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12 Years Later
I had my tummy tuck with Dr. Ward around 12 years ago and thought it was time for an update.
I had a revision done by Dr. Robyn Watts in Vancouver in roughly 2018 to address the dent in my lower abdomen where my bellybutton incision met my horizontal scar. Dr. Watts was able to completely remove the vertical scar, debulk underlying scar tissue, and give me a beautiful clean result that has healed even better than the original in fewer years (though this is largely because she had less to do, and could use the original scar line - Dr. Ward also did a fantastic job).
I wouldn't have paid for the revision surgery on its own personally as I was happy with my result, but I had gained and lost 30lbs a few times and was having a breast lift with Dr. Watts. She kindly offered to revise the abdominal scar as part of that surgery, for which I'm grateful. My experience with her was wonderful and much like Dr. Ward I'd highly recommend her. I won't be posting photos of my breast results, but they are phenomenal and really helped me regain my confidence as a busy solo mom trying to feel sexy back out in the dating world after a 5 year hiatus.
All that said, although the weight gain and loss did affect my breasts (which regained volume the years after breastfeeding ended, but also drooped and stayed heavy even with the weight loss), the changes in weight didn't have a huge impact on my abdominal skin after the first surgery so there wasn't a ton to remove (perhaps two inches above the scar). I've returned to regular fitness and am probably in better shape (in terms of muscle conditioning and not just being 'skinny') now at 36 than I was at 24. My scar has healed beautifully and I very rarely think of it at all. I feel comfortable wearing a bikini to the beach and the loss of skin sensation to some areas is barely noticeable (which is to say it's about the same but I've adjusted to the extent I never notice it). The muscle repair in particular has held up so well and I'm so pleased - looking at my old photos of the amount of space between my abs, I'm not surprised strength training scared me at that age and my primary exercise was running.
I've added some contrast to really show the scar in photos so you can see where it is, but it's really quite light at this stage and unless I pull my pants down like in the photos, it's not visible in anything I wear. I will say that lifting the pubic area to meet the scar did result in some hyperpigmentation areas for me around hair follicles (which is a small price to pay) but I've always thought if this did one day bother me, I'd maybe look at laser or some other treatment. As is, I'm quite happy without needing to do that part.
Ladies, lift heavy things! Your skin, muscles, bones, and overall health over time will thank you!
I had a revision done by Dr. Robyn Watts in Vancouver in roughly 2018 to address the dent in my lower abdomen where my bellybutton incision met my horizontal scar. Dr. Watts was able to completely remove the vertical scar, debulk underlying scar tissue, and give me a beautiful clean result that has healed even better than the original in fewer years (though this is largely because she had less to do, and could use the original scar line - Dr. Ward also did a fantastic job).
I wouldn't have paid for the revision surgery on its own personally as I was happy with my result, but I had gained and lost 30lbs a few times and was having a breast lift with Dr. Watts. She kindly offered to revise the abdominal scar as part of that surgery, for which I'm grateful. My experience with her was wonderful and much like Dr. Ward I'd highly recommend her. I won't be posting photos of my breast results, but they are phenomenal and really helped me regain my confidence as a busy solo mom trying to feel sexy back out in the dating world after a 5 year hiatus.
All that said, although the weight gain and loss did affect my breasts (which regained volume the years after breastfeeding ended, but also drooped and stayed heavy even with the weight loss), the changes in weight didn't have a huge impact on my abdominal skin after the first surgery so there wasn't a ton to remove (perhaps two inches above the scar). I've returned to regular fitness and am probably in better shape (in terms of muscle conditioning and not just being 'skinny') now at 36 than I was at 24. My scar has healed beautifully and I very rarely think of it at all. I feel comfortable wearing a bikini to the beach and the loss of skin sensation to some areas is barely noticeable (which is to say it's about the same but I've adjusted to the extent I never notice it). The muscle repair in particular has held up so well and I'm so pleased - looking at my old photos of the amount of space between my abs, I'm not surprised strength training scared me at that age and my primary exercise was running.
I've added some contrast to really show the scar in photos so you can see where it is, but it's really quite light at this stage and unless I pull my pants down like in the photos, it's not visible in anything I wear. I will say that lifting the pubic area to meet the scar did result in some hyperpigmentation areas for me around hair follicles (which is a small price to pay) but I've always thought if this did one day bother me, I'd maybe look at laser or some other treatment. As is, I'm quite happy without needing to do that part.
Ladies, lift heavy things! Your skin, muscles, bones, and overall health over time will thank you!
oops
I derped above and said I was almost 10 months. This is one of those moments that counting on your fingers fails miserably. I am nearly EIGHT months post op.
Sensation Changes Image
I put up a picture to show where I have sensation, where I don't, and where sensation has changed. It's pretty self explanatory. The grey area is where I can't feel anything - no touch, scratch, temperature, anything. Only at muscle depth can I tell I'm being touched in the grey areas.
The yellow highlighted areas are spots where my sensation has changed or 'relocated.' Where there is a number, that spot has some sensation but it's abnormal, and the actual 'feeling' response to the touch occurs at another site (where there is a corresponding number with a star *)
For number 1, by my bellybutton, all touch feels kind of nerve twingy. It's not painful, but is not normal 'touch.' It feels like someone is lightly scraping with a nail no matter how soft the touch is. At number 2, I can pick up both light touch and (when I am actually doing it) light nail scraping sensations. Just below my bellybutton I can only feel feather light touch, but no pain and no scraping sensations. If you compare the boundaries of sensitive areas with what they were early on you can see how much the sensation has returned and improved. It's a relatively small area now that is affected.
The yellow highlighted areas are spots where my sensation has changed or 'relocated.' Where there is a number, that spot has some sensation but it's abnormal, and the actual 'feeling' response to the touch occurs at another site (where there is a corresponding number with a star *)
For number 1, by my bellybutton, all touch feels kind of nerve twingy. It's not painful, but is not normal 'touch.' It feels like someone is lightly scraping with a nail no matter how soft the touch is. At number 2, I can pick up both light touch and (when I am actually doing it) light nail scraping sensations. Just below my bellybutton I can only feel feather light touch, but no pain and no scraping sensations. If you compare the boundaries of sensitive areas with what they were early on you can see how much the sensation has returned and improved. It's a relatively small area now that is affected.
Provider Review
Dr. Ward was one of the first doctors I found just through googling in my area. He and his staff have been absolutely amazing through this whole process, answering all of my questions quickly and courteously and making me feel really cared about. His work is consistently beautiful from what I've seen in his photo albums. Everyone on his team has been wonderful, and Dr. Ward has a very caring, mellow bedside manner that makes him easy to talk to. He listened to me and was honest and realistic with me. I couldn't have asked for a better doctor.