I was a bit nervous at first since I needed quite a few procedures from a very large weight loss. I am thrilled with my results and now don't have to dread the swimsuit season.
I had a tummy tuck and a medial thigh lift with Dr. Viennas at Eastern Virginia Medical School in VA Beach, VA. I am a 20 something female who had lost a lot of weight and had hanging thighs and redundant skin on my tummy. I had dieted and exercised to get my bodyfat low. However, the loose skin would not "snap back" no matter how much working out I did. In mid December 2012, I had the procedure as an in office procedure. Afterwards, I stayed with a nurse in the recovery suite in a local hotel for a little over a day. Then I went home. I am still recovering and am somewhat swollen but my tummy and thighs look a lot better. I am satisfied and would do it again. Dr. Viennas is very nice and knowledgeable. He has excellent bedside manner and will prescribe you whatever medicines you need to be comfortable. I have nothing but nice things to say about this man! The procedure was painful right afterwards but that is to be expected. The only thing that I would have changed was I would have had intravenous pain medicine for the post operative surgical recovery suite or a pain pump. I was using oral medications (Demerol) while I was with the nurse in the recovery suite and I was still really hurting. That oral medicine really does not cut tummy tuck pain for the first 24-36 hours afterwards. You need something intravenous or a pain pump. But other than that, my experience with EVMS was great and Dr. Viennas does great work. My scars don't even look that bad. I am about to start using a little scar treatment and they will surely fade to barely noticeable. Updated on 3 Jan 2013: I am off of narcotics now and I am just using extra strength Tylenol. I get little "twinges" in my stomach and thighs but it is not bad. My incisions are a little itchy but I guess that means they are healing. I have started using Mederma and scar guard on them to reduce scarring. My swelling is going down some. So far, I am satisfied. Updated on 2 Feb 2013: I am feeling pretty good. I go for another check up soon. I have not been cleared to do any abdominal or thigh work yet. So, I will be glad when I am able to work out again and make my results look even better. I still have a little loose skin at the top but my tummy tuck is still new and a lot of loose skin was removed. So, I will give it time to tighten up and also begin working out again as soon as I am able to tone things up. A tummy tuck is not a magic bullet. The nurse who cared for me after surgery even said that. She said that my stomach looked better than a lot of her patients because I waited until I got down to my goal weight before having it done. I had horrible constipation one day about 2 weeks after surgery. So, if you have this surgery, I recommend you eat 2 prunes in the morning and two prunes at night with a glass of prune juice until you are off of narcotics! Updated on 6 Mar 2013: About a week and a half ago, I had a stabbing pain in my stomach and a little nausea. My doctor said it could be from the nerves regenerating. The stabbing pains are gone now. I have a little soreness in the incision area. But, I feel that the surgery was worth it. You must go in with realistic expectations. You are not going to look like a 15 year old who has never been fat after the surgery. Doctors are not magicians. I have a little "looseness" at the top of my belly but nothing like before. Also, when I am medically cleared to begin my ab work again, I believe that little bit will go away. I am pleased. You must remember that a tummy tuck is a major operation. Here it is almost three months out and I am still having some swelling. It takes time to recover properly. You will not go from the operating room to a bikini in a month. Anyone who thinks that surgery is the easy way out is a fool. There's nothing easy about a tummy tuck recovery. Updated on 7 Apr 2013: So far, I am still satisfied. My stomach is tightening up. I have been doing a few sit ups. I still have a little bit of soreness, swelling and numbness. I thought the swelling would be over by now but they did say that tummy tucks are major surgery. So, I guess I am still healing. I do feel a lot better about my body. I will wear my first bikini ever in life this summer! My scars do not look bad. I have been using copper peptides, scar zone cream and using chemical peels on them. Scars mature up until one year so I am still working on them while they are easier to reduce--while they are new. In a few months, I will consider using cortisone shots from the dermatologist on the scars but I want to let them heal a bit more before using that. My dermatologist says it is still too soon to use that. She says that my scars look great. So we will see. So far, I still love EVMS and Dr. Viennas and I am pleased with my results. Cosmetic surgery is not magic....you still will have to put in the work if you want to look good and heal well but it can give you a much needed boost and do things that no amount of sit ups will do. Updated on 3 Oct 2013: All is good. I have some loose skin when I bend over but it has improved. Later this month, I go in for a scar revision on my scar. He had to pull up my vaginal area when he did the tummy tuck because the front part of my vaginal area was saggy due to the weight loss. I heard more tension equals more scars so my scars right above the pubic area are bad. But, I have a consulation later this month about a scar revision around my navel and right above the vagina. All of the other scars look great. Even the thigh lift scars don't look bad and people talk all of the time about how bad thigh lift scars are. Maybe I will ask him taking off a little of the extra skin off too but even super skinny people who were never fat have that little skin that folds over when they do. I have never been thin before so I don't know what is normal and what is not. Updated on 3 Oct 2013: This is me now. I am taking the picture bent over with the camera under me so you can still see how it hangs. Updated on 3 Oct 2013: The side of my stomach now. I don't have as many stretch marks as I thought. Updated on 3 Oct 2013: Looks pretty good. Excuse the bandaid on my navel. I recently had a TUBA boob job so that is why the bandaid is there. Updated on 2 Nov 2013: I am still pleased with my results and I would do it over again. The pain was pretty intense when I first had it done but you do what you have to do to look the way you want to look. I have begun steroid injections on the scar. Most of the scar looks fine....nice and flat. But the part right below my navel and above my crotch is a little lumpy for about 2 inches. So, the doctor has began injecting steroids into it. I have had steroid injections before for other scars and the cortisone has worked extremely well so I am not worried. If anyone has any questions, pleas send me a message.
I received butt injections approximately 10 years ago. Fast forward to now, I need it out. I've been depressed and my quality of life is at a low. My butt don't look that bad, but it's hard as a rock and its painful to sit and lay on. I also have some bruising. I just got approval through my insurance on Friday and the surgery is this Wednesday. No time to prepare mentally. However, I prayed to God for a way and he has made it for me. He is my refuge! When I look back, I always have breathing issues and have been very tired lately. To say the least, it's embarrassing to tell friends and family about the ordeal. It's an epidemic that need to be bought to the fore front. I just told my family today and I literally cried for 6 hours. I'm scared and just want it to be over. My doctor said it's a high risk surgery and I will have a womb vac. Recovery time is unknown. I'm blessed to have family that will help and are here to love me unconditionally. To all of you, thank you for the encouragement to get this done and to write this to help someone that is holding in this secret. I will keep you updated. No pictures right now, but I'm working on building up my nerves to do so. I will respond to inboxes. Say a prayer for me! Updated on 4 Feb 2018: It's been 11 days now post op. I was in the hospital overnight and went home the next day since it was considered outpatient. Dr. Lambros Viennas (Norfolk, Va) at EVMS did my surgery through my insurance. I was cut on the sides of both butt cheeks and had 2 drains (removed on day 8). The cuts are about 4 inches each, but seem to be very thin. I can't really see them with the steri-strips on them. At first I had two indentations that looked like I would be deformed. But, after he took the drains out, the stitches attached to the drains were cut off and miraculously, my shape started to come back overnight. The right side is coming back slower. Nonetheless, it's not even two whole weeks yet send I'm very pleased. The pain is bearable, especially after the drains. I could always lay on my back and use the restroom with little problems. He wasn't able to get out 100%, but I feel 200% better. My energy level came back immediately and my butt is squeezable again. I had forgot that soft feeling. I can also sit and lay without the pain. For you, I pray that you find the peace I've found. It was God that governed my situation and I thank Him daily! I'm still contemplating putting pictures up. Updated on 5 Feb 2018: Before and after pictures Updated on 8 Feb 2018: Yesterday made two weeks (14 days) post op. The steri-strips are now off and movement is very comfortable, yet still sensitive of course. The drain holes are healing very well and I no longer need bandages over them. I started using coconut oil to start scar treatment. I also ordered a Cica Care silicone (hate that word) gel sheet from Wal-Mart to help. From the reviews, they have the best adhesive property. It was $30 and is reusable. I can cut it to size. I can take it off to shower and then put back on afterwards. One cut can be worn for a month and should be cleaned 2x a day. I'll see once I get it. Other than that, on my left wound, I felt a quick, little, sharp pain that lasted a second 3xs total. It happened 1x a couple days ago and 2xs yesterday. It definitely gets your attention! I was like wth. I know it's my nerves waking back up. It's also letting me know my wound is healing because the area is still pretty numb, but is getting sensation back. It is still getting softer because the swelling is almost gone. I'm happy with my results! Updated on 11 Feb 2018: Still feeling well. I can get in/out of bed and vehicle very easily... no pain. Haven't been feeling any sharp pains in those areas at all. Patiently waiting on the Cari Care strips to minimize the scars. It's suppose to arrive on Monday. In the meantime, I've been using coconut oil to keep it moisturized. I also took a bubble bath last night and it felt really good to have a soft cushion instead of the hardness. I didn't have to readjust not one time. Updated on 18 Feb 2018: Developed seromas on both sides. Had to get them drained. The procedure didn't hurt, but that night after the anesthesia wore off, I was aching. I took Tylenol and Ibuprofen and laid down. I was fine the next morning! The doctor said I need to rest and don't be doing much walking and no exercising. Updated on 2 Mar 2018: Went to follow up yesterday. Had smaller seromas. I already knew because I could see and feel it. No pain and no infection. He drained it. Next week, he will give me antibiotic shots in the areas to force the tissue and skin to adhere back to each other. He explained that seromas are a common "side effect" of this type of tissue loss surgery. It is no longer considered "complications." I'm fine with it all because I am getting better by the weeks and I'm still happy with my results, especially from where I was. It's a process in which I'm willing and eager to see to the end. Updated on 5 Mar 2018: First bills came in today. The hospital bill is only $125 and the pathology bill is $25 after the insurance made payments. I tell you, God is good!!! That's cheaper than the $470 ER bill I had when I was not feeling well (because of the silicone I believe)! Smh... Updated on 11 Mar 2018: I went to the doctor last Tuesday and I had a smaller seroma that I had him aspirate (by choice). He called in a prescription for Friday, but at the last minute, the pharmacy called and said they don't make the injectable compond. So, I had to reschedule. I went and found a pharmacy that did myself and my insurance pays for it 100%. In the meantime, I'm wearing compression shorts everyday. They are amazing! Wearing them feels more comfortable and provides support. They are also helping with the seromas. I bought three on EBay for $8 a piece. I'll update once I get the injection, but here is a picture of the fluid (gross) from the second aspiration of both sides. It's much less now! Updated on 13 Mar 2018: As I mentioned before, my doctor got out most of the silicone and said that I may need a second surgery if I wish. He also said that I could get a day transfer once healed completely, but only if I get a second surgery. Right now, I don't want either, but I may consider it after a year. I'm just healing very well (other than seromas) and I feel really good. Still a little dent, but you can't tell in clothes at all! I'm thankful... Updated on 13 Mar 2018: To be clear...I can get a fat transfer if I'm not getting a second surgery once healed or if I choose a second surgery, I would have to wait for the fat transfer until after the second surgery once healed. It's one fat transfer total. Didn't want to confuse you! Updated on 20 Aug 2018: Well, it's been a long minute. Previously, I wrote about my issue with seromas. Long story short...In April I had an outpatient surgery to rid of them. The left side was perfect, but the right side still formed another seroma. I then had another outpatient procedure in July to rid of the seroma on the right side. I had a drain for 3 weeks. Once the drain was removed, a small seroma formed. Once he aspirated it, I've been good. No more seromas, FINALLY! The dents are filling in on its own a lot. The doctor said it's not new tissue forming. He said it's my body "leveling" during the healing process. That's a good thing! I've been using Embrace on my scars. I go back in two months. That's great considering I was going every 1 to 2 weeks to get the seromas under control. The key is to keep the area compressed at all times (except when showering) and to rest. Don't be doing a lot of moving or strenuous work right after you get the drains out. This is very, very important! Nonetheless, my doctor is genuine and patient. The way he approached my issue with the silicone and the persistent seromas was perfect. Him and his staff are the absolute best, hands down...no complaints! Updated on 11 Mar 2019: Well, I'm 5 days post OP and I'm recovering well. My doctor and his nurses (Carol and Nakia) are amazing! I just can't thank them enough. Dr. V is awesome. As the hospital staff said, he's very "meticulous!" Now, I'm just waiting for the bruising to go down, stitches to dissolve and to see how much fat actually takes. He harvested the fat from my back so I have a more contoured look. Right now, I can't sit on my butt so I'm laying on my sides. I go for my follow up this week! Also, he only gave me two days worth of narcotics (exactly what I needed). He don't play with abusing prescription meds. I just love him! For all of you going through this, there is hope... just don't give up! Updated on 23 Apr 2019: It's been 8 weeks and I'm doing well. My doctor said that the surgery isn't as simple as just fat transferring. Once you are healed, he has to go through the scar tissue that has formed and add the new fat. Right now, just waiting to see how much fat survives. Either way, I'm one step closer to a full recovery. My God is good and I appreciate Dr. Viennas, Carol and Nakia (his staff) for their true dedication to this profession.
