Tummy Tuck: Stories

I have been thinking about having tummy tuck surgery for a few years now. My biological son is 20 years old and he did a number on my stomach since I was so small when I got pregnant (5ft tall 89lbs) and he was so big (8lbs. 1oz) for my body. Although I have stretch marks and a c-section scar, they have never bothered as much as my stomach hanging down does; which I call "FLUB)". It seems like the older I get the further south it goes. I know me being about 55lbs heavier than I was back then contributes to it.

I actually scheduled a date to have the TT surgery last year but decided the money would be better spent on renovations to my house so I cancelled the surgery. Now here I am a year later. The renovations have been done and the TT surgery is still on my mind every day. With that being said, I have decided that I am going to get the surgery done this year on my birthday. I will be 44 years old in a couple of months and I realized there is never going to be a perfect time for me to do it. Life is too short so I need to do things that I want to do while can.

Some people think that my stomach is not that bad and that I dont need the surgery They just don't understand how much it really bothers me. I don't like the way my clothes fit and the fact that I can't wear certain things or that I buy clothes to accommodate my stomach. I am so done with spending money on under garments to hold my stomach in. I have also tried real hard to not let these things affect my self confidence and I think I've done a good job with that.

Thank goodness for this site because I have been able read about others people 's TT experiences, get answers to some of my concerns and get a better understanding of what to expect. It's also good to be able be interact with people who can relate and understand why I want to have this surgery.

I am planning to have the surgery done on November 1st but I have not scheduled it yet. I did call the plastic surgeon's office a several weeks ago to see if that date was available and it was. Hopefully the date will still be available when I am ready to schedule the surgery.

I am also beginning to get a little nervous having the surgery because I am not married or in a relationship and I don't really have anyone to take care of me after the surgery. I'm also not used to depending on anyone to do things for me and not feeling confident that my friends who said they would take care of me actually will. The few family members that I do have don't live in the same state as me. My other concern is that I won't be able to be return to work after 10 days. It seems that many of the posts that I have read the recovery seems to be longer than that. I have a desk job and hopefully I will be able to return to work as planned.

Ok that's all for now. Good luck to all who are scheduled for TT surgery in the future and I wish an easy and speedy recovery to all who have already had the surgery. Thank you for sharing your experiences!!

I was just saying yesterday that I need to find out if the date I picked to have my TT surgery is still available and today I got a call from the PS office to follow up. That's so crazy! The patient coordinator informed me that they already have 2 surgeries scheduled for that day and that I need to put down the deposit soon or the date may not be available. She did make a note on her calendar but if someone wants that date she wouldn't be able to hold it for me without the deposit. I guess I'd better stop playing around and schedule the surgery. I will probably do that tomorrow and then the count down will begin!

It's official...My TT surgery is scheduled for November 1st!! My pre-op appointment is on October 8th but I think I need to push that back a week since the balance is due at that time. I'm not feeling as anxious about the surgery today. I actually feel kind of numb. It may be because I have been wanting this for so long and I can't believe I am really going to get it done. November 1st seems so far away but it will be here before I know it. Can't wait!!

Pre-op appointment is now scheduled for October 17th. 48 more days and flub will be gone!! :)

4 weeks from now I will be having my TT surgery. I thought I would be brave an upload some pictures. LHM! I can't believe I did that. Can't wait until I'm on the flat side.

The funds have been transferred. OMG!! I guess this is really going to happen. LOL It just seems so unreal. Still feeling kind of numb and I question my decision to spend all this money on this surgery sometimes. Then I look in the mirror and come to my senses and say just do it already and get it over with. I also haven't started buying the things that I will need. Should I buy them now or wait until it gets closer to the surgery date? I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm just all over the place today. 25 days and counting...

I am getting excited now! I had my pre-op appointment today. I took the pre-op pictures and consulted with my PS surgeon again. He once again showed me what he is going do, the places he is going to lipo and reassured me that he will make my incision as low as possible. YEEEAAAHHH! I also told him that I would like my incision to be as straight and even as possible and a nice belly button. :) I hope it all turns out well. I now have all my pre-op /post-op information and prescriptions. I got all my questions answered and I am at ease. I guess the nerves will kick in a day or two before the surgery. I will start picking up my supplies this weekend. Oh Boy! Is this really going to happen? Yes it is! OMG...I am finally going to get rid of the FLUB!! 2 more weeks and I will be on the flat side!!

I am almost ready...I picked up most of my supplies today and yesterday. I filled all my presciptions. I started taking the vitamins my PS recommended. I am getting everything in order at work. The only thing that is pending is what time my surgery is going to be done. I hope they will be able to tell a definite time by next Wednesday. I have a few friends on standby to drive to the PS office the day of my surgery. It's really hard to plan when you don't have a time and that is frustrating because I'm a planner. I like to have things in order. My friend who lives in MD will meet me there, wait for me and then drive me back home to VA. My daughter will be coming from NYC to take care of me for the first 4 days. I should be OK to take care of myself by the time she leaves. My son is here with me as well but he's a boy and he's 20 so....need I say more. LOL

This time next week I will be heading to my PS office to get the Flub removed! Woohoo! Still not feeling much. I'm not nervous, scared or excited but I am prepared. Is that normal? However I am excited about my latest Craigslist find... A shower chair $10! In perfect condition and looks new. Of course I will bleach it to death. Lol just glad I didn't have to spend a bunch of money on something I'm only going to use for a week. I love Craigslist! Happy healing ladies and good luck to all who are having surgery this week.

Well I am finally starting to feel something. I'm in the "what the heck am I doing phase". There is no turning back but the nerves are kicking in. I've also turned into an emotional mess. I had a breakdown because I asked a friend if she had any magazines she could bring me and she said absolutely! Lol. Also, I finally got my surgery time. It will at 8 am-the first surgery of the day. I have to be there at 730 am. I'm ok with but my friend that is supposed to meet me there said she won't be able to meet me there at that time but will be there when I wake up. I guess I will be ok but I was really hoping she could be there with me the whole time. :( Today I will go grocery shopping so there is food in the house and to get the things I will need (I.E. ginger ale, crackers, soup, milk, jello, apple sauce, etc). I will also be cleaning this week so in not running around doing anything next week. That's it for now....later!

I can't believe my day is here! I was so busy yesterday that I had no time get on the site! I worked from 630am-8pm just making sure I took care of everything there. My daughter finally made it here from NYC so I am happy about that because I thought I was going to have to rely on my son to take care of me for the first few days. Well I'm about to try and get some rest before my big day. I don't think I will be able to sleep though. I am still not really feeling much of anything, which is surprising but there is always tomorrow. My surgery has been pushed back until 10am and I now have to be there at 9am - still the first surgery of the day.

As far as I can tell everything went very well. The anesthesia had me out all day yesterday. I finally starting waking up around 12am this morning. Still not feeling much pain. The hard part is getting in & out of the bed. I've been staying on track with the meds so I guess that helps as well as the fact that I think they numbed me up real good during the surgery. I might feel more pain when it starts wearing off. I just ate some jello and not feeling nauseous at this time. I also walked around the house a bit this morning and will try to that every two hours. My drains are ok and not draining a whole bunch. Hopefully the PS will remove them when I go for my post-op appt. on Monday. The only thing that did happen is I started bleeding from the lipo holes and that was a little scary. I am definitely on the flat side!!!

So far so good. No complications and not in too much pain. I would say its about a 3 when i get in and out of bed or walk around. I been staying on top of my pain meds. Taking them every 4-5 hrs. Yesterday I started taking the Percocet at night and Tylenol during the day. I still haven't had a BM yet so hopefully alternating the pain meds will help. I'm taking milk of magnesia and drinking water but its just making me gassy. Lol. My biggest complaints is the binder, its killing me. It's so tight and just need scratch underneath it. Just need a few minutes of relief from it. Lol Also much of nothing is coming out of my drains anymore so I think they will be removed tomorrow. That will good because they pinch a little. Looking forward to seeing my new flat tummy tomorrow as well. Will keep you posted. Happy healing to those who are recovering and good luck to those who are having surgery this week.

I had my post-op appointment today and I got a first look. OMG! I am flat and sooo happy with my scar! PS said everything is looking good and that my drains can probably come out on Wednesday. It felt so good when they took that damn CG off...Whew what relief! LOL I can now shower and take the CG off then and when I need periods of relief. They also pulled it down to cover my hips so that is also much more confortable. They gave me a new CG so I can wash one while I wear the other one, I must say everything is going much better than I expected. No real pain so I have not taken Percocet today only Tylenol and that seems to be working for me. Just a little burn or a pinch here and there. My appetite is still off so I just try to eat whateva I feel I can tolerate. Mostly Jello, Bananas, Pears and PB &J. Surprisingly I did feel like Chinese food last night so I was able to eat a little of that. Oh and I had my BM first yesterday and I hope thats back on track. Also, my daughter went back to NYC so I am pretty much on my own. She was awesome and so very helpful to me but I think I will be OK since I am able to get in and out of bed, walk around, and up and down the stairs by myself. Still getting tired real easy though. Now I'm just chillin...I had a nice shower and watching TV. I will probably go to sleep soon. I have been able sleep on my side a little so that's good. Check out the First Look Pic I posted. Until next time...

Post op days 5 & 6 I was just not feeling good. Not in pain or anything just not feeling good. Then I figured it out. I was dehydrated. Gatorade helped! My appetite has been off and still is. I have been trying to eat whatever I can tolerated which is not much. Lol. I have been trying hard to stay away from salty things because that's my weakness. However, it was potato chips that has jump started my appetite. It's slowly coming back. Well I made it past the 1 week mark and today I felt really good. Still trying not to cough, sneeze or laugh. I sneezed the other day and it felt like my entire stomach had busted open on the inside. It took me 15 minutes to gain my composure and then i had to take nap. Ladies you don't want to do that! Lol. Today I had my drains removed. PS said all looks good and that I can drive and go back to work on Monday. He also said that I am way ahead of the healing process than most people are at this point. Woohoo! Seriously, I'm really thankful for that . I still have long road ahead but I thought it was going to be a lot worse. So far still no real issues other than soreness from the lipo and MR. Oh and occasional muscle spasms in the abdomen and back. Valium works very well for that. I am still not standing 100% straight yet but almost there. Don't want to have to do too much explaining at work. Only a chosen few know. Everything is still very tight. PS says I'm swollen but I can't really see it. Dang...what am I going to to look like when the swelling is gone. : ). He says I can also start putting vitamin E and Cocoa butter on my scar. Please send me any scar therapy suggestions that have worked for you. I will try to post after bikini pics this weekend. Take care all and I hope that everyone who is not feeling well, experiencing complications or slow healing feel better real soon.

I made it through the first week of work but it was tough because I was exhausted by the end of the day. i guess i got used to napping during the day. lol Still walking slow and about 98% upright. So a few people at work asked was i ok since i was walking so gingerly. Just said my back was bothering me. Lol. Other than that ive been ok. Still no problems, excessive swelling or pain except being sore to the touch on my MR and lipo areas and im healing nicely. Since i get tired easy i just don't over do it and i sm following PS orders to the "T" which definitely helps with the healing process. I only have to wear my CG durung the day now but cant wait until im done with that thing. Oh one fhing thst is strange though is my appetite is still off. I have no desire to eat anything nor do I feel hungry ever. I am basically forcing myself to eat whatever i think i can tolerate. I must say this has been easier than expected. Just can't wait to feel100% myself again. I hope everyone is doing well. Until next time....

Everyday gets better but I'm still walking slow and not 100% upright yet. Work is getting easier but I'm still tired at the end of the day. My appetite is still off. Bad thing is I have to force myself to eat because I have no taste for anything. So I eat what I think I can tolerate. Therefore, I am not eating a healthy diet. The good thing is I have lost 10 lbs.

I had my 3rd post op appt on Monday. PS said everything looks great and I'm healing well. I don't have to wear that damn CG anymore and he didn't recommended that I switch to anything else. However, I have been wearing my support panties because they feel comfortable since my tummy and back is still sore and feels weird when shirts rub up against it. The only other thing he told me do was continue to massage my incision with the vitamin e cocoa butter oil and come back to see him in 6 weeks. Oh and I can resume regular activities as soon as I feel up to it. Although this is a long healing process. It has not been as bad as thought it was going to be. Overall, i am very happy with my outcome. Is my scar perfect?NO!...the right side goes up a little higher than the left side but i dont care because i look good! :) I can't wait until I can wear heels again, form fitting clothes snd i am able to switch. Lol. Ladies please try to be patient with the healing process and embrace and love your new body!!

Things are going well. Still a little sore to the touch and i am starting to get feeling back on my stomach. Not as numb and my incision is a little itchy but healing nicely. im still moving slow but i think im finally standing up straight. Getting up going to work is getting easier as well. I'm not a fatigued. However, i still have no appetite whatsoever. I never feel hungry. It's the weirdest thing ever!

This weekend I attended my first event since the surgery, a Christmas party! It was nice to get out and dress up. Oh and to fit into something that I couldn't fit into before. Yes! So exciting! However my friend insisted that I get on the dance floor with her and against my better judgement I did and tried to move as much as I possibly could but boy oh boy did I regret that. Lol. I was so sore the next day. Anyway the party was fun! I posted a new pic. My first with clothes on.

I hope everyone is doing well and for those of you who are having some issues I hope they get better soon. Take care!