66 Year Old, Mom of Two, Who Never Needed a Tummy Tuck Until After Menopause - Southfield, MI

Greetings to anyone who might be reading my story! I am actually 10 days post op at this writing but that is because I have spent 2 hours on each of two previous occasions, writing my entire review, only to have it disappear and revert to the homepage (1st time) and then I deleted it myself on the second attempt when I selected 'done' instead of 'continue'. I was still feeling ill & I was just going to forget it. But then I realized how much help I had gleened from those before me, those who laid themselves out there in graphic technicolor and decided maybe I could, in turn, help the next girl- or guy- looking to improve themselves but wanting some more 'personal' information than they got from the surgeons' office. Plus, I never did find a story just like mine. Not that I am bizarre or 'in the extreme' for sure, just a 'variant' if you would.

I want to apologize ahead of time to what seems to be 90% of the moms out there, who have suffered after childbirth, with their ripped and ruined bodies! Nature is SO cruel in the havoc it wreaks, even on young, healthy bodies, all to bear a beautiful child. And that is why I am sorry! I was one of the unusual, rare, oh so lucky ladies who came through it pretty much unscathed. Returned to pre pregnancy weight right away, no loose skin, no stretch marks and totally flat tummy. SO lucky! I had both kids before I was 20, was genetically super skinny and without the internet I just never knew my good fortune!! I am currently 5'4", 118 lbs and though I have struggled occasionally, like anyone else, I have never weighed more than 127 lbs. I exercised faithfully through my 20s, 30s & 40s. Any weight I gained was butt & gut but in my home the sun rose and set on my scale. Though, please believe me, I NEVER had an eating disorder. At first I watched to keep the weight ON. I know, I know- big deal, right? It's hard for me to relate to now, okay? Just saying... Anyway, the am/pm weigh in is my habit and ritual and when I see a couple of pounds trying to sneak aboard I put the dang cashews in the back of the pantry!!

So when my early 50s approached, I had started a job where I traveled (car) at least 10 hours a week and often worked 10 hour days. With menopause looming I was exhausted and exercise was tossed out the window. I became aware of how often I seemed bloated and started looking for a culprit in my diet. To no avail. I continued to look for answers as the years rolled on and menopause brought me to my knees. I got ALL the usual symptoms, vicious hot flashes, poor sleep, formication, migraines- you name it. By my early 60s I was trying to come to terms with this gosh awful gut that now never seemed to ebb. I didn't think it was viceral (inside fat) because it went flat when I laid on my back and I could still 'suck it in' but only with monumental effort! And my weight was the same, too. WTH?

And so I began to consider a tummy tuck. I got grief from my fitness guru daughter who assumed I just needed to get back to the gym. Really? Huh- wonder why I never thought of that? Yes, I tried the gym- complete with fitness trainers. (Cute guys! Teehee!) But my core & balance were strong. I actually didn't mention my desire very often because it always drew the same response. My friends & coworkers, used to seeing my perpetually skinny body, would first roll their eyes. Then the same "you don't need THAT!" Sigh. So I finally gave up the charade and lifted my over sized tee for them to see. Oh yeah- that shut 'em up mid sentence with a shocked "OH!!!". Like I was saying- need a tuck!

I need to mention my husband was the one who suggested we dig into retirement funds and get it done. Very sweet and not like him at all- lol! His biggest concern was "what if you go through all that suffering & money & then you get all blown up on the inside and it gets ripped out?" Ouch. Well, I am just going to deal with that another time, perhaps in the near future!

Okay, so I had my surgery Aug 25 and am writing this starting 11 days post op. Again, I apologize, because (so far) I have been incredibly lucky! No swell hell to speak of (cept maybe my poor miss muffy), haven't coughed or sneezed, had any leaking, wet my pants, no issues of any kind! I will post the pre op photos with this part of my review followed by others as I put in notes from the days following surgery. I know this has been long winded but I always write this way. If face to face I barely speak- but thats a different story! ;) Will add more later today if I manage to get this one to post.

The day of surgery was a blur. Arrived 15 minutes late due to construction from a major expressway flooding MY route. It was earlier than rush hour, too! They took me directly back & got the IV in on the second try- thank goodness- as I have tiny veins. My hand/wrist is still bruised almost two weeks later. ;( I have already been using Miralax daily and was hoping I would have smooth sailing after surgery. Also hoping no accidents DURING surgery. The doctor marked me and we discussed my slightly off center belly button due to mild scoliosis. I wanted to be sure my new one was in the middle. I emphasized wanting a low scar and agreed on a vertical scar to close my original bb hole so this would be possible. My nurse anesthetist decided to use deep sedation along with numbing agents in the actual surgery area. It worked great and I had zero nausea upon awakening. Had almost zero pain, too, but I think all the lidocaine pumped in the front of me had a lot to do with that. I slept all the way home and all the rest of the day and night. I was safely ensconced in hubbys' lazy boy & I think I called him for help twice to use the bathroom.

I only have one photo of me looking down at my compression garment because there isn't anything else to see! I forgot to ask for photos in the OR because I was frazzled about being late. And I wanted to say: I forgot to mention, in my first entry, that my tummy tuck would be drainless.

Another thing I forgot to mention in that prior entry is that during my research into menopause I was surprised to find how insidious some changes can be. Affecting us on so many levels, some obvious and others completely behind the scenes. Not only do we loose muscle and gain fat but the ebbing hormones do not now, necessarily, direct any excess fat to the usual areas of insult such as butt, gut, back, boobs, etc. These areas are different for each of us, of course, but generally we have some of it going everywhere. Then our bodies get lazy and less particular and opt for more if a one stop, one drop dumping ground- the belly. ;( Well, isn't that nice? Sigh. I was acutely aware that my previously thin skin had progressed to 'tissue paper thin'. How could I miss it? Bad enough it was ugly but it also meant 'old'!!! My point about this is that in spite of all my hard work, all those years of exercise, my abdominal muscles had also thinned- a LOT! Allowing my insides to spill out of me, forming that huge, stretching, shiny bulge. As I suspected, I did not have the split down the middle, the one that is often acquired from pregnancy, the dreaded diastasis recti. Rather, all my fascia and all my abdominal muscles were super thin and weak. They told me that areas of muscle were so thin you could see through them!! Ew! It required a lot of extra repair. He also told me I had no fat so that whole belly bulge is just my guts. Huh. Gosh, I kinda thought SOMETHING weird was going on, you know? But I confess I felt better that I wasn't in denial and all that was needed was to get my ass to the gym! They told me there was nothing I could've done to fix my poor muscles. :) Okay, okay, if I am not in denial and being truthful here- I really DO need to get my ass to the gym!!! Hahahaaha! My abs do need strengthening as does all the rest of me- when I get the all clear, of course.

Well, I will add my first after photos today and do more catching up tonight or tomorrow. Happy healing prayers to anyone else either healing along with me or about to make their own journey! Big hug, too!

Hmm. I wasn't able to add comments under the photos so 1) i have my shirt pulled up looking down at the compression garment. 2 ) I hadn't actually seen my tummy yet, just getting cleaned up. But... I think I see some waistline trying to reappear! :) 3)Wow. I kind of remember I used to be pretty narrow from the side! How soon we forget!!

So, the first days following the surgery went pretty much as expected. It hurt a lot but I wasn't surprised. I had to have surgery three years ago to have my butt muscle reattached to my hip bone and that was much worse. Not to mention I was in a body brace with my leg sticking out to the side at 30 degrees for four endless months! I guess it helps to have an equally traumatic surgery to keep it all in perspective! And I suppose it did help train me to sleep on my back because it was my only option. But for the record, I HATE sleeping on my back. Anyway- back to the present- I remember the third night was really rough. Could not get comfortable, no sleep, feeling too warm, hoping no fever. I did have a nice healthy on day three, however! (BM). Thanks to continued use of Miralax & a single dose chaser of MilkofMag. One obstacle hurdled! I am the constipation Queen so I planned ahead. Whew. Day four was remarkable in that I felt remarkable. Had turned a corner, felt more 'with it', moving more. Was feeling quite cheerful! This was in no small part due to my darling husbands constant attentiveness! Huh! It is a long story but he just hates playing nursemaid for more than a day and normally gets sidetracked and forgets about me! Lol! But for some strange reason he has been wonderful! Has been here every second, feeds me, helps me up & down, always smiling and pleasant, gets up twice a night for bathroom runs, ready with a kiss or kind word. ??? WTHeck? Who is this guy, what did he do with my husband and can I keep HIM instead of that other hubby? Please?? :). Lol! Wow! It sure did help my outlook AND it lasted a whole week. :D It was the biggest surprise of all and I am still in shock. And grateful to the point of tears!