Tummy tuck before & after photos
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1,899 reviews
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Tummy Tuck Cost $8,400 average cost

A Tummy Tuck Was the Best Thing I Ever Did!

9 posts
Comments (18)
Updated 3 Apr 2008
Posted 2 Apr 2008
Worth It
Spent: $6,250 in Lakewood,Wa.
After having 3 children I was left with stretched, lose hanging skin on my stomach. I had gained 100 pounds with my 2nd pregnancy because of a medical condition that just made it worse. I worked out at the gym for years and NEVER could get rid of the skin on my stomach. After careful consideration and research I decided I'd go to the place that had done several of my friends breast augmentations. Yes, even with a "comfort pump" the procedure was painful, but it was very worth it to me. Gone was the stretched, lose skin and the stretchmarks that went almost up to my boobs before, were now all below my belly button. My swelling lasted several months, but I wore my girdle for that whole time. Even with the swelling, the long incision (that I can easily hide in bathing suits and underwear), and the almost 1 year before I was back to normal recovery was worth every dime and day that I spent under that girdle! For me, a tummy tuck was easier than putting myself through 3 natural childbirths, tatoos and a broken foot.

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Vote: 21 members found this review helpful

Comments (18)

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blondgirlie (9 posts) 2 Apr 2008
Ok, I'm commenting on my own story. The last photo was taken 1 month ago after a surgery to remove a "dog ear" I had developed after my tummy tuck. You can see that almost 3 years later how much my scar has faded comepared to the 6 week follow up one that is posted above. I know I could have used some Lipo on my hips but chose to get surgery on my breasts over lipo about a year later.
JENV (unregistered guest) 22 Dec 2008
Hi there Dont know if this thred is too old for you to comment on, but here goes...I had my TT 11 days ago. I have, on the sides, almost at the ends of the incision, flaps of skin (not very much, mayb 1-2 cm) that dont lie flat. My incision is smooth (as smooth as it coudl be after 11 days) every where else. Is this a "dogs' ear" or is this just an unfortunate few stitches? It's unsightly, as all else seems to look much better. Sounds like you may have had something similar? Also, while I'm here, how long did it take for the swelling to go down. I'm hard and sticky outty from the BB down! Thanks BTW, your scar is almost unnoticible, FANTASTIC! Congrats
Irene 9 (unregistered guest) 2 Apr 2008
You look great! WOW. question - What skin products did you use to fade the scars? irene
blondgirlie (9 posts) 2 Apr 2008
I didn't! And they warned me about tanning, that it would darken the scars but I tried not tanning the scars for a few months and it drove me crazy so I said forget it..they did darken for several months then faded away. I will say that taking your vitamins, and watching your nutrition was a HUGE factor in my scar looking so nice.
B. Linda (unregistered guest) 2 Apr 2008
agree with irene....u look fabulous. congrats on getting your body bck... what diet changes did you make to get rid of scarring?...was it temporarey or are u still on this diet?
blondgirlie (9 posts) 3 Apr 2008
It was more of a lifestyle change instead of a "diet." I knew that staying healthy and eating a balanced, nutricious diet would be the best choice anyways. But watching a friend have a tummy tuck who continued to just eat alot of junk and fast food,(and didn't wear her girdle!!!) who was a social smoker realy hit home. I don't know if the two issues were in fact related, but her scars looked nasty. Mentally it was enough to make me committed to NOT looking like that. I wasn't going to go through all this pain and money and not do what I could, even if it took over a year from start to finish to have the best scar I could. And it went through alot of different phases from red and raised, to dark brown and flat... it was lumpy. But eventually, it calmed down and faded with time. I know everyone is different and I told myself if I was going to tan my scar then I was going to do everything I could to make sure it looked the best it could. It was lumpy for about a year,and I massaged it every night and I think wearing the girdle around the clock for several months helped to keep the tension off the scar so it didn't widen. Some people made fun of me for wearing my girdle for so long but like other people have said, I had residual swelling for several months.
jmcaul (8 posts) 6 Apr 2008
Not sure what you mean by "dog ear"? Can you describe more fully? I wasn't sure what I was seeing in the picture. Thanks!
blondgirlie (9 posts) 6 Apr 2008
A "dog ear" is a little piece of skin that sticks out at the end of your incision. I didn't have the "before" of my dog ear but I can see if my doctor can give it to me. Mine was small about 3cm that poked out like a little triangle. It grossed my daughters out! Early on there was this piece of flesh that didn't lay flat, so after a few years I decided that I wanted it removed.
MaryKaren (unregistered guest) 16 Apr 2008
Could you explain the dog ear correction in greater detail please???? How long did it take to recover after? Was it painful to correct?
Vida (1 post) 10 Oct 2008
I also had a full tummy tuck and my doctor was really good, he made the stitches meet in the middle so there would be no "dog ears". I'm now 1 week short of 3 months post-op and I feel good. Sensation is almost all back, and I look really good. I used to have a big belly from multiple pregnancies and what a difference my surgery did. I'd say the lipo hurt more, it itched and was sore for weeks. Honestly, it's all worth it. Get a great surgeon and do it. Just do it.
blondgirlie (9 posts) 17 Apr 2008
Well all they had to do to get rid of the "dog ear" was to cut off the little piece of skin that stuck out. I think I had like 4 or 5 stithces and they were in for about a week. They were annoying and burned, but it wasn't painful. I kept the incision covered with gauze but the pressure from pants hurt it, but if I wore loose clothing it felt like a curling iron burn or something... and then it's healed up very nicely. I think my incision is about an inch long, so I traded a 3cm piece of poking out skin for a flat incision.
finallyready30 (2 posts) 22 May 2008
So congrats on how great you finally feel and look...So I am probably going to skip getting the lipo on the flanks as well and I am thinking about a breast lift.. Well my question is one I haven't read yet.. Do you have any pics of your belly straight on for the afters... I keep seeing altered pics of people leaning in the befores and standing straight up and in the afters and then theres your case only a profile...?
Anonmous (1 post) 17 Oct 2008
Hi i have had 3 kids and man its hardest getting rid of this belly on the third.. wa able to get rid of it the first two times... So did they say how many pounds of skin they removed total?
blondgirlie (9 posts) 18 Oct 2008
Yes, it was a little over 3 pounds, and the tattoo came off in 1 piece! They gave me a picture of that as well.
Kearah (unregistered guest) 1 Jul 2009
I just wanted to know where you got your procedure done. I am really considerig having a tummy tuck I want mine to turn out an great as yours. I fyou dont mine telling me You can e mail me at kearah_critchfield@yahoo.com Last question about how much did the hole thing cost you?
Sharon at RealSelf (Community Manager - 4,028 posts) 2 Jul 2009

Hi Kearah,

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Forlife (1 post) 29 Dec 2009
Excellent result!!! I just had a full tummy tuck 3 weeks ago--after 3 kids and gaining(over about 6-7yrs), then losing(the last 2 1/2 yrs) about 90 pounds. I would do it again--in a heartbeat. It does hurt--esp the first few days...but--I agree---totally worth it!! :)
SuzyinHollywood (8 posts) 10 Jun 2010
Wow! Great results. Congrats.

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