Get the real deal on beauty treatments—real doctors, real reviews, and real photos with real results.Here's how we earn your trust.

POSTED UNDER Tummy Tuck REVIEWS

Starting to Feel Nervous About Results...

ORIGINAL POST

I had abdominoplasty, breast lift, and breast...

User Avatar
siouxmac
$8,500

I had abdominoplasty, breast lift, and breast augmentation surgery about two months ago, and although I'm basically happy with the lift/augmentation, I am getting more nervous and upset as each day passes when it comes to the tummy tuck. First of all, my surgeon completely downplayed the recovery - you will be basically unable to move for 3 or 4 days afterwards because your abs will be in such pain. Getting up from bed and getting into bed are excrutiating! Next, the drains are icky (for lack of a better word), uncomfortable, and very difficult to dress around. I had to go and buy a whole elastic-waist skirt wardrobe because the tubes didn't fit into any of my clothing without tugging on their entry points. Lastly, I was told I could shower right away, and I'm convinced that this is why my incision became infected at about the 4-week point. The center of my incision, where the infection was, is now a large circle of scar tissue about the size of a quarter. Okay, so all of that is a nuisance, but my real terror is that I'm going to need a revision. The doctor didn't have to construct a new belly button for me because my belly button was, apparently, 'high' to begin with. Now everything below my bellybutton is taut, and the area above my belly button is even looser and crepier than it was pre-op. I can no longer wear a bikini because it's so obvious. When I spoke to the doctor's staff, they told me it was too soon to tell and that it was probably just swelling, to which I replied that I would think that swelling would tighten the skin, not make it looser. Now the doctor says he is going to do laser tightening on the loose area, but not for at least 2 more months. I'm not convinced that this will remedy the problem. I've basically had to force myself to stop thinking about it, because it only makes me more and more upset. Another question I have is, who pays for any revision needed? I will be incredibly pi**ed off if I have to outlay any more cash, since I've already paid over $15,000 for my breasts and my tummy. Does anyone know the answer to this? Thanks for listening to my story, I know it's a little long!


Replies (9)

June 23, 2015
Same thing happened to me! I was told it would be a full tummy tuck and because I'm not a professional in this field it was explained to me as a full tummy tuck but in paper it was called a "floating tummy tuck". Basically I'm still wrinkly. I hate it! They kept brushing me off too saying it would get better and I needed to heal. BULL s***. Did you ever get another opinion or do anything about it? My surgeon said there was nothing he can do to fix it. I went to see another surgeon and he said he wouldn't touch me because I no longer had enough skin.
User Avatar
August 3, 2015
Look to me like you have a mini TT not a full one I am no expert but that's what it looks alike.
To me it looks like you haven,t had the skin taken all way back to just under bust then stretch.
Nearly five months and I must say it does In prove a lot with time but your skin does not look stretch at all in your torso area.
When you see your ps ask him if he did pull skin back to top?
Or go and see another ps for piece of mind because they will be able to tell you might cost you 100 but might be worth it. you want what you paid for. And when you look at your scar I can't see how because it's only very small mine is from hip to hip for full TT. Go look at other I have only seen a mini TT scar like that. But I also must add it was very cheap for both.
Hope it improves with time for you best of luck take care.
User Avatar
August 21, 2015
Go back to your doctor, ask if the results will improve. If they do not , let him know you are unsatisified w. the results and want to have it fixed. If he says the result is the best possible, get 2 more opinions from other Board Certified Plastic Surgeons that specialize in Tummy Tucks. Good luck. P. S. Most Docs downplay the post op pain. Best to check out an MD's complaints w. their certifying board before surgery. Nurse Kate
October 23, 2015
Was this a full tummy tuck because the scar is for a mini tummy tuck. that would also account for the skin being loose around the belly button is if it was just a mini tuck. I had a mini tuck and was extremely unhappy with it and end up having to have a full tummy tuck.
October 23, 2015
I am sorry you are going through this. I had a tummy tuck almost 4 years ago and I couldn't be happier. I understand the physical pain is rough, if not for my daughter finishing up her BA in nursing and helping me with my medicines and drains I don't know what I would have done. It appears to me your scar is not as long as mine. I was cut from hip bone to hip bone, and he cut from just above my belly button to just above the pubic area. I also had a hysterectomy at the same time of surgery. I had 2 different doctors for the 2 different surgeries, but went home the same day. To be honest I have not done the first sit up and my stomach is still very tight inside and outside and looks great for almost a 50 year old. I am sorry for what you are going through. I did have a small dog ear on the left side and Dr. took care of that in his office and healed up nicely. My entire scar is almost totally gone too.
UPDATED FROM siouxmac

(It pains me to do it because I so hate how I...

User Avatar
siouxmac

(It pains me to do it because I so hate how I look, but I am posting my 'after' picture here so that anyone who is interested can see exactly what I'm talking about!)

Okay - I am now 6 months out from my tummy tuck surgery, and because the sagging and crepiness on my upper abdomen has not resolved (surprise, surprise), my plastic surgeon is performing laser tightening on that area.  I had my first laser treatment last week and have not noticed any difference as of yet.  Apparently I will have at least 3 treatments, spaced a month apart.  I am quite unhappy with my results, and as I said in my original review, I feel that the doctor unilaterally decided at the last minute to give me a 'mini' tummy tuck so that a new belly button would not have to be constructed.  He avers that he did, in fact, stitch my abdominals, thereby making it a 'full' tummy tuck, but I'm not sure I even believe him at this point!  I don't know what to believe.  All I know is that I am not overweight, I work out regularly, and I have done abdominal exercises nearly my entire adult life, and after undergoing this tummy tuck, my stomach is still slightly distended and my skin is loose and saggy.  At what point do I take off my gloves and let the surgeon know that I'm not just marginally unhappy with the results, I'm EXTREMELY unhappy with the results? 

Also, my incision had a 'dog ear' on one side that the doctor removed in his office.  Is the dog ear to be expected, or is that, too, the sign of a poor job? 

Any comments would be much appreciated!

Replies (66)

December 22, 2008
Wow,I am sorry that you have had a bad experience with your tummy tuck. Based on my prior research dog ears seem to be a common side effect. Your scar looks really low similar to a mini tummy tuck but it looks really good. Did you get liposuction on your stomach too? Also did you wear a compression garment? I think you should let the doctor know that you are very unhappy with the results, after all this is your body and your money. Goodluck.
December 23, 2008
Shesh girl, I feel you got jipped. It's obvious you needed a TT that involved a new Belly button. Even if yours was high enough, it's hidden under the upper ab skin. I don't think lipo of any kind is going to shrink the skin. It needs to be pulled. I am SO sorry. I think he should pay for the revisions too. It is obvious (to me) that this was the fault of the surgeon.
User Avatar
December 29, 2008
Hi, Libraldy and aphreal - thanks so much for your comments and support! Libraldy, no I did not get lipo on my stomach, and yes, I wore a compression garment even beyond the timeframe my PS recommended. More and more, I believe that my PS gave me a mini-tummytuck (for unknown reasons), but charged me for a full tummytuck. He continues to maintain that I had a full tummytuck. My next step will be to ask for copies of my operative notes, but I know that the minute I do that, his hackles will be up. I must admit, the prospect of fighting with him over this is a daunting one. Thanks again for your kind words!
(unregistered guest)
December 29, 2008
I hate that you spent so much money and got so little reward. I would like to know why you didn't list the doctor's name so no one else gets screwed. I think you should be very BOLD when confronting him, let him know that everyone agrees with you about the belly button position and mini tummy tuck appearance. It seems as if you could have the same results from lipo w/o the tummy tuck. When you confront him let him know what your "realistic" expectations were and how he disappointed you. Be as firm as your desired abs.
User Avatar
December 30, 2008
From your pictures, it appears that you have had a mini-tummy tuck only. Unless your surgeon performed a procedure where the belly button gets "floated" down without cutting around it, you only had the lower part of your abdomen tightened. Good luck with the laser skin tightening as it probably won't be that successful. If I were you, I would get a second opinion after six months. Several questions I have are: 1. Are you a smoker? and 2. Were you trying to avoid the full tummy tuck procedure after going over your surgical options with your doctor? Manish H. Shah, M.D. Denver, Colorado