Reviews you can trust, from real people like you.
How it works
- Our highly-trained Review Moderation team evaluates all reviews before they're published to ensure they're written by people like you and not a member of a doctor's office.
- This multi-step process takes up to 24 hours from review submission to publication.
- Doctors can't pay to have reviews removed or hidden.
- Reviews are only removed at the reviewer's request or if they violate our Terms of Service.
If you have questions or believe we should re-evaluate a published review, let us know.
Sort by:
*Treatment results may vary
2 months post op Tummy Tuck Dr Ortega Miami
Well, I've been absent for quite a while on here. Been active on my Instagram @comfyinmyskin
Here are several pics pre and post op. This journey so far has been challenging, but rewarding. Nobody at home knows what I did. Just my Doctor and his nurse and secretary. My blood pressure had been an issue, but that has been controlled now with medication I'm very pleased with my results. A brief summary of my journey - I flew to Miami by myself in the evening on Nov. 1. Arrived just after midnight Nov 2. My surgery was originally scheduled for Nov. 3 with pre-op Nov. 2. A few days prior, they changed surgery to Nov. 2 and pre-op on the same day. Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep leading up to surgery. I got into surgery mid afternoon. I remember very little after surgery until the next morning. The only thing I remember is waking up in a wheelchair in a room. Then I was getting out of a car at the recovery house. That was probably 8 or 9pm. Then lights out again.
I stayed at the recovery house for 7 days, 6 nights. The second week I stayed by myself at an airbnb. I returned to work at 18 days PO. Some highlights: the first week was hell. I'm not going to sugar coat it. The tightness and feeling like your belly is being pulled down by hooks and ropes. Standing straight was not an option. Walking hunched over kills your back. You can only do short walks, like to the bathroom and back. Showers were difficult. Standing for a full shower is near impossible during this first week. Reaching to wash your hair and body parts takes a lot of time and patience. Lots of breaks. It's exhausting. I started massages on day 3 po. They were a god send. If you're getting just a tummy tuck, I highly recommend starting them by day 3 po and getting them every day for a couple weeks. Marilyn Real came to where I was staying at both the recovery house and airbnb. She was awesome!! She's on Instagram @essensezen.
The second week went much smoother. I was on my own, but able to walk quite a bit and shower much better. I still wore loose dresses the second week. Thankfully Miami is warm and simple loose dresses fit the bill. I went to the movies a few times. Did some shopping (for dresses lol). Had drains in the whole time. I finally got the drains out on day 13 po. A day or two before flying home. They do NOT hurt when being removed. Just a funny feeling when they are sliding across your insides. The incision area where the drain line came out might be a little sore but that's it.
The last several weeks have been mainly just waiting for the swelling to go down, waiting for the belly button to return to normal color, dealing with stitches coming through the skin, dry skin around the belly button and incision, waiting for scabs to fall off, waiting for the tight pulling sensation to go away...
Week 4 was the real turning point for me. Able to wear my clothes again and comfortable. You may go up a size after surgery for a few weeks with the swelling. I had a lot removed, and I still went up. But, the pictures attached here are worth more than words. I hope I've helped someone out there with their decision or at least calmed their fears or answered some of their questions. You're not going through this alone and yes, it's probably normal! Happy Healing!!
Here are several pics pre and post op. This journey so far has been challenging, but rewarding. Nobody at home knows what I did. Just my Doctor and his nurse and secretary. My blood pressure had been an issue, but that has been controlled now with medication I'm very pleased with my results. A brief summary of my journey - I flew to Miami by myself in the evening on Nov. 1. Arrived just after midnight Nov 2. My surgery was originally scheduled for Nov. 3 with pre-op Nov. 2. A few days prior, they changed surgery to Nov. 2 and pre-op on the same day. Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep leading up to surgery. I got into surgery mid afternoon. I remember very little after surgery until the next morning. The only thing I remember is waking up in a wheelchair in a room. Then I was getting out of a car at the recovery house. That was probably 8 or 9pm. Then lights out again.
I stayed at the recovery house for 7 days, 6 nights. The second week I stayed by myself at an airbnb. I returned to work at 18 days PO. Some highlights: the first week was hell. I'm not going to sugar coat it. The tightness and feeling like your belly is being pulled down by hooks and ropes. Standing straight was not an option. Walking hunched over kills your back. You can only do short walks, like to the bathroom and back. Showers were difficult. Standing for a full shower is near impossible during this first week. Reaching to wash your hair and body parts takes a lot of time and patience. Lots of breaks. It's exhausting. I started massages on day 3 po. They were a god send. If you're getting just a tummy tuck, I highly recommend starting them by day 3 po and getting them every day for a couple weeks. Marilyn Real came to where I was staying at both the recovery house and airbnb. She was awesome!! She's on Instagram @essensezen.
The second week went much smoother. I was on my own, but able to walk quite a bit and shower much better. I still wore loose dresses the second week. Thankfully Miami is warm and simple loose dresses fit the bill. I went to the movies a few times. Did some shopping (for dresses lol). Had drains in the whole time. I finally got the drains out on day 13 po. A day or two before flying home. They do NOT hurt when being removed. Just a funny feeling when they are sliding across your insides. The incision area where the drain line came out might be a little sore but that's it.
The last several weeks have been mainly just waiting for the swelling to go down, waiting for the belly button to return to normal color, dealing with stitches coming through the skin, dry skin around the belly button and incision, waiting for scabs to fall off, waiting for the tight pulling sensation to go away...
Week 4 was the real turning point for me. Able to wear my clothes again and comfortable. You may go up a size after surgery for a few weeks with the swelling. I had a lot removed, and I still went up. But, the pictures attached here are worth more than words. I hope I've helped someone out there with their decision or at least calmed their fears or answered some of their questions. You're not going through this alone and yes, it's probably normal! Happy Healing!!
Flying to Miami tomorrow for Pre-op - then surgery on Thursday!!
Can't believe it's here already!!! I board the plane tomorrow morning :) Heading to Dr. Ortega's office for the pre-op, then to the hotel for the night and surgery the next morning. I just can't believe how quickly this flew by. 2 more days and I'll be in the recovery house post op!
How has a Tummy Tuck changed your life?
I'm really struggling with this decision. Should I or shouldn't I? Is it just throwing away good money? I really want to hear how you feel now that you've had a tummy tuck. How has it changed your life? Physically, mentally? Such a huge decision. Thanks for any input!