Tummy Tuck: Stories

Want to be able to look in a mirror and see a better me. Have considered for so long. My personal goal to have a flat stomach, butt fat transfer, liposculpture of waist and back flanks. Would like breastlift but depending on cost might wait. I am feeling anxious n at same time excited.

I have a question, do you really have an epidural instead of general anesthia with Dr. Robles. I sent for a quote today but if general anesthia is not used but have to look elsewhere. Would appreciate any tips, experience and results.

Also the drains, r they as painful as some say and how does it feel when they are taken out.

Have only heard and seen great things regarding Dr. Robles. Just sent in my pics and was quoted $5200. Great thing is my husband travels to the DR frequently because he works with the Yankees and he is in charge of their complex in Santo Domingo so I can travel with him when I actually get a confirmed date. I have been there myself twice before. Is anyone looking to see Dra. Robles around the end of June 29 or 30, 2013 where are the dates I am looking for now. All the comments on this site are so informative, not looking for to dealing with more pain, but as my niece say, "beauty is pain". Praying for all of you that are about to go thru this experience and also for those of you that already had it done, speedy recovery. Go girls.

Good morning to the beautiful ladies like me that want to look better. Has anyone had a spouse/significant other who is/was opposed to going to DR for this kind of surgery. My husband thinks I am absolutely crazy even though he would be there with me while I had surgery. He just does not trust going to Recovery House because you hear so much about how sick you can get from food, water (I know because he almost died after eating something in DR which bacteria went into his blood system). Luckily, we had just come back to US and he had the best doctors and was saved, but the experience has he dreading my surgery. How can I calm his nerves so that I can stay sane. Any suggestions?

Family and friends r not the best to encourage me, especially going out of States. Started to doubt myself and question whether I want to really go thru so much pain, swelling and drains at my age, and then Wow! Yes I do. Hope it will all be worth it.

My husband is on board and even asking questions of friend in DR to check out Clinic and Recovery House. Laura says everything looks good that my ticket is my confirmation but I want to know for sure before getting ticket that the day I selected is available. Pray it is.

Got a quote from Dr. DeLosSantos today which was my second choice. After considering all facts I am going with Dr. Wilkiris Robles. Wish me luck.

Surgery date moved up to June 28th. I will be traveling on June 27th, just booked flight. Is all of this really happening. I need to try to lose some weight, any suggestions. Scared not of surgery but of the recovery that is waiting for me. I am in God's hands.

I have a question for all u ladies? I got quote for TT, lipo waist n flanks and BBL. I really need a BL with implants (flat), but with the Dr. she will only do one. Decisions. What would u do? My butt is not the best either. Does your butt look better after having the lipo to the waist with the TT so that I can do BL? Anyone who has had these procedures, please share. Thank you.

I'm not good at writing n I'm thinking that is why I haven't received replies but from a handful of ladies. Thank u to those who did. I am so undecided keep going back n forth, should I go to DR or wait n have Dr. in US. I read so many posts and some r so bad n then others r good about Dr. Robles. I keep praying and keep looking for my answer. Good luck to all of u that r ready to take the plunge to the flat side and hope that I can soon say the same.

Well ladies after all the negative things happening in DR, I have scheduled a consultation with a doctor in Tampa for April 12th. I will be seeing another one later in April n then I will make my decision. Hope all you ladies that have had your sx in DR are doing well, as well as everyone who has gone or is going to cross to the flat side. If you have had sx already, I would love to hear ur story n pics. This site has really helped me. I have a list of questions for my surgeon just by reading these posts. Happy healing to all.

Had a discussion with a surgeon in town and I was told to lose 27 lbs. n then call him back to schedule consultation. I weigh 177 and alot has to do with my hanging belly and the fact I can't exercise. Family Dr. had me on weight loss pills n my system couldn't handle them so what am I to do. I try to watch my food intake and exercise n I end up in bed with sprains to my back for weeks. Like I said before, my TT is in God's hands. When he decides the time is right it will happen. I have an actual consultation with another dr. on 4/12/13 n I also still have my sx date in DR with Robles that I haven't cancelled until I go over all my options so I can make an informed decision. To any lady that has recently had TT with Robles could you reply with your experience since there had been so many negative happening over there in March. Hope you r all healing n congrats to you troopers. I will be on the flat side also, just a matter of when.

Life has come up so my TT is on hold hopefully for not long. In the meantime, I will be trying to lose some weight. Will update when I set a new date for sx. Good luck to all you lovely ladies that have gone thru it and all those waiting for their date. Happy healing to you all.

My surgery is back on for June 28, 2013. My husband is in DR now working, was just at CECIP and met Raquel and Dr. Wilkiris Robles. My husband knows a lot of important people there so he went with a friend who is known all over the island, if fact the Dra. knew of him and was thrilled to finally meet him. He too is going to get surgery. Can u believe this. My husband loved the Dra. He says she is young and stunning as well as very smart and knowledgeable in her surgery. She even told him what she could do for him (which is a go after me). He is all for my surgery and feels that I will be in the best hands. She recommended Rosa's Recovery House. Has anyone used her and can you give me a number or website. I have dealt with Laura all the time, but my husband said he met Raquel and Laura wasn't there, so LADIES, if you are thinking of going to DR for surgery, you might want to think about this doctor.
I just sent email to Laura, hope she gets it. Now I am excited to know that my
husband approves and actually said he would trust this doctor for surgery ( now this is a man who got sick in DR and almost died when he came back) and he doesn't every say that about Drs except for our family doctor which is great who was the one that saved his life here. Now I am headed towards the flat side. God is great and he will be taking care of me. Will post my experience as I go thru it. Good luck chicas. Take care. Speak to you soon.

Has anyone heard of or stayed at Dra. de la Rosa Recovery House? This is where
Dr wants me to stay with my husband. It will only be for three days after surgery, but I would like to know if this is a new place. Please advise.

Why is it that family is always the most negative. I haven't posted about this before, I am a 58 yo mother of 5 children and 8 grandchildren. My husband decided to tell my kids and nephew about my upcoming sx on Mother's Day. All I heard all day was the negatives. You won't be able to take the PAIN. I suffer from chronic back pain as a result of an accident 4 years ago which they say is from facet joint pain n fibro. As a result I went through 6 months of very intense INTENSE, did I say Intense lower back pain every day which threw into depression and anxiety attacks. I still have a back pain every day but not as bad as those first 6 months. I also had 5 births naturally, I don't know what an epidural is. Even after all this pain my kids think I can't handle pain. What do they think I go through every day. My depression is gone and after all this I still want a tummy tuck. Have wanted one for past 8 years which is when I put on the weight. I have gone on a clean way of eating and have lost 11 lbs. in 3 weeks. I plan to lose at least 10 more before my sx. Sorry this is so long, guess just needed to vent. I was so upset that I told my husband and oldest daughter that I was going to cancel. My husband is very supportive now. He said no, you are going to do this and you are going to be fine. I will be there with you the whole time (16 days) counting surgery date. Why is it that family are the worst when it comes to you. I know they are worried something might happen to me, but just say we support whatever you want n be there in case I need something. I am back to being very positive. I am in GOD's hands and he will not let anything happen to me. I know recovery is not going to be EASY n I might even get depressed at times, but in the end I know I will feel better n actually like the way I look.

Ugh I hate when I ask Laura questions and she does not answer my questions. She emails whatever comes into her mind, at that moment. She just got snippy with me and I had to let her know. I am requesting recovery house where husbands are allowed to stay and she is saying Virginia's but husband cannot stay with me. After asking twice either she is very stupid or she does not really understand English as well as she thinks she does. I am just so disgusted with her right now n I will certainly let her know in her face when I see her and also the doctor. Now I know why all the comments from women who actually left recovery houses because of no communication, bad food and no help. Maybe I should just stay in a Hotel and get a Nurse to stay with me. Cheaper and probably better. Had to vent. Sorry.

Well, I guess I have pissed off Laura. She hasn't responded to my last email for three days. She can be snotty in her email, n we r to take it. Guess again. I can be just as snotty. She is the patient coordinator - the word "patient" must confuse her, cause I am the paying client. Oh well, I will be calling the doctor directly. We can't put up with too much s.... from her as I know a lot of women on here have posted all the problems they had with her. I had to go over her head straight to the doctor and the administrator of the hospital. Can not and will not put up with this childish behavior from someone who is there to help the patient.

Got final quote today. Still trying to lose some more weight. Stuck on 10 lbs. Need to really get busy with the exercise cause I want to lose another 10 before this surgery. I will be staying at a hotel instead of recovery house and I will have a nurse that will come to the Hotel to take care of me. Thought this was better cause at Virginia's they don't allow men and my husband is coming with me. All the other houses do not have hospital bed so I might as well stay at a nice place that is paid for by my husband's job. Oh, for those that think that the ladies at the recovery house make 300 pesos a month, it is actually 300 USD ($12,000 pesos) per month so a 500 peso tip is only two dollars that you are tipping for 10 days (we tip more for a dinner out here). Just thought I would mention this, one of our dollars is 40 pesos there. I am slowly getting all my supplies but I will get snacks, drinks and meals at the Hotel. We will be staying at the Jaragua and I also found a great dentist that is US Accredited Jose Alonso, (he also has office in Miami) so I will be having some dental work in the future with him. I will meet him this trip and plan to go back in December for dental work. Wish me luck and keep me in your prayers as I am doing for you the Ladies that have gone thru or are about to go thru this. We are strong and God is with all of us. Happy healing.

I have read on two posts can't remember which one that Dr. would not perform back lipo and another who was told these pills
do not allow their iron levels to go up. Please advise. I already bought them but I still have 4 weeks to ge before I am to start them.