“Unhappy and Depressed”

cindy I had my tummy tuck on Aug-27-07 im stil a bit swelled also. My scar was high on one side and I was worried. In my papers my Dr. gave me, it told me to expect asymatry of the scar and it would even out. Thank goodness it has. Also my Dr. instructed me to do scar massage 2 times a day with any kind of oil (I use vitamin e oil) just apply and massage the scar for 2 min the oil is to make it easier to slide your fingers accros the scar. Wash it off and then use a silicone sheeting. compresion of the scar is the key to make it heal and almost go away. Try Biodermis Silicone sheets. It is pricy but well worth it my scar is healing beautifuly. You may get the sheets at www.biodermis.com I have the 11by16 sheet so I may get more use out of it. Just cut what you need to cover the scar. Instructions come with it how to use. Also get a body shaper at walmart it will help with the swelling. I had to havee 20cc asperated on my last apt because I did to much bending to soon. Make sure you dont have fluid build up a Seroma. I hope this helps you and others.

I wonder why you procedure was so much cheaper that everyone else do you feel tha played a part in you being unhappy. I would jump at the chance to have this done for less that 4000 but if its not worth for you i may need to opt out of the bargin shopping and just go w/a good doctor

you realy need to do your homework before you choose a docter! My scar is perfect and so low i can wear a low bikini and you can't see it at all. plus my scar is so line its almost gone. If you are totally unhappy i would search for a good docter and just have it redone.

I'm 3 months post op and I still have swelling. I had an appointment last week and they told me after 6 months your only about 80% toward final result. Final result could take close to a year. Sometimes they "forget" to tell you that pre surgery. I have not been wearing a compression garment since six weeks post-op but it was also recommended, along with massage to reduce swelling. Good Luck.

As for the Tummy Tuck - all I can say is that it takes AT LEAST, AT LEAST, let me say it again, AT LEAST 1 year to see final results. BTW, during that year there will be pain, swelling and general discomfort that will decrease as time goes on. Tummy Tuck - no quick fix and only worth it if you really, really, really, dislike your present abdominal situation. Major surgery not to be taken lightly. All the best.

i had my tummy tuck on apr. 16th, 2007 and i am still a tiny bit tiny. my doc told me it would be at least 1 yeast before my stomach will recover from the numbness and the swelling. i could not do a crunch till this day, but am hoping i could soon. everything is still tight. please wait at least 6 months to a year before you can see the results.

Cindy, I live in texas and am considering a tummy tuck...where did you go so I can make sure I'm not wanting to use the same doctor?? HELP!

Hello, I had surgery a week and a half ago. I know it takes time to see results, but how do you know somethings gone wrong if you have to wait soooo long before you're completely healed? My TT results on the abdomen are pretty good, but my belly button that is now man-made is off to my right side, believe it or not. The skin is so tight, I have to walk with my butt tucked in. Very difficult considering I have a natural born "brazilian arch" that seems to have disappeared. I also have a large extended rib cage that pushes my breasts outward and makes them appear bigger which is also gone. So from the side I do not have my beautiful cartoon woman figure anymore. Breasts and rib cage way out, and butt way out with a very small waist is what I had, now I am totally flat from the side other than two bumps. One bump up above- my breast, and one bump below- my butt. Will this return to normal? I hope so very soon. The back pain is awful. And I hate Loritab.

My doctor was VERY specific. My skin was loose on the sides as well. My doctor recommended the scar go up to make it all even. It was a bit of a trade off for me. I was marked with a permanent marker so I knew exactly where the scar would be and how far back. I am a small person so my scar is HUGE - as in long... It runs almost to my back on both sides and is very high but it gave me a nice even look. I knew exactly what to expect. Also, everyone's skin is different. My doctor also told me there was no guarantee on how well the scar would look. It depended on the skin type, the amount of stretch marks,skin color/pigment, elasticity etc. The most he kept emphasizing was the fact that stretch marks can leave very uneven scars because of the skin being stretched out so much. It makes it difficult to make an even scar with stretched skin. He said it could definately leave it uneven. You doctor should of gone through the senarios with you. I am so sorry you're not happy with your results! **remember: we (as women) are much more critical of ourselves than other people are** I wish you the best!

Thank-you so much. I do appreciate your advice, and I feel better now. I am back to work and I am walking more normally. I should be ok in about three months or so according to an acquaintance who knew someone that had the same fears in the beginning. Thanks again! Nee

Hi, I had a TT three weeks ago,I do not have much discomfort now,i am however suprised that i did not bruise at all,My BMI was perfect to have this procedure done.my surgeon said that he will pull my waist right in i cant see this right now and dont think i will,the excess skin has gone,but i thought i would be as flat as a board i still have a bulge (maybe swelling but the day after surgery he said i had little swelling) the scar is hair line across my bikini area,i had drains in that had fallen out the morning they were due to come out (one day after my op) that suprises me as well, as many people say they had drains in for over a week,when i left hospital i was given pain killers that is all nothing on how to care for my personal procedure or what to expect,when i went to see my surgeon a week later he was happy with what he could see (i also have no other appointments to see him again, only this appointment a week later after op nothing else),i said nothing negative as it was early days,i am not happy with the results as of yet. It cost me alot of money to have this done. Many thanks

I am still numb in my belly button area. There is alot of unevenness in stomach surface due to the tightening of the muscles. Unfortunately, the surgery scar goes all of the way to the hip area, and is pulled tight enough that it is making "love handles" that I never had before defeating the purpose of the "so-called" lipo! The only good thing is the pouch is gone. Now I actually miss it! How was your "mini" procedure? Any problems?

Hi, I decided to have a TT after loosing 7st in weight and im still at a young age of 20. I had my TT 6 days ago 2day. I had my drains taken out the following day after surgery. I can already see the difference as the sagging skin that went over my trousers is gone and so is the fat around the sides of my waist. How-ever there is times in the day that im not happy because it keeps swelling, but then I remind myself this is to be expected and anything is better than it was. I have my first appointment tomorrow back at the clinic and then again next wednesday. My stomache is very tight and I can see my ribcage which I couldnt before, so I know that it will be good in time.

i had my tt done sept 08, 7mths ago. the dr did not take enough skin and i still have a round pouch. 0 muscle tone. my dr agreed to either re-do or give me my money back-i will say he was humbl about the bad results. i am thinking about it, i will problably jut get my money back for now. after being put under i always dry-hev and vomit for about 12-24 hours. the surgery center sent me out the door still puking-my inner stitching my have came loose due to that reason. i reccomend if you are thinking of getting a tummy tuck-tell your dr you will pay the extra 1,000. to stay over night in a hospital so they can treat the n/v w/iv meds and you'll have a catheter so you wont have to get up and down as much the first 24hours to pee out the 2 liters of fluid they will put in you during your surgery. also discuss w/your dr in detail prior to surgery about how much skin you expect to be removed and how flat you expect to be. hope this info will spare some one the grief i have had.

I had my tt done 9/08. The dr did not take enough skin and i stilo have a round pouch. 0muscle tone. dr agreed to either give back my money or redo surgery at no $. i always dry-hev and vomit after anethsia. the surgery center sent me out the door still vomiting. my inner stiching may have came loose due to thAt reason or maybe the dr did not get the muscles tight to begin with. however, i strongly reccomend to request to stay over night the first night at a hospital just in case they can administer iv meds to prevent you from vomiting loose your stiching. also, they put 2 liters of iv fluid in you during surgery. it would have been nice to have had a foley catheter that first night so you would not have to get up and down every hour those first few hours after surgery.also discuss in detail w/your dr about how much skin you expect to be removed and how flat you expect your abs to be. now i have a bill(debt) and a scar and no flat tummy. hope this info will save some one the grief i have had and still have.

very unhappy w/my results. i am in debt now and have a terrible scar and no flat tummy. 7 1/2 mths post-op. I would be happy to give info that might prevent this from happening to some one else.

It has been almost a year since my surgery. My scar has reduced visibly, but I still have love handles I didn't have before surgery! I think he stitched me so tight that it formed love handles. Experience was terrible, but my pouch is gone, and so is some of my Brazilian arch which was a definite positive. I gather he must've lipo'd my butt, and not my thighs and hips?! Go figure.

my dr is giving back my money. i am trying to just think on happier things and re-direct my energies. my surgery was a terrible disappointment, i am 8 mths out. i do not reccomend plastic surgery. what we see on tv is the best of the best-not typical results.