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POSTED UNDER Tummy Tuck REVIEWS

Goodbye Baby Belly! - Las Vegas, NV

ORIGINAL POST

Before I start, I have not had my surgery yet but...

TummyTuckerooSeptember 17, 2011
WORTH IT$6,000

Before I start, I have not had my surgery yet but I had to choose a rating and I chose worth it because I know it will be!

My story is pretty much the same as most of the other women here on this website that have gotten, or are thinking about getting a tummy tuck. I was married at 20 and had my daughter when I was 21. I loved being pregnant, but I dreaded the fact that I knew that my body was going to be ruined. It happened to my older sisters so I knew that it would happen to me. My husband and I were both in the Army and I was working out 2-3 times a day, so I was quite fit. I was always at a steady 129lbs. I am 5'2" but according to army standards, I was considered overweight. I have never had a tiny body and I never will, I am not built that way. I was always happy with my body though...until I became a mom.

After I had my daughter, I did lose all the baby weight, but my stomach was dis-gus-ting! I was super embarassed to show my husband when he got back from Iraq. I felt bad that when he deployed I was not even showing and when he came back I had a totally different(disgusting)body. Fortunately, he has never made that an issue and has always reassured me that he loves me no matter what.

Fast forward to my current situation. I had my son last year and I started out my pregnancy pretty high, I believe around 155ish? Big jump from the first time, but what can I say? I am going to be 30 next year and I haven't kept the most active lifestyle. Anyways, my second pregnancy basically just filled up my deflated balloon of a belly again and then added on a few more stretch marks to top it off...whatever, I was excused for being fat at the time so I didn't care, how much worse could it get?...A lot I guess, lol!

My sister and I were 2 months a part in our pregnancies and we had the same body issues before that. So now that we are certain that we are done with having babies, we have decided that it's time to stop living with our miserable bellies. We have been researching plastic surgeons, reading reviews, going on consultations, watching every possible tummy tuck video on youtube, talking, talking, talking....and now...we are finally going through with it!

My reason for doing this is simple. I am truly unhappy in my own body. I am not lazy and trying to find a quick solution of losing weight, I have worked out and dieted before, but I am always going to be left with the disgusting stretched out stomach. After a while, it's like, what's the point when I am still going to hate my body. It's a horrible feeling to not be comfortable in your own skin. Another reason is that I want to be able to wear whatever I want and not have to worry about flab hanging out/over, or rolls showing through, or reaching for something and someone getting a glance of my stretchmarks. If it's hot, I want to go swimming in something other than a total coverup granny style swimsuit...I live in Vegas for gosh sakes! I don't want to be stuck wearing the same 5 outfits that I have been wearing for the past how many years. I want to be able to buy jeans that don't go all the way up to my boobs so they will hold in the belly. Yadda, yadda, yadda, sounds really superficial, but this is something that I have dealt with since I was 21 and it sucks to be an adult that is self-conscious about their body. I thought that was something that only teenagers have to deal with. I am doing this surgery for myself and no one else. There should be no other reason for plastic surgery other than to make you feel better about yourself.

Well, on Monday I am calling the doctor's office and setting a date! I already know that this is going to be an emotional roller coaster for me and I am trying to prepare myself by reading other women's blogs and telling myself that I deserve to get this done and it will be worth it in the end. Wish me luck!

P.S. It kills me to show pictures but the pictures everyone else posts have been so helpful that it only seems right that I do the same. Besides...I'm not going to look like that much longer!!!

Replies (0)

UPDATED FROM TummyTuckeroo

OMG! My pre op is on wednesday! Surgery scheduled...

TummyTuckerooSeptember 19, 2011
OMG! My pre op is on wednesday! Surgery scheduled for Monday the 26th! I'm so excited and anxious at the same time, it's all happening so fast but I am ready. I am glad I don't have a long wait because I will drive myself crazy with my thoughts. Part of me is just expecting something to go wrong or delay my surgery, don't know why, maybe just nerves? Expecting doc to say, "sorry, lab results aren't what we wanted." I don't know, just running through worst-case scenarios. Still talking with sister about the whole sleeping situation, I am open to any suggestions. Recliner, hospital bed, couch, floor? Also gotta figure out what I need at home too.

Replies (3)

Kimmers25
September 20, 2011

Welcome Girlie!  So glad you are hear with us and you definitely deserve this!  

You can do this and it will be fine.  It sounds like you are prepared and ready to go.  So just dive in and keep moving forward.  We will all be here to support you:)

Let us know what your date is and we will all be cheering you on.  Sending you hugs, happy thoughts and good wishes your way.

onehappymom
September 21, 2011
Hi. It's me. Good luck on your pre op tomorrow. Make sure you ask all the questions you can think of. By the way, your tummy is better looking than mine was. I had a big fold that went around to my hips on both sides. I bet you will look great. Keep us updated.
TummyTuckeroo
September 21, 2011
Thank you friend, I wasn't sure exactly what was gonna happen at the appointment so thanks for the heads up about the questions. I was thinking of bringing in pictures of what I would like and wouldn't like(as far as the scar, even though Im sure it all depends on my body) but I am afraid of him taking it as me being rude or doubting him. The last thing I want to do is offend my plastic surgeon! It still doesn't feel real yet, I think once I do this appointment and get the go ahead for surgery, maybe then it will, but for now, I guess part of me feels like it's not gonna happen. Weird. How are you feeling? Did the drain come out?
UPDATED FROM TummyTuckeroo

Had my pre op today and getting more and more...

TummyTuckerooSeptember 21, 2011
Had my pre op today and getting more and more excited about surgery day! I only have a few more days left with this belly and I will NOT be sad to see it go! Took pre op pics...talk about embarassing, sister and I could not stop laughing and my surgical panties. They were folded up and packaged, sitting on my seat and I thought it was a lenscloth. Lol when the nurse said to put them on:) So excited I cant wait!!!!

Replies (10)

onehappymom
September 22, 2011
I am glad your pre op went great. My kids were also laughing at those panties. They are so hilarious. So do you have everything prepared? Make sure you set up your followup for the following day before hand. My next appointment to remove my other drain is also on Tuesday at 10:30 so there is a chance I might see you there since you go back the next day for a dressing change. I bet you are feeling so anxious. I am so excited for you.
TummyTuckeroo
September 22, 2011
Hey friend! Saw the post op pic and it looks great! Even with swelling, you can see its gonna look great! I am so excited! Any talks about scar therapy yet? Been doing some research and hearing the silicon gel works best, but wondering what other options there are. My post op appointment is at 11:45 on tuesday so you might see me in the waiting room after you finish yours. Looking forward to everything! Did you use the xanax before surgery? Just wondering, in case I get nervous. Im more nervous about any side effects from any medicine and anesthesia so I dont want to take anything. Also, did you have any nausea afterwards? How long did surgery day take all together? My husband is taking me but I dont want him to sit and wait for hours and hours. Thank you so much for all your help friend! You look so great!
onehappymom
September 23, 2011
The doctor called me a night before and asked me to take a xanax because we wanted me to get a good night sleep. It worked like a charm. I didn't wake up once and it was the first time I ever took one. As far as nausea, I only vomited some yellow stuff on my way home and that hurt but that was it. It was only a little. I asked my husband and he said if your husband will be by himself, he will be bored. He took our two girls and I had prepared school work for them that took them about two hours. So he worked with them. Then they went to lunch and came back. I home school my girls so they went with us. So your husband might want to go do something rather than sit around for 3 hours. How are you feeling today? Anxious?
TummyTuckeroo
September 24, 2011
I took xanax once before, had some postpartum depression after my son but didnt want to be drugged up so I only tried it once. Just really paranoid about it effecting anesthesia. Worried about nausea and pain but not enough to change my mind. It's really helpful to be able to talk to you though and I just want to thank you for taking time out of your recovery to speak to me. This has made this decision so much easier for myself. I have the fear of not waking up, but I am trying not to let it take over. I think I might be trying to convince myself that I am not scared. I feel like if I think about the negative things, then negative things will happen. I think I am nesting right now, trying to prepare everything in the house, trying to do as much as I possibly can. I am feeling like I am going to get home from surgery and be like, "oh no, I need this and I should have got that." I just want to make this as easy as possible for everyone. Feeling a bit selfish right now and guilty for effecting so many people just to make me happy. Thank you friend, you have been so helpful! Can't wait to see your tummy in a few weeks!
Kimmers25
September 23, 2011

I highly recommend the hospital bed.  It's a lifesaver if you can swing it.  

And I know what you mean about the surgical panties...tiny little things and your entire booty hangs out.  Too funny.  Did you also have your Kodak moment?

TummyTuckeroo
September 23, 2011
Hi Kimmers, Yes! Had my kodak moment and glad my sister was there to laugh with me, made it a lot less humiliating. It didn't help that my ps had posters of all his billboards on the walls, they were pretty entertaining. I remember a christmas themed one with my ps as a buff santa and a bunch of girls surrounding him wearing thongs and not much more. I said, "I would like to look like that please!" lol, just waiting for my nerves to kick in, my surgery is first thing on Monday morning and I am still excited!
Kimmers25
September 23, 2011

I remember that horrible moment standing there in the little triangle crotch cover.  Yucka!  Things hanging our all over the place..LOL  Well we made it through that.  

Monday is going to be here before you know it.  It's all very exciting when you get down to the last few days.  Did they give you a definite time to be there yet.  Just try to relax this weekend and baby yourself.  Go treat yourself to a mani and pedi!  It will make you feel good.

I will be anxious to hear back from you after the surgery.  If you start to have a melt down this weekend just shoot me an email and I will talk you off the cliff ok!  

I am so excited for you:)

TummyTuckeroo
September 23, 2011
Thanks so much Kimmers! they changed the time today, from 10:00 am to 8:00 am on Monday...the only thing that is worrying me right now is not seeing my toddler for the first 3 days, I'm feeling guilty about it. He is really particular about sleeping (he literally will only sleep in his crib or in his carseat while we are driving, absolutely nowhere else) Feeling bad for my mom having to deal with that and the stress that my baby is going to have by not being at home. She said, "It's fine, he will be okay, he will sleep when he needs to sleep, don't worry about it." I don't know, I just keep telling myself that by next week, I will be saying that it was all worth it. It will be! Thanks again for the support!
Kimmers25
September 23, 2011

Oh hun your baby will be ok.  He will be with grandma and she will take good are of him.   Your mom will also be fine.  She has some experience with this baby thing:)   Besides the little guys eventually pass out from exhaustion.  Promise it will all be fine.  And mama will have her new body:)

As a mom we always feel guilty and the first thing we think of is the kids.  The first three days will go fast and he will be back home with you before you know it.  

When my son was that age he also was a hard one to get to sleep.  But whenever he was at my moms the little stinker always slept through the night.  

TummyTuckeroo
September 24, 2011
Thank you so much Kimmers. It really helps to hear that. Starting to understand why my ps prescribed the xanax for a good nights sleep before. Its saturday morning (3 am) and my brain is racing. Can't stop thinking about surgery. My body is freaking out on me too, I think I'm more stressed than I realize and my body feels like its tensing up or something. Just want to get through this already so I can get back to normal.
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