Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

For beauty and fashion style advice, join in our Style forum chat.

1 2

For beauty and fashion style advice, join in our Style forum chat.

Style and beauty

Have you had a tummy tuck? Can you answers some of my questions?

47 replies

MustTidyUpMustTidyUp · 15/10/2013 17:52

Think I am going to book my surgery for the December. Am not having lipo, but a full TT and fix the muscles. What can I honestly expect in terms of recovery? I would need to be back at work after a month, I'm a teacher, is this reasonable? Does anyone regret their TT?

OP posts:

Report

Ujjayi · 15/10/2013 18:59

I had one and don't regret it. I took two weeks rest post-op but it took me a month to feel back to normal and about 2 months before I could wear trousers without an elastic waist!

It does take its toll - I was relatively fit & healthy but was still hugely affected energy- wise. Pain was virtually zero thanks to a tramadol/ibuprofen regime.

Ensure your family &/or friends are able to offer support with driving, DCs, shopping etc. Take it easy - recovery isn't a time to push yourself too far.

Pinupgirl · 15/10/2013 19:17

My mum had one. She nearly died and had to stay off her work for nearly a year. I wouldn't do it personally-I don't want to leave my dcs motherless due to vanity.

MrsWolowitz · 15/10/2013 19:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Wolfiefan · 15/10/2013 20:00

Stupid question! They fix tummy muscles that haven't joined up again as part of a tummy tuck? I thought it was just a skin removal thing?

NatashaBee · 15/10/2013 20:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ujjayi · 15/10/2013 20:47

Yes they stitch the muscles back together. I had a major separation & intestinal hernia which was agony every time I ate. I was told I needed it repairing so I decided to go the extra step & have my tummy tucked too. Vanity, yes but also medical need.

MustTidyUpMustTidyUp · 15/10/2013 20:47

Thanks for replies. Sorry about your mum pinupgirl, but it's a little more than just vanity . Wolo I'm sure it will change my life. I will be forever obsessed with my weight /body until I get off this stomach which does not belong to the rest of my body.
Re muscles, yes they permenantly stitch together the whole separation then pull down the skin and trim.

OP posts:

DisappointedHorse · 15/10/2013 21:05

I've had one and don't regret it, my tummy was a mess after having kids. I had a 3 inch gap between the muscles and a huge loose pouch of skin. I had a personal trainer and was doing to the gym 4 times a week, no amount of exercise was fixing it.

The recovery wasn't too bad but the restiitching of the muscles was really sore. I felt like I'd done about a billion situps. I had swelling for several months too.

It's now much better but be prepared for the fact it may not be perfect. I expected a washboard stomach and it isn't because the get that I would have needed a fleur de lys which I didn't want. It was a roller coaster. It's pretty flat and above all normal now though!

Cuddleswithcats · 15/10/2013 21:13

As disappointedhorse said don't expect a washboard stomach. Saying that, it was totally worth it, I was back at work after 4 weeks and even though I was still wearing the support garment, nobody guessed

MustTidyUpMustTidyUp · 15/10/2013 21:25

I dont expect a washboard I've always had a disproportionately large tummy and 3 children and 4 stone weight loss later it is awful. I would settle for just normal and not rolls and sags. Thanks for the info on recovery, it seems I could manage after a month.
Now, how actual much does it hurt? Better than -- but worse than ----. Tell me. I can take it

OP posts:

Avondale · 15/10/2013 21:43

Are you getting it done on NHS or private? Not judging btw but I never realised either that they could repair separated muscles. I had 9 cm separation after carrying twins full term so a genuine question!

Cuddleswithcats · 15/10/2013 21:49

Truth is it hurts. It's major surgery and after 2 nights in the amazing hospital I was at home on very heavy duty painkillers, and not capable of much more than shuffling to the toilet and back for the first few days. If you have good support at home, you will be fine, it was totally worth the pain and money, my only regret was that I didn't do it sooner

MustTidyUpMustTidyUp · 15/10/2013 23:12

Private avondale

OP posts:

Wolfiefan · 15/10/2013 23:16

Just to say Ujjayi and others I do hope my post didn't come across as critical of you. I have separation of muscles and have lost weight so just snuck in here to find out. The problem with my complete lack of core has caused medical issues and I was interested.
All the best to you all.

MustTidyUpMustTidyUp · 15/10/2013 23:22

Didnt come across that way at all Wolfie don't worry

OP posts:

Ujjayi · 16/10/2013 01:08

I didn't take any offence Wolfie. My separation affected my digestive system as I said upthread & my lower back was screwed with no core support. I couldn't believe the difference when I took my first run after surgery....no back pain, stomach ache or nausea. I have a strong core now but I do exercise to maintain it.

I had mine done privately altho my health insurance covered the medical aspect and we paid the cosmetic bill.

Avondale · 16/10/2013 10:52

Ujjayi, so a tummy tuck sorted out your lower back pain too? I have that too as basically my core muscles are shot to shit! Wow, this is a revelation! I honesty thought tummy tucks were purely cosmetic.
I was googling last night after reading this thread, looking after before and after photos. The scarring looked quite bad. Can anyone tell me how well theirs healed?
Am genuinely excited about all this. I thought it was something I'd have to live with!

SantiagoToots · 16/10/2013 11:17

Yes, I've had one, just skin removal no muscle damage. It nearly killed me and the pain made my c-sections feel like a trapped fart! I was very ill for quite a long time and it was 6 months before I was pain free.

MustTidyUpMustTidyUp · 16/10/2013 22:15

Did you gave complications santiago?

OP posts:

Ujjayi · 16/10/2013 23:22

Avondale - definitely helped with lower back pain. Even my osteopath was amazed at the difference.

My scar isn't too bad. It took a while to settle down and IMO looks better than the saggy, lumpy stomach with my intestine poking out like a baby's foot!

My surgeon was great. I never dealt with sales people, just him and the lead clinical nurse. I had a fairly thorough psych assessment too. He wasn't prepared to operate if he didn't feel I had explored all other options first - he insists patients have done as much as possible for themselves in terms of weight loss & toning the abs. I saw him 4 times before I made a final decision.

MustTidyUpMustTidyUp · 17/10/2013 09:15

I have provisionally booked it. Exciting!

OP posts:

NatashaBee · 17/10/2013 16:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Email address

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 17/10/2013 19:38

Watching with interest. I've just had a hysterectomy to get rid of a massive fibroid and I'm considering a TT next summer.

I'm v interested in what the recovery is like.

AllDirections · 17/10/2013 19:45

How did you all find out that you had separated abdominal muscles?

OldBagWantsNewBag · 17/10/2013 19:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Flip

1 2

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.