Tummy Tuck Reviews
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New, Flat Tummy for Mom of 3 - Minnesota

Worth It
Spent: $6,000 in Minnesota

Comments (51)

Updated 1 Jun 2011

Posted 3 Apr 2011

I'm a busy mom of 3 and so ready to finally have a smooth, flat tummy again. I'm sick of looking at the sagging skin that just hangs and doesn't go anywhere!

Finally decided to take the big leap- pick up the phone and make my appt. for a consult. I excercise 3-4 days a week- cardio/circuit training with weights, and pilates. Nothing seems to help get rid of the "sag". Feeling really good about spending money on myself for once! Looking forward to sharing this journey with other TT peeps!! :)



Updated on 8 Apr 2011:
A turn of events for me! Broke my hand! Yes, I'm serious- and all I can think about is how will this affect my TT surgery? And, of course, it's my right hand- learning to do everything with my left. I'm trying to put this all in perspective, though. It could be worse, it could be my leg. Oh well, if there is anything good out of this, it is that my kids are doing stuff for me, and adapting quickly to there new roles, come May 12! I'll be 5 1/2 weeks into my recovery of my fracture the day of my TT. Hoping this doesn't interfere with that!

Updated on 30 Apr 2011:
I am 2 weeks away now and soooo ready!! My hand is healing well and is not going to stop me from having a flat tummy. I have it in a splint which I can take off for showering.

I'm a bit nervous about having both a TT and lipo of inner and outer thighs done together. But, my PS is very confident that it won't be a problem, and it is very common to do both procedures together. Curious about the recovery with both. I know I'll have a compression garment on for thighs and tummy- hope I can move with that on! I'm thinking I'll be feeling like a stuffed sausage. :(

This site is so wonderful for support! Thank you to everyone for your encouragement. My pre-op is May 4th with surgery on the 12th. Looking forward to posting my after pics!!

Updated on 5 May 2011:
I had my pre-op yesterday. Bought my Mothers Day present! So happy, nervous, scared and excited wrapped up into one big ole emotion!! Getting ready for next week- laundry and nesting, basically. Looking forward to getting this done and behind me.



Updated on 14 May 2011:
I did it! And, I can tell you that it is no walk in the park, but with some good pain managment, it is bearable. The day of surgery, they gave me something in my IV, put me in a wheelchair, I remember saying good bye to my wonderful husband, and then- I was back in the wheelchair being transfered to my recovery recliner in the surgery center. Amazing. Was home by 3 pm, felt great and then decompensated quickly, because all the anesthetic they injected into my tummy had worn off. :( The first night home I slept on our comfy sectional- except I was so nauseated from the Lortab and all. It really was a horrible night. So I stopped taking the Lortab and went to taking 2 Extra Strength Tylenol, but honestly, there is no way I could get pain relief from that. So, long story short, called my PS, he changed up my meds, and added a anti-nausea med and now I feel like a new woman!! I can say that I'm comfortable now. I can only walk from my family room area (where I'm camped out) to the bathroom and back. I have on a girdle that goes from under my breasts to my knees, because I also had lipo on my inner and outer thigh. That pain is not bad at all!! Just sore. I love my compression garment that they put on me, because it's got a hole in the peri area, so I put a funnel down there, and stand over the toilet to go.

I'm so relieved it's behind me. Now I just gotta rest, and be very patient with myself. That is hard for me right now, because my family has to do everything, and get everything for me! But they are wonderful. Just a quick story- my 8 year old found a bell for me and put it by me to ring when I need something!! Having their support and understanding is so comforting!!

I'm so excited to see my tummy. I can shower today, if I want to, but I'm so scared to take this girdle off, cause I can't imagine getting it back on!! It's so tight!!

Thanks for all the wonderful support on here!!

Updated on 14 May 2011:
Just changed my "was it worth it?" status to undecided, ONLY because I haven't seen my tummy and lipo results yet. And, realistically, I know it takes a long time to see final results. But, as of now, i need to see my new flat tummy. Not going to shower tonight because I'm very nervous about removing the girdle, and I know my hubby will have more time tomorrow. And frankly, I'm exhausted and uncomfortable.

Updated on 18 May 2011:
Day 6 post - op

I'm feeling better today, although I feel really swollen!! Posting some pics. I'm still bent over a bit. Really love my low incision. There is a small vertical one, but it will be easily hidden with my bikini bottom on. See my PS tomorrow, highly doubt that the drains will be removed as I'm still having alot of drainge.

Updated on 31 May 2011:
I'm 3 weeks on Thursday- still have one drain, and I"m starting to feel discouraged. :( It's draining about 45cc/day. I don't get it!! I wonder what the record is for having a drain in??? I'm also feeling really sore and puffy today. Thinking I might have over-done it yesterday. I also pushed myself a bit this morning with cleaning and picking stuff up. I know I need to be patient with myself and my body, but I'm feeling a bit down about this recovery. I'm having a difficult time getting comfortable at night sleeping, and wake up SORE!! Is that normal?

Thanks everyone for listening to my complaints. Sometimes you just gotta vent about stuff, and today is the day I do that.

Updated on 1 Jun 2011:
3 weeks, one drain, and I had a whopping 60cc from it yesterday! Crazy. I'm just trying to keep a positive attitude about it, and realize that my body needs this drain to help it heal. But it really stinks, just have to say. I'm curious as to how long it will be with me. :) I'm hiding it really well. It fits in my bra perfectly, and it's kinda like a got a breast lift, too! Oh well, tomorrow is a new day, and hopefully a better one!!

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

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Comments (51)

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Madison5269 (RealFriend) 5 Apr 2011
Yay! So exciting! You deserve this & you will be so happy!

I know exactly how you feel. I am a mom of 2, exercise 5 days/week & left at 5'3", 115 lbs with a saggy tummy. I am this Friday! So excited.

Please keep posting!
Isabelle44 5 Apr 2011
Madison 5269-
Thank you so much for your understanding!! Be sure to know that I'll be thinking of you this Friday, girl!!!! Keep me posted on your journey- I'll do the same. Flat tummies here we come!!
Madison5269 (RealFriend) 6 Apr 2011
Thank you for your thoughts & kind words!!

My doctor requires an overnight hospital stay, so I will be sure to post as soon as I can!
Niffie 6 Apr 2011
Welcome! I too am from MN, and always feel a bit relieved when other "girls" from the state are making this decision.
I am scheduled for April 21st and I cannot wait!
sunny day 6 Apr 2011
Would love to know who your doctors are in Minnesota. I'm looking for a good TT doctor at a reasonable price.
Isabelle44 7 Apr 2011
April 21st will come fast for you!! Looking forward to following you on your journey to a flat tummy!!
ABEKKV 6 Apr 2011
Hi to my fellow Minnesotan! Wishing you well on your upcoming surgery! You already look great but you will be very happy with your results.
Isabelle44 7 Apr 2011
Thank you! I'm so glad I found this site, as I've told only a few close friends about my upcoming TT. The support and understanding on here is huge to me!!

Thank you for the nice words!! And- "GO TWINS!!"
Angiemcc (Community Manager) 6 Apr 2011

It sounds like you have definitely done all the exercise you can do. If that doesn't work and you truly want a flat belly, a tummy tuck is the next step! You look like a great candidate for this. Thanks so much for posting your story and photos on RealSelf!

If you haven't yet, you might want to check out Kimmer's Month by Month Tummy Tuck Diary, as well as the Facebook page I started called Moms Who Want Their Bodies Back. We discuss everything from plastic surgery to exercise to healthy recipes.

Good luck! I'll be following your journey with interest.

Isabelle44 8 Apr 2011
Thank you, Angiemcc!
I'm so glad I found this site, as I'm trying to keep my upcoming TT and lipo as confidential as possible. I've only told a few of my closest friends, so the support and encouragement on here is huge to me. This little community of tummy tuckers is great!!
whitewolf3253 6 Apr 2011
So glad that you have made the decision to do this for yourself. You are going to be so pleased. You will have wonderful results because you are in your ideal weight range and you work out on a regular basis. The confidence boost that you are going to feel is going to be amazing. I am four weeks post op and I am feeling so much more confident in myself. My clothes fit so much better and my tummy doesn't sit in my lap anymore,,lol. By summertime and bikini season I will be healed and ready to show off the new me! As will you! I am excited for you and look forward to reading about your journey. Don't hesitate to ask any question about your procedure or the healing process. We are here for you! God Bless!
Isabelle44 7 Apr 2011
Thank you so much for your encouragement and nice words. I am so ready to treat myself to a flat, smooth and wrinkle-free tummy. The support on here means so much to me, as I'm trying to keep my surgery confidential. Thank you for your support and understanding!!
kumama 9 Apr 2011
SOO sorry! A broken hand is crazy! Who does that! Recover quickly!
Isabelle44 9 Apr 2011
I know!! This IS crazy!! And we are leaving for vacation in a week to go some place warm and with a wonderful beach, and I've only got one working hand! I know I can sit on the beach with it- but it's still a bummer. Funny, cause when it happened, all I could think about was- "Is this going to affect my TT surgery?" Hope not! The splint should be almost off by then.

Thanks for your thoughts! And good luck to you on the 12!
Cristy356 14 Apr 2011
Wow That's crazy I couldn't imagine dealing with a broken hand right now. All I keep thinking about is May and that it can't get here fast enough. You will be fine time will past and you will be looking back at yourself saying I can't believe I got threw all this. Heads up keep your eye on the prize a flat new TUMMY :)

Soon enough we will be posting our bikini pics and feeling great.
Isabelle44 26 Apr 2011
Can't wait to post our bikini pics!! Good luck to you on the 10th!! I'll be thinking of you, and sending up a prayer!
newtummy4bee 20 Apr 2011
Hi How are you feeling with your hand? Hope things are getting healed for you so you can be ready for our big day on the 12th? I went to my pre op and still forgot to ask some questions. lol =) Make sure you try to write everything down you want answered as soon as you think of it. I did it the day before and had many things i forgot to put on my list. Well i hope you have a good pre op!! It gets you more excited since you pay the full amount and then it hits you that your actually getting this done soon!!! Three weeks and counting! =)
Isabelle44 24 Apr 2011
Hi newtummy4be- thank you for your nice thoughts and words! :) My hand is so much better! I am in a splint and am moving my fingers well. The splint just fixates the hand itself, not the wrist, so I can move my hand freely. Still am unable to lift things with it, but at least I can take it off to shower and such. We just got back from vacation, which was wonderful, and I was able to have a waterproof splint for snorkeling and swimming. Probably more info than you needed, but I appreciate your thoughts. We are on the countdown to the 12th, and I am more than ready to get closer to bikini land!! My pre-op is on the 4th and I can't wait!! We'll be 2 weeks to a flatter tummy this Thursday, girl!!
greengirl32 5 May 2011
Good luck with everything!!! I live in MN too and have a consult next week in Fargo and 3 consults with doctors in the cities on June 7th. I live closer to Fargo and live 3 hours away from the cities so I hope I like the Fargo doctor because it would be so much more convenient but I also want to go with who I feel will do the best job. I would love to know who your plastic surgeon is and how you feel about him/her after your surgery! Could you please send me a private message? I would really appreciate it! Thanks!
mauimommy808 7 May 2011
Haha that's the same exact words I said to my nurse when she put my garment on. As she was pulling it on around my thighs.'is it like stuffing sausage?'
youngmomof4 10 May 2011
Good luck- sorry about your hand. I'm sure by now you're used to using your left hand for everything. It looks like you're at a good weight. You're going to get such good results. I'll be following you through out your recovery. I go in on Tuesday.
Isabelle44 10 May 2011
Youngmomof4- Good Luck to you on Tuesday!! I'll be following you closely. You'll do great- we'll be recovering together!!
youngmomof4 11 May 2011
I know. :) I'll be thinking of you tomorrow. How are you feeling this evening? Nervous? Excited? I've been all of those emotions this week. It seems like my date is sneaking up on me. Good luck tomorrow. I'll be looking for updates.
mauimommy808 11 May 2011
Good luck! It's almost ur turn. Ur going to look great
Isabelle44 11 May 2011
Thanks mauimommy!! Appreciate the thoughts and nice words!!

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