I am a 35 yr old mother of 2. I decided to write this review of my procedures/experiences because I tried to narrow down the search results, I found that there were NO reviews on petite women in my age range/weight range looking to tighten up/sculpt their tummy's after pregnancy. I also noticed that some reviews are listed as "mini TT" but their scars are from hip to hip. This is just another perspective that can maybe help inform someone close to my body ranges. I am 5'2" 112 lbs.
I have been roughly the same weight between both of my pregnancies and after with no real fluctuation. Most say my body looks great, I however disagree (see pics). I try to eat healthy and although I haven't been regularly working out for the past few months, my weight does remain the same. My skin on my tummy is lax and I have some fatty areas that didn't go away even with regular exercise. I am extremely nervous for the procedure and how long the recovery will take having 2 small children but I am really excited to see the end result. This will be my 2nd procedure with this particular doctor. I previously had a BA done by him as well. He is a great surgeon but an even better person which is why I am using him again.
My surgery is scheduled for 9/8/2015. I will post updates and pictures throughout my recovery.
Wish me luck!
Updated on 7 Sep 2015:
10am tomorrow morning. Have to be there a half hour prior to surgery. So nervous!
Updated on 8 Sep 2015:
Finally, surgery is all done. The anesthesiologist and nurse were awesome. There is pain but nothing too untolerable. Took one Oxycodone. The binder and the muscle repair makes it hard to get up and pee. I have one drain that I already emptied once. .yuck. I can't wait to see the results. 1st follow up appt is on Friday. I will post pics as soon as I can see something!
Updated on 8 Sep 2015:
Still feeling good. Taking one pain pill every four hours don't want to risk getting nauseous and quite frankly don't need more than one for the pain that I feel. Bruising is starting to settle in. I also forgot to mention that I did get light thigh lipo in my outer thighs and those are starting to get slightly sore and bruised. The one thing I am surprised about is that I am able to take deep breaths with no discomfort but blowing my nose or coughing in a slightly different story. My doctor call me tonight to check in and see how I was doing. He seems to be very pleased with my feedback. He told me he took out 900 cc's of fat with lipo. I didn't realize I could have had that much fat with the weight that I was at (112 lbs). My husband actually got to see the skin that was cut off and took a picture of it (he asked the dr to see it). I'm still trying to figure out if I want to post that pic or not. I haven't seen it yet. I think I am afraid to look at it! Good night!
Updated on 9 Sep 2015:
The pain has set in after the meds that were injected during surgery wore off. Laying in bed, in an upright position is fine and pretty painless but getting up to pee is a whole different story. I am more bent over now and the muscle repair is where the most pain is located. It feels like all of the fluid and swelling is pressing down on the muscle repair when I get up. I laughed for a brief second and it was pretty painful. I coughed once and thought my insides were going to burst out. Praying this calms down a little more tomorrow. My 1st post op appt is on Friday.
Updated on 11 Sep 2015:
This morning I woke up not feeling so good, just nauseous and drowsy from the pain meds and well as in some discomfort. I didn't take any pain meds yesterday until I was about to go to sleep. Today, I haven't taken any. I want to be off of the pain meds all together. Coughing has gotten slightly easier as has laughing. I can also blow my nose better now. I had my 1st follow up dr appt today and saw my new body for the first time. It looks great so far from what I was able to look at. I cant look at the scar. It literally makes me feel light headed. I started sweating in his office from being nervous. He said that my drain was starting to clog up so he kept stretching out the tube and a bunch of fluid and clots came came out. I never thought seeing all of this would bother me this much but for some reason it is really having an affect on me. I can almost stand straight up now. He said that if within the next 24 hrs (starting on sat) I was at only 25 output on the drain that he would come in on sunday and remove my drain. I am going to try and take some pics tonight . You won't see the scar bc I can't stand to look at the scar. ...just yet ;)
Updated on 12 Sep 2015:
I promised pics, these arent the best. For some reason I have tons of natural lighting coming in but the pics arent coming out clear. Anyway, you will get the idea. Well try again later. Hopefully I will be able to get this drain out tomorrow.
Updated on 12 Sep 2015:
So I had a momentary breakdown tonight. I decided to take my 1st shower since the procedure and it was a lot to take in emotionally. I entered the grieving stage of "I shouldn't have done this". It is so much to take in, seeing yourself in this body that doesn't look or feel like it belongs to you. All of the swelling, bruising, that scar and for the 1st time, feeling that sensation of pulling across the entire tummy area where the incision is. I know this has been said but this is MY journey and I want to say it....how or when will this ever feel normal again? Will I be able to play with my kids again? Will I ever be able to have sex again? It all feels so far away from where I am at right now...done rant. (Tears).
Updated on 19 Sep 2015:
Hi guys, I have been away for a little while. I went back to work exactly 1 week after surgery. Was a comfortable?... no was it tolerable? yes!. Going back to work was very much welcome for me though because it got me out of the house doing something again. Sitting at home was just way too lonely. I got the drain out on day 6. That made me feel so much better. I am at the dr every other day to check my fluid that has been building on my left side. It isn't a big deal because the areas is numb so you don't feel a thing. I have been wearing a full garment opposed to the small binder for 2 reasons. The full garmnet is more comfortable to me (some would disagree with that) and hugs everything
a little bit better. It puts more pressure all over what is what I wanted and more comfortable to sleep in. Second, the binder no longer fits tight anymore which is FREAKING AWESOME!
Every day that I wake up, I see more welcome changes and imagine myself in a bikini next summer. Dr Kole lipo'd a line down the center of me which makes it look like I have some sort of abs. I love it and I can see it more and more everyday.
Speaking of Dr Kole, I couldn't be happier that I used someone that is so down to earth and caring ( a bonus that he is also funny). He has always been so personable to me and it always available if there is a problem/question/concern. He is even reachable on weekends thru his answering service. This man gets back to you lightening fast which is how I know how much he cares.
New pics posted (the result looks so much more amazing in real life).
Updated on 19 Sep 2015:
Oh, I also forgot to say that some of you asked for pics of the incision but it is still covered in tape. The stitches are disolvable which I was stoked to find out. Also, the steri strips on the incision are starting to crinkle up and he told me that was because I was shrinking up. Now who doesn't want to hear that? ! :)
Updated on 22 Sep 2015:
Today is exactly 2 weeks since my mini TT. Holy tightness..from my incision down to the top of my legs is super tight feeling. I have to get up and stretch out to get going. Anyone know any way to help this? Also, I am wearing 2 compression garments ( the dr did not tell me to do this) to help with the fluid but I can still see more building. Any comments on how many times you had to get fluid drained before the seroma resolved? I am finally sleeping on my sides now which makes sleep a lot more comfortable. My body literally changes everyday, this by far has been the most rewarding surgery.
Updated on 8 Nov 2015:
Sorry that I haven't been as active as I was. I just wanted to give an update since I have had several people pm me about my results and how I am feeling.
I am feeling great. Back to doing everything just as before the surgery. I still have the numbness but I expected that at only at only 2 months post op. Scar is doing well. It is super straight, very thin and very smooth. I am really impressed how straight he was able to make the cut and sew it up so nicely. Hopefully it will be almost invisible like the incision that he did for my BA.
I really couldn't be happier with my result. New pics below!