can you share your tummy tuck stories with me

Hello, my name is Teresa and I had a gastric bypass by dr. oh in 2004. I lost 150 pounds and at five feet ten inches I was in a size four. However, I looked way to thin. I looked like a skeleton. I gained 25 pounds and like how I look. I do not want to lose more weight, however, I probably have 10-15 inches I would like taken off of my tummy. I have a tummy tuck scheduled for June 10^th and I am scared to death that after the surgery that I might be incapacitated for three months or moreJ. I would really appreciate it if you all would share your story with me. The good, the bad and the ugly. I am worried about the result and if I get an infection. I have applied for credit to pay for the surgery but if there are complications or infections etc I do not know how to pay for that.   Sincerely, Teresa

 Its not that big a deal, I had an extended tt with mudcle tightening and my bb repositioned at the same time as a neck lift at a teaching hospital.  I went home the night after surgery, I had no issues at all, tucked the drains in my bra to go out. Add me as a friend to see my plastics pics.  It not painful because its numb and mine still is, but you feel loads of pressure.  Its so worth it.

Good Luck.

Hi Teresa! Congrats on your weight loss and your decision to have a TT. I am 4 weeks out from having mine and feel great. I think everyone heals differently but I can't imagine you being incapacitated for 3 months. However I still have 1 drainage tube left in which I did not anticipate so it is limiting me in my activities (I had the other 2 drains removed 1 week post-op). The surgeon said the more activity I do, the more fluid is being produced and not allowing everything to heal as quickly. I did not realize that they didnt want me doing ANYTHING but getting up to bathe, use the restroom or ge****er or something the first 2 weeks. I felt so great after week 1 that I was going out to eat, etc. Don't do that! Anyways, I am feeling great despite the remaining drainage tube (which is annoying but managable) and the results are amazing. I just need to get my fluid levels a little lower and I will feel on top of the world. My surgeon expects I will have my drain removed within the week (fingers crossed!). Good luck and keep us posted!

Hi Teresa,
I am nine weeks post op from a tummy tuck and hernia repair.  My journey was not as smooth as the others who posted.  While 90% of my incisions healed beautifully, 2 areas become necrotic and created open wounds.  I had a tremendous amount of skin moved and removed as well as muscle repaired so that could account for the complications.  I was advised prior to surgery that this could happen.  I went in for weekly debridement of the dead tissue, but after 8 weeks the wounds still did not heal.  Last Thursday, I went back to the hospital for an aggressive debridement and to have a wound VAC put on.  I have heard great things about the speed with which wounds heal with one, so I am hopeful.  One wound is only the size of a pencil eraser, but the other 3 centimeters deep with tunneling all around inside, 4 centimeters long and 2 centimeters wide.  

Despite this complication, I am glad that I had the tummy tuck done (hernia repair was a no brainer as I was in much pain because of them).  My pannus was so big (halfway down my thighs!) and was giving me so many issues, it had to be done.  I am being schooled in patience and I look forward to getting back into the mainstream and work (Can you believe it?) fully healed.  If you have any questions you can PM me.

wow, what an experience. I am paying for my surgery through care credit and wonder what I would do if I had complications. Do you have  before and after photos?
thank you for taking the time to respond to my post.

teresa

 My insurance fully covered everything.  I could have photos except I am totally inept and working with photos on the computer.  I have just not taken the time to learn what to do!!!  Although, the insurance company does have what I call my "med porn.  LOL!!!!!!!!

 Hi Teresa, I am six weeks out frm multiple procedures. Tummy tuck, small thigh lift, bl/ba, arm lift and neck lift. Out of all those procedures I have had only two issues. About week 4 a scab fell off under my breast and had a small opening. It took a week before it started to show signs of improvement and now it looks way better. It is formed a nice small scab. And with my neck lift I developed a hematoma. (a pool of blood under a bruise) I had a ping pong ball lump on my face. It took about a month before I saw improvement but it is almost flat now. I think he worst part for me is worrying that te opening would get bigger and I was worried I would have. Lump on my face forever. I thought about these things every hour of every day. Since both things look so much better, I no longer worry about them. Finally. I m planning on going ack o work at the 8 week mark. I have some lifting and climbing I have to do so I had to wait longer than usual. I could have gone back way earlier if I had a desk job. I am dying to go back because im so broke. I did my m surgery in mexico and was in the hospital clinic for 6 days. I had help from the nurses 24/7. Then I was in a hotel for another week. So after the first week I was able to walk to the store, go out to lunch ect ... I was very very slow and didn't do much, but not incapacitated at all. I was home on day 13 and was even able to drive that first day back. I probably should have waited another week but it was possible. Complications are very common so they should be expected. But there is a lot of information and support here. You will do great. Good luck. 

Jennifer

Wow, mexico. Were you scared? I wonder how much a tummy tuck would have cost there. Here in the states they do the tummy tuck as an outpatient procedure which I think is odd. I am paying to stay in the hospital for one night because I want at least one day to feel better before I come home to my girls. Next year I will go back to get my breast done and possibly lipo and my neck. It took me a long time to come to this point of making my tummy tucck a reality. Do you have before and after photos? How did the tt feel? I know that you had multiple work done at the same time but how painful was the tt during recovery? thank you for taking the time to respond to my post

teresa

I am kinda weird, I don't think I was nervous to go to Mexico. I was probably more nervous about doing my lap band surgery which was here in the states. I guess because that was my first surgery I ever had. I do have to say I was nervous of having a complication. I just didn't want something to go wrong where I had to take additional time off work. I did do tons of research about my surgeon so I was very confident about my experience. I wouldn't just go to anyone. I had 5 procedures so my quote was discounted. My quote included 6 days in the clinic and another week in a hotel as well as airfare. I haven't done before and after pics yet. A couple reasons. One I am not computer smart and not sure I can figure it out. And then also I have really eaten poorly and probably gained a few pounds. Ugggg I know. Normally I just make up for my poor choices at the gym but I mot able to work out yet. So once I spend a few weeks at the gym I will probably take some pics. I am probably in the minority but I had zero pain with all my body wor****pt thinking I would feel something the following day, but I never did. But, I did have my neck lift 4 days later and that did hurt. It felt like I had a throbbing headache. It hurt for a couple days, but the worst was the first night. After that it slowly got better. I think one of the reasons why I didnt have any pain was because my dr used a epidural. I haven't taken any meds including OTC meds since day 6. One of the deciding factors for me choosing Mexico was because I would have the nurses in the clinic to help me. Also I had the dr and his nurse visit me daily in the hotel. I am single and didn't know how much I would be ble to do on my own. 

do you mind letting me know how much it all costs? I know that for some that is a sensitive issue. My doc will do one procedure at a time. That is probably all I can afford because I want to pay off one before I have another. However, I did want a breast reduction/life and my tt at the same time but he said it would be an 8 hour surgeryand that complication rates go up.

teresa