Anyone had a tummy tuck ?

[habibihabibi]

Mess of a mid section due to multiple c-sections .
I am wondering what the pain, recovery time and results were like ?
How much did it cost?

Following with interest as I am booked in for a tummy tuck on the 9th Jan! I am absolutely terrified to be honest but after putting on 5 stone with a twin pregnancy and losing it all very quickly I feel I need to do it. Before I has a c section I had never even been in hospital before so I had no idea what to expect. I just hope the recovery time is quick with two toddlers running around to look after!

It's not just pain, surgery comes with risks.

I am seriously considering getting one for my 40th in two years. Three pregnancies, two c sections and my abdomen is awful, no matter how slim I am I still have the overhang.

The YouTube videos out me off as does the general anesthetic. I also read about a potential link between women who went under GA and Alzheimers.

I am due another section next year so this is an interesting thread! I've always kind of had a bit of an overhang even when very slim as I was overweight as a teenager, but I just got used to it. It's really bulgy now though.. Something to consider definitely.

I had one and developed septicaemia. But I'm still glad I had it done! Risks of infection are pretty high. For the surgeon make sure they have an nhs job too to ensure regular up to date training.
I also chose to have it in the private wing of an nhs hospital as any emergency would have been covered.

Hello ladies, I am going to have this operation (in France and hopefully it will be covered 100% on my healthcare plan) in April 2017. I went to meet the surgeon for the 2nd time today and although I am really scared it has given me a little comfort to read all your comments. My youngest is 11 mths now and I still have a 4/5 finger gap. The surgeon says no matter how many exercises I do I will not be able to rejoin the muscles. I also have a lot of loose skin too and look 4 mths pregnant. This really frustrates me as I am very slim everywhere else, and do quite a bit of running and cycling. I hate being petite with a tummy that bulges out through my lycra clothing! I am just worried about recovery time and how long I will have to give up my training! Any reassuring comments would be welcome. Maybe I can post before/after photos here??

I had a TT about 8 years ago. There was no way I was ever going to have a decent stomach again without it. I had muscle separation and a huge hernia.

I paid about £7.5k and was very pleased with the results. I had no pain at all so I think it's down to your surgeon and your anaesthetist. Mine gave me an implant during surgery which gave the initial pain relief and I had a morphine line in which I could click if I needed another dose. TBH I always clicked before I needed it so never had any pain.

From day 3 onwards I was on normal painkillers - again, I never felt any pain, I just took them as instructed in case it hurt (I have very vivd memories of being in agony after having my appendix out - the TT was nothing like that). I gave up painkillers after a week.

I am very pleased with the result. It is a big operation and it knocks you for six for a while, but by 3 weeks post op I felt pretty much normal though you have to be careful with bending and lifting for 6 weeks post op, just like a caesarian. I was driving by 3-4 weeks post op (surgeon said go for it as soon as I was confident I could do an emergency stop).

I would do it again in a heartbeat.

I underwent a tummy tuck surgery after the delivery of my two daughters. Both of them were C-sections. My belly was really saggy after the delivery and I was embarrassed to go out in public.
I also had no interest in having a tummy tuck as I feared that it will have harmful side effects. But then I came to read a blog ( www.lakeviewsurgery.com/blog/tummy-tuck/advantages-tummy-tuck/ ) which listed the advantages of having a tummy tuck. I became interested and tried that one. I was completely satisfied with the result.
Although I felt a little discomfort after the surgery, which was normal after any surgical procedure, it disappeared after two or three days.
The recovery time can be considered to be about two weeks.
The results were amazing and we are very much satisfied.

I really appreciate reading all the responses. I just read the Lakeview surgery centre piece which is good and probably true but they would say that as they want the business! I am just scared as I jusy dont know if I should go for it or not? I keep wondering if I worked really hard with a physio or pilates instructor could I do it with exercise. The surgeon says 'no' but of course, he wants the money!!?? Confused.com! The fact remains that after 3 children (first one 19 years ago and youngest is 11 mths) my tummy looks vile and pops out like im several months pregnant. I just need to convince myself I wont regret it! You are all helping....thanks

Are you still really happy now - 8 years later??? (improvisingnow)
Strawberrygiraffe can you let us know how it goes in Jan??? Thanks ladies!

Had a 'mummy makeover' this year, tummy tuck for the loose skin and breast implants for the empty boobs.

I'd wanted a TT since having my DS years ago, was always horrendously self conscious about the 'fat apron' after C section, in clothes and out of them, that was always there no matter how much I weighed or what I did at the gym. I had to have sex with DP in the dark/certain positions so he didn't see/feel it. It was ridiculous how much it affected me.

Honestly.... it was the best thing I ever did for myself, worth every single penny. The recovery is no picnic, I went back to work after two weeks (way too soon), but the tummy wasn't all that painful (compared to the boobs) as apparently I didn't need muscle repair. I think after a month I felt pretty much OK.

I have self confidence that I never had before. I'm not perfect by any stretch but I feel happy in my own skin now and can look at myself and think I look pretty good

Thanks Jeffjarrett - nice post!!! I am slowly being convinced, as even if I can help the correction of the muscles with pilates it will never get rid of the streched skin!!

Jeff - in hoping to do a boob job/tummy tuck together - I'm assuming you had them done the same day? How long did both ops take?

shesastar I'm afraid I would disagree with your midwife friend. I have a toned and taught stomach after 2 pregnancies but I think it's down to genetics as I have no stretch marks either. My skin just naturally sprung back, must just be stretchy. This is not a stealth boast though honestly as my bum and thighs make me want to cry!!

Rob - Yep, its literally the only thing you can do to get rid of it! The surgeon took a huge chunk out and pulled the rest of the abdominal skin mega tight, I couldn't stand up completely straight for about 6 weeks! It's better though as when your eventually skin relaxes it's still nice and flat. No more lower belly bulge!

Fangirl - It wasn't as long as I expected, possibly because I didn't need the muscle repair. Was there for 7, went into surgery around 8-8:30 and was out about 3.5 hours later I think. I wanted to get it all done together, one lot of recovery time and annual leave and only one GA.

it was hard recovering from both together though, especially when sitting up in bed, I couldn't favour my abs or pecs. It made it really awkward to manoeuvre for a week or so. I'm very glad I had them at the same time though, wouldn't change a thing about the whole experience.

I had a breast augmentation in February of this year, and a tt in May of this year. I feel like a new person and so much more confident, even though nobody (barring dh on very special occasions!) gets to see me naked!

The boob job was a breeze - one night in hospital, hardly any pain.

And tbh, the tt was not much worse. Two nights in hospital, a little bit tender for a few days, having to sleep upright for ten days or so. I spent the first week in bed - they do advise you to do this, and for me it was doable, as my dc are all older now. Then you sort of walk a little bit hunched over for the next couple of week so you don't strain the scar. You also have to wear a very attractive (not) corset type garment for six weeks I think it was. My surgeon advised me to shower (or bathe, but we don't have a bath) twice a day, and bathe the wound in salt water, and expose it to the air for an hour or so twice a day.

The scar is massive but I don't care. And I'm not perfect now by any means but I feel I look so much better, esp in clothes. I still can't quite get used to the feeling of not having to tuck my tummy in all the time! I 100 per cent would do it again, and I can't tell you how glad I am that, after 30 odd years of dithering, I bit the bullett. I used the same surgeon for both procedures and would thoroughly recommend him.

They put you on anti biotics after the operation for a week too. I'm trying to remember everything about the op and the aftermath, but I'm just so pleased with the outcome that I think I've consigned all the little details to the past!

I had one eighteen months ago - in southern England if you want a surgeon recommendation.
I have had three c secs and a full tt with muscle repair
It's NOTHING like a c section - although without the muscle repair it would be a much easier recovery

I was in bed for two weeks and couldn't stand upright for almost five weeks - when they see you up they tilt the table so you are almost sat up straight and see you up in that position - you can imagine the stress in the skin and the tightness - ouch !
I also got an infection which caused issues with healing - but - I have never regretted it and would do it again - I am slightly overweight but I have a flat tummy and have been able
To stop folding my belly into my jeans !
I would say go for it - but please
Don't listen to anyone who says you ll be back to normal in two weeks - it's six minimum and in my experience more like 8