Anyone had an EL CS + a tummy tuck at once?

[Alexa808]

Hello all,

my consultant (very experienced and precise surgeon) said he could offer me this option should I be worried about a 'leftover' flab.
He said I shouldn't need it as he'll sow the vertical tummy muscles back together BUT it is an option and he wanted to put it out there for me to think over.

I'd like to know if any of you have had this procedure done and how it was for you.

eandz, no I've never passed out!!
Agree with lulu, having had a c-section iwht a general (emergency) and having no real memory of seeing my second little boy for the first time, not remembering his firt feed although clearly being there, it does take a little bit away that you never reclaim... he is a delight!!
I do see the overhang as an issue, although I could wear a bikini again it had to be one with strong material across the front so it held the fold tight!!

oh ok. so if i have a c section (and i know i shouldn't be posting this question here) then does this mean my vagina wont be all stretched out? and i'll be trading a tight vag for a skin flap?

Yes, you would!! Could just be a small one, but I don't know anyone without one.

Oh, olihan, hmmm, you're right.Well, in the end it will depend on the anesthetist I was told. He'll measure, weigh me, etc. I'm not considering a VB as I have a cyst which needs to come out and I'm not doing hormonal therapy for it.

lulumama, yes, I'm not keen on a general either. My Mum had an EM CS with me and said she felt battered and dazed for hours after waking up.

Even if I would want a VB, I couldn't have the one I wanted in the environment I wanted, with the doctor I wanted and so I'm not risking a trauma and more if I cannot have it my way. Home births are illegal in S'pore and water births are 99.5% not happening and what's the point of it if you want to press ahead with something surrounded by inexperienced staff. I'm certainly not going to risk mine or my baby's life when it comes to that. At least the hygene & technical standards here are very high which is not a given in SE Asia.

your body is never the same again after birth, regardless of mode of delivery.

your pelvic floor is affected by pregnancy itself.

your vagina is designed to be stretchy... and to accomodate the baby. more so than your abdomen is designed to be cut open for a birth.

make sure you do lots of pelvic floor excercises as pregnancy iteself takes a toll on you

ok so next question,
i want my body back asap. i know that it might take months before i can do stomach excercises but how long will it take to get back to running/eliptical trainer?

depends!

i;d give it a minimum of 6 weeks, your hospital should advise some post natal excercises anyway.. 9 months on , 9 months off is a good adage, or in my case, 9 months on, 3 years still coming off

food for thought...

Oh, I see. Definitely no point in having a VB, poss an EmCS then an op to remove the cyst.

Singaporeans are so odd about doing things by the book, aren't they? My parents live out there and their insistence on doing things by the book drives my dad nuts at times .

Having said that, the health care over there is fantastic so you'll be in good hands.

My personal view on the TT is that it's hard enough recovering from a CS and, in your case, cyst removal while looking after a newborn, without the added trauma and recovery of an extra op. I think you probably need to ask the doc lots more questions next time you go.

Having said that, if it wouldn't extend the recovery time, cause any more pain or have a negative impact on life with a newborn I'd jump at the offer .

Alexa -- the local/general issue would settle it for me by itself. I wouldn't want to be under general anaesthetic for the birth of a baby unless it was really unavoidable.

eandz -- general advice is minimum of six weeks before starting normal exercise after vaginal birth and (I think) eight-ten weeks after a c-section. Oh, and generally (OK, haven't actually stood on street corners carrying out a poll, but AFAIK and IME) your vagina will normally go back to normal after a VB.

(And... sorry... will have to allow myself a little at idea of just passing out after giving birth)

i just assumed i'd be too freaked out to really do anything else except pass out...these days i'm lucky if i don't try to take a deep nap after a sneeze let alone using the toilet for number 2.

Olihan, so you know what I'm talking about They are odd at times, just not really good at initiatives. Will ponder what you said re CS + zyst + TT + recovery time.

P&L, yes, this is an issue for me, too. Having said that I respond well to general anaesthetic (have had it twice already). It's just, I don't want to be drugged for hours and miss out on my little daughter.

lulumama is right - it doesn't really work, to be honest, at the time of the CS. Because you need to do the return to non prgenant stuff first so the surgeon can see what he's working with.

Also, stitching your rectus (abdominal) muscles together is proven to cause more postoperative pain, and fall apart within 5 days. Waste of time, in my (not so humble) opinion. It's taken me 18 months to have toned abs that meet in the middle. And worth every minute.

It's to do with the skills of the surgeon and whether they cut between or through the muscles and so I have fold because two of my sections have been emergency... no time to think about the very best incision for me just baby. Perhaps I'll have a word with the senior surgeon this time and see if he wants to cut it off.

I'd consider waiting till you had finished childbearing! Plus you've hardly put on any weight - I put on 16kg and it comes off by itself - especially if you are small to begin with as in your case!

can i add i have no 'flap' from my c section. i have a scar obviously but that's it. what is this flap? is it the same as the overhang people talk about?

Flap is overhang... you must have had a nice surgeon Nicey or was yours planned?

my section was planned - but I think I was also lucky enough to get a master craftsman!

niceychops,
who was your master craftsman?

Mr Kumar @ Queen Charlotte's. God I love that man. Determined to have him for the second.