“A Dream Coming True - Tale of a Tummy Tuck! - Hagerstown, MD”

I am 27 and I've had 2 c-sections. My stomach went from a six pack to drooping skin and stretch marks... Oh and a belly button is in there SOMEWHERE! Every morning when I look in the mirror and get dressed I am sad. Evervsingle day for the past five years I look down and ask.... Where did MY belly go, I dont recognize this one, this isnt ME! A lot of people see me in clothes and say it can't be that bad, it's not worth the money, there are more important things. The very few times I've showed anyone my stomach there is a look of horror in their eyes for a split second before they choke out, oh it's not THAT bad. YES, YES IT IS!

So... For once ever, I'm being selfish and doing this for ME and only me, and only with the ones who are supportive. It's as terrifying as it is exciting! This is my number one dream and its coming true!

Updated on 9 Aug 2011:
I went in for surgery today! Thanks to the staff, I was not near as nervous as I expected! We joked, we laughed, they comforted me, and were excellent to the person whom came along with me to help! I was given an I.v. After dr. Garazo drew his lines and went over the process again, and next... I woke up lol! I was in a little more pain than I expected, about a 7, as soon as I voiced so, meds to bring it to a 2 or 3 were given IMMEDIATELY! Very impressive. Once home, I did take nausea meds, an antibiotic, and a percocet. Just one percocet has been enough so far. I've had to empty 2 drains a little early but I am up and walking slow and hunched... Not too bad! I will post before pics within the next few days!

Updated on 11 Aug 2011:
Day 2 ... HELL! I was in a lot of pain today so I took a percocet instead of a vicodin... Terrible mistake! Commonly, percocet makes people vomit... Apparently I'm one of them. I threw up 3 separate times. I was on my hands and knees on the floor, drenched in a cold sweat, very close to passing out! The pain was so extreme that all I could do was scream with every heave! I felt two huge pops inside (assuming those were bursting sutures). Nerve wrenching feeling and sound. I almost wished death upon myself and began to ask why I did this to myself?! Dr. G called me back promptly and even though I had to hang up on him to vomit, he called back to talk me through it. He said each stitch was done separate so the torn ones should be ok. Stick to the vicodin. This was the most frightening, painful night of my life (even after 2 c sections and a complicated wisdom tooth surgery - trust me, I am no wimp)

Updated on 11 Aug 2011:
Day 3 - given how terrible last night was, today I felt a world of better! Dr G, his nurse, and the anesthesiologist all called to check on me and comfort me! This is a painful process but besides the percocet incident, everything else is going quite nicely! I would sugg investing in a cane or walker prior to the surgery because of back pain from walking hunched over. I hate hate hate these terrible drains. Theyre bulky and I tuck them into my waist band... They also burn where they go into my skin as anything would. Can't wait to see em go! Overall... Today was good, I even went to olive garden wearing a hoodie!

Updated on 12 Aug 2011:
Day 4 - feeling better everyday, pain pump out at the office today - tweeked a couple nerves, felt very different but not painful. I am nervous for monday when the stitches and drain 1 comes out :/ However, it's starting to hit me that I had a tuck and this skinny little belly is now mine forever - starting to feel anxious but in an excited way! Kelly in the office gave me some flowers as a thank you for choosing them for surgery. She's so sweet as is all the staff! Still think I made the best choice in dr's!

Updated on 13 Aug 2011:
Day 5 ... Mobility is significantly easier! Washed my own hair today! First BM ... Woah! But good! After tomorrow a.m. I'm on my own with the 2 kids and puppy... I've got this (I think)! Sleeping very well and using icy hot stickies on my lower back. Pain meds not necessary since yesterday morning!

Updated on 15 Aug 2011:
6 days post op (ive been off by a day) ... Went in to the office today to get stitches and 1 drain out today. Cake! I didn't feel the stitches just the scissors pressing against my skin and I was TERRIFIED if the drain being pulled... Felt nothing! Such a relief! Dr garazo wanted pics and sounded very excited over the fact that I have no bruising and very little swelling. The office is so upbeat when I come in, its so encouraging, probably helps that I'm always smiling ear to ear as well! I'm taking care if the kids and puppy alone, I'm doing great, I feel great! I can only feel the surgery when I cough and ill be walking upright more and more as drains are pulled. I'm barely hunched now! I feel on top of the world and glad I'm healing!

Updated on 17 Aug 2011:
8 days post-op:
Drain #2 pulled and the last 4 belly button stitches! Again, didn't feel a thing! Still no swelling barely! I've been up and running my household almost single handedly... Doing good. I wake up a little stiff and depressed every morning but over a few hours, I'm walking around fine and I'm not sad anymore. By night I'm extremely tired and a little cranky. They say the emotional roller coaster is completely normal! I think they may pull the last 2 drains on fri! Will upload pics soon!

Updated on 19 Aug 2011:
10 days post op
Drain 3 removed. Pain free just like the rest. The dr said he can't believe how fast my body is healing and that i'm WAY ahead of schedule! I'm pretty much back to normal. I'm not getting tired anymore, back is fine, standing up straight as of 2 days ago, sleeping straight and can sleep on my sides for about 5 days now, it no longer hurts to laugh (coughing is a little uneasy), I have little swelling, and barely any bruising. I dont wake up sore and i'm no longer emotional lol.

Updated on 27 Aug 2011:
18 days post op

All drains have been out since Monday last week! Life severely improved with that one little factor! I still can't wear jeans or Jean shorts due to it aggravating my scar area. Drain 4's hole is still quite ugly and is taking a lot longer to heal, prob cuz it was in the longest. For about 3 days I started out great in the morning and got bloated by night. Now, as long as I don't drink any soda... No bloaty swelling! I am LOVING my results so far, I wear summer dresses a lot, they're most comfortable... But the other day I sat down and for the first time didn't have to use my arm to cover my belly! Instead of being sad everyday when I look in the mirror, I'm no longer sad, instead I'm impressed w how tight my tummy is. GREAT feeling!

Updated on 1 Sep 2011:
22 days post op

Yep, swell hell! Well maybe hell is a bit of an over kill but you get it! My love handles seem out of control when I put jeans on, even in the back! I'm a size 4 and I can't even do up size 6! Victorias secret sweatsuits it is. I'm "spitting stitches" from my incision. That's when your body rejects your internal sutures and they slowly exit out of your incision. Havent called the dr, it says it's normal online and fine unless getting infected. Started with 1 and now have 4. I just clean the areas w antibacterial soup, dab alcohol, and slap a clump of neosporin on them. It's keeping the sites infection free and uninflamed! Got that oleeva strip on... It helps pants to not irritate my incision also! Loving my flat tummy... I feel "normal" again! Oh and I had a muscle randomly stretch on it's own, kinda sorta like a spasm, and a stitch popped. Sounded like and felt like ripping a sales tag off clothes. No pain. A little muscle sensitivity and paranoia to not let it happen again is all. Feeling pretty good though!

Updated on 13 Sep 2011:
* Just to clarify thanks to a few messages ... I had a full tummy tuck and a 4 cm muscle gap corrected but did not have lipo. A lot of my lack of bruising and swelling is due to that, I believe it also made the surgery cheaper. To prep for this surgery I worked out 5 days a week for 6 months and lost 25 lbs. The thinner and more toned I got, the worse the skin got. The muscle repair alone helps you become more able to tighten your love handles through exercise also. *

Updated on 30 Dec 2011:
6 months out... just bought a bikini for Jamiaca in 4 days! My 6 month appt is Jan 16th and we'll discuss getting dog ears removed. I'm going to get scolded becaue i've been tanning for Jamaica but I wear my old oleeva strip so my scar doesn't get any sun. I have chosen to tan my belly button scar which against all advice has helped disguise it (the scar made my belly button appear crooked)! Love Love Love my results EVERY SINGLE DAY! Only complaint is the scar is about an inch higher on one side which extremely limits which bikini's I can wear but i'm going to ask Dr. Garazo if that can be fixed at all!

Updated on 16 Apr 2012:
Revisions tomorrow morning. A bit uneasy about it. I have to have dog ears removed, half my scar moved down to level out, and pouches fixed on my sides which will take my scar higher and all while I'm AWAKE! I am not looking forward to all those injections in my abdomen. Will update after....

Updated on 24 May 2012:
The procedure was not fun. The novacane shots literally brought tears to my eyes. I came home and instantly debandaged to check things out. My right side now had an even bigger dog ear. Left side... Flawless! I cried... 1 because I know I'm going to have to have it fixed again in 6 months, and 2 I was really hoping to be done! They told me to hang in there until swelling went down before I panicked. It has been 5 weeks... Not much improvement and my scar is still very uneven. I am so very happy with the overall procedure but very unhappy with the revision. I guess we'll see what's to come at my 2 month appt. he seems to get frustrated when i express unhappiness w it's unevenness so I'm always anxious to go there now. I'm just very self conscious that my scar sticks way out of my jeans on one side.