Tummy Tuck on Tuesday!

[yellowwhiteblack]

Hi everyone,

I'm booked in for a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) and a breast lift with implants on Tuesday 😱

I'm excited but also a bit scared. I've got to go for a PCR tomorrow and providing it's negative then it will go ahead as planned. Currently I'm more worried about the pcr being negative as I've had this booked since September last year and I'm SO ready for it, got everything planned and sorted, so for it to be cancelled would just be devastating. Thinking positive though.

Just wondered if anyone who has been through similar has any advice/info on post op care, or things they wish they'd have known while recovering

Glad it's going well. Pineapple and ginger is very good for inflammation. I used to have a smoothie of pineapple, ginger, lemon juice and spinach (all frozen ingredients). Really helped. X

How are you doing now OP, how is being home?

I'm doing ok I guess considering the enormity of the surgery. Got home yesterday and just felt crap, really sore and painful, my back is killing because I'm hunched over. I was feeling quite low and having thoughts of wtf have I done to myself.

Today I'm a bit more comfy, I slept on the sofa and felt like I got a better quality of sleep. I'm keeping on top of my meds but feeling super tight and stiff all the time. I guess I just have to ride it out but I keep getting waves of "why did you do this to yourself". Hopefully it will all be worth it in the end

Day 6 is a turning point. Day 3 and 4 are the worse

Thanks @NeedleNoodle3 I keep trying to focus on that it won't be like this forever and hopefully this is as bad as it gets, because if that's the case then i think I'll manage ok 🙏🏼

Had a shower this evening. Only lasted a few minutes before I felt really queasy 🤢 I took my sticky wound dressings off and I think that's what did it.
Had a quick look at my boobs and tummy before getting back into my squash suit and I feel happy so far with the difference. I feel better this evening than I did yesterday evening so I feel heartened by the progress. Trying to stay positive!

Hope the recovery goes well OP. I would love to get this done!

To anyone who’s had a c section and a tummy tuck: How does the pain compare? I’ve had the former and tempted to get the latter because my tummy is saggy.

No experience of this unfortunately @Arianya as I haven't had a c-sec, all my births were vaginal. I'm on a few Facebook groups etc and the answers seem to vary. Some say the TT is far worse recovery wise and others have said it was a breeze compared to a section. I think, like everything, recovery/time/intensity is probably a personal thing.

Things are getting easier but I've found it all quite hard so far. Still painful and very uncomfortable. Hopefully things begin to ease off soon!

Well done. I had a tummy tuck for medical reasons. A word of warning- in the future when you are doing exercise be mindful if you are trying to do sit ups or crunches. Your tummy muscles may not like this to take it slowly.

yellowwhiteblack I think by three weeks you’ll be able to do a lot and will be getting on with your life almost as usual. Some things take longer such as swimming, it was quite a few months before I could swim (previously I swam a mile three times a week).
Take it easy now, if you overdo things it will set you back and you’ll be in more pain the next day.

I’ll just add my experience, as I have only just spotted this thread.
I had a tummy tuck in 2008, at a Nuffield. The cost was £5k. Plus a few extras.
I had my DD in 1986, vaginal birth. I picked up 34 kg during my pregnancy. I went from 50kg to 84kg! Although I lost the weight I was left with a lots of stretched skin and separated stomach muscles. All this was repaired during the op.
After the op I could do a lot more than I expected. At the time we lived in a 3 storey townhouse, so stairs were not a problem.
I was off work for a couple of weeks.
I think I had the drains removed before I left the hospital. I found the drains painful. And the removal. While I was recovering I also got a really shape pain on my public bone. It was explained this was due to some internal muscle repair which are attached to the pubic bone.
The only issue I had was I got a tiny infection. The scar did not heal in about a 2cm area. This was all cleared up with antibiotics.
My only regret was not having it done earlier. Clothes fit me a lot better, because I was slim with a bulging tummy and had to always wear baggy tops.
I am also a lot more confident in a bikini.
Over the years the scar is still visible, but totally flat, and on my bikini line.

If I stood naked you could hardly tell.
They also gave me some liposuction above the scar, to avoid a ‘step’.
OP - you will feel better soon and I’m sure will have no regrets.
I remember I used to have a shallow bath (water did not reach my wound/dressing). Because I could not cope without having a shower.

Following too as I would love this

My surgeon has told me no showers for 3 weeks. That's what I am dreaming the most, so I am interested that you have had different advice. Is there anyone else on this thread that can share their experience with that?

I could shower once I left hospital. I had my first one in the hospital just before discharge.

My surgeon told me I was ok to shower the day after surgery, as long as I patted my wounds dry and wasn't wet when I put my pressure garments back on. Just no baths for 4-6 weeks

Well I'm feeling a bit more human today. Still hunched but nearly back to being upright, not forcing this just naturally letting myself straighten out.
Walking is feeling ok currently, I'm probably back to a normal pace and it feels comfortable.
Still getting very tired after little exertion but that's ok, Im just taking my time, doing little bits then having a sit down. Back ache is easing now I'm a bit more vertical but I've got my hot water bottle still to take the edge off.
Overall I'm feeling more human today and a bit less squeamish about my body. Might treat myself to another shower this evening when the kids are in bed. Im still trying to get all the sticky stuff off from the bandages, it's the stickiest substance I think I've ever come across

Also going to paint my nails today so I feel a bit more like my old self

Painting your nails is definitely a good sign of recovery 🤣

Got a hospital appt today for a recheck of wounds. I'm hoping I'll be allowed to stop putting gauze on them now as they touch wood have been very clean and no bleeding or seeping or anything like that.

Had another shower last night - the excitement I think I put my binder on too tight though as my abdomen felt weird over night and I didn't really sleep as well. It felt a bit numb and tingly

Good luck! Are you taking photos to monitor your progress?

Yes I've been taking pictures my before and after boob pic is pretty good and I feel happy with the progress so far!

I am so jealous op! I really want my tummy sorting, my final child wrecked my stomach and it used to be one of my best features. Is anyone on this thread willing to post before and after pics? My stomach just looks so sad! M really fit and toned everywhere else and my stomach is like a wrinkled old lady belly. I have diastasis recti also.

So jealous op. I want this done so badly but trying to lose weight still. I had two sections which were painful and I know I'd need a muscle repair too and lipo which will ramp up the cost. Hope you're doing ok

Post op check was all good. I've definitely done too much today though as I'm swollen and painful this evening. Just lying down with an ice pack on my belly I'm happy to upload pics - only really got a boob before and after currently as I'm still not stood up straight - though I did take one a few days after surgery which might be ok. I'll have a look at what I've got