Tummy Tuck: Stories

I am 37 years old and the mother to a wonderful 9 year old boy. I gained 65 pounds with my pregnancy...then proceeded to lose 75 in the year following his birth. I was left with saggy skin that I refer to as my 'front butt' lol.

I have maintained my weight loss within 5-10 pounds with healthy eating and exercise. I have wanted a tuck since my original weight loss and have finally decided to do it. I also have an umbilical hernia I am having repaired at the same time.

I am scheduled for May 10th, a mother's day gift to myself. Well, now that it is a reality I am beyond nervous. I have read many inspiring stories here and some that have scared me. I am trying to only focus on the positive things that will come from this-like my brand new flat tummy!! I will be sure to post some before pictures along with questions as they pop into my head. Thank you all for sharing your personal journey.
 

Is it normal that the surgery is all I can think about?! I am very excited! I look at before/after pics regularly and try and imagine what I am going to look like when the healing is done. Super thrilled to be having this done but wish I could make the time go faster...

So I decided to get on youtube to watch some video reviews of tt's. One of the girls was at a follow up visit and was showing her drain bags to the camera and talking about them...well, I started getting really sweaty and felt like I was gonna pass out. Not a good idea ...now I am SUPER nervous. Thinking about the drains freaks me out. Help.

Went in for my pre-op blood work yesterday and medical clearance today!! Everything looked good and I was given the thumbs up from my primary!! Pre-op with PS in two weeks! So excited. I am focusing on all the positives from here. Oh yea...bring on a new tummy.

Well, yesterday was my pre-op appointment with my PS. I couldn't belive how excited I was just being there! This is REALLY happening. Found out where my scar will be-nice and low :) should be able to hide it nicely this summer under a new bikini. Got my before pictures taken in those fancy undies...lol I will get some pictures up soon things have been kinda crazy lately. 13 days and counting...

OMG!! The last two day I have been eating so horribly...I know I need to stop but keep making bad choices. What is going on?! Pizza, cookies, french fries...I never eat this stuff. It seems to be all I want right now. I HAD been working out really hard and eating great, even lost 6 pounds over two weeks which put me at 144-my goal was 140 by surgery. Now I'm afraid to get on the scale. I have 10 days until surgery. Anyone else go through this?

I am super excited. Went and bought a new bikini for pictures(and for the upcoming summer of course)...8 days to go...

With only 5 days to go things have been crazy around here. My son has been running a 102-103 fever for 8 days-we have been to the doc twice with bloodwork and a chest xray today. It's a nasty virus so antibiotics won't help. He hasn't been sleeping(neither has mommy). My husband, was hit by a truck while riding on his motorcycle 3 years ago and is a quadrepalegic. I am his main caregiver-well, he has been sick and I have been taking care of him as well, all while working full time! I am being super vigilant with the hand sanitizer and just trying to get them both healthy before I go in for surgery! Needless to say I haven't had any time to worry :) Keep your fingers crossed that I don't get either of their sicknesses-I do not want to have to cancel my surgery!

My son went back to school today, his temp finally returned to normal. Husband is feeling better as well...ahhh deep breath. I got pretty excited today-my lift chair was delivered. Tomorrow shopping for all the things I will need during recovery. Looking forward to getting my little area all set up and ready to go! Chair is pretty comfy and will be so awesome for getting up/down.
3... days

Took myself to urgent care this weekend thinking I had the flu...turns out its wicked allergies from all the pollen flying around. The urgent care doc said it should not interfere with surgery at all since my lungs are clear. Anybody else out there have nasty spring allergies when the went in for surgery?

So happy my PS said I could take Claritin!! I am already feeling better!

I have to report to the surgery center at 6:15am(which means I have to leave my house at 4:30am...long drive with no coffee) I went shopping yesterday and picked up greek yogurt, protein granola, protein shakes, lots of fruit n veggies, a weekly pill sorter(with all my pills in it for the next week), gauze, tape, books and cleansing wipes ;) Everything is all set!! WHOOO hooo...

Just finished mopping my floors, gonna have a snack and try and get some sleep. Talk to you lovely ladies tomorrow afternoon :) with a new tummy...

I have been home for a few hours and surprisingly feeling pretty good. The pain is certainly tolerable. I have been drinking a lot of water which makes me hve to pee a lot-getting to the bathroom makes me very sore!!

I wasn't as nervous this morning as I thought I would be. The nursing staff and doctors were informative, fun and lighthearted which I loved!! Surgery went great. Recovery was a breeze-no sickness thank goodness. Slept the entire ride home and now have my beautiful son and husband doting on me!!

Went to my first post op today!! Got to see my new tummy for the first time....so flat. I half expected to see my same old stomach. PS said everythings looks good.
Coughing a bunch from these damn allergies adn lwt me just tell ya it makes my incision feel like it burning. I cry like a damn baby whenever i have to cough! Although putting an ice pack on it hleps the burn. I am really hoping this cough doesn;t last long becasue honestly other than that I feel really good! So tired, off to sleep. I'll write more later.

Day 4

Walking a bit more upright today and with less pain!! Got up and made myself some toast with a smoothie. By the time I was done I was ready to sleep again!! Made myself cough repeatedly until most of my lungs were clear. Just woke up and trying to figure out if I want to go was up or go back to sleep...I am telling ya ladies-not having a hard time with the instruction 'do nothing except rest'. Maybe next week I will feel differnently but this week I am loving sleeping all the time!!

Well yesterday, Day 5, was horrible. I was in so much pain from non-stop coughing and was really depressed. Totally wondering why I had chosen to put myself through this. Hated that I couldn't sit anywhere other than my recliner, had to poop and couldn't, felt dirty from not being able to shower, kept dropping things on floor, couldn't sleep... So at bedtime I took two pain pills to knock myself out along with Delsym cough syrup. Slept like a rock for 4.5 hours took two more pills and slept another 6 hours!!!

Day 6-Amazing! A complete turn around from yesterday :) Have been taking my pain meds(just one every 4 hrs during the day) and have felt awesome. Coughing has subsided for the most part, had a BM, my awesome sister came and washed my hair, mom made me breakfast with coffee(first time since surgery), I shaved lower legs, dried/styled my hair and actually dressed pretty. Great Day!! I really really really hope tomorrow goes as well.
Other than in the PS office on day 3 I haven't had my binder off so no pics yet. As soon as I do I will snap some photos...

Day 8-Walking almost upright and with less back pain. Very little drainage-hoping PS takes them both out on Thursday!! They aren't painful or anything...just annoying when trying to figure out what to wear.
Drove myself to the grocery store today to pick up a few things. Wasn't sure how it was gonna go but it was super comfortable. One milestone completed :) Looking forward to everyday getting a little bit better :)

Oh yea...I posted some pictures today. Finally got the courage up to take my binder off for a few minutes. It felt really good!! I love love love my new tummy!! My husband and my son were right there with me to check it out. My 9 year old thought it was 'cool' and asked if my belly button will look like that forever? and where did my old belly button go? Too cute. My husband was like...'wow your scar is really low!!' Not sure where he was expecting it to be...lol. He kept saying, 'It's so flat' my response 'I know right??!!' This process is SOOOOOOOO worth it!!

Day 10-Had a post op today. Got one drain removed...girls, it burned like a son-of-a-*****. I have to call monday morning and let him know how my drainage is-since it's so low I may get the other out Monday morning. Also, got my stitches removed and my PS is very pleased with how I am healing. Yea :)

Day 11-Felt great today. Last night was the first night I slept until morning. I am or should I say was walking mostly upright then I decided to vacuum my house. I knew I shouldn't but there was dog hair everywhere and I just couldn't take it anymore. I tried to be very careful but now I know it was a bad decision on my part. I am hunched, swollen and sore. Back to the recliner.

Day 14-I want to shout from the rooftops...I AM DRAIN FREE!! It feels so good. One more step towards 'normal'. I can take a shower tomorrow. Can't wait :-) Only one more day off then back to work.

2 Weeks

I just showered...whoo hoo!! I was nervous about the water and how it would feel on my belly but it was fine. I didn't want to get out. I washed my hair, scrubbed my face, cleaned my belly button and shaved my legs. I feel amazing :) I took some new pictures and am so happy with how my stomach looks. I put on the bikini I took my 'before' pics in and cannot believe how much better it looks. My scar sits just under the waistband-perfect. I am so very happy with my decision to have a tummy tuck.

Day 16-Yesterday being back at work was great. It was so nice to see my students. I was exhausted when I got home. Put my comfy clothes on rabbed my ice pack gand proceeded to fall asleep in my recliner until 9:00pm, got up ate a bowl of cereal and back to sleep until 6:30 this morning. Talk about wiped out!! I had some minor swelling but I didn't think it was awful. Put my ice pack on it for about 20 minutes-it felt so good! I also started taking Bromelain a few days ago-it is supposed to help with swelling...

Day 18-ahhhh saturday. I am so happy I have a three day weekend to just hang out. Going back to work was nice but I missed my recliner if you can believe that!! Lol I was very swollen last nite. First time for me to be that swollen-it kinda freaked me out that my stomach was so tight!! Much better this morning. :)

I have been sleeping in bed the last few nights. It has been amazing to be able to sleep on my side!! I have always been a stomach sleeper so having to sleep on my back has been tough to say the least. Even though I toss and turn from one side to the other every few hours in bed it is way better than the recliner!! I actually slept until 10:30 this morning!! Love it.

Hope you all have a lovely Memorial Day weekend!

Hey Ladies!! I am now 3 weeks(and one day) and knock on wood-feeling great. I still get uncomfortable but doing better at this point then I thought I would be. Still not cleared to exercise or do housework-which is actually killing me I think!! I want to vacuum and mop more than anything else in the world right now!! LOL Oh and give my dogs a bath-they stink!! I am hoping Monday when I see myPS he will set me free to do those things.

After reading the post of a 'realself' friend who is struggling with swelling I want to share with everyone what homeopathic remedies I have been taking to help with recovery. A week before surgery I started with Arnica and took it up until Day 20. A week after surgery I added Bromelain twice daily-it comes from the pineapple and targets reduction of swelling. Arnica is more of an all around remedy whereas Bromelain is just for swelling. Bought it at GNC. At the same time I started taking Staphysagria(30x potency) which is for cuts/lacerations and abdominal surgery. and last but not least I take Calendula Off(30x) to ease pain, promote the healing of cuts and nerve pain(think taking your tummy apart and those nerves reconnecting)...I take those two 4 times daily. If your interested you can read about them on 1800HOMEOPATHY.COM

4 weeks-My steri stips finally fell off in the shower a couple days ago! I had wanted to see my scar so badly. It looks good(well, as good as a scar can). I started Mederma and Bio Oil and it feels wierd rubbing it on there. The sensation is sooooo strange, but for a reduction in appearance I will keep it up. Had a visit with my PS monday and he didn't release me for exercise yet!! and still no vacuum/mopping...With the heria repair as well as the tt my body needs more time to heal...damn. I miss working out. My belly button is beginning to look more normal-still like a coin slot but getting better.

I am getting excited to go shopping for an outfit for my 20 year class reunion coming up in July!! No need to try and hid my belly. Only wish is that I could do something to try and firm up these thighs before then-so they match my new tummy. I will get some new photos up soon.

Hi All!! It has been a long time since I have been on. My tummy tuck was a year ago in May and I still find myself admiring my flat tummy. I have worked hard with diet and exercise to maintain the doctors work!! I feel fantastic and have no regrets whatsoever. I'm going to post some up dated pics because I always wanted to see what it would look like a year after the surgery when I was first on this site.