Tummy Tuck: Stories

Hi there TTs,

I am from South Africa. I have 2 children aged 6 and 4. I am 2.5kg above my required weight which should be 65kg. I am following a healthy diet with the help of a Dietician, I will be on my goal weight pretty soon.:-)

I will be seeing the 2nd PS on Thursday this week. I cannot wait, I had the lipo procedure in 2009 on my lower abdomen,thighs and hips. The results were good except for my abdomen. I went back to my PS after 6 months and he told me that women are just fine with that "pouch" and I should not be worried.

This has been worrying me since then as I am NOT happy with the appearance of my stomach, it seperates into two folds when I am sitting and bulges on the side.

This is realy affecting my self esteem and intimacy. Whenever hubby wants to play and cuddle up I move his hands away from my stomach as I feel so uncomfortable with him touching these "rolls" on my tummy.

I made up my mind last year already to have a TT and lipo on my back and flanks but did not have the courage to see a PS as the previous one had told me not to worry about the "pouch".

I am planning to have the TT done this year late November or early December during the school holidays as my children will be visiting my sister. I dont want them to see me in pain especialy in the first 2 weeks after the op.

Hopefully the PS (highly recommended) will be able to perform the TT this year. I will update you on the outcome of my visit with him on Thursday. **crossing my fingers**

Consultation went very well today. PS was willing to listen to all my concerns, he said he was happy with the condition my body is in after having 2 children and he understands my frustrations. He thoroughly examined me. My stomach needs a TT and lipo and lipo of flanks. Liposuction alone wont have the positive results I want coz of the extra skin.
The extra skin will be removed, new belly button and the stomach muscles will be tighten. I will have to stay in hospital for 3 nights to be closely monitored before going home.

The date is 22 November, I cannot wait!

Any tips or advice you can give me in preparing myself before the op day?

Oh, forgot to mention that during the 3 days in hospital I will be visited by a physiotherapist to assist with movement after surgery, especially for the prevention of blood clots.

I am getting more and more anxious as the date is getting closer (7 days left). Busy showing hubby around the house where things are, how to prepare clothing for the children the night before for school.

We are experiencing a Heat Wave here in South Africa and I worry of the heat because I will have to wear the binder, is my incision going to heal well in this heat? A lot of questions are in my mind....

I guess I will be thinking a lot in the last few says. I have to find something to keep me busy before the op day.

4 days left and I'm getting excited and a bit nervous too. I picture myself looking fabulous. I know it's going to be uphill in the beginning, but I'm sure it will be worth it at the end.
All I can do is think about my surgery.
I have been communicating a lot with the nurse via email this whole week. She has been sweet and helpful at the same time.

Well, I am not goimg to count today as it is evening already. OMW!!! only 2 days left before the BIG DAY. I cannot believe how much time has gone by. Today I went out shopping for lose fitting nighties, extra compression garments for thighs,abdomen. I cannot stop thinking about my surgery.....

Yesterday I made the payment to PS, Aneasthetist,Physiotherapist and hospital.

At the salon right now to do treatment on my hair, still deciding if i must braid my hair or not. on second thought i will braid as I wiLl not have the patient and time to comb it during my recovery. 2 more sleeps and a then a brand new HOT MAMA!!

Hubby is so excited for me because he knows this is what I want and need. I am doing this for me and he will also enjoy the new me.
I have stocked the fridge with fresh fruits and vegetables. The cupboards are packed with healthy snacks including crackerbreads. Hubby knows where everything is in the house (finally)..lol.

My helper will be coming later today and will be staying with us for a full 2 weeks. This will take the load off my shoulders not to stress and worry about my household while recovering.

Laying in bed waiting patiently to be "whisked away" to the operating room.
All the admin completed, all the compression garments (stomach binder, lipo garment and medical stockings:prevents blood clots) have been hand delivered by the orthopedics in my room.
I am so thirsty right now but not hungry. I last had something to drink and eat 16 hours ago.

I had a confrontation with a lady at the hospital reception concerning payment of hospital stay. What an attitude she had, I did not have the energy to argue with her so I just laughed at her stupidity and lack of hospitality and boy did she lose it even more. Another calm lady intervened and all was sorted. I guess I am so excited and looking forward to this that noone can put me down right now.
Ok ladies, have to go now, will update as soon as I can. Keep me in your prayers.

Hi TTs, its official " mommy has a new flat tummy". The op took 3 hours; lipo of love handles and lateral thighs and full TT. Its just over 24hours since I came out of surgery. The pain is not that bad but I am just irritable that I cannot move around as I wish. Hubby has been here since I went in for surgery, have no idea when he left last night as I fell asleep under drugs. He was back by my bedside this morning with a bunch of flowers, dried prunes and some delicious soup from Woolworths.
I consumed a lot of water and ice cubes for the first 16 hours after surgery.
Physiotherapist came in this morning and helped me get out of bed, walk about and breathing exercises. It was very tough and painful during this process. She came back again in the afternoon, this time around it was easier and we walked down the long ward passage and back to my I fell asleep as soon as I laid my head on the pillow. Oh, forgot to mention that I had a catheter inserted and it was removed just after 10 am. So, I am getting up now to get to the loo and bathroom. Three of my close friends came through to hospital to pay a visit and the bathed me (how lovely it is to have friends like these), I am truly blessed. Hubby has been so supportive, he is amazed at the site of my new belly, he is loving it already even though I m still so swollen. I have not checked it out properly but I an thrilled at the result when I feel it with my hands. Cannot wait to see it.
I have one drain and it feels up very very slow now compare to before.

This morning I got out of bed on my own with no help at all (happy) to visit the toilet. Climbed into bed by myself too (so excited). The walk- back not so hunched as before, almost straight I must say. Saw my new tummy...WOW!! Is all I can say. I will post pics soon an you will be the judge.

I still have not done #2 yet, chawing a lot of dried prunes so should be visiting the loo for #2 soon.

Just had 2 pain killers I feel kind of tired and sleepy.

Will be discharged today. Will post latest Pics as soon as I am well settled at home.
Thank you for all your prayers and support TTs.

Home sweet home......

Feeling great today and have slowed down on pain tablets. I was given antibiotics, iron tablets (I am anaemic) and a lot of pain tablets. My daughter is so excited that mommy has a flat tummy, she says that my buttocks have shrunk too but this is because of the liposuction of love handles and lateral thighs.
She has a lot of questions about the drain too which I managed to handle.

Need to mention this; PS removed 1,3kg of skin and tissue from stomach and 1,5 litres of fat from love handles and lateral thighs.

Did not sleep well last night, I wasn't comfortable at all. I even slept on my left side for the first time after surgery. It was sore on my thigh area when I turned over but gradually the pain disappeared. This didn't help either as I found myself wide awake again rearranging pillows for more comfort, I did this the whole night until the break of dawn. Hopefully I will get some rest during the day.

Jumped on the scale this morning and to my surprise I weigh 500g less than before surgery. I thought with all this swelling I would be heavier. Will monitor my weight in the coming weeks.

Ok, #2 finally came but with so much pain. I literally had tears in my eyes whilst in the process.

Stomach swollen and numb today. Not feeling so great like the previous days. Is this to be expected during the recovery road??

Ladies, you are right when you say they will be ups and downs during the recovery road! Surprisingly I feel great today!!
I will be seeing my PS today to remove the drain and finally see the SCAR, a bit nervous I must say.....wish me luck.
Will post pics later.....

Just came back from the PS fo the follow up. Yeah!!! drain has been removed.....
Scar does not look bad at all but there is a problem with my new belly button; it seems as if the new belly button did not form nicely coz of the stretching of the skin. Doc says I must wash it with clean water and just cover it with a gauze so that the compression garment does not stick to it...the sight of it gives my body chills luckily with the numbness I cannot feel anything.

I had the most horrible experience early hours this morning, I woke up with a swollen face, I could not open my eyes and my lips were massive and heavy, my tongue was swollen too. I woke up crying and confussed at what had just happened.

It all started after midnight, my body was itching all over and all of a sudden my eyes, lips, tongue and some part of my body were swelling up. Woke hubby and he rushed me to the emergency rooms. The doc who was on duty treated me for an hour and I was sent home, the swelling has gone down but signs are still there on my eye lids. Its an allergic reaction but we do not know what caused it....
I pray it does not happen again, it was so scarry I looked like a MONSTER!!!

I am struggling with allergy reaction, I had a second episode this morning and was rushed to ER. I have been advised to stop taking all meds and only take Celestamine Tablets for allergies.
My blood samples were sent to the lab and I will be getting the results tomorrow.

Anyone out there who experienced any allergy reaction or unusual swelling and itchiness around the eyes, lips, hands, knees, feet, ankels and around the TT scar.

11 days post op pics have been loaded.....

I had a follow up with PS yesterday. He did some work on my BB; it was so weird coz when he was busy on my BB I could not feel a thing, my belly is still numb and hard at some places. BB still to healed, have another follow up on the 19th Dec (4 weeks post op) hopefully everything in my body would have settled in its place by then....
Ps has given me Hibitane 0.5% water and Bactroban ointment to treat BB. Also got Ferrimed DS Chewable Tablets which I must take for 6 months. Further tests will be done after 6 months to check my iron levels.

Going back to work tomorrow, I hope I survive the 8 hours......

Latest update: my breast have been excreting milk for the last couple of days BUT my breasts are not tender, swollen and nipples are not dark as experienced when pregant, I thought it will go away but it just kept on persisting. Today I decided to go and pay a visit to my gyny (who performed the tubal ligation on me on the 22nd Nov).
Well, good news is that I am not pregnant, she gave me DOSTINEX Tablets to stop the breast milk and blood samples were taken "AGAIN" to check for a specific hormone (forgot the name), will get the result first thing tomorrow morning.

My doc suspects that my body is reacting to the trauma experienced during and after major Op (TT).

Goodness, I hope this is the last bad thing that I go through and start enjoying the fruits of my TT.

Just received a phone call from my gyny with blood test results. I am def not preggies but results show high prolactin levels. Prolactin is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland, which lies under the brain in the skull. Increased levels of prolactin will occur for several reasons. They occur naturally in pregnancy and lactation but will also be raised during STRESS. My body experienced STRESS coz of surgery.
Well, atleast that is out of the way and sorted...

Happy healing to everyone!!!

OMW, its day 19 post op today and the swelling on my stomach its never been like this before. I had the compression garment on the whole day today, I have just put on the binder maybe I will wake up in the morning with the swelling gone...

Hey ladies, 6 weeks PO pictures loaded. Ironically I feel so fat now in 6 weeks PO, I feel that I looked good at 4 weeks PO than I do now :-( I fit into clothes that I have not worn since 2 and a half years ago. Yeeehaaaa!!!! This is Consolation for feeling so FAT.

To all the wonderful ladies who have supported me especially after receiving that hateful message from PB,

Thank you so much for your loving words and endless support, I am so bless to have you in this forum. Through thick and thin you have and are there for me and this is not taken for granted.

I was shocked and hurt when I saw and read what she had written about me but then remembered that not everyone is happy to see another person happy, they will try by all means to make you feel the Hate they do. She must really be a SAD person to be so MEAN.

I love you girls... :-). Happy healing to you ALL!!!!

To all the wonderful ladies who have supported me especially after receiving that hateful message from PB,

Thank you so much for your loving words and endless support, I am so bless to have you in this forum. Through thick and thin you have and are there for me and this is not taken for granted.

I was shocked and hurt when I saw and read what she had written about me but then remembered that not everyone is happy to see another person happy, they will try by all means to make you feel the Hate they do. She must really be a SAD person to be so MEAN.

I love you girls... :-). Happy healing to you ALL!!!!

I had a follow up today with my PS, it went very well.
In 2 to 3 months he will fix my BB and the uneven sides on my thighs and flanks at no extra cost.j
I cannot wait for this to be done.

Hi to yo all,

Well, it's been a long time indeed. Today it's 16 weeks since I had my TT. As mentioned before, I went in today for some revision work under Local Aneasthesia. I am home now and lying in bed. Hubby got linen savers I case I leak. The pain was terrible but woohoooooo to painkillers. I am still a drowsy, PS told me I will br myself by tomorrow.
He did not do any work on my BB as discussed with him on the 23rd Jan, this will be done around July or September as it has not healed 100%.

Pictures will be loaded up after 6 weeks.

Hi all,

It's been a while. I am 8 months post TT surgery. Recovery has been going well but I am sad to say that I picked up a bit of weight and my back and arms look horrible. I went to see PS in Pretoria for a consultation. It went well and he said I should not stress about the weight gain as parts previously done still look fine, he will sort out my whole back and arms. Procedure will be in August 2012. I have joined the Tony Ferguson weightloss programe and I believe I will lose the weight picked up before my procedure. Will keep you posted.

I have my procedure scheduled for August, I cannot wait. Have been checking up with the staff to see if there has been any cancellations. Nothing yet, seems it will happen on the scheduled day. The visit to Dr H Claassen's surgery was quiet an experience, the staff there were extremely patient and friendly. The PS went through the procedure with thorough explanation and answered all my questions. He examined my body and made suggestions on which parts to target for the lipo. I cannot wait to remove the fat on my back and arms.

He was very pleased with the results of my TT. (TT was done by a different PS).

Hi all,

My procedure went very well on Friday the 24th August. It's day 2 today and I must honestly say the pain is far better than the tummy tuck but there is a lot of stiffness. The nurse gave me some tips on light exercises to do which is really helping. My PS sucked our 4 litres of fat in total.
My arms look fabulous ( looks like I have been lifting) my whole back looks amazing too!! Oh yeah, I have the curve right before my butt shoots outward!! I just look amazing, I know it's still early days but WOW so far so good!!

Happy healing to you all!!

Hi all,

My procedure went very well on Friday the 24th August. It's day 2 today and I must honestly say the pain is far better than the tummy tuck but there is a lot of stiffness. The nurse gave me some tips on light exercises to do which is really helping. My PS sucked our 4 litres of fat in total.
My arms look fabulous ( looks like I have been lifting) my whole back looks amazing too!! Oh yeah, I have the curve right before my butt shoots outward!! I just look amazing, I know it's still early days but WOW so far so good!!

Happy healing to you all!!

Today is day 10 and my goodness the swelling has kicked in. My whole back is swollen and stiff and hard when you touch it. There was a bit is bruising on the back and arms but that is disappearing slowly. I have a lump in my left armpit which I hope will subside in due course.

I am also itching in the places were the procedure was done. There is hardly any pain but stiffness is there. I am still doing some stretching excercise for the arms which is helping a lot. Some walking as well.

I have added pictures 14 days after the vaser lipo procedure. My waist and curves look amazing. I am loving the shape of my booty too!! I cannot wait to see the final results in the coming months. ;-)