POSTED UNDER Tummy Tuck REVIEWS
Tummy Tuck with Upper Thigh Lipo.
ORIGINAL POST
Well I am 5 ft 5 in, 173 pounds.48 YO, three...
WORTH IT$8,200
Well I am 5 ft 5 in, 173 pounds.48 YO, three girls, ages 31, 29, 28, with 5 1/2 grandchildren. Had a breast lift with augmentation 4 years ago and now ready to get my stomach under control. A few more pounds to go, I carry a lot of muscle so 173 pounds on me is still a size 8 in jeans. (I've been a size 12-14 for most of my adult life. so I have more than enough skin to go around...and around) I am so excited for this to be done that I spend all of my free time reading the posts on Real Self. You ladies are so inspirational(even the ones that don't go as expected). I have already had my consult and have put down the deposit with my PS(the same one who did my boobs). Definitely not looking forward to the drains(ugh!), remember them from the previous surgery! I will post pics when it gets closer to D day.
UPDATED FROM ALLI1965
2 months pre
Pictures finally.
I have to thank JOYD1984 for giving me the courage to go ahead and post pictures. I'm terribly modest otherwise. As you can see, I also had an appendectomy but they were able to do it with laperoscopic surgery, so I only have the two small incision marks and the third one was through the belly button. My hysterectomy was through the inside, thank God, so no scar from that. I have a lot of stretch marks because I gained about 50 pounds with my first kid and I was only 16 myself so that's real hard on a 5 foot 4 kids body. You can almost see the tattoo and thankfully that's coming off with the surgery. I say all the time that if I could just pull all of my loose skin up under my boobs, the lower half wouldn't look so bad. It would even pull up my thighs. I sometimes look like I'm just in the process of a slow melting. I have lost another 5 pounds since I took these pictures but of course not much of it was in the middle. I'm going to have to stop losing because it's starting to show in my boobs and with implants, that's just not a good thing. I know that with clothes on I probably won't have super drastic changes after the surgery, but, and here's the biggest deal to me, when you stand up it's not so bad, but when you sit down all of that skin just sort of piles up in your lap or over your waistband. As illustrated by the fifth picture. I don't care if I am the only one who has to see that, I hate it. Even on a day when I feel pretty good about the weight loss, that view is all it takes to make me feel LARGE again. And exercise does no good. Atkins can't help it either. That skin is all I have left to remind me about the bad eating decisions in my past life and I want it gone. Period. You would think that after having a hysterectomy you would actually have a smaller stomach? Not so, your intestines just move into the empty space and take up residence and cause you nothing but new neighbor grief. Then every book you read tells you that if your waist measurement is the same as your hips and/or over 35 inches, you are grossly obese. They don't give a rat's a$$ if it's mostly skin and crappy muscle control from multiple pregnancies. So according to the charts, I am obese. But if I can get rid of the skin, voila, not obese. Seriously? I'm sorry, got the soapbox out there for a few minutes. Back in the closet now. Love Y'all. Happy healing!
Replies (7)
October 9, 2013
That is great you found a great PS who did your BOOBIES who you trust to do your TT also! Dec will be here before you know it.....
Yes it is hard posting our pics for everyone to see....
GL
October 9, 2013
Just wondering. I almost never "hear" anyone mention having a pain pump. My PS uses them and it's supposed to keep you from having to take so many pain meds the first few days. But I can't remember anyone else mentioning having one.
October 13, 2013
You are going to look great! I hear you, this tummy fat and skin is so defeating! No matter what you do it just wont budge and actually looks worse as you lose!! ahhhh!
Well soon it will be all gone!!! Yippey!
October 15, 2013
Hey girl, every lady on this site feels ya! We all don't want to look down and see all that loose skin. Some of us can't even see our feet! We are all blessed and happy when we make it to the flat side and in the end I haven't read a story of anyone who isn't happy they did it. Some of us that weren't completely happy have had to go and have things modified like me. But in the end I am happy and so will you be. I'm getting excited for you, december will be here before you know it!
October 20, 2013
Alli, I'm proud of you. You stepped out of your comfort zone and posted some before pics. I understand how you feel about the loose skin. I can dress up and suck it in and look slim, but as soon as I relax, it all hangs out. I look forward to reading more about your journey.
UPDATED FROM ALLI1965
16 days pre
18 more days! Not nervous anymore just wish it would get here already. Been getting used to the recliner and setting up my preps
Yay.
Replies (8)
December 1, 2013
ALLI1965, I am 11 days PO today, laying on the couch wondering what the hell I did to myself! But then I remember, my tummy is flat! Hooray!!!! So maybe a few thoughts for you, if it's ok. Go buy a few more packs of bottled water. I am out now because I didn't buy enough, and I can't lift enough weight yet to get more. Gonna need to get someone to help with that. I bought leggings at Walgreens too. They work like the g'panties but they're warmer (we have had about 3 cold days in Houston since my TT) and I can wear a loose, long shirt or dress (thank you for selling those, Target) over them to hide my drains and go out in public. Get a shower chair. It is seriously no joke how much your back hurts right after surgery and sitting in the shower to wash your hair feels so good. I almost passed out after my first PO shower without a seat. Dear bf had to help just to get me out, dried off and onto my bed. Now I have the seat and can do it all by myself. The constipation is also no joke. And if you feel like you have to go, your ab muscles have a totally different opinion. I wish I'd started stool softeners a few days pre TT. The anesthesia and pain meds cause the constipation. If your ps uses the elastic CG instead of the full body one, get some cotton camis to wear under it. Blasted thing itches and bunches up and my camis make it a little more tolerable.
Good luck! It's not all bad PO but be ready for it to hurt and to get real cozy on your couch with your pillows and Netflix! I see my ps Monday and am going back to work, and I think I am going to be ok! I still have swelling, stitches, numbness, etc, but I can't believe my bb looks so good and there's no yucky skin hanging off me anymore. It's awesome looking right now and I know it will get better in the next few weeks.
December 1, 2013
I can't imagine going back to work in less than 2 weeks. You are very brave! I've been stocking up on books to read and I've been recording every movie that sounds good on the DVR, even if I've already seen it. Been making freezer meals for my husband to pop in the oven. Luckily he'll be home with me for the first two weeks. I'm getting the CG that goes all the way down the thighs because I'm getting the upper thigh lipo, but I've gotten some wife beater shirts to keep it off my skin. I'm going to start the poop pills early because that's already a problem for me all the time. I'm also getting the pain pump so maybe it won't be as bad as taking so many pills. Thank you for the water advice, I hadn't thought of that. Good luck tomorrow morning. I'm going to your profile to see your pics. Be good!
December 1, 2013
Sorry, I haven't done a profile and posted pics. Got a few people who I would rather not broadcast the price of my tt to and they'd figure out who I am based on who my ps is and my surgery date....had to tell just a few folks at work so I could get the time off and I don't need them all up in my business. I am 5'3" and pre op weighed 139, and I'm 42. Probably had less than a lb of skin removed, but I had stretch marks about 1-2 inches above my bb. They are now located just above my incision, and I am pretty sure I can find a bikini with boy shorts to cover that. I carry my weight in my butt, hips and thighs so as soon as my ps says it is ok I am going to start working out at the gym to try to drop some of that weight. I had the tt, lipo to flanks and mr, and even with the swelling I am thrilled with the results.
December 1, 2013
Totally understand the privacy issues. I'm just taking vacation time in conjunction with our X-mas break. Only my family and my immediate boss know why. But with a month off I don't think anyone will notice. I should be fully upright in a month. I won't be much smaller and I wear t-shirts so it shouldn't be very noticeable. Plus they will have a month yo forget what I look like. I've been losing weight before the surgery so if they do notice they'll just assume I'm still losing. Fingers crossed! For you too!
December 4, 2013
Alli1965 hello, Seahagg in the house here, our surgery dates are close and I would love to keep in touch with you during our recovery time. My date is Dec 10. I, like you, am a little older than some of these posts, and I too, have been stalking the sh-- out of this site for months. I hated posting my pics for fear of identification by co-workers and or friends, but hope I will sneak through. My children are grown as well, ages 27, and 24. No grand children yet, heck my girls are not even married yet. But that's okay. I'll wait. Good luck as we wait, and wait, but trying to get ready for Christmas has really helped with making the last week or so fly by.
Good luck and please keep in touch.
December 5, 2013
Well my pre-op is the day after your surgery. I'm in that mode where I'm excited but starting to second guess spending the money. Of course I'm not backing out but late at night it really screws with you. I'll feel better after the pre-op. Can't wait for your post op update and pics. Good luck.
December 5, 2013
Yes...I agree with you. I haven't slept very well the past few weeks. But the closer I get the worse it gets. That's why I'm reaching out to two RS'ers to connect with, whose surgeries are close to mine. I know this is all normal, but it's nice to talk to someone feeling very much the same.
Replies (16)
I will be watching for your updates.