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POSTED UNDER Tummy Tuck Reviews

35 Years Old, 2 Children, 5'2, Extended Tummy Tuck with Lipo to Flanks

UPDATED FROM bubblebubble
2 months post

Fat or forever swollen?

bubblebubble
WORTH IT$9,000
I am not in a good place, so warning and listen to me whine. I swell and a lot. Mornings are ok but still swollen. My pants don't fit so I have been using lots of dresses. I feel soreness in my muscles where the muscle plication happened. My flanks itch like crazy (from lipo). My scar is ugly. I am on my second application of Embrace but honestly I see no difference. It is still very brownish looking. I don't scar well so I am leaning that this scar healing thing is just a matter of genetics. I can't complain to my husband because his idea of helping me is reminding me how much we spent for me to have this done and if I am not happy than maybe I have other issues... maybe I should be more patient and stop comparing me to other realselfers who seem to be completely healed at 6 weeks.

Replies (2)

February 5, 2017
Don't be so hard on yourself *hugs* No one is completely healed at 6 weeks. This is major surgery, You are still healing. Several of us (around your same surgery date) still have swelling. None of our scars look great. My PS said it takes 6 months to a year to heal up completely. The good thing is you are not alone. I'm itching, swelling and waiting as well. This recovery is frustrating, but hang in there!
February 5, 2017
Aw man. Hang in there. Don't worry I feel the same way at almost 8 weeks out. And the silicone/embrace does not work in a week. It's months of use. And you have to remember to have it on majority of the day. Scars really take soo much time. You just want to watch out that it doesnt become raised and you need to massage it and break up the adhesions from the scar to the skin. Nurse at ps told me. Also it will look worse before it gets better at around the 3 month mark. Mine is brown too. It's nasty. But it's so early to assess that. Also..Are your CG tight enough? When I went in at my last appointment they said it was too loose. When I am really swollen I do the CG and the binder.
UPDATED FROM bubblebubble
1 month post

Embrace Scar Therapy

bubblebubble
Had a follow up today with my doctor. He confirmed what I know, that I am still swollen. He also gave the ok to start scar therapy. The nurse applied it for me at the office. Since my scar is so long I had to get two boxes (one box has 3 strips and I used 4). We'll see how long they last on me (she said 3 weeks). I hope this helps because my scars usually turn dark and super noticeable.

Replies (2)

January 19, 2017
From the way your scars look I feel like I am the same way! Did you have to pay for it or did the Dr provide?
January 21, 2017
I am paying for it. $90 the box and has 3 strips. My scar uses 4 so I had to buy 2 boxes and they applied them at the office. They are suppose to help with the tension which in turn makes the scar heal a lot better. I m not sure if I will do the whole 6 weeks that they recommend because they are expensive. They are cheaper at the doctor's office though.
January 21, 2017
Oh wow. I heard good things about them. Maybe you can do silicone sheetings from Amazon after you are done. Those work well too. They just don't take tension off. But you'll be healed by then?
January 26, 2017
You look amazing! Your results are really nice. My sister's tt incision looked like yours after her tummy tuck, it's been a few years but now her incision looks white and barely noticeable. She used nothing - nothing at all on her incision! I think it's just a matter of time for our incisions to heal. My incision is really high, which is why I forked out the money for my scar cream. I'm with you on this one, I don't know if I'll buy another $100 tube or not when I run out. Probably not.
January 26, 2017
Bubble bubble and tchristia- have you guys looked into scarguard? It has silicone...Which the embrace strips are all about . The skin medica brand doesn't have silicone so I decided not to get it. But you're right...It just needs time.
January 27, 2017
I haven't looked into scar guard but I did get a cream my PS suggested. I don't really know anything about it, but people on here seem to like it.
January 27, 2017
What's it called?
February 5, 2017
My doctor's office also sells biocornium (sp?) they said they start people on embrace because it helps with the tension and then they recommend the Biocornium too.
UPDATED FROM bubblebubble
26 days post

Going back to work and sleeping on my back

bubblebubble
I went back to work on Monday. I have a desk job so it wasn't that bad. I am still very swollen! I get bloated easily so I have to. E careful with what I eat too.
Yesterday I was able to take switch head pillows (fat for a thin one) and sleep without the pillow under my knees finally! I also am able to sleep sideways now! Wohoo. I tried going back to my own bed but my dear children keep joining us and are too wiggly and I am still sore in some areas so I decided to keep sleeping in the spare room still. Everything is healing well though. Most of the scabs have finally fallen off so I am going to be starting Embrace scar treatment next week!

Replies (2)

January 11, 2017
How do you feel going back to work?
January 14, 2017
Work is ok! I have a desk job. Today I feel normal again finally.
January 14, 2017
Yay. Yay for three day weekend!
January 12, 2017
Nice! Sounds like you're feeling better. I actually laid on my stomach today! Don't you love being able to sleep on your side again? :)