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POSTED UNDER Tummy Tuck REVIEWS

fleur de Lis tummy tuck United Kingdom

ORIGINAL POST

I will be having a fleur de lis tummy tuck on...

nickilouise21July 18, 2015
WORTH IT
I will be having a fleur de lis tummy tuck on Thursday, I had my pre-op and all seems well.
I go in at 12.30pm so it will be an afternoon slot and my surgeon said around 3-4 hrs.
I have never had a surgery before so I'm going to be terrified Thursday morning.
I'm excited about having this done and know if I listen to the recovery and do as I'm told I'll be better off. I will be in for 2 nights, so this time next week if all goes well I'll be on my way home! How crazy is that. My surgeon said I could have a normal TT but I have upper fat and I would be left with a crease and a sac of skin either side so fleur de lis will get both the upper and lower fat. I have researched this and have seen the crease and I definitely wouldn't be happy with that. I'm not after a bikini body, I want to be able to exercise without feeling a jelly belly and wear clothes that are long enough to hide the tyre around my middle.
I lost 6 stone in weight which is around 75lb in U.S. language and carry most of my bulk around my belly, I like my legs apart from the wobbly upper inner thigh and I have flabby upper arms that I will live with, I am also ok with my butt it's the stomach that gets me and after 18 months of exercise and working at it the only way it's going anywhere is if it's cut off.
My surgeon has been really honest he says I may be left with slightly loose skin that will only notice if I lean forward as I'm 42 and my skin elasticity is going to give a little even though he is going to go as tight as he can. He also said that he cuts along the body's natural creases as he has learned that by making it as straight as he can the body heals back to its normal place and he's original straight cuts are no longer. So if my natural creases are not naturally symmetrical then the end result will not be. I'm glad he has been completely honest with me and not telling me what I want to hear he is saying what is possible and I know a model body will not be possible. It's the price you pay for stuffing your face!
I lost the weight through diet and exercise and only wish I did it years ago.
My husband and 14 year old son will be my carers and I loved the fact I was told at my pre op NO HOOVERING for 6 WEEKS.
Sorry for the long post!
Nicki

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Charles Durrant

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Replies (30)

suzianka
July 20, 2015
Hi, I am having a similar TT to you on 9-12-15 also in England. My surgeon said he will cut about an inch below my BB down to join the horizontal cut. He said this will enable him to give me a smaller waistline yaaaay. Where about in England are you?
nickilouise21
July 20, 2015
I'm on the south coast between Chichester and Portsmouth. Where are u?
listowel
July 27, 2015
How is it going re firmness and tightness ? I had uk t t and lipo and an 8 weeks out from that.
suzianka
July 28, 2015
I'm in Znorth Somerset near Bristol
suzianka
August 25, 2015
Near Bristol
nickilouise21
August 25, 2015
I'm quite tight and flat. I swell in the evenings but not as bad as some people. I'm walking a lot and quite active. How are u feeling?
NCL36
July 20, 2015
You sound very similar to me Nicki. Will be following your progress. Good luck for Thursday!
nickilouise21
July 20, 2015
Thank you, have u had surgery or are u waiting?
NCL36
July 20, 2015
I'm having mine in exactly 2 weeks.
nickilouise21
July 20, 2015
Are you excited? I'm sort of prepared I'm taking arnica, vitamin c and zinc. I'm not sure what to expect pain wise what's bugging me most is how do you get up out of bed without using your tummy muscles. I'm sure I'll find a way!
NCL36
July 20, 2015
I wouldn't say I was excited...more looking forward to it being over and done with do I can move on with my life haha.

Be careful as I was told not to take any vitamins and supplements for a week before surgery as some can react badly to the anaesthetic.

I had a caesarean section when I had my daughter and I couldn't even sit up afterwards. The first couple of days you'll be in an electric hospital bed which helps. I'm debating whether to get a recliner chair.
nickilouise21
July 20, 2015
I said at my pre op that I'm taking arnica, zinc and vitamin C and she wrote it down and told me when to start the arnica. I think it's vitamin E and a couple of others that thin the blood so they don't want you on them. I'm taking the ones recommend for healing. We have a recliner arm chair that I have as back up. We ordered recliner sofas in May from Harvey's they failed to deliver on 10/7 and are now saying 10/8 grrrrrr! We will be claiming compensation from them. I want to be in a bed I have bought a wedge pillow to get the right position the nurse said at an angle with pillows under your thighs to keep the scar together.im getting net flix free month trial tomorrow so I can catch up on films. After a busy term in a pre-school I have 6 wks to recover and chill :0)
NCL36
July 20, 2015
Ahh good. Is arnica for bruising? I might get some :-)

I just bought a recliner/riser chair! I went for a brand new one from Tesco which is currently reduced from £599 to £299 with £7.50 delivery. I've seen secondhand ones which were frankly disgusting going for more than that and we would have had to hire a van as well. We'll sell it once I'm healed and hopefully make most of our money back.

That's great you have 6 weeks away from work. I am having three weeks and telling my work it's a hernia repair :-)
nickilouise21
July 20, 2015
I'm telling everyone hernia too, as its a similar recovery. I bought the 30c arnica from Amazon, u can also buy it in boots. There's no proven fact that it works but I'll give it a go. I'm taking it today for 7 days. A French lady 20 years ago insisted I put arnica cream on her son if ever he bumped she swore by it and a lot of reviews have mentioned it. I went in Holland and Barrett today to ask about Bromelain which is a pineapple extract that helps with swelling I will send my hubby for some next week if I swell too much I bought 2 pineapples instead!
I weighed 18.10 and lost 6 stone and then settled around 13.5 I'm now 14 stone and 5ft 8. I have a wide roll of flab a lot worse than yours and a tyre overhang so it's like 2 rolls with a belly button pinning it in the middle like a sofa cushion. My surgeon said I only need a little tightening of the muscles as they're quite good I'm glad I've done kettle bells and circuits for the last 18 months as its really strengthened my core which could come in handy. I'm like you just want to look good in clothes.
I've read to drink lots of water the day before surgery and I've got some movicol ready and the nurse said to start that and take a sachet every other day. I'm taking the pain meds religiously and will set an alrm to take thru the night as I've been nursey for my husband and mum after triple heart by pass ops and I know if you keep up the pain relief it's an easier recovery I'm also praying I heal as well as my mum her scarring is great. My surgeon said how well I heal depends on how good a surgeon he is and how much as a patient I listen and do as I told. I'm thinking I'm going to be that one that goes wrong and I'll be full of regret. I am a positive thinker and am shopping the negatives for positives every time they creep in. Good buy on your recliner you'll probably end up keeping it!
nickilouise21
July 20, 2015
#Swapping not shopping
suzianka
July 20, 2015
I'm in Znorth Somerset, near Bristol
nickilouise21
July 22, 2015
OMG that was a quick few days, my surgery is tomorrow! I can have a light breakfast in the morning and clear fluids up to 11.30am. I have to be at the hospital for 12.30pm. I think I'm ready for this I've been out and stocked the cupboards, cleaned the oven, de scaled the kettle and the rest I'll do tomorrow morning to pass the time. What Ifs are starting to creep in to my thoughts, what am I doing, what if this happens, what if it's worse. I'm trying to shut them thoughts out and keep busy.
NCL36
July 22, 2015
Good luck for tomorrow. Will be thinking of you x
nickilouise21
July 23, 2015
Ive just had my breakfast, I could have a light breakfast before 7.30, just the hoovering (last one for 6 wks) then a shower in hibiscrub to do. I showered in it last night and had to wash my hair with it. I couldn't bear not putting lotions on after. I've got the nervy tummy and thinking what am I doing. I only finished work yesterday so many people asked "what are u doing for the holidays" I've just said not much no holidays planned. Only family and a few friends know and I will tell others hernia as to why I'm not driving etc my Husband is off work today he finishes at 1 tomorrow and then he's off Monday. My Son will have Astro trainers up to £70 instead of the normal £30 if he helps me with jobs (he's keen at the mo) my mum and dad are 5 mins away and will pop in . Anyway, I need to get today over with first. I hope all goes well and I'm not going to be riddled with complications. I've never experienced surgery before so this is all new to me. I'll update when I can
nickilouise21
July 23, 2015
I'm sitting in my room waiting to go, I have the socks on, gown and it should be in the next half hour or so and last 2-3 hrs I'm nervy but ready. I could do with a drink though as been answering so many questions and not allowed fluids.
NCL36
July 23, 2015
Your time has come! All the best :-)
suzianka
July 23, 2015
Everything will be fine & in a few weeks you will be glad you did it xx
Lhale
July 23, 2015
Ooh, good luck! Everything will b fine.
nickilouise21
July 23, 2015
They took 11lbs! I'm on a pain pump of morphine to push whenever needed, Ibuprofen and paracetamol, no catheter. Tummy feels achy but low pain.
Keep drifting in and out of sleep. So far so good
NCL36
July 23, 2015
Wow 11lbs! :-)

So pleased things went well, have been checking for your update. I hope you have s good night's sleep. Well done!
nickilouise21
July 24, 2015
Couldn't sleep as have these infatable shin pads on that inflate and deflate every 30 secs so they kept me awake I just cat napped . It's very tight and getting out of bed is a struggle, I'm on paracetamol and ibrofen I've had a few sickness meds and came over a little faint when sitting in a chair it soon passed. Blood pressure is low which caused it so lots of fluids. I can see why they keep u in 2 nights!
nickilouise21
July 24, 2015
The doctor has just been round and said the drains are watery and can come out. I hope they do I will love not having to wear them home. I've been given paracetamol, ibuprofen and codeine to take home tomorrow. The codeine us for if my pain is worse or if I have a bad day, if I can stay off it then it can't bung me up. The pain is a dull ache, made worse by the binder and a bubbly stomach, it's hard to eat much as the binder is restricting and you feel windy, which is normal as they create the wind during surgery messing about near the intestines. My surgeon said I need to wear the binder for a week and then I can get my own Spanx garment to wear, which is good as this isn't the most comfy thing Inge world. My scars/cuts are covered with a beige rubbery stuff that looks like parcel tape. The nurses leave you to get in and out the bed how you want to and say you can't do any damage. I suppose this rubbery stuff is holding it all together. I'm hoping for a good healing process as its a lot of cutting with a fleur de lis. Sorry to waffle on, there's nothing on TV!
laineyw
August 7, 2015
Are you allowed to say where in uk you got surgery ? I been to the Alex for gastric band that has left me with the same bulky tyre area ... Hope all went well !
Cheers Lainey x
UPDATED FROM nickilouise21
2 days post

2 days post op fleur de lis

nickilouise21July 25, 2015
Came home this morning with 2 drains as only one was low enough to take away. Pain control is ibruprofen, paracetamol and codeine. I have a binder on and it's causing trapped wind which is the most painful part for me it's bubbly and causing back ache and cramps. I've sent the hubby out for peppermint tea and windeze to try and get rid of the build up. I slept better last night and am eating little amounts as the binder is tight so your restricted. The pain of the surgery is uncomfortable and the feeling tight is annoying but all in all not too bad. My tummy looks good and I should have the other 2 drains removed Monday then after a week in this binder I can go into Spanx. So a week to get thru is doable.

Replies (0)

UPDATED FROM nickilouise21
4 days post

4 days post op

nickilouise21July 27, 2015
I'm now sleeping better, still very uncomfortable with the binder and trapped wind. I'm hoping my drains will be down enough to remove they were 70 and 60 yesterday and need to be 40. I've stopped codeine as that was making stomach worse. I can't wait to wash my hair it's still got hibiscrub that I washed in before surgery. Any tips on best way to wash hair??
I'm walking about ok and not too stooped. It really is just the squashed feeling with the trapped wind pain. My binder is up to my breasts as I had a vertical cut which is why I'm feeling so tight.

Replies (12)

suzianka
July 27, 2015
Hope you get the wind situation sorted out!! Can't wait to see the results x
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heady
July 27, 2015
My mom or my fiance got in the shower with me to wash my hair for me. Or, I sat on the edge of the tub with my chin to my chest and my hair dangling down and they washed it that way. Good luck!
nickilouise21
July 28, 2015
Managed the hair I leaned over the bath and my husband washed it. That made me feel more human!
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heady
July 29, 2015
Great!
activate123
July 28, 2015
Morning, I hope you are feeling well. I washed my hair at the kitchen sink, it was just about the right level to match the stoop I had at the time. It did take a while and to be honest I didn't condition it, which I normally do. I had my TT and Lipo 15th July., so will follow you to see how you are getting on.
nickilouise21
July 28, 2015
Managed to lean over the bath and hubby washed it. How are you feeling now after your op?
NCL36
July 28, 2015
Pleased you are sleeping better and hope the wind goes soon. You forget how painful wind is!!
nickilouise21
July 28, 2015
Feeling ok, still painful during night with wind and my period arrived (grrrrrr!) my drains are now just a tad above 40. I'm walking well, quite straight. I phoned the surgeon he said its normal for the discomfort and it will ease when the drains are out and if it's really intolerable at night then loosen or take off the binder. I really don't want to take it off so might endure tonight and hope the drains come out tomorrow then on thurs I can wear my own shape wear when I have my wound check. Where are you having yours done is it close to u?
NCL36
July 28, 2015
Sounds like you are doing brilliantly well!!

I'm having my op in central London so not far for me to travel. It's about 20 minutes on the tube.
nickilouise21
July 28, 2015
It's getting easier, my surgeon said it will be more comfortable with the drains out. Hopefully that will be tomorrow or Thursday, he also said if it's too unbearable at night with the wind pain then to take off the binder. I will try and get thru tonight as I don't really want to take off the binder as I only have to wear it until thurs and then i can wear my own clshapewear
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