POSTED UNDER Tummy Tuck Reviews
32 Years Old, Full Tummy Tuck No Lipo
UPDATED FROM MommyWolf
4 months post
Been a while
WORTH IT$7,900
So it's been weeks and weeks since I updated. I don't have a picture to accompany this, sorry. But I'll do it anyway.
I missed my most recently scheduled appointment, so I don't have doctor input, but I'm doing pretty well. During my early recovery, we were house-hunting. We found a place and moved on sept 1st. We've been in the process of unpacking, painting, replacing floors, and making minor fixes around the place since then. We're still not really near done. The point of that explanation is... I haven't been eating well. I've been *eating*, but mostly eating out and/or eating unhealthily. So I have gained some weight. The area above my belly button kind of bulges out full-time unless I consciously flex those muscles. I know I need to get myself back in shape. Especially after spending so much and going through the pain of this particular recovery. It's just a bit difficult with everything going on, and I'm still getting used to having to adhere to a school schedule again for my kindergarten-aged child. Oof.
Physically, aside from regrettably putting on some pounds, things are ok. I can stretch. I can lift. If I stand from sitting quickly, things still feel pretty tight in my abdomen, but it's not really painful. I don't like touching the scar because of a weird combination of numbness and not feeling like I'm touching the actual spot I'm touching (I know that sounds weird). There's one tiiiny bump along the scar that I notice if I run a finger along it, but it's not bothersome. Doing any sit-up kind of movement is still uncomfortable, but it's not painful to the same degree it used to be.
I look forward to getting all these boxes out of the way so I can work out. I really rather love that when I flex the muscles of my abdomen I can *feel* them. They're doing what they're supposed to. Also, the constant ache in my back is basically gone.
I'll try and get a decent picture for an update soon. I don't even have a mirror I could use for that right now. Hope anyone who reads this is doing well!
I missed my most recently scheduled appointment, so I don't have doctor input, but I'm doing pretty well. During my early recovery, we were house-hunting. We found a place and moved on sept 1st. We've been in the process of unpacking, painting, replacing floors, and making minor fixes around the place since then. We're still not really near done. The point of that explanation is... I haven't been eating well. I've been *eating*, but mostly eating out and/or eating unhealthily. So I have gained some weight. The area above my belly button kind of bulges out full-time unless I consciously flex those muscles. I know I need to get myself back in shape. Especially after spending so much and going through the pain of this particular recovery. It's just a bit difficult with everything going on, and I'm still getting used to having to adhere to a school schedule again for my kindergarten-aged child. Oof.
Physically, aside from regrettably putting on some pounds, things are ok. I can stretch. I can lift. If I stand from sitting quickly, things still feel pretty tight in my abdomen, but it's not really painful. I don't like touching the scar because of a weird combination of numbness and not feeling like I'm touching the actual spot I'm touching (I know that sounds weird). There's one tiiiny bump along the scar that I notice if I run a finger along it, but it's not bothersome. Doing any sit-up kind of movement is still uncomfortable, but it's not painful to the same degree it used to be.
I look forward to getting all these boxes out of the way so I can work out. I really rather love that when I flex the muscles of my abdomen I can *feel* them. They're doing what they're supposed to. Also, the constant ache in my back is basically gone.
I'll try and get a decent picture for an update soon. I don't even have a mirror I could use for that right now. Hope anyone who reads this is doing well!
UPDATED FROM MommyWolf
2 months post
Upper abdominal bulge
But I guess it's just a thing that I'll have to work on with working out. You can see in the pictures the side-by-side. Same day, same time, but one is relaxed and one is tightening my muscles. When I relax, the upper part of my abdomen pushes out. When I flex/tighten that area, it flattens considerably. This isn't sucking in. Just flexing. Which...is still an uncomfortable thing to do. But at least the fact that it flattens with flexing makes me feel better about what could be causing it. I know I still need to get in better shape. I got my muscles repaired and extra skin taken away. I didn't magically become fit.
I'm basically doing everything normally these days. Bending down (like in a chair and bending forward to get something from the floor), or sleeping on my side is still uncomfortable, but not painful. I (a few days ago) participated in a funeral, so I guess lifting is something I can do. If I can help lift a casket, probably I can lift most things. I still wear my surgical binder at work, but maybe not for much longer. I tried a regular compression garment...like spanx, but not that brand... but again, it wasn't right for me.
I have to remind myself to tans straight. I catch myself slouching or hunching often and have to consciously remind myself to straighten up now that I can. Part of that is having had poor posture my whole life, and pet of it is residual tightness that still resists when I pull upright. Mostly though, I'm feeling good physically and liking how I look a lot more. I feel like I have some of the "old me" back.
I'm basically doing everything normally these days. Bending down (like in a chair and bending forward to get something from the floor), or sleeping on my side is still uncomfortable, but not painful. I (a few days ago) participated in a funeral, so I guess lifting is something I can do. If I can help lift a casket, probably I can lift most things. I still wear my surgical binder at work, but maybe not for much longer. I tried a regular compression garment...like spanx, but not that brand... but again, it wasn't right for me.
I have to remind myself to tans straight. I catch myself slouching or hunching often and have to consciously remind myself to straighten up now that I can. Part of that is having had poor posture my whole life, and pet of it is residual tightness that still resists when I pull upright. Mostly though, I'm feeling good physically and liking how I look a lot more. I feel like I have some of the "old me" back.
Replies (2)
L
You look great! Thank you for the honest account of your experience. Some people make the recovery sound super easy but I'm sure it's brutal. I'm still a few months out but want to be prepared for the worst.
M
Hi! And thanks :)
I didn't have any healing issues like seromas or tissue death, so I didn't have too terrible a recovery. But on the other hand, a lot of the reviews I read seemed to have easier/faster/less painful recoveries. Standing straight at 2 weeks, doing normal activities at 3, some people even saying it's "not a big deal" etc. that was certainly not me. I based my time off request at work on those reviews. I totally expected to be "sore" but basically normal by 2 weeks. Haaaaaaaa no. Worth it? Absolutely. I love where I'm at now. I have work to do as far as strengthening my core and getting healthier, but the extra skin is gone and my muscles are doing what they're supposed to for the first time in 5 years. So I'm happy. It's not a walk in the park though. I wish I'd been a little more prepared for the level of pain. It's good to go in with your eyes open. But the result...worth it.
I know it's an old post but by any chance did the upper abdominal swelling/bulging ever go away or get better? I'm 11 weeks post opp and been dealing with it since 4 weeks post opp
I keep meaning to update this. I actually put a little bit of weight back on after that and have been trying to lose it again. So I do still have that, but I’m sure it’s weight related. I find it’s more or less noticeable depending on how I’ve been eating. I’m throwing myself into getting healthier this summer, so at the end, I’ll be posting a real update. In the meantime, you’re still not all that far out from your surgery, so it’s totally possible it could still be some bloating (another thing that makes mine more noticeable). Your body is still getting used to everything it’s been dealing with after surgery! :)
UPDATED FROM MommyWolf
2 months post
Swelling? Or overeating?
I'm feeling pretty good in general now. I can stand up straight (but not beyond - no stretching while straight or arching my back in any way), that painful area on my right seems to be gone, and it's mostly around my belly button that I notice discomfort during the day. I can sleep on my right side! I've gotten rid of all my extra pillows. My last leg pillow left last week and the extra head pillow I removed two days ago. Yay :)
If I'm binder-less, my sides and the ends on my incision get pretty sore if I'm sitting for a while. But otherwise it's pretty ok. But as you can see from the pictures, I'm not exactly flat now. I can't figure out if I've overeaten and gained weight which is making me poof out (since the area under my belly button is still pretty flat and actually kind of dips IN), or if I just have swelling.
I've been much more active at work and am getting down and up from the floor to clean the store areas I'm assigned to, and am spending pretty much all day on my feet again. I'm hoping it's swelling. I'm sick of my binder though. I don't wear it except at work now, and I was hoping not to use it then for long either.
Anyone have input on if you think it's swelling or weight? (If you think it's weight that's fine. I'm not going to be offended or anything)
If I'm binder-less, my sides and the ends on my incision get pretty sore if I'm sitting for a while. But otherwise it's pretty ok. But as you can see from the pictures, I'm not exactly flat now. I can't figure out if I've overeaten and gained weight which is making me poof out (since the area under my belly button is still pretty flat and actually kind of dips IN), or if I just have swelling.
I've been much more active at work and am getting down and up from the floor to clean the store areas I'm assigned to, and am spending pretty much all day on my feet again. I'm hoping it's swelling. I'm sick of my binder though. I don't wear it except at work now, and I was hoping not to use it then for long either.
Anyone have input on if you think it's swelling or weight? (If you think it's weight that's fine. I'm not going to be offended or anything)
Replies (1)
I am the same with you but I have a desk job. At the end of he day, I notice a bulge and realized its swelling from me not resting and being on my feet for too long, even though I am sitting not of the time, feet is not elevated so blood circulation is low, hence the swelling... at least for me. I hope you can get a lighter work schedule while you're till healing. Good luck!
Replies (0)