“A transformation from the outside...IN! Definitely WORTH IT! :) - Exton, PA”

I have 4 little boys under the age of 4! (I had twin boys first!) With having had 3 c-sections & lost ALL the baby weight and then some, I was left with this horrible wrinkly skin PLUS an umbilical hernia! :/ I didn't have much separation of the abdominals, but the stretched skin just would NOT go back (no matter how much I exercised & ate well!)
As I've gotten older, I've really appreciated the importance of feeling GOOD about yourself as a mommy! It's SO important. So the decision to have a tummy tuck was easy. I needed it. I deserved it. heck, I EARNED it :)

A year before, I actually had breast augmentation by the same doctor. What a life changing experience that was! I'll have to write a review for that on here too!

There's nothing but PRO'S to this kind of surgery bc those that are considering, most likely are excellent candidates for it! And you've either sacrificed your body for bringing your kids into this world OR you've lost a TON of weight. So for either of those reasons, you should be proud! :)

The cons- Well its an expense. Period. But what it gives you back, is something that money just can't buy!

And of course there is discomfort with this surgery. Some people have more than others. But if you keep positive and remember that if you are just patient, you'll see the results that you've been wanting all along! Recovery takes time, and so does healing!

The discomfort is only TEMPORARY! The reward is FOREVER!

I'm currently 1 week post op!! My experience has been much EASIER than I ever expected. In my opinion, the c-sections caused me more abdominal pain than this tummy tuck. I was walking around when I got home from the surgery, then rested/slept. I was sore/tight, but nothing I couldn't handle. I stopped taking the percocet that was given to me after day 1! I don't like how I feel on them! So i just took 600mg of ibprofen for another day. Then by day 3, I wasn't taking anything. I don't know, maybe I'm just tough or something? but I mean, I expected to be in discomfort. So I listened to my body and if it hurt, I didn't do it. But I also am the type of person, who handles surgery really well. I don't push my body but I also can't just sit in bed all day either.

My drains came out on Tue., so that was day 4. I had 2 drains, they were ANNOYING! My back hurt more than my belly actually, from being hunched over all the time! My doc finally told me that I didn't have to walk around like that, if it felt ok to stand up a little straighter. haha so that helped!

Constipation of course came with taking pain meds. Even though it was just for a day! ugh! So I bulked up on my fiber, prunes are a beautiful thing!

Bc of the thinness in my original belly button skin, when he pulled the skin down tight, the skin at the bottom of my belly was REALLY wrinkled still. And I didn't have enough fat under that skin, to keep that skin smooth and not caved in. If that makes sense? So if he were to just suture that skin into my incision, I would've been left with a lower belly of wrinkly skin and it would've sunk in a little bit too. NOT pretty. So to keep my hip to hip incision low, he had to cut that wrinkly skin part out! which in turn left me with a vertical scar.

The scar will heal and fade and I know he did what he felt would give me the best result. I trust him. The last thing I'd want to see is a caved in, wrinkly portion of my lower belly, when all I wanted was a tighter belly!

He could only pull my skin down so far, and I would've hated to have a hip to hip scar that was right below my belly button or something! So I'll deal with the vertical scar. :)

My plan for scar treatment is to keep surgical tape on it, for about a month. Then I plan to use the silicone sheets for the recommended 3 months that the company suggests. I've read good reviews on them! Anyone else?

Feel free to ask me questions! I'd love to help anyone who's considering this or is scheduled to have a TT soon!
Way to go in taking a step towards feeling better & more confident about yourself!!

Updated on 12 Mar 2011:


Updated on 12 Mar 2011:


Updated on 12 Mar 2011:
Ok so I just posted 1 week post op pics! I survived the first week!! haha it actually wasn't bad at all. I stopped wearing my binder, a few days ago bc it was becoming more annoying than helpful. My PS said that wearing the binder was for MY comfort, it wasn't medically necessary, nor has it been proven to help with swelling or healing. Which is true and some PS have their own take on the binder thing. But I didn't feel like I needed that support, I actually feel better with it off.
After reading through other people's reviews on here, I must say that I didn't do any of the preparations that you all did, nor am I doing anything different post op either. I eat healthy, drink plenty of fluids and if it hurts, I don't do it! That's it! So I think how you prepare and take care of yourself before and after, really just depends on what makes YOU feel better. There are no particular "rules" for any of this. And everyone deals with this kind of surgery differently.
I'm still sleeping on my back, slightly elevated. But I noticed it didn't feel uncomfortable to lay on my side now either. So maybe I'll start trying to lay on my side, since I sleep better that way.
Still really swollen, which has increased since the drains have been out. But I read, that's normal too.
It's so discouraging looking at my week 1 pics though. Seeing the swelling, not fitting into any of my jeans really, the dog ears that I may or may not have later, just stare at me when I look at them. lol I know these are all normal occurrences and feelings, so I'm just trying to remember that this is only week 1!!! And I still have so much healing time to go! And what needs to be revised, will be revised. My PS is totally dedicated to making sure we get the best result possible. And some things, like dog ears, just happen. I'm just an impatient person, so this is really testing me! :)
But I've been driving and doing my normal things around the house within reason. Not lifting things or the baby too much. (I have a 7mth old.)
I feel great! :)

Updated on 12 Mar 2011:


Updated on 15 Mar 2011:
Day 11- Post op.
Still feeling great despite feeling like I look like I GAINED weight, with all this swelling!!
And then I stare at my tummy and my mind goes crazy with questions!
I honestly think my tummy looked better at day 5, then it does now. Regarding how flat it was at day 5!
Is this a normal occurrence? Are these feelings normal? Am I just being impatient?
Ughhhhhh!

Updated on 16 Mar 2011:
Post op day 12- So last night I was in tears because the swelling was so bad, I literally looked like I had a tire around my midsection!
Then I woke up this morning and magically the swelling reduced and I looked so much better! I still am very swollen but this really gave me so much hope that once all the swelling is totally gone, I'm going to look awesome!

Updated on 19 Mar 2011:
I made it! 2 weeks post op yesterday! Definitely seeing a change in tightness and mobility. I can lay on my side now without feeling like I'm ripping something! My scar itches here and there, which is annoying. Still just using the Hypofix tape on my scar. I've been taking Arnica tablets and I think its really reduced some of my swelling (Hylands- Bumps & Bruises) . My tummy still feels numb and hard but its softening up top. I know I'm still pretty swollen, bc I can feel it, even though my friends think it doesn't look swollen!? It gets worse at the end of the day of course.
And I've worn my binder here and there too, makes me feel like its helping the swelling issue. Not really sure if it is though, lol.
I did take pics of my scar, which I'm so thankful I heal so well! It still has a ways to go but its looking so much better! I'll post those soon!
Lastly- this is a strange question, but did anyone feel random twitches or movement of some kind during recovery? I can almost associate it with the way it felt when a baby was kicking me! haha crazy I know, but I was like, what was that? Is that a muscle spasm? Its lower, near my incision almost. Please tell me I'm not crazy!??? ;)

Updated on 22 Mar 2011:


Updated on 22 Mar 2011:


Updated on 4 Apr 2011:
4 weeks post op!!! Just posted some new pics and I feel AMAZING!! My scars are healing great, I've noticed a dramatic difference in swelling. During the day I don't feel any and at night time sometime's I swell a little. I'm going to start working out soon and I can't wait! I was using medical tape over my scar but somehow got a little infection so I had to stop wearing it and be on antibiotics. It cleared up and healed just fine! The tape just irritates my skin, so I started using silicone sheets! Just started yesterday, so we'll see how that goes! I have noticed within the past few days that my scar is more red. But from what my girl Bridget's PS said, I guess that's normal ;) Hopefully the silicone will help with that.
Most of my numbness is gone too! I totally feel like my normal self and its wonderful!! The little dog ears have smoothed out a lot, still there, but I have to be patient. Other than that....what a difference a few weeks make!!! Be patient girls.....its worth it! I can't wait to see my tummy at 3 months!!! :)

Updated on 4 Apr 2011:


Updated on 6 Apr 2011:


Updated on 15 Apr 2011:
6 week post op pics are posted! I feel amazing! Despite my annoyance w/ my silicone strips & the little dog ear on my right hip...I'm incredibly happy w/ my tummy! My scars have reddened over the past week or so..but I've heard that's normal.
Went for a run last night and it felt so good!! I kept looking down, in fear of my previous wrinkly skin being shown if my shirt lifted up...and then I realized that I don't have that issue anymore!! haha its crazy but I do find myself still thinking that I have saggy skin, until I look down realize I don't!! :)
As for scar treatment, I was using the silicone strips but now they aren't sticking as well (even though I've followed the instructions and washed them daily) and my jeans rub on them, causing them to lift too! So I stopped that and now just massage Bio Oil on it a few times a day. I don't have time for anything else. lol
The Bio Oil is awesome, smells great and not greasy! It makes my skin SO soft!
So it's coming along and I couldn't be happier! Hope all of you are doing well in your recoveries!! :)

Updated on 29 Apr 2011:
8 weeks post op!!!
I've started running again & working out! I actually started 2 weeks ago but this past week I working out harder. Randomly, but whenever I can go for a run or do a workout video I will! These little boys leave no time for letting mommy do anything! ugh! lol
I even started doing some ab exercises and it felt great! No crunches really, just more pilates inspired things to strengthen my core! Plus running hills works your abs great too!
I'm waiting on my Kelo-cote, to start that on my scar. Otherwise I just try to put BioOil on it from time to time, but sometimes i forget.
There is a dark little mark at the top of my vertical scar, which my PS will have to remove. It's actually a left over spot from where the top of my belly piercing was! Eww! So it may make my vertical a little bit longer, but even when looking at my 6 wk pics, my scar has gotten LESS red! So that's fantastic! I think it will fade nicely with time!
Hope all of you are feeling well & recovering beautifully!!

Updated on 5 Jun 2011:
3 months post op!!
Can't believe I'm finally here, it seems like forever ago that I got my TT. But I have to say, its the best thing (aside from getting my boobies done) that I've EVER done for myself!
My scar is doing ok...hasn't really lightened up any. The redness is going away I think though. My dog ears have really changed since I last updated here a month ago. They're starting to smooth out more, not completely gone on the right side, but better!
I just wish the scars would LIGHTEN! I'm not diligent with scar treatments, bc I'm a pretty busy mama, but I try to put my Scar Away Silicone gel stuff on it at nighttime when I remember.
I do have quite a bit of numbness below my belly button towards my scar. But it doesn't bother me much.
Other than that...now I just need to start sculpting these abs!! :)
Oh and I'm finally in a BIKINI!!! That is just an amazing accomplishment in itself! :)

Updated on 5 Jun 2011: