Tummy Tuck: Stories

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The 2 Week Count Down! Can't Wait! - Rockville, MD

Its the most unusual feeling of being scared but...

  • 10 Jun 2010

Its the most unusual feeling of being scared but at the same time I can't wait for what I am scared of. I am posting before pictures as this is the first step in me walking in my freedom. Not even my loving and very caring boyfriend has seen me in this light but oO well here goes nothing. (see pictures) On June 24th I will be getting a full tummy tuck with lipo something I have wanted for years.

I am a mother of 3 boys the youngest of which is 13 and the oldest is 21.

I will post pictures as I have found them to be a great help so welcome to my journey. I have posted pictures of what I look like in clothes or my disguise as I like to call it because you would never know the horror that was underneath them. LOL

So here are my questions for the pros that have been through the tt

1. Should I try to lose any weight during this time?

2. What should I eat after surgery?

3. Is it unreasonable to believe that I can go back to work in 10 days?

June 17, 2010 OK so I woke up this morning...

  • 17 Jun 2010
June 17, 2010 OK so I woke up this morning thinking I am at my one week mark when I got a phone call from my doc's assistant asking if I would like to do it on Weds. instead of Thursday!!! Jumping up and down I said sure why not... So I am 6 days away from my big day can't wait!!!!

Ok so I am 13 days out and all I cam say is WOW...

  • 4 Jul 2010
Ok so I am 13 days out and all I cam say is WOW WOW I can't believe how smooth and painfree the recovery is Must have a high tolerance for pain or something but I was off pain meds by day 3 the only complaint is the emotional rollercoaster that I have been on I was feeling so well I was doing way to much so I still have my drai in and i have put myself bedrest because I want this thing out on Tuesday when I go back but right now I am still putting out to much fluid I have pictures but my computer charger is broken and icant upload pictures from my iPod so pictures coming soon. Thanks for all the well wishes this site has been a joy for me. Chat with you soon

July 7 I am felling GREAT! I am super pleased with...

  • 7 Jul 2010
July 7 I am felling GREAT! I am super pleased with my results so far I went to the doctor on Tuesday to see if he would take my drain out but he didn't but I went to work anyway I couldn't take another day in the house in the bed. So I am trying to get under 30cc's of drainage I did 30cc's in the last 24 hours so I hope he will take it out tomorrow. I didn't expect to have my drain in this long but its not a big bother only that I couldn't shower for so long until Tuesday when the doc told me to just go ahead a shower YEPPIE!!!!! it felt soooooooooooooo goood. Ok and now the moment of truth below i have posted my after pics of my jearnory along the way and hopefully I will post a picture tomorrow of me without the drain. *fingers crossed* and plus I am running out of things to wear to hide the drain LOL Ok enough chat here you go!

July 16 I am feeling great! This has changed my...

  • 16 Jul 2010
July 16 I am feeling great! This has changed my life! Well worth everything it took to get here!

If you are in the Washington, DC metro area and...

  • 27 Aug 2010
If you are in the Washington, DC metro area and are considering a tummy tuck if suggest you go and have a consult with Dr. T he is the greatest! I have posted new pics!


I am back in the gym and getting great results I...

  • 28 Mar 2011
I am back in the gym and getting great results I had gain back 15 lbs after surgery but I have lost 10 of those and well on my way to my goal weight of 130lbs still feeling great no set backs my scar is dark but I can live with that. See photos

Photo Update

  • 29 Mar 2011

2 YEARS POST OP AND FEELING GREAT! SEE PICS :-)

  • 15 Jul 2012
2 YEARS POST OP AND FEELING GREAT!

SEE PICS :-)
Great review?
Adam Tattelbaum, MD

My Doctor: Adam Tattelbaum, MD

My rating:

Doctor's Bedside Manner
Answered My Questions
After Care Follow-Up
Time Spent With Me
Phone or Email Responsiveness
Staff Professionalism & Courtesy
Payment Process
Wait Times

Dr. T Rockville, MD is the most amazing Dr. He made me feel 100% comfortable and confident his staff is great they treated me kind and with so much respect. I would recommend him to anyone!

Comments (96)

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Destined2B 12 Apr 2012
Hello again VAmum... I just replied to you on my page. I understand about the encouragement... you seen on my pics that my right hip is still a little more puffier than my left. I know my right hip was a little bigger than my left before the surgery but thought with the lipo he did that it wouldn't be an issue afterwards. I massage mind and put a compression garment on and it has gone down a little... just a little. I'm hoping it goes down much more so I don't have to have lipo again. I'm 5 weeks post op and still swollen so yours should go down more in the next few weeks...
VAmum 11 Apr 2012
I'm 10 days post op and I need some encouragement, I'm pretty swollen on the right side, where the drain is placed, did that happen to you. I've also been pretty swollen from day one, I'm not sure why cos, I'm pretty slim( just got a belly)
VAmum 11 Apr 2012
Maybe we should just ask for the steroids injection to be on the safe side.
Destined2B 22 Mar 2012
Yeah I dont think I ever want to be cut again, so i've already made up my mind that if it keloids it just does! I've been taking pictures and keeping a file to see my progress.
Destined2B 22 Mar 2012
Did you try the silicone strip? I'm thinking of trying it. I hear you about the reminder too! Thanks ms lady!
blackbutterfly 22 Mar 2012
Nope I didn't use anything I wish I would have but he said now its too late the only solution is to cut it off and start over but this time do steroid injection to stop the keloid...ahhhhh NO THANKS :---) your welcome and good luck dont forget to take pictures if only for yourself so you can really see the difference
Destined2B 22 Mar 2012
Ok, yeah Dr. T told me that I could walk but don't be out there trying to do powerwalks (lol). I just had my drains taken out two days ago. He said that I could switch to something like spanx when I go to work next week then put the compression band back on when I get home from work. Your pics are FABULOUS! I'm really hoping my results turn out as good as yours! I'm African American also so he was worried about keloids but I haven't seen any signs so hopefully it won't keloid. I really wish this swelling would just go away!
blackbutterfly 22 Mar 2012
Thanks so much

By the way I do have a BIG keloid scar hip to hip but I am still happy for my results he put the scar low that when I wear my bikini you can't even see it. I went to him a few weeks ago to see about having it removed but I decided to just live with it. :-) its a reminder of were I came from and that I don't want to get that big again
blackbutterfly 22 Mar 2012
I wore the compression garment for about 3 weeks that's how long it took to get my drains out BECAUSE I was at the track WALKING on day 5 post op LOL Big Mistake. Dr. T told me that feeling good so some is a gift and a curse because you think you can do more then you should do. Finally after 3 weeks with drains in I went to spanx. Take is easy with your walking :-)
Destined2B 22 Mar 2012
Thanks for the encouragement! How long did you wear your binder and did you switch to a compression garment or spanx? I think i'm going to start walking a little more also...
Destined2B 21 Mar 2012
OMG! You look great! Dr. T just did mine also. I had a full TT with flank and back lipo. I'm 2 weeks post op as of today. My stomach and hips are swollen... did your's swell? If so, how long did it take for your swelling to go down? Maybe it's the swelling that's discouraging me, especially when my 16yr old son told me that I look the same before I had it done (I went to the bathroom and nearly drowned myself in tears). I see a little difference and hoping as the weeks go by i'll singing "happy happy joy joy"... plus I know to stay away from a lot of salt also.
blackbutterfly 22 Mar 2012
Congrats :-) Don't let the swelling discourage you, mines took about 2 months to go down. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to get the results I did and when in my first 2 weeks my boyfriend told me the same thing :-( (MEN) GO FIGURE! Look at my pictures and you can see what I looked like and you can see I was pretty swollen and it just slowly but surely went down. I am actually bigger now then I was right after surgery...But I am smaller in my waist but I have jeans that I purchase that I can't get one leg in right now...LOL I don't let it get to me I just watch what I eat and stay in the gym I am happy and that's all that matter. focus on making you happy after all you are Destined2b :-) Keep me posted on your porgress
VAmum 11 Mar 2012
Hello, I am using dr T too, my surgery is April 6th, I'm so nervous. I just joined this forum. I pray it works great. I'm AA and just finally convinced my husband, I'll have my mom watch my kids. Thanks for sharing your journey .
blackbutterfly 22 Mar 2012
Congrats on your upcoming surgery, you will do fine and you will feel great. I remember waking up after surgery and feeling like a million bucks :-) it was the best rest I had gotten in a long time. LOL Its great that you have help I think that is going to be key because at first you wont be able to get up to feed yourself and you also need motivation to get up and walk every 2 hours. Good luck and keep me posted :-)
Here I am 7 Mar 2012
You look awesome!!!
blackbutterfly 22 Mar 2012
THanks :-)
Getting ME back 1 Mar 2012
I have my Consultatio with him next week... Thanks for all these post to help ease the fears.
blackbutterfly 22 Mar 2012
He is great he will ease your fears much more. He has great bed side manners unlike any doc I have been to see in years
Airyanna00 24 Feb 2012
Thanks, and I'm sure I will bug you after surgery lol.. That is great that you kept the weight off, I think this will be my confidence boost to work out and eat healthy cause when I did it before of course my stomach wouldn't go anywhere! But I will kept you updated and let you how things are..thanks so much!
helenes transformation 24 Feb 2012
I used Dr. T too! he is the BEST!!
blackbutterfly 22 Mar 2012
Yes I love me some him :-) Just went to see him 2 years post op :-)
Airyanna00 24 Feb 2012
Hey blackbutterfly, I am getting a tummy tuck with lipo of the flanks Feb 29 and using the same PS. I have to say you look amazing and that gives me soooo much more confidence in Dr T. The funny thing is I have that same rash on my stomach. I am actually allergic to Nickel. I'm am sooo nervous about this but I think I am prepared for the pain. Thanks for all the updates and pics and I'm glad to see you are doing good!!!
blackbutterfly 24 Feb 2012
Congrats Airyanna you are in great hands with Dr. T he is the best. Make sure you have someone to stay with you the first few days and you will be fine. I was off the pain meds by day 2 or 3. I just went in to see Dr. T and she was very happy to see that I had kept it up, most people gain the weight back after the first year or so. I am excited for you and know that you will be very happy with your results. Please keep me posted. :-) and Good Luck :-)
blackbutterfly 21 Feb 2012
LOL ok no problem :-)
msbeas 21 Feb 2012
Thank u, I appreciate it bcus I'm going to bug u do please b patient w me, the closer my date get the more questions I have do thanks for being do helpful

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