Tummy Tuck: Stories

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Questions for Those Who've Already Had a Tummy Tuck - Tampa, FL

3coolcats
posted 2 years ago
updated 2 years ago

Not Sure
Cost: $5,300
Tampa, FL

Hello, I am scheduled to have a tummy tuck on Nov....

20 Oct 2010

Hello, I am scheduled to have a tummy tuck on Nov. 5, 2010 and have a few questions for those of you who have already had them......

1) In reading many of these reviews, everyone seems very happy w/their results about a year after the surgery - but what about 5 or 10 years after the surgery???? My P.S. says I shouldnt need to repeat the procedure again if I maintain my weight, but I think everyone gains 5-10 lbs around the holidays (it seems kind of unavoidable) I don't know if I want to go thru with this if the results only last a year or 2........
2)My PS says it will take 2 wks to recover from a TT, but how long did it take before you started up strenuous aerobics/weight lifting workouts?
3)How long did it take for your scar to fade?
4) Is there anything yyou wish you had known or asked before you had your TT?
5) I had a vertical Csection 4 years ago and recall great difficulty getting in and out of my bed for several weeks. Did you sleep in a bed after your procedure or should I invest in a recliner?
I greatly appreciate any advice or thoughts you're willing to share with me!!!!!!!!

Still not sure if it was worth it...... My tummy...

29 Jan 2011

Still not sure if it was worth it...... My tummy is definitely flatter than it was but has a somewhat odd profile (appearance from the side) where my upper abdomen protrudes slightly then indents at my waistline and still a little protruding in the lower abdomen. This could have something to do with my build however - I am only 5'4 and very short waisted. The incision is a little higher than I would've liked and does show in some of my swimsuits, not perfectly straight with small dogears on one side giving a "lumpy" appearance and I also appear to be getting some stretchmarks above and below the incision because I still believe too much skin may have been removed. (My doc did say he could correct the dogears in his office but I don't know if I want to go thru being cut open again & repeating the healing process.) I guess I should not have expected perfection, but unfortunately I am a perfectionist. Overall my PS did a pretty good job, his price was the lowest of the 3 quotes I received, and my appearance is better than it was beforehand.

Still not sure if it was worth it...... My tummy...

29 Jan 2011

Great review?

My Doctor: name not provided

overall did a pretty good job at the lowest quoted price

Comments (32)

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Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 31 Jan 2011

Give it some time..you still have swelling and the entire abdomen will look different month by month.

East Northport 14 Jan 2011

hi ladies anyone with a recent tt. i am soooo scared of the pain. I am in my middle to late forties and forgot what the c-section pain felt like?

Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 15 Jan 2011

Hi East Northport,

I am soon to be 47 and did fine. You will make it through and be glad to have a nice flat tummy. The pain is different than a c-section so it't hard to compare to that anyway.

The pain is all temporary and does go away. You can do it!!

chinababe60 3 Dec 2010

My surgeon said that he did not do any muscle tightening even though he had planned to. He said that when he had a look at muscles they are fine. Now I am worried that my tummy will not be flat enough. Surgery was 2 days ago & i am walking ok & getting about. I find sleeping on my side comforable, but will it do any damage please?

Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 6 Dec 2010

Hi chinababe,

Sleeping on your side should not hurt anything. The big thing is to just make sure you are comfortable. Try placing a pillow between your knees for pressure relief.

3coolcats 3 Dec 2010

Hi East Northport,
just to give my 2 cents........ I'm now appr 1 month post-op and I'm feeling pretty good now. I think the pain and discomfort is very similar to a Csection, my pain was really pretty minimal and didn't bother me much. What I couldn't stand was being so hunched over and not being able to stand up straight. I started standing straight around the 3rd wk but still don't feel my posture is back to where it was before surgery but I don't think anyone else notices but me. Good luck & definitely make sure you invest in a recliner if you don't have one already - it was a real lifesaver for me!

East Northport 1 Dec 2010

is it anything like a c-section, i had 3 of them.

Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 1 Dec 2010

Oh gosh you are a pro then. It is just different. What really hurts is the muscle tightening. You can't breath, cough, laugh, cry, sneeze, poop, or push to pass gas. It is just extremely uncomfortable but just tell yourself that it is all temporary and the worst part is over in the first 7-10 days.

Over all it was totally worth it and I would do it again if necessary. I absolutely love my results and could not be any happier. The pain was worth getting rid of the double muffin top.

East Northport 1 Dec 2010

hi i am new to this and just went for a tt consultation today. dont want anyone at work to know what i will be doing. i guess i need to take two weeks off, but what do i say at work?

Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 1 Dec 2010

Just say that you need some abdominal or female surgery and leave it at that. Just hold back on any details.

There will always be prying people but you are in control of this one.

East Northport 1 Dec 2010

thank you, do you think two weeks is enough time out. I feel that i am to old for this.

Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 1 Dec 2010

Ah you are never to old for an improvement!!

I really recommend a minimum of three weeks off totally. And if you can swing it take four. I was off for just under 4 weeks and was so glad I didn't rush it. It really hurt and the swelling was awful for me.

You just plain get tired and worn out.

3coolcats 21 Nov 2010

OK, so now its almost 3 wks out and I am standing straighter, however I still feel like this has permanently affected my posture and not in a good way. I have always had narrow sloping shoulders, naturally large heavy breasts and a kinda flat butt. (an Italian peasant look I inherited from my grandma). The surgery seems to have accentuated or intensified all of these things. Although everyone tells me I appear to be standing straight, my chest is slouched in (I never used to slouch before) my shoulders appear to be more stooped, I swear my breasts are hanging about 2 inches lower on my chest than previously and my butt appears flatter than before. I never felt I needed a breast lift before, but now I can see I am in desperate need of one although I can't afford it. I think I feel really bad about this because my doc never explained that these were possible outcomes of the surgery and in all the research I did beforehand I only heard of 1 other person who experienced these things (so I thought the chance of it happening to me was pretty slim.) I don't really know what I could have done differently to have prevented this...... I guess I should have asked the doc beforehand how much skin he planned to remove. If he had told me 6-7 inches I would have told him no, I only want 3-4 removed. So if you are considering this procedure, this might be a question you want to ask. Also ask what are the chances of this affecting your posture and/or affecting the appearance of other body parts? Unless you have a Jlo booty and breasts high up on your chest (or plan to get a lift or augmentation along w/the TT) you will really want to give this some thought..........

ritrit 21 Nov 2010

Hi. Im sorry that you are having a bad day. I hope it helps it helps when I tell you that this is totally normal and I felt the same way. Im almost 8 weeks post-op and its only been a week that I have been able to stand totally straight without the binder on. I know I could use a serious breast lift and I never thought I had big thighs but now that the big tummy is gone I am seeing my body in a different way.In a few weeks you will feel more comfortable in your skin and you will appreciate your new body more . Trust me, it will get much better. Try and look at the whole picture when you look in the mirror. Dont focus on what you think isnt perfect. Im sure you still have some swelling, plus it takes time to adjust to the new you. Try and think positive. Im sure you look great!

Billiam 27 Nov 2010

Although I'm still a a day away from my TT (Monday, Nov 29th), I can tell you that what you are likely suffering from is the tightening of muscle, not the skin. Most people, TT or not, are not stretched and lengthened enough on the front and sides of their torsos. That's why people hunch over so much as they get older: their abdominal muscles contract more and more and their back muscles aren't strong enough to counteract.
When you feel up to it, look into some stretching exercises that will help you lengthen your front and sides (I am an enormous fan and devotee of Yamuna body rolling: www.yamunabodyrolling.com).
Good luck!
Billiam

3coolcats 28 Nov 2010

Thank you Billiam - I really appreciate your suggestion and will check out that website. Good luck with your tummy tuck!

ritrit 12 Nov 2010

Hi. congratulations! Yes, its totally normal. Im sure your doctor didnt take out too much skin it just feels that way. Are you still taking your muscle relaxants? They really help. That tightness lasts for a long time but it decreases every week as the tissue starts to soften. Im over 6 weeks post-op and I still have tightness and swelling, especially after activity. The binder should help with the back strain, are you wearing one? Im still using mine when I exercise and at night. I wanted to burn the darn thing but I guess I still need it for a while longer. Im sure you will feel so much better in a week or two. Take it easy and heal well.

3coolcats 12 Nov 2010

Yes, my day has come & gone. It's finally done! Today is 1 wk post op. Got my drains out yesterday. My tummy is definitely flat now (could it possibly be too flat???) the scar and belly button looks good, however the skin is now so tight I can't stand up straight. Is this normal??? I'm afraid my PS removed too much skin. Will it stretch out over time? I'm not in pain so much from the incision but severe lower back pain/muscle strain from having to walk around hunched over all the time. I feel like the hunchback from Notre Dame. Someone PLEASE tell me this is normal and will go away with time (hopefully not too much......)!!!!!!!!

Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 12 Nov 2010

Totally normal!!! You will be hunched over for a couple three weeks and the tightness will last for a bit longer than that. You want tight...trust me on this. It will relax over time and you will be standing straight quick enough. As horrible as it feels now you will be happy about it in the end.

Like ritrit said...kepp taking the meds and that will help.

chinababe60 3 Nov 2010

My Mum had a tummy tuck over 30 years ago, she is now 77 & her tummy is as flat now as when she had it done! At the same time she had BA. Her body is in better shape than mine at the moment. She looks great.

Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 3 Nov 2010

That is nice to hear that after 30 years her tummy still looks good. That would be wonderful to have it hold out for the rest of my days!

chinababe60 8 Nov 2010

I agree. I am so looking forward to having op & wish it was 1 dec now.

Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 9 Nov 2010

Your day will be here soon.

Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 22 Oct 2010

I know the shopping is so fun!!! Please wait though because it took me five months to get to my final size. It just keeps getting better and better each month. I am just over six months and the pants I bought a month ago in a size 6 now have some slack. I will absolutely jump for joy if I end up in a size 4! Yahoo. I never in my dreams thought the swelling could have lasted so long. My doc did say that I will continue to notice changes for up to a year.

ritrit 22 Oct 2010

Hi! I just remembered another tip that was really helpful, keep plenty of cough drops on hand. They came in very handy during the night. I also have a question for Kimmers, how long before you got to your final size? Im having a hard time staying out of the malls but I dont want to waste my money if Im going to get smaller. Thanks