POSTED UNDER Tummy Tuck Reviews
Tummy Tuck Muscle Repair Hernia Repair Age 55 Black Female, 5’5”, 151 lbs
UPDATED FROM TummyTuck1963
1 year post
One-year follow-up, 1 year, 2 weeks, 01.08.2020
$12,452
Spoke with the doctor today and concluded that some of my sutures did rupture in my upper abdomen. She advised that I not do crunches, only planks and the like to strengthen transverse abdominis muscles. I will not be going for any type of revision surgery. I will continue to workout, lose weight and eat clean and hope my results get better than they are today. We took photos today and I will post them when I receive them. I look similar to the last photos I posted.
TummyTuck1963's provider
UPDATED FROM TummyTuck1963
1 year post
Today marks my 1 year Anniversary TT, December 20, 2019.
I must say that I have gotten past my disappointment. I guess everything is simply not for everyone because this did not work for me. It was not a 100% bust because there are things that did work like the liposuction gave me good results and my lower abs gave me good results, my scars are faint, belly button looks great but my upper abs, not sure what happened or did not happen but I know that I have a bulge and it has not gone away with exercise and diet restrictions. I workout with a personal trainer 3 days a week and it may be possible that some of my sutures did not hold when I went back to working out per the doctor‘s orders. I may simply have not been healed enough for the rigorous exercises and crunches that my trainer dishes out. I do know that my muscles were extremely weak before the surgery so I’m kind of thinking that it’s possible that some of those sutures did come apart though she double stitched it in her practice, like a Corset. I have not had my one-year follow-up and it is scheduled in 2 weeks so I will probably come back and update what the doctor suggest but we have had discussions up to this point that it’s possible that I might need to have a revision and I’m not sure what all that entails. This cost a lot of money and to have to pay the anesthesiologist again and trust the surgeon to get it right, to go back through the healing process all over again, may simply not be an option at this point. Because of my age, I had to get clearance from my primary care doctor and then a heart specialist and that means I’d have to go through that process again with no guarantees. I have some extra work to do for myself in terms of weight loss and diet restrictions going forward for a healthier lifestyle regardless of this outcome. It may have some impact but I know that it won’t have the ultimate impact. In talking with my trainer just today, he was like, your core is so strong which is pretty much your back but nothings happening on the front with everything that I’ve been through, except I’m sore! We both expected more/better. So, I’m past the hope of a 6 pack but I know there are things I can do better with my diet and exercise to minimize this and any bloating.
Replies (5)
December 23, 2019
Hi, Is that vertical scar from your belly button from the hernia repair. Trying to
understand why your doc cut you there.
December 24, 2019
Yes. My normal BB was up higher on my stomach than the average persons so she said that even with pulling down the skin, the hole was still visible from the original BB. I believe her because I had had hernia repair previously so my whole BB was a mess.
May 10, 2020
Your scar is non existent! Can you share what you used?
July 8, 2020
Sorry I missed this earlier. I used bio oil mostly and I made my own concoction using Shea butter, raw, essential oil of turmeric for inflammation. Yes, my scar did very well in that regard.
May 12, 2020
Thank you for your detailed reviews. I'm 47 and I'm seriously thinking about getting a tummy tuck.
July 8, 2020
If you are healthy, I would say go for it but also understand that your healing will be different from a 35 year old! Even if your doctor says you can exercise after 6 to 8 weeks, don't risk it. Your insides take longer to heal in general and that is where my regret is because it messed up the final results, exercising very strenuously with a trainer because I was given the go ahead and apparently I ruptured my sutures. I would advise anyone at any age to not exercise doing any type of ab specific work and minimal on anything else that uses your core which is pretty much everything, not before three months. Basically, I would recommend walking only for three or four months to make sure your insides have had an opportunity to completely heal.
UPDATED FROM TummyTuck1963
11 months post
10.5 Months post TT, lipo scar revision
No photos at this time because I need to work on getting my form together. Overall, I am pleased based on my before pictures but my expectations were much higher to have a flat stomach and I don’t. I’ve had to conclude that I probably won’t based on how I’m built/genetics. With that said, today I had my liposuction scars on my back repaired because the trauma created lots of thick scar tissue at the incision points and they became very dark. I at least want to wear my back out even if I don’t have a flat stomach!
Replies (2)
November 8, 2019
I don't think your expectations were to high. I would have expected more fat removed and a better repair around the navel area. Are you considering a revision and perhaps with another doctor?
November 8, 2019
It cost a lot for this. Don't know cost for revision and it's half of what I paid, that's 6k! No idea if I would be approved again from my PCP to go under again. I'm 56, my age had additional forms, like cardiologist had to sign off. I could get some opinions but my hesitation is that many are gonna claim they can fix it and what if they really can't? My doc said my facia was very thin, couldn't do anymore lipo in belly area. I don't know who will tell m the truth.
November 8, 2019
Re my navel, I love it. I had an outty, now I have an inny. History, I had a hernia repair in the past so I did have Diastasis recti repair. My normal belly button sat up higher than most people which led her to cut/sew vertically because the hole wasn't below the TT line. There were a lot of things about me that weren't typical and this might be the best this can be. I kinda gained some weight back after I lost quite a bit after surgery so I think if I can get my diet back on track and continue working out with my trainer that my day-to-day look wouldn't fluctuate. My upper abs are not producing any muscle tone on he outside but I know that it feels strong so I won't have a six pack, LOL
November 8, 2019
Did you have a full tummy tuck? If so, your doc is [RS bleep]. She messed up and should have admitted to it and repair it for free. But after what she did I'd be afraid to go back to her. I'm 50 and had mine done a month ago but I also had my breasts reduced and lifted for 14k. I'm still a lil swollen but look so much better and still improving.
November 8, 2019
Yes, full TT, double corset stitching. I was inpatient, my request. I wanted a real nurse to see about me for 24 hrs. I will talk to her at my annual as I work to lose 6-7 pounds by then. I've been way off on my eating, which is usually very clean. Annual is December 20th. Take your time. I may have gone back to working out with my trainer too soon as I may have possibly loosened some of my stitches. My trainer really didn't understand cause I was like, DUDE I can't be doing crunches and my doctor actually said theoretically I shouldn't ever do them again but of course I'm back at it. I have a friend that had a full TT many years ago who is my age and she put on body weight recently and she has a spare tire now. I remember forever her stomach was flat so you can gain that stomach back if you don't maintain a certain healthy lifestyle. Sometimes mine protrudes more than other times so I know diet does play a role. It's not completely snatched and that part probably won't happen but it can be considerably flatter than it is today because it has been. Carbs are definitely not my friend.
Replies (2)