POSTED UNDER Tummy Tuck REVIEWS
I did it! Full TT with muscle repair and lipo of flanks
ORIGINAL POST
I did it! Full TT with muscle repair and lipo of flanks
reedee1November 9, 2018
WORTH IT$8,100
Surgery day!!
It’s done. I am so glad I can stop obsessing about the surgery and now focus on the healing process begins.
Dr Tattelbaum is so kind. The team that worked with is Tattelbaum very warm and reassuring. I can’t see anything yet because the dressing and is on. I did request Exparel. I can’t imagine what the pain would be like if I hadn’t gotten it because I’m have considerable pain now.
Will provide more mupdates when I’m not so sleepy. Pain meds are kicking In :)
It’s done. I am so glad I can stop obsessing about the surgery and now focus on the healing process begins.
Dr Tattelbaum is so kind. The team that worked with is Tattelbaum very warm and reassuring. I can’t see anything yet because the dressing and is on. I did request Exparel. I can’t imagine what the pain would be like if I hadn’t gotten it because I’m have considerable pain now.
Will provide more mupdates when I’m not so sleepy. Pain meds are kicking In :)
reedee1's provider
UPDATED FROM reedee1
2 days post
Post op Day 2
reedee1November 11, 2018
My highlight today is passing gas!! Lol. I was so fixated on doing that....and I did! Finally.
My pain is still about a 4-5/10. I don’t feel like I got much support from the CG I received post op. I have another one that has 3 straps that I had postpartum that made a HUGE difference in how supported I feel in my midsection.
My abdomen has little itchy/burning sensations intermittently. I assume that the sensations are caused by some nerve involvement or the exparel wearing off but I will run it by Dr T. My follow up is on Tuesday. I also have some uneven swelling right above my belly button :(. Not too bad but definitely noticeable. I switched over to extra strengthTylenol instead of the oxy. So far, so good. I will still take the muscle relaxer at night.
The worst part is MY BACK!! It aches so much. Hubby gives the best massages and he did the best he could but I really want to stand up and stretch, which I can’t do yet of course. Anyway, happy healing to all of you brave ladies out there. Sending positive vibes.
My pain is still about a 4-5/10. I don’t feel like I got much support from the CG I received post op. I have another one that has 3 straps that I had postpartum that made a HUGE difference in how supported I feel in my midsection.
My abdomen has little itchy/burning sensations intermittently. I assume that the sensations are caused by some nerve involvement or the exparel wearing off but I will run it by Dr T. My follow up is on Tuesday. I also have some uneven swelling right above my belly button :(. Not too bad but definitely noticeable. I switched over to extra strengthTylenol instead of the oxy. So far, so good. I will still take the muscle relaxer at night.
The worst part is MY BACK!! It aches so much. Hubby gives the best massages and he did the best he could but I really want to stand up and stretch, which I can’t do yet of course. Anyway, happy healing to all of you brave ladies out there. Sending positive vibes.
Replies (19)
November 12, 2018
Yay! Happy healing to you, too! And haha the gas is definitely something else! Was so glad I had read about it on here first. Gas X was my friend!
November 13, 2018
Looks like we both have follow up appointments today. Good luck with your progress. Like you, I’m off my med except for Tylenol and muscle relaxer because those spasms are the WORST. Looking forward to your update.
November 12, 2018
Congratulations good luck on recovering. I’ve been researching this surgery for two years and I’m finally ready. Please share pics when ready. Also if you’ve has a CSection is the survey pain similar,
November 13, 2018
Hello! I have not had a c section, only vaginal births. From the research I’ve done and others comments, Abdominoplasty recovery is more intense than a c section recovery. Also, because I received extra numbing medicine to my abdominal muscles that takes 72 hours to wear off pair op, most of my pain and discomfort is related to my back from having to walk hunched over and not being able to stretch, and the other pain is from muscle spasms in my back or abdomen when I make a move I shouldn’t have. And obviously I have absolutely no core strength at the moment and we use our cores for just about EVERYTHING. So far, I believe the surgery is worth it, even this early in my recovery. I hope you find an amazing doc and if you are in the area, Dr T is great! I will definitely share photos when ready.
November 12, 2018
I'm scheduled with him 11/21. Thanks for your review and happy healthy speedy recovery.
November 21, 2018
Good luck today! I had my surgery on the 7th and I am so pleased with how things are going. Let us know if you need to chat!
January 7, 2019
Thank you! I'm sorry for the late reply. My surgery was actually postponed due to high blood pressure. Sky high! I ended up having my ETT on 12/12 and overall I'm happy. My recovery has been good this far.
November 13, 2018
Yey! Success. I’m happy for you. We all have our wants and battles. I’m glad you overcame yours. Arnica gel really helped with my back. I found it on amazon. And bad girl confession...not sure if I put this in my review but I used a heating pad on my back as well. Heating pads are supposed to be a no no but I used common sense. I’m guessing it’s not supposed to be used because by being so numb you can’t feel how hot it truly is. I used it for my back only. No where near my incision and not too hot.
November 13, 2018
Yes to the arnica gel! It really does helps. I read that on one of your other post and I have my hubby rub it on especially at night. I also use it on the nasty and huge bruise I got from the heparin shot pre op. It’s fading a bit already.
I use a heating pad on my back only too. Like you said, “common sense”.
November 14, 2018
Love Dr. Tattelbaum I’m scheduled to have a tummy tuck with him 12/19. Your results are very natural looking with very little swelling. His incisions always look so clean and neat with very little inflammation.
November 14, 2018
Congrats on scheduling your tummy tuck. I agree with everything you said about Dr Tattelbaum. Keep us posted!
November 21, 2018
Ooooh, you are right around the corner! I had mine on the 7th (tt, lipo and a breast reduction) and I am very pleased with the results. Scheduling yours over the holidays when you can rest a bit is a great idea.
November 21, 2018
Hey there! I’m glad you are doing well. Yes, I scheduled over the holidays on purpose to get the best bang for my buck and use the least amount of “sick time” from work. Lol. These 2 weeks have flown by though. I start teleworking next week :/ We’ll see how that goes. I hope you continue to do well and enjoy the holiday.
November 21, 2018
How soon does Dr. Tattelbaum allows his patients to use their own binder? Did you use a walker first couple of days? How were you climbing stairs after the procedure? I have so many questions as the time is getting closer it’s becoming more real
November 21, 2018
What day did your energy return? I’m really glad to have the holidays and 3 weeks off work to recuperate.
November 21, 2018
I guess it depends on how well you re doing with regard to swelling. At my visit yesterday (day 11 post op) he encouraged me to use Spanx compression. I will likely transition to that later this week. I tired the Spanx earlier on but I found that I wasn’t quite ready for it at the time.
I did use a walker with wheels and it was SO helpful. I forgot to put that on my list of things to have post op.
I climbed the stairs immediately after surgery to get to my bedroom and then again on Post op day 3.
I would say that I still don’t have my normal
energy level. It takes time. You will become tired so quickly. Even after just a long a shower but each day I get stronger and feel better. I’m walking without the walker. Still a little hunched over. I can get in and out of bed more quickly without discomfort. Etc.
Just take time to heal and listen to your body. Someone else posted that they felt like themselves around week 4/5.
The recovery time goes by so quickly, so just use that time to relax and let your body (and surgeon) be your guide :)
UPDATED FROM reedee1
4 days post
Post Op Day 4- 1st follow up
reedee1November 13, 2018
I just wanted to say that I hate sleeping on my
back.
I purchased a bed wedge system from amazon and it really is pretty comfortable but I am a stomach sleeper and I know I won’t be able to do so for several weeks. Just needed to get that off my chest.
Today’s highlights: I had a follow up with Dr Tattelbaum today. Went well. Drain was removed and he gave me the green light to shower. I did a little happy dance when he said I could shower and the shower was LOVELY!! Today is the first day I got to see my stomach with all the dressings removed. I’m quite pleased. Everything is looking good so far. There is a little extra skin at the bottom in the middle above the incision but it may just be swelling. Also, I’m only taking extra strength Tylenol and muscle relaxer and antibiotic of course.
Today’s lowlights: I get exhausted so quickly, but I guess that means I just need to rest more. On my ride home from the follow up appointment, which is about an hour, I was completely done and ready for bed.
I’ve included some before and after photos. I’m only 4 days post op so still very swollen and the dimpling/wrinkling at the incision should smooth over time as well as the dimpling in my abdomen where he used the quilting/ progressive tension technique to sew my skin/fat layer back to the muscle. I’m also looking forward to seeing some contour in my waist where he did a little flank lipo. Also looking forward to getting back to the gym in a few weeks.
Next follow up is in 1 week.
back.
I purchased a bed wedge system from amazon and it really is pretty comfortable but I am a stomach sleeper and I know I won’t be able to do so for several weeks. Just needed to get that off my chest.
Today’s highlights: I had a follow up with Dr Tattelbaum today. Went well. Drain was removed and he gave me the green light to shower. I did a little happy dance when he said I could shower and the shower was LOVELY!! Today is the first day I got to see my stomach with all the dressings removed. I’m quite pleased. Everything is looking good so far. There is a little extra skin at the bottom in the middle above the incision but it may just be swelling. Also, I’m only taking extra strength Tylenol and muscle relaxer and antibiotic of course.
Today’s lowlights: I get exhausted so quickly, but I guess that means I just need to rest more. On my ride home from the follow up appointment, which is about an hour, I was completely done and ready for bed.
I’ve included some before and after photos. I’m only 4 days post op so still very swollen and the dimpling/wrinkling at the incision should smooth over time as well as the dimpling in my abdomen where he used the quilting/ progressive tension technique to sew my skin/fat layer back to the muscle. I’m also looking forward to seeing some contour in my waist where he did a little flank lipo. Also looking forward to getting back to the gym in a few weeks.
Next follow up is in 1 week.
Replies (10)
November 15, 2018
Sleeping on my back was for the birds! I felt like I was laying in a coffin. Who could enjoy that? I couldn’t take strictly sleeping on my back so I propped extra pillows on one side to shift my body. Not fully sleeping on my side, just enough to not be so flat on my back. Look at those photos! You look amazing! And imagine what you will look like when the swelling and pleating goes down. So happy that you were able to get your drain out. I know it may be hard to rest so much but the more your rest the better you’ll feel AND the quicker you get back to your normal pace. Thanks for the update. It’s always good to hear you are doing well. :)
November 15, 2018
Good morning! I’m up because I set my alarm for the antibiotic and now I can’t go back to sleep . Always good to hear from you as well.
I plan to stay in bed most of the day today. I tried to walk around a little more yesterday but I think it backfired. My back feels better but I’m just not there yet and I’m really sore in my flank areas. No need for me to rush the process. I agree with what you said about resting.
Yesterday, I also had my first sneeze and OH MY GOODNESS! I wasn’t prepared! Lol!
The pain! Anyway, I hope all is well with you :)
November 15, 2018
Morning! Everything can wait. When else will you have this much time off and to yourself? Drink a lot of water. That will have you going to the bathroom enough and is a good amount of walking. No need to go on a stroll around the house like you didn’t just have major surgery lol. Don’t feel guilty about relaxing especially when you need it so much. Find a good series to watch to take your mind off of wanting to be active. I didn’t have lipo so I can only imagine. I SWEAR. I wish we can pause certain bodily functions when we need to. Worst pain ever! Even now it feels a little weird. All is well over here. :)
November 15, 2018
You speak like a wise woman!! Thanks for the reminder. I’m definitely going to rest more over the next few days. I have some good books to read and a few audio books too.
My husband has been amazing. I can’t thank him enough and my children have been gentle and helpful as well. Like you said, everything can wait and to my surprise, the house isn’t falling apart. Lol.
Also, I’m currently watching the news and it looks like we are getting a wintery mix today. All the more reason to stay tucked in bed with a warm beverage. Be safe if you have to go out today.
November 15, 2018
I learned from experience and not listening! After I learn the hard way I try to save others lol. Yes. Books are even better because it’s easy to get lost in them! I’m glad he’s doing great. It makes it that much easier. We’re in autopilot 24/7. Wanting to do and fix everything. In hindsight I can see all was fine. Everyone survived. I spent 2 and a half years putting my daughter to bed by myself. Surgery forced my husband to learn. Now even after I’m healed he’s still putting her to bed. Is it done the way I want it to be done? No. Do they party a bit and then pass out? DEFINITELY. But no one is harmed and she’s just as happy. I am so not a fan of cold weather. I’m safe though!
November 15, 2018
YES! To everything you said. Hubby has been getting the kids ready for school, making lunches, picking them up, helping with their showers and homework in the evening, cooking dinner etc. Is the hamper running over with clothes already? Yes! ( even though I washed and folded everything before surgery) Are there dishes left over in the sink from TUESDAY? (My personal pet peeve) Yes! (Hoping he uses our fully functioning dishwasher today? Lololol) Has he forced the kids to tidy their room or make their beds? No! BUT it’s not nearly as bad as I anticipated and in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter. My husband says, “I sincerely appreciate ALL that you do.”
Everyone is surviving, clean, fed, and happy. I have a few guest coming over for Thanksgiving next week. They already know that I don’t plan to lift a finger. Having thanksgiving without all the work?!?!?! I look forward to that! I’m sure I won’t be able to eat too much anyway. Overeating in general is uncomfortable and post tummy tuck is just unbearable.
I don’t like the cold weather either, yet I feel the need to live where there are 4 distinct seasons. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Glad you are safe.
November 15, 2018
Have perfection, run myself in to the ground, and be unhealthy OR learn to let go and keep my sanity? I wish it didn’t take me so long to learn that one. Work gets 100% of me only while I’m at work. My daughter will always get 100% of my love. Everything else I become blind to unless it’s disastrous (which is never the case, we’re just hard on ourselves). What dishes? What laundry? So happy about Thanksgiving for you lol. I wish I could say the same. I still have issues over eating. I hope it lasts. That’s a plus for me! And if it were up to me my four seasons would be 65, 60,70,80. I think I’m in the wrong area.
January 17, 2019
Thank you for sharing your experience! I went to Tattelbaum for a consult and really liked him.
I keep going back and forth between renting a lift chair or getting these pillows from Amazon. Were they comfortable? Were they worth it?
Happy healing!
January 21, 2019
I also wanted to rent a lift chair but had a difficult time finding a company to rent from in my area. So, the pillows was the next best thing for me and it worked out well. I enjoyed being in my bed. The pillows were easy to adjust. As far as comfort, I thought the pillows were comfortable and I liked the firm support but of course comfort is subjective. If you take the chance and don’t like the pillows, It’s easy to return to Amazon:)
Wishing you all the best on your journey.
April 20, 2019
I have 8 more weeks before my surgery but I just bought the pillows and I’m looking forward to testing them out!!
Replies (2)