“Bellydancer Tired of Too Much Belly! ”

I'm a 21 year old female who lost a massive amount of weight in my teens and am left with alot of loose skin!

Updated on 7 Nov 2011:
Hello All! Day 1, had surgery at 7:30 this morning and I feel fantastic! Honestly I can't believe how good I feel! I was in surgery for less than 2 hours and recovered quickly. Loved the staff and my doctor. The nurse was so good that she even numbed the area before she started my IV. I am not in any pain at the moment, but the pain medication is making me itchy. I have my mom here to take care of me and she is awesome (she's a nurse so that's a blessing). I am sitting up right now, hunched over of course, as I write this. Laid in bed with a ton of pillows propping me up in a beach chair postion. The drains are kinda gross as expected, but they will be out soon.I am so surprised by how well i feel. I was planning on hardcore pain for at least 48 hours. Other than being a little irritable I am optimistic and happy. By the way I DO NOT have children and was tired of being asked if I was a mommy. I hope that any young people out there who have simply lost alot of weight find at least something useful or informative in my posts. I struggled to find cases similar to mine, so I thought I would share. Will keep you posted!

Updated on 7 Nov 2011:
Hi again, I forgot to mention that because my skin laxity was due solely to weight loss, I did not have to have any muscle tightening done. I have some strong abs under all this flabby skin I swear! I hear that is a major source of pain in tummy tucks. I had a breast augmentation in 2009, and it hurt WAY worse than this. I'm pretty sure that in a few weeks when I'm starting to heal up that I will be able to click that thumbs up and say that it was worth it!

Updated on 8 Nov 2011:
Hey everyone, so the local anesthetic wore off today and i am now feeling some pain. It is entirely bearable though. I even went to one of my classes today and lunch with my mom. Maybe I did a little too much. It's so hard for me to just lay in one place for hours on end! I'm a pretty active person most of the time so being a couch potato is not particularly appealing. I can't wait till I'm all healed and back to dancing and exercising. Throughout today the fluid in the drains has slowly faded from dark red to pinkish. That's a good thing. At a few points today it was almost clear but would go back to pink.
My abdomen feels tight and swollen right now. I knew that I wouldn't be able to sail through this thing so easily! One thing that I am concerned with is on my upper abdomen. When I briefly opened my binder to tighten it, I couldn't help but take a peek at the bandaged up tummy. At first glance I was like "what the hell?! Is that supposed to be my new belly button?" It's a weird little indent a few inches above my actual navel (which is bandaged right now). It is not my belly button, and so I'm wondering why the little dent is there. Hopefully it will go away with time.
I've been eating real food (not crackers and juice) and haven't had any problems with nausea or vomiting. Have not had a BM yet, but it sounds like my guts are moving around so that's a good sign.
I'm cleared to take a shower tomorrow, and that will be wonderful!
Thursday is my first post-operative appointment and I will update the pictures at that time.
Happy healing to all the new tummy tucks out there and good luck to those with upcoming procedures!

Updated on 9 Nov 2011:
Day 3 and I got to take off the bandages to shower. I took a few pics before re-applying gauze and tape so you could see how things are looking. Like I mentioned before, there is still this stupid dent thing above my bellybutton! It feels really firm, but above the dent it is kind of squishy. I guess I could live with it but am hoping it goes away with time. I don't appear to have any sutures or staples, just the steri-strips. I had a BM today (not that you want to hear about that, but constipation is a common problem postop). Pain is really light today. Last night I went to lift my legs up to get them situated on the couch and I must have twisted wrong or something. It felt like I ripped my incision. I felt hot, burning, sharp pain. I just sat there for a few moments and held my tummy. The pain did go away, but it reminded me to be more careful! Going to go to an hour-long class today so I don't get to far behind with school. Will keep you updated!

Updated on 10 Nov 2011:
Got one of my drains out today! So happy about that. I was expecting it to be really painful having the drain pulled out but it wasn't bad at all. Like other members have said, it is just an unusual feeling. I know this sounds gross, but I would describe it as something slithering out of you. With any luck I will have this second drain out by early next week. I have to have less than 25 cc drainage in a 24 hour period for a few days and then it can be removed. Usually, the right drain will drain more than the left because it is positioned lower and will gather all the fluid that naturally settles due to gravity. In regards to the dent above my navel, the nurse pretty much told me what I thought she would. Wait a few weeks for things to settle. So who knows. I've been really itchy today. That's one thing you may want to consider getting is some antihistamine allergy medication. It helps with the itching that some people experience when taking pain killers from the opioid family. Can't wait till I'm back to my regular routine again. Tummy doesn't look much different from yesterday, so I 'll wait until the second drain comes out to post pictures.

Updated on 11 Nov 2011:
SO bored!!! Ughhagrhhh.. Hate it. I want to go run around and have fun. This remaining drain is hardly doing anything so it needs to come out real soon. Just going a little crazy here

Updated on 11 Nov 2011:
I've been looking at my belly and am beginning to become a little disheartened by this dent. I think it will probably be permanent. :( when I suck in my tummy it is even more pronounced. It seriously looks like a belly button from a distance! Also this remaining drain is doing practically nothing and I'll have to keep it through the whole weekend. I want to pull it out myself!

Updated on 16 Nov 2011:
Hello!! Today is day 10 and the drains have been out for a few days and the bandages are gone. Feeling good, but am feeling a little pain throughout the day. The feeling in my abdomen is slowly returning and with sensation comes some pain. Have had trouble sleeping at night because it's hard to get comfortable and I am no longer taking prescription pain killers. I have been kind of naughty regarding following all post op instructions. Yesterday I couldn't resist dancing a little bit just to see what I could do. My range of movement is much smaller and my tummy feels really tight. But I can tell I'll eventually get back into it. I have also been sleeping on my side, which apparently you're not supposed to do for six weeks. Have not noted any adverse effects. Once the second drain was removed, the doctor's office instructed me to restrict my movement to only getting out of bed to use the bathroom for a few days. Not Happenin'. I have been going to classes all week and I've been just fine. Yesterday I saw my new belly button and am not quite in love with it yet. It looks very tiny. I've heard of a trick where you can put a clean marble into the new belly button to stretch it a little and make it nice and round. Has anyone done this or heard of it? Anyway, here is a new pic of the incision. It is healing up nicely. It is a little higher than I originally expected, but I am considering getting a tattoo over it if I'm not happy with it once everything has settled and healed. In the picture, you can see where the drains came out, they're the little dark holes. The other dark shape below the scar is a tattoo of a heart, not a result of surgery. As you can see, I still have all my stretch marks. Yep, you get to keep em'. woo hoo :s but that's ok. I can deal with those.
I forgot to mention how much weight I lost! At my heaviest I weighed 227 pounds! That's like a football player! It was awful. I got down to 112, but that wasn't at all managable, so I now weigh about 135 most of the time. Recently I have gained about 5 pounds due to a knee injury and then not moving around because of the tummy tuck hasn't helped either. It will come back off though. (i hope). Hmm.. what else.. I guess that's it for now.

Updated on 17 Nov 2011:
Oh no!! I have some fluid accumulation around and below my bellybutton!! I slept without wearing my binder last night and I think that is what has caused the fluid pocket. I will have to call the office tomorrow.. Hope they don't put a drain back in. Maybe they can aspirate it with a needle.

Updated on 18 Nov 2011:
Called the office today and let them know about the seroma I have going on. They just told me to keep the binder nice and snug and take it easy. SIGH.. Of course this has to happen when I'm planning on going to a hafla (bellydance party sort of thing). Was planning on taking off the binder for a couple hours and displaying my new tummy for the first time in bellydancer garb. Probably shouldn't now that I have the fluid buildup. Has anyone else had this? I can't tell if it's staying the same or getting worse. It's like my tummy is a little waterbed. You can see the rippling of fluid when I touch it. How long does this take to right itself without aspiration by a doctor? Lesson to be learned : Don't take off the darn binder until they say you can do so!! I am paying for it now. It's not real noticeable or serious, but definitely a setback. Hope everyone else is doing alright.

Updated on 23 Nov 2011:
the fluid pocket in my tummy seems to be getting worse. It's bringing me down a little. I think I may be going through some of the post-op depression that we hear about. Also, I am so jealous of everyone that says they have lost weight effortlessly after the tummy tuck! What the heck?! I'm getting heavier. Not being able to exercise is really not helping the situation. I feel like I am rapidly turning to flab. I did go hang out with my belly dance troupe last night though and that was really good for me to see my gypsies! Only one person in the group knew that I was having this done, and I assumed that she would let the rest of them know what was going on. But nobody knew and were surprised when I told them that I had surgery. They were all really supportive and happy for me. Now, if only I could hurry up and heal. GO AWAY FLUID!! grrr.. seems to be getting worse.

Updated on 26 Nov 2011:
Feeling better than the last post. Just got a little discouraged for awhile. I just tell myself that everything will straighten itself out and I'll be dancing again in no time! WOO HOO! Today i was looking at my new belly and am starting to love it even with the fluid accumulation.

Updated on 29 Nov 2011:
Went in for a post op appointment today. Dr. Hardy removed some of the fluid that i had. Wasn't too terrible. Pinched a little bit though. He said that he very rarely sees seromas in his patients. I was probably just a little too active for my own good. Oh well, it's not a big deal. If it continues to build up fluid, he might have to put a drain in. Let's hope that doesn't end up being necessary! I LOVE my plastic surgeon! He is wonderful. So nice. The last plastic surgeon I had was kind of a jerk, and when I came in approx two years after a breast augmentation unhappy with the results, he really didn't seem to care. If you're considering a cosmetic procedure, shop around a little. Make sure you click with them. I'm getting closer and closer to feeling almost normal now. Can't beleive it's already been three weeks. I'll post another photo when I reach 1 month postop. Thanks guys!

Updated on 29 Nov 2011:
just had the moment where you realize that your new body is actually real! Haha. I bet some of you know what I'm talkin about. I just put on a new bellydance costume and was looking in the mirror and kind of laughed out loud to myself. Squeal!! I have a flat belly!!! I can actually wear my pants and skirts low like most bellydancers do. That way it's much easier to see the moves. If anyone out there is hesitating to do this, I would have to say go for it if you want it. Worth it! I feel like my transformation journey is finally coming to an end. I lost alot of weight, and worked very hard at it. I deserve this. I used contract bonus money that I got from joining the Army to pay for this. I worked darn hard for that too! I remember towards the end of basic training my drill sargent poked my tummy and asked how I had managed to keep "that" all the way through basic training. I explained that it was loose skin and that it would never go away. I was so ashamed and embarrassed. Well never again! Stupid belly! You're gone! I am so grateful for everything. Never thought I'd be where I am now. Thank you Mom for everything. I love you! And thank you all the tummy tuck women on real self. You're all wonderful and it's been so cool to experience this with all of you. Well that was gushing silliness, but hey. =p Hope the rest of everyone with newly tucked tummies is doing good as well.

Updated on 5 Dec 2011:
At the one month mark now. It has really flown by. In a just 13 more days I should be able to lose the binder for good! Can't believe I'm so close. I do have a very small amount of fluid that has returned, and I'm hoping it doesn't continue to build up. If it does then I'll be back in the office on Friday. Guess we'll have to wait and see. Tummy is still pretty numb to the touch. I am curious to see how much sensation will return. My belly button is really firm right now, hoping that it will soften up and that the scar will fade. I have been applying bio oil each day for about a week now, perhaps that will help. I will ask my ps what he recommends to improve scars. Will be sure to put a new pic up soon. Thanks so much for the compliments everyone. =)

Updated on 7 Dec 2011:
Uh oh! I have another small problem. The very end of my incision on the left side is infected :( Not good. I will call the office today and see what they say. It has been really painful and tender to the touch in just one small spot for days now. I think it may be a stitch trying to poke through. Sorry TMI alert, this morning I applied a hot compress to it and squeezed a surprising amount of pus out of it. Hope everything is ok.

Updated on 13 Dec 2011:
A little ways past the five week mark now. A small amount of fluid has returned (mostly on the lower right side) but other than that things are going well. I don't think it's enough to need to be drained. At this point there isn't too much to update on really. I have really cut back on the amount of time that the binder is on and it generally feels fine. I still wear it occasionally if the belly starts to feel sore. Scar is just very red now. Looking pretty decent I suppose. I've noticed that when I work out now, my abdomen often gets a strange tingly sensation. The feeling is returning slowly, but it still feels slightly numb to the touch. Here's some pics of the scar

Updated on 2 Jan 2012:
Hello everyone. Hope the new year is going well for all. I'm at 8 weeks right now and everything is alright. My incision has opened up a tiny bit twice now. I'm not sure why. Not enough to go to the doc, but it got really flaky and red in two spots which then turned into small openings. The first one healed up within a week or so, and this new one seems to be healing up alright. Perhaps this has something to do with the stitches as well? Anyway, swelling is getting minimal, but sometimes I still have fluid stuck in that darn seroma pocket. I have gained almost 15 pounds since the tummy tuck! How is that even possible?! I'm getting back into a fitness routine and trying to eat right and have lost a couple pounds. I'm not too discouraged. Things take time. Will post new pics once this last little wound closes up.

Updated on 20 Feb 2012:
Wow time is flying by. Went to a checkup last week. The Dr. said he would fix my little dogear during an office visit if i wanted without charge. That's nice. One thing I didn't mention that happened in January: I had a tiny piece of folded over metal come out of my incision!! I was freaked out. It had kind of opened up in one of those spots and one morning a saw a little dark thing in the opening. I pressed on it and out popped the foreign piece of metal. It was very strange. I told my Dr. about this and he was pretty surprised too. It was a tiny surgical clamp that was used during surgery to control bleeding. I was told that these are often left behind and do not cause any problems. Well it caused a problem with me! Ick. Anyway, I'm pretty much all healed up now, but still can't shake this extra weight so I am not posting a new pic. Tummy still has weird sensations occasionally. Scar has not really lightened at all yet