Tummy tuck-tell me about your experience

[Anonymous]

I had the full TT. Massive internal damage and massive skin stretching. I actually ran a marathon before having it and still had what looked like an inner tube around my front after all that training. They removed about 13 pounds worth of skin and fat, if I recall correctly. I went from wearing size 14 pants to a size 10. You can see my scar but that's because I had some trouble with it closing and healing properly. You just never know how those things will work out. My surgeon offered to do a scar revision but I've never bothered to go back. Basically, it looks a million times better than it did pre-surgery and it just isn't worth it to me.

I was completely useless for about 5 days. It was two weeks till I could walk up and down stairs alone. At week three I had to travel for work and managed but I paid to have my bags collected and placed in the cab. You definitely need a recliner. I timed it so that I was out from work during the holidays, which helped avoid questions from nosy people.

There are stomach exercises that I still can't do. It's like my stomach seizes up if I roll into certain positions. It's weird. And I still get phantom itching every now and then. But it was absolutely worth the pain and money. I actually think it's wrong that insurance doesn't cover this for everyone who has damage or excessive skin. I don't have a lot wrapped up in my physical looks, but walking around with that inner tube was really upsetting for me. The last straw was when I weighed less than than I did pre-pregnancy and one of my child's friends pointed at my stomach and said, "Baby!" Kids tell you the truth, and the truth was that I looked pregnant. No way was I going to live the rest of my life like that.

[Anonymous]

But I don't understand what kind of problems the TT fixes.
My post-mulitple-c-section stomach is kind of...distended but there isn't a lot of extra skin. It's a big pooch. It's kind of hard at the shelf.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anybody had one after a c-section? I’m about to have my 4th c-section and after the last things never quite ... went back. I have the shelf and my waist is quite thickened. Do tummy tucks help?

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But I don't understand what kind of problems the TT fixes.
My post-mulitple-c-section stomach is kind of...distended but there isn't a lot of extra skin. It's a big pooch. It's kind of hard at the shelf.

It will fix the pooch. They will cut from hip to hip, corset up the muscles, and pull the skin tight. Your stomach will be flat. If you tense up your stomach, you can feel if your muscles are split or not split. After having my multiples, you could fit about two finger widths between the muscle. That muscle split will be repaired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But I don't understand what kind of problems the TT fixes.
My post-mulitple-c-section stomach is kind of...distended but there isn't a lot of extra skin. It's a big pooch. It's kind of hard at the shelf.

It will fix the pooch. They will cut from hip to hip, corset up the muscles, and pull the skin tight. Your stomach will be flat. If you tense up your stomach, you can feel if your muscles are split or not split. After having my multiples, you could fit about two finger widths between the muscle. That muscle split will be repaired.

Thank you.
I confess: this is making me want to faint.

Is there anything they can do while I'm having this last c-section done? I feel like my last C was done by a less skilled surgeon. Can this new operation reduce the shelf? Or can they suck out some fat via lipo while they're at it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But I don't understand what kind of problems the TT fixes.
My post-mulitple-c-section stomach is kind of...distended but there isn't a lot of extra skin. It's a big pooch. It's kind of hard at the shelf.

It will fix the pooch. They will cut from hip to hip, corset up the muscles, and pull the skin tight. Your stomach will be flat. If you tense up your stomach, you can feel if your muscles are split or not split. After having my multiples, you could fit about two finger widths between the muscle. That muscle split will be repaired.

Thank you.
I confess: this is making me want to faint.

Is there anything they can do while I'm having this last c-section done? I feel like my last C was done by a less skilled surgeon. Can this new operation reduce the shelf? Or can they suck out some fat via lipo while they're at it?

I've heard celebrities have some procedures done at the time of their c sections. I asked my OB and it was a resounding no. You need to let your body heal from that c section and pregnancy without additional trauma.
The surgery is brutal. But worth it IMO.

[Anonymous]

realself.com is a great website where individuals post about their cosmetic surgeries including pictures.

Just an idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anybody had one after a c-section? I’m about to have my 4th c-section and after the last things never quite ... went back. I have the shelf and my waist is quite thickened. Do tummy tucks help?

I got mine after 2 c-sections, albeit after 15 years. I am pretty slim, but had a lot of loose skin. I'm very fit, but could not get rid of the skin. I had a mini, but it was harder than I expected. I thought I would just right back, but went back to soon. I took me 3 weeks to recover instead of the 2 because I didn't sit when I should have.

[Anonymous]

Rough recovery but 100% worth it!!!

[Anonymous]

Ladies who had a TT what was your binder garment like? I am 1 days post op and have a binder with a crotch opening for bathrooming but pee gets on it still…I’m not supposed to remove it yet so not quite sure what to do about it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ladies who had a TT what was your binder garment like? I am 1 days post op and have a binder with a crotch opening for bathrooming but pee gets on it still…I’m not supposed to remove it yet so not quite sure what to do about it

My binder didn’t go on the crotch. It was like a giant ace bandage just wrapped around my abdomen.

[Anonymous]

Does it hurt more than a c-section?

[Anonymous]

Rough recovery. I’ve had several abdominal surgeries including c section and it was ROUGH. But yes, my clothes fit alot better. In retrospect I’d advise to make sure you’re feeling strong and healthy going in for surgery. I also asked about doing it during my last c section and was told absolutely not, it’s way too dangerous and too much blood loss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does it hurt more than a c-section?

Like ten times more.

[Anonymous]

Im recovering right now and every movement hurts. There is just no way to not use your abs. Getting out of bed to go to the bathroom is brutal and I worry each time that I am messing up the Dr's work