Tummy Tuck Reviews
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“redo 5moths later..added a butt lift”

Worth It
Spent: $16,000 in illinois

Comments (66)

Updated 7 Mar 2012

Posted 8 Feb 2011

i am 34 years old, 4 children youngest being at a year. and like most i have some left over skin and fat on my abs that wont go away. i am considering this surgery with some lipo. my questions are: when they lipo do they lipo the entire ab area including the upper abs? how long does the swelling last? by 6 weeks are people usually ready to get into regular clothes and swim suit? i am a avid exerciser and do P90x and insanity every day and i dont want to loose the results that i have gained from that in my lower and upper body. when could i expect to get back to that extreme exercise? thanks in advnace for all your inputs.

Updated on 23 Feb 2011:
ok...i am scheduled for 3/17/11, st patty's day and i am irish...thats got to be good luck! i will be getting a tuck, a lift, and implants...mommy makeover...im not nervous, i am ready and wish it was here already. i want to be ready for bikini season in june or so and i can't wait. not sure anything could bum me out right now...

Updated on 16 Mar 2011:
my big day is tomorrow, new boobies and tummy. my twin sister is getting her tummy today with the same dr. she can be the guinea pig...lol....so here's to the last day of the old me...cheers!

Updated on 10 Apr 2011:
so i am 3 weeks out and i feel emotionally terrible. i look like i am 4 mons pregnant, just the thing that i wanted to get rid of. the wrinkles are gone but i am not any flatter. maybe tt are only go get rid of skin not so much to make you flat. but all that i have seen is flat...i am so disappointed...what you all think..

Updated on 21 Apr 2011:
i am 5 weeks out and still looking like i need a tt....i am so frusrated and just hope that its all swelling and not a botched job!

6 weeks still swollen or just bad tt job...let me ask you girls, after your tt, what happens to your ab skin when you are in a push up position...mine still hangs. is that normal?

Updated on 28 Apr 2011:
going to talk to ps tommorrow about a re-do...he so missed the mark on my tt.

 



Updated on 19 Aug 2011:
i had a floating bb tt in march. it was not appropriate for me and the results were not what they should of been. i waited a very long 5 months to get a redo and then added the butt lift to it. i added the butt lift to ensure that i was as tight as i could be and to get rid of the excess around my hips. i didnt want to be dissatisfied again and go through the emotional stress again...so here are updated pics and i love it. i am only a week out but the difference is amazing...

Updated on 20 Aug 2011:
updated yesterday but not posting? any help?

Updated on 20 Aug 2011:
just uploaded...good.

Updated on 20 Aug 2011:
more pics in new swim bottoms. garment imprints on tummy and back.

Updated on 24 Aug 2011:
2 week pic update...saw dr today, pulled a stich but all is healing well and no infections. cant wait until bb will look better but no complaints...this was the best money i ever spent and feel so freeing..:)

Updated on 3 Sep 2011:
i hit the third week mark...still sore somtimes but i think a lot of the soreness is the swell. the last two mornings i have woke up pretty non swollen but by then end of the day i feel it. but, its all part of the process. way happier with the results this time around.

Updated on 24 Sep 2011:
iam six weeks and dealing with swelling like all of you. not as bad as the first time but enough that i know i am swelling. i am not wearing a garment except to work out. dr said i can resume normal life, all looks good and there is no reason to baby things anymore. so i am back to P90X and Insanity and it feels good.

Updated on 7 Mar 2012:
its been 7 months since my last surgery. everything is going well, trying to tone more with my P90X1 and 2. I still swell by the end of the day and mu scar is still red on spots. but all this comes with the surgery.....enjoy

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

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Comments (66)

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Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 8 Feb 2011

Hi redhead - welcome to Realself!  WOW you have some really nice arms there!!!  Women pay trainers for those :)

I would recommend you go and have at least three consults for the procedures.   Every doctors approach to lipo is different so you would need to ask the MD's about how much and where they are able to lipo.

What I can tell you is that the swelling lasted a long time for me and I was also in shape prior to surgery.  I realize everyone is different in healing time but 6 weeks might me stretching it. 

You will not be able to do extreme exercise for a while.  And most docs recommend that you don't do any ab work for 6 months.   Personally I think that is excellent advice. 

I hope this helps in answering some of your questions.

 

 
redhead94 9 Feb 2011
thanks for your reply and p90x will helo anyones arms and back...its awesome...i will have a consult on friday and i am pretty sure i will do the surgery. although it is scare's me. but i would rather be scared and uncomfortable for a little while than look down and be unhappy FOREVER.....:)
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 9 Feb 2011

You can do it!   It is totally worth the pain and short term issues.  I would do it all over again if necessary.  It is so nice to have a flat and tight tummy now.

You will be glad that you did this for yourself.  Let me know how Friday goes.
redhead94 10 Feb 2011
so this swelling, is it that it makes one look like the michilan man or is it more mental because we want to look perfect the minute we get released? and the pain, is that longer than the first couple weeks? is it the bruising that hurts, the incision, or what? doesn't meds control all that? thanks..:)
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 10 Feb 2011

he swelling is very real!  By mid day into late evening I did look like I had a tire around my middle. 

What really hurt me was the muscle tightening and lipo areas.  Very sore, achy, and swollen.  Your tummy itself is numb but it hurts deep within. 

The pain meds help but do not totally take the pain away.  The first two weeks are the worst and then it eases up from weeks 2-6.
ricanmami 10 Feb 2011
wow! your arms look great! I personally dont think you need any lipo you look wonderful the way you are! i cant personally answer most of your questions because i havent had my surgery yet (scheduled for march 1st) but im wondering the same things! the swelling the pain recovery time and whatnot...those are all def things to ask your surgeon during the consult. My surgeon was more than happy to answer any/all of my questions!!
curveappeal 31 Mar 2011
Hi red! Omg, you looked great before, I, sure you look stunning now! How's the recovery going? Any recommendations for us who haven't gone through surgery yet? I'm sure I'm not the only one who would love to see some after pics if you wouldn't mind! Hope all is well :)
redhead94 1 Apr 2011
thank you...how is it going...hum....its been 2 weeks yesterday and if i could find a day or time that i wasnt swollen to the gills i would take a picture and post. i am pretty sure that i would do it again, but the swelling is annoying. the first 5 days suck and its not the pain as much as the wth did i do feelings. my mind new that i wouldnt come out of it already pefect and flat. but when it actually happened, i questioned everything i did and what the ps actually did...how could i look like i need a tt more after the surgery than before the surgery. now the swelling is still going down but i am still not flat but have settled down a lot about the results and know its a process. i did the mommy makeover, breast are a breeze compared to the tt and are beautiful (besides the incision lines right now). i came home for a day with a cathider which was no biggey. in a week the drains were out and some people it hurts others it doesnt. take some pain meds before. mine didnt tickle but it didnt hurt either. start walking straight immediately, dont walk huntched over. by about 7-10 days the pain is gone, i can laugh, sneeze, etc...but the swelling makes my muscles especially in the upper abs burn like a lighted match...very tollerible, bust just want to get back to normal...with all that said, i would do it again because i know its all temperary...i guess i am not that patient...and i will try to get some pics up this weekend.
redhead94 1 Apr 2011
i should also mention...have MOM and gas ex ready, the binder and swelling was so tight that i would get gas after everytime i ate. my binder came from the ps, its a body suit from the knees to the upper abs. its has a large hole in it for going to the bathroom but the elstic part bothered me near the upper abs. so i put a cloth diaper inside so its not irritating my incision or my upper abs. ice bags or frozen veg's for the swelling. dont get on the scale, dont try on your clothes, and know its all temperary...:)
Bye-bye Belly 10 Apr 2011
I haven't had my procedures yet, but from what I've read and heard, 3 weeks is still very much in the swelling phase. Your scar looks great!
Booka 13 Apr 2011
Hey! Before I even read your post I saw your pics and said, she MUST do p90x! LOL I want insanity but hubby says to wait. I have p90x, turbofire and brazil butt lift. I've lost a lot of weight going to the gym and using these dvd's, but I have a little more tightening to do anyways. U look fantastic!
redhead94 14 Apr 2011
thanks peacoxx....i do do (lol) both programs...started with p90x for 120 days and then added insanity to it. there is new insanity out, can't wait to get it and start it...
Joyce in Ohio 16 Apr 2011
Hey red I am 24 days post op and I feel your pain! I am super swollen below the incision and I feel like it is not gonna go down. I have seen so many pics of women here that have flat stomachs from the first day post op all the way through. I don't think I'm doing anything wrong but I still look at Least 5 months pregnant!!!
redhead94 17 Apr 2011
ohio....yeah its so frustrating.....it makes me wonder if i will "really" be flat...my mind makes me think things like is it really swollen or is this the final look..i mean, how do you even tell if it is swelling, maybe my ps just did a half ass job..ya know!
BikiniDreaming 21 Apr 2011
Hi Red
Did you have MR with your TT? I think that is what has made my waist so much smaller even at 6 days PO. So glad PS persuaded me to go for it, as I wouldn't even say there has been any extra discomfort from it. I think the lipo sounds like it causes a lot of the pain & swelling for people - which again I did not have. Keep hanging in there, I am sure you will feel it is all worth it soon, some people say they haven't seen the full results for 6 months to a year. Good luck with the rest of your recovery.
redhead94 21 Apr 2011
not sure what a MR is...sorry...i did the mommy makeover and some lipo on my flanks...
BikiniDreaming 21 Apr 2011
Hello again, MR=muscle repair. I had a gap of around 2-3cm between my stomach muscles due to large pregnancies (put on 3 stone with both). My PS had me lift my feet up at my consultation while lying on the examination table and got me to put my hands in the gap so that I could feel. He has now sown this up tight which will stop the 'pregnant' look I used to get when I was bloated. My before pics don't show it at all - I took them just before surgery when I had even lost a few pounds due to change of diet leading up to it.
redhead94 21 Apr 2011
yes i had MR.....i guess i just have to wait....joyce and i will have to wait together all alone...lol
Booka 22 Apr 2011
hmmm i had 2 large babies (9 lbs 14 oz and 10 lbs 3 oz) and 1 normal-sized baby :D. I also look pregnant when I bloat, my husband would swear I was poking my stomach out on purpose. I hope this helps alleviate that issue!
Joyce in Ohio 21 Apr 2011
I had muscle repair with my TT too and my stomach is still really puffy under my belly button!! I too wonder sometimes if this is as good as it's gonna get, I mean when your 1 - 3 weeks post op you can tell yourself that your right in the middle of " swell hell" and things will get better but i'm 1 month post op and Jesus it's not getting a lot better!!! So red I am with you!!
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 21 Apr 2011

All up hill from here ladies.  This is a slow process and it can make you about nuts between months 2-6.

Hang tough ladies.
Farz 22 Apr 2011
Sorry to hear your not happy. Your pre op pic looks like you didnt even need a TT . . . you looked AWSUM! However, please dont get discouraged. I read and heard (from my PS) that my end result wont be until 3 months, which is when he says ALL SWELLING will be gone by then. Did you discuss your concerns with your PS? I still have a tiny bit of wrinkly skin under my belly button (I am 18 days postop) but I forgot to ask him why. Also, my upper abdomen is a little bulgy but he said it will come down. I sure hope it does :-) Take care. . .
redhead94 22 Apr 2011
thanks..i have discussed and all he says is time.....i hope swelling is all that it is and that it will turn out fine.
redhead94 27 Apr 2011
6 weeks still swollen or just bad tt job...let me ask you girls, after your tt, what happens to your ab skin when you are in a push up position...mine still hangs. is that normal?
shanon0307 27 Apr 2011
redhead94, Im 6 weeks out as of today and I feel like crap too. My doctor told me 2 weeks ago it is too early to freak out he said I am still puffy and swollen. I had a full tummy tuck and lipo of the hips. I still have a roll when I sit down and I look pregnant when I stand up. The skin is loose mostly on the sides not the middle. I just read online yesterday that swelling from these procedures comes in all different shapes such as looking like fat or excess skin to being hard. I really pray that this is the case with us. Its probably just swelling. From what I have read all of this is normal.

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