I have dreamt of having a tummy tuck since having my children (12 and 14). I'm 38 years old now and cannot believe I have finally done it! I never thought I'd see my pre pregnancy flat(ish!) belly again. No more big pants to tuck my apron into, no more smelly, sore skin infections underneath. I am so happy!! Updated on 23 Apr 2016: Went back on Thursday to have some fluid drained off (250ml!) and I feel so much better for it. No more sloshing about. Woke up Friday morning to a super slim tum, although there's a bit more swelling again now.

Had my first consultation and will be going back soon to have a meet up with former patients. Initially wanted just lipo but PS advised that I need to remove excess skin from previous weightloss. Thought I'd start this review already to track my progress from the start! Had an initial shock at finding out it was going to be a more invasive procedure, but I've come to terms with it and I'm ready for the change! Updated on 11 Dec 2014: My surgery is scheduled for this Monday. I'm starting to go round and round in circles, with excitable highs of anticipation and panic about what the hell I'm doing... It's too late for me to back out now, but I can't help doubting myself for no good reason! Did I choose the right surgeon/hospital? Will I get the results I want? Will there be complications leaving me with a disfiguring scar or permanently injured? I'm sure these are things which go through everyone's heads before the big day. I'd really appreciate some advice from those on the other side! I'll be posting some more before pics in a couple of days. I'm sure my posts will get even more frequent after that. Updated on 1 Jan 2015: Hey everyone. Thought I'd update since I've not done anything since the op. I felt too much of a mess to bother posting any pictures, besides I hardly ever had the CG off. Two weeks on I am happy with how things are looking. My scar goes below all my regular panties, and I'm happy to no longer have to 'tuck' the skin under. I look at myself and I almost can't believe that the skin that once surrounded my belly button is all gone... It seems like so much. I have horrific swelling on my lower abdomen, which cruelly makes my tummy almost worse than it was before! Thanks to all the reviews of you lovely ladies on here I know that this will pass- just hoping it passes sooner rather than later! Finally stopped taking my pain meds about a week ago- truth be told I was only taking them for the raging headaches I've been getting- I assume from the anaesthesia. I had a terrible migraine the morning of Christmas day, which was no treat! This seems to have passed now though, so I'm feeling a lot brighter. Updated on 1 Jan 2015: Updated on 1 Jan 2015: Updated on 2 Jan 2015: I was massaging my incision a little just now and found when I pressed a certain area around it it created a ripple that went all the way to just above my belly button. I have to press in a very specific area for it to happen, so in any case it has to be pretty small...but I'm worried! I am leaving the country tomorrow and won't be back for another 5 weeks for my third post-op appointment. I will probably call the hospital to see if I can get a check up tomorrow but I highly doubt it... Any advice guys? Updated on 9 Jan 2015: Thought I'd post some pics as I was having a positive day. I definitely have a seroma, I called the hospital and my surgeons chief nurse said that that's what it sounds like. But she then said if I don't have a fever and it's not painful/red then they prefer to leave it. Seromas are sterile so unless they pose problems they prefer to let them go away naturally. I had such a panic about needing to travel to get it aspirated because I was so far away from my surgeon. Everything seems to be going okay- but bear in mind these are morning pics before the swell really kicks in! Updated on 9 Jan 2015: Thought I'd post some pics as I was having a positive day. I definitely have a seroma, I called the hospital and my surgeons chief nurse said that that's what it sounds like. But she then said if I don't have a fever and it's not painful/red then they prefer to leave it. Seromas are sterile so unless they pose problems they prefer to let them go away naturally. I had such a panic about needing to travel to get it aspirated because I was so far away from my surgeon. Everything seems to be going okay tho- but bear in mind these are morning pics before the swell really kicks in!