Tummy Tuck: Stories

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6 wks. PO / first after pic.

First of all, I just want to thank all of you...

  • 1 Jan 2013
  • 1 month pre

First of all, I just want to thank all of you beautiful ladies for sharing your amazing stories. This site has been a true godsend to me. I am 38 years old with 3 beautiful boys (18, 13, & 6). All of the damage to my tummy was done with my first born. I was twenty, so I never really got to enjoy my body. I got terrible stretch marks, and needles to say a two piece was never worn again. I have been at a pretty average weight my whole life. Sometimes I go up 10lbs or down 10lbs. I'm not a skinny girl either though. I like to call my self a curvy girl. ;-) I am 5'3" and 145 lbs. I would like to loose 10 pounds before my surgery in 7 weeks. I will be hitting the gym hard. When I was a baby I had a little stomach issue called Pyloric Stenosis. It left about a 3" scar on the upper right side of my abdomen. I also had my gallbladder removed at the age of 21. They unfortunately had to do the open surgery that left about a 7" scar on my upper right abdomen. Ugh! Right? I look like a road map! I am sooooo ready for this. Thank goodness I have a wonderful hubby who loves me just the way I am. One of the four PS's I saw for a consult said he didn't think I was a good candidate for the TT. The other three said, it would be fine. Of course this makes me very nervous. I don't want to settle or compromise for my results. It's all or nothing... Good luck to all of you!!!

Okay. I love looking at all of these amazing...

  • 10 Jan 2013
  • 1 month pre
Okay. I love looking at all of these amazing stories, but some of them aren't so wonderful. I guess it is good to read the good and the bad, but frankly it scares the heck out of me. Necrosis??? That is really scary stuff. I have just read some terrifying reviews on that. I can only PRAY that doesn't happen to me. One of the PS's I saw said that I am at a higher risk for this because of my previous abdominal surgeries. My PS that is doing my TT isn't concerned at all. He is confident there shouldn't be a problem since my surgeries were so long ago. I am getting really nervous and excited. Only 6 more weeks! Yay! Good luck to all of you ladies who's surgeries are coming up, and to those of you who are recovering. :-)

Paid in full. Got recliner. Pre-Op in a week. This...

  • 2 Feb 2013
  • 19 days pre
Paid in full. Got recliner. Pre-Op in a week. This girl is ready and nervous. :-/ Thank goodness I'm having lipo on the hips and thighs too. Looking at these pics just makes me cringe. :( I hope all of you beautiful ladies recovering are doing well, and I hope all you anxious ladies that are waiting survive the wait. Trust me, the waiting is killing me too. :) Good luck to all of you!!!

Had my pre-op today. BP was a little high....

  • 11 Feb 2013
  • 10 days pre
Had my pre-op today. BP was a little high. Probably from reading & signing all of the consent forms. Not exactly thrilled about reading all of the worst case scenarios. Trying not to think about all the bad stuff that could happen is easier said than done right? Any ways, got my prescriptions and doctor took my before pics. I'm all set now. Just have to wait for the big day... Happy healing to all of you. :-)

Well, I can't believe it's finally almost my turn....

  • 18 Feb 2013
  • 3 days pre
Well, I can't believe it's finally almost my turn. I think I have everything all dialed in. My husband is amazing. He keeps telling me to just relax and breathe, he will take good care of me... I wish I could just do that. There are so many emotions already, and I haven't even had it done yet. Scared, Nervous, Worried, Excited and Anxious. I'm sure many of you have felt the same way right? Okay, not that this is going to change anything, but I'm just really curious. I know some of you have had your TT in a hospital and stayed the night. Many of you have had your TT in an outpatient facility and went home the same day (like I will be doing). Were you okay going home right away? Do you wish you could have stayed overnight in a hospital just in case there was a complication? I think this is my biggest worry. I'm sure I will be fine, but I know that a hospital is well equipped if a life threatening problem arises. Like I said, there isn't anything I can do about it now. I guess I'm just once again looking for a little reassurance. :-)
Happy Healing to All!!!

6 day op started getting a strange pain in my...

  • 2 Mar 2013
  • 9 days post
6 day op started getting a strange pain in my right shoulder blade. By day 7 it was traveling down the right side of my back. It hurt to take a deep breath in. I saw my PS. Had a drain removed and told him about the pain I was experiencing. He assured me it was nothing. 4 hours later I drove myself to the ER because the pain was getting worse. They ran labs, X-ray, and CT scan. They confirmed I had a pulmonary embolism and admitted me to the hospital right away. I now have been getting shots in my tummy to break up the clot. I also have to be put on Coumadin for six months. This has been the scariest thing in the world to me. I should have never put myself at this kind of risk with 3 kids and a husband who need me. I'm very lucky it was caught so early. Many others aren't so fortunate...

Only pic I have taken so far. Waiting to get a...

  • 4 Apr 2013
  • 2 months post
Only pic I have taken so far. Waiting to get a spray tan because I am so pasty. Lol! I feel great and I am very pleased with my results. I still won't ever say it was worth it, considering all I have been through. Just so happy to be alive and here with my amazing husband and beautiful boys. :-)

Great review?

Donald W. Hause, MD

My Doctor: Donald W. Hause, 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
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Referred by a few girlfriends.

Comments (48)

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Anewmesoon 5 Apr 2013
You look great! So glad you are ok!
reannapartyof7 5 Apr 2013
I am so glad your feeling better, I read your post and was so worried about you! I had just went through mine and was saying omg what did I do, but like I said Im really glad all is well! You do look beautiful relax and your self you really deserve it!
Lacey3 5 Apr 2013
Thank God you listened to your body and went to the ER! I would have given that Dr. no stars!! You look awesome now, and hope you don't regret it! Enjoy your summer! :)
1hotway 5 Apr 2013
Thank you!!!
kc820 18 Mar 2013
I'm so sorry your going through all this. I was thinking of getting boobs done next year, but I changed my mind. The pain we go through and not being able to tend to our family like we should is really hard. I hope you get better soon.
Jus418 2 Mar 2013
Omg! I went through the exact same thing with the difference that my ps actually sent me to the ER. I too feel the same way as you do if I knew I would end up with bilateral pulmonary embolism I would not have done it. I'm on Coumadin for 6 month. I have 2 months to go and I have gone through so many dr's appts that I'm tired of hospitals. I hope you're feeling better. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
1hotway 2 Mar 2013
Thank you so much. I've noticed that the risk is much greater than I thought. This has been my biggest fear in getting this surgery. I felt confident with all of the precautions that were taken during and after the surgery but clearly it wasn't enough. I tried to be mobile, I had a shot of heparin right before the surgery, they used the leg squeezers on me too. Obviously it was just out of my control. I will never have an elective surgery again. The risk is just way to great...
Geneticjinx15 2 Mar 2013
Oh My Gosh! I am so sorry you are going through that! Please update us when you are home safely. I will pray for you and send good thoughts.
Drab2Fab 2 Mar 2013
So sorry that you are experiencing this! Glad you followed your gut instincts and went to the hospital. Just take it easy and hope you have a speedy recovery!
Happymommy282625 2 Mar 2013
Omg, I'm so sorry to hear that, my thoughts and prayers are with you and hopefully this will be the only bump in the road!!!!! Feel better.
Finally3kids 2 Mar 2013
I'm so sorry to hear that...good for you for trusting your instincts and driving yourself to the hospital. Please don't beat yourself up about it, it is WAY beyond your control. Please take care and keep us updated.
Anewmesoon 2 Mar 2013
You are living through what I'm scared the most about (surgery in April for me) I'm so glad you are okay. My eyes are filling with tears thinking about what you went through :( I'm sooo glad you caught it and trusted your instincts!!!!! Take good care
Chicago6889 2 Mar 2013
OMG, this is very scary. I am PO day 3 and I am still very afraid of this. Did you walk a lot and wear compression socks?
QTMOMMY 2 Mar 2013
yeah that's great question ... i too am very sorry that you have had to deal with this ... i have so much gas pain i would have dismissed it as that .... so glad you had the insight to seek a second opinion ... Happy Healing hun bty.. did you walk and/or wear compression socks?
threeboys 2 Mar 2013
How scary!!! I'm so glad you caught it. Hopefully it will be worth it in the end
Finally3kids 23 Feb 2013
How are you doing? We were "surgery twins" and my pain is substantially less than Thursday. I, however, have the worst nausea and can't keep anything down..uhh!
1hotway 24 Feb 2013
Hi, I just wrote on your wall. I'm sorry to hear you are so nauseous. I still am a little too. Did you get the patch behind your ear? I think it helps a little, but it gives me the worst cotton mouth. I'm glad to hear your pain isn't to bad. I expected it to be a lot worse than it is. Are you happy with your results so far? I haven't looked to hard at my belly, but I think it looks better than it did. I'm so glad we can talk and compare, since we are both going through the same thing at the same time. Take care!!! Happy Healing to you!!!
Finally3kids 24 Feb 2013
I totally agree about the pain. A lot less than expected for sure (the pain meds help too), but I've been spacing those out more and more. My nausea is much better today, thankfully and I'm finally able to keep some stuff down. I didn't get the patch behind my ear, maybe that would have helped. I haven't looked AT&T stomach either. I have the compression garment on which I can't take off until I go in for my follow up tomorrow. Can't wait to see! Do you have the compression garment on?
1hotway 24 Feb 2013
No my doctor doesn't use CGs. I had a catheter in the first day and had to go back Friday morning to get it removed. That was actually kinda nice because they pumped me up with so many fluids, that getting up to go pee every half hour would have really sucked. I do have a little wrap around my tummy that is holding the two grenade drains. That's what my hubby calls them (grenades) Lol! Do you have a pain pump? I have never been on this many drugs before. Vicodin, muscle relaxer, sleeping pills, antibiotic, and the patch behind my ear. They had me put the patch on the night before surgery. It does make me feel a little loopy, but at least I'm not throwing up. I have almost fainted a few times though. Had to lay down with my feet in the air. So when I went in Friday I got to see my tummy. I have to say my BB is ugly as all hell, but I'm very swollen, so I will just give some time. My incision is very low and pretty straight , so that makes me happy. I can't wait to see your results. I will post some pics when my drains come out. Take care!!!
Finally3kids 24 Feb 2013
Oh yes, can't wait to see your pics! I know I'm still swollen, but I'm up 8 lbs from the morning of surgery! My husband tells me to stop stressing that it's like having a baby, when you lose weight slowly. I wasn't going in to lose weight, as I was pretty happy beforehand, but certainly didnt want to gain! Haha.. Sure it will be okay. I know what you mean about the meds though..feel like I have a constant vodka buzz..not the worst feeling in the world. Post some pics when you can. Glad you're doing well!
Poohdora29 21 Feb 2013
Yay! Get lots of rest. Cant wait to see. :)
Lornadoone 21 Feb 2013
Congrats!! I just had my TT & arm lift yesterday. And, I feel like you. Sore, but not that bad at all. Hoping I'm already passed the worst.
sdcg 21 Feb 2013
I am also having the surgery in an outpatient facility and it makes me a little nervous too. The funny thing is that when I went in for my consultation I viewed that as a plus but now that Ive been reading so much on here I have been second guessing that. Its the same with the drains vs. no drains. My PS does the no drain surgery (which I also viewed as a plus) but now Im not so sure...I think its normal to be having mixed feelings...isnt it?
Vee in Cccounty 21 Feb 2013
Good luck.....
Poohdora29 21 Feb 2013
Good Luck today. Hope all goes well. :)

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