One week post-mommy makeover. AMA!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why not extra liposuction? Didn't need or due to cost. Also, did you research drainless TT procedures?

Not sure I need it yet. I’ll decide after the summer. I looked into drainless, but I honestly just preferred this surgeon more and it seemed like a very small thing to get hung up on. Drains are a pain, but honestly not that bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would love to hear who you used op! I’m considering a TT with Austin Westin center in Reston. I am very nervous about the anesthesia because those operations take a long time.

I had a MMO at Austin Westin in late 2020. I think the operation took about 4 hours. Dr. Poindexter performed the surgery (tummy tuck and breast lift). It’s outpatient surgery. I took about 10 days off work. DH took care of me.

I’m just meh about my results. I’ve healed well and my scars are fading nicely. My breasts look much better than the stretched bags they were before surgery. My tummy isn’t completely flat and I have a large bump/shelf over my tummy scar. I’m mostly meh, because he didn’t seem to do much Lipo. My waist is the same size as before surgery. I still have very annoying and ugly armpit and back fat. I look the same in my clothes after surgery and you’d never know I had a $16K surgery. I don’t think they did a good job of describing all the available procedures. I would’ve been much happier with a 360 lower body lift and more back/flank/arm pit Lipo. I wish I would’ve went to Miami where they are much more aggressive in their procedures. Spending as much as I did to look the same in clothes feels like a waste of money.

I’m sorry, that really sucks. I’ve heard both really good things about AW and not good things. I personally didn’t care for them because it felt like a factory. I don’t know if it’s surgeon specific or what. The shelf is weird. One of the main goals is to be rid of the shelf! And it really is a quality issue, not quantity. I lost barely any weight in surgery, but I look totally different because it was lost from the right places. PS is definitely both art and science, and I think some surgeons don’t have enough of the former. They treat it like a basic medical procedure when it’s far more complicated than that. If you ever get the desire to give it another go (understand if you don’t, not sure if I would) I hope you land on a surgeon who treats you like more than just another customer. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Congrats, OP! I did this when I was 27 after losing a lot of weight with gastric bypass surgery. After going through that, I feel like I can handle anything!

Wow! Congrats to you as well! It must feel amazing to have come that far. And yes, it definitely makes you feel a bit invincible. Our respective pain thresholds are probably ridiculous now

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Had an extended abdominoplasty plus breast lift + reduction. Happy to answer any questions!

OP, any update? How are you doing 5 weeks out? and what are your expectations regarding functional use of the core muscles, will you be able to exercise as if you never had diastasis or do some of the restrictions stay despite the procedure?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How long were you under anesthesia? Were there any complications? This is what I am most concerned about.

Second concern. Can you walk post op? How soon? How much can you do on your own immediately after & how much help do you need?

Also, are you local DMV? If so, did you like your surgeon & could you share their name?

Thanks, Twin Mom with extra belly skin and flat boobs.

I forgot to answer the help part of your question - you will need a LOT of help because you’ll need crazy amounts of drugs to manage your pain. At the very least, you need someone with you for the first 72 hours. You won’t be able to do household chores for over a week. My kids have to hug me very gently. No lifting anything over five pounds. And no driving for 2-3 weeks. If you have a mother, sister, spouse, whatever who can basically move in for a few weeks, take advantage of it. I’ve had some help, but have done a lot of this on my own and it sucks.

Why not expect your dad or brother to help?

Op literally said a few posts above that she’s not married ........

What does being unmarried have to do with having a father or brother help out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Had an extended abdominoplasty plus breast lift + reduction. Happy to answer any questions!

OP, any update? How are you doing 5 weeks out? and what are your expectations regarding functional use of the core muscles, will you be able to exercise as if you never had diastasis or do some of the restrictions stay despite the procedure?

Hello! I’m doing really well. Swelling is still an issue, but that’s expected. I’m settling into my new shape. I mentioned earlier that I only lost about three pounds in surgery; I’ve since lost about five more. Scars look about as you’d expect but are coming along nicely. Breasts have settled at a C cup.

Regarding my core - I expect that with time, I will have far more core functionality than before. I will be able to exercise without restrictions. I have never felt more sturdy. It’s like I have a reinforced beam in my spine. But it will take time. I’m far from feeling comfortable doing any exercise at this point because things still feel really tight and swollen at times. I don’t expect to be cleared until eight weeks or so.

I’m still really happy with my decision and love my results. Every week it gets a bit better and I’ve received a ton of compliments from people who don’t know I’ve had the surgery. I wish I’d done it sooner!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Had an extended abdominoplasty plus breast lift + reduction. Happy to answer any questions!

OP, any update? How are you doing 5 weeks out? and what are your expectations regarding functional use of the core muscles, will you be able to exercise as if you never had diastasis or do some of the restrictions stay despite the procedure?

Hello! I’m doing really well. Swelling is still an issue, but that’s expected. I’m settling into my new shape. I mentioned earlier that I only lost about three pounds in surgery; I’ve since lost about five more. Scars look about as you’d expect but are coming along nicely. Breasts have settled at a C cup.

Regarding my core - I expect that with time, I will have far more core functionality than before. I will be able to exercise without restrictions. I have never felt more sturdy. It’s like I have a reinforced beam in my spine. But it will take time. I’m far from feeling comfortable doing any exercise at this point because things still feel really tight and swollen at times. I don’t expect to be cleared until eight weeks or so.

I’m still really happy with my decision and love my results. Every week it gets a bit better and I’ve received a ton of compliments from people who don’t know I’ve had the surgery. I wish I’d done it sooner!

Thanks for the update OP. I'm glad you are doing so great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, OP — please share cost & who did your surgery. I’m done having kids and look like hell. I have diastasis from twins and my stomach is awful.

NP: If it is just the diastasis that you want to correct, have you considered minimally invasive surgery? I had robotic laparoscopic repair. It’s a much shorter recovery time than a traditional tummy tuck. But it doesn’t remove excess flesh - just does the repair.

,


Not to highjack the thread, but a question to PP:

What was the name of the surgery? And the surgeon if you don’t mind?

Fellow mom with diastasis and over 15 lbs extra post baby... considering options...

My surgeon was Matthew Scriven at Virginia Surgery Associates. I am very pleased with my results.

I don't mean to hijack the thread either, but I have diastasis and am curious about this laparoscopic surgery. what does it entail? how long are you under for? are you pleased with your results?
Good for you OP for deciding to go through with the surgery and glad you are recovering well!!

[Anonymous]

Op if you are still around, I need your advice! I had a tummy tuck two days ago and every time I move (get out of bed to use the bathroom and walk briefly) I feel like I must be messing up the repair as I cannot keep those muscles from engaging no matter what I do! Even when family helps pull me up to my walker the ab muscles still engage and it hurts and pulls. Is this normal or am I ruining the tt?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op if you are still around, I need your advice! I had a tummy tuck two days ago and every time I move (get out of bed to use the bathroom and walk briefly) I feel like I must be messing up the repair as I cannot keep those muscles from engaging no matter what I do! Even when family helps pull me up to my walker the ab muscles still engage and it hurts and pulls. Is this normal or am I ruining the tt?

Hi, it’s OP! Congrats on your surgery! Unfortunately, being in stupid amounts of pain is the norm. You’re not tearing or harming anything, I promise. Early on, my muscle relaxants were my best friend. I’m 3.5 months post and I still have moments where I’m too aware of what my abdominal muscles are doing. This is an enormous surgery. Give yourself time to hurt and recover. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

This is the PP who had the surgery recently thank you so much for that response! My doctor did not give me any muscle relaxers just Percocet. My low back pain from being hunched over is really unbearable and I’m wondering if muscle relaxers might help that so I may contact my doctor. I am about 10 days out now I’m doing much much better. I wanted the surgery due to bad diastasis recti and I think the doctor was a little disappointed at my postop when I wasn’t oooohing and ahhhing over my new figure LOL it does look great I was just focus on being happy my muscles are fixed and I have a core again!

I would be interested to hear what the guidance was you received regarding compression garments. I was told to wear the one they put me in after surgery for two weeks and then switch to Spanx. I see online it looks like a lot of other practices recommend the post surgery garment for four weeks so I’m even longer. What was your guidance and do you have any advice on this matter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the PP who had the surgery recently thank you so much for that response! My doctor did not give me any muscle relaxers just Percocet. My low back pain from being hunched over is really unbearable and I’m wondering if muscle relaxers might help that so I may contact my doctor. I am about 10 days out now I’m doing much much better. I wanted the surgery due to bad diastasis recti and I think the doctor was a little disappointed at my postop when I wasn’t oooohing and ahhhing over my new figure LOL it does look great I was just focus on being happy my muscles are fixed and I have a core again!

I would be interested to hear what the guidance was you received regarding compression garments. I was told to wear the one they put me in after surgery for two weeks and then switch to Spanx. I see online it looks like a lot of other practices recommend the post surgery garment for four weeks so I’m even longer. What was your guidance and do you have any advice on this matter?

Bump on the recommendation of compression during recovery.

[Anonymous]

Np, and sorry for resurrecting a two-year-old thread. I am having 360 lipo later this month and looking for all the help I can get.

Op, if you are still out there, I would love to read an update!

I am on the smaller side (135, 5'6), and my goal is contouring, not weight loss. 130 is the lowest I'd want to go, although I know I have limited control. Curious if you had to get your clothes altered? I plan to ask about it in my pre-op appointment next week.