“I am now officially a tummy tucker! First post op visit!”

like many of us, after I gave birth to my beautiful children my body was destroyed. I was 110 before my 1st pregnancy and gained over 60 pounds in both pregnancies.

I'm not going to lie, I'm very freaked out about the whole thing. I'm not scared of the pain during the recovery period, but I am scared I will not like the end results.

I am very confidant in my choice for my plastic surgeon, but I know how critical I am of myself. I guess the only thing that makes me feel better is that I know that to the very minimum it will look a lot better than it looks like now.

I will post my before pics right before my surgery. :) I know it has definitely helped me make my decision to go forward with the Tt thanks to all the pics I've seen. Maybe my pics through this journey will helped somebody else finally make their decision to go through with it.

Updated on 11 Nov 2011:
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This is what my belly looks like right now.

Updated on 11 Nov 2011:
Lol!!! I'm having such a hard time posting my before pic!

Updated on 14 Nov 2011:
Well, I had an appointment with another plastic surgeon. The cost of the tt/ with this ps is more expansive, but he assures me that he can get my scar low enough where I can still wear a bikini. I will still have some stretch marks that will show, but at least the scar will be hidden. I'm going to talk it over with my hubby tonight...

Updated on 17 Nov 2011:
Well, we finally scheduled my surgery! I'm super excited! I actually go in for my pre- op apt on Monday.

I'm starting to get a little nervous, I guess it's becoming more real. I'm still trying to loose a few more pounds before I have surgery. My goal was to be at 110, but I can't seem to break 119. I haven't been 110 since I got pregnant 3yrs ago, and with Thanksgiving around the corner I don't think that's going to happen! Lol! I'm just concerned that my skin won't shrink after surgery if I loose weight.

Updated on 1 Dec 2011:
Hi fellow tt! Well I have less than a week to go, & I'm starting to get very anxious! I've been eating everything in site, & have yet to get on my treadmill.

I keep having these crazy dreams of me not waking up after surgery. My dh thinks I'm freaking myself out. I almost picked up the phone and canceled my surgery. I know, it's crazy! All I've been talking about this last year was "how I couldn't wait to get my tt." now that it's around the corner, Im second guessing myself.... Is this normal?...

On another note, has anybody had lipo to flanks along with tt? How was your healing process? I would really appreciate any input!

Updated on 7 Dec 2011:
I had my tummy tuck yesterday at 8am, & I'm 20 hours post op!!!!! Yay!!!

Days leading up to my tt surgery, I was scared, anxious, I couldn't sleep, felt guilty, insecure, and very unsure of my decision to go through with surgery. Thankfully I have such a wonderful loving husband that kept encouraging me all the way. If it wasn't for him, and all the success stories I've read on this site, I probably would've backed out and not done.

Reading my first post I sounded so negative. In retrospect I, think it's because I kept hearing a lot of negative things from some of my friends when I would tell them I was getting the tt done. They would say things like your stomach is going to look stretched out & unnatural. One girl even asked me, " what about the rest of your body? You're going to have a flat stomach with big arms & big legs." " your bb is going to look gross " why can't you just do more sit ups" the list goes on- I was so hurt, I would NEVER say that to anybody! I can't believe that I let their negative thoughts get to me.

Here I am 20 hours post op (3:30am) and I know this is the best decision I have ever made!!! I haven't seen my new tummy, but I know I'm going to love it!

THE DAY OF SURGERY

I wore sweats and a zip up sweatshirt.

Got to the surgery center at 8am
Changed into gown & put on my favorite panty so the ps could outline where my scar would be
They started my IV
Took a pregnancy test
My PS came in & marked the incision lines as well as my flanks for the lipo
The nurse came back & got me to take me into the operating room.
I was then helped onto a ver comfortable bed with a comfy pillow. ( This was not the operating bed) the anesthesiologist had very soothing music on. He explained what he was going to do. Then asked me about my children.
Next thing you know I was in the recovery room!
Got up, & was on my way home.

My surgery started at 9am & I was done at 11:30.

When I got home I started getting nauseated, but I took a zofran, and I haven't had the urge to throw up. I keep taking my zofran every 4 hrs, my Valium every 8, antibiotics every 6, and loritab every 6.

I get up and walk with my hubby every 3hrs & then I go back to bed.

Pain: its tolerable as long as I take my meds. It feels like a burning sensation. If I have to compare it to a c- sec, I think this one hurts a little more because I feel it all the way up. My back is very sore, not sure if its do to the lipo of flank area or just the cg.

I have my first Post Op tomorrow today at 11:30 am. Will update after that.

Updated on 7 Dec 2011:
I had my first post op visit today at 11:30 am. The nurse took off my cg and changed my dressings. I didn't want to look at my tummy until she stepped out of the room. I took a deep breath and looked down. I've been dreaming of this moment for the last 3yrs. My hubby asked me what was wrong, and I told him I felt like crying. I no longer had that loose skin that used to hang over my pelvic area every time I would sit down. I actually had a belly button under all of that wrinkled skin. It was just beautiful, more than what I expected! I was shocked to see that all my stretch marks were below my bb, I honestly thought that wasn't possible since they were so high up prior to surgery. The most important part was the placement of the scar, my ps was able to get it low enough to where I will be able to wear a bikini if I choose to! I haven't done that since before I was pregnant!

My ps also gave me a shot of lovenox on my thigh. It didn't hurt at that moment, but made my thigh feel super tender. Ps instructed my hubby how to do it tomorrow. He also said he didn't want me to take a shower until Friday & I just need to continue to sponge bathe. My drain will come out next Thursday if all goes well. I only have one drain.

One more thing, it really hurt to put my cg back on, so I'll try to take some post op pics on Friday .