Getting a New Tummy - Orlando, FL

Kimmers, that makes me feel so much better that you had soreness too...it's just under my rib cage and my doctor said that it could mean it's not healing properly and that it could bulge out if I didn't make the binder tighter.

Thing is I have the binder as tight as I can get it and my husband puts it on. It's actually so tight it's making lumps in the sides of my waste.

I'm so glad to know that maybe it's just part of the healing process. It's not that sore, but by the end of the day it does feel tender.

Thanks for sharing!

Mine was sore as hell in the exact same spot for months.  I also had a little bit of a bulge there for about a month but my doc said it was fine and all part of the healing.  My trainer is  a master with muscle and healing also said it felt and looked fine. 

Now as far as the tightening the binder...you need to breath for god sakes.   I am not telling you to go against your doctors orders but...I never wore a binder past day three.  My doc does not really push them and told me to wear it if it made me feel better.  But I did not have to.   Now you can see from my pictures that I healed beautifully. 

What my doc did mandate was that I did not use or work my abs at all for six months.  Which makes sense when you think about it.  He explained it like this...he stitched the abs back together really tight and you shouldn't work them and fight against the stitching.  That would cause pulling and more soreness.  He was right!

The tissue in the abdomen is so tender and it just takes time for everything to settle and heal from the inside out.   We had some major surgery and the body just needs months to heal.  I am now 8 months post op and have not more pain anywhere...or swelling.  You will get there:)

Thanks Trena!

Hi there,

Thanks! I am so pleased with how everything has gone - a few tips that really helped are to buy a plastic chair from Target or Lowes and put it in the shower - its very hard to shower without a chair. Then, get a few of those round elastic headbands that people use for working out and put it around your neck and pin the drains to it when you shower. That was the only time the drains were a bit of a problem. Other than that they really were a non-issue.

I'd also highly recommend a recliner - I bought one from Big Lots for $189 and it was so useful (don't know what the heck I'm going to do with it now though).

The whole thing really was so easy - don't let all the negative stuff online worry you. I had mine done on 11/18 and by 11/25 I was fully able to enjoy Thanksgiving with my family and decorate for Christmas. Just take your medicine as prescribed. I was completely off the pain meds within four days and was then just taking one Tylenol every four hours after that. By day 10 I didn't even need the Tylenol. By day 12 (just this past Wednesday) and all week I've been out shopping with my girlfriends and put to lunch, etc.

Let me know how you do - it's the best thing I've ever done for myself.

Anon- you have recovered quickly. How old is your youngest? Did you put the recliner in your bedroom or in the family room? I already have a recliner, we are debating whether to leave it in the family room or put it in the bedroom.We are concerned about where I can get the best rest. My youngest will still come into my room and want attention. How come you showered wtih your drains still in? I know when I met with Dr. S he said I wouldn't be able to shower until they came out.

Hi there,

My youngest actually turns 5 in a month and my oldest is 10. My oldest knew what was going on - in fact she told me a ton of times that she thought I should get my tummy fixed so she was very supportive and helpful. I didn't tell the youngest, my son, that I was even going to have anything done. I came home from my surgery and we told him I was "sick" and was going to have a bandaid on my tummy for a while. So, 4-1/2 weeks later he still calls it my "bandaid".

I would highly recommend putting the recliner in your room - I thought about putting it in the family room too so I could be in the middle of the action. I was really glad to have it in my room though. The first two days I pretty much stayed in there and it was nice and quiet and I could rest. They would come in and talk to me while I was awake. Plus, I slept in it overnight - I couldn't sleep in my bed until about day 8.

My PO instructions said I could shower one day PO, but I didn't shower until two days after the surgery. I got my first drain out on day 6 and my second out on day 13. So, I can't imagine not being able to shower for 13 days - yikes!

Are you having breast aug too? If so, I think you can shower with the drains but you have to wait a few more days. My printed PO instructions said something in there along those lines.

When are you scheduled?

HI, I think we will plan on having the recliner in the room just so it is more restful. I am going to have a breast lift and Aug with a TT and lipo. I am scheduled for June 13th. I know it is a long way off. I was told during my consult with Dr.S that I wouldn't be able to shower until drains came out :(. My oldest is 7 and he knows that I am going in for muscle repair in my belly. My youngest is 2 (will be 3 at time of surgery) we will have to show him my boo boos or he won't remember and want to jump on me. He is a handful. My mom will be down to help with recovery and the kids. Ugh I can't imagine having to sleep in the recliner for 8 days. I know I can do it, I slept in the recliner for 4 months when my son was an infant. He had acid reflux and wouldn't sleep in his crib on his back. I just hate to think of that, I love my bed and sleeping on my side.

I so wish I would have had a breast lift, but I just couldn't get my husband to agree on that. However, not that my tummy looks (dare I say, amazing) I feel much better about the girls. Although I think I'll have them done for my 38th or 40th birthday and he'll just have to deal with it.

Honestly you're so hunched over with the TT that the recliner is just a God send. You won't want to lay in your bed.

I also sleep on my side and have a very hard time falling asleep, but am now so used to sleeping on my back that I may just keep doing it because they say it keeps you from getting wrinkles on your face.

June is a long way off, but you will just be so happy you did this for yourself. It's a bit uncomfortable for the first 10 days, but I think my fast recovery really had to do with Dr. Soto being a great surgeon.

Keep me posted!

I think Dr. S is an artist (based on all the before and after pictures I have seen). am trying hard not to think about the pain, tenderness or recovery right now. Its is so far off that I am just trying not to think at all. I feel like it is all I think about.:)

I wouldn't spend 10 more seconds thinking about the pain or recovery - it was SO much easier than I made it out to be in my mind beforehand. I was so close to canceling because I had talked myself into how bad it was going to be.

And, I so wish I had gotten on this web site way beforehand to have the encouragement of others. I'm sure everyone's different, but I've told Dr. Soto a few times that this was way easier than having children - and I did not have a c-section (although I probably should - who lets a 102 lb woman have a 9 lb baby without a c-section these days anyway?). So, needless to say, I'd focus only on the positive and really, really keep all those thoughts about pain, recovery, etc. out of your head. You're going to look amazing - that's all I'd think about if I were you :o)

Thanks for the encouraging words.