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“Nervous! Tummy Tuck Scheduled in 1 Week! - Tallahassee, FL”
Spent: $6,300 in Tallahassee, FL
I am nervous about my tummy tuck which is scheduled for 1/20/2011. I think I have seen too many videos on you tube. lol
After six kids whose ages range from 1-16, I figured it was time to get rid of the prune stomach and get my body right. I am 5"10, 205lbs. I had my first child at the age of 16 and the last at 34. My stomach doesn't look big, but it is really ugly, full of stretch marks and excess skin.
I will be posting several pics, post and pre-op, so stay tuned. I can't wait to get this over with. Beach body for me this summer!
Updated on 20 Jan 2011:
I tried to post a update earlier, but I was too groggy. When I went in this morning I signed paper work, took a pregnancy test and met the team who would be caring for me. Dr. H did my markings and answered all my questions and the anesthesiologist was so nice also answering concerns. I was given some steriods and it gave me a mild burn in the vaginal and butt area for a minute or so, but I was already forewarned. Then I was out by 8am. By 11:30 I was getting dressed. I woke up in moderate pain. I was given morphine which always makes me itch, but benadryl helped that. I have been taking 2 oxycodone every 4 hours. I have NO pain! Maybe discomfort when I walk. I empty my drains every 4 hours and chart the amount of fluid. The lipo is actually more painful than the tummy tuck. I still have many stretch marks, but I knew I would. My tummy is flat! I am very drowsy cause I just took my meds. I will not be doing spell check so it my typing is wrong I'm sure you all will figure it out! lol Well so far so good. I will keep you posted tomorrow.
Updated on 22 Jan 2011:
Well this is day 3 and I am feeling a little better. I finally took the bandages off today. It doesn't look too bad. I am still quite swollen. The medication has me in and out and I am still iching from the morphine. I took a really good sponge bath today because I'm affraid that the pressure from the shower will hurt.
Updated on 23 Jan 2011:
Well it's day four and I'm feeling a little better. Not in as much pain today and instead of taking meds every 4 hours I'm down to every 6. The drainage tubes is whats getting on my nerves. My tummy is still numb. I'm going to try and take a full shower tomorrow. I've been taking baths in the sink because I'm scared the water will sting my hips where I had the lipo. But I do smell good! lol Oh and the drains hurt when they dangle.
Updated on 24 Jan 2011:
I felt so much better today, well maybe I should say yesterday, I didn't realize how late it was. I finally actually got in the shower. I turned the shower pressure to a light spray and hung my drainage tubes on the safety handle in the shower. Therefore my shower was great and easy on my body. I went 8 hours in between taking meds. The lipo isn't nearly as sore. On a scale of 1-10, I'm a 1 and that is mainly discomfort. I haven't had any itching today from the morphine, but itcing from the healing of the cut. I go to the doctor tomorrow and maybe I will be able to have one drainage removed, but we will see. The more I look the happier I am. Did I mention that I'm already ordering from Victoria's Secrete? lol Oh I do need to shed about 20lbs so I'm thinking about starting Weight Watchers online tomorrow. I've got to be totally fine by spring. lol
Updated on 25 Jan 2011:
Well I went to the doctor this morning and wasn't able to have either tube removed. I go back on Friday. I will be posting more pics later. I am still a little swollen but it going down day by day. Pain much better! I am scared of getting the tubes pulled out though.
Updated on 26 Jan 2011:
I think I forgot to mention something oh so important. It has been a week since my surgery and a week since I have had a bowel movement. I took 2 dulcolax laxitives yesterday after noon, 2 at 4am this morning and just took 3 now. I know it's a lot,but I feel so packed inside. If nothing happens by 4, I'm calling the doctor. This may be the cause of some of my swelling. Oh I do suffer from IBS and take my meds daily, but that isn't helping. So we will see. Oh I'm loving the heating pad.
Updated on 28 Jan 2011:
Well it is 3am and I am up watching t.v and decided to do an update. When I finally went to the bathroom it literally felt like I lost ten pounds! lol My tummy look as if it went down. I felt so much better!The drains don't hurt as bad now, but I hope I can get them removed today.I still don't have much feeling on my tummy, but the incision is healing quite well. It doesn't hurt at all to the touch. My hips are still quite swollen from the lipo. The heating pad is helping my back sooo much. I am trying to make myself walk straight. I only took meds one time today. I hope my back gets better because I'm a hair stylist and I must return to work in another week!
Updated on 28 Jan 2011:
Well I went to the doctor today and still no removal of drains. I'm almost getting use to it now. Afterward I shopped for an hour with my aunt and found I got tired easily. My back was still hurting and the drains were bulging under my clothes. I go back Monday and hopefully I can get them removed. I found that I don't need the pain medicine for the incision or the lipo, I need it to comfortablely move around with the drains.
Updated on 30 Jan 2011:
Well it is day eleven and it seems as if all the days are running together since I'm not working. Last night I discovered I had an infection at the site of my right drainage tube. It look similar to green muscus and I had a slight odor. It wasn't alot, but I am very particular about things like that. I called the after hour number and the PS called me in a prescription and I can tell a difference already. I noticed that that the infected drain isn't draining as much and the other drain is draing more, but anywho I go to the doctor tomorrow so we will see what happens.
Updated on 5 Feb 2011:
It has been some days since I have updated you all on my progress. I have been so busy and will post new picks tomorrow. Well I got my second drain removed yesterday and I am now drain free! Thank God! My tummy is still swollen but by hips aren't as sore so that's good. I went back to work Thursday and went back full force, which I should not have. I'm a hairstylist and I have a huge clientel. I have been working 12 hour days and I have two assistants and it still has been rough. I find that my back is killing me. I have to pop the oxycodone at work cause the extra strenght Tylenol does nothing at all. I go back to the doctor on Monday. I may have to get fluid drained off my belly and I believe I'm retaining extra fluid because mother nature has visited. My PS said it takes months to see final results. But anywho I am patient. Summer is four months away, that is if you live in Florida. lol So I can wait to show off my new body. I wore a catsuit today and looked great. My clients and coworkers could tell the difference. Yea me!
Updated on 10 Mar 2011:
Well it has been seven weeks since my surgery and I am loving my new tummy. I am still numb and the doctor said it will take several months or even a year to get sensation back, but it's worth the wait. I thought I would update my pictures so here we go.......
This review is the subjective opinion of a RealSelf member and not of RealSelf, Inc.
Helpful review?
My Doctor: Louis Hill, MD
My rating:
The entire staff of Tallahassee Plastic Surgery Clinic are professional and friendly. I have never waited more than fifteen minutes at a appointment and the office is never over crowded therefore ensuring my privacy. My surgery was at 7:15 this morning and at 7:15 I was going back. By 7:55 I was in the OR. By 11:30 I was dressed and on my way home. Dr.Hill and his staff answered any and every question I had. He never rushed and educated about my procedure from pre-op to post-op. I love this man and love the faculty,



Welcome to RealSelf!
WOW six children; I barely made it through one..well my tummy didn't survive it...LOL You are a good woman!
Well you definitely deserve this tummy tuck. You will be amazed at how wonderful you feel when all healed. The videos freaked me out as well but I kept watching them. My hubby about turned inside out when he watched one. He had to step away after a couple of minutes.
Nervous is normal but when the morning of surgery arrives you will hit a calm and be so ready. It is hard to explain but you will soon find out.
I look forward to reading your posts and seeing your pictures.
You are welcome!
The worst part for me was the muscle tightening and swelling. The first week is the absolute worst but manageable with the pain meds. Make sure to stay on top of them as prescribed. The severe pain lessens a little bit more each day as you go through the first two weeks. Really though the first week is pretty tough.
After carrying and delivering six kids this will be a breeze for you. Just know that all of the pain is temporary and so worth it in the end.
The drains are pretty annoying but not really that painful. After about a week of having them you tend to get a little annoyed and the entry spots get a little sore. The biggest complaint I had about my drains was that the solution they used for the lipo was oozing out for the first four days. It was messy and annoying. When I woke up the day after my surgery the bed was all wet. I thought I had peed the bed and was horrified. I was yelling for my hubby to help me up and change the sheet.
I then went up to the bathroom and while sitting in the toilet I noticed fluid running out of the hole where the drain was placed.
I called the doctor and he said that it was the saline solution they pumped into me for the lipo. Gross...
You are going to do wonderful!
I woke up in recovery with a compression garment on me and only wore it for 3 days. It was a killer and drive me nuts so I ditched it...with my doctors approval of course. My doc is not one that it big on the garments and does not require them. He said that if it made me feel better to wear it otherwise I could remove it.
Mine was a binder that wrapped around me and went from under my boobs and down over my hips. I wore a soft cotton tank top and boy shorts under mine.
You could read 20 doctors opinions on these things and they will all be different. Bottom line is to just do whatever your doctor orders.
Thinking about you and hope you are doing well:)
You are still in my prayers :) WOW look at you; even with the bandages you can tell the difference. You are looking good girl!
How are you feeling?
Hurray! Rest and keep up on the fluids..
I'll be following you on your journey. I'm super excited/nervous about all of this. Since you have a small child (my youngest is 18mths) keep me updated on how you're handling the care of your small ones. Mine are ages 10, 3, 2, and 1. Good luck and get lots of rest and drink lots of water!! :)
I am 5'9 185lbs and my stomach looks much like yours. I have 4 kids. 8,6,5 and 2. My smallest baby was 8 pounds and my largest was 10 pounds 13 ounces. Your experience is so helpful to me. Thanks for posting and keep us posted on your progress!! :)