Hedieh Arbabzadeh, MD

So I wanted to write this review because real self helped me tremendously in my decision to get this procedure done. I am literally 5 hours post op now so please bare with me. I knew I wanted a lift and more fullness in my breasts, but it took me a bit to come to the decision to go through with the abdominoplasty and what mostly sold it for me was the idea of muscle repair. I had terrible diastasis recti and didn’t realize how a “tummy tuck” would help with that. I never in a million years thought I would get plastic surgery, I just am not that “type of person”. But to be honest everything changes after having kids. My first pregnancy caused a stage 2 diastasis recti and my 2nd caused a stage 4. My separation was 3 fingers plus wide so my back pain and the lack of support was significant! It took me a little over a year of research to decide to start calling around for consultations and after a couple of other consultations I ended up calling Dr. Heidi Arbabzadeh and I knew right away I would go with her. I felt heard, I felt understood and most importantly I felt like she truly believed in helping a woman achieve very natural, beautiful results. I have yet to see my body but I already feel like myself again! I am so excited to see the results. I highly recommend Dr. Arbabzadeh!
I am 5’6” and weigh 154.
I breastfed both babies for 15 months.
Prior to having kids I had a pretty average body but always struggled with my stomach.
My second pregnancy was very hard in terms of lack of support, since we can be honest here, I literally had to wear a sling holding up my crotch or my lips would swell and be so painful from all of the pressure gravity put down there just by me standing up when I was full term. This is how lax my abdominal wall became.
Here are some before pictures, I will post, post op when I can get up.

Updated on 9 May 2022:
I am now 14 days post op and I feel so much better compared to last week. I feel as though I have recovered much quicker than average and I believe it is because I consistently exercised prior and I really did my best to just be in bed as much as possible for the first several days. I also ate a lot of protein and healthy fats and drank a minimum of 100 oz of water/day. I started taking Arnica Montana tablets as well as a tumeric, bromelian supplement about 48 hours post op and am still taking it today. I was taking about 1000mg Tylenol 2-3xday until recently I just switched to 1000mg before bed. My bruising and soreness has been very minimal. Very light bruising on my breasts and just a small bruised area on my abdomen at my incision site. At my 1 wk post op appointment I got my stitches removed and my drains removed which was so incredibly painful I got light headed. I was very surprised because I’ve talked to some people who said it didn’t hurt at all, I don’t know what the difference was with me. I also received an abdominal binder and foam pad to wear over my compression garment and I was able to stand a little taller. For the first week I used a Walker which I highly recommend! Not having your core to support you causes excruciating back pain, I can’t imagine how much worse it would’ve been without having my Walker to get me to the bathroom, kitchen etc. I still can’t lay flat when sleeping but I have a leg positioner and switched to just pillows for support so I am much more comfortable now, than sitting at a 45-90 degree angle as I did the first 7 to 10 days. All in all it is amazing how much better I feel compared to just a week ago. I am still pretty swollen but am seeing some nice changes in my healing process. Very excited and looking forward to see the final results! The hardest part has been not being able to hold or snuggle my 2 year old. Thank God my mom is staying with me to help me and take care of them. Let me know if you have any questions!

Updated on 24 Jun 2022:
I am feeling great! No more soreness, just a little tightness in my abdomen when I stretch. But it just feels like my skin is tighter which is what we’re going for! I love my boobs! They feel so much better. No longer as tender as they used to be. Very happy with my results and look forward to finally being able to workout again and tone up! I didn’t retain as much fat as I had hoped. But over all still very happy with the new me. My incisions are still pretty red and kinda raised but I know that will get better over time.

I had a mommy makeover a month ago with Dr. Arbabzadeh. I had tummy tuck, muscle repair, lipo to flanks and breast lift with implants. My entire journey has been a breeze! Dr & her staff are always attentive and friendly. Dr. Has incredible skills, she not only stitched up my incisions to perfection but my results are already incredible only a month post-op! Would definitely recommend her and her staff for your future surgical needs.

She has wonderful bedside manner and makes you feel very comfortable. Beautiful work! Shes the only doctor i refer. Ive referred 6 friends and all six are, also very satisfied. The healing process was much easier than inexpected and my scars are practically nonexistent! I absolutely love the work she did!

Hi everyone. I'm so grateful to have discovered this site three days prior to my tummy tuck. I have a few questions I'm hoping y'all can help me with. First off, what should I wear to the surgical center? I was told the background but I'm not certain if there should be anything underneath the bathroom. I know that sounds silly, I just want to make sure I do everything right. It's a bra appropriate? Should I wear panties? My surgeon, whom I love, is sending me home with a catheter for 24 hours. Did any of y'all have one of those? Anything you could help me with to get me through the first few days would be most welcomed. i'll be at my mom and stepdad's home, but I'm going to try and take care of myself for I'm very modest.

I've been wanting a BA since I was about 17, so I'm super excited I'm finally doing this! When I was breastfeeding my daughter, my boobs were huge and amazing, but after I weaned her off the boob they completely deflated and were even flatter than before becoming preggo! Super excited for the next two weeks!

Updated on 21 Apr 2016:
Yay!!! I just had my pre op this afternoon, and I am sooo excited for surgery. My doctor, Dr. Arbabzadeh, is so easy to talk to and has a good sense of humor. I'm so happy she's the doctor I chose! Her, my fiancé, and I all chose around 550ccs silicone high profile implant for me. I promise I will post my before pictures soon! Surgery is coming up!! May 2nd!!

Updated on 25 Apr 2016:


Updated on 30 Apr 2016:
Holy guacamole!!! My procedure is in less than two days! The doctor's office called and said my procedure is at 10:30am on Monday!!! I have my ride figured out and my fiancé and a friend are going to take care of me and watch my two year old daughter! That's wha I'm most worried about. My daughter can be pretty rough with me, but luckily she doesn't always ask for me to hold her. Do any mothers with BAs have any advice for distracting toddlers so you don't have to pick them up?? Thank you for any responses! I love this site!!

Updated on 1 May 2016:
The day is almost here!!! Less than 24 hours!! I'm so excited!!!

Updated on 2 May 2016:
I meant to make this post earlier, but my vision has been so blurry with the anesthesiology m. Which is weird. My right eye is worse and won't stop watering. Anywho!! Surgery flew by once I woke up! I got 600cc high profile silicone under he muscle. I also expected to be way more sore, but I'm feeling pretty good! Let's hope it stays that way! Haha here are some pics of the new girls in their bra thingy..

Updated on 3 May 2016:
I am loving my boobies more and more! My surgeon said they look great and incisions are healing well! She also tightened my bra to form more cleavage!

Updated on 5 May 2016:
Here are some nakie pictures of my post op boobs from yesterday! First time I had looked at them naked since before surgery! Can't wait until they drop and fluff!!

Updated on 11 May 2016:
I can't WAIT to start working out again!!! Going from running 3-4 miles a day and lifting weights every week, to nothing was a little hard! This first week has been okay because the last thing I wanted to do was work out, but now since I feel so much better, I miss it!!! My surgeon told me I can stop wearing my surgical bra thank goodness because the tightness was causing me anxiety and panic attacks!I keep going in and out of swelling up. I know some women like to keep their identities anonymous and I completely respect that, but I don't mind if anyone sees my face and I'd love for my little real self family to see the super happy face behind the boobies!! Hehe!

Updated on 14 May 2016:
I'm just really hoping that each breast doesn't drop and fluff at different times haha

Updated on 16 May 2016:
My boobies are slowly moving down! Yay!! Been rubbing all sorts of cocoa butter goodness on them to avoid any stretch marks. I love them so much!

Updated on 19 May 2016:
I am LOVING these new boobs! My incisions are under the boobs, but my right nipple has been extra sensitive lately. I'm hoping this is a normal side effect. I have a doctor's appointment next week, so I'll ask her about it then. I can't wait to go bra shopping for some fancy bras! They also both seem to be dropping at the same time thank goodness! I hope everyone else is having a great day as well!!

Updated on 5 Jun 2016:
Hello everyone! So it's been a while since I've posted. Mainly because I've been really bummed out about an infection I got in my left breast. The good news is that I'm pretty sure I caught the infection before it got to the implant, so more than likely I don't have to have it temporarily removed. The antibiotics I'm on have been working great and I've been seeing my PS twice a week. She took a culture, so tomorrow I should be getting a call letting me know the correct antibiotic I need to be on to make sure this infection is gone for good! It's been rough and kinda gross dealing with my incision opening. Gag! But I'm just thanking God it's healing! Pray for lefty!

Updated on 7 Jun 2016:
In my last update I mentioned that I had an infection... Well today at 1 I have to have my left implant taken out. :( So I will be uniboob for the summer so I can heal and then my doctor will replace it in 3 months. I'm pretty bummed that I was part of the 1-2% of people who have to have an implant removed, but I'm glad to get it out so I can heal correctly. Luckily my hubby is super supportive edpecially since he didn't really want me getting this done in the first place! He does like them tho haha. Anywho! Wish me luck today!!

Updated on 9 Jun 2016:
So I had my left implant taken out on Tuesday. It feels nice knowing I'm healing. I don't think I mentioned the infection I had, but I had MRSA staph infection. Yikes!! I hate wearing this awful drain, but it will be taken out in a few days. My doctor is giving me an implant to place in my bra once my drain is out. My hubby was concerned with how I'm handling this, and it's honestly not that bad. I'm not depressed or anything and my anxiety is gone now that my incision is all stitched up again! Just no low cut shirts for me this summer! :)

Updated on 14 Jun 2016:
So today I finally got that awful drain out! I didn't know what to expect because some people have said it's painful and others have said its painless. It was definitely a weird feeling! Not painful, but I wasn't expecting such a long tube to come out of me! Ew! My incision is healing up well and I'm on my last round of antibiotics. My doctor gave me an implant to stuff my bra with and it definitely helps! I can't wait to have lefty back though!

Updated on 8 Nov 2016:
So on Halloween day I finally got my left boob back!!! It was much more painful this time around tho. I had a lot of scar tissue, so they needed to use that scary black stitching that needs to be removed. Rather than the dissolvable sutures and glue that my surgeon normally uses. It's also like my boob remembered having an implant because it's already settling nicely and it's only been a week. I've been on antibiotics to make sure I wouldn't get the same infection, and have a cream that kills all staph bacteria. I can't wait for this scary scar to heal tho!!

Updated on 10 Nov 2016:
So this is the 10th day since I got lefty back! I had my stitches removed today! It's dropping pretty fast too! I love them so much!

Updated on 28 Nov 2016:
So it has been one month since I had my left implant put back in! I believe that my doctor and I did a wonderful job at making sure I wouldn't get an infection again. My boob is still dropping a little, but I couldn't be happier! I love my big ol [RS bleep]! And I love that I can say that plural now! Haha and I can't wait to get the okay to start working out again! These surgeries made me gain a few unwanted pounds. ????

Updated on 15 Dec 2016:
My surgeon gave me the okay to start running again! I've been running everyday since then! I gained quite a few unwanted lbs since the beginning of surgery back in May. My boobs are almost symmetrical again too! I'm so thankful for the amazing surgeon I have. She's the best. She took such good care of me and I know how busy she is. I saw her yesterday and she said to call in May for a checkup since everything is perfect now!

Updated on 17 Feb 2017:
Hello everyone! So it's been a while since I have updated anything. This last month I've been worried I've been developing capsular contracture in my problem boobie (lefty). It's been four months since I had my replacement implant after my infection and it is still very firm. I DO feel like it gets a little squishier each day. My hubby thinks it does too, so I'm trying to stay positive! I'm not in any pain, and I still LOVE my results!! Doctors said to wait at least 4-6 months and I'm barely hitting my 4 month mark with lefty. Righty feels like a complete part of me! All natural boobie!!! I LOVE it! Haha. I'm not supposed to see my surgeon until May, so I hope lefty keeps getting softer. If she doesn't within two months, I'll call my surgeon. Thee LAST thing I want is a revision on lefty after what I've gone through. I hope everyone has been doing well!!

Updated on 28 Apr 2017:
I'm loving these boobs so much!!! Lefty is still a little firm, but is softening up. I have an appointment to see my surgeon May 11th. Hoping no capsular contracture! My mom said she had it bad with her right breast after her first BA. Praying I don't take after her in this department! Haha. Had to buy a fancy bra of course! 34DDD at Victoria's Secret!

I had experienced back pain for years and had always dreamed of having a breast reduction performed. To my delight, my insurance paid the bulk of the cost. I was very impressed with Dr Stefanacci and her staff. All of my questions were answered and any worries I had were put to rest. The results were perfect. I was so thrilled I will be returning this year for a tummy tuck with lipo. There is no one else I'd rather perform this surgery.

Like most of the women on this site getting reductions, I have always been large breasted. As a younger girl and woman they really stood out because I was much thinner. I had nicknames in school and was always referred to as the "one with big boobs". It was horrible. I constantly could not find bathing suits, bras, and many times clothing that fit correctly and forget about strapless anything! A strapless bra left me with aching for days because it had to be so tight to hold me up (IF you could call it holding me up!)
Although it was something I'd always thought about, I finally made the decision to consult the doctor about a reduction after countless trips to the chiropractor and never ending discomfort of under-boob rashes, skin tags from large bras, and indents in my shoulders (I also suffered from headaches, but I never knew if large breasts were the culprit.) my general doctor send me to Dr. Stefanacci and I was on my way.
The Dr. Took pics and sent them in to my insurance. She was encouraging and said it would probably be covered. I was showed before and after pictures and discussed my fears and questions. I didn't want to lose sensation in my nipples and the scars were quite scary. She sent me home to really consider what I wanted to do and let her know when I wanted her to send my pics in for insurance authorization.
3 weeks later I made my decision and called that I was ready to get started. Insurance approved it 100%! I paid about $120 for other fees and co-pay type stuff but my surgery was scheduled for the June 17!! I am a teacher and that was my first week out of school. I'd have all summer to recuperate. I was so excited but also scared to death!! I really didn't want anything to go wrong.

Updated on 1 Jul 2015:
Im 14 days post-op today!!! I have to say I am so happy with my decision, I can't even describe it.
The day of surgery went extremely well. I was super nervous but tried to stay as calm as possible - was I really getting major body surgery? It was like I was in an excited fog and then I'm getting an IV and prepped to go back when it all hit me. My body would never be the same. It was seriously scary. Luckily, my husband supported my decision and was by my side. I don't know how I would have made it those first couple days without him!!! I woke from surgery feeling pretty good - no pain. I was extremely tired still even though I had slept for 2 hours in recovery!! They basically woke me up, let me get my bearings (somewhat) and sent me off with my husband. That day is still somewhat of a blur!! I already had my pain mess so my hubby basically iced me up and brought me pain meds and light food that day. I wasn't hungry at all. I kinda hoped it would last and I could shed some weight at the same time! ;) Sad to say, that feeling didn't last. My appetite definitely came back. :(
So, in the past 2 weeks here's a run down of what I've experienced:
1. Sleeping on my back is horrible. Im a tummy sleeper and it's really hard to be stuck on my back every night. I've had several restless nights because of this, BUT it is getting better. I'm using tons of pillows to support me and tilting to my side doesn't hurt as much as it did.
2. Rest and relaxation is super important!! I tried doing too much some days and it's not good. I'm trying to take it easy and let my body heal. BUT, it's very hard with 4 kids. Luckily, my kids are older and more able to help me out rather than needing me to take care of them. I am still working on the resting thing.
3. Using dial gold (antibacterial) soap is really helping my incisions stay clean. At 1 week post-op visit, the nurse said I could start taking showers. I used an old trick my ob-gyn taught me after my C-Section: rub dial soap ABOVE the incisions and let It run down over the surgical area. The soap kills any bacteria. I'm currently doing this when I shower and I've noticed how clean it is and well I'm healing. (I developed an infection after one of my Cesareans and it was NOT fun).
4. I'm not as "small" as I thought I'd be. I don't know what I expected, but I'm bigger than what I "saw" in my head. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my new boobies!! I just didn't realize they would still be larger than "normal" (whatever that is) I'm still larger than my sisters and mom but I can live with that!
Soooooo, that's my insight up to 2 weeks. I go back tomorrow for my 2 week follow up with the Dr. and we shall see what she says. I

Updated on 2 Jul 2015:
Saw the Dr today and she said I look great! All is healing well :D
She also told me she removed almost 600g from my right breast and 200g from the left; I was waaaayyy uneven!

Updated on 2 Jul 2015:


Updated on 7 Jul 2015:
Tomorrow is my 3 week mark and I am super happy with how everything is going!! I recently started going to the gym to walk the treadmill and begin moving more. I don't do my favorite Zumba classes yet but I'm anxiously waiting for that maybe next week?? Scabs are almost all off and my incisions seem to be healing well. I have also figure out a way to sleep on my side using pillows that doesn't put too much weight on the girls. That's been a life saver as I mentioned before I HATE sleeping on my back. I still get shooting pains and lots of tingling in my nipples and surrounding areas but it's not constant.
My frustrations are that I still can't physically do everything I want to do. I feel great most of the time but I fear injuring my internal stitches and whatnot so I still am trying to take it easy. I just get so restless!! I'm on my summer vacation and there's so much I want to do but I can't. I also want to lose weight and it's hard not being able to take a cardio class at the gym. :(
All in all, it's still worth it and I'm not complaining.
I noticed I have a part that sticks out of my incision right on the edge by my underarm. I've heard people call it a dog ear. Is that fixable? Will that be permanent? I see my Dr in 2 weeks so I'll ask her but I'm wondering how many people have experienced that?

Updated on 15 Jul 2015:
So, I'm starting to feel like "myself" again! :D Not fully as I learned when I tried taking a Zumba class and just couldn't really do it all yet. I know I'm probably pushing myself too fast but an entire month of taking it easy is seriously HARD! I want to lose weight so bad and I thought the BR would be the first steps to a new, smaller body where I could actually start exercising!! I know it will come in time... Just needed to rant for a moment ;)
As you can tell in the pics, my incisions are healing so wonderfully; I'm overjoyed at that. There is only one small scab left and I'm sure I'll see that gone by next week. I don't see my doctor until July 30 so I just do what I feel I can handle. Like she told me before- if it hurts, I prob shouldn't be doing it!
One piece of absolute joy is I can finally sleep fully on my sides again!! No more propping myself up and restless nights! It feels so good to lay flat at night. :)
I have a question that's been on my mind lately. I go back to work early August and I know people will comment that I look different. I'm not a prude, or private type of person at all!!!! But, I also don't know if telling people I had a reduction is appropriate?! I don't really care if people know but maybe I should keep that my little secret? I really have been thinking a lot about this and I can't figure out how to handle it. Any suggestions?!

Updated on 19 Jul 2015:
So, I have to share this story. If you have (or had) large boobs, you will appreciate it!
I just went in to Target to start scoping out non-sports bras. I am getting irritated of ALWAYS seeing that racer-back line next to my neck when I wear regular shirts. I wanted something that had straps. I know I'm not supposed to wear underwire, but lucky for me, there is quite a selection of non-underwire bras in the "little" section!! I actually tried on several styles of bra and they ALL fit. I can't remember a time when I had to select the STYLE I wanted because they all looked good!! Anyway, I also fit into a size LARGE - yes, that's right, no cup size. It was small, med, and large. And I fit into it! Did I mention it was $14.00?? I can't remember the last time I wore a $14 bra!
I also tried on a couple bras with actual sizes and found out I'm a solid 38 C. This was the first time I have been able to see my actual cup size and it felt great! I bought two bras that plunged down and support me, but also show off my lovely cleavage :) Thank God for this procedure!!!!!!!

Updated on 23 Jul 2015:
Here are some 5 week post op pics. I am FINALLY feeling (mostly) likely old self. I have resumed exercise and taking my Zumba and toning classes and feeling so much better. I am sleeping on my sides and sometimes even find myself on my tummy but I'm not fully ready to resume that yet :). Found a stitch that made its way out of my incision which was weird but I washed with antibacterial soap and it was all good. Good reminder to not enter that pool! Don't want any bacteria nasties to make their way in those little openings!!!
Loving life!

Updated on 5 Aug 2015:
I feel pretty much back to normal. No more pain, discomfort, etc for the most part. I'm still sensitive and tender in places but I feel great. Doctor started me on scar guard but didn't want me to use it on the open sections. I've decided to wait until it's all closed up but I'm pretty sure I'm there at this point. I'll prob start using itwithin the next couple days. I'll post results as I see a difference. Red scarring mostly along the bottom cup area but those are easily covered.
Still happy!!

Updated on 22 Aug 2015:
Best. Decision. Ever.
Period!
:)
Kinda funny but every time I see a large breasted woman I want to encourage a reduction!! I would never say anything but I immediately think it! Do they know what they are missing???? Went to Vegas with the hubs for my birthday and wore a bandeau as a bra THE ENTIRE TIME! Halter top, low tank top... Didn't matter.

I'm just so happy with my results. Can you tell?! :D

Updated on 26 Aug 2015:
Someone asked about my "dog ear" scar. It's actually worse now. Not doing anything about it just yet. Still not great looking though!!

Updated on 12 Jul 2016:
I can't believe it's been a year! I have to say I can't even remember what it felt like to be as big as I was. It took a little while to get back to my completely normal self but I can confidently say this procedure was the best thing I ever did for myself. Last summer I was not confident and this summer I am losing weight, and feeling like a new person who has options! I was lucky and had zero complications and a wonderful healing experience. I highly recommend this procedure if you are considering it. My best advice- make sure to research your doctor!!! Don't go in blind or if you have a bad feeling about them. Also, don't expect perfect boobs! I look at tiny imperfections and wonder if that's normal but honestly, whose boobs are perfect anyway?? They look fab to me and that's all that matters. Best wishes to all!!

Updated on 12 Jul 2016:
Could never have worn a bathing suit like this before!

This is my second time getting my cheeks done, approximately 8 months apart. One vial total in cheeks and marionette lines. I LOVE the lift I get in the cheeks. I'm 45 but before filler look much younger with fairly smooth skin. I was starting to complain about marionette lines so I tried juvederm but didn't think it did anything. A few months later, I went back and my Dr suggest radiesse in the cheeks. Results are immediate and although some of the "oomph" disappears with swelling, overtime the product continues to plump you up. I will continue to use this product for a very long time. With all procedures be sure to like and trust your doctor.

I have been wanting to be the real me for a long time. I have been tired and sore from back and shoulder pain from the extra weight for a few years now too. Although my implants still looked fantastic, it was time to be me again. I researched doctors locally and had a couple of appointments. I forgot they always want to take pictures. Sorry, I don't do pictures.

I ended up getting my implants out about a week ago. I wore drain tubes for 7 days and just recently got them out. Drains are uncomfortable, but important to the healing proccess. I am so relieved to be me again. I can't say I fill out a dress anymore, but I already am 2 lbs lighter and my back didn't hurt today sitting at my desk for hours on end like it has. Time will tell if I get energy back too. Your immune system is constantly fighting the implants, so I am hoping I will!

I can't begin to tell you how implants are just so not necessary. They look great, but ultimately they never brought me anything I couldn't have already gotten without them. I got them because of a man I couldn't keep, they didn't keep him either...although they prolonged his stay for a while, which ultimately just wasted time finding mr. right. I got them because I didn't feel pretty or good enough (especially after having a child) and I thought no more sag, no more milked cow syndrome. lol. In the end, I was always beautiful. I was always enough. I got married with fake boobs in. When I told my husband after 3 years of marriage I wanted them out but was worried what he'd think. His response was "I wish you had never gotten them in the first place." I wish men today would look at their wives and girlfriends with the same love and compassion my husband has for me. It's not healthy to have these things in. It should tell you something that one of the guys that invented these things died from getting ran over by a garbage truck, I just heard that from one of my doctors recently. I don't care what you believe in, that tells you something. I am sorry for his death of coarse, but curious way to go. If you are thinking about getting implants, don't. If you are thinking about getting them out, do. It really isn't all that and any man who tells you it's a good idea, isn't really thinking of you.

I am me again, I am beautiful, and I am worth it.

I’ve had 2 cesareans with the second child weighing in at 9lbs 4oz. I started realizing within a year after that I had significant diastasis. Even though I had lost weight I still looked around 5 months pregnant. I also had some fat and the csection pooch but the protrusion and the pregnancy look bothered me most. I’m 5’3” and around 140lbs. A year ago I had a BA and loved the results but it made my tummy issues more obvious. I’ve dieted and exercised moderately but nothing helped the tummy area and I think many of these exercises were actually making the diastasis worse. I decided I was going to have a tummy tuck.

I went in for a consult with Dr Arbabzedeh in February. I chose her based on her incisions and attention to detail, the cost, and her belly buttons. Her office is beautiful and the staff is very friendly. Dr Arbabzedeh was extremely easy to talk to and has great bedside manner. I felt comfortable with her right away. She said my diastasis was pretty severe and gave me realistic expectations of my results. She said that because I’m fairly thin the diastasis is more apparent and that my muscles were in pretty bad shape. My belly button is also in poor shape so I was excited to be getting a new one.

My surgery was scheduled for March 31st but with all this Covid stuff, the surgery was postponed. I am so excited to have a new surgery date in a few days. I’ll post some before pictures soon.



Updated on 4 May 2020:
Here are some before pics. I can’t wait to be rid of the bulge. Most people I know have no idea that my belly looks like this. I walk around most of the time sucking it all in. But I can’t wait to wear form fitting shirts and dresses without spanks and having to suck it in.
Surgery is in 2 days. The nerves are setting in but I can’t wait to get this surgery. I work as a nurse and am taking 5 weeks off to recover. My husband will be taking care of the kids and household so I can heal and recover.

Updated on 5 May 2020:
I think I’m as prepared as possible. I have looked at a ton of reviews and tried to compile all the necessary supplies. I have an adjustable base bed so that should help me be somewhat comfortable. I plan on wearing a soft flowy button up sleep shirt to the surgery. Dr says I will have to go home with a Foley catheter for 24 hrs. I absolutely Cringe at the thought of it but I will try my best to be a good patient and hopefully I’ll be too sleepy to notice. I do plan of getting up every few hours for pneumonia and clot prevention so I’m sure I’ll have to deal with it even a little. Today is Cinco De Mayo and Taco Tuesday and I know should eat light but I do plan on having a taco to celebrate. Im posting a better picture of my abdomen and excited that as of tomorrow it will no longer hang and I will get some much needed core restoration.

Updated on 7 May 2020:
So surgery was yesterday and went good. Last night I got super nauseous and ended up vomiting a few times. That was so scary as it felt like my abdominal muscle repair for sure was gonna rip. Today I feel much better and just got back from seeing the Dr. she said I look really good and assured me my abs were fine. I got the foley removed today also. Drains stay in for now. I’ll go see her again in a week. So far today the pain is under control. A little tender when moving and flexing on accident. Sometimes they flex on their own as well. No Lipo pain yet either but I’m sure it’s coming. Got to see my belly button today and it looks good! Just gonna eat something light and take it easy today.

Updated on 8 May 2020:
Last night was a lot better than the first. Pain had been tolerable. I decided to try to have a BM this morning. My husband helped me out of my compression garment. It is quite uncomfortable to wear all day but boy, does it give me a ton of support. After putting it back on I am now able to stand a little straighter. My drains are looking less bloody and more serious so that’s good. Pain is tolerable. Still taking the Percocet every four hours and then before bedtime and then when I woke up at 7. Not too bad if you’re not moving. Today’s goal is to eat and drink more to decrease swelling and help me to heal. Got to take a pic without the garment and I like what I see so far even with all the swelling and bruising.

Updated on 9 May 2020:
Yesterday was a setback as I got extremely nauseous from my first dose of antibiotics. It took about 8 hours to pass. Since then I’ve also stopped to Percocet and am only taking extra strength Tylenol every 4-6hrs. The pain is not an issue. I feel good getting out of bed and even ate breakfast at the table. Hoping to start eating more now that the nausea has passed. I still haven’t had a BM yet. I was also able to get up in the middle of the night by myself to pee. Thank goodness for the female urinal I bought. It makes it pretty easy to pee without having to use the toilet. Right now I’m sitting up in a chair in my room and it feels good to be out of bed. One thing I’ve noticed is that because of the tightness of the compression garment, I’m not passing gas as easily as usually. When I adjust it a bit then I can burp. Another issue with the tightness is that it can cause the closures to make sores on your skin so it might be best to just place gauze underneath to prevent this. Removing and replacing the garment is still a two person job and is kinda painful when my Lipo areas are pushed on. All in all, I’m feeling better and happy to be nausea free and upright.

Updated on 10 May 2020:
So nothing major to update on. I was able to have a BM yesterday with no issues. Getting out of my garment is easier but I still require assistance with the closures to get back in. I hadn’t taken any Tylenol since last night and decided to try the Arnica tablets this morning. After going outside and then in/out of my garment today my lower back was killing me so I ended up taking some Tylenol. I also have the Arnica cream for swelling and bruising but haven’t used it yet. Today is Mothers Day so I am going to take it easy with my babies. Hubby will bbq outside and I’ll have to stay in. I tried to eat breakfast outside and it was already too hot and making me nauseous. I have a beautiful pool that, of course, I can’t use for awhile so I’ll be recovering mostly indoors. Looking forward to the day I can relax in a bikini with a nice cool drink by the pool! Hope everyone has a good day!

Updated on 12 May 2020:
I’ve been doing well no big changes. Still taking Tylenol a few times a day and started using the arnica cream as well. Not sure if it really helps but just rubbing the tender Lipo areas is soothing. I took off my compression garment for about 30 minutes to go potty, wash up, empty my drains(which have very little output), and change into a brand new CG. Wow! I am swollen in the front and the back. So much so that we had an extremely hard time closing it up. The other one had stretched out over time so had a little more give. But I am still happy with how everything is looking so far. Even if I stayed this swollen(thank goodness I won’t) it is still a huge improvement from before so I can’t wait to see as time goes on. I have been eating pretty healthy, although my little did sneak me a few fries the other day, but overall I’m doing my best to get the best result possible. I’m sleeping around 8 hours per night and I’m not much of a napper but I do rest a lot and try to catch up on tv. Tomorrow is 1 week PO and Thursday is my next appointment with my surgeon. I’ll be happy to move to the next phase without my drains.

Updated on 13 May 2020:
This is my incision so far. I took off the gauze that was covering it because it was looking kinda crusty so just the strips are left now. My skin looks shiny because I put the arnica cream on it since my Lipo areas are really tender today. So sleeping was a little rough last night and I’ve noticed I’ve been sleeping really hard and I even wake up sore. Last night I had a bad dream and woke up with my abs spasming and I was clenching my teeth to the point that they hurt. Yesterday I woke up with sore teeth also but don’t remember having a bad dream. I’m thinking it’s because of everything my body’s been through. All together I’m still sleeping around 8 hours. I feel good though. Will continue to take it easy and enjoy my next four weeks off from work.

Updated on 13 May 2020:
Here’s a picture of the incision and BB. I will have the inverted T scar because of not having enough skin but I’m hoping it will fade nicely as my BA scars that are thin white lines. Looking forward to when I can start using the scar ointment.

Updated on 14 May 2020:
Went to see my doctor today and had my drains removed. I felt a really weird sensation when they were pulled out. She says everything looks really good and she’s happy with the way I’m healing. She also said I could stand up as straight as I’m comfortable with and it wouldn’t cause stretch marks at the incision. She also gave me permission to go without my compression garment while sleeping if I wanted to. As annoying as it is, I feel more secure in it so I’ll probably continue until I can get a compression tank and my incision is more healed. They also removed all of the steristrips so it feels really funny since the area around the incision is so sensitive.
My first shower was amazing. Finally got to shave my legs but it was a little challenging to lift my legs up and lean forward to shave. I tried on some undies and they definitely cover my incision. I’m still really swollen so didn’t wanna try on anything lower cut. Maybe next week. I feel relief to be into the second week and phase of recovery.

Updated on 20 May 2020:
So I went in for my 2 weeks post op appointment. She said everything looks really good and she’s happy with my scarring so far and feels confident that they will fade significantly similar to me boob scars. She also removed my stitches which was totally pain free since I’m still numb there. I’m happy with my new belly button especially since she said she had to create it from scratch so it is essentially just a bunch of skin.
My swelling is improving each day with the worse spots being around my belly button and horizontal incision. Sensation is returning to most of my abdomen and the bruising from the Lipo is almost all gone. I’ve continued to use the arnica cream daily as well as drink pineapple tea and eat pineapple often. I think the most effective thing has probably been staying hydrated though.
I’m still having lots of muscle spasms in my tummy at night. It’s still causing me to clench my jaw so I’ve been using my whitener tray as a mouth guard so my teeth won’t be so sore. I’m cleared to take Advil at night before bed to help.
I currently weigh 133.4lbs down five pounds since surgery. I’m still swollen so I’m assuming it’ll go even lower. I’ve been eating pretty my clean to optimize my recovery besides the occasional tortilla chips. I also cut out all processed sugars which was a huge issue for me before. I feel good but of course it’s easy to eat clean when I’m at home. The real challenge will be when I return to work.
My energy is at about 60% but I’m still trying to take it easy with my two little ones. I’m glad I have three more weeks to recover because there’s no way I could go back to work as a nurse like this.
Hope everyone is doing well. I’ll update in another week:)

Updated on 22 May 2020:
So I’m still pretty swollen and not too much changes day by day. But when I look back at my before and now after I can definitely see a huge difference. I’m also posting my compression garment. My surgeon gave me 2 of them. I keep it on 24/7 besides an hour or so in the morning to have a BM and shower. I was told I can take it off to sleep but honestly I’m afraid I’ll scratch off my new belly button when I’m sleeping. Crazy, I know! But I had Microblading done before and it was super itchy when healing and I scratched a chunk off while sleeping and had to have it touched up lol. I do not wanna do that to my new BB!!
I had a little scare yesterday. When I got out of the shower I noticed a tiny spot had opened up on my lower BB. I texted my surgeon at 9pm and she assured me that that was common and that she had put a bunch of sutures underneath it so it for sure wasn’t going anywhere! I’ve seen a few people their incisions opening and having to deal with infections and long term antibiotics. With my sensitivities I’ve had so pst I don’t want to have to deal with that so now I’m paranoid!
Today I celebrated my birthday with some Costco chocolate cake. My first time having processed sugar since before my surgery. It was delicious!!!! I also had a salty dinner so hopefully I’m not super swollen tomorrow. Back to clean eating!!

Updated on 24 May 2020:
So I’m now noticing I’m flattest in the mornings and then by evening the swelling sets in. I’m not gonna dwell in it since it’s to be expected for months.
The hole in my belly button has dried out so hopefully it will close soon. I’m a little sore from having to wrestle my super strong 3 year old for diaper changes but I made sure not to engage my abs.
It’s a little hard to have to refrain from household chores such as loading/unloading the dishwashing and vacuuming. I feel a little guilty leaving it all to my husband. I’ll feel better when I’m closer to 100% and can bend and stretch more.

Updated on 27 May 2020:
I’m feeling pretty good. Not much has changed since last week. My energy is still not 100% and I’m still napping around 2pm and sleeping 7-8hrs each night.
My incision is improving and some parts look healed while others are still scabby. I try not to mess with them too much to avoid causing myself any problems. My belly button has lots of little pieces that I would love to remove with a q-tip but I’ve been hesitant. A few more weeks of patience and the little scans should start falling off. After each shower I do wait awhile so that my incision and belly button can dry completely.
I decided to take some pics in regular undies to see how my scar looks and thank goodness the horizontal part is hidden. The vertical part is very much visible so I can’t wait to start scar treatment next week. There’s still some scabby areas so I was told to wait until those were all healed. I’ve been doing some light housework such as dish loading and I also pushed our very lightweight dyson vacuum. I have to go to an outdoor event tonight so I’ll have to wear a different compression garment. I have the ones that are shorts and then go all the way up to your chest. I’ll try to hide them. It’s gonna be really hot but I don’t wanna go without any CG because the sensation on my abdomen is still very weird and I don’t wanna anything rubbing on it.
So far I am loving my results. Having a flat tummy makes my boobs look way better. Before, it was hard to tell that I had them done because my belly stuck out more than they did. Some days I get so frustrated at not being able to move and do things but when I look at pics I know the long recovery is worth it.
My next appointment will be a virtual one at one month post op. Until then I’ll keep enjoying my days off until I return to work.

Updated on 3 Jun 2020:
So today marks 4 weeks post op. I’m feeling pretty good. Sleeping better since the spasms have decreased a bit and the teeth clenching has stopped. My energy is still not great but I hope to start walking on the treadmill this week to help improve it.
Swelling is still there throughout the day and worst at night. I measured a 2 inch difference between morning and night! I drink a ton of water and try to stay as low sodium as possible but I think it’s normal at this stage. I’ve stuck to a clean diet about 98% of the time. My weight is still around 134-135.
My incision looks good. There are still scabs at my drain sites and a few areas that are still flaky so I think I’ll hold off on starting my scar treatment for a few more days.
2 more weeks until I can swim, or in my case get in the water. Target had a BOGO swim sale so I stocked up on a ton of swim suits.
My leave was extended another 3 weeks so I’ll be able to safely return to work as a nurse at 8 weeks.
I’m still wearing my compression garment that the surgeon gave me during the day. She said I did t have to wear it at night but I have been to avoid scratching my incisions. A few days ago I started wearing a Marena CG at night and it is so much more comfy to sleep in. It closes in the middle instead of the sides so it doesn’t crease and leave dents in your skin. I’ll be wearing that one when I return to work.
Until next update :)

Updated on 4 Jun 2020:
So today I realized that I was really swollen yesterday. I was 1.2lbs lighter and felt a lot flatter this morning. I also started using my scar treatment yesterday so thought I’d add a few pics. This is the scar serum that the surgeon included.

Updated on 10 Jun 2020:
Today was the day I was supposed to return to work. So glad that my leave was extended for another 3 weeks. I’m feeling better but not good enough to return to physically strenuous work.
Since last week I’ve started walking in the treadmill for about 20 minutes a day. I started slow and now walking a little over a mile in that time. I’ve been wearing regular workout clothes but I feel weird and unsupported. I ordered a CopperSlim waist trainer so I can get a little help with my posture while walking.
My incision looks good and all scabs have fallen off. I’ve been using the scar treatment for a week now. I’m my pics it makes my incision look a little orange.
My swelling has also improved as I started massages. My doctor doesn’t prescribe lymphatic massages so I’ve never gotten one. But I did research them and their benefits and decided they couldn’t hurt. I watched some videos on YouTube that teach you to how do them yourself. I think they’ve been helping slightly. The swelling is still worse in the evening but not as bad as before. Now I only measure a 1 inch difference between morning and night.
Last week we decided to have sex. Of course it was extremely passive to avoid injury. It was fine but weird since my lower abdomen still feels almost foreign to me.
I have an appointment with my dr tomorrow. It will over FaceTime due to covid and wanting to minimize office visits. I wanna talk to her about a tiny stitch that is sticking out near my left drain site area. I also wanna ask about when I can start engaging my abs. I’m also hoping she’ll say I don’t need my compression garment anymore. It’s very stiff and rigid and, although it holds me in nice and tight, when I sit it makes a crease and I think I might have a permanent dent on one side from where it dug into my skin. I’ve been wearing a different one at night so maybe I can just wear that one all day.
My energy still isn’t 100%. I was hoping it would improve a lot more since I started walking each day but it hasn’t very much.
I’m still eating pretty healthy and trying to avoid sodium and processed foods. I’m still weigh around 133-134, about 5 lbs less than pre-surgery. We are in the process of converting a spare room into a home gym for me so I can workout comfortably once I’m cleared to. I will make sure to start slow. That’s why I’ve started walking now because I’m so deconditioned from not working out for over a month now. I’m definitely feeling the squish in my legs now. But that’s ok, those are way easier to fix with exercise.
I’ve been hanging out in the pool a lot with the kids. I’m staying in the shelf and not going deeper than mid thigh to avoid submerging my incision. It’s all closed now but I wanna wait a few weeks to make sure I don’t get an infection.
All in all still very excited each week to see all the progress I’m making. I also love reading about everyone else’s journeys. It makes it easier when so many others are recovering with you.

Updated on 17 Jun 2020:
Hi everyone! Today is 6 weeks. I’m feeling pretty good. For me, 6 weeks is a huge milestone. I’m now cleared to stop wearing my binder and I can now workout, swim, and lift more than 10lbs today. Not sure I’ll jump right into everything but atleast its all allowed now.

I’ve been walking on the treadmill now at an incline. I usually only do it for a little more than 20 minutes, while I watch an episode of New Girl on Netflix. I’m going to start stretching today to get some range of motion back for lunges and squats. So I’ve been bombarded with ads on FB and IG for this workout machine called the DB method. It’s supposed to Target your glutes but also provide a full body workout while being easy on the knees. I decided to purchase it to add to my little home gym we’ve created since I won’t be going back to the gym anytime soon. I also started using the CopperSlim belt. It definitely makes you sweat but I mostly wear it for support while walking.

I’ve been sleeping a lot more flat now and also can sleep on my side for a few hours at a time. Because I’m changing position now I’m not waking up as stiff as I was before so that’s good. I’m sleeping around 7-8 hours and still napping while I can before I return to work in two weeks.

My incision looks good. I stopped using the ScarGuard because I didn’t like how it was making my incision look orange. I went ahead and ordered Biocorneum since I used that for my BA scars and it worked great.

I still wake up pretty flat but end up noticeably swollen at the end of the day. I stopped wearing my super strong compression garment that I got from my surgeon a few days ago. The swelling in the evening is still the same. I do enjoy wearing regular clothes now although it feels funny when anything touches my lower abdomen. I just love how I can wear a tank top and not have to suck it in!

I’ve been engaging my abs a lot more now so that the stiffness can ease up a bit and consciously using my core to help me stand up straighter. Sneezing and laughing doesn’t hurt as bad anymore and I can cough a lot better now.

I’m still eating pretty clean and low carb for most of the time. I usually have a protein shake each day but recently added some collagen to help with my wound healing as well as my hair and nails.

We’ve had sex a few times now. The last position we tried was me on top but it was a little challenging because my lower abdomen still feels hard and almost foreign to me. I definitely need to loosen up!!

This went super long I guess since so much can now change at the 6 week point. I’m happy to be getting closer to normal. I’m not excited to return to work but I am curious to see how having a core that works now will make my job as a nurse easier.

Take care, everyone.

Updated on 17 Jun 2020:
I forgot to add that I finally got to see the pics that were taken during surgery. The black dash marks outline the edge of my abdominal muscles and the separation before she repaired them. It also shows my old belly button that she ended up having to reconstruct. She also took off the hanging part of my abdomen. So glad that’s gone!!!!
It’s a bit surreal seeing pics of myself during surgery but I am so grateful that she could fix me and make me feel like me again.

Updated on 21 Jun 2020:
The swelling has been terrible lately. Last week was my six week mark and I started doing a lot more. I’ve gotten in the pool. No swimming just hanging out and floating. I also put together a piece of workout equipment and have been lifting a bit more. By 6pm my tummy is swollen and hard. I end up putting my compression garment on and did some massages to feel better. I took a pic in the evening at peak swelling and then again in the morning when it had resolved. Big difference. Can’t imagine how bad it will be when I return to work in a week and a half. I’ll be so glad when I wake up flag and stay that way!

Updated on 24 Jun 2020:
This week has been fun! I’ve been swimming in the pool everyday. I’ve done a few Zumba workouts to help loosen me up. My lower abdomen is still really firm so I’m hoping those moves will help. I’ve also been actively engaging my abs and I feel them relaxing a bit. Spasms are more infrequent and very short now and mostly at night.
I don’t wake up stiff anymore since I’m able to change positions in bed a lot easier. I alternate between back and side sleeping.
I have noticed that the area right below my belly button and above my incision is still numb but it also doesn’t sweat. It’s super weird. Hopefully it returns to normal soon.
I still have swelling in the evening and it varies a lot depending on my activity that day. I’m still eating mostly clean so I think it’s mostly the activity that’s causing it. My weight this morning is 135, up a pound from last week. I ate ice cream and rice crispies treats with my little ones so it was worth it!!
I’m still wearing my compression garment at night to help with swelling.
My incision is doing well. I try to stay in the pool for an only an hour or so at a time to prevent it from getting soggy and macerated. Sometimes it looks lighter and other times it looks more red. I’m still using the Biocorneum.
I keep forgetting to mention that although my lipo sites haven’t been bruised for many weeks, my flanks are pretty tender. They don’t hurt unless I touch them, even if it’s softly. It’s a weird sensation.
Next week I return to work so I’m trying to get my sleep schedule back on track since I start at 7am. I’m also not napping anymore to make sure I can get to sleep earlier.
Until next week, take care ladies!

Updated on 6 Jul 2020:
Hi everyone! I made it to 2 months and I wanna day it had flown by, after the first week of course! I went back to work as an RN on the covid unit last week. I only have to work 8 hour shifts but I did 5 in a row. I wasn’t able to take enough breaks to stay hydrated. I also didn’t get to eat as clean as I usually do. By 11am the swelling set in each day instead of the usual 5pm. I’m catching up today with as much water as possible. I wore a compression garment the first day but stopped because I was still swollen and didn’t wanna be so uncomfortable and hot.
I’ve been working out everyday before work, and I’m feeling a lot stronger. No ab exercises, just the DB method. It’s mostly booty, legs, and arms.
Not much has changed with how I look but I did get to try on some of my clothes. I tried on my favorite pair of jeans for the first time since surgery. No muffin too or overhang!!!! I also tried on a form fitting dress. I used to have to shove myself into spank to look semi decent. Now if covid could go away so we could have somewhere to go!
I’m really happy with everything so far and am so glad I didn’t wait any longer. I just turned 36 and wanna love and enjoy this new body as long as possible.

Updated on 8 Aug 2020:
So it’s been 3 months now. I’m pretty much back to normal. I’ve been working out for over a month now. I usually do the DB method squat machine for 15 minutes and then 10 minutes of arm weights and then 30 minutes of Zumba for cardio. I haven’t done any core exercises or any weights for my legs. I do have a big improvement in my butt and cellulite after the 30 day challenge with the squat machine. My butt was saggy after 2 months of not exercising.
My incision is fading nicely and I’m still using Biocorneum twice a day. I do have a small dog ear on my left hip that I’m gonna ask to be fixed in the winter sometime.
I’m still eating clean but only about 90% of the time. Work has me stressed and sometime I want something sweet!
The days I work as a nurse I’m swelling more, especially if I don’t wear a compression garment but it’s always gone by the next morning.
My weight is about 135 which is fine since I know I’ve gained muscle back.
I’m extremely happy with my results and my appearance. I now have lots of confidence to wear anything without worrying about looking pregnant.

Updated on 6 Sep 2020:
Hey everyone! Today is 4 months and I’m feeling great. My scar actually looks darker this month but I’m told that is normal at this point and it will soon start to fade. I’m still using Biocorneum and will continue until I finish the bottle. My dog ear is still quite noticeable and I still plan to have it removed this winter.
I still swell a tiny bit in the evening but it has drastically improved.

Updated on 3 Nov 2020:
Hi everyone! These six months have flown by and I feel great. My swelling is pretty much gone. The sensation in my abdomen near the T area has returned some. My incision is great in some spots but the vertical line as well as my belly button we’re looking red and raised around 4 months so I went to see my surgeon and she said it was normal and would go away. She did give me an injection of Kenalog in my belly button scar. I’ve been using silicone strips since 4 months and it had improve the color and it is less raised. If after a year it’s still dark and raised I’ll start to look into microneedling or laser scar treatment.
I am working out and lifting weights in a regular basis. I do some core exercises but still no sit-ups or crunches. My tummy is pretty flat so I don’t think I’ll bother with them. I can wear pretty much whatever I want and enjoy my new body. I’m so glad I made this decision and can’t believe how she fixed me.
When I went to see her she was shocked at how flat I was especially with how bad my diastasis was. I would absolutely do it all over again!!

Updated on 6 Feb 2021:
Time is still flying and I can’t wait for warmer weather. I’ve still been working out but my diet has relaxed a bit as I’ve been indulging in sweets a bit. But all in all still happy and grateful for my surgery. My scar is looking lighter these days. I was thinking of covering the vertical scar with a tattoo but decided to wait until after the 18month mark to see how much it will fade. I’m still using the silicone tape as it’s easy to keep on and works well.
I’ve gotten two sessions of laser hair removal for my bikini and I am so happy to be rid of the awkward hair. I still have four more sessions left.
My love handles bother me a bit but I think I’ll try to clean up my diet a bit before I decide to do anything about them.
Hope everyone is recovering well and enjoying their new bodies. I’ll update again at a year :)

Updated on 20 May 2021:
Can’t believe it’s been a year already. I definitely need a spray tan but I am loving my new body. I’ve started lifting heavy and feel pretty good. As far as diet, I do ok but definitely not on anything restrictive. I’m still close to the same weight but definitely more muscle in my legs. I’m so happy and grateful to have had such a life changing surgery. No hiding anymore and I can wear pretty much anything I want. I have a girls trip to Cancun coming soon and don’t have to worry about bathing suits.
My scar is pretty light. I still have 2 small parts on the vertical section that are still pretty visible but they have improved so much over the last 7 months. I’ve done a few sessions of laser hair removal and am happy with the progress so far.
Good luck and hang in there to anyone looking to have a tummy tuck. It is a hard and long recovery but after a few months it flies by and gets better and better. Totally worth it!!

Updated on 5 May 2022:
Two years flew by! I gained a little winter weight and then four months ago started a new workout regimen to get fit and strong. Tummy tuck held up great and my scar looks so much better! For those that have followed my journey, I was kinda scared for a bit because of the vertical scar being so visible and red. It has lightened so much and you can only see a very small piece now. Belly button looks pretty good too. The weird above the belly button swelling still happens sometimes so I’m not sure if that’ll ever go away completely. Overall, I love my tummy tuck results and how it improved my health and strength. I would definitely do it again. The beginning was rough and slow but absolutely worth it.