Tummy tuck question for those who've had one

[itdidntworkout]

I plan on getting one at the end of the year. My husband can take time off over Christmas to help with the children and the bank holidays will give me a few extra days recovery.

Realistically, how long will I be out of action? I expect to be in bed for two days and bending over for a while, but after 10 days or so, will I be okay to carry on close to normal? I need to be able to do the school in January and be able to hold a sports bag. I think I've read that it can take 6 weeks + to get back to normal activities, but for school runs and helping kids into and out of the car, will I be okay?

I can't have the op during the school term and I won't have anyone to help out.

Thanks.

hmmmm, I had one when dd was 3.5 and ds 18 months and I had my dh off for the whole of the first week, then i had a childminder for ds for the next 2 weeks and friends had dd for me after nursery, then i had my mum looking after us for a week, then it was half term so I had a v quiet week with the kids, then by beginning of week 6 I was back to normal. I honestly think you need at least 3 clear weeks to recover, it's a big op and I had no complications and a 'text book' recovery. (It's also one of the best things i have ever done, and after 2 cs I was more than ready for someone to just lop the jelly belly off).

Don't do it! Waste of time and money and you are risking your life. Don't buy into what western beauty standards say are attractive, be proud of who YOU are.

Krum, totally appreciate your comments. But I gained so much with my second pregnancy, I need to feel normal again and I'm pretty miserable about it.

Skip, might get hubby to take off two weeks and when the children at school/ nursery, I can rest. my son can do a couple of full days at nursery at the beginning of Jan. don't have much choice otherwise.

Will be interested to hear how it goes Krum.
After 2 CS cannot get the shelf to go - feel fine with the rest of average sized me but the tummy is anoying and I am not willing to buy a whole new wardrobe of clothes either!
Been considering the keyhole laser lipo under local but need to look into it more.

I have to say that I was in bed for 3 weeks after mine. And I mean in bed. Couldn't even sit upright for longer than about 10 minutes.

I have a high pain threshold (no painkillers at all after boob job) and I was in agony after my TT. I couldn't stand up straight properly for just over two weeks and the first week was absolutely horrendous. I had to even get DH to help me go to the toilet. I did also have a lot of lipo to the tummy/waist area and also my upper thighs though, so that may have been a factor.

I would say after two weeks you'll be able to drive, (but check insurance!) but you won't be able to lift a small child into the car or a heavy bag and if you do then you risk causing problems with any muscle repair you have had.

I have had twins (premature) and another baby since my TT and although that has undone it a bit, it is nowhere near as bad as it was before my op and it is salvagable with diet/exercise. Prior to the TT I had a dreadful bad back, badly seperated abdominal muscles and so much loose skin it couldn't be hidden in clothes and due to the muscle seperation, if I ate a large meal I looked about 8 months pregnant.

My scar didn't heal well and I was offered a revision, but declined as it is hidden by underwear or swimwear and it wasn't worth having another GA for tbh.

My before and after pics are here if you want a look:

(at my 9 1/2 month pics I had put about a stone back on and in the before ones, the 'saggy' ones are what it looked like in the morning, the others are what happened by the end of the day when I was bloated/had eaten)

www.picturetrail.com/midori1999

I planned the same as you, 2 days to be up and running again.

In reality I was in hospital longer than planned due to horrendous complications.

I drove after a week (had to, lived on my own in the back of beyond). Had to sit down to shower, nearly passed out with horror the first time I took the bandages off.

Serious pain for nearly six months.

If I were to do it again I wouldn't get off the sofa for a month.

BTW, I'm a woman who walked nearly a mile 4 days after an emcs and the first thing I did when I got home was crack on with the housework...

Actually, the best thing to do after a TT is to get up asap and get walking. Staying in bed will delay your recovery.

Wow midori. That is amazing. Your tummy used to look like mine does. I have not had twins just two large babies and two CS in two years.

And afterwards your tummy looks perfect. I had no idea that it could be so fully repairs. If I wasn't such a wimp I would go for it.

It took me a full 6 weeks to feel back to normal again. I had two weeks of plenty of bed rest interspersed with short bursts of walking. I was driving at 3 weeks (automatic only). My children were both at school full time but I had after school care for them for a good 2 weeks plus a few days here and there when I felt too exhausted. The exhaustion was something I wasn't prepared for - being a regular runner and fit & healthy at the time of my op.

Laqueen, that is what life and pregnancy does to bodies, they change. It is you because that is how you look, everyone has kids, ages, loses and gains weight, it's part of life.
Cutting your body up isn't answer, that still isn't 'your' body, it's a body you have had wounded to make it look young, to make it look what society deems 'sexy'. It saddens me greatly that so many women feel so awful about themselves that they will hurt their bodies just to look like what this society deems as acceptable. And it is nearly all women, women who feel their worth is based on the way they look.

krum the voice of reason.

suprised no one has mentioned the risk of death.

kanye wests mother died after breast/tummy tuck surgery.

there is a risk with all surgery...different i think if it is to save your life, but to enhance your appearance?

would you do it if you were on a desert island?

I am with Krum-what is the obsession with flat tummies? women are supposed to carry a bit of a weight around that area-you are only being fooled into thinking they are not by films/magazines/the media.

My mum had a tummy tuck years ago. She developed serious complications and very nearly died. Myself and my sister were left to look after our youngest sister-only 8-for a year while my mum lay on the sofa recovering.

My mum is a single parent so she could have left 3 dcs orphaned in the name of vanity.

Pregnancy changes your body-it is supposed too! I have a huge belly with a horrible overhang after 2 cs and a big operation. I am a size 14 elsewhere. Yes it would be nicer if my belly were a bit smaller but would I risk a major operation for the sake of it-hell no!

Well if you feel like that don't have cosmetic surgery then. That is up to you. Just like it is up to the women who choose to have plastic surgery to do so. We're not all stupid, appearance obsessed airheads who can't work out or weigh up the risks for ourselves, or so deperately unhappy we'd risk anything in order to look 'better'.

You clearly are all unhappy with how you look though or why risk a life threatening operation?

Hit a raw nerve have we?....

Because I felt the benefits outweighed the risks.

Not a raw nerve at all, but it's irritating when people make assumptions.

Please ladies! this is "style and beauty" not "feminism". Fortunately my belly is only very slightly baggy, but surely if you want this surgery the best thing to do is aquaint yourself with the risks and find the best surgeion and hospital possible if you want to; go ahead. I would if I needed it - don't those surgeons who do the C sections in the first place try to make a neat job of it?

I agree with Krum. I am not perfect, I have had 7 babies including full term twins and 3 c sections. But I would not have tummy tuck. Not worth the risk and the more people who do it make it worse for future women. We shouldn't risk our lives to fit a narrow beauty ideal. I have always hated the fact that I feel judged by my looks before most other things. In addition I have seen before and afters of tummy tucks (not of anyone on Mumsnet just generally) and the huge scar and stretched out belly button isn't always an improvement.

I was happy and confident enough with my appearance to continue wearing bikinis in public and close fitting clothes. However, my lower back was screwed due to abdominal muscle separation (despite 12 years of exercise designed to minimise it). DH repeatedly taking time off work because I couldn't walk due to pain in my back etc. In addition a section of my intestine had fallen through the opening between the muscles and caused me a daily excruciating pain whenever I ate or when clothes brushed against it. After 12 years of this I took the very difficult decision to have surgery.

So no, not insecure or unhappy with my looks at all. The fact that my stomach was neatened up as a result of the surgery was a massive bonus. But quite why that is any of your business is beyond my comprehension. Women being hugely judgmental towards other women. Not my idea of feminism.

I'm not against plastic surgery but I would never, ever contemplate this after what happened to Colin Hendry's wife.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1198856/Colin-Hendrys-wife-Denise-dies-operation-repair-botched-cosmetic-surgery.html Please ignore DM origins of link! It's freaked me out forever. I know there is risk with all surgery but I just don't think that the benefits outweigh those risks - particularly as elective.

OP hasn't come on here saying she's under confident and isn't sure to have one, she's obviously looked at this and made an informed decision she wants to have it. Not everyone has surgery because they've self esteem issues

Power to people like krum, if you feel that way.

OP I had a mini TT a few years back now, had a 1 year old at time. I had to travel a lot afterwards which wrist help my recovery at all, so definitely take it easy to begin with as you will benefit from that later on. I wouldn't recommend the laying in bed for 3 weeks either, unless you've got prophylactic clexane, 3 weeks immobile after a big op puts you at risk of a DVT. Plus like a c/section yiu can be quite stiff, so moving about little and often is a good idea.

I took bromelain capsules and drank loads of pure pineapple juice, I swear by it. Helps with healing and swelling / fluid retention. Have a god diet afterwards, raw foods like salads, lots of proteins to help you heal and plenty of fluids.

Ladies, apologies for the delay in responding.

I have looked into it and I am going ahead. I think I deserve to look my best and for me, it's with a tummy tuck. You may not agree, but I totally under your comments.

If you have any other recovery advice, I'd love to here it.

Merci

Haha Higgle, everything is affected by feminism!
Op what's sad is that you think the 'best you can be' is young, thin, celebrity like. Shouldn't the best for you be a healthy person?
Emptycrispspackets, I should expect that anyone Looking to severly wound themselves and undergone drastic surgery for cosmetic reasons would definately have low self esteem! If they didn't why the hell would they even contemplate that!? A women brought up in this society where a women is judged almost solely on her looks breeds this self hatred that causes swathes of women to mutilate themselves.