POSTED UNDER Tummy Tuck REVIEWS
Tummy Tuck/lipo to Flank and Hernia Repair - Maryland
ORIGINAL POST
I've always been self conscious of my tummy...
MominMDFebruary 10, 2012
WORTH IT$8,000
I've always been self conscious of my tummy but managed to hide it pretty well in clothes. After having two wonderful children, I was left with 2 hernias ( umbililical and epigastric) and it became clear, I needed them repaired. I was able to ignore them for years but since turning 40, they appeared to be getting larger. I completed my first triathlon last August and I was shocked at how I looked in pictures...as I was crossing the finish line and smiling ear to ear...I had this bulging, awful tummy! There I was in the best shape I will ever be in and my tummy looked horrible. After finding out that the hernia repairs were easier to fix during a tummy tuck, I made my decision. I need abdominal surgery anyway and the downtime is the same! I signed up for my next triathalon in may, but this surgery is happening first!
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Replies (1)
UPDATED FROM MominMD
1 day pre
Tomorrow is my big day! I'm nervous but more...
MominMDFebruary 14, 2012
Tomorrow is my big day! I'm nervous but more eager to see how this is going to go. As a nurse, I'm not used to being a patient. I'm the one who is the caregiver, not receiver. I think this will be the worst part, especially for my family. My kids have been told what to expect but we'll see. Went to Target and bought a few new games, puzzles, and crafts for them to work on over the weekend. Stocked up on groceries and plan on lots of crock pot meals. Guess I will eat light today and drink lots of fluids to prevent nausea tomorrow. Wish me luck!
Replies (12)
February 15, 2012
Congratulations you've made it to surgery time! You will do fine! Once it's over you will laugh that you got so nervous!
I had my final drain out yesterday and was cleared to drive. Today 24hrs after last drain out I was cleared to shower! Yay it felt great but as I was trying to wash the shampoo out my hair I started sweating and felt sick like I was going to throw up! I definitely recommend shower chair or stool until ur strength comes back but you have plenty of time to be that. Best of luck I'm thinking about you and praying for you!!
I had my final drain out yesterday and was cleared to drive. Today 24hrs after last drain out I was cleared to shower! Yay it felt great but as I was trying to wash the shampoo out my hair I started sweating and felt sick like I was going to throw up! I definitely recommend shower chair or stool until ur strength comes back but you have plenty of time to be that. Best of luck I'm thinking about you and praying for you!!
February 15, 2012
I am thinking about you and anxiously waiting to hear from you:)
February 18, 2012
Wow! This has been a wild couple of days. I'm post op day 3 and feeling pretty good right now. The thing is, I have hours of feeling fabulous, then hours of feeling more pain than I thought humanly possible. I am running out of my pain meds and can't go poo, so I called the doc on call. So far, no return call.
That's been an unexpected change as well. My doctor, who seemed very supportive before surgery, is now very uninvolved. He didn't even talk to me after surgery so I called him the next day and it took him all day to call me back. When he did, he was on his car phone and breaking in and out. I thought it was customary for a doc to call and touch base after such a major procedure!
As far as my results, I'm so gassy and bloated, it's hard to see a drastic improvement. I feel like that is why my pain level can get so high! If only my GI track would get back on track!
My family has been wonderful. My husband has been better than I ever dreamt he would be. He's mr. Mom and it's adorable! This is a side of him I rarely see.
That's where I'm at...some good, some bad, some painful, but all in all, it's quite a ride!
That's been an unexpected change as well. My doctor, who seemed very supportive before surgery, is now very uninvolved. He didn't even talk to me after surgery so I called him the next day and it took him all day to call me back. When he did, he was on his car phone and breaking in and out. I thought it was customary for a doc to call and touch base after such a major procedure!
As far as my results, I'm so gassy and bloated, it's hard to see a drastic improvement. I feel like that is why my pain level can get so high! If only my GI track would get back on track!
My family has been wonderful. My husband has been better than I ever dreamt he would be. He's mr. Mom and it's adorable! This is a side of him I rarely see.
That's where I'm at...some good, some bad, some painful, but all in all, it's quite a ride!
February 18, 2012
Sorry your having ups and downs. I feel the same way that the aftercare provided by Dr. Cohen's office sucks! You don't even see him into almost a month after your surgery. His nurses can be darn right rude and there has been times I've called in the morning bc I've had issues come up and the nurses check their voicemails I guess at the end of the day bc I did not get return calls till like 5:30pm. I do not feel like that good business especially if a patient feels they are having a problem. I've had to go see my primary care dr twice for advice bc of lack of follow up from his office staff.
Glad your husband has stepped up and helped you I'm sure that takes a big burden off you! Hope your recovery gets better! Keep us informed.
Does he have you in just the white binder or are you in a compression garment too?
Glad your husband has stepped up and helped you I'm sure that takes a big burden off you! Hope your recovery gets better! Keep us informed.
Does he have you in just the white binder or are you in a compression garment too?
February 19, 2012
Yes! I finally got a call back today after almost 6 hours. Dr Cohen said he couldn't call in a Percocet refill b/c it was such a strong medication. He said he thought I should be ok on Motrin now. At the time, I was alright, but now I'm just in pain and angry. I'm post op day 3! I just had major abdominal surgery and hernias repaired. I know I'm emotional but I feel I am being totally ignored by him. And...I checked out my new belly button and it looks horrible. It is literally a perfect triangle. It looks freakish...it better not be like that permanently.
Wow-it helps to vent these frustrations! I'm sure I'll feel better after a good nights sleep.
Oh! Did I tell you my pain pump is out? It didn't seem to be working at all but then I accidentally clipped the tubing when I was changing my dressing. Some gauze was stuck to the incision so I cut it so it wouldn't pull, but I the pump tubing was caught in there. Whoops! But, I felt no different after so it proved my point that it had never worked to begin with!
Wow-it helps to vent these frustrations! I'm sure I'll feel better after a good nights sleep.
Oh! Did I tell you my pain pump is out? It didn't seem to be working at all but then I accidentally clipped the tubing when I was changing my dressing. Some gauze was stuck to the incision so I cut it so it wouldn't pull, but I the pump tubing was caught in there. Whoops! But, I felt no different after so it proved my point that it had never worked to begin with!
February 19, 2012
Wow sorry ur having it rough! Really wish ur pain pump would of worked. Are you Feeling any better after a nights sleep? Can't say it gets better I'm two weeks ahead of you and I still haven't seen Dr Cohen since surgery. I have no clue what I should be doing? No advice what so every. Nurse said do whatever you body let's you! Really so I can start ab workouts and back to the gym? Hmm.. Just doesn't seem right! This is frustrating and I feel your pain. They definitely need to step up their follow up care. They only put me in a white binder and never any compression garment! I have no clue if and when to stop wearing this binder. Oh and my belly button looks gross too but I hear a lot of people say that at first so I'm giving it a month to see how it looks. I think mine might be infected but I hate to call dr cohen's office bc they make you feel like your in convincing them! Do you get that feeling? This is definitely not the treatment I expected from the plastic surgeon ranked #1 by Baltimores Magazine. Makes me wonder if that spot is paid for like advertisement! Hang in there I feel your pain and I'm sorry ur feeling this way but it will get better! Just sucks I had to use my primary care dr for after care help.
February 21, 2012
Well-I'm post op day 6 and I'm feeling pretty good. The pain seems worse in the morning after laying in one position all night. Had a little leakage from my drain insertion site & I'm keeping an eye on that. I want these damn things out!
Went for my post op check and only saw the nurse! Sounds like that's what happened to you, too. It's really hard to believe that any surgeon wouldn't want to see his patient after such a serious procedure. I hate feeling regret, so I won't go that far, but I'm very disappointed with cohens bedside manor. He seems totally disinterested. Like he could care less. Wish I would've checked out a few more docs before choosing him.
Anyway, how are you feeling about your results? Are you feeling lie a brand new woman? I get little waves of seeing some improvement but so far I'm so swollen, I look the exact same...just firmer and more bloated.
Have an appt thurs to get one drain out. Hopefully, the other will stop draining by then too. I want to be drain free by the weekend!
I think you should call if you think belly button is infected. Have you put antbx ointment on it? Who cares about inconveniencing them!
Have a gret day!
Went for my post op check and only saw the nurse! Sounds like that's what happened to you, too. It's really hard to believe that any surgeon wouldn't want to see his patient after such a serious procedure. I hate feeling regret, so I won't go that far, but I'm very disappointed with cohens bedside manor. He seems totally disinterested. Like he could care less. Wish I would've checked out a few more docs before choosing him.
Anyway, how are you feeling about your results? Are you feeling lie a brand new woman? I get little waves of seeing some improvement but so far I'm so swollen, I look the exact same...just firmer and more bloated.
Have an appt thurs to get one drain out. Hopefully, the other will stop draining by then too. I want to be drain free by the weekend!
I think you should call if you think belly button is infected. Have you put antbx ointment on it? Who cares about inconveniencing them!
Have a gret day!
UPDATED FROM MominMD
17 days post
Well...fast forward 2 1/2 weeks and here we are. ...
MominMDMarch 3, 2012
Well...fast forward 2 1/2 weeks and here we are. I am feeling great about my results and not regretting anything. I will be honest, if I had posted any earlier, I wouldn't have said that. It is true what I've read...the first week is an emotional roller coaster and the second week is a 'what have I done?' feeling. Now, I'm able to walk in the neighborhood for exercise, my swelling is disappearing daily, and my incision looks amazing!
My PS is obviously a fantastic surgeon so that is great. I'm not able to forgive him, tho, for being so unavailable when I was most in need. The first few days were really bad (pain pump not working, not able to eat, scared to death, and constipated). He was totally unhelpful. Crazy but true...he has yet to see me. I won't see him until 4 weeks post op. I can't believe a surgeon wouldn't want to see his patient for an entire month after such involved surgery. I've only seen the nurse.
As far as energy level, it's coming back more each day. I wear my binder still with only small breaks. My abdomen is flatter than its been since my 20's. I tried on my bikini and I felt great...and I'm still swollen! I'm thrilled to think how it'll look in a few months.
It's been a wild experience and it's not over yet...but I feel happy and confident I made the right decision. Worth it!!!!
My PS is obviously a fantastic surgeon so that is great. I'm not able to forgive him, tho, for being so unavailable when I was most in need. The first few days were really bad (pain pump not working, not able to eat, scared to death, and constipated). He was totally unhelpful. Crazy but true...he has yet to see me. I won't see him until 4 weeks post op. I can't believe a surgeon wouldn't want to see his patient for an entire month after such involved surgery. I've only seen the nurse.
As far as energy level, it's coming back more each day. I wear my binder still with only small breaks. My abdomen is flatter than its been since my 20's. I tried on my bikini and I felt great...and I'm still swollen! I'm thrilled to think how it'll look in a few months.
It's been a wild experience and it's not over yet...but I feel happy and confident I made the right decision. Worth it!!!!
Welcome! Your day is almost here and I am very excited for you. I look forward to following your journey and will be watching for your updates.