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Tummy Tuck and Lipo of Hips After Weight Loss. Finally!! - South Carolina

  • posted 2 years ago
  • updated 1 year ago

I am 30 years old I am a mother of two boys. I...

  • 27 Feb 2011
  • 16 days pre

I am 30 years old I am a mother of two boys. I have lost about 95 pounds and I have a lot of excess skin that hangs low on my abdomen some on my hips and my doctor is going to perform full abdominalplasty and lipo of my hips. He said that he was going to have to make the incision further back than just my hips so it will go all the way to my side. I have been waiting for this for about 4 years and finally have the money. I am looking forward to being able to start running without my pants falling down due to the skin flopping up and down. Im nervous and sometimes panicky about doing this I just hope they give me something to calm me. I am scheduled to have the surgery march 16. I have been looking at this site for a couple weeks what a blessing it is to have found it. It is awesome!!! I will post pics soon

I cant believe how quickly the last few weeks have...

  • 13 Mar 2011
  • 2 days pre
I cant believe how quickly the last few weeks have gone by. Wednesday seems to be approaching fast!!! Today Im not that nervous about the surgery, but the last 3 days I was nervous and thinking about everything was getting very overwhelming but for some reason Im feeling more confident today. I sure hope this new found confidence and fearlessness stays. I keep telling myself it will be over before I know it.

Today has been a busy day. We took our 2 boys to...

  • 14 Mar 2011
  • 2 days pre
today has been a busy day. We took our 2 boys to see rango and out to dinner since my surgery is wednesday. just trying to have some fun family time before the big day. tonight when putting the kids to bed I felt more teary eyed just cant get enough of their hugs right now. soooo ready to get it over with and boy its coming up quick

Well I made it through yesterday. they got 4.5...

  • 17 Mar 2011
  • 1 day post
well I made it through yesterday. they got 4.5 pounds off !!!! I was in a lot pain on the way home it takes 1 1/2 hour to drive home. yesterday I was in constant pain but today Im still hurting but mostly sore. I feel so swollen. I got up in the middle of the night and went to the bathroom with out help. I threw up once because changing my bandages was making me nauseated. well gotta go back to sleep see ya

Im doing much better this afternoon just sore not...

  • 17 Mar 2011
  • 1 day post
Im doing much better this afternoon just sore not much pain just a little uncomfortable . my husband is awesome he is taking care of everything I have also had a lot of help from family. I am so surprised how quickly I went from strong pain to just soreness. Im walking around on my own.Im eating a little and drinking lots of water.

I saw the plstic surgeon today I felt like the...

  • 18 Mar 2011
  • 2 days post
I saw the plstic surgeon today I felt like the appointment went quick but I got to see my belly the incision looks straight and my belly button is nice too. Im so swollen I guess Ill have to wait to see the results after the swelling goes down. My stomach is constantly rumbling from the milk of mag. but I hope I wont have any problems going to the bathroom. The pain today isnt bad just sore. It seems to get better everyday.I didnt get to take pics at the dr office I forgot the camera. Ill post some asap.

I dont have much pain at all but I feel like my...

  • 20 Mar 2011
  • 4 days post
I dont have much pain at all but I feel like my sides where the Dr. did lipo are constantly itching and because of this garment I cant do much about it.It is such a weird feeling. Its numb in most places but I can still feel it itching does any one else experience this? I'd say for me this is the worst part.

Today has been the best so far I havent had much...

  • 22 Mar 2011
  • 6 days post
today has been the best so far I havent had much pain at all. tonight I was standing up pretty much straight. I havent taken much for pain just some ibuprofen around 7 tonight. I go see the ps tomorrow to remove the drain. Im planning on posting more pics tomorrow. tomorrow will be one week postop.

Yesterday I went to see the ps and he removed the...

  • 24 Mar 2011
  • 8 days post
yesterday I went to see the ps and he removed the drain. I was so afraid of this process but it didnt really hurt but it was so wierd it felt like nothing Ive felt before. Im so glad it is gone. He gave me the girdle that zips on both sides and at first I thought I needed a larger size but the nurse said I was so swollen and that was why it felt difficult to put on. This morning the thing fit much better , but by tonight it was tight again. Everything healing good I just need to be patient with all the healing.

Today I am 2 weeks post op and I went in to see...

  • 30 Mar 2011
  • 14 days post
Today I am 2 weeks post op and I went in to see the nurse today so that she could remove my stitches from my belly button and trim the loops on my hips. She had to do some tugging and digging to get the stitches out of my belly button but I couldnt feel it because I am so numb. I feel really weird about my results I have a great belly button and awesome scar but I am feeling like my sides and hips are still not as taught as expected. I know I am still very swollen and will continue to swell but this is the hardest part. I have swelling in my back too because He went in there to do some lipo. I guess Im just feeling that horrible impatience that I knew would come. anyway when the swelling goes down I hope the skin isnt loose.I will post another pic soon.

I am 3 weeks post op and I havent had any real...

  • 7 Apr 2011
  • 22 days post
I am 3 weeks post op and I havent had any real pain but I am concerned about what feels like a stitch under my skin right under my incision. it is poking me.I can feel it under my skin it isnt poking out of my skin but you can feel it with your finger. does anyone have this or had this? I hope I didnt mess something up by over doing it. Im so pleased with my belly button and scar they are very nice. Im a little concerned that the sides of my tummy wont be as firm as the center is. when i sit down it is loose but he did lipo on my hips so it could be from the swelling. I plan on asking him on Wed. what he thinks.

I went to my plastic surgeon on wednesday. He said...

  • 15 Apr 2011
  • 1 month post
I went to my plastic surgeon on wednesday. He said Im still puffy and can expect this swelling to last about 6 months. I mostly have swelling on my hips and my back from the lipo. I got to take my first bath today. FINALLY!!! yeah!!! I need to post some recent pics. I will try to do that tomorrow.

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My doctor is a very nice doctor and his staff was nice to. he explain everything well and hes just down to earth not full of him self at all which i appreciated. very good atmosphere it felt comfortable in the O.R not so scary. they were the first plactic surgery center in SC so they know there stuff

Comments (40)

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bringnsxyback 1 Jul 2011
I noticed your day 8 looks the way im looking now..day 10. Im swollen all the way down to the pubic mound ...im wondering if thats normal swelling?? Have any input??by the way your 31/2 month pixs look soo good your scars are lookin great!!
shanon0307 1 Jul 2011
the swelling to the pubic mound is normal. My doctor said it was. I was wondering about that too at first. The swelling is the worst part for me. I still deal with it especially if I am busy. I clean houses sometimes 9 hours a day and those days are the ones that do a number on me. swelling unfortunately is something we deal with for a long time after this procedure but when the swelling goes down I feel bettter about the results then i swell again.. hang in there.
Tired~of~the~belly 20 Jun 2011
I have my TT scheduled with Dr. Harvey in one month. I was just searching and found his name in your review. So excited to see your good results! Would you mind to post another updated picture so I can see the scar/healing? Thanks!!!
shanon0307 22 Jun 2011
I will post an updated picture either tomorrow or friday. I have been having trouble with my back this week and cant stand up straight and I dont want to take a picture that looks lopsided. I can tell you that Dr. Harvey has a great group of people working for him and I was very surprised how the OR looked when I went in. I expected it to be very sterile looking and scary but when I was told to lay on the operating table it was padded and covered in towels or something like that . It was warmed. I had lipo of my hips so I had to lay on my belly first because he was starting with the lipo. After the surgery was over and we came home I remember Dr. Harvey calling and checking on me that evening. I love my belly button and I have a straight scar. My scar isnt even raised at all. I will post pics asap. let me know if you have questions I will try to help.
Tired~of~the~belly 24 Jun 2011
I'm glad you had such a good experience with Dr. Harvey. I will also be seeing Dr. Hagerty some during my recovery because Dr. Harvey is going to be out for a few weeks right after my surgery. Your scar looks good - very low and straight. I hope mine is like that, too! He said it all depends on your body as far as how far up the incision has to go. When did you go in for your first post-op visit - was it the day after surgery or a few days later? What about drains?
shanon0307 25 Jun 2011
I went for my first post op 2 days after surgery. I forgot about the new pics because we went to Charleston this weekend ( we are in Beaufort)and took the kids to Whirling Waters for the first time. We got back tonight and boy am I swollen and I feel a little bit of pain in my tummy but not much. I sometimes forget I had surgery. Its been a fun day lots of trips down the slides. but I will post new pics as soon as I can.I will probably wait til my waist comes back from the swelling. hopefully in the am.
curvyisgood 14 May 2011
Please post more pics! You and I had the exact same amount of skin and fat removed but you are further along, so I want to see how you are progressing. So far you are lookin good!
kumama 8 Apr 2011
Probably just a stich that didn't dissolve or something. Dr. will prob. remove it at your next appt.
shanon0307 9 Apr 2011
yeah I think your right. I havent felt it much today I think it kinda shifted or something.
BeyondBusyMomma 24 Mar 2011
Looking good there Momma! It's hard to tell how swollen you are in pics, but you look fantastic! Congratulations on having it done and I hope your recovery moves forward speedily! I can't wait to be on the post-op side of this forum. 24 more days for me, and until then, I'm just lurking around for information to sooth my nervous mind! Thanks for sharing your journey and results so far!
shanon0307 24 Mar 2011
thanks. cant wait to see how your results are. Im mostly pleased with my belly button so far and surprised that after the 2nd day i havent had pain from the tt the only soreness has been from the lipo on my hips. Good luck! keep in touch
Washington3289 24 Mar 2011
I think your pics are great!! Check out the after pic of you sitting down...nothing in your lap!! AWESOME!!
shanon0307 24 Mar 2011
thank you so much. your right nothing in my lap even with the swelling I feel much better.
Cary9816 22 Mar 2011
Thanks for the comments on my review! Some people experience some pain when drains are removed- I didn't! I couldn't wait until they were gone as my surgeon had forbidden showers until they were removed to reduce risk of infection.

I'll cross my fingers that you will have a pain-free drain removal!
shanon0307 22 Mar 2011
cary9816, thank you so much for the advice. Im so nervous about getting it out tomorrow but maybe i wont have pain too. Ill let you know how it goes.
Farz 20 Mar 2011
Hey you! Your surgery is done, yipee! You look soooo good! Flat belly! Isnt there something you could use for the itchiness? What about plain ole vasline ?
shanon0307 21 Mar 2011
Hey Farz! vaseline is a great idea. Thanks. Im feeling better today with the itching. I found it gets itchy when Im up walking around too much. It also itches more at night when Im the most swollen. This recovery has thankfully been easier than I thought.
Farz 24 Mar 2011
Boy am I glad to hear that!
shanon0307 20 Mar 2011
thank you for responding Im glad its not just me.it must be normal. Last night was rough with the itching but today its a little better. Maybe it is from healing where he did the lipo.
Columbus2941 20 Mar 2011
You look amazing!! I have that crazy itching on my sides too. So annoying! I haven't even peeked under my binder yet. My discharge instructions say to leave my binder and bandages in place until I see him on Tuesday. I am so anxious to see what I look like!!
shanon0307 19 Mar 2011
illinois855, it is scary taking the garment off. I took a shower yesterday and I really felt insecure with out the binder it feels like you need it to hold you together but i took my time and just focused on breathing I was really glad that I got a shower though. my belly button looks purple too.
illinois8551 19 Mar 2011
Nice to see you out and doing well. It seems to be easier than I anticipated. I am getting very little out of my drains so I am hopeful the will come out tuesday. I am scared really to take off the garment. My bb looks purple and nasty and I just don't want to see it yet. I need to shower though, so I will have to do it. lol...I will take pics later and post.
shanon0307 19 Mar 2011
I was wondering if getting the drain removed is painful. I get mine out wednesday and right now that is worrying me. any information on this process would be great
bridg0809 19 Mar 2011
Wow your new tummy looks great and thats only post op day 2..it will only get better as time pass! Im so happy for you!
shanon0307 19 Mar 2011
thanks I feel a little more human today. everyday gets better. cant wait fot the end result.

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