POSTED UNDER Tummy Tuck Reviews
The First and Only Doctor I Contacted Was my Choice!
UPDATED FROM Ocean2Sea
5 months post
November 2022 will be 6 months post-op
WORTH IT
All is well! No pictures. I would prefer to take pictures at my six-month mark, which is near my birthday. I have so many clothes I have not been able to wear for over 5 (five) years or more, so a shopping spree is not needed. A swimwear shopping spree is in order. Most of my previous swimwear was grandmotherly and….grandmotherly. Currently, I have no swimwear that fit my current (awesome) body but I will.
For my birthday, maybe I will put on a bikini!!!! Woooooooohooo!!!! We live in a year-round warm climate.
Updates on my incision, it is slowly disappearing. The area is still tender but only when pressure is put on it. My back feels tingly as well (had back and flanks lipo). The good thing about the tenderness and tingly feelings, I am more aware of what and how much I eat.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is sooooo easy to gain the weight back so be careful!
Am I still happy with the pain and discomfort, I endured for the first six (6 weeks of recovery) from my procedure? A resounding….HECK YES!!!!!
I cannot thank Dr. Steely and his staff enough!
For my birthday, maybe I will put on a bikini!!!! Woooooooohooo!!!! We live in a year-round warm climate.
Updates on my incision, it is slowly disappearing. The area is still tender but only when pressure is put on it. My back feels tingly as well (had back and flanks lipo). The good thing about the tenderness and tingly feelings, I am more aware of what and how much I eat.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is sooooo easy to gain the weight back so be careful!
Am I still happy with the pain and discomfort, I endured for the first six (6 weeks of recovery) from my procedure? A resounding….HECK YES!!!!!
I cannot thank Dr. Steely and his staff enough!
Replies (0)
UPDATED FROM Ocean2Sea
1 month post
Pictures are coming after my next visit w/Dr. Steely
Part II
I was lucky to have a husband who like to cook but he liked to season food. Seasoned food with most seasonings have some form of salt and salt before, during and after the procedure is a no-no. The evening before my procedure, I had spaghetti w/real tomato sauce. It was perfect! I had pre-made bland salads with a pineapple peanut butter dressing ready for post-surgery meals. I did not really each much for the first 3 days….flavored protein meal shakes were the way to go.
I did drop about 3 to 5 pounds after the first week and as of right now (almost my 6th week), I am down 10 pounds. That binder will make you reevaluate your food intake.
My rented recliner arrived the day before. I purchased a couple of extra blankets for my return home. I get cold easily and surgeries are no exception.
I stayed overnight at the hospital. We had too much going on at home, including movers coming the same day of my surgery but changed to a later date.
The ride home, bring a PILLOW, to cushion the cracks, crevices and bumps of the road. I had three flights to walk up to get to my place. What apartment has no elevator these days? Mine. It took me about 20 minutes not including stops. You cannot imagine the elation I felt when I arrived at the door.
My first week was spent in and out of my recliner, reading, back and forth to the bathroom and contemplating life. LOL
Showers were challenging. Hubby had no issues with it. After the second week, I had no issues doing it myself. It takes a lot longer than normal but it was done.
Mental state: I felt yucky a few times during recovery but it passed. I told my husband and told jokes but I do not advise jokes…the pain from laughing. Wheweeee! As a matter of fact, that cough I mentioned, sneezing, bloating from salt but surprisingly not going to the bathroom (if you follow the doctors advice and drink a lot of water).
No matter how great you feel, take it easy. I was in pain the 1st week but I felt so much better than the first two days, I could not get believe it!
Keep a positive attitude! Do not compare your results to others! Everyone’s body is different! Keep realistic expectations! I wanted to get rid of my pouch and Dr. Steely did! It is easy to see other imperfections after doing the procedure but keep everything in perspective. Imperfection can be a beautiful thing. That is what I see when I look at myself.
Did I mention my scar. Right now it is not cute but I can see a huge difference. I am trying to see if I am allergic to the scar tape or the paper tape. I hope not but stay tuned.
O2S
I was lucky to have a husband who like to cook but he liked to season food. Seasoned food with most seasonings have some form of salt and salt before, during and after the procedure is a no-no. The evening before my procedure, I had spaghetti w/real tomato sauce. It was perfect! I had pre-made bland salads with a pineapple peanut butter dressing ready for post-surgery meals. I did not really each much for the first 3 days….flavored protein meal shakes were the way to go.
I did drop about 3 to 5 pounds after the first week and as of right now (almost my 6th week), I am down 10 pounds. That binder will make you reevaluate your food intake.
My rented recliner arrived the day before. I purchased a couple of extra blankets for my return home. I get cold easily and surgeries are no exception.
I stayed overnight at the hospital. We had too much going on at home, including movers coming the same day of my surgery but changed to a later date.
The ride home, bring a PILLOW, to cushion the cracks, crevices and bumps of the road. I had three flights to walk up to get to my place. What apartment has no elevator these days? Mine. It took me about 20 minutes not including stops. You cannot imagine the elation I felt when I arrived at the door.
My first week was spent in and out of my recliner, reading, back and forth to the bathroom and contemplating life. LOL
Showers were challenging. Hubby had no issues with it. After the second week, I had no issues doing it myself. It takes a lot longer than normal but it was done.
Mental state: I felt yucky a few times during recovery but it passed. I told my husband and told jokes but I do not advise jokes…the pain from laughing. Wheweeee! As a matter of fact, that cough I mentioned, sneezing, bloating from salt but surprisingly not going to the bathroom (if you follow the doctors advice and drink a lot of water).
No matter how great you feel, take it easy. I was in pain the 1st week but I felt so much better than the first two days, I could not get believe it!
Keep a positive attitude! Do not compare your results to others! Everyone’s body is different! Keep realistic expectations! I wanted to get rid of my pouch and Dr. Steely did! It is easy to see other imperfections after doing the procedure but keep everything in perspective. Imperfection can be a beautiful thing. That is what I see when I look at myself.
Did I mention my scar. Right now it is not cute but I can see a huge difference. I am trying to see if I am allergic to the scar tape or the paper tape. I hope not but stay tuned.
O2S
Replies (1)
UPDATED FROM Ocean2Sea
17 days post
My DOs and DON’Ts Pre and Post Op Plus More Part I
Excuse any typos in advance.
I will try to keep this in some type of order.
Find a physician that you get a good feeling about, who answers your questions, who gives you honest feedback and who passes your background check…lol. Is he Board Certified? That is not to say that some that are Board Certified slip through the cracks. Do not go for the most flamboyant. Do not go for physicians who do not question unrealistic expectations. Do not go for doctors who promises the moon and with each star while keep tacking on a dollar amount. You should have an amount for the whole procedure including optional add ones and there could be an add-on. I stayed one night in the surgery center, but that cost was on the paperwork as an option.
Do not be afraid to ask Questions. You are paying the physician for a service. They are not paying you for them to do a service.
Put your end result expectations in check. Everyone has a different body type. I know it is hard with Social Media but Please Do not compare your end result to someone, including some doctors, who may utilize all of the apps and softwares to electronically modify a face or a body after the procedure. Have YOUR own clear idea of what you expect from your procedure and let Dr. Steely know your expectations ahead of time. If it is not realistic, he will let you know and give you advice on whether it is a possibility. If it is a possibility, what you need to do. Then it will be up to you to do it.
This is not a weight loss procedure but you will lose some weight after and depending on your food intake coupled with the healthiness of said food, during and after your recovery, you will be the determining factor on whether the weight stays or returns.
This is a great time to re-evaluate what you are putting in your body. This is not to say you can never have another piece of cake. Everything should be in moderation. Maybe, allow yourself one sweet twice a month or go out to eat once a month. I love sweets and I love to bake but guess what…moderation. I can bake and eat sweets but I know I better … MUST hit the treadmill, spinning bike or some weights afterwards if I want to continue to look more marvelous than I did before my procedures. Smile
Have realistic expectations. Did I say that? If so, this advice is important. If not, this advice is important.
Once more, Change your eating habits before, during and after you have this procedure done. It makes it easier to stick with it.
PRE-OP
After you find your physician and months, weeks, days before your procedure
No get quick-last-minute-diets. You need to be as healthy as possible for this procedure coupled with you wanting the most optimal recovery results.
Have realistic expectations.
Mind your eating habits.
Have someone with you for at least three (3) days. You will be able to do MINIMAL EVERYTHING but a little walking.
I rented a recliner from a medical supply store. If you can rent one for a month, do it but a couple of weeks can work. If you choose not to rent a recliner, make sure you have enough pillows to place under your bent legs and to place under your head. You will be laying on your back, not your side, for at least two weeks.
I am tall, so I ordered a portable raised toilet seat. What a difference 4 to 5 inches will make when you are sitting down and getting back up after abdominal surgery.
I also ordered a walker but I did not use it much after the second day. When my back started to hurt from continuously walking bent over, I would position the recliner or my pillows, when I did sit on the bed against the back board, to support my back.
The refrigerator was loaded with fruits and vegetables and protein. Stay away from salt. If it is not in the fruits, vegetables, fish, chickens or meats, do not add. Some herbs and teas are a no-no as well. Dr. Steely should give you a list.
I had an issue about getting addicted to the pain meds as I do not take anything but vitamins. I mentioned that to Dr. Steely and the nurse in the surgical center. I took the pain meds as needed.
Drinking water is paramount in life as well as after this procedure. The more water you drink after your procedure, the quicker your system is flushed after your procedure. My issue was…now I have to get up and go to the bathroom. Smile
Before the procedure, because it is so hot in Houston, I purchased some cotton camisoles with the built in bra to wear Over my binder. Now all of them are too small. YaY! I have sweat pants and the loose cotton pajamas shorts to wear around the house over my binder. I have a few leggings, tee shirts and sweats for when I need to leave the house for appointments.
I stay cold so I made sure I had blankets on hand.
As far as hair, I washed my hair the night before, put two braids in the back, easy to throw on a hat, and did not worry about washing my hair until I felt a little better.
Footwear is anything with some grip. I wore the socks from the surgery for almost a week. Lol. My husband washed them in between. You do not want to slip after this procedure, so make sure your socks, slippers or shoes have grip on the bottom.
Recovery is the time to read that book, binge on a show, write down your thoughts, revise your life’s plans and goals, learn a new language, crochet or knit. Just take it easy except for a little walking around to prevent clots. Speaking of…
Look for some compression socks. I had some from our international travels to prevent clots in my legs and I think they are the socks with minimal compression.
What helped me when I was stressing before my procedure because the most and only stress, for me, was before the procedure, I thought about what I was going to gift myself for getting through it. No food but maybe a new swim piece or a funky pair of reminder socks. I love unique socks, if only to wear around the house.
Part II later….
O2S
I will try to keep this in some type of order.
Find a physician that you get a good feeling about, who answers your questions, who gives you honest feedback and who passes your background check…lol. Is he Board Certified? That is not to say that some that are Board Certified slip through the cracks. Do not go for the most flamboyant. Do not go for physicians who do not question unrealistic expectations. Do not go for doctors who promises the moon and with each star while keep tacking on a dollar amount. You should have an amount for the whole procedure including optional add ones and there could be an add-on. I stayed one night in the surgery center, but that cost was on the paperwork as an option.
Do not be afraid to ask Questions. You are paying the physician for a service. They are not paying you for them to do a service.
Put your end result expectations in check. Everyone has a different body type. I know it is hard with Social Media but Please Do not compare your end result to someone, including some doctors, who may utilize all of the apps and softwares to electronically modify a face or a body after the procedure. Have YOUR own clear idea of what you expect from your procedure and let Dr. Steely know your expectations ahead of time. If it is not realistic, he will let you know and give you advice on whether it is a possibility. If it is a possibility, what you need to do. Then it will be up to you to do it.
This is not a weight loss procedure but you will lose some weight after and depending on your food intake coupled with the healthiness of said food, during and after your recovery, you will be the determining factor on whether the weight stays or returns.
This is a great time to re-evaluate what you are putting in your body. This is not to say you can never have another piece of cake. Everything should be in moderation. Maybe, allow yourself one sweet twice a month or go out to eat once a month. I love sweets and I love to bake but guess what…moderation. I can bake and eat sweets but I know I better … MUST hit the treadmill, spinning bike or some weights afterwards if I want to continue to look more marvelous than I did before my procedures. Smile
Have realistic expectations. Did I say that? If so, this advice is important. If not, this advice is important.
Once more, Change your eating habits before, during and after you have this procedure done. It makes it easier to stick with it.
PRE-OP
After you find your physician and months, weeks, days before your procedure
No get quick-last-minute-diets. You need to be as healthy as possible for this procedure coupled with you wanting the most optimal recovery results.
Have realistic expectations.
Mind your eating habits.
Have someone with you for at least three (3) days. You will be able to do MINIMAL EVERYTHING but a little walking.
I rented a recliner from a medical supply store. If you can rent one for a month, do it but a couple of weeks can work. If you choose not to rent a recliner, make sure you have enough pillows to place under your bent legs and to place under your head. You will be laying on your back, not your side, for at least two weeks.
I am tall, so I ordered a portable raised toilet seat. What a difference 4 to 5 inches will make when you are sitting down and getting back up after abdominal surgery.
I also ordered a walker but I did not use it much after the second day. When my back started to hurt from continuously walking bent over, I would position the recliner or my pillows, when I did sit on the bed against the back board, to support my back.
The refrigerator was loaded with fruits and vegetables and protein. Stay away from salt. If it is not in the fruits, vegetables, fish, chickens or meats, do not add. Some herbs and teas are a no-no as well. Dr. Steely should give you a list.
I had an issue about getting addicted to the pain meds as I do not take anything but vitamins. I mentioned that to Dr. Steely and the nurse in the surgical center. I took the pain meds as needed.
Drinking water is paramount in life as well as after this procedure. The more water you drink after your procedure, the quicker your system is flushed after your procedure. My issue was…now I have to get up and go to the bathroom. Smile
Before the procedure, because it is so hot in Houston, I purchased some cotton camisoles with the built in bra to wear Over my binder. Now all of them are too small. YaY! I have sweat pants and the loose cotton pajamas shorts to wear around the house over my binder. I have a few leggings, tee shirts and sweats for when I need to leave the house for appointments.
I stay cold so I made sure I had blankets on hand.
As far as hair, I washed my hair the night before, put two braids in the back, easy to throw on a hat, and did not worry about washing my hair until I felt a little better.
Footwear is anything with some grip. I wore the socks from the surgery for almost a week. Lol. My husband washed them in between. You do not want to slip after this procedure, so make sure your socks, slippers or shoes have grip on the bottom.
Recovery is the time to read that book, binge on a show, write down your thoughts, revise your life’s plans and goals, learn a new language, crochet or knit. Just take it easy except for a little walking around to prevent clots. Speaking of…
Look for some compression socks. I had some from our international travels to prevent clots in my legs and I think they are the socks with minimal compression.
What helped me when I was stressing before my procedure because the most and only stress, for me, was before the procedure, I thought about what I was going to gift myself for getting through it. No food but maybe a new swim piece or a funky pair of reminder socks. I love unique socks, if only to wear around the house.
Part II later….
O2S
That 5” toilet riser made a huge difference….OMGOODNESS!
The discomfort and pain will be there but all of these things will definitely help.
Download some good books, binge on movies, stock up on fruits, vegetables and protein. LIMIT your salt. Next to that cough, bloating from salt is the most uncomfortable feeling.
Keep me updated my TT sister!
O2S