I am a 36 year old mother of two girls. I have wanted a tummy tuck ever since my youngest was born almost 11 years ago and I was left with terrible stretch marks and a muffin top. I'm at my desired weight of around 138, and I work out constantly, but can never see my real results because they are hidden under what looks like 90 year old skin! I've struggled with this decision because I don't want my girls to have body image issues, but I'm finally ready to do something for me for once. Yet I'm still feeling a little guilty and a lot worried about what everyone will think about the boobs. I wish my parents were happy.... They say they are supportive.... At least hubby and close friends are supportive!
Updated on 25 Mar 2012:
I'm going for a preop appointment this Thursday. Starting to really get nervous! I need to remember to do so many things before my surgery on April 4th. I'm so scared I won't get it all done. Dogs need a bath, floor needs to be swept/mopped, bathrooms cleaned, etc, etc. That's what keeps going through my mind. Luckily my girls will be an awesome help I'm sure.
Updated on 29 Mar 2012:
Well, I went to my preop appointment today. The countdown has begun! One more week! I need to post my "before" pics now and take my measurements. I have all my prescriptions at the pharmacy, and I have a ton of instructions to read over. They told me to drink lots and lots of water and stay hydrated. She said that was the most important thing. They took pictures from every angle of me in the nude. Awkward!!! Anyways, I'm excited and nervous. Glad they gave me some Xanex to take the night before. They told me to take one that morning too, and to try not to drink anything when I take it, but I can take a sip if I need to.
Updated on 2 Apr 2012:
Two more days! I've posted before pics of my breasts, stomach, and thighs. Feels weird to put pics on the internet when I don't want anyone at all ever seeing me like this!
Updated on 6 Apr 2012:
Day 3.... Not pleasant. Thigh lipo hurts worse than anything, and nobody warned me about how much draining there would be. Much, much more than I thought! I took off the compression garment to shower for the first time. I wasn't in there long before I thought I would pass out. I guess it was a combination of being out of compression and the effort of bathing. I keep hearing day 3 and 4 are the worst. Just let me get past this!
Updated on 6 Apr 2012:
I've posted a one-day post op. its now day 3 and I'm pretty swollen. more pics to come...
Updated on 8 Apr 2012:
Day 4.... I slept 6 hours straight last night, so it was rough to get out of the recliner this morning. ive been trying to get up every couple hours and move to prevent blood clots. But I'm feeling pretty good now! I went ahead and took pain meds just in case. Maybe I will try to wash my hair and put on some makeup today. I think that would make me feel better! I will post some more pics today. I'm still feeling puffy, but trying to drink lots of water to flush everything out. I'm having to use my stomach muscles a little more than I think i should because my thighs are so bruised from lipo, so it hurts to get on and off the toilet. Still no BM even though I took 2 correctol yesterday.
Updated on 8 Apr 2012:
I've added day 5 pics. I guess the pictures don't really show how swollen I feel. If I could just have a BM I would feel so much better! Trying MOM tonight after taking 3 correctol over the last 2 days. I think I'm just scared to go! (I know, TMI lol)
Updated on 8 Apr 2012:
And by the way, I know I still have stretch marks on my breasts, but I'm super pleased at how they filled out with the implants and they are not as "indented" so they are quite as noticeable. My incision is somewhat high, but I think he was trying to get as many stretch marks as possible. I'm okay with that. If I never wear a bikini, I'll be fine. I'm just so thankful I won't have a muffin top and won't have to tuck my stomach skin into my jeans when I sit down anymore!! Woo hoo!!
Also, if anyone is considering this, PLEASE make sure you have someone there with you 24/7 for at least 2 days - 4 would be more ideal. You will be surprised at how hard it is to get in and out of the recliner and to get a bath. You wear out really quickly. I have a high pain tolerance, and this was bearable, but it was no joke for sure!!
Updated on 9 Apr 2012:
Oh my goodness, I cannot go to the bathroom!!! I've tried milk of magnesia and dulcolax for three days. I feel like I'm going to explode. I'm scared I will mess something up if I try too hard to go!! It's Monday, and I havent been since the morning of my surgery last Wednesday!!!
Updated on 10 Apr 2012:
Day 7: Woo hoo! Bathroom issue resolved. I think the key is to stop taking those pain meds. Just Tylenol for me from now on! Feeling pretty good today, justl stiff after sitting for a while, and it kinda hurts to sit down, but once I'm down, I'm good. It's gonna be a good day!
Updated on 11 Apr 2012:
So, the drain tubes come out tomorrow. I can literally feel them under my skin by my ribcage. I am freaking out about it because people have told me horror stories. I saved a xanex for the occasion. Other than that, i feel great on day 8! It's hard to believe how far I have come in a week!
Updated on 11 Apr 2012:
I'm adding a pic of the back of my thighs, day 8
Updated on 12 Apr 2012:
Day 9: got the tubes out today, what a relief!!! Just saw my belly button for the first time too (really the first time in 13 years). So, I have to wear my stage one binder still, go back in 2 weeks, and then change to my stage two binder. I may cheat on that and wear stage 2 sooner. Now I'm going bra shopping, cause the one I bought before surgery is too small!
Updated on 16 Apr 2012:
Day 12! I went back to work today and wore my regular work pants! My legs are sore if I sit too long, so I did some standing up while I processed payroll :) The lipo has still been the worst part. My legs look terrible, and all the bruising has moved down even to my calves. But this too shall pass. I'm having a twinge of pain in my stomach incision that feels like a stitch in there is not quite right or something, but the pain subsides when I flex my stomach muscles ?? Weird. If it keeps up, I'll call the doctor. :) I woke up at 3 a.m. and haven't been back to sleep, and it's 9:00 p.m. so I'm pooped!!!
Updated on 17 Apr 2012:
Well, tomorrow it will be 2 weeks. New pics below
Updated on 25 Apr 2012:
It's 3 weeks today. Feeling totally normal except when I sit for more than 30 minutes or so, I'm stiff for a few seconds when I stand up. I can stand up completely straight. The lipo in my thighs still hurts. Bruises are better but still looks gross. Hurts to rub lotion on them! I will wait one more week to post pics - that will be one month. I'm so ready to exercise! Oh, my stomach muscles had spasms the other night when I stood up after sitting. So, I've been taking a muscle relaxer at night to prevent that. No fun.
Updated on 22 Jul 2012:
Well, its been 3 1/2 months now. I need to put more pics up. Things are healing fine. I still have a couple stitches that are trying to poke through on my stomach, but its a minor irritation. My scars are super red right now. They look worse than in the beginning, but it is smooth. I'm giving myself a year for improvement. I've been putting maderma scar gel on it every day unless I have on the silicone strip. I use that occasionally. I settled into a 34D bra. I can wear a 36C as well. Victoria Secret is the only place I can find that fits ok. Expensive, but i got about 5 good ones, so I take good care of them lol. I've been going to my boot camp classes, and I still swell some, especially when I overrated at a meal. I gotta get control of that. The look has left my thighs super lumpy. I'm hoping for great improvement there, but they are much smaller. I don't like the equator my hips are so much bigger than my thighs. I'm going back to the doctor August 8th, so I will ask about getting some lipo there when I go back.
Updated on 17 Sep 2012:
It's been five months now. I'm going on Wednesday to have some fat sucked out of a dog ear I have. He's going to take a little off both sides with a needle that he uses for transferring fat (smaller than a lipo needle hopefully!). So, my legs are still lumpy from the lipo as you can see from the pics. My breasts have made their way into their permanent location. My stomach really has a six pack that I'm hoping will show up better really soon. I've been working hard on it. You can feel them, but I guess I've got to work on my diet so you can see them. There's no more pain, but I'm still completely number all the way down the center of my stomach. It's a bizarre feeling. I have a little numbness in the tops of my thighs too. I was hoping to have a lower scar, but clothes fit soooo much better now. I'm happy with the results! I'll post more after they fix my doggy ears. Maybe in a couple months.
Updated on 21 Sep 2012:
On 9/19, five months after my mommy makeover, I got a revision done in the office. I had a little bit of dog ears. He cut out the dog ear on the left and did lipo on both sides to flatten it out. I posted a picture of it all bruised up right now. I'll post some more after it heals!
Updated on 22 Sep 2013:
Well it's been about a year and a half since my initial surgery. The lipo on my legs never "healed" and my scar is really high, so I'm getting it redone by the doctor for free. I just have to pay for the anesthesia. I've posted some new pictures below, and you'll see why my thighs need to be redone. I think too much fat was taken out in my opinion. He said he will take a small cannula and go the opposite way than he originally went, and not actually suck any fat. But he will probably suck some fat up around the top of my hips to even things out, cause now I'm kinda shaped funny in clothes - skinny legs and bigger hips. I'm happy with the way my scar healed on my stomach, but when I'm in a public swimming place, I wear shorts to hide the scar cause it's so high. I'm nervous about getting the lipo done again cause that was definitely the worst part, but I'm hoping it will even things out some!! I'll post after pics in a few weeks.
Updated on 3 Oct 2013:
I was down for about 4 days after the revision. The tummy tuck scar is lower, but I really can't tell how my legs will look yet because they are still swollen and bruised. I'm going to have to have doggy ears cut off - again...
Updated on 4 Oct 2013:
I forgot to mention that I needed my last drain tube taken out before I went back to work Monday, and I asked if I could take it out myself. Wow, I don't recommend that! It was so weird cause I could feel it coming across my stomach as it was coming out and I forgot to "unplug" it so there still wouldn't be suction. Thought I would pass out! But I got it done!