I am 33 years old, 3 kids...last two are 3 yr old twins. Had an umbilical hernia and diastis recti due to having twins. Was so tired of people asking me was I pregnant again...I looked like I was 5 months. I weighed 138 before I had twins and my last weight before surgery was 155. Very small built so belly was really big. My self esteem was dropping as the years past. It took forever to convince my husband that exercise wasn't going to fix my stomach, but he finally came around and I immediately started doing my research on tummy tucks. A co-worker of my husbands actually referred me to my PS and she was happy with her results! I went for my consultation November 11, 2014 and felt real comfortable with Dr. Sproles, so, I scheduled my surgery for January 22, 2015. Had to pay $300 that day...also paid $25 for consultation, which went on my tummy tuck and lipo. The Plastic Surgeon staff was so helpful and nice. The surgery was under 3 hours. They made sure my husband had all the meds I would need. We got a really quick crash course on post-op care, so I relied a lot on you tube and RS. I live 2 1/2 hours away, so we stayed over night at a hotel. Next morning we went back to see PS before we headed back home. The first week was hell!!!!!! On day 7 I was able to get my 1 drain out, so that made me feel better. Day after drain was removed I started swelling bad. I was also very bad bruised from lipo on my sides. It is so hard to wear binder because it feel like my ribs has been broken. As of this post I'm 18 days post op and can almost stand up. It is so much better if you have help at home! My husband had to do everything for me for the first 5 days. I also have my mama here helping cook, watch the kids, and play taxi for the kids. I also am taking off 3 weeks and working from home for a week. The swelling is the worst part for me and the pain on my sides because of the lipo.
Updated on 11 Feb 2015:
Updated on 14 Feb 2015:
Worried about swelling and my belly button. Scab hasn't come off belly button....it look black and too small. Stretch marks a way below my navel now so that's good. My PS told me not to remove the scab on my belly button and that it should come off itself. Doesn't seem to be coming off! My scar is really dark, but my PS doesn't want me to start using stuff to gelp it fade away until I see her on March 2nd....that's 40 days post op! I'm just putting peroxide and ointment on my scar and belly button. Suggestions....thoughts....please?
Updated on 17 Feb 2015:
Well I got my pre-op pics from my PS today. I feel a little ashame to post them, but I'm going to.
Updated on 17 Feb 2015:
I went to see my PS today and I also bought this Scar supervision ointment for $40 at her office. Hopefully, it works great.....wish they said it does. Its called bioCorneum. Has anyone else used this before? Thoughts?
Updated on 19 Feb 2015:
Well I'm doing much better. I'm just having issue with swelling and shooting pains. My PS recommended lymphatic massages, so I'm going to try and massage myself with vitamin E oil. If im not successful in working out this fluid and swelling I will try to find a massouse who does lymphatic massages. I guess I'll post in another week or so to inform everybody if this biocorneum scar supervision ointment is working. Im also going to start back working Monday from home. I think I'll wait until my 6 weeks post op dr. Appt before I physically go back to visiting clients and sitting in my office. Hope everybody is doing well. Happy healing!
Updated on 28 Feb 2015:
Well I finally ordered me a faja to see if it will help me with swelling! I hope so because I'm in swell hell.
Updated on 28 Feb 2015:
Well I finally put on some jeans last night to go to a basketball game. I'm happy I didn't have a muffin top! So happy to be on the flat side.....even with this horrible swelling! Now, I need to get some butt! Lol! I will just do tons of squats to get my butt back right because the hubby isn't spending no more $ on me.
Updated on 18 Mar 2015:
Well I'm back working and for the last two weeks I have been walking 20 to 30 minutes on the treadmill 3 to 4 times a week. A lot of people have been saying that I look like I've lost a lot of weight.
When I went to my 6 week check-up everything was fine. PS told me that in total she cut and sucked 4 LBS off of me. That's good. I'm happy with my results, just trying to get in a routine of exercising and eating better. I'm not as swollen as I was before. ...just swell a little if I've done to much in the day. I believe that anicare ointment really works for the swellibg and bruising. I developed a rash around 4 in a half weeks post-op around my incision so that was a pain. I stop putting everything on my belly and acar for almost two weeks. I just used dial soap and hydrocortisone cream until it cleared up. My PS believe it was either the gaze or tape I was using that broke me out. So I still need to see if this biocorneum cream will work magic on my scar. It says to use for 3 months twice a day, so I'm going to start following those directions. I think my belly button is real small, but my PS said she didn't have to make me a belly button, so the one I have is my original one. I'm just so happy that I look so good in my clothes and I am not wearing clothes that are way too big in order to cover up my bulging twin gut! Well I've posted pics, so tell me your thoughts. I wish I could afford to get lymphatic massages at least twice a week, but I'm stuck with getting them every two weeks. I've only had one and I think it helped with swelling. I've been massaging myself to break up some of this scar tissue I feel under my scar and belly button. Glad I will get a massage professionally on Friday!
Updated on 18 Mar 2015:
Updated on 6 Apr 2015:
I'm still swelling some in the evening, but it's getting better! I'm walking on my treadmill 3 times a day for 20- 30 minutes. I'm also doing some abs and arm workouts with dumbells twice a day. I'm taking it slowly because I don't want to have any setbacks. My scar is healing great! Will post pictures of scar another time.
Updated on 11 Apr 2015:
Well I'm using the biocorneum ointment and vitamin E oil on my scar and belly button. I'm also still going to a lymphatic massage person every two weeks. I have also started using bio oil on my scar and belly button. The right side of my is thicker than the other areas. I'm still swelling above my belly button area. I don't have any regrets and am very pleased with the way my stomach looks now. I'm focusing on getting my stomach muscles back.
Updated on 10 May 2015:
I have been doing a lot more ab workouts. The swelling above my belly button is a little better.
Updated on 13 May 2015:
Updated on 29 May 2015:
Updated on 17 Jun 2015:
Well I'm around 5 months post op and the swelling gets better and better. I think I'm about to start using silicone strips to flatten my scar more at the ends and some type of fade scar cream. Please let me know if anybody has had great success with fading cream. I'm still running 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes and doing some arm and ab workouts twice a week.
Updated on 21 Sep 2015:
All is well. Just trying to work on lightening my scar. I'm also thinking about getting lipo below my incision line and my sides. I have been so busy I haven't worked out in a month and I'm not eating healthy like I was. I have to do better and make sure I maintain my reaults.
Updated on 7 Sep 2017:
It has been almost 3 years since I had my Tummu tuck and liposuction to abdomen. I work out off and on. I would like to get Lipo on my back fat!!