My Tummy Tuck Journey

After doing some research on several surgeons, I decided to go with Dr Ahmad. Not only did his qualifications and experience stand out, but I looked at some of his previous work and the results looked consistently great. This was followed by reading many positive reviews from previous patients. Having met Dr Ahmad, I knew I’d made the right choice for me. He was very personable and made me feel at ease throughout. At the initial consultation, I felt Dr Ahmad was thorough with how he talked me through the upcoming procedure, ensuring I knew what option would provide me with the best possible results. He was also sure to cover potential risks and how best to avoid increasing them. During the day of surgery, Dr Ahmad made me feel reassured of the results to come and helped ease my nerves. Even during the post-op checks, Dr Ahmad gave me some good advice as to how I could continue to get the best results of the surgery. Having seen my before and after pictures side by side, I am very happy with the work done and have no regrets! I would use Dr Ahmad again in the future, should I choose to have any further surgeries. I would also highly recommend him to anyone looking for a well-experienced surgeon who not only produces great results but ensures that the patient feels they are a part of the process from start to end.

7 weeks on and I'm finally feeling more human! My surgeon was happy with how I've taken care of the scar and he has advised that I can finally take the garment off. I gave it a go and it feels strange to have my stomach bare on the clothes without the binder for support but a huge relief knowing I don't have to wear it anymore! My surgeon also gave me the go-ahead to start working out (jogging) and I feel as though I may be ready to give it a go. I've also been advised to massage my scar, both the incision line and my belly button for at least 3 minutes a day in the morning and the evening using either vitamin E or bio-oil, so I have been using Botanico Vida Omega oil for now. I've ordered some Mederma and will also order another product called Stretcheal after payday! (it's pricey stuff!). Overall though, I feel much more like myself. My stomach is still uncomfortable on some days and I still get bouts of swelling but that can last a while. My next big step is trying to fit comfortably into my jeans without them hurting me! I think after this, my next post will be at the 6 month mark to see how the scar is looking. I'm still glad that I finally took the leap to go for surgery and have no regrets! Recovery is ongoing but I feel so much happier and confident in myself!

Today, I finally had my dressings removed as I was told my incision needs air to help heal and it feels good to have them off! The only downside is that I had the sudden urge to itch everywhere but that's something I most definitely will not give in to! I was advised to start washing with a gentle soap such as Dove or Simple, so not to cause any irritation to the incision, to pat dry and let my skin breathe for a while before putting my garment back on. My belly button is starting to look like it's gone from an innie to an outie but in the grander scheme of things, it's still worth it to not have such a prominent mummy tummy! My stomach is still swollen, but I have been told that swelling will come and go over the next few months. And my back is still sore from not being able to stand up fully straight without feeling strained, but I'm getting there! I hadn't realised just how much recovery time would be needed and I guess it can vary from person to person, but I would say 3 - 4 weeks downtime is more realistic than just 2 weeks.