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*Treatment results may vary
3 days post-op - so far so good!
I got the tape removed today and permission to remove the "compression garment" for showers. I need to wear it full time for 3 weeks. I've had little to no pain, except if I twist, in which case the ends of the incision protest. I try not to twist. Transitioning from sitting to standing is arduous, and I have to make sure to stand up fully, as the tendency seems to be to stay bent over. I have a better understanding of a friend of mine with chronic abdominal pain who walks slightly bent over all the time. The worst part is probably trying to get comfortable at night. Between not being able to sleep in my usual, twisted-up-like-a-pretzel position, the compression garment presses into my skin if I'm on my side; I can't even process the thought of sleeping on my stomach; and sleeping on my back leaves my tender abdomen vulnerable to cat paws (cats have no understanding of "personal space", especially at night). These are temporary, however, and I know they will pass.
My next appointment isn't for 2 months when Dr. Lappert will check the scar. I was a little surprised that he wouldn't want me to come in sooner. I kinda feel like I'm on my own, though I know I can call with any questions.
After my shower I tried on my swimsuit bottom, and sure enough, the scar will be below the waistband. I'm pleased with the initial result. Dr. Lappert explained that the incision will look like a ridge for several weeks yet, so I'm not concerned (yet) about how the scar will look. I'm happy that my tummy is finally rid of that droopy skin! So I've still got a little fat under the belly button area, and it's covered in stretch marks, but those don't bother me - I had three babies and those are my war wounds. So far so good!
I'm attaching two selfies with self-explanatory captions to this post.
My next appointment isn't for 2 months when Dr. Lappert will check the scar. I was a little surprised that he wouldn't want me to come in sooner. I kinda feel like I'm on my own, though I know I can call with any questions.
After my shower I tried on my swimsuit bottom, and sure enough, the scar will be below the waistband. I'm pleased with the initial result. Dr. Lappert explained that the incision will look like a ridge for several weeks yet, so I'm not concerned (yet) about how the scar will look. I'm happy that my tummy is finally rid of that droopy skin! So I've still got a little fat under the belly button area, and it's covered in stretch marks, but those don't bother me - I had three babies and those are my war wounds. So far so good!
I'm attaching two selfies with self-explanatory captions to this post.
The surgery and following
The procedure went very well and I'm recovering nicely. I was apparently more sensitive to the sedative and pain medication I received, as I was incredibly drowsy, and later nauseated.
The procedure was performed on Friday afternoon. After the doctor took pictures and marked the area where he would be working, I received an IV and chatted with the nurse while waiting for final preparations. During final preparations on the operating table I was extremely cold and visibly shivered. Once the sedative started to take effect and I was under the drape I started to warm up. I didn't realize that my head would be under a drape, but as I was so drowsy and just wanted to sleep, I appreciated not having the bright lights in my eyes.
I was "awake" during the entire procedure, but it was like the half-conscious state before falling asleep. I could feel where the doctor was working, but once the local anesthesia took effect there was no pain. My arms were secured to the table, and my legs were supported by a firm pillow, and I found the position sufficiently comfortable to dose throughout the procedure.
When the doctor was finished, I found it a little difficult to wake up, and my vision was extremely blurred. After resting in the pre-/post-op room for a few minutes, the nurse walked me to the room where my effects were so I could get dressed. Before I could finish, I felt extremely nauseated and emerged from the room asking for help. I was steered back to the post-op room where I spent several minutes dry-heaving (having not had anything to eat since dinner the night before, there was nothing in my stomach to come up). This only came to an end after the nurse encouraged me to lean back in the reclining chair and I quickly fell asleep. Sometime later, I was woken up and told that my husband had arrived. They had asked him to wait while I napped a little longer, explaining to him that I had gotten sick from the medication. I was fine walking to the car, though my vision was still very blurred, and I appreciated that the doctor came out to see me off. The nurse sent with me a small pill to take if the nausea returned.
We went through a drive through for dinner and at that point, though still mostly asleep, I was very hungry. I enjoyed the fries and Dr. Pepper in the car, and looked forward to the hamburger, but walking from the car into the house apparently did me in and I spent the next several minutes in the bathroom, rejecting the fries and soda. When my stomach was empty, I took the anti-nausea pill went straight to bed.
At some point later that evening I woke up feeling some pain, so I took the Rx pain meds and went back to sleep. The next morning my head still felt like it was swimming and my vision was still a little blurry. I took another pain pill at some point, and spent most of the morning in a half-awake state. I wasn't hungry and still felt a little nauseated. By the evening, I was feeling much better, and after speaking with the doctor on the phone, determined not to take anymore of the Rx pain pills, and only rely on Tylenol, which I took that evening (Saturday) and haven't taken since, discovering that I am not in very much pain at all.
In retrospect, I have learned that I am sensitive to the opioid medications I received: the fentanyl I received through IV for the procedure, and the hydrocodone Rx I took later for pain management. I think I would have had a less traumatic recovery if I had received either a smaller dose of these, or perhaps a different medication altogether.
This afternoon is my follow-up with the doctor, after which I will add another update and include at least a "before" photo.
The procedure was performed on Friday afternoon. After the doctor took pictures and marked the area where he would be working, I received an IV and chatted with the nurse while waiting for final preparations. During final preparations on the operating table I was extremely cold and visibly shivered. Once the sedative started to take effect and I was under the drape I started to warm up. I didn't realize that my head would be under a drape, but as I was so drowsy and just wanted to sleep, I appreciated not having the bright lights in my eyes.
I was "awake" during the entire procedure, but it was like the half-conscious state before falling asleep. I could feel where the doctor was working, but once the local anesthesia took effect there was no pain. My arms were secured to the table, and my legs were supported by a firm pillow, and I found the position sufficiently comfortable to dose throughout the procedure.
When the doctor was finished, I found it a little difficult to wake up, and my vision was extremely blurred. After resting in the pre-/post-op room for a few minutes, the nurse walked me to the room where my effects were so I could get dressed. Before I could finish, I felt extremely nauseated and emerged from the room asking for help. I was steered back to the post-op room where I spent several minutes dry-heaving (having not had anything to eat since dinner the night before, there was nothing in my stomach to come up). This only came to an end after the nurse encouraged me to lean back in the reclining chair and I quickly fell asleep. Sometime later, I was woken up and told that my husband had arrived. They had asked him to wait while I napped a little longer, explaining to him that I had gotten sick from the medication. I was fine walking to the car, though my vision was still very blurred, and I appreciated that the doctor came out to see me off. The nurse sent with me a small pill to take if the nausea returned.
We went through a drive through for dinner and at that point, though still mostly asleep, I was very hungry. I enjoyed the fries and Dr. Pepper in the car, and looked forward to the hamburger, but walking from the car into the house apparently did me in and I spent the next several minutes in the bathroom, rejecting the fries and soda. When my stomach was empty, I took the anti-nausea pill went straight to bed.
At some point later that evening I woke up feeling some pain, so I took the Rx pain meds and went back to sleep. The next morning my head still felt like it was swimming and my vision was still a little blurry. I took another pain pill at some point, and spent most of the morning in a half-awake state. I wasn't hungry and still felt a little nauseated. By the evening, I was feeling much better, and after speaking with the doctor on the phone, determined not to take anymore of the Rx pain pills, and only rely on Tylenol, which I took that evening (Saturday) and haven't taken since, discovering that I am not in very much pain at all.
In retrospect, I have learned that I am sensitive to the opioid medications I received: the fentanyl I received through IV for the procedure, and the hydrocodone Rx I took later for pain management. I think I would have had a less traumatic recovery if I had received either a smaller dose of these, or perhaps a different medication altogether.
This afternoon is my follow-up with the doctor, after which I will add another update and include at least a "before" photo.
After three pregnancies, I was able to return to...
After three pregnancies, I was able to return to my pre-pregnancy weight and lose most of the extra belly fat, but I was left with loose skin hanging under my belly button. After extensive online research, I thought I'd need a tummy tuck for sure, but I was scared of the severity of the surgery and the recovery time - as the primary caregiver to our three children (ages 6, 4, and 2), I couldn't see how I would manage a 6-week recovery. I came across information on the VaserShape and SlimLipo procedures and was attracted by the promises of skin tightening. So I made some consultation appointments with various practitioners around town.
The first doctor took one look at my belly and said that all I really needed was to have the extra skin removed - a skin excision. He warned that I would be left with a hooded belly button, and that the solution to this would be a full tummy tuck.
The second doctor only does non-invasive procedures, which the VaserShape is considered to be, and though I didn't speak with the doctor directly, her nurse looked at my belly and said that the Vaser wouldn't fix my problem - it only tightens skin where it has removed fat. While she was perfectly willing to take my $3,000 and put me through 5 sessions with the Vaser, she warned that I would probably still have the same problem. I declined the procedure (though they have very attractive pricing for laser hair removal which I may be taking advantage of later this year.)
The third doctor sent me a letter reminding me of the $50 consultation fee and I cancelled the appointment.
The fourth doctor did a more thorough medical-type exam to ensure I was a healthy candidate for surgery (which made me wonder if maybe the first doctor ought to have done the same thing), and then said that I was a very good candidate for a tummy tuck. After he explained all the magic he could perform, leaving me with a perfectly sculpted abdomen, I asked about skin excision, and he assured me that I would not be happy, as I would not benefit from the muscle tightening he would do, and my belly button would be hooded. I confess that I could have been more honest with him and told him I was scared of the 6-week recovery, but I didn't. The next week I called the office of the first doctor and scheduled my skin excision.
Although originally told that the Friday I wanted was booked (that's what I get for waiting until the last minute), the nurse was very friendly and incredibly helpful, and I was blessed to be able to take advantage of a cancellation and got a spot in the afternoon of the day I wanted.
I'm really looking forward to this extra skin being gone!! I realize that my belly button will look a little different, and I still have a little bit of a fat bulge, but to have this weird bread dough stuff gone will be great. I'm expecting that having the skin gone will be motivation to work off the last bit of fat and get back my completely flat tummy. I haven't been motivated before because I didn't see the point in working for a flat tummy that looks so hideous.
Three weeks after my procedure I will be flying to Hawaii to join my husband on a business trip. I fully intend on wearing a two-piece bathing suit (that's not a tankini) and enjoying myself. I discussed the trip with the nurse before scheduling the procedure and the doctor said I may still be a little sore, but his main concern was that I keep the incision site out of the sun.
The first doctor took one look at my belly and said that all I really needed was to have the extra skin removed - a skin excision. He warned that I would be left with a hooded belly button, and that the solution to this would be a full tummy tuck.
The second doctor only does non-invasive procedures, which the VaserShape is considered to be, and though I didn't speak with the doctor directly, her nurse looked at my belly and said that the Vaser wouldn't fix my problem - it only tightens skin where it has removed fat. While she was perfectly willing to take my $3,000 and put me through 5 sessions with the Vaser, she warned that I would probably still have the same problem. I declined the procedure (though they have very attractive pricing for laser hair removal which I may be taking advantage of later this year.)
The third doctor sent me a letter reminding me of the $50 consultation fee and I cancelled the appointment.
The fourth doctor did a more thorough medical-type exam to ensure I was a healthy candidate for surgery (which made me wonder if maybe the first doctor ought to have done the same thing), and then said that I was a very good candidate for a tummy tuck. After he explained all the magic he could perform, leaving me with a perfectly sculpted abdomen, I asked about skin excision, and he assured me that I would not be happy, as I would not benefit from the muscle tightening he would do, and my belly button would be hooded. I confess that I could have been more honest with him and told him I was scared of the 6-week recovery, but I didn't. The next week I called the office of the first doctor and scheduled my skin excision.
Although originally told that the Friday I wanted was booked (that's what I get for waiting until the last minute), the nurse was very friendly and incredibly helpful, and I was blessed to be able to take advantage of a cancellation and got a spot in the afternoon of the day I wanted.
I'm really looking forward to this extra skin being gone!! I realize that my belly button will look a little different, and I still have a little bit of a fat bulge, but to have this weird bread dough stuff gone will be great. I'm expecting that having the skin gone will be motivation to work off the last bit of fat and get back my completely flat tummy. I haven't been motivated before because I didn't see the point in working for a flat tummy that looks so hideous.
Three weeks after my procedure I will be flying to Hawaii to join my husband on a business trip. I fully intend on wearing a two-piece bathing suit (that's not a tankini) and enjoying myself. I discussed the trip with the nurse before scheduling the procedure and the doctor said I may still be a little sore, but his main concern was that I keep the incision site out of the sun.
Provider Review
Dr. Lappert was very warm and friendly during my initial consultation. I felt completely comfortable with him. When he first came in, he talked about abdominal procedures in general and what some of the main issues can be. Then he asked to see my belly and applied the general issues to my particular situation, saying that I did not suffer from most of the them, which is why he recommended I only needed a skin excision, providing I would be happy with a hooded belly button. During the rest of the consultation, he answered my questions, we discussed some common interests (sewing, actually, and cultural exchange), and I found him to be very pleasant and likable, backed by a quiet confidence and extensive knowledge in his field. I am looking forward to the procedure and feel very secure in my choice of practitioners.