POSTED UNDER Tummy Tuck Reviews
2 1/2 years later
UPDATED FROM greengirl32
2 years post
2.5 years later pictures
greengirl32October 27, 2013
WORTH IT$7,200
greengirl32's provider
UPDATED FROM greengirl32
2 years post
2 1/2 years later
greengirl32October 27, 2013
My surgery was 2 1/2 years ago. The time has gone by so quickly! I'm very happy I had the surgery and would recommend it to anyone. I didn't have any major complications and I thought the recovery was easier than I was expecting. After my tt my stomach did start bulging out again and I was thinking I was going to have to have another surgery to get it fixed. Fortunately I didn't have to do that. I think with exercise, especially running, my stomach tightened up and now I'm happy with how it looks. After I eat a lot, it still does bulge out some, but I'm not constantly thinking about it like I was before. My back has a very big arch in it so that alone kind of pushes out my stomach. I still have more stretch marks than I thought I would. I was hoping I'd be able to wear bikinis again, but I still can't. I do think my doctor stretched me as much as he could and got rid of as many of the stretch marks as he could, he just couldn't get rid of all of them. I also think my belly button looks funny, but again that doesn't matter since I don't wear bikinis! So no, it's not perfect and it hasn't come easily. I've had to work for it to be flat, but it is SO much better than it was before and clothes look so much better. I'm posting some pictures...sorry they are a little crooked and out of focus. They were taken by my 6 year old!
Replies (1)
August 24, 2016
Hi! Congratulations on looking and staying in great shape! I had a full TT w/lipo and MR 3 mos. ago, AND because I had so much muscle laxity my PS did oblique plication in a kinda L shape in addition to the midline plication, so I actually have FIVE rows of MR repair stitching intstead of just one down the center. It looked great at first, but lo and behold here I am 3 mos out and I have a total pot belly again. I can suck it in to look flat, and my measurements change by 3 inches, but when I'm standing normal I have that pregnant belly look! I don't feel comfortable in any clothes, I still feel the need to hide it, and I'm so depressed about it!!! My PS said he did everything he could to tighten me, and that's just how I'm built. It's not a seroma, it's not swelling ( you can't suck in swelling), it's not that the sutures have come undone. He said the only option would be mesh, which I don't want. You are the only pic I have found so far that comes close to what I'm going through, so I hope you read this - your 2.5 pics look great and are very encouraging. Before the surgery I worked out a lot and was in overall great shape - now I can hardly move in a normal fashion - getting up from a lying down position still hurts. I can do light cardio and some strength training in arms and legs, but that's it. Absolutely zero core work. I'm thin, but feel worse about my body than I did before the surgery, which cost me 9300. Your story is encouraging, please tell me there is hope! :-) Thanks
UPDATED FROM greengirl32
6 months post
Thank you to those of you who have been thinking...
greengirl32December 13, 2011
Thank you to those of you who have been thinking of me and wondering what's been going on! I did see my doctor a couple of weeks ago. He agreed that something is going on and that my stomach does not look as good as it should. He said it feels too soft and that my muscles have definitely relaxed. What he said, and I agree with him, is that since I am tall and thin, my muscles are going to be long and thin. This makes them stretch very easily. I know he did a good job with the original surgery, Everything looked great and felt tight. I also know he did do muscle repair and I can still feel that my muscles are together down the middle of my stomach. But since my muscles are thin and very weak because of large (10.5 pounds) babies, they will stretch, even after the surgery. He pulled my muscles together down the middle, which in turn pulls my obliques and makes them stretch. They have stretched because of being pulled so tight that now they are loose again! He wants me to try and tighten them up the good old fashioned way=exercise, for two months. If this does not help he said he will for sure fix me up. I'm just afraid that if he does have to do surgery again, I'll be good and tight for the first couple of months, but just because of how my body is, the muscles will just stretch and relax again. So I have been exercising my abs and running everyday. I think it might be getting a little better but it's still hard to tell at this point. I'll update again in 2 months with pictures. Thanks for all your concern!
Replies (5)
December 13, 2011
I think that sounds reasonable but I would still get a second opinion if I were you. I am sure this has been a tough journey...no one wants to have great results only to see them disappear. I am sure you want this PS to fix the problem if needed b/c you have already paid him but this is your body and it can't hurt to get another opinion or two from another PS. You can't be the only tall, thin person who gave birth to large babies so I would be interested in what another doc has to say. There are several ways to suture and if this guy goes in and does the same thing, you may loosen again. maybe another doc has a different technique that would prevent this is cases like yours? I do hope the exercise helps and no additional surgery will be needed. I would also post your situation here on this site under the Q and A section and get some opinions there as well. I do wish you the best of luck and you have had a great attitude about the whole thing. Do post more pics in a few months. Best wishes. :)
December 14, 2011
You need a second and third like yesterday. I agree with Jane, strength training the abs aren't going to fix this. Secondly, the longer you wait the more your new tight skin loosens up, again. YOu don't want a tt all over again, just mr. Thirdly, I also agree with newmomat37, ps use different techniques. GET ANOTHERS ADVICE. Your ps is probably a great ps, but he certainly doesn't want to admit that his technique may be to blame. I am not being pushy, we all just want you to be satsified. I had two different opinions and went back for a body lift. After I told my ps's of the other ps's opinions, he was able to admit that he needed to make some corrections. Not complete mr again, but lipo issues, scar revisions ect. I chose the full body lift the second time. I wasn't happy with the first procedure and either are you. Find another board cert ps for a consult.
December 14, 2011
GreenGirl32, I am so sorry you are going through this! Thinking of you during this journey. Fellow MN girl!
December 14, 2011
I did ask a question about your problem in the Q and A section. You may want to review the anwsers. I was actually thinking of you when I posted the question about a month ago. I am also scared of having good results only to see the pooch return.
Anyway, if you click on my profile you will see I have asked 2 questions and both received several answers. Thought you might want to see what some other PS think about a reappearing pooch. Best wishes to you. :)
Anyway, if you click on my profile you will see I have asked 2 questions and both received several answers. Thought you might want to see what some other PS think about a reappearing pooch. Best wishes to you. :)
December 15, 2011
I feel so bad for you! I have never heard of this happening so this to me is bizarre. If I were you I would get another opinion, and maybe another one after that. It seems like something went wrong somewhere and you have every right to know and have it made right. Please keep us posted on what you are told and what you do down the road.
Replies (5)