Tummy tuck - experience

[Freyja]

Has anyone here had a tummy tuck?
I´d love to ask a few questions if any of you don´t mind answering.

Were you carrying any extra weight when you had the operation?

How long did it take for you to recover enough to go back to work? How long was it until you could go to the gym/swimming/etc?

Are you happy with the results?

Would you do it again?

Thanks

 

[arminnie]

I did not have a tummy tuck - but when I had the facial plastic surgery I had some excess skin removed from around my waist from when I was heavier 10 years ago.

OMG - I thought this was going to be simple. Everyone kept saying "Oh this is nothing like a tummy tuck. No muscles. This is just so easy compared to a tummy tuck."

I had tubes and drainage for 16 days. It hurt. Imagine 6 inches of plastic (2 of them) shoved up your tummy. then it was so sore after it came out.

I was told to do no stomach exercise for at least 6 months. Have done none in 10 months. (don't want to) Had to wear a binder for 3-4 months and then one of those cami things (a size too small on purpose) for another 6 months. That was 24 hours a day.

I cannot image how horrid a tummy tuck must be if this was easy. I did not have any complications.

I kept saying this was not worth it. But now almost a year later - yeah it was.

 

[JessicaR]

I didn't have one but my sister did. She had a tummy tuck and breast lift at the same time. I took care of her for about a week after her surgery. I can honestly say I would never do it.

She was maybe 10 pounds overweight when she had it done. She is an RN and had a great doctor. Her recovery was slow and painful. I think she was home about a month before returning to light duties part time at the hospital.

She came home after 2 days in the hospital and had drains and had to wear a compression garment for a while that made it impossible to bend at all. Nothing strenuous for at least six weeks.

Interestingly the full results came at about 6 months! She was miserable and depressed for a while after because she was still swollen and thought it would stay that way.

I never asked her if she would do it again! I will though and will report back to you.

I had major spine surgery from the front and back and I can say that I would never put myself through that willingly for cosmetic purposes. But thats just me!

 

[DaisyLynn]

I kept saying this was not worth it. But now almost a year later - yeah it was.

Even if it wasn't supposed to, the bolded part made me chuckle. I have said that I would do a similar procedure in the future if I had the means and the desire to do so. It seems that you are happy with your results, which is wonderful!

 

[crz4mm2]

Thinking about it.....
I was told 3 weeks off work and then only light stuff....
I can't get three weeks off, sooo.....

Had lipo on my chin and double chin. Couldn't be happier!

 

[MSLRAC]

Why do you need drains? I have wanted a tummy tuck for awhile and figured that it couldn't be much worse than my 3 c-sections but I never had a drain with those.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Why do you need drains? I have wanted a tummy tuck for awhile and figured that it couldn't be much worse than my 3 c-sections but I never had a drain with those.

Ok...I am not a medical professional, but this is what I learned about the procedure I will be having that, also, requires drains.(Pm me if you'd like to know)

Even though it doesn't go through muscles, the surface area of the tissue that is cut is large so there is a lot of bleeding. It's not a simple cut, pull up/down and stitch up. From my understanding, drains are REQUIRED, but it makes healing less painfull because it gives the blood and fluid somewhere to go instead of building pressure under the skin. I have NO IDEA if that makes sense, but it's what I got from my plastic surgeon's explaination. (He also said not all Dr.s choose to use to drains...Don't know if that is so with a tummy tuck)

 

[MSLRAC]

Ok...I am not a medical professional, but this is what I learned about the procedure I will be having that, also, requires drains.(Pm me if you'd like to know)

Even though it doesn't go through muscles, the surface area of the tissue that is cut is large so there is a lot of bleeding. It's not a simple cut, pull up/down and stitch up. From my understanding, drains are REQUIRED, but it makes healing less painfull because it gives the blood and fluid somewhere to go instead of building pressure under the skin. I have NO IDEA if that makes sense, but it's what I got from my plastic surgeon's explaination. (He also said not all Dr.s choose to use to drains...Don't know if that is so with a tummy tuck)

Interesting...that makes sense. I've not even started truly researching it because my youngest is 3 and still requires way too much picking up, carrying, etc for me to do something that limits my activity like this would. I just assumed that it would be very similar to my c-section experience but I guess I was wrong.

I don't know if I could ever really go through with it but I would love to because I would easily go down 2-3 sizes just by getting rid of and tightening up tummy skin.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Interesting...that makes sense. I've not even started truly researching it because my youngest is 3 and still requires way too much picking up, carrying, etc for me to do something that limits my activity like this would. I just assumed that it would be very similar to my c-section experience but I guess I was wrong.

I don't know if I could ever really go through with it but I would love to because I would easily go down 2-3 sizes just by getting rid of and tightening up tummy skin.

A lot of elective surgeries require you to have a healthy BMI for the anesthesia...Work it out momma and see where that gets you! You might not even need it. Even if you aren't heavy, some toning might tighten that area up.

 

[wdwmom2]

Had one about 20 years ago. Started out just going to plastics for a scar revision for a large scar on my abdomen. I had emergency exploritory surgery 1 week before my DD was born. Ended up being my appendix. That left me with a large, unsightly, vertical scar.

Plastics actually suggested doing the adominoplasty as a way to get rid of the scar. I did it. Felt like I was run over by a Mack Truck the first few days afterward. And yes, I had 2 drain tubes. I was a SAHM at the time, so I really couldn't tell you how long recovery was as far as time off of work. I tend to recoop from surgeries pretty quickly, so I was probably back to normal stuff within a few weeks. But again, that was 20 years ago, can't remember the exact details. All I remember is that everything went very well.

Happy with the results and would definitely do it again.

 

[jujube]

No tummy tuck experience but my daughter had lipo with open incisions to allow drainage. It took her about 10 days to feel better. All I can say is that I would not take care of anyone else who had a similar surgery. It was disgusting having to change the dressings. We threw away the pjs she wore for the first few days. If she had something else done, I'd stay with her and hire a nurse to care for the incisions. I've had 2 c sections and they were nothing in comparison.

 

[Freyja]

Thanks everyone for your great replies.
I still have many pounds to lose before I would even consider a tummy tuck, but I do admit that after having carried 5 children the thought does cross my mind quite frequently.
It´s good to know that the end results were good for all of you. I´ve only had surgery twice in my life. One c-section and one gallbladder removal. I recovered very well and quickly from both of them. I was even walking around the hospital a mere few hours after my c-section. And I was home 4 hours after gallbladder surgery.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Has anyone here had a tummy tuck?
I´d love to ask a few questions if any of you don´t mind answering.

Were you carrying any extra weight when you had the operation?

How long did it take for you to recover enough to go back to work? How long was it until you could go to the gym/swimming/etc?

Are you happy with the results?

Would you do it again?

Thanks

OP-Check out this website...

They have a TON of info for tummy tucks and pretty much any other plastic surgery.

http://www.realself.com/Tummy-tuck/reviews