“Full TT with MR July 21st - Saint Louis, MO”

I had 2 children (3 and 10 years old) via c-section and I'm left with an "apron" of skin on my tummy. I recently lost 20 lbs of baby weight but I'm still 5 to 15 lbs over my ideal weight. I scheduled a TT but I'm feeling scared of anesthesia and the risks involved. But I'm also excited because I never thought I would be able to have an attractive tummy again.

My PS is board certified and belongs to multiple plastic surgery societies. And I've seen lots of his work, which looks great. But surgery is two weeks away and I'm trying not to think about all the bad things that could happen. This website has been a source of comfort for me. Any advice on what to expect in the coming weeks is greatly appreciated!

Updated on 15 Jul 2011:
I had my pre-op appointment today. My PS and nurse really set me at ease. I'm now slighty more excited than I am afraid (the opposite of what I was before). so far I'm happy with my choice of PS. He's done some really good work, he's very knowledgeable, and his first priority seems to be the patient's health and attractive results. Surgery is scheduled for next week and I feel that I am in good hands.

Updated on 17 Jul 2011:
Just dropped the kids off at my in-laws. They'll stay for two weeks. After that, hopefully my tubes will be gone. I'm missing them already. My surgery is in 4 days. A sort of calm is beginning to settle over me. One reassuring thought that i have is that I'm more likely to die in a car crash while driving to the surgery center than I am to die during surgery. I don't know why that comforts me. But that also is a source of comfort when flying in an airplane. The odds are, I'll be fine. If i have a skilled person flying the plane or operating on me, them I'm probably safer than I am when I'm driving (which is something I do daily and without a second thought). Please pray for me or send positive thoughts my way on Thursday!

Updated on 17 Jul 2011:
Posting before photo.

Updated on 17 Jul 2011:
I am 5'4.25" and weight 148lbs so my BMI = 25.2 is just slightly overweight(just above a normal 24.9 BMI). I carry most of my fat in my abdomen.

I had two c-sections and then lost 25lbs on Weight Watchers. I workout regularly on my elliptical, jog/run outside, and use my weight machine around 3xs a week. My arms and legs have really improved from my weight loss and work outs, but my abs not so much.

Ideally, I'd like to lose only about 10 more lbs (since I do tend to prefer a curvy but fit body) but I have been plateauing for the past 6 months.

So I decided to go ahead with the TT now since my weight has stabilized and timing is right. One of the patients who was a referral for my doctor said that she easily lost 15 lbs after the surgery, so maybe I'll lose these last 10 lbs afterwards too.

Updated on 17 Jul 2011:
BTW once I scheduled the TT I broke through the plateau and lost 5 more lbs since my first posting (which said I lost 20lbs). This has been a motivating experience I guess!

Updated on 18 Jul 2011:
3 more days before TT! I'm excited. Soon i'll say goodbye to flabby tummy and hello to a sexy new tummy! I Have paid the surgeons. Will pay for surgery center on Thursday. Now I'm just doing shopping for post-op recovery and trying to relax - mani/pedi, reading, shopping, etc.

Updated on 20 Jul 2011:
Tomorrow's the big day! Just took a Valium to calm my nerves and I'm going to bed early to get some extra sleep - haven't been able to for the past few nights.

Updated on 21 Jul 2011:
I'm home. Sooooooo nauseous. Tummy pain bearable. Vomiting is the worst part. When will it end!?!

Updated on 22 Jul 2011:
Day 2 - Nausea seems to have subsided. I'm so glad the surgery is over! I'm not so scared out of my wits anymore. I'm happy that i scheduled my surgery so soon after my consultation (2 weeks later). I couldn't have standed to wait another day - by Thursday my hands had been shaking for 4 days and i hadn't slept well for 2 weeks!

Now I just need to focus on a good recovery and attractive results by following the doctor's advice. The pain level was tolerable from day 1. The drains aren't as bad as I anticipated - though I am glad I sent thenkids to my MIL so my 3 yo wouldn't bother my drains (she's real handsy!). I'll post pictures as soon as I have them.

Updated on 22 Jul 2011:
Surgery went fine. The staff at the ambulatory surgery center were super friendly and explained everything. My surgeon was great as usual. The a anesthesiologist was board-certified as well and explained everything too. And once he put the Versed in my IV while I was still in the prep/treatment room, that's all I recall. When I awoke, I was back in the treatment room. I was really hot - not really in pain- and the nurses brought me saltiness and soda, then helped me dress, helped me clean up after i vomited, and then wheeled me out to my husband's car. Home recovery was the worst day 1 but only because of the vomiting - which I must have done at least 10 times. My doctor had given me his cell phone number and my husband called and texted him continuously throughout the evening because of my vomiting. My doctor even called in a prescription to my local Walgreens and he advised my to lie down flatter in bed with a pillow beneath my hips instead of using the recliner as I had been doing. It worked.

Updated on 22 Jul 2011:
Sorry for all the typos. My iPad keeps autocorrecting words that weren't wrong in the first place: " saltines" to "saltiness." :(

Updated on 23 Jul 2011:
Day 3 and my biggest issue is gas and going #2. I haven't had a bowel movement but my stomach is constantly gurgling. Nothing happens. If it's not resolved soon, should I call my doctor?

Updated on 24 Jul 2011:
Successful #2 day 4, thanks for all your advice. Should have drains removed tomorrow during second post op appointment. I'm happy with results so far. My only issue so far is 2 pleats that the doctor said should smooth out on their own as the stitches dissolve. I want to start using silicone sheets or other scar reducers in the next week or so (whenever I have clearance from dr). What has worked for you?

Updated on 25 Jul 2011:
Drains didn't come out today. :( although output is lower, the color isvstill too red. PS said maybe Wednesday.

Updated on 27 Jul 2011:
Day 7 - drains came out! Yay! Feeling pretty good. Also bb stitches were also removed. I can finally shower! =>

Updated on 27 Jul 2011:
Oh, and dr said the pleats are already starting to smooth out and I finally have hips! I've never had them before. I went from a straight up and down "string bean" as a child and teen to having a pillow tummy (but still without hips) after my 9 lb baby was born. My PS used a MR technique that made it like I have on a corset! I'm so happy! When the rest of the swelling goes down maybe it'll be even more apparent - but I'm not greedy, I'm happy with what I've got so far.

Updated on 29 Jul 2011:
I think swell hell has officially begun for me. My pain isn't bad at day 9. I only have to take Tylenol occasionally - usually at the end of the day or after waking up in the middle of the night because I'm feeling sore. I can't see the swelling but I feel like a too-full balloon by the end of the day - stretched and overblown. Is this "swell hell"?

Updated on 31 Jul 2011:
Day 11 po feeling sore all over and fatigued. I thought I'd feel much better by now. I don't need anything other than Tylenol occasionally and my abdominal pain isn't bad at all, but I definitely don't feel my best. I'm pretty swollen, but my scar seems to be healing well.

Updated on 3 Aug 2011:
Still tired Day 14, but I don't really have pain until the wee hours of the morning - which is why I always take extra strength tylenol right before bed. I noticed that if I'm pretty active one day, the next day I need to rest. So I have had days when I visit family/friends, go out to lunch or dinner, or go shopping. By the end of my active days, I'm pretty swollen and I walk hunched over. The next day, I find that I feel better when I'm lying down. So I spend much of the day resting. I'm glad that I don't have to go back to work until 3 1/2 weeks post op. The good news is that I am able to sleep on my sides briefly (perhaps 30 minutes or so before I have to turn back onto my back). I'm posting a picture of my 2 week old scar.

Updated on 3 Aug 2011:
My doctor's booklet and realselfers warned that TTers enter a "why did I do this to myself" phase. I honestly didn't think I'd go through that because I was so unhappy with my previous tummy. But I'm tired of being at home, I'm swollen, my scar (though not that bad) is making me sad, I want to pick up my 3 yo and hold her, and I'm tired of being tired. It's time for me to count my blessings because I realize how fortunate I am to be able to do this, to have a great husband who took off a week to care for me and a MIL who was kind enough to take care of my kids for two weeks. I also had a great doctor who said I'd go through a nitpicking stage during week 2 and i know I'm there because the unevenness in the swelling on my hips and the scar (which I'm sure will resolve itself in the next couple of months and if not a revision is possible) and the two pound weight gain (and the inability to exercise to prevent further flabbiness) are really starting to bother me. I'm so glad that realselfers and my doctor warned me that there'd be days like this so that I can put these feelings into perspective and not let myself get overwhelmed by them - as I would have done if I hadn't been forewarned. I hope those in the same boat can relate and keep themselves from slipping into a full-blown depression too.

Updated on 3 Aug 2011:
Ok, def in the "emotional roller coaster" stage now.

Just watched my 3 yo daughter's impromptu interpretive "happy dance" performance and she told me "I like your belly button, Mommy."

I'm happy now. Life's little joys!

Updated on 4 Aug 2011:
Just came back from shopping for dresses for work. I figured that dresses would better accommodate the swelling that will come by the end of the day (versus pants). Shopping is a perfect fix for the nitpicking depression of week two. I tried on dresses that looked terrible on me before because of the belly bulge and they look great now! I bought a few. I feel so happy!

Updated on 17 Aug 2011:
Back at work at 3 1/2 weeks. So far so good. I am taking it easy and working only 6 hours a day.

Updated on 30 Aug 2011:
It's nearly week 6 and I'm feeling energetic. I've been walking and I plan to start more vigorous workouts at the 6 week point.