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POSTED UNDER Tummy Tuck REVIEWS

June 3 and Each Day is Better - Newport Beach, CA

ORIGINAL POST

Hey Everybody! All your posts have been so helpful...

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AraMinnaMay 18, 2011
WORTH IT$13,000

Hey Everybody! All your posts have been so helpful so I have decided to chronicle my own journey, which will hopefully help someone else with hers.

I am a 43 yo mom of two teenagers. My body never bounced back from having children quite to where I wanted it to be. I saw a PS for a TT consult and he didn't think my tummy warranted one, but suggested liposuction instead. I had my inner and outer thighs and tummy suctioned. BIG MISTAKE! I have yo-yo'ed 10 pounds here and there since then and the fat comes in places you don't want or never have had and leaves God knows where. One day at the beach, my little girl said, "Mommy! You have 6 boobs! Two in the front and 4 in the back!" Ugh... Why did I do this to myself???

I made a vow to get into fitness and stop the yo-yo ride. I've been good for about 5 years. As I have gotten older, my skin has weakened and the area that was liposuctioned looks like pudding. My belly button is an upside-down smile! :( Nothing I do makes the floppy skin on my belly go away, so....I'm goin' for it!

Surgery is paid in full and I am scheduled to get my pre-baby tummy back for the first time in 17 years!

Will keep posting throughout the journey. :D

Replies (0)

UPDATED FROM AraMinna
16 days pre

Okay...here are a couple of BEFORE pics. I could...

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AraMinnaMay 18, 2011
Okay...here are a couple of BEFORE pics. I could put my tummy on a plate, or make a puppet out of it!

Replies (8)

juliahd
May 18, 2011
I wish you the very best. Like you nothing I do corrects the :( belly button. I will have this done, but as a single woman I am concerned about post opt home care and that makes me :(
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littleolwinedrinkerme
May 18, 2011
hi i just had a tummy tuck, with lipo, muscle repair and a hernia fixed, my hubby was supposed to be home for the first three days to look after me but his schedule changed and he had to go away a couple of days before my surgery..(he works six weeks on and six weeks off)there was no way i was going to cancel so just made sure i had everything i needed, meals in freezer, things out of cuboards i would need,i looked around the downstairs of my house and imagined what i would not be able to do if i was disabled and prepared as much as i could. iwas very worried about coming home by myself, but do you know what i managed, its amazing how resourceful you become, although sometimes very frustrating and lonely, but i kept telling myself you are doing this for you and this is not going to last forever..everyday you will feel better..i am so glad i didnt postpone as i would still be waiting and worrying, oh and hubby is home next week to his new woman! good luck .
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AraMinna
May 18, 2011
Hi Fayetteville! (I'm from NC originally) My husband is a PS and I work in his practice, so I am a little familiar with post op period. I have to be with a nurse for two days after, which is $600/day. I think you could have a good friend or family member stay with you for a few days and LittleO had a great suggestion to get most things done ahead of time. I bet you could pull it off so your BB could be :D again!
Owings
May 18, 2011
I'm 13 wks post op ... Love it! Had 4kids incl a Csection ... Recovery isn't easy but not the end of the world.. jus be a good girl and do as Dr says! Good luck to u! Sexy tummy soon to come !
Orillia
May 19, 2011
I am 61 and had 5 children.I had my TT 2months ago. What is one thing I would do differently if doing it again? Absolutely take it easy for at least 2 weeks. I felt I didn't need all the help that was available to me because I am independent. I went to my sister's to recover and bond but did little things during the day while she worked (load and unload the dishwasher). Reaching for things I should not have reached for. Get a pair of cooking tongs or a back scratcher to reach for things because it is hard bending over and I seemed to drop everything. Good luck! All that skin will be gone. REST REST REST.
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AraMinna
May 19, 2011
Thanks for the advice! :D
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Faith22
May 19, 2011
You are going to look amazing. I like your sense of humor about your belly. Stay positive and brave. Laughter is good medicine. From my personal perspective at 5 weeks post op TT its been very worth it.
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Angie_M
May 19, 2011

So excited for you! "Put my tummy on a plate". Ha ha! Thanks for posting your story and photos. It will, for sure, help other women who come here for information and support! Can't wait to see what you look like after.

UPDATED FROM AraMinna
4 days pre

I'm on the final countdown! Four more days...

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AraMinnaMay 30, 2011
I'm on the final countdown! Four more days 'till bye bye belly. I am feeling excited and trepidatious at the same time. This week will be spent making meals to pull out of the freezer next week, wrapping up my work load and getting some rest.

Replies (4)

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Gypsy Girl
May 31, 2011
Good luck to you! Tomorrow is my BIG day!!
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littleolwinedrinkerme
May 31, 2011
good luck gypsy girl keep us posted how you are doing.
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sommiebreezie
May 31, 2011
hahaha...your hilarious. I hear you on the sad belly..my belly looks the same damn way, and its hideous...not gonna lie. Nakie Im a hot mess, but my arms are buff LOL So exciting your almost there, I am on the 6th and the time couldnt pass any faster. Good luck to you girl, and may you have a safe and fast recovery...post some pics of your post surgery, I am dyin to see how it turned out :)
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AraMinna
June 2, 2011
Well...tomorrow is "prep" day. Bowel prep, that is. I have to drink a bottle of mag citrate at 7am and my physician husband just informed me that his patients overwhelmingly report this is hell. I had a ballroom dance lesson scheduled for tomorrow, but cancelled it because I don't think my teacher wants to join me in that kind of cha-cha!

Anyhoo...apparently I have to do this so my doc can "pull me real tight!"

The nurse who I am spending two nights with called me and gave me the low-down on what I need to pack and bring with me (don't forget the check!) on Friday. She said I needed to get a MUMU from WalMart!!! I begged to bring sweats and a zip up hoodie and she nixed that one. I just couldn't do the MUMU thing (like, I think I would get kinda bummed out post-op if I happened to catch a glimpse of myself in a MUMU!) so I went to Loehman's and ponied up $25 for a black button-down swim coverup. It's comfy and kinda...cute.

Oh, I really am dreading this bowel prep! Upside down volcano (a term coined by my funny little daughter)!
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