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POSTED UNDER Tummy Tuck REVIEWS

23 Days PO - SO Swollen/New Pics - Lansing, MI

ORIGINAL POST

The extended tummy tuck is the third in my body...

AnotherDifferentWoman
WORTH IT$10,000

The extended tummy tuck is the third in my body sculpturing surgeries. After I had my son 6 years ago, weight loss came easy. However, my body skin sagged from head to toe. My first surgery was a breast reduction and lift. This was a great surgery with great results. My second surgery, several years later, was a inner thigh lift and an arm lift. The arm lift was good, although the scar has not yet healed entirely (this surgery was March 2012). The inner thighs look good, but I feel as if the rest of my thighs are still saggy. This most recent surgery - 12/26 - was an extended tummy tuck with lipo throughout and fat injections to my butt and face.

The tummy tuck recovery has been hard. The first few days were a blur, and I spent most of the time sleeping, peeing and taking pain pills. Since my surgery was first thing in the morning, I was home early in the day after a 5 hour surgery. I saw the doctor the next day for my first post-op visit, and although I did not clearly see the results, my husband said that my waist, stomach and hips were very small. Unfortunately, the person that always has his phone forgot it, so probably the best picture of what my final result will be does not exist. Oh well, from my drugged vantage point, my tummy did look very flat and small. :)

I slept those first few days in my recliner. I did not move to the bed until day 6 and only because my back was killing me. I really did not start getting comfortable in the bed until Day 9. I am still very hunched over, and am certainly not enjoying the binder or compression garment. I have posted a couple pre op and post op pictures.

Replies (25)

January 5, 2013
You look great, boy your plastic surgeon is generous with the tape!!
January 5, 2013
Seriously. I think I smell like a mummy. I see him on Monday and I hope most of the tape comes off!
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January 5, 2013
You look amazing happy healing!!!!!
January 5, 2013
Thanks. It's really hard to tell. I hope to have better pics next week.
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January 5, 2013
Since you are still hunched it means he pulled you super tight. This you will not regret later on, but it sucks while you are healing. By the end of the 2nd week I was walking mostly straight except by night I was hunched a bit again. Your tummy IS very tight and small!!! Happy healing you!
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January 5, 2013
Happy Healing TO you!
January 5, 2013
Thanks. I had read that somewhere too. It seems like a good plan. But man I would just like to stand still. I got my upper body upright yesterday looking in the mirror. And then I looked down and my legs were all bent. Lol
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January 5, 2013
lol..yeah all my pics before day 14 are like that.. legs bent
January 6, 2013
I'm on day 11, and I think this is one of my more "straightened" up days. I've got a bit of swelling, healing nicely. Got stuck trying to lay in my bed, so I'm still in recliner, which really isn't too bad with a neck travel pillow. Your tummy looks very tight & small!! Happy healing to you!
January 6, 2013
Thanks KC. I still switch back and forth between the recliner and the bed. Both have their benefits.
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January 6, 2013
You look great!! I am 19 days post op and am loving my results but I MIGHT look into a breast lift, breast reduction. I cant even see your scar, how long ago did you do your breast?
January 6, 2013
Hi finallynewme, I was happy with my breast lift/reduction. The recovery was very easy and the scar faded in less than a year. I'd say so far it has been the best surgery of them all. I had that surgery in 2008. Let me know if you have any other questions.

I have added some pictures from post op days 10...

AnotherDifferentWoman
I have added some pictures from post op days 10 and today. I will mention a couple observations from the last few days. One is that I did notice a big change in how I felt around day 10. My energy did pick up a bit and I was able to move around more and do more things. I am still having a very hard time sleeping, but I am hoping that in the next week that will resolve itself.

I saw my doctor for my post op visit on day 12. He removed all the bandages and the incision looked great. I had started to smell a foul smell very early on in my recovery and I was unsure of the source - whether the drain or the bandages. When he removed the bandages on Monday, and specifically the ones above my public area, there was a pool of black [RS bleep] of sorts, and that was the source of the smell for sure. He said that the the oozing had pooled from the incision and caused a blister of sorts. You can clearly see it in the 13 day post op pics. I am not at all concerned about it resolving itself. It will just take time.

I am still very swollen, and uncomfortable in my binder and compression garment. However, I noticed a shadow under my breasts today and realized that it was muscle definition. How's that for progress! The last picture that I posted is me sitting on the edge of the bath tub. You'll notice two things missing - the roll under my boobs and my belly. So amazing. I can not wait to see what the next 5 days brings in my progress.

Unfortunately, I still have my drain attached. It is getting clearer by the day, but I am scheduled to have it removed on Thursday (post op day 15). I have dubbed it my third leg. Once I lose this third leg, I think that my showers will be a splendid experience. I canceled my hair color touch up appointment tomorrow because I knew I was not ready. However, the combination of time and surgery has made the grey in my temples very vibrant. So, I sent my hubby to the store for a box of root touch up. Thursday after the drain comes out, so goes the grey in my roots!

I have been working form home for the past few days. I am able to work online with my job and they have been super flexible with me. For example, today, I skyped into a couple meetings and got a lot done with my colleagues. However, I do not physically go back to work until next Tuesday which will be post op day 20. I do not know what I will feel like on that day, however, being that it is a week away, I am feeling good about that choice. And once I go back I am only going back half days for a couple weeks. I think that this is really reasonable. I think that based on my past experiences with body contouring surgery, and the based on the amount of muscle work that is done in the TT surgery, it will probably be a good month before I start to feel like myself again.

Replies (2)

January 10, 2013
You look great! Thanks so much for sharing your experiences!
January 10, 2013
You bet. I'm looking forward to hearing your experiences.

So, I went back to work part time on Tuesday (post...

AnotherDifferentWoman
So, I went back to work part time on Tuesday (post op day 20) and that was rough. First, I wore pants that were loose and dragged the floor in the morning. By the time I got home that day, they were snug on my waist. Yes, serious swelling. I was very tired walking around and only lasted about 6 hours. I have to do a lot of standing and walking in my job so I was on the couch and snoozing as soon as I could. Thursday was a little better. I had more stamina, but the swelling appears much worse. I have noticed that the swelling is most pronounced in my who who, abdomen, and lower back. You'll probably see that from the pictures I am posting today.

Replies (6)

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January 21, 2013
You really do look wonderful!! Hope the swelling gets better
January 22, 2013
Thanks. Me too! :)
January 22, 2013
How far around did you get cut around? You look great btw!
January 22, 2013
I had an extended TT, so my incision goes around quite a ways. I am about 4 weeks now, and most of it has healed. There is only the spot in the front that has not yet.
January 22, 2013
I'm looking at getting the same surgery done. How much did yours cost and where did you get it done at?
January 23, 2013
About $10,000 in east lansing. If you want to talk more about doctors in this area, feel free to private message me.