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.

[Welshcakesareyum]

lifelongdieter hi 😊 did you have your TT? How are you feeling?

[lifelongdieter]

saying that, staying out of the fridge is hard work. I have about two years worth of sachets (VLCD). I always comment that if we ever have a nuclear war, we'll be ok, until the water runs out, probably after a few days. Anyway going to do the last minute prep and tidy before seeing surgeon. Got new underwear special. How sad am I.

[lifelongdieter]

thank you, I am 10 st 9 and hoping to be around 9.7 by surgery date in Dec (11th). I was 15 stone last year, got to 9.7 target at christmas however have slipped and I am now a slightly podgy round the hips 10.9. I have to be mobile asap as I have a child with an ASD who has lots of needs. Ironically, I have to be sedated to go to the dentist. I take comfort in the fact that I will have a general anaesthetic (excuse the spelling if incorrect). I WILL ask for as much pain relief as possible. I am seeing the consultant at 7.10 this evening, will have my dates confirmed. Thanks for the advice

[Tantpoke]

If you mean abdominoplasty then you can be up and walking within a few days to a week.
But obvs no lifting or whatever the the Surgeon recommends you do or dont do.
It also depends on your size to start off with.
If you are a reasonable size say a 16-20 ish you will recover fairly quickly but if you are much larger it will take longer because your body just wont be as healthy.

[lifelongdieter]

Hi, did you have your surgery. I have my consultation tomorrow and have a provisional date for December 11, 2017.

[lifelongdieter]

Tummy Tuck -Hello, I have an appointment with the consultant tomorrow and have been told by the Spire Hospital that my surgery would be 11 Dec 2017. I do however have another stone to lose so I am hitting the VLCD hard. My concern is that although I am a healthy weight I still have a 'fatty' stomach, in particular above the naval. I do have a two inch over hang around the bikini line. Could you please share your experiences of 'full' abdominoplasty with me. My concern is that I am still a bit too fat and my skin is not saggy enough to warrant surgery. All the dieting and exercise in the world is not budging the fat stomach. I appreciate comments

[Dragonflycushion]

6 weeks recovery. But I had complications. It was worse than my abdominal hysterectomy in some ways.

[Kyechapman]

Could anyone recommend place and surgeon for tummy tuck so many out there

[heyjude12]

Kelly I had one 5 years ago and I promise you that in 5/6 weeks you WILL see a difference, and get some feeling back in your belly button. It's really normal to feel very low a few weeks after the op

[kelly987]

very true i had tummy tuck 3 weeks ago and regret it no feeling in the tummy button very swollen big tummy as if im 6 months pregnant cant see it going down measurements more than pre op very upset after spending thousands all i got was rid of was my stretch marks not worth it

[maisiejoe123]

I picked this up as I am due to have some Cool Sculpting in a couple of weeks.

I agree with all the posters regarding Krum's posts. I was just under 8 stone before I had children and 5 ft 4'. I have a small build. Fast forward to my early 50's and just after Xmas I weigh nearly 10 stone! I can lose 8-9 lbs because I know it was all those mince pies, crisps, Xmas pudding etc but in my middle 20's I would have scoffed at people looking at surgery etc.

I have had botox - ironically when I tell some people they look at me and say that I dont need it! Its in there already - that's why you dont think I need it.

A very wise doctor said to me when I was expecting my 1st child - dont decide the pain relief if any you want until you are in the delivery room. And he was right.

Krum - wait until you are in your 40's or 50's and then decide whether you want anything done!

[midori1999]

Nigellasguest, I agree that it wouldn't replace the need for a tummy tuck as a tummy tuck removed loose/excessive skin, which the 'cool-lipo' wouldn't.

[DisappointedHorse]

OP, I've PM'd you a link.

Nigella, I've just had a look. I don't understand how it can work but if it does, fabulous. I can't see it replacing the need for a tummy tuck as it won't repair split muscles or remove excess skin but as a lipo replacement, interesting.

[NigellasGuest]

did anyone look at my link to Cool Sculpting?
Hope this is not too much of a highjack, but surely it would suit some people who are considering a tummy tuck.... and I would love to know what anyone thinks of it, as I am thinking about it!
p.s. I also consider myself a feminist, I am happily married and I'm not considering this because my DH demands it - he doesn't even know (or care, I'm sure)! I've never told him about anything I've had done, it is for me not him. (I have a friend whose DH tells her to get this that and the other done - I would divorce my DH if he was that type - awful).

[Itdidntworkout]

Disappointed horse, I would love to see a photo. Not sure if you attach a photo to a pm. If not, pm me and I'll give you my email address.

What's a seroma? Also, were you walking comfortably 10 days post op?

[DisappointedHorse]

I had a tummy tuck. I lost a lot of weight and had stretched even further with 2 pregnancies. I didn't have lipo, I wasn't seeking perfection, just normality.

My belly looked like it was melting. I had to wear magic pants all the time just to be able to fit it into my clothes and that in turn gave me constant thrush. There were times when I considered gaining some weight back just to pad it out a bit and not look so shit.

So I had a tummy tuck, with a cheap Eastern european surgeon, affectionately known as the butcher of Prague. And they were bloody marvellous. The hospital was pristine, the after care tons better than you get in the uk. I had no bad after effects, no dog ears, no seroma.

I was initially disappointed with my result. It's not particularly tight but my skin is just too damaged. It's been stretched like crepe paper, to pull it too tight would not have been safe and may have ripped. My scar was also too high. So I went back and had corrections and now I am much happier. I can send a pic if you want OP.

The recovery was tough, up there with a c-section, maybe a bit worse. It felt like I'd done a billion sit ups. I do sometimes wish I'd had lipo as my belly is the first place I gain weight but hey.

For the record, I consider myself a feminist. I didn't do it to be more attractive, just not to feel like a freak. It's my body. Before I did it, I showed my belly to a very anti surgery friend. Her response was "fuck me, I had no idea you were carrying all that in your pants. I can see why now". She had a couple of slight wrinkles on her belly after having her daughter, it was in no way comparable. As is usually the case.

Good luck OP.

[SkinnyVanillaLatte]

Thanks DunkyWhorey and Seratonin! Nothing was mentioned at my check ups and I've just tried what you suggested Seratonin and it feels like its within the normal range tbh. I think I probably just need to work a lot harder to get near where I was to begin with then.

Good luck to everyone who has had or is recovering from a tummy tuck. I think it's a very personal choice and I can understand going through that if that is what will make a difference to you.

[SeratoninIsMyFriend]

SkinnyVanilla: to check for separation, lie on floor, knees up and feet on ground. Feel around your belly button as you gently raise your head off the ground, at this point you should feel your abs tense and any gap running down the middle. Two fingers or less is considered normal.

OP, I am now 19 days post op and still not very functional: any standing or walking makes me sore, swollen and tired after a while... I can manage to get round a school fete as I sat a lot, walked a 5 min distance slowly and uncomfortably. Still suffering if I have to support my wannabe walker son as it is a lot of weight on the abdominal region. I think driving would be uncomfortable and I haven't tried it yet. My scar is weeping in one patch and really sore. Hope this is useful.

[NigellasGuest]

the clinic I refer to also said that as long as you are within a stone of your ideal weight, you don't need to prepare in any way for the procedure! and no special diet stuff after - just eat as you were doing before / eat healthily.

[NigellasGuest]

A clinic quite near to where I live does this and I am quite tempted! Far preferable to a tummy tuck IMO.

It is non-invasive and permanent, apparently.
Does anyone else know anything about it?

[firawla]

hmmm... ok then
guess it would be too good to be true if u could just wander in a bit fat and come out about 2 sizes thinner!
u have done well 35kg!!

[Itdidntworkout]

Firawla, my surgeon suggested that I get to the lowest weight achievable and be the fittest I've been in my life. With good muscle definition, I should get great results and the weight is more likely to stay off. Also the health risks are lower the fitter you are. I wouldn't rush out and by something on Wowcher.

At just over 5'6", I am on target to be 60 kgs by the beginning of December. I swim and gym 6 days a week. Around a loss of 35kgs total by December. With two pregnancies and a huge weight gain with number two, I feel I deserve to be back to the old me, hence the tummy tuck.

[GemmaPomPom]

Krumbum, it is to tighten the vagina and tidy it all up a a bit. Have a read here if you're interested: LVR. Be warned, though - it's a bit graphic.

[Krumbum]

Yes you can blame the patriarchy for men feeling they need cosmetic surgery. Patriarchy does not benefit the majority of men, who also feel constrained by gender roles.
Gemma how will it affect your sex life? Unless it is not actually cosmetic surgery which you made it sound like it was.