“Tummy Tuck Advice Having It March 1, 2011 - Buffalo, NY”

had 2 9lb babies 2 hernias cant get rid of nasty saggy skin/fat....having my surgery march 1st 2011

VERY nervous which is weird ive had 6 surgeries in 3 years and have never been nervous before. if you have had one please share your experience with me and tell me what i should/could expect. going with a GREAT surgeon from williamsville ny

Updated on 7 Feb 2011:
here are some pre-surgery pics of my tummy, this is what big babies, c sections and hernias will do to you lol. done all the exercise/diets etc i could think of nothing works...so very excited but extremely nervous at the same time because i dont know what to expect! with my first pregnancy i started at 111lbs and went to 186lbs my first son was 9lbs 5.4 ozs 21 1/2 inches 2nd son was 9lbs 1 oz and 21 inches and i gained about 30lbs with that pregnancy.

Updated on 10 Feb 2011:
going for my bloodwork tomorrow, and then a week from today is my pre-op with surgeon and then the day after that is my appt with reg doc for medical clearance....so much to do its def keeping my mind off the surgery!! then my 3 yr old started preschool today which was very exciting for all of is =) I had an extremely blonde moment today while scheduling my bloodwork! I had thought i was having my surgery at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital but found out its Millard Fillmore Surgery Center!! I would have gone to the wrong place on the day of my surgery and felt like a complete idiot!!! good thing i found this info out now

Updated on 15 Feb 2011:
2 weeks to go! just had a few questions what do they do at the pre-op appt? been reading alot of posts on here and im getting more and more excited and less nervous!

Updated on 17 Feb 2011:
had my pre op this morning! went very well got all my questions answered all the staff and Dr were very nice and made sure i understood everything. we are down to 1 week and 5 days its coming so fast im nervous and very excited =)also got my "beautiful" before pics done today omg i felt so weird in just those weird little underwear things!! i was striking a pose here and there LOL but def looking forward for the 6 week post op to see how far ive come and to see the difference in my shape and appearance

Updated on 28 Feb 2011:
omgsh tomorrow is the day!! very excited and nervous....i dont think ill be able to sleep tonight so hubby and I are gonna go out midnight shopping for last minute things when he gets out of work. have to be at surgery center at 6:30am (time changed by 15 mins) and the lady told me everything is gonna be started right away!

Updated on 1 Mar 2011:
just a couple more hours to go! i cant sleep i know i should but i cant i slept like 2 hours maybe im getting very nervous (i hope i dont die!!!) when i can i will update you all on how it goes/went

Updated on 1 Mar 2011:
im home im alive!!! extremely sore but not dreadfully painful just sore. i have my lovely compression garment on its tight and beautiful sockies hehe. feeling a little nauseous getting up to pee alot. well thats all for now im gonna take another nap...not feeling too well at the moment

Updated on 2 Mar 2011:
day 2 post op! feeling more energized still very sore not unbearable pain just when i cough. just my luck this morning i got my period!! so bloating, cramping along with all the other lovely stuff =)adding some pics with my compression garment on have no idea how to take it off havent see my belly yet will see tomorrow at post op appt

Updated on 3 Mar 2011:
post op went great felt so weird when they took off my garment! it tickled when the nurse took off the bandages, belly is very swollen and so is my lady parts (looks like a baseball lol) finally i am able to fart LMAO i had so much pressure this morning i wanted to cry but the car ride def jiggled me around hehe my poor hubby. new pic too!

Updated on 5 Mar 2011:
today is my hubbys birthday!! i feel so bad i cant throw him a party so ive been sneaking around and later we are going to my sisters house (whom has helped me so much) to a surprise birthday party for my hubs! im moving around really good but my right side is sore....which is kinda weird cause with my c sections my right side was always sore too. by the time i get my drains out i wont be draining like anything im down to 10cc and 7cc every 8 hours so my PS says this is good. ive been really sleepy and cant walk more than 5 mins at a time my lower back is killing me! my pain meds make me feel yucky but take away the pain....PS only gave me vicodin so maybe ill just go to tylenol. well time for a potty break lol ive been peeing like nuts no BM yet for me might take something so that i can

Updated on 8 Mar 2011:
1 week!! ive made it =) off pain pills completely maybe tylenol here and there but feeling great! spending a week with my sister while hubby is working and cant babysit me LOL. I go on thursday to get my drain(s) removed not sure if it will be one or both, i am getting stitches out yay! im hardly draining anything im down to 2.5cc and 5cc so PS says thats good. ive been doing great with BM's had no probs def recommend eating lots of fresh fruits and veggies drinking lots of water. i havent had pop since the surgery and avoid all high sodium foods and fatty foods. one thing ive found that is weird is ive lost some pounds since the surgery i went in at 155lbs and im at 153 now so with all this swelling im sure im lower than that!! yay me lol. took my compression garment off today to wash it and it feels soooo weird without it.

Updated on 10 Mar 2011:
too exhausted to write a whole big thing right now but post op went great got 1 drain removed HURT LIKE A MOTHER (being completely honest) was sooo not a pleasant experience. got stitches out of my belly button and off sides of incision. the rest of the stitches are dissolvable which is cool i guess lol. 9 days have flown past fast!!!! 1 new pic for now will write more later

Updated on 11 Mar 2011:
my PS told me depending on how much my 2nd drain lets out drainage (like the amount) i have to call monday morning let him know how much and then either monday or thursday that drain gets removed!! YES! but im not looking forward to the pain cause that was so not fun. one thing that im not liking about my belly is the incision or whatever that is right below my belly button thinking its possibly my scar from my previous hernia surgery that used to be above my belly button and is now below?? not too sure need to remember to ask PS about it cause it kinda looks like little butt cheeks and i dont want that haha. im still quite swollen which i expected that i dont expect to be perfect right away im obeying docs orders to make sure i get the best results! =)

Updated on 14 Mar 2011:
called doc office this morning with my drainage records over the weekend and good news im going in right now to get it out!! YES!

Updated on 14 Mar 2011:
got my 2nd drain removed today! didnt hurt as bad as the other a little "stinging" feeling but not bad at all. im so happy ive been losing weight already doesnt look like im swelling much at all either which is awesome! im basically 2 weeks post op and i love my results already i have no complaints...im so happy =) and other great news is i get to take a shower tomorrow!! no more sponge baths for me hahaha

Updated on 14 Mar 2011:
new side view pics! im in shock at how different it looks already!!

Updated on 15 Mar 2011:
today was my first real shower since surgery!!! YAY! but now im sooo tired ive heard alot of other ladies say it tires you out and it sure does. I feel like taking a 5 hour nap! my bandage under my belly button fell off and now i can fully see my little "butt cheeks" hopefully that goes away

Updated on 16 Mar 2011:
ive lost 5lbs since surgery! havent been down this low since the ending of 2008 feels good!

Updated on 16 Mar 2011:
ohh no not good! i googled "tummy tuck in buffalo ny" and all my pics are on google this is not good. might have to delete my pics i wish their was a edit option where you could make it where only realself.com members could view and they wouldnt be viewable on google.com very frustrating

Updated on 19 Mar 2011:
today I am 18 days post op! holy crap where has the time gone? my bandages fell off today in the shower they were mostly off anyway. my hubby looked at my scar was like wow i can hardly see it!! hehe it looks great like i didnt even have a tummy tuck 18 days ago. yesterday we were out doing some shopping and I walked past one of those full size mirrors and saw myself and i was shocked at how skinny i looked! normally i look like a chubbster but this time i was thin!! very excited about the "new" me (hubby is too)

Updated on 19 Mar 2011:
new pics! bandages fell off this morning during my shower you can hardly see my scar!! =)

Updated on 21 Mar 2011:
20 days post op! had an appt with my PS this morning to check how things are healing up and whatnot. he says it looks great and now i am to massage my scar and all that fun stuff. I also get to move to a "stage 2" compression garment, they gave me a pic of what to get found it at JcPennys so gonna go out and get it friday (no time during the week due to taking my son to school and hubby's work schedule) still very very happy with my results and im down 5lbs from surgery and want to keep going (not exercising at all) just eating healthy and not eating junk foods =)

Updated on 24 Mar 2011:
new pics at 23 days post op

Updated on 27 Mar 2011:
got my new compression garment at jcpenny on friday, its pretty lol but its super tight and i didnt think i was gonna fit in it!! and i got a large too! but it fits very very tight, took some getting used to. yesterday i got a makeover by my wonderful sister now my hair looks so much better! the tummy tuck, the hair, its all the start of a "new" me!! I'll take pics of my new garment soon ill post again tuesday (ill be 4 weeks post op!!)

Updated on 27 Mar 2011:
Had to update you all again! LOL I'm so excited I have to tell you all. I'm down to 149lbs and I went into surgery at 155lbs down 6lbs! I haven't been down this low in like 6 years so I'm super excited!!!! =) yay me

Updated on 30 Mar 2011:
I made it to 4 weeks post op yesterday! I feel awesome, almost like my "normal" self except this nasty cold I have and the sneezing is killing my belly!! Today I made an invention lol I'm using medical tape to pull apart the "butt cheek" crease thats above my vertical scar and it looks much better. Haven't lost any more weight yet but I'm proud of being down 6lbs in 4 weeks! Still very swollen but totally expect that, I'm so excited to put on shirts that I wore before and not see this big ugly bulge under there! posting a couple new pics, one of my new compression garment (its so pretty hehe).


Updated on 7 Apr 2011:
5 weeks and 2 days post op! I feel awesome LOL. Ive been finally able to sleep in my own bed now instead of sleeping upright on the couch. havent attempted sleeping on my back, I sleep on my side with a bunch of pillows. scar is healing nicely, swelling is going down alot too. Very happy with everything =) another cool thing is that Ive been able to get in contact with 2 other wonderful ladies on FB that have had TT's by my surgeon, one had hers 15 days after mine the other back in 06! and she has had 2 babies (well one on the way) since then! crazy! I thought that it would undo/rip the muscle repair but she said nothing has changed and its still nice and firm....so cool. also another I would like to ask other tummy tuckers....i was told by my PS that the numbness in my tummy would go away after awhile (just takes time) but this lady told me she is still numb and that it DOESNT go away!! very confused here. she said you just get used to it??? any advice here ladies? more pics too

Updated on 7 Apr 2011:
5 weeks and 2 days post op! I feel awesome LOL. Ive been finally able to sleep in my own bed now instead of sleeping upright on the couch. havent attempted sleeping on my back, I sleep on my side with a bunch of pillows. scar is healing nicely, swelling is going down alot too. Very happy with everything =) another cool thing is that Ive been able to get in contact with 2 other wonderful ladies on FB that have had TT's by my surgeon, one had hers 15 days after mine the other back in 06! and she has had 2 babies (well one on the way) since then! crazy! I thought that it would undo/rip the muscle repair but she said nothing has changed and its still nice and firm....so cool. also another I would like to ask other tummy tuckers....i was told by my PS that the numbness in my tummy would go away after awhile (just takes time) but this lady told me she is still numb and that it DOESNT go away!! very confused here. she said you just get used to it??? any advice here ladies? more pics too

Updated on 7 Apr 2011:
5 weeks and 2 days post op! I feel awesome LOL. Ive been finally able to sleep in my own bed now instead of sleeping upright on the couch. havent attempted sleeping on my back, I sleep on my side with a bunch of pillows. scar is healing nicely, swelling is going down alot too. Very happy with everything =) another cool thing is that Ive been able to get in contact with 2 other wonderful ladies on FB that have had TT's by my surgeon, one had hers 15 days after mine the other back in 06! and she has had 2 babies (well one on the way) since then! crazy! I thought that it would undo/rip the muscle repair but she said nothing has changed and its still nice and firm....so cool. also another I would like to ask other tummy tuckers....i was told by my PS that the numbness in my tummy would go away after awhile (just takes time) but this lady told me she is still numb and that it DOESNT go away!! very confused here. she said you just get used to it??? any advice here ladies? more pics too


Updated on 11 Apr 2011:
6 weeks tomorrow! feeling okish....yesterday was not a good day at all. passed out in the shower,went to my reg doc this morning and she wants me to go for an EKG and a chest x ray. other than that i feel great tummy still hurts when i sneeze and cough but thats about it or if i move too fast or the wrong way. But i really dont have any complaints...the swelling has gone down ALOT my va jay jay doesnt looks like a baseball anymore LOL and my tummy is getting flat! Very excited...have my next post op in one week. maybe then ill be cleared for exercise.

Updated on 18 Apr 2011:
7 weeks post op tomorrow!! YAY....saw my PS today, got my post op pics taken got to look at my pre-op pics and OH MY GOODNESS what a difference! My tummy was UGLY, I dont know how my hubby still loved me looking at that thing LOL. Ive lost a total of 10lbs since surgery, most of the swelling is gone, which is wonderful just a little bit esp in the belly button but swell hell has left the building! whoo hoo!!! the crease (what i like to call my butt cheeks LOL) he said might go away on its own but if it doesnt by my next post op (in 6 months) he is going to fix it. He said that my muscle separation was really big and when he tightened it and fixed me up it pulled in the skin as well and resulted in the little crease....I also think that some of my weight loss has made some of my skin saggy again. I am cleared for all exercise but obviously increasing it slowly and what my body will allow. I am also cleared for ab workouts which I was def surprised I would be cleared for that, he said to just lift my neck and shoulders off the floor for the first week and gradually merge to full crunches by the end of the 2nd week. Im very happy with my results my tummy is so flat! I was able to fit into a pair of jeans today that I havent been able to fit in since I was 15!! will post 7wk pics soon...

Updated on 21 Jun 2011:
Hi everyone! Haven't been on in a while....these past 2 months have been crazy, we moved on very short notice, the waiting list we were on for an apartment called us on a friday and asked if we could move in on tuesday. Then I haven't had internet in a while either. So far I've lost 20lbs, I'm down to 135 and was at 155 pre surgery. My tummy is very flat I'm def happy with that the only thing I'm upset with is that my scar is thick and red is very sensitive to touch and is very high. Also since I've lost so much weight my tummy has loose saggy skin again which I'm not too happy about....maybe time for a revision? Will post pics soon when I can figure out how to do them on this tablet thing I bought for my hubby haha.

Updated on 2 Dec 2011:
Well fellow tummy tuckers, about 3 weks ago i found out that i am expecting my 3rd baby! Not sure how it will affect my tt but we are very excited :) any advice, thoughts comments are welcomed

Updated on 24 Feb 2012:
Hello everyone! I am 5 months along in my pregnancy (after my tummy tuck). for a while my tummy was completely flat, I really didnt feel pregnant lol. now all of the sudden it just popped out! I feel pretty good, no pains other than normal preggo pains. I do feel some uncomfortable stretching in my stomach muscles but def dont feel like they are going to rip apart. my belly button is starting to pop out as well and looks pretty ugly LOL. one thing that does concern me in that my OB is nervous about doing my c section (he has no experience with a pregnancy after TT) so he plans on having a PS help him with my c section! also I have not gained any weight with this pregnancy yet. I went thru a horrible month of morning sickness and lost about 10lbs and have slowly gained that back but i still remain at my pre-pregnancy weight now. I do have to eat small meals because there isnt much room in there to fit alot of food lol. as far as my scar goes, its not stretching or anything just very itchy lately. But other than that I am good great and very excited for my baby to come in the first week of July :)