50 Years Old - Time for Mini Tummy Tuck

After the birth of my daughter in 2010 (starting at 40 years old), I’ve had a series of mommy makeovers spread over the number of years. In 2010, I had lipo. In 2011, my breast implants are done. And 2015, I got my butt implants done.
Of course, you think it’s gonna last for a long time. LOL But once 2019 hit, I gained 20 pounds from both parents passing and perimenopause. Once I lost 15 (of the 20 gained), I started noticing fat and loose skin I just couldn’t get rid of. So, I talked to my plastic surgeon (who did my boobs) about a mini tummy tuck. Originally. I was scheduled to do it in December 2020 but I postponed it until Feb 2021 due to the Covid surge and I also wanted to make sure I was near a sustainable goal weight.Day of surgery I had to be at the surgery center at 4:00 am! But I also wanted the first surgery on the books. The anesthesiologist called the day before and I told him I was a little nervous. Because now that I’m older, I was on edge about being “under.” But as he asked me questions, I felt more comfortable.Once I saw my plastic surgeon (marking me up), I felt more at ease. Especially since he did my boobs. And also, his wife is the one who does the Botox at their office. So, I frequently see him. I was rolled in the OR room at around 5:30 am. And when I woke up, I was in the recovery room at 7:30 am. The only side effect of the anesthesia is that I woke up shaking and then the nurse sat with me and gave me Valium. My husband had me hike by 8:30 am.Being home on Day 1 was pretty easy since I was still on the meds. Even though I had my husband and good friend helping me, I was able to walk around easily, prepare my food and feed myself. I’ve had lipo and I had a c-section, so it feels like this all over again. All my friends who have had a real tummy tuck says that recovery is so much harder. Day 2 (Thursday 2/11/21) was harder because all the meds had worn off and I was a little ran down. But I was able to take the after pics.Day 3 (Friday 2/12/21) - no bowel movement yet. So I’m not taking any more Vicodin. I don’t like the come down the next day and I hear it affects constipation.

Yesterday, I went to see my plastic surgeon for my post op and to get the drain out. I took these pictures at his office.
Is my stomach super wash board flat? No. And my doctor told me if one wanted that look, I would have to do a full tummy tuck. But I didn’t want a full tummy tuck to achieve that. I’m totally happy on what a mini TT and lipo gave me. I only had one child and I didn’t need muscle repair. But if I had two or more children, I would have definitely done a full TT.
I’m looking forward what the results will look like once swelling goes down. I think the only downside to any plastic surgery is that recovery is “boring” especially for type A personality like me. I would love to exercise right now but can’t. Just little things you take for granted.... Having to sleep on a recliner, walking around with a hunched back all the time, taking your compression garment off/on everytime you have a bowel movement. I tell everyone who wants to do plastic surgery that beauty suffering. LOL But honestly, the end results are totally worth it. I’m happy to have a flat stomach again at 50 years old.
I will say that I think recovery is always better when you’re in fairly good shape before your surgery. After every procedure I’ve done, recovery has been fairly easy. Also, stool softener and high fiber diet is the best for going to the bathroom. You do not want to strain with a bowel movement.
Also, in your consultations, make sure to bring your surgeon wish pics of what you want and pics you don’t want it looking like. As part of a mini or full TT, your vagina will be pulled up a little. I brought a picture of a TT of a vagina that was pulled up way too much and I told my doctor I did NOT want that. Make a list of all questions you want to ask. My doctor was the best is giving me what I wanted and answered all my questions. Also, I really trusted my doctor’s anesthesiologist too. Conversation with him the day before the surgery is key in putting your mind at ease.

I think the downtime in plastic surgery is psychologically harder (for me) now that I’m 50. Like when I got my butt down in 2015, there was more down time but I don’t remember being as restless as now.

I’ve known at least 5 women who have gotten tummy tucks and all of them got a full one. I’m the only person I know who has gotten a mini and I can tell you this is so much easier than a full in every way. I even remember the second day post op, I was already walking up our stairs to the second floor. Yesterday, I drove to Whole Foods by myself. And today I drove to Whole Foods, Target, and Costco. I also was able to have my massage lady come to the house and give me a (much needed) face up massage for an hour.

The electric lazy boy lift up chair (that my good friend left me borrow) was so helpful the first week. But the last two days, I’m finally sleeping propped up on my bed. The binders and body suits that you get are not there good. So I ordered some good ones off Amazon. I alternate between two kinds - I will post the pics.

But the past week, I have been “boredom” eating. I started surgery at around 131 and I was horrified when I stepped on the scale yesterday and I was up to 134. All the salty snack foods (like chips) were catching up to me. And I can feel it was making my stomach very bloated. I did an all day cleanse yesterday and back down to 132. I’m juicing today as well.

My goals is to get back to 125/126, because even though I have a pretty flat stomach, I want my overall frame back to being smaller. Overall, I am very happy with results. I will even post the lipo pics of the FUPA area that my surgeon was able to do. LOL