Tummy tuck - costs, advice etc?

[Naetha]

I've finally satisfied all the criteria I set myself when I was 18 (I'm 29 now) to have a tummy tuck, so I'm looking for a bit of advice really.

I'm not planning any more DCs (have 2 - can't afford another!), I have lost weight and maintained my healthy weight for well over a year, but I still have a horrible saggy pot-belly with what feels like acres of excess skin.

Can anyone talk to me about tummy tucks? How much would I realistically be looking to spend? Is it worth doing it abroad? (I'm thinking Belgium rather than Bulgaria) What's it like post-op? Did it really improve your confidence?

A very long response - sorry just thought it might be useful. I had a tummy tuck in the UK last year.

As regards travelling overseas for the op: The drive from hospital to home took 30 minutes and that was more than enough for me - cannot imagine having to travel from overseas back to UK. I also had regular check-ups with surgeon weekly from weeks 1 - 3, then again at 6 weeks and 3 months before official discharge. I'm not sure how you would need to arrange your post-op care if done in another country.

My op cost £4.5K for a full tuck (you may only need a partial), including hernia repair and full muscle repair. It also included all my post-op care and would have covered any further work if necessary (ie not happy with lay of the skin around incision etc)

The surgeon I went to was fab. There was no hard sell. I had 2 lengthy consultations prior to making the decision to go ahead (and after both I was told to go away and consider my options no pressure to sign on the dotted line etc). I think getting recommendations is important but I didn't know anyone who had had this op. So I went on research (via GP and internet) and gut-feeling.

Post-op is hard going actually, IME. I was fit and exercised regularly and I still found recovery a long and exhausting process. I was able to walk within 12 hours of the op but I was very hunched over (they try and get you as upright as possible as soon as possible). I had to develop all kinds of skills to get myself in and out of bed/chairs etc without using my abs - on the plus side my arms have never been so toned!!

I had to wear a corset for 6 weeks then progressed to massive support pants. Despite my flat tummy, I was swollen all around my hips and abdomen and wore nothing but maxi dresses and loose cotton dresses for weeks. I would highly recommend having this done in the summer because I can't imagine how you would work it in the winter.

It took me a good 6 weeks to feel "normal" again. I had to enlist lots of help for those 6 weeks: DH did all housework, laundry, shopping & cooking. A good friend of mine took DCs to and from school, took them back to her house and fed them before bringing them back home at bedtime - although this was just for the first 3 weeks. I started driving 3 weeks post-op but even that was knackering.

Despite all of this I am so glad I went ahead with it. It didn't really hugely improve my confidence as I would say I was pretty confident anyway because despite my saggy skin I continued to wear bikinis on the beach and slim fitting clothes (with the aid of clever pants). Having said that, you cannot beat that feeling of stripping down to a bikini on the beach without any overhanging skin! What it really did for me was make me feel like myself again and it was a joy to wear clothes without having to tuck loose skin into knickers and waistbands. It also improved my health as the hernia was causing problems as I have IBS and having part of your intestine millimetres beneath the surface of your skin is excruciatingly painful during an IBS attack. Also, the muscle repair has dramatically reduced the amount of lower back pain I suffer from as it has increased the stability of my core.

Wow thanks for that response - answered lots of my questions :)

How old were your DCs Tulpe when you had the op? Is it the sort of thing where you wouldn't have been able to handle it if both kids had been not in school etc?

Also, has anyone had a tummy tuck and boob lift at the same time? I don't want to over-do any surgery, but likewise I don't want to have to go through a 6-12 week recovery time twice.

My DCs were both school age. I couldn't have done it with LOs under 5 unless I could arrange full time care for them during the day when DH at work.

I am probably going to get lynched, but what happens if something goes wrong and you orphan your children????? is a flat stomach really that important to you???

I had a tummy tuck 3 years ago now. I also had a (second) breast enlargement a few months later. I wouldn't suggest having breasts done at the same time as a tummy tuck, but some people do and manage fine.

Full recovery is really about 6 months. You do get a lot of swelling on and off until then. I would say up to a year to see the full results too. I found the first week almost unbearable pain wise tbh, it was horrendous. (and I am someone who didn't even take a single painkiller after my breast enlargement!) After that it got much better quite quickly and by two/three weeks post op I did feel pretty normal and had to remind myself not to pick up small children! My youngest was 5 at the time, but he has Downs Syndrome, so took a lot more care than an average 4 year old.

I paid £5600 and that included a full tummy tuck, muscle repair, lipo to my waist/tummy area and also to my outer thighs. It also included aftercare and any repeat surgery I required it was because there was a genuine problem, not just me being unreasonably fussy! (as is the usual case) I flew to England for the surgery (I live in NI) and flew back 2 days post op. My DH flew over to meet me at the airport and I couldn't have managed without him tbh. I needed a wheelchair as I couldn't walk further than about 10ft.

I don't think it improved my confidence. As said above, I was happy to wear a bikini on holiday with my saggy stretchmarked tummy. It did give me the freedom to wear different clothes though and not always have to be conscious of covering up my tummy, which was blatantly obvious in clothes. Not so much everyday things, but dresses for functions etc.

I would suggest having realistic expectations about what results you will get and expect your surgeon to be honest with you. Most people can expect a huge improvement on what the have, not perfection. See several different surgeons before you decide on one and be wary big companies can be very hard sell and not always professional enough. If you do use a big company, research the actual surgeon rather than the company, as some are good, some not so much so. Also, a lot of the big companies do not use BAAPS registered surgeons.

My friend had her tummy tuck done in Prague. She was/is extremely happy with it, the surgeon she saw and the service she received. She saved an awful lot of money, I think she paid around £2600. The surgeon she used has a good repuation and for after care as well.

I am on my second pregnancy since I had my tummy tuck. I hadn't intended any more DC. I'm hoping my tummy will still be reasonable after this pregnancy, but I won't be having further surgery whatever happens.

There are some before and after photos here: (I still had quite a few strechmarks afterwards as they had been above my belly button prior to my surgery, so were just 'moved down', overall I had 3KG of skin and fat cut away and then 3 litres of fat lipo'd away)

Before:

www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/20291887

4 weeks after, not properly healed yet, but you get an idea:

www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/20465929

Wow Midori1999,that is amazing!
I have been considering a breast reduction for forever, but am also thinking of a DC3 so need to wait and see.Those pictures are unbelieveable!
scarlettmummy2,I am sure people take that into consideration.
Dying from surgery is extremely extremely rare. These ladies have said to ensure you go to reputable surgeons also.
Plus they have partners/husbands,so the kids wouldn't be "orphans" would they.

Hi, I had a UK tummy tuck and lipo in Jan 08, when my dc were 5 and 18months. Brilliant surgeon, lovely hospital. Including the nanny for my 18mo for 2 weeks cost came to about £7000, but I can honestly say that I am thankful everyday that I had it done. After 2 cs's I had gallons of loose floppy skin that I had to lift to wash under, fit into my knickers etc. A billion sit ups per day were not going to shift this skin so it was only option open to me. Luckily we had the money then (wouldn't today), not sure how I would have felt going into debt for the op. I had help for 5 weeks after, first week my DH was home, next 2 weeks nanny for 18mo old and friends taking 5yo to school and back, 4th week my mum came and 5th week had friends again helping with school run. By week 6 it was half term so could take it easy at home. If you do go ahead please plan for a 6 week recovery, it was painful for the first 3 weeks or so, but the advantages massively outweigh a few weeks inconvenience. I HAVE A FLAT STOMACH! I do appreciate that it is quite shallow to be so pleased about that, but until you have experienced the loose floppy unsightly skin which is so much more than ordinary excess tummy weight, I don't think you'd understand. So, to sum up, go for it, it was the best decision I made. Good luck.

Just because something is low risk doesn't mean it is no risk. A close friend of mine is currently in intensive following complications on a routine gall bladder operation conducted under key hole surgery which is meant to be a day procedure. Six weeks later he is on a morphine drip and completely bed bound. He is 29 and otherwise completely healthy. I just do not get why you would would risk going under general anathestic and have major surgery for something that is not medically necessary. Also, what message are you sending to your children? That you need to have a perfect body to be a good and happy person? I know that everyone is different but i honestly dont believe having a perfect body will make you any happier in the long term, you will just move your insecurities onto something else.

Also, woopsidaisy, just because they wouldn't be full orphans as they would still have their dad doenst make it ok! How would you feel if your mother died due to cosmetic surgery leaving you when you were still a tot? Would you think, "it is ok, she was just trying to make sure she would look nice in a bikini and fixing the mess I made of her body giving birth to me", or would you think "why did my mum not put me first?" Anyway, each to their own.

I have PM'd OP with a brief synopsis of my story and won't go in to it here, needless to say, I've had a TT and it nearly killed me.

I was in training for a triathlon at the time of the op so very healthy.

scarlett _ i think you underestimate how awful people can feel about some part of their bodies.

MOST ops go well. There is a risk to doing anything and as long as people take all the right care to find a good surgeon etc then it's not a terrible thing to do!

The part about giving a message to the children is bonkers- they ar eporbably too young to understand fully anyway- but the message is that if PG has left you with "scars" you are fixing them so you get your old self back.

I hate it when people come on here and ask for practical support and then get a load of pedants trying to get them to justify why they want the op. it's not really anyone else's business.

THanks for all the responses - very interesting reading :)

As for my reasons for considering it, after having 2 children and losing 4 stone, I look like a thin person who is about 4 months pregnant. If I stick my tummy out so that the skin isn't all wrinkly and crepey, I look about 6 months pregnant. I hate it.

"Pedantic" to point out the very real risks of a major operation. Really have you heard yourself?. My mum had a tt and she nearly died. Had a huge blood clot and also a massive infection. And guess what she is fatter now than before she had it done!!.
I wasnt a child when she had it done(in my twenties) but my sister was only 8 and was terrified her mummy was going to die. I completely resent my mum for putting the whole family through it. My grandparents,other sister and myself had to pick up the slack as she basically couldnt move off the sofa for 6 months.
To the poster who talked about getting "your old self back" surely the point is that when you have kids that you are not your old self? and that includes your body?.
Before I get flamed let me say I have a horrendous overhang after 2 cs and a major abdominal op(to enable me to carry my dcs). I dont particularly like it and wouldnt dream of wearing a bikini but I accept that as a small price to pay for my wonderful dcs.

I would love to have it done but after 2 C sections i dont think I could put myself through that pain again!! I think magic knickers is the way forward for me!!

My stomach was ruined following the birth of my DTS's twenty two years ago. I snapped back into a size 10 within a week, but my stomach was left like a deflated balloon and no amount of creams or exercises improved it-my quest was exhaustive. I hated it then as a 20 year old, and I hate it now, at 42. I had DD 5 months ago and ended up having an emergency C section, and whilst I (thankfully) didn't get any stretch marks in this pregnancy, the overhang is more pronounced around the scar. I have had a secret plastic surgery fund for a couple of years. The main reason I have not had the surgery was because I was carrying an extra two stone, and I know that from a health perspective surgically, it is safer to be on or v. close to your ideal weight and aesthetically, better results are likely. I a, also aware adequate research must be undertaken and of the "downtime" .

I have recently lost 12lbs and when I reach my target weight I will almost definitely get a tummy tuck within the next 6-12 months. My family is complete. I don't agree with those who say once it's done, they'll be other things to "fixate" on. To me, it's sooo much more than a minor flaw. I love life and particularly relish it, having survived a terminal illness three years go. I am confident generally, but I am tired of wincing whenever I catch sight of my stomach in a mirror, of mainly wearing Spanx to contain it, of dreading anyone seeing it.
Yes, it's a risk, but it's a considered one-for me.

Wrt a c-section, the pain from my c-section didn't even touch the tt which was the most frighteningly painful surgery I ever hope to experience. I woke up crying in recovery with pain and that was only a mini tt. They removed over 3lbs of skin and of course your body just goes in to shock.

Where did you go for your surgery?
That looks like a really nice result!

What company did you go to?