Recovery was not as bad as expected

I read so many reviews that I almost feel obligated to write this. I apologize that I do not have before pictures to share but if I find some I will add them. I originally had a breast reduction done prior to the tummy tuck and dreaded the recovery from the tummy tuck after reading reviews because I was worried that I would be completely down and unable to do even the simplest things. Reality was much better, I was up and walking immediately after I woke up from the surgery. The poor nurses were probably wishing they could put me back to sleep since I walked the halls at least hourly. I did not have liposuction done but am considering that down the road.

As I write this I am now 10 days post op. The swelling is still very much present. Even if this was the end result of the surgery I think I would still be satisfied because the main issue I had was loose skin from pregnancies and back problems partially due to diastasis recti. I hope that I will get some back pain relief from this. It seems as if I have had some improvement in that regard but that’s hard to say since I’ve still been on ibuprofen and Tylenol pretty much around the clock. I have never been much for taking pain medications so I am basically off narcotics aside from maybe one a day. I did get exparel during the surgery and I highly believe that my recovery has been much easier because of that. I do not know the costs since my surgery and all medications have been covered 100% but I would have been willing to pay for it if needed. I didn’t get exparel for my breast reduction and woke up feeling as if I was still being sliced into. Once I started routine medications for that surgery I didn’t have very much pain at all.

For those of you looking for cost information I did have quotes done for out of pocket cost ranging from $10-17k with abdominoplasty and liposuction. I had even started a tummy tuck savings before getting coverage. I cannot speak to how the coverage works for insurance since my surgery was done through the VA and I am still unsure how they were able to do it for me.

For some reason I couldn’t add pictures with my review. Hopefully it works this time.

These pictures were taken 10 days PO. The swelling is still horrible but I’m feeling a little better every day. I was allowed to drive after my follow up which was 9 days after the surgery. I went to the grocery store by myself today and felt almost normal. If it wasn’t for the drain tube I probably could wear my Jean or regular shorts but aside from my moment of desperation leaving the hospital with the clothes I wore to the hospital I haven’t even thought about anything but sweat shorts.