Best Decision Ever - Tummy Tuck - Minneapolis, MN

I am a African-American woman, approximately 124 lbs and 5'4'', 45 years, athletic build with lax ab muscles and excess skin. After several years of considering a tummy tuck I thought the time is now and I am so glad I did it! It's still pretty early in the recovery, I am seven days post-op , while I am swollen and a bit sore I am feeling great. I am very pleased with my decision to go ahead and have the abdominal pasty (tummy tuck) and even more pleased with my results so far, thanks to my plastic surgeon Dr. Tholen and his WONDERFUL team, huge shoutout to Elizabeth, Crystal and Traci...thank you. It's still early in my recovery, but I am REALLY liking what I am seeing and as healing continues to progress it's certain I will love the final results.

During the initial consultation Dr. Tholen answered all my questions and some questions I had not thought to ask. He and his staff were very reassuring from the beginning, explaining each step of the procedure and recovery. Any questions or concerns I had along the way Dr. Tholen and his staff were available to answer and made special arrangements for Rx's as well tips to make recovery easier.

I am now the very proud owner of the cutest belly button and tight abs...yay! Looking forward to the swelling going down over the coming weeks and months. Best decision ever to have the procedure done, absolutely no regrets, extremely pleased with work of Dr. Tholen and the support of his staff at Minneapolis Plastic Surgeons!

The first weeks after surgery were rough, especially the 1st two weeks following the surgery, but it was all manageable. I was not aware of the intense swelling that would happen in my hips my upper thighs and pubic mounds area. I had expected swelling in my abdomen. The abdominal binder provided by my PS while I wore as instructed, it was not as helpful as my compression garment, which I am sooooo very glad I ordered. At 8 and half weeks post op from my tummy tuck I am starting to feel more like myself. Walking 3-5 miles everyday with moderate cardio, light weight training with no ab work, still experiencing intermittent ab tightness, but swelling is lessening. Wearing a stage 2 compression garment (Marena) definitely helps and I typically wear it all day and sleep in it, so I have three of them :-). Sodium is not your friend, especially with this surgery. Reducing my sodium consumption helps with keep swelling in check, surprisingly walking when I feel tightness in my abdomen helps reduce. My PS also provides lymphatic ultrasound massages included as post op care (weekly for 6 weeks), this helps so much with tightness and feels really good.

It exciting to be nearly be back to my regular workout routine and getting stronger. Not taking any Tylenol or anything as the discomfort is manageable. So I have some post-op pics from 7 and half weeks. I don't have any pre-op pics of my own, but will request from my PS some of these to post as a side-by-side comparison. I am still pretty swollen in these pics and I am Micropore tape and it is amazing, because it holds well without the painful tugging at skin and hair, so it can be removed with little to no pain!