POSTED UNDER Tummy Tuck Reviews
2 year update with pictures!!! TT/MR/No Lipo...vertical incision
UPDATED FROM kim44
2 years post
2 year update!!! TT/MR/No Lipo...vertical incision
WORTH IT$6,000
I hadn't looked at my "before" pictures in a really long time...can't believe that is me :) Today is my two year anniversary, so thought I should post some pics (thanks for the reminder kimmers). I should mention that I did go back for a revision (I'm guessing somewhere around 6 months post-op). The revision extended my vertical scar all the way up to my belly button. I wasn't pleased with the slight puckering in that area, so chose to go with a scar that would (hopefully) improve over time, rather than leaving it as it was. Dr. Bayne was happy to do it (love him).
Don't be afraid if you need a vertical incision. If you have a body type like mine, it's just the way it has to be. I don't look perfect, but I would do it again without hesitation. The horizontal line doesn't show in a bikini and my vertical scar has really faded. I will add a couple pictures...
Don't be afraid if you need a vertical incision. If you have a body type like mine, it's just the way it has to be. I don't look perfect, but I would do it again without hesitation. The horizontal line doesn't show in a bikini and my vertical scar has really faded. I will add a couple pictures...
UPDATED FROM kim44
3 months post
11 weeks Saw my PS yesterday...had to cancel...
11 weeks
Saw my PS yesterday...had to cancel last week (bummer) due to a snowstorm. I was looking forward to hearing his opinion on the area below my bb. He was wonderful and said everything I was hoping/expecting he would. I didn't honestly think he would say it looks fine, but I was wondering how I would act if he DID say that! We are going to wait another 6 weeks and see if the "bulge" around bb goes down more(I will continue massaging it) and I will then have a revision at some point. He thinks he will do a little lipo on the bb area, and then make an incision from the top of my current vertical to my bb...kind of a football-shaped cut and then pull the skin together. I also have an area on one hip that will require one stitch. Not really a "dog ear" I don't think, since it's more likely something he will drain.
I am surprisingly ok with this additional incision. I told him I would prefer a longer scar that will only look better over time, rather than keep things the way they are and have no improvement. My vertical scar I have now has healed nicely, so I hope my future one will do the same. Looking on the bright side...I will loose a little more of the wrinkly skin below my bb :)
Some people will look at my pics and think "Yuck, glad it's not me" and I totally understand that. It's not ideal, but it is my reality. I did not have enough skin to pull down, so it was this or not doing it all. I am happy with my muscle repair. My pants fit how they should! It's especially noticeable with my workout clothes...man I hated how my shorts used to bulge out in the front.
I will update if I have any news on the revision. It's hard to find info/photos on vertical incisions, so I hope I can help someone else.
Saw my PS yesterday...had to cancel last week (bummer) due to a snowstorm. I was looking forward to hearing his opinion on the area below my bb. He was wonderful and said everything I was hoping/expecting he would. I didn't honestly think he would say it looks fine, but I was wondering how I would act if he DID say that! We are going to wait another 6 weeks and see if the "bulge" around bb goes down more(I will continue massaging it) and I will then have a revision at some point. He thinks he will do a little lipo on the bb area, and then make an incision from the top of my current vertical to my bb...kind of a football-shaped cut and then pull the skin together. I also have an area on one hip that will require one stitch. Not really a "dog ear" I don't think, since it's more likely something he will drain.
I am surprisingly ok with this additional incision. I told him I would prefer a longer scar that will only look better over time, rather than keep things the way they are and have no improvement. My vertical scar I have now has healed nicely, so I hope my future one will do the same. Looking on the bright side...I will loose a little more of the wrinkly skin below my bb :)
Some people will look at my pics and think "Yuck, glad it's not me" and I totally understand that. It's not ideal, but it is my reality. I did not have enough skin to pull down, so it was this or not doing it all. I am happy with my muscle repair. My pants fit how they should! It's especially noticeable with my workout clothes...man I hated how my shorts used to bulge out in the front.
I will update if I have any news on the revision. It's hard to find info/photos on vertical incisions, so I hope I can help someone else.
Replies (5)
I dont think many would look at your pics and think yuck..no way. You look great. My PS explained to me that some people get a vertical scar if there isn't enough skin. You look way better than before. Your scar is so light and tiny. I would be happy with your scars..vertical and all. :)
Thanks, and you're right...way better than before! I just know that a vertical incision is really not what anyone wants, and I get to have it done twice :)
Another person commented that theirs looks just like mine and they are not happy at all. I think I started second guessing myself after that...wondering if maybe I looked worse than everyone else was saying I did.
Another person commented that theirs looks just like mine and they are not happy at all. I think I started second guessing myself after that...wondering if maybe I looked worse than everyone else was saying I did.
Kim-Hi! I think you look fantastic!! I also had a small vertical incision- 5'9" also- my surg. was 12/22- haven't seen underneath the steri-strips yet-thought they'd have fallen off by now (think they're close however) But from what I can see -I think I'm going to be very happy with things-scar looks very thin & flat! I'm supposed to use kelo-cote once the steri strips come off-are you using anything on yours? I'd be THRILLED with your results honestly! :)
Thanks, and yours sounds like it will be great! My PS didn't really care what I used on the scars. I've used Palmer's, rotating between the stuff in the jar and the oily stuff...guess it depends on my mood :) I would be going crazy to see my scar if I were you! Mine really weren't covered too much...only with the glue, but I was excited when any piece would flake off. My swelling has improved so much in the last few weeks. I still have some, but SO much better :)
Thanks for the update! It's so hard to find someone with the same type of tummy as I have! I also have a vertical incision and am having issues with it...I am 17 weeks PO and my PS said I will need a revison but he won't even consider it until 9-12 months PO. I would be glad to email you pics if you're interested in seeing another vertical incision. I am 5' 10" and also didn't have much skin to remove so my results aren't the "typical" ones.
You know, I don't really know when I would have the revision. He said to come back in 6 weeks, but that will be to just check on things. I wish I would have asked him that. It would be nice to have things on the mend by summer.
I agree, it is difficult to find vertical incision photos, and even more difficult to find vertical incision revisions!
If you have pics already on your computer, that would be great to see them. I will message you my email address. I don't want you to go to any trouble, so if they aren't handy, don't worry about it :)
I agree, it is difficult to find vertical incision photos, and even more difficult to find vertical incision revisions!
If you have pics already on your computer, that would be great to see them. I will message you my email address. I don't want you to go to any trouble, so if they aren't handy, don't worry about it :)
Kim-Does your vertical incision start or go all the way up to your bb?? Hard to tell from the pic.'s-mine comes up from the tt incision no more that 1-2" (?) I really don't see what you're having revised-but whatever it is when did you notice a problem?? I keep hoping I'm out of the woods at 5 wks but I don't know... :p
My incision doesn't go all the way to my bb (2.5 " up from horizontal). The area of concern is where my vertical stops...kind of a pucker or crease. Once my swelling started to go down, I could tell my skin was doing something funky there. This was probably somewhere around 5 weeks. I had major swelling in that area (as my pics show). I really don't think there was any way around this happening, unless my vertical would have gone all the way to my bb from the beginning. I have a very long torso and had a ton of loose skin down low. I carried all my babies very low, but after my last one (10 lbs 14 oz) I think my skin decided it was done trying:) My ps pulled up A LOT of skin from down below...which looks great, but that's not what others can see. I just don't want to look like I have 2 belly buttons(which it does at times), so am happy to have a revision. If you haven't noticed anything strange yet, you are probably out of the woods.
Oooh- 0kay -gotcha-I just really couldn't tell anything from the pictures-I think you look soo good!! But I understand now what you're talking about-guess i'll find out real soon about mine-my steri strips are still on in that area-I'm sure it'd be just fine if I took them off at this point-but now I'm not sure I want to see! LOL!!! I'll let you know if I end up needing something too! And will look forward to your updates!! Can your revision be done in office??
Yes, my ps will do it at his office...not sure when. I bet you will be just fine! I didn't want to scare anyone, but since I started posting my photos before all of this revision stuff, I thought I should stick it out to the end!
UPDATED FROM kim44
2 months post
5 weeks today! PS wasn't able to drain anymore...
5 weeks today!
PS wasn't able to drain anymore at my appt. last week, so I have been massaging the area around bb. I wasn't so sure it was going to work the first couple of days, but am finally believing it is getting smaller...happy about that. I may not always notice a difference, but I can tell when I look at the photos I posted. It's so nice to have the pics on here to easily compare progress...hope I don't post too many!
Made the mistake of going "binder free" to a basketball game (4.5 weeks po) and ended up swelling in the shape of the waistband on my jeans...lovely :) Besides the b-ball game, can't seem to give up my original binder. I did sleep last night without it (back sleeping only) and was good this morning. Everytime I try a different garment, I'm back to my comfort zone by midday.
I haven't been back to the gym, but plan to this week. I am curious about the swelling that may occur afterwards.
Won't see my PS for another 5 weeks. I posted more pics from this morning.
PS wasn't able to drain anymore at my appt. last week, so I have been massaging the area around bb. I wasn't so sure it was going to work the first couple of days, but am finally believing it is getting smaller...happy about that. I may not always notice a difference, but I can tell when I look at the photos I posted. It's so nice to have the pics on here to easily compare progress...hope I don't post too many!
Made the mistake of going "binder free" to a basketball game (4.5 weeks po) and ended up swelling in the shape of the waistband on my jeans...lovely :) Besides the b-ball game, can't seem to give up my original binder. I did sleep last night without it (back sleeping only) and was good this morning. Everytime I try a different garment, I'm back to my comfort zone by midday.
I haven't been back to the gym, but plan to this week. I am curious about the swelling that may occur afterwards.
Won't see my PS for another 5 weeks. I posted more pics from this morning.
Replies (5)
Ahh another vertical girl like myself :) That incision will fade unbelievably..just takes time.... alot of time lol! I had mine done last feb and my incision looks so much better than it did in July! But that didnt stop me from sporting a two piece in Jamaica lol Damn that felt good! You will be verry happy with your results i'm sure. Its just the waiting to see the final result that is so tough sometimes :) You look great!!
Oh, I bet that did feel great to wear a 2-piece!
You look amazing in your photos...hope my final results look as good!!!
You look amazing in your photos...hope my final results look as good!!!
Your stomach looks amazing!!! Great results!
Thanks! It sounds like your big day is Thursday...sending good vibes your way!!!
Wow what a fantastic result Kim44. What doctor did you use for your procedure?
Kate
Hi Kate,
Thank you! I used Dr. Bayne in Moline.
Thank you! I used Dr. Bayne in Moline.
I noticed he has really good reviews. Your stomach looks really in shape!
I didn't notice his reviews on RealSelf until after my procedure...glad they were all positive, though it was a little late to change anything at that point :)
I feel really out of shape! I am going to the gym in the next hour, and have decided to do more than just walk/light jog. I at least plan on breaking a sweat!!!
I feel really out of shape! I am going to the gym in the next hour, and have decided to do more than just walk/light jog. I at least plan on breaking a sweat!!!
Yes his reviews look great. I get really stir crazy when I don't work out too. I'm sure you will feel a lot better once you get your blood pumping. Just be careful and don't overdo it! :)
I had a FTT on Sept 29th so I'm almost 11 weeks po. I am 5' 10" and 130 so I had to have a vertical incision like yours. (Mine actually looks almost identical)I'm concerned at how it will look once it heals...What are your feelings on the way that yours looks?
I would love to see your photos, since you are about 5 weeks ahead of me! The only area I am concerned with right now is above my vertical scar and below my bb. It is kind of a crease (for lack of a better word). It seems like it could be easily fixed. I don't see my doctor for another month, so I guess we will see what it looks like then. Other than that, I am happy with the healing and glad to have my muscles repaired. Not liking the swelling at times, but am happy to be on this website to know that I'm not alone in that.
Do you have concerns about yours? What are you thinking?
Do you have concerns about yours? What are you thinking?
Yes I have the same concern as you mentioned with the crease and above my belly button with the swelling. At times my skin (around the belly button)looks puckered when my stomach swells and it looks like I have extra skin in that area. My PS has mentioned many times that he thinks I'll need a revision to correct the crease.(where my old BB was) I didn't have any muscle repair or lipo but I still have unbelievable amounts of swelling at 11 weeks. I go back to the PS in three weeks and I'll be 3 1/2 months PO. I haven't seen much improvment with swelling. It pretty much looks the same as it did at 8 weeks.
It kind of makes me wonder if an incision all the way to the bb would have been better. I'm sure I would have been disappointed (at the time) if he had done that, though. Honestly, my vertical scar is almost invisible at times. My PS has never mentioned this creased area, because it really has only started showing recently (the more my swelling goes down, I suppose). Plus, we were always focused on the area around my bb that was drained twice (35 cc each time). I go back the middle of Jan, until then I'll just let my skin do what it's gonna do! I know this will be addressed at that appt. I don't expect perfection, but I would think (hope) this could be easily corrected.
I am curious as to what your PS said about a revision. Did he say what he would do?
I am curious as to what your PS said about a revision. Did he say what he would do?
Dang! I keep posting without being logged in and then I lose the post. I'm going to wait and see if my responses magically appear (before rewriting everything).
Replies (5)