POSTED UNDER Tummy Tuck REVIEWS
I want to look how I feel
ORIGINAL POST
I want to look how I feel
WORTH IT$7,200
Hi Tummy Tuck Sistas!! I am 34 years old, 5'2" tall, and weigh between 211 and 213 lbs depending on the day. I have always been over weight ever since I was a small child, and I've never had a flat stomach without rolls. I had one child via c-section 12 years ago and it did a number on my body. Bad genetics I suppose, I have stretch marks galore. Ive also had my gallbladder and appendix removed in the last 12 years. I'm a full time working mom. I've been seriously considering a tummy tuck for about 5 years. In May 2015, my husband and I made a deal that if I exercised and ate right for an entire year, making a genuine attempt to lose weight, he would allow me to use our tax return on a tummy tuck. So, for an entire year I went to hot yoga and hot venassa flow classes 4 to 5 days a week and I was lifting weights and jogging at the gym 1 to 2 days a week. During that time I also cut dairy, refined sugar, and gluten out of my diet and restricted calories to 1600 calories per day. I lost about 14 lbs between May 2015 and May 2016 (went from 223 to 209). We went on vacation for two weeks in August 2016, during which time I fell of the healthy food bandwagon. When we came back from vacation, I found it hard to motivate myself to get back to working out 6 to 7 days a week and was only making it to my yoga classes 3 days per week. I gained all 14 lbs back within 2 months. Frustrated, my husband and I joined crossfit in November 2016 and switched to a strict paleo diet. I've dropped 10 lbs since November, but I've hit a wall. I'm getting stronger, gaining muscle, but I'm not dropping anymore weight. My husband, of course has easily lost 30 lbs and continues to lose weight. As of now my current workout regimen is 3 to 4 days of crossfit per week, and 2 to 3 days of hot/flow yoga per week, with one day of rest from both. Since I workout so much I feel great. I'm strong, I have decent endurance, and besides my weight I'm entirely healthy. I have great blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose levels, etc. In fact, I feel like a skinny girl. Except when I look in the mirror, I'm like who the @$%# is that? I just really want to look how I feel and meet my full physical potential. At this point my husband agrees I've made an honest effort to obtain the body of my dreams and he's given me the green light to proceed with my tummy tuck. So 2017 is the year for me!!!! Eeeeekkkk!!!! I can hardly believe it. It's finally happening. I'm going for a tummy tuck with lipo and muscle repair. I originally wanted to also get a breast lift with augmentation (the full mommy makeover package), but decided we couldn't afford to do everything at once. I'm going to see how the tummy tuck goes and then maybe go for the other stuff in a few years (the girls are still in decent enough shape anyway haha). In December 2016 I had three separate consultations with three different doctors within a one hour driving distance of our house. The last thing I can imagine doing is suffering through a long bumpy car ride home after a major surgery. I ended up choosing the doctor with the best bedside manner since he made me feel the most comfortable with my choice to have plastic surgery (I had some hang ups about vanity, concerns over safety, etc.). As a bonus, it turns out, this doctor happens to be located only three miles from our house and he quoted me $7200 which was $3000 less than the other two doctors I visited. I am both excited and nervous, but mostly excited. I'm taking a full month off for recovery and have an aunt coming to stay with me for the first week or two while I get back on my feet. My surgery is scheduled for 3/23/2017. T-minus 5 & 1/2 weeks until I hit the flat side!! I can't wait!!!! Let me know if you have any advice or need to know tips for the easiest recovery possible!!
hipsNcurves2117's provider
UPDATED FROM hipsNcurves2117
28 days pre
4 weeks until T-day!
Tomorrow will officially be 4 weeks until my tummy tuck. Very excited, but I get really nervous when I see the bad reviews with necrosis and infection. I also get nervous when I read profiles saying "tummy tuck tomorrow!" And then they never posted again. What happened to them!?! ????. I have a daughter and husband. I can't imagine how heartbroken they would be if something happened to me. Just trying to stay positive so I don't get cold feet. I'm trying to convince myself I'm not being overly vain. I deserve to love myself and I'm worth it. I will be fine. Words that are easier said than believed some times haha!
On a lighter note, I'm interested in hearing from anyone out there that is into or got into doing crossfit after their tummy tuck. I'm looking for before and after tips to keep my strength and stamina up. I know the tummy tuck will set me back quite a bit in my workouts, but I'm hopeful there's something I can do while I'm recovering to maintain and help things along. Did anyone do arm workouts with hand weights while sitting on the couch recovering? I have 2, 5, and 8 lb hand weights. I was thinking I could maybe use those to tone my arms while my stomach heals. I thought maybe the arm workouts might also help stave off boredom. I'm taking a month off and I have no idea how I'm going to keep my sanity just sitting around all day. Tips for keeping my mind occupied would be helpful too!!
On a lighter note, I'm interested in hearing from anyone out there that is into or got into doing crossfit after their tummy tuck. I'm looking for before and after tips to keep my strength and stamina up. I know the tummy tuck will set me back quite a bit in my workouts, but I'm hopeful there's something I can do while I'm recovering to maintain and help things along. Did anyone do arm workouts with hand weights while sitting on the couch recovering? I have 2, 5, and 8 lb hand weights. I was thinking I could maybe use those to tone my arms while my stomach heals. I thought maybe the arm workouts might also help stave off boredom. I'm taking a month off and I have no idea how I'm going to keep my sanity just sitting around all day. Tips for keeping my mind occupied would be helpful too!!
Replies (4)
March 30, 2017
Your story sounds almost identical to mine!! I'd really like to know more about which docs you met with and how your surgery actually went last week and how you're feeling now. Would you mind speaking with me?
March 31, 2017
So today I'm one week post op and I feel really great. Day 3 was the worst but mostly due to stiffness and swelling in my butt and hips. I really started doing better and doing more when I cut back on the pain meds. As far as surgeons go I just google searched PS in my area and then asked around. I knew a few moms at my daughter's school that had work done. One had a complete mommy makeover and one had a breast reduction. They recommend their guy so I visited him, the guy with the highest on-line reviews in my area, and then the PS that was closest to my house. In the end, I picked the PS with the best bedside manner which also happened to be the PS closest to my house, with the cheapest quote, and the shortest operation time. Bonus for me haha. One PS was super cold and arrogant, and the other PS was funny, but a bit pervy. He cracked a few lewd jokes that were funny, but at the same time were in appropriate. Also, the cold PS said I was too fat to get good results, and the pervy PS said I was so fat that my surgery would be 4 to 5 hours. The PS I picked encouraged weight loss like they all do, but was confident I would get great results regardless with a 2 & 1/2 hour surgery. He has been a PS for 30 years, so I was confident in his abilities and estimations. He was also sort of a minimalist. He told me all I needed for recovery was some gauze, my meds, and some pillows to prop me up and make me comfortable. I was a little nervous about that at first, but in the end he was right. You just need time to let your body rest and heal. Good luck picking a PS!
March 30, 2017
how did it go? Our stories sound similar and I'm still in the deciding stage (mostly holding back because I'm not sure how / what to tell my 11 year old daughter about it). Also, I'm not scared of hospitals or surgeries but I'm concerned about being out of work for more than a week and am curious if I'll be able to go back after a week. or is that completely out of the question. Also, how much will I be able to do post op? I'm also nervous aobut not being able to work out for so long post-op. I need exercise in my life as a stress reliever!
March 31, 2017
I'm not sure what you do for work, but going back to work after a week is probably not a great idea even with a desk job. The TT puts a lot of strain on your back both standing and sitting straight up. I'm 1 week post op today. It was also my first day out of the house since surgery. It wasn't hard but it took effort. We were only out for about 3 & 1/2 hours and I was definitely ready to be back home and relaxing. I also showered today which is a chore so that probably added to being tired. I would say 2 weeks off work minimum because you can't drive as long as you are on pain meds which may last beyond the first week, and you are not guaranteed to get your drain out after the first week either. I have to have my drain for at least another week and my goal it to be pain med free by post op day 10. Sitting sucks. I miss my exercise routine immensely. My PS said I'm healing extremely well and it's likely from being in good health from all the exercise and healthy eating I've been doing to prepare this past year. So even though you can't exercise right away, know all the work you've done is helping you while your down. My PS said I can go back to yoga at 4 weeks and I can return to crossfit at 8 weeks as long as I listen to my body and take it slow. Rushing it will just result in increased swelling. My aunt is here helping me around the house this week. She won't let me do anything that is physically exerting, but as soon as she leaves on Sunday or Monday, I'm going to use small hand weights to tone my arms while I sit on the couch haha. You're not supposed to get your blood pressure up with cardio for the first 2 week because you can cause cauterized blood vessels to bleed again if they are not fully healed. It could cause a hematoma which you need to have drained and it increases healing time. I doubt you will feel like exercising the first few weeks, but even if you do, heed your doctors orders and just rest and relax. I was honest with my crossfit coach regarding why I was taking 2 months off. He was understanding and will help me get back up to speed once I'm feeling better. Good luck!! I recommend taking the plunge and doing it. It sucks, but I don't regret it one bit. It's life changing for the better :)
UPDATED FROM hipsNcurves2117
23 days pre
Keeping Surgery a Secret??
It kind of bums me out that I can't change my status on this website. For some reason my tummy tuck status is stuck on "not worth it." Since I haven't had the procedure yet it seems like it should say "not sure" or something. I feel like no one is reading my posts because it says "not worth it." I would love to hear from anyone out there that's a few weeks pre-op. My surgery is a little over three weeks out. I'm still working on mentally preparing myself for the surgery and the overall affect it's going to have on my life afterwards. I am very excited to fully love my body again. At the same time, I'm nervous and hesitant to tell people about my surgery. I'm worried they will be judgmental and think I am shallow and vain. Anyone out there nervous about telling people? Are you guys being fully open with all your friends/family members/work? Or are you just telling select people, or keeping it a total secret, etc? So far I've only told my husband, my aunt that's taking care of me, and my two best friends. I don't know how I'm going to tell my parents and my in laws, and I'm not sure I want to tell anyone at work. Anyone's surgery date set to 3/23/2017??
Replies (6)
March 25, 2017
Hi there! I am reading your post now! I had a mommy makerover (tummy tuck, breast reduction, liposuction in the flanks and chin) on 14 March 2017. Let me say...our specs are very close! I went into surgery at 204, down from 246 on my own. I am 5'2 and 34 with two children via c section. Sooooo.....the process itself.....after i woke up i was still numb and had a fair amount of medication flowing through my body. A couple hours later, pain hell broke loose! Thank goodness for pain meds! It is/was than both of the c sections, jmo. Day was was nothing compared to night one and day 2. I was wondering what type if fresh hell i had entered into!!! 0_0. DAY 3 I thought i was going to cry and questioned my decision...day 4 and 5...still in pain still think wtf...but i could clearly see the physical differnce! Side note, i ended up in ER with severe pain and swelling....good news was i had no blood clots and was loaded with pain meds given lasix and aent home! Day 7 went in to attempt to get squeezed back into my garment! I was told how well i was doing! Day 9....ok...by thus time i am not questioning myself anymore! My first official follow up! The doc said things were looking great. My drain tube came out! Horary!!!! I am stil swollen and have fluid build up by my incisions areas....but the progress is real! Welcome to the flatside!!!!
April 4, 2017
Hi, Thank you for asking! I am now three weeks out and I am feeling pretty good! Glad to be on the flat side! I still have soreness and some discomfort, but I am on the mend and pretty much back to regular routine. How are you???
March 30, 2017
I feel the same way which is what has been holding me back from actually doing it. I live in a very small town but it's not about people judging me - I don't care too much about that, I don't plan to tell anyone anyway. However, I'm not sure what to tell my 11 year old daughter. I don't want her to have body image issues even thought she already does. I'm not sure how to handle this with her. I don't want to lie to her but I think telling her could be a bad idea.
March 31, 2017
That's a tough one. I completely understand how you're feeling. My daughter is 12 and I have the same worry. I have always had body issues and she has a really healthy confident self image. I was really worried that going through this process would push my issues on to her. I had a long talk with her about my reasoning and asked how it made her feel and what her opinion was. We were both open and honest with each other and I think she gets it. I let her take the day off school the day of my surgery so she could drop me off at my PS office and then she was waiting when I got home to help care for me with my aunt. She has a very nurturing personality, so I think it was helpful for her to feel involved in the process. And now she sees how much I've changed and how happy and confident I feel, and she seems very happy for me. If your daughter seems concerned or scared for you, maybe take her to your pre op and she can ask questions and meet your PS. You could also share positive stories with her from the the RS website. Good luck!!!
March 21, 2022
You look amazing! I'm scheduled for May and I can't wait! I am 5'5 about 220lbs and I'm noticing as it gets closer to surgery day I'm allowing all of the "you should lose weight first" comments get to my head and doubting my decision a bit. Did you feel any of this leading up? I hate that if we aren't 150lbs we are sometimes treated like we shouldn't have the procedure. Did you ever doubt that you would have the procedure and then regret not losing weight prior? My goal has never been to be what everyone else considered "skinny" I just want to be rid of the extra skin. Sorry to bombard with questions lol it's been hard to find someone with similar stats to relate to. Again you look fabulous and are definitely goal results!!
Replies (3)