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“Extended Tummy Tuck in 4 Days!! Also Thigh Lift - Newport Beach, CA”

RNkay

Worth It
Spent: $16,000 in Newport Beach

Comments (35)

Updated 12 Sep 2010

Posted 29 Aug 2010

Hello, I first want to thank everyone for posting here, it certainly is helpful to me as I prepare (mentally) for my upcoming procedure. I will post before and afters as well. I have had 2 pregnancies and have always had a fairly flat tummy. I'm 47 years old and it seems in the last couple years my skin laxity has changed drastically along with the muffin top that seems to be getting bigger! I've dieted and exercised regularly without much improvement....and actually you can't diet skin to shrink.... soooo here goes it.

Has anyone gone home directly after the procedure? I was told to stay at an extended care center but feel I would much rather be home and have my nurse friend come and watch over me. Any thoughts? Wish me luck!!

Updated on Sep 6, 2010:
On day 5....see previous post

Updated on Sep 12, 2010:
At 7 days, moving slow and bent over. Incisions are healing slowly and one looks like it may need to be revised (which my PS warned me of) as I had the spiral thigh lift as well which entailed a lot of stretching of the skin. I am so amazed that I didn't bruise more. I am still taking the Arnaca and I feel it has been really beneficial.

This review is the subjective opinion of a RealSelf member and not of RealSelf, Inc.

Helpful review?

My Doctor: name not provided

He is a BOARD CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON (not Cosmetic) which means he is recognized by the AMA and his peers as qualified. He also does over thirty body lifts a year (in addition to TT and other procedures) so that is important. I also spoke to his patients and studied all his pics. He also is the Dr that invented the spiral thigh lift and is published.

Comments (35)

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Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 29 Aug 2010

Congratulations on your decision! I am sure you will be very happy with your results. You are correct in saying the skin doesn't go away. It just hangs and sags more each year. I am 46 and also noticed the changes in my skin when I turned 44. Gotta love the 40's. Everything on your body starts to go south...well when you put your pants on the muffin top goes north. I had my procedure done in an Outpatient Surgery Center and went home the same day. My hubby stayed home with me the first five days and was a really good nurse. He changed bandages, emptied drains and set the alarm to make sure I had my pain meds every 4 hours the first three days. I had not problems going home at all. It is going to hurt no matter where you are so you might as well be comfortable in your own home. That is as long as you have help. I highly recommend renting a hospital bed for the first two weeks. This was a lifesaver for me. I wish you the best and am sending warm thoughts your way for a speedy recovery.

RNkay 30 Aug 2010

Ohhh thankyou SO much!! I agree keeping up on the pain med is a must! Did you notice tighter skin on the front your thighs with TT? I'm hoping that will be a nice affect!

Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 30 Aug 2010

I did not have a thigh lift. I had the tummy tuck and lipo and all of that went very well.

Danylle 30 Aug 2010

I went home after surgery. As soon as your pain is under control they will allow you to go home. If you are in good shape and fairly good with pain I don't think you would have a problem going home. The only bad part for me was nausea. It was really bad after I woke up and got ready to leave but after several doses of tummy meds it got better. Make sure you start to take laxatives two days before surgery and continue them every day after surgery!! Very important!! Also, you should start taking vitamin C 500mg 2x daily to promote healing about 2weeks before surgery and after. I used a wedge pillow ($30) from walmart online to lay on to take pressure off the incision and help you relax in bed. It was really helpful!

Angiemcc (Community Manager) 30 Aug 2010

It seems that most people I've heard of go home shortly after the tummy tuck.

Good luck! We'll be counting down with you and can't wait to see your befores and afters!

sn315on 31 Aug 2010

I went home right after my surgery. My hubby took care of me for a week. I slept in a recliner for a week, the moved to my bed with a lot of pillows. Still sleeping with a lot of pillows and I'm almost at week three. It will be a life changing experience. I can't wait to hear and see all about it.

bethak 2 Sep 2010

Think positive, stay strong, have help.

RNkay 6 Sep 2010

OK Day 5....oooouuuuccchhhh!! I was expecting pain but not this much haha...wait, I can't even laugh. He did a very extended tummy tuck all the way around to buttocks with about 3" between the incisions. From what I understand (I haven't gone back for post op visit) He lipo'ed 900 cc of fat from thighs, tummy, lower back/flanks. He also did a spiral thigh lift which adds incisions along the groin up to waist (where the TT incision is) and additional under the fold of buttocks. All in all, the anesthesiologist said there was about 1 yard of incisions in total. He pulled the skin so tight on the thighs that I think that is also where my pain is from. I had a pain pump but discoved the nurse had not unclamped it so I was way behind on pain control. My girlfriend (RN) stayed with me the first night and took excellent care of me and got the pain under control. I'm now home and have been sleeping in a chair with ottoman and a ton of pillows to keep me up. I still have my foley (urine) catheter which I will discontinue today (I'm an RN too). I think this has been key so I didn't have to get up to pee as I was very swollen from the long surgery and fluids and my catheter filled up several times. As far as how it looks....so far hard to tell. The incisions are so ugly. My back has no rolls at all and my thighs are tighter than I have ever seen...actually the back of my thighs are almost uncomfortably tight, but he warned me of this. I can not straighen up and walking bent over kills my low back. Coughing and laughing are incredibly painful. How long until you can stand up straight? I know that I made the right decision in my procedure and especially my surgeon. He is so talented and has wonderful bedside manner. Having a board certified PLASTIC surgeon (not COSMETIC) is KEY!!!! Trust me, being in the medical business for 25+ years I feel I know! I will post pics soon. Thanks for all your posts and please keep writing!! xoxo

Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 9 Sep 2010

Oh my you have been through the ringer...hang in there and keep up on the pain meds. You are at the worst stage ever in the process. Everything is so tight, swollen and uncomfortable at this point. You won't be able to stand up straight for at least two to three weeks. Ice packs really helped my lower back. Just pack pillows all around your body and keep re-adjusting for comfort. It will get better I promise. It is not an easy process but you will be happy in the end. Don't worry about how the incisions look right now...they will all be better in time. In about 2 weeks start massaging them with Palmers Vitamin E Skin Therapy Oil. It is like magic and really smoothes the scars. Can't wait to see your pictures. I will keep checking in on you :) Hang tough!

RNkay 12 Sep 2010

Thanks for your comments...so true using a ton of pillows is key. Although still need help getting upright. I can do it but it takes so long and I feel like I am going to split open. I'm now 10 days post op and feel better for the most part, but still walking bent over. When did you stand upright? I am still taking pain pills but down to just a few a day. I still only have just abdominal binder and ace bandages for my legs, I am looking forward to the stage 2 garment I will get on Tuesday. I will get the Palmers Vitamin E oil as well! Thanks!! So did you go down in actual weight? I haven't lost any lbs to speak of and I haven't tried on any pants to see if they fit different. I think I'm still quite swollen. I do feel my thighs look a lot better since the thigh lift. My thighs were so bothersome to me (loose, saggy, dimply). Thanks again Kimmers! Have a great Sunday!

Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 12 Sep 2010

Oh my gosh you look so good! For only being 10 days out this is amazing! It will just continue to get better and better. I couldn't stand up straight comfortable for about three weeks. Even from week 4-5 I would start getting really tight by mid day and hunch over a bit. One morning you will wake up and realize you are standing up straight and go Ahhhh!! I really does happen that quickly.. I did go down seven pounds in weight but not until about five weeks post OP. My pants also dropped from a size 8 to a 6 but that didn't happen until the majority of the swelling stopped at 4 months. It seemed like it took forever to see and feel amazing results. Still to this day (5 months) I get some swelling in the belly. It is crazy how that happens. Your thighs look wonderful! That is my problem area...pain in the tush is what it is. But mine is the inner thighs. Oh yes and I do have plenty of dimply spots on my booty. Or as I like to call it the cottage cheese ass. Guess we can't have it all perfect :) Thank god my hubby like some junk in the trunk!

RNkay 15 Sep 2010

Oohhh thanks so much for the info it makes me feel better! My incisions are not healing well. I was stretched soooo tight. So part of it will have to be revised which we anticipated and will be done in office (not OR). The inner thigh lift is so great. I love that part!! I'm like you girlfriend! Junk in the trunk!! But I'm glad! Haha will post pics soon!

Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 15 Sep 2010

Gotta love the Junk in the trunk...women should have curves! Did your incisions open up? You have a great doc so I am sure he will fix you up and you will do great. I know what you are saying about the "tight" thing. I can remember feeling like I was going to just pop open from being pulled so tight. Can't wait to see your ne pics :) Hang in there girlfriend!

Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 17 Sep 2010

How are you doing?

RNkay 23 Sep 2010

Kimmers, I have had a really hard time this week....just not healing well in the incisions. I have to do dressing changes twice a day...and it's just so depressing, I couldn't stop crying yesterday. My Dr. keeps assuring me that it's all going to be okay.But....ohhh I could go on, but now trying to be positive. I'm exactly three weeks post op today. I'm going to see him this afternoon so will see. I am standing straight! that's positive!! Still quite swollen and haven't lost wt. I do notice inches tho. How are you doing?

Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 25 Sep 2010

I am sorry you are having such a hard time with the healing. When we go into this we never really know exactly how we will feel or how long it will take to heal. That is very frustrating. I can remember having days where I would cry between weeks 2-3..it was aweful and you can't stop it. I can remember going to see my doctor at week two post op and having a melt down and asking what the hell I was thinking. He assured me everything would be fine and it would just take time. Are you able to get out of the house at all for some fresh air and to be around people? Could you go to a mall and just sit and have a coffee and people watch? Now you know that can bring some good comedy and tears of laughter. That is what I did when I was so sad and it really helped. I sat in the middle of the mall for about two hours and it did cheer me up. I can remember sitting there swollen, drains hanging from my body, couldn't stand up straight, basically a mess.....BUT I thought to myself...Darn I still look better than some of these people walking around he mall. Some of the clothes, hair and make-up totally cracked me up. Are you taking any kind of supplements that may help in healing? Vitamin C...I also found that good lean protein really helped in my healing. Keep your chin up, get plenty of rest and know you will get better. Your body is just giving you fits for some reason. One day soon you will wake up and feel great and be glad you did this. It is hard I know but please hang tough! What did your doctor say at our appt the other day?

sn315on 26 Sep 2010

My doc told me to not get on the scale until 8 weeks, but that most do it at 4 weeks. I did it at 4 days and then again at 2 weeks. Keep your chin up, it will get better! The more you move and walk, the easier it will be to stand up straight. I was instructed to walk as much as possible and at week 2 I could walk on the treadmill. Ask your doc or look in your book that they sent home with you about that. It really helped me. I did swell a lot at first after walking on the treadmill, but, after a few days I didn't.

bethak 26 Sep 2010

Just eat well, read ,and pray. Ya, and you will look good after while. My surgery wasn't done well but I still look better.So be happy and positive.

Twin Twin 27 Jan 2011

Hi RNKay, who was the ps? Can i have his name and address? Also, you mentioned about fat transfer? where was it transfered to? Thx

RNkay 28 Jan 2011

Dr Agha. Newport beach. Fat tx from flanks/lower back to buttock to lift and shape. Keep me posted

Twin Twin 29 Jan 2011

Thanks RNKay! Do you happen to have his phone or the address? Thanks again!

RNkay 5 Feb 2011

No prob! 2121 pacific coast hwy corona del mar ca 949-644-2442. Good luck!!

Twin Twin 6 Feb 2011

Great! I just had appmt w/ him last Fri. He was so polite and honest! I really liked him. I'll ask to speak with his real patients to make the decision since i had a bad experience last time. Should I tell his office that you refered me? Thx!

RNkay 14 Feb 2011

Yes absolutely. Let me know how it goes!!

Twin Twin 14 Feb 2011

Hi RNKay,

I'd love to talk to you in private and see how good you look now. Is there any way that I can contact you? I'll have to see his patients and make the decision this week b/c I'd like to have the procedure done next month and all of his appointments go fast. Please email me at {Edited}. I check my email frequently so I'll contact you right away. By the way, I need your name so I can let them know that you refer me. Thanks!

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“Extended Tummy Tuck in 4 Days!! Also Thigh Lift - Newport Beach, CA”

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{Edited by Kirsty: Please do not place personal contact information into public forums. This information can be shared via private message}

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