelling. The one spot may be fluid that can be drained, my PS will take a look at that next week. She gave me a smaller garment, she doesn't believe the one I was wearing was giving me much support and I have to agree. They feel snug at first but then lose their tension through the day, and just feel like underwear by lunchtime. She thinks that if I wear the smaller compression garment and just rest most of that swelling should be down by next Wednesday. She also wants me to stay off the treadmill completely. That doesn't make me happy but I understand and am willing to do whatever it takes to get rid of this swelling. I think I rushed getting back to work, I should have waited another week. I'm sure this is all normal and I need to be more patient, I'm trying...
Hope everyone is happy, healthy and healing fast!!!

Happy Easter to all you ladies!!! Enjoy your time with your family.
I am spending this day with all my family, the only one missing is my son and I'll be Skyping with him this afternoon. Only 37 more days till Hawaii!!!
I finally did it, I hit 199 this morning! I am so excited, you have no idea how long it's been since I've seen that. I would love to be 190 for Hawaii, so I'm hoping when I see my PS on Wednesday he will give me the release for the treadmill again. I went out last night and bought a few more garments in smaller sizes so they hold me in better. My swelling was definately better yesterday, my fear is going back to work on Monday. I really think sitting all day is my enemy, but I gotta do what I gotta do. I posted updated pics, I still have swelling but I think it's definately down from this week.
Have a great day!

Well it's hard to believe but its been 4 weeks already. I was back to see my PS this afternoon for him to check out my "pouch". He told me it is definately swelling and not fluid. He promises me that my tummy will flatten out...I'm gonna hold him to his words. LOL.
I know that the sitting is all day is a big part of this. I'm going to check with my boss about a standing work station, others have one so I don't think it will be a huge deal. In that case, I would have a high stool that I could rest my butt on if I felt the urge to sit. I'm really struggling with the swelling part of this, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes for it to go away.
I was cleared for the treadmill again he said just listen to your body and if I notice excessive swelling after I use it then I need to cut back or stop again. Definately no exercise workouts till May 1.
Lord give me patience....

Well I have to say I feel much better knowing I'm not alone with this swelling. I measure every morning and every night and there is usually a 3 1/2 inch difference. My boss is having my desk raised so I can stand rather than sit at work. I have a stool to lean on or sit if I feel the need. I'm hoping that helps. My PS told me that the swelling may come and go, good days or weeks and then out of the blue a bad day or week.
I need to get serious about a diet. I hit the 199 lbs. on Sunday but I've eaten chocolate every day since.
One day at time....

Here I am 5 weeks post op already. I'm feeling really good. I'm back on the treadmill and working on these legs and butt. There is only one thing that I'm batttling and that's the darn swelling. I don't want to beat a dead horse but this swelling is driving me nuts. I'm beginning to wonder what is swelling and what is going to stay after I'm totally recovered. I sure hope it's ALL swelling. I have less than 4 weeks to get rid of it before my trip. If anyone has the secret to reducing it, please tell me....LOL. I can't believe that my skin won't hang after the swelling finally goes away, it has to be stretching.
I'm not going to let it get me down, it sounds like I'm not alone so it must be part of the process. Have a great rest of the week!
Happy Healing to all!

Has anyone found the perfect garment??? I have about 8 now and I just don't think any of them are the right one.
I would love one that went from under my bra, just down over my thighs a little bit, and isn't snug in the legs. Or even a bodysuit type that went up to my bra. It has to have a lot of support, I don't think anyone that I have really feels tight enough. I'm really struggling with this...URGH.

Has anyone had a lymphatic massage? This is suppose to help with the swelling. I'm thinking about going to see if it helps.

I uploaded pictures of swell hell last night.

Well last night I slept in my binder when I woke up my measurements were pretty good. So I'm wearing the binder and a control top panty today to see if this works. I've been standing all day now for the past 3 days and I think that definately helps me too.
Thank god it's Friday! It's been a long puffy week. Better days are ahead of us.

Well it's been 6 weeks, hard to believe. This week the swelling isn't near as bad as last week. So that makes me happy. I think the standing at work has helped.

I had a stitch pop on Saturday, that made me a little nervous but I talked to the nurse today and it's nothing out of the ordinary. I also questioned the doctor about Lypmphatic Massage and he suggested I wait till my 3 month check up.

I've been back to wearing the velcro binder that I started with to help reduce swelling. I even called to order a smaller one because I have this one pullled as tight is it goes but I don't think it's tight enough.

Only 3 weeks till I leave for Hawaii I can't wait!!! I really wanted to be down another 8 pounds but I don't think that is going to happen. Maybe once I'm back to exercise the lbs will start to fall off.

Hope everyone is healing well! Each day is one day closer to our final results!

Getting ready to head out and do some shopping and get my very first tattoo. I think I'm going through mid life crisis! LOL I put my jeans and a t-shirt on and thought I'm going without a garment tonight, just putting my panties on!!! Well that lasted about 20 minutes before I went back into the room and put my garment on...I believe it has become a part of me that I don't think I will let go for a long time. I often think before I go to bed that I will sleep without it, it never fails I always wear my garment and binder.
I'm still swelling but I'm feeling very good. I'm going to try my Jillian Michaels video this weekend and see how that goes, I definately won't be doing any type of crunchies or hardcore ab moves but I'll just feel good to back in the routine.
I hope everyone is healing and happy with their results. :)

Almost 7 weeks now! YAY! The swelling is still hanging around but seems to be much better. I started my 54 minute Jillian Michaels video, I'm so happy. There were two parts that I wouldn't even try...the Superman and the Cobra pose I just won't risk ripping my ab muscle. It felt so good to get back into it. I'm now wearing clothing that I haven't worn in years and I'm down 15 lbs since surgery. I would like to lose 7 more lbs before my trip to Hawaii on May 15th. That means I have to bust my butt!
I'm posting updated pictures and also a picture of my tattoo. The tattoo wasn't near as bad as I was expecting. It's a leaf with a lady bug and my son's name.
Patience, patience is the name of this game...it's a long road for all of us but we will all make it and be thrilled!
Happy Healing to everyone!

Wow, 8 weeks....doesn't seem possible. Feeling great even with this swelling...till the end of the night I look pregnant. I haven't been wearing my garment during the day at all, I just wear the binder to bed. Maybe I'll go back to the garment during the day. I just don't want to feel dependent on it like I was. I enjoyed being able to slip my pants/shorts on with a pair of panties.

One more week till I leave for Hawaii, I can't wait to see my son!!!
I hope everyone is doing great!
Take care, Suzanne

This past week I was pretty swollen, but by the weekend it seemed to settle down. I stopped with the nurse this week so she could snip one of my popped stitches. She reasurred me that I am still swollen and that my pouch will not be there in a few months.
I'm down another pound or two. I did some shopping for my trip to Hawaii and I was able to buy size 14 shorts!!! Wooo Hooo, that was my goal a size 12 or 14. The exercise is paying off!
In 2 days I will be in Hawaii with my son, I am so excited and very nervous. Five months is a long time to not see your child...I can't wait to give him a big hug and kiss.
I'll post new pics when we return.
Aloha Ladies!!!! Have a great week!!!

Been awhile since I've updated my status. My trip to Hawaii was wonderful!!!! Great family time and my son came home with us. I'm so glad I had my surgery prior to my trip. We did a lot of hiking on lava rock, that extra flab hanging on my gut would have been made me miserable in the heat. I gained a few pounds on vacation so I'm working on getting them back off. I'm not sure if I'm swelling yet or if I pulled something in my stomach but I have a bigger pouch above my belly button now. I hate it because when I put pants on I have a roll above my jeans...my belly looked much better at 7 weeks PO, that has me puzzled.
I go back to see my doctor at the end of the month I hope he has some answers for me. I am exercising but I need to seriously work on my diet. I'm wearing size 14's now very confortably which makes me happy, haven't been in that size in many years!!! I'll try to get some new pics uploaded soon.
I hope everyone is healing and happy with their results.