Tummy Tuck: Stories

I am having a full tummy tuck to get rid of the lovely 'foopa' that I developed after two very large pregnancies. I run everyday, attend group classes three times a week and am still unable to tone my mid section.

My surgery date is approaching fast and I am super excited one minute and then super nervous the next moment. Any advice from my seasoned tummy tuckers?

After my second child was born I lost 76lbs on my own through diet and exercise. No matter how hard I ran or did strength training my belly and the flap would never seem to get smaller. Even on my best day with my tight arms and toned legs when I put my jeans on and there is a huge bulge below my belt line it just chipped away at my self esteem. I am confident that with this procedure coupled with the years of hard work and weight loss I will finally feel more complete as a woman. My expectations are reasonable - no overhang and flatter appearance. With surgery approaching fast I am getting my game face on and getting ready to get it over with! I am not so much looking forward to a bikini as I am looking forward wearing jeans without a shirt hanging over my belly in shame!

It's been a while since I have updated! I am feeling great. The procedure went extremely well and the pain was not as bad as I thought it would be. My surgeon removed a little over 6 pounds of skin/fat from my abdomen. My procedure was on the 17th I was up and walking the day after and haven't taken a pain med since the 20th. I would recommend for anyone who is considering this procedure the pain pump. I had it with a C-Section and believe it's the main reason I am doing so well. My only problem now is that I am completely 100% CRAZY from doing nothing and not being in control of my home. My parents and Aunt came to help, my hubby is currently in Afghanistan, and they have been a great help. I am just so used to doing it alone! I feel wonderful and can already see the results! Had the second of my two drainage tubes removed today. THANK GOD. It doesn't hurt just feels weird. I also had a pain pump removed as well. I highly recommend the pain pump for anyone considering this procedure. They pump lidocaine around the incision site and helps by numbing the area and it lessens your need for narcotics. The pain pumps and hardware aren't bad and they don't hurt but it's just having something attached to you - YUCK. I am ready to ease back into normal life and am so looking forward to having my stitches out next week!!! I will keep you posted on that experience.

So today I feel physically pretty good but am getting so bored with TV, books, itunes ughhhhh. Anyway, I know it's temporary and I will resume my hectic crazy life pretty soon but wow I thought that I would enjoy my downtime but I really am hating it! I was able to shower for the first time today since my FTT. It felt AWESOME! It did give me energy and purpose for the day - nothing like scrubbing the grime off to give you a fresh outlook on life right? I have really felt exhausted after doing routine tasks though. I took a shower, dressed my tummy and myself and dried my hair. After that I felt like I needed to lay down. Is this a normal feeling - anyone else experience this? Well it honestly hasn't been nearly as bad as I thought that it would be and if give the chance to go back in time with what I know now I would willingly do it again.

I get my stitches out tomorrow! My suture is healing up quite well but I have noticed a little swelling lately. I guess the more I move them more I will swell. My parents went shopping with me to get in bulk all of the heavy stuff (dog food, bottled water etc). They have been so helpful and I wouldn't have been able to have this life changing procedure without them. With that said, I am ready to have my house back. I am ready to tip toe back into the normal daily routine. I never thought that I would miss driving my kids to swim practice, grocery shopping - or OMG doing laundry!?! But I miss all of those things and I am looking forward to doing all of those things again - at a slower pace of course.

I had my first good sneeze today! OUCH. I can't believe how sore my muscles are still. I bet that lasts for a while. My PS told me that they were separated by at at least two inches. Don't know if that's severe or not.

I have also noticed a change in my hair from the anesthesia. Anyone else have this happening? I typically have dry hair because it's naturally curly but now with a little Moroccan Oil it looks super weighted and greasy.

All in all I with all the moans and groans I would do it again 10 times over - that's how happy I am with my results already.