Laurence M. Rheingold, MD (retired)

It has been a little over 2 weeks and while my arms are still swollen and sore, I can already tell a difference. The scarring seems as though it will be minimal. This was an outpatient procedure, though it took around 3 or 4 hours of surgery time. I developed constipation from the narcotics and eventually had to give myself an enema (5 days after) for relief. In the future, I will take stool softener from the first day.

Updated on 26 Dec 2013:
I will add more pictures later, as I am still recovering from an extended tummy tuck from the 18th.
They doctor took as much as he could and still be able to close up the incisions. I had very large batwings and loose skin due to losing over 100 pounds. The scarring has been minimal. In some spots it is barely noticeable. The doctor wants to do a revision later because he would like to take out more, but couldn't due to the thickness and amount of my original arm size. I had bulb style drains for the weekend (surgery on Fri, drains removed on Monday).

Updated on 2 Jan 2014:
Arms are healing... scars are minimal... a thin red line and some bumpy scar tissue I hope will go away. The swelling is still quite bad and uncomfortable.

Updated on 19 Jan 2014:
My arms are still very swollen and I am wearing compression garments 24 hours a day. My scars are healing well. I am down about 5 inches from original size, which is nice. My arms still look big, but I know my surgeon did the best he could! I might get a revision someday... but for now I am focusing on healing.

Updated on 7 Feb 2014:
So it seems that my lymph system was very traumatized by the surgery. I still have swelling in my hands, forearms and upper arms. I have gone to a physical therapist who does Lymphatic Drainage Massage (LDM) and who measures my arms each time. She also gave me exercises to do to help move the fluid. I still wear compression garments everyday, which kind of defeats the purpose of getting an arm lift as I cannot wear anything but long sleeves now. At least it is winter.

I just had my second BA after 7 years and got 750cc HP SiliconeI could not be any happier!!! I just had my surgery on Friday and I know it's hard to determine what my bra size will be until I wait 4 weeks and et measured but maybe someone can give me an estimate on around what I may become. Ok so I'm 5'4 123lbs waist is 25inches hips 33inches..... And my old implants were 450cc moderate silicone and I was wearing a 32DDD/34DD.... What might I be now? I am so so happy and I feel great!!!

Updated on 31 Mar 2013:
So ladies I had my 2nd BA a week ago this past Friday and I am doing great really surprised that my new 750cc HP implants don't look a whole lot different than my previous 450cc Moderate Implants they r just fuller and tiny but wider but I am much happier and when I hold my old 34DD bra up to my new boobies it is deffffff way to small!!!! Can wait to find out what size I am now however my stitches and glue are still on me so I'm going to wait until all that is healed before posting any more pics or enforce I attempt to try and bras on. My doctor said at my 2 week mark I can get fitted for a bra but he doesn't want me wearing one for 2 months. My recovery was very easy I only missed one day of work and I didn't really need my pain meds but I stayed on them e cause if I stopped them my left incisions would drive me nuts cuz it felt so much tighter. Other than that I think I just posted everything I could for now to update everyone;0)

Updated on 31 Mar 2013:
I am posting two new photos right of me in a lavender tank top...I have two high performance sports bras on under my tank top so all u know and try still look like a good size, can't wait to see what they look like in a bra!!! Again I have 750cc HP above the muscle(had my 450cc moderates removed)

Updated on 6 Apr 2013:
It's been 16 days since my 2nd BA haha I'm sad my swelling is gone but I'm still happy I'm fuller looking with the Mebtor 750cc HP silicone.... I did honestly expect them to bring me up 2 cups sizes from the 450cc Moderates I removed but it only brought my up one cup size.... I am now a 34DDD in VS. Tube tops defffff fit way better which is huge for me I am very happy to finally be able to wear them. Still Dieing to wear a bra but I still have to wait a over a month for that but hopefully when I go for my followbupnon April 26 ill be healed beyond what I am suppose to and would love to e told I can start wearing them early before my vacation in Mexico I'm going for beginning of may.

Updated on 16 Jun 2013:
Hi Ladies sorry I disappeared for so long been really really busy at work. I'm still a little happier with my new 700cc than I was with my old 450cc but honestly expected them to be bigger and have more cleavage but I only went up one cup size and I don't feel that different just fuller which is still good. Maybe I have to try different bra styles maybe a racer back or something.

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum. I love all the support I'm seeing! I will have surgery end of Oct. 2007 I had a large ovarian tumor, the size of a basketball, removed. At first they thought it could be cancer. Thank God it wasn't. 6 months later, the site showed a ventral hernia. Had that fixed. Then in 2009 had another hernia, had that fixed. Then six months ago noticed yet another hernia. This is a big one. I was scheduled for surgery Sept 3. On fri before I was sitting with the nurse for pre-op for hernia surgery, she showed me her scar and she just had hernia and tt done. I didn't know both could be done at the same time!
I canceled my surgery. Saw ps last week and surgeon for hernia yesterday. I AM SO EXCITED. I am just waiting for go ahead for insurance for hernia part.. Looking at end of Oct for surgery. My dr said he'll be doing it without drains. Anyone else have tt done this way? And he spoke about a special med he injects at time of surgery that lessens the pain afterward? anyone heard of this?

Updated on 2 Oct 2013:
5 weeks away and counting! Ok I got the courage for my before pic

Updated on 1 Jan 2014:
Hi Everyone. I've been meaning to do this update......anyway. The surgery went very well. Just really starting to feel real good 7 weeks out. I was able to walk straight after 2 weeks. My back hurt the first 3 weeks, but I thought it was having to lay on my back for so many hours. I still get a little sore where my hernia patch is, after doing too much. I love love love my new look! I need to lose a lot still but my stomach is flat. I will send better pics soon. I've lost 26 lbs , 5-10 lbs from surgery. My sleeping is totally backwards. So I'm eating a lot less which helped with the additional weight loss. I am awake until 3am and sleeping very late.
I had a new job I was suppose to start next week and they now say it's been too long and they hired subs even though the head said it was ok. It was a very physical job -preschool teacher which would have required lifting toddlers. So I was afraid to start too soon. Plus, the dr wanted me to wait until 8 weeks out.
I went soooo long hiding my stomach under baggy shirts that I don't know how to dress. I can now shop in the regular ladies section.
To all of you contemplating surgery:
The surgery has really changed soo much of my life. My self esteem is better. I'm motivated to continue getting healthier. No more hiding!!!! welcoming 2014....

Updated on 1 Jan 2014:


Updated on 1 Jan 2014:


Updated on 1 Jan 2014:
So very happy with results!

Updated on 5 Jan 2014:
I am having so much fun shopping in the ladies dept: getting a better variety, good deals.
I was: size 2x on top and size 20 on bottom.
Now: size XL top and size 16 bottom. Yea!!! I'm so afraid of old shape coming back. Of course my town just got 12 " of snow. It's hard to walk outside....so I have to shop and walk that way,,,,darn it.

Updated on 5 Jan 2014:

I lost over 100 pounds with RnY Gastric Bypass two years ago. My weight has been stable for over a year. I had an arm lift on November 29 which is healing well, though still swollen. I am worried about recovering from the TT while my arms are still swollen and uncomfortable as well. The doctor has suggested that lose my belly button as the abdomen will be much stronger. I am still deciding.

Updated on 26 Dec 2013:
I was super swollen, up 5 pounds from my weight the morning of the surgery when I left the hospital. I stayed 2 nights. I will post photos later, as I am out of town for the holidays and have been dealing with some unrelated circumstances.

The incision goes from mid hip (around the side) to mid hip, and then up the middle of my abdomen all the way to just under my bra. I elected to lose the belly button in favor of a tighter, flatter, stronger result.

My first follow up on Monday the 23rd went well. The scars are scary looking, but are healing well. I am starting to walk more upright now and will transition from wearing 2 binders to a panty girdle on Monday (the 30th). Doctor says he would like to do a revision in the future to tighten up some relaxing of the skin that will occur, as I had a great deal of skin removed. (5.5 lbs) I am weaning myself off the percoset, but it has certainly been appreciated, as the pain (especially getting out of bed) has been considerable. I have been lucky to have had help, as my SO is a nurse. I could have never done this on my own, as I needed help dressing, etc...

Updated on 27 Dec 2013:


Updated on 2 Jan 2014:
swelling is going down slowly buy surely. my incisions are healing nicely. However, on the ends at my hips, I am still getting stabbing pain whenever I try to slide tight clothing (like compression garments) on. I am getting there is an unhappy nerve there. I will ask about this when I see the doctor for follow up on Tuesday.

It feels like my ribs/organs/ muscles are always re-arranging... like things just don't seem to be in the right place.

Updated on 18 Jan 2014:
I am healing well. I cannot sleep on my stomach yet.... but who cares? My scars have nearly lost all the scabs. My hips and thighs are still swollen. Here are some pictures. :)

Updated on 22 Jan 2014:
I am down roughly 10 lbs and lots of the swelling has gone down. I am still wearing a compression garment. (I really like the ones from Leonisa) I started in a L and just received a M and put it on today... here are some pictures. My scars are healing well and my ab muscles are getting stronger everyday. I am still holding off on lifting anything heavy or doing more than minimal impact exercise. (walking, really... nowhere near ready for yoga)

Updated on 26 Jan 2014:
I have gone up a couple of pounds since my last post. I am not sure why. I am having a great deal of swelling in my arms, I suppose still an effect from the arm lift in November. I am going to see a lymphedema specialist on Tuesday. My lower body looks terrible now compared to my tighter abdomen. I think I am going to look into a lower body lift/lipo in the future.

Updated on 7 Feb 2014:
I am surprised by how swollen my hips and thighs still are. I have been getting lymphatic drainage massages for my arms and they work on my abdomen as well... which feels bizarre, as I still do not have feeling near my scars.

Updated on 9 Feb 2014:
7 and a half weeks post op. Scars looking great. I don't really notice the missing belly button. Hips still sore/swollen.

Updated on 24 Nov 2014:
Here is a current picture from my tummy tuck almost a year ago.