“Tummy Tuck Texas - Southlake, TX”

I am 36 and in reasonably good shape 5'6" and 140 pounds size 6. I hate my belly after having two kids. I have stretch marks and loose skin below my belly button and not matter how hard I workout, my abs never have toned up well.

After reading reviews on this board, I made an appointment with Dr. K in Southlake. He is wonderful! He made me feel at ease during our consultation and pre-op. And his staff worked to get me a surgery date to meet my summer vacation schedule (I want to be well into recovery by summer). My surgery is on May 5 so I'll post when I'm done

Updated on 7 May 2011:
Well today is day 2 post op. I can honestly says I'm a little more sore today. I have a high pain tolerance but I'm feeling it more now. Dr. K wanted me to get up and walk around every few hours starting yesterday so I think that may be why I'm a little more sore. Already making the muscles stretch and work a little. My abs are already FLAT, and i know there's some swelling, but WOW what a difference. I had my friend get me an old lady walker. I don't use it to walk as much as I do to steady myself with sitting or standing, and going to the bathroom. The nausea subsided early yesterday (day 1 post-op) but I am staying on all my meds on schedule and taking the anti-nausea as prevention. I'll yall updated and good luck to all the TT'ers coming up next week!

Updated on 8 May 2011:
Day 3 post op. Not much change since day two. Drains are turning more pink with clear, instead of red, and less output. I'm still taking all the pain meds on schedule and I can def tell when they start to wear off. Upper abs seem to hurt all across the top but lower only around the incision. I've been getting up about every 2 hours to use the bathroom. Gas has started to set in. I've added dulcolax to the med routine hoping to soften things when I finally "go". I'm a little scared for the first on. I'm really alert but it does hit me every couple of hours and I have to cat nap. All in all, things are going good, way better than I expected.

Updated on 9 May 2011:
This morning is the 4th day post op. I thinkI over did it yesterday because I'm a little woozy today. I've had a few more naps today and don't really have the energy I felt yesterday. Last night, I happened to drink a sip of juice down the wrong tube and the coughing commenced. Oh Em Gee!!! I thought I was going to split wide open! I grabbed a pillow and BF held my head and hand close to his chest. I think I squeezed all the blood out of his hand. It hurt SO bad! I've started using ice packs here and there, which help a lot. The swelling is also really annoying right now. The drains seem to be slowing down and are mostly yellow and pink now. My follow up is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. My 5 year old son comes home this afternoon and as much as I have missed him, I hope I can give him the attention he'll need. I think today is going to be a long day!

Updated on 9 May 2011:
The end of Day 4 and the swelling is still feeling tight. I also noticed I hurt a little more today. I think it may be a result of moving too much yesterday so I stayed in bed a little more today. Still no poop and I'm still taking the laxative, and the gas is pretty bad too. The drains are mostly light pink and lower output so I'm hoping my PS will take them out at my appt on Wednesday. BF went back to work today and I won't see him for a few days, but my friend is still staying helping with house work and getting meals prepared. I'm a lot more alert and starting to feel normal, except for the gas and swelling remaining. Looking forward to a good nights sleep

Updated on 10 May 2011:
OK so I must warn you on day 5, something happens with the meds. I have had to the most realistic dreams the last 24 hours! I even swore I was talking to my friend in my bedroom, and I happened to ask her what time it was. The only reason I know it was still a dream was that when I woke up, I checked the clock. I was even waking up and falling asleep back into the dreams at the same place I left off! Really weird stuff trust me!
All in all I'm good. I stopped the Oxy this morning (after the dream issues) and have been taking HC as needed. I've been pretty good so far. It's about nap time and I'm trying to stay rested. I have my follow up appointment tomorrow and I'm hoping the drains will come out.

Updated on 12 May 2011:
Yesterday was my post op check up. It's been a week since TT and I didn't get my drains out :( I did finally get my binder which really helps with the support. That was my first big day out of the house in a week and I was pretty worn out when I got home. I am still uncomfortable but getting better every day. I've decided to start staying up longer rather than returning to my nest every hour or so. Time to re-energize and get ready to return to real life.

Updated on 19 May 2011:
Finally got my drains removed yesterday. The PS actually told me I was lucky because he usually leaves them in 3 weeks! I was so happy to get them out! I almost had a melt down the day before because I was so tired of trying to hide them under clothes and look normal. Two of the drains didn't hurt to remove but one really hurt. It was actually placed more up on my flank and that part isn't numb like the front. PS told me to keep taking my muscle relaxers until they are gone. I had stopped them at the one week appointment along with all the pain meds.
I am back to work today but the 1 hour commute zapped my energy this morning. I brought flip flops in case I get tired of wearing dress shoes and I'm thinking I'll call it a day early today and tomorrow. Just trying to get back to a normal routine.
I have a feeling I'll be sleeping well the next few nights.

Updated on 28 May 2011:
I am three weeks and two days post op and I'm feeling great! I went clothes shopping today and got a couple cute tube tops and a few summer dresses. I have good days and bad but I can definitely see a huge difference in the way clothes fit. I'm not buying new jeans or shorts just yet because of the swelling and I'm afraid it will depress me that I'm not a smaller size yet. I'm so happy I made the decision to have this surgery. I can't wait until I see the final results

Updated on 9 Jun 2011:
I am 5 weeks post op and today was not as good. More swelling which is my own darn fault so I'm not too depressed. Just annoyed. I'm still in that lazy phase after work and don't want to cook and prepare healthy food so I've been eating junk. I need to get back on the healthy band wagon. You gym rats can relate when I say I keep looking at my chin up bar and P90X DVDs sitting on the shelf, wishing I could get back into it. I even went to Costco this week and saw my gym membership renewal for half price. One more week and HOPEFULLY the PS will release me to start back. It's gonna be a long journey but I can't wait for the first good sweat in spin class!

Updated on 22 Jun 2011:
7 weeks post op and I had my check up yesterday. Everything looks great and my next appointment is in 2 months. I was released to go back to the gym and started spin class last night. YAY!! I only made it about half way through. It takes a lot more core than I remember and I guess my tummy muscles are still really weak. I'm going to slowly work back in. It felt great to get back in the saddle (pun intended) and I felt awesome afterward. Still no actual ab work for several months but I'm ready to start hitting the weights again soon. I've been in the pool several times and I love they way I look in a bikini, except for my booty which lost a lot of tone over the past two months. I can't wait for the scar around my belly button to fade. The tummy scar is easier to hide than the belly button. I've noticed I'm down a size most days, but my wide booty makes clothes a little tight still. My final size will be a 4 now that I'm getting back to routine. I am loving the results!!