POSTED UNDER Tummy Tuck Reviews
5 months PO - TT & BA for a 24yo, 5'10" After 100lbs Weight Loss, No Kids - MR & No Lipo
UPDATED FROM phoebegetsfit
5 months post
5 months PO
WORTH IT$16,500
I never understood why people who went through their TT and updated everyday eventually just stopped for months at a time. I get it now, this surgery was a huge part of my life and all I could think about for the first few months, now I hardly think about it.
That being said, life is almost completely back to normal. I'm no longer swollen, or not that I can tell. I did gain a bit of weight as I've been enjoying my new body and socializing tends to lead to over consumption of food and alcohol. It's alright I still love how I look (most days anyway).
Exercising is back to normal. I can run, do ab work, lift heavy things, I've even started trying various MMAs like judo and jiu jitsu. I had lost some strength when I wasn't able to lift weights for a couple of months after but I knew that was part of the deal.
The scar is still there and it's still highly visible. I used a scar therapy gel recommended by my surgeon but after the tube ran out I just have been leaving it alone. I figure if it's still really noticeable in 5 years I'll get a killer tattoo but I haven't had any issue with it. It's low and hidden by all my underwear and pants so I think I'm pretty lucky.
The only "issue" I have is that I'm still pretty numb on my stomach. Sometimes I get itchy and it feels like it is under the skin. It's a bit odd but I don't notice half as much as I used to. Also I've noticed on the side of my hips right below the scar is always kind of tingly/numb. Again, this is not an issue for me.
Given the option to do it all over again I 100% would. It was incredibly expensive and physically and emotionally draining at times but that was nothing compared to the amount of confidence and happiness I have gained.
That being said, life is almost completely back to normal. I'm no longer swollen, or not that I can tell. I did gain a bit of weight as I've been enjoying my new body and socializing tends to lead to over consumption of food and alcohol. It's alright I still love how I look (most days anyway).
Exercising is back to normal. I can run, do ab work, lift heavy things, I've even started trying various MMAs like judo and jiu jitsu. I had lost some strength when I wasn't able to lift weights for a couple of months after but I knew that was part of the deal.
The scar is still there and it's still highly visible. I used a scar therapy gel recommended by my surgeon but after the tube ran out I just have been leaving it alone. I figure if it's still really noticeable in 5 years I'll get a killer tattoo but I haven't had any issue with it. It's low and hidden by all my underwear and pants so I think I'm pretty lucky.
The only "issue" I have is that I'm still pretty numb on my stomach. Sometimes I get itchy and it feels like it is under the skin. It's a bit odd but I don't notice half as much as I used to. Also I've noticed on the side of my hips right below the scar is always kind of tingly/numb. Again, this is not an issue for me.
Given the option to do it all over again I 100% would. It was incredibly expensive and physically and emotionally draining at times but that was nothing compared to the amount of confidence and happiness I have gained.
phoebegetsfit's provider
Replies (3)
A
July 13, 2014
Yes it helps to remind ourselves it is definitely an improvement! Your scar placement is great and you are very lucky! Keep patient with swelling, that's what everyone has to keep reassuring me ;)
P
A
July 17, 2014
Please keep posting about exercise! Trying to figure out what to expect in the next couple months and I think "free to try anything" in 6 weeks is a little ambitious from my doc : /
P
July 19, 2014
Will do. My doctor was also very easy going with the exercise but his biggest piece of advice was, "listen to your body". If it hurts, don't do it!
D
July 17, 2014
You look great. I can do light exercise at 8 weeks but no abs workout until after 16 weeks. Looking good. Keep it up
P
UPDATED FROM phoebegetsfit
2 months post
9 weeks PO
As of yesterday I have officially hit my two month mark! I feel like I should be writing this on a day when I'm not PMSing and feeling so down on myself but now is when I have time.
Swelling: It seems that my swelling has gotten worse in the past few weeks. 75% of the time I look like I'm 4 months pregnant. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled that the extra skin is gone and I have a cute belly button and I am still rocking a bikini every chance I get but it would be nice not to have to think about if someone is going to ask me when I'm due at the beach.
Exercise: I'm back at Crossfit now and I slowly getting back to lifting. I tried a class about 2 weeks ago and I hurt for days after so I waited until my membershipwas scheduled to unfreeze(this past Wednesday) and I'm going super slow. I felt good on Wednesday and I went hiking yesterday. Today I'm giving my body a break and we'll re-evaluate tomorrow. Since I've been spending so much time at the local lake in town I've also started swimming which I actually find more difficult than lifting. Since I can't bend backwards as far as I used to I find that I'm a bit more clumsy in the water than I used to be.
Clothing: This goes back to the swelling. For the most part clothing looks great, except for the semi-pregnant look. I've been wearing my pre-op jeans and shorts since a few weeks after surgery and they look so much better without the muffin top. Although I still get muffin top when I sit and I'm kind of frustrated.
Pain/numbness: I still have that painful pulling sensation around my belly button after a long day of If I've done too much but it's much less frequent than it used to be. My belly is still numb in the center and bellow the belly button and I have a hard time telling if the numb area has shrunk at all. It doesn't bother me much, I've pretty much gotten used to it. Also I can lay on my stomach now without too much discomfort. I'm not a stomach sleeper but I do like I use my laptop when I'm lay on my stomach and I feel alright to do so but only for short periods of time, I still feel pretty tight.
Scar: I try to put my scar gel on it twice a day as recommended but lately I've gotten bad and only been doing it once. I never put much stock in those kind of remedies anyway, it'll just take time. Right now the TT scar is pretty purple/red but he scar tissue underneath is starting to break up so it doesn't feel as thick. It's very low and hides beautifully under all my clothes. I highly suggest finding a doctor who feels comfortable bring the scar low, I don't think I would have liked my results as much if if it was visible in clothing.
Doctor's Appointment: I had my 2 month appointment with the Dr today and stupid me didn't ask him about the swelling. He saw me and raved on about how great I look. I guess because I see myself everyday I don't see the differences as much. I'm suppose to go back again at the end of August/ beginning of September to take my after pictures.
I'll put up more pictures later when I'm less cranky and down on myself.
Swelling: It seems that my swelling has gotten worse in the past few weeks. 75% of the time I look like I'm 4 months pregnant. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled that the extra skin is gone and I have a cute belly button and I am still rocking a bikini every chance I get but it would be nice not to have to think about if someone is going to ask me when I'm due at the beach.
Exercise: I'm back at Crossfit now and I slowly getting back to lifting. I tried a class about 2 weeks ago and I hurt for days after so I waited until my membershipwas scheduled to unfreeze(this past Wednesday) and I'm going super slow. I felt good on Wednesday and I went hiking yesterday. Today I'm giving my body a break and we'll re-evaluate tomorrow. Since I've been spending so much time at the local lake in town I've also started swimming which I actually find more difficult than lifting. Since I can't bend backwards as far as I used to I find that I'm a bit more clumsy in the water than I used to be.
Clothing: This goes back to the swelling. For the most part clothing looks great, except for the semi-pregnant look. I've been wearing my pre-op jeans and shorts since a few weeks after surgery and they look so much better without the muffin top. Although I still get muffin top when I sit and I'm kind of frustrated.
Pain/numbness: I still have that painful pulling sensation around my belly button after a long day of If I've done too much but it's much less frequent than it used to be. My belly is still numb in the center and bellow the belly button and I have a hard time telling if the numb area has shrunk at all. It doesn't bother me much, I've pretty much gotten used to it. Also I can lay on my stomach now without too much discomfort. I'm not a stomach sleeper but I do like I use my laptop when I'm lay on my stomach and I feel alright to do so but only for short periods of time, I still feel pretty tight.
Scar: I try to put my scar gel on it twice a day as recommended but lately I've gotten bad and only been doing it once. I never put much stock in those kind of remedies anyway, it'll just take time. Right now the TT scar is pretty purple/red but he scar tissue underneath is starting to break up so it doesn't feel as thick. It's very low and hides beautifully under all my clothes. I highly suggest finding a doctor who feels comfortable bring the scar low, I don't think I would have liked my results as much if if it was visible in clothing.
Doctor's Appointment: I had my 2 month appointment with the Dr today and stupid me didn't ask him about the swelling. He saw me and raved on about how great I look. I guess because I see myself everyday I don't see the differences as much. I'm suppose to go back again at the end of August/ beginning of September to take my after pictures.
I'll put up more pictures later when I'm less cranky and down on myself.
Replies (2)
A
July 11, 2014
Question: Are you still wearing compression? If so, ditch it. I wrote a lot about it on my Review. Also, once I started to exercise hardcore again, I would swell for a bit and then it would go away.
P
July 11, 2014
No compression. I did away with at after the first month. I'm hoping that the majority of the swelling will be done by month 3!
A
July 13, 2014
I remember too that once I started getting REALLY active again, my swelling was a bit up!
L
July 12, 2014
Hey Girl, I'll go back to way back when and I mentioned I think we are very similar. Height, weight and now results. If you look at my post you'll see I feel very similar to you. Especially about the mini muffin top. I was calling it pouffyness but you nailed it. Do you REALLY look 4 month preggo. I mean I keep telling my hubs I look "fat" sometimes and he says I am crazy and look so skinny. Has anyone confirmed this for you? Just wondering if it's in your (and mind :) heads!!! I am also back at working out - Zumba Tuesday (took it so so easy), walk Wed, Thursday only a 25 min run or so (continuous) and I am still soooo sore!!! I want to hit the gym this week too and try some weight. I think maybe tomorrow. Looking forward to those pics and check mine out and let me know what YOU think of my pics and feelings.
P
July 13, 2014
Some days are worse than others. When I wrote that it was really bad, but yes, I have had a few people confirm that I sometimes look a bit pregnant. It's because when I swell I unfortunately swell in my upper belly too, so my whole stomach protrudes. Glad to hear your back at the gym. Take it easy with the weights, I felt great when I was IN the gym but the next couples days my body paid for it!
L
July 13, 2014
good call. I am going to try and hit the gym today and tomorrow and will for sure take it easy for my first time back!
Replies (1)