Great Tummy Tuck Experience - Philadelphia, PA

I can't believe how much progress I am seeing and how great I feel just threes after surgery! I've lost 10 lbs since the surgery -- original weight 285, pre-surgery weight 167, post surgery weight 171, now 161. Doc cut out 3 lbs of skin and lipo'ed out 1 lb of fat. He said he weight gain, post surgery, was all retained fluids. Indeed, I had a little edema in my feet (since passed). I've been back to work full-time (more than F.T., actually) since Monday. My head is clear, my energy level is high, and while I still have some minor discomfort across the incision site, and especially at the site of the right drain, which is still The underwear is the most uncomfortable aspect at this point. I can't wait to to get home each eve and take it off, LOL. I am incredibly happy with my my surgeon, my hospital, my result and my recovery process!!! Still a good, solid 15 lbs to loss, but I'm not worried about it -- I've really learned to think about food differently.

So 15 days post surgery, feeling GREAT, plenty of energy, plenty of mental clarity, not meds, not even Advil. Still wearing compression garments (for a month, and only off to show, doctors orders). Wound up in the ER yesterday for a (false alarm) ultra sound, as I have some edema (fluid retention in my left foot (only). If it happens in only one foot/leg, it could be a dangerous blood clot. It was not. Ultimately, no big deal. Today, I feel NO physical pain, but I am an emotional wreck! I actually balled my eyes out watching a re-run of Lassie, when it looked for one harrowing moment as if Lassie would not be able to chase off a wolf before it snacked on Timmy's beloved pet rabbit, LOL!!!!!!!!!!!! My doc says "the mind and body are one system, and trauma in the body means trauma in the head/heart." Makes total sense, just very uncharacteristic for me. My scar is much less prominent than I thought it would be, and I feel like a million bucks. OMG the first few days post-surgery were so miserable and painful that I every minute felt like a lifetime, I thought I'd never get through it. Then, everyday, so much more progress than I ever thought possible. I cannot begin to tell anyone who horrible the first few days were -- you'll never know unless you go through it -- but was it worth it? ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Two weeks post surgery, the drains are out, I'm wearing compression underwear, the swelling has already gone down DRAMATICALLY, most of the scar (at except at the right side drain point) is MUCH less visible than I imagined it would be, my energy is rebounding, my pain is minimal, my spirits are high as a kite. I had a doc appt today and there was a Macy's next door to the doc's office, so I did a tiny bit of shopping -- I bought a Ralph Lauren polo shirt in the BOY's department, LOL! A size 14-16!!! It fits me snuggly, too snug to be really comfy but PERFECT to show off my new physique when I return to work full-time on Monday. The pain, at times, was beyond INTENSE and one night I had a little emotional breakdown, too, because the pain in my body eventually turned into pain in my heart and mind, but two weeks later, I am so happy I endured it all and I'd do it all again in a heartbeat. I am on my way to a whole new me. And seriously, I hear about people going to Thailand and South Korea for cheap procedures. If you live in the US, make it easy on yourself and come to Philly. The University of Pennsylvania Hospital is regarded as one of the finest in the world, and if you are lucky enough to get here before Dr. Hoang Nguyen finishes his residency here next summer, you'll get first class care at steerage prices! I've seen him twice for follows ups already and he calls me almost every day to check up on me. His assistant, Wadia, is first-class, too, as was everyone I encountered at Penn Medicine.