I've had my tummy tucked and I have a question about big pants!

[tulpe]

After 10 long years of crepey skin, I finally went ahead with surgery 2 weeks ago and am already thrilled with the results . I also had muscle & hernia repair (so a full rather than mini tuck).

The first week/ten days was tough, tbh. Very tiring and I couldn't believe how much your mobility is affected. You definitely need to be match-fit to go ahead with this procedure.

It's been a good summer, sartorially, to have this done. Maxis and harem pants may not be to everyone's taste but they are great for fitting into when you have to accommodate a binder beneath your clothes

Am now on the hunt for fabulous support knickers which I will wear instead of my binder for the next month. My requirements are:

1. Must be high waisted - sit just beneath bra and stay there.
2. Preferably have crotch with poppers so that I don't have to keep disturbing the incision site whenever I go to the loo.

Any suggestions?

Yes vvv brave

Have you thought of Spanx? I don't know about support ones but they would go up to your boobs and have a slit in them..

Spanx higher power, or how about a control body ?

I can't see any with poppers but most have a double gusset that opens to let you go to the loo. Any good?

This kind of control body has poppers in the gusset so may be worth a go?

I have this and it's amazing- very comfy and great control/support.

Has a slitted gusset- very handy

Congrats on the op tulpe. I have charnos hourglass pants as you describe with poppers. Few years old. Will try and link later.

I just had mine done about 6 weeks ago...I wore the support they gave me for about 4 weeks, or maybe 3...didn't they give you one? Before I had it done I wore a sort of boned corset that held me in like crazy, but not sure it would be good as it was quite stiff.

I am feeling great now, nearly back to normal, and still a bit in shock and smooth tum.

I had this one corset really firm control, but some softer looking ones that might be better

Tulpe ~ I'm so glad all went well with the operation and that you're now on the mend. How do you like the new tummy? I remember how odd it felt to have such a flat tummy having lived with awful loose skin for such a long time.

I bought some control pants from M&S which I wore once I didn't need the binder anymore. They didn't have poppers though (V. good thinking! Wish I'd thought of that.) so I just had to pull them up and down carefully.

Glad you're back and please keep us up-dated.

I will definitely be having a tummy tuck sometime next year, am doing final baby-weight loss (trying to improve body composition and get rid of final fat to see what the ultimate damage is before seing a surgeon). Want to get near to 20% body fat to get an accurate idea of exactly how bad things are - faffing around now though so need to pull finger out.

Very interested to hear from anyone who has had one...please post your experience, dont be shy!

As for the OP and her requirements, I recommend the Flexees by Maidenform Ultimate Slimmer bodybriefer this bad boy as it wont roll down, has fanjo access for loo visits, and is affordable and discrete, comes in beige too.

Thank you so much for your replies and suggestions

All this shapewear can be so pricey so its good to get some recommendations before plunging into purchasing.

8oreighty - yes, the hospital gave me a binder - kind of like a waist cincher type garment. I have to wear that for another 2 weeks and then switch to regular shapewear for an as yet unspecified period of time Apparently it helps with keeping swelling etc to a minimum and helps support the muscles whilst they continue to heal. How are things going for you now at 6 weeks post-op?

Amandoh - you have been a huge inspiration to me and when I almost bottled it at the last minute, I thought about your wonderful profile pics . I absolutely love my new tum. It looks amazing - despite the fact there is still a little swelling and I have a lovely bruise coming into full bloom in the centre of the incision! I take several trips to the full length mirror each day to have a good admiration session!!

SloanyPony - good luck with the weight loss. My youngest DC is 6 and my weight has remained the same since shedding the baby weight after his birth.

I have had a very positive experience. A fab surgeon who was very kind and patiently answered all my questions and treated me with the utmost respect - even apologising as he pulled at the excess skin across my tum when he was marking me up pre-surgery His right-hand nurse and other members of the team were all brilliant too. The perfect mix of optimism and sincere care for their clients. I have felt very well looked after.

I haven't had any pain. Just felt like I had overdone it at the gym. The worst of it has been the discomfort in my back because you walk hunched over for a week or two to protect the incision. It is a long recovery period and I have been lucky enough to have friends and family step up and help me with the care of DCs and of me.

If you have any specific questions Sloany I am happy to answer

Tulpe, yes I had that back pain around 2 weeks, takes that long to properly stand up straight, I am still having to remind myself to walk tall and stretch it now! My surgeon just kept saying 'chest out shoulders back' or you end up getting used to hunching.

He told me to take off my corset around 3 weeks as it was so hot, but I actually put it on if I was walking far, or just feeling sore, up until about 4 or 5 weeks. Then it just sort of stops aching. I felt like my skin was actually sore until about then if I over did it. Just go with how you feel. But honestly now, at about 6 weeks I don't need it at all, not wearing any support...

I didn't swell too much though, did you?

To anyone considering doing it, I would say, don't rush into it...you need to know you are not going to have any more kids. Make sure you have FULL childcare help for at least 4 weeks after the operation. For 2 weeks you won't be able to do anything...And to def. lose all the weight you are going to lose, if you want the best result. I haven't changed in size at all, it was just a question of removing all the excess skin, which did have a layer of fat with it that wouldn't budge.

It isn't too bad an operation. You have drains in which are pretty disgusting...and you feel awful afterwards. Going for a pee terrified me...but after a couple weeks I was feeling like myself again.

I'm still in shock though, is nice to wear a little t-shirt and feel the breeze blowing, and not have a tummy jiggling about beneath it, or a hot tight corset on!

I saw a couple of things recently - both are for post baby wear apparently but could they work?
waist cincher

Ooh can I ask why going for a pee terrified you?

Is it hard to do your first poo?

(I am remembering my c-sections, where they've cut you and messed with you so using those muscles in any way is a bit sore and scary)

Has anyone who has had a tummy tuck had a c-section too, and how do the two compare recovery wise? I suspect a tummy tuck is a fair bit more serious surgery as they have to do more messing around in there?!?

I had a c-section with twins, which all went a bit scary, so lots of prodding, as nearly bled to death! It's a similar sort of internal bruised feeling, which yes makes the first poo feel really scary. You are just very sore and it all feels very fragile...also with the tt they tighten and stitch your abdominal muscles so that part feels quite sore. It's not like you're in a lot of pain you just feel very very fragile...the poo thing might have been worse after the c-section thinkign about it!

It is major surgery, which everyone and their mother told me...and I took it in, but it is still so hard to imagine how completely rough you'll feel. And you feel quite odd, well I did, knowign that you've chosen to do it...that you've done it to yourself. Two weeks is a long time when you are recovering...

saying all that I feel really good now, and it's so nice to feel like me again...but I was an extreme case to begin with, it wasn't just a case of improving my tum, I had a load of skin and had waited 5 years, lost all the weight and it was either live with it or fix it....

The peeing didn't terrify me......after 24 hours with a catheter, I was rather looking forward to peeing by myself

The poo issue however was slightly more scary because of the inevitable pushing involved. Basically, leave it until you really have to go and.....relax......let nature take it's course

The drains I found disconcerting - you have one placed at each end of the incision. Not sure if that's true of a c-section too as my DCs were vaginal births. I had read that their removal is painful but I didn't feel any pain. Just a small twinge and what felt like lots of tugging!

I totally get what 8oreighty means when she says how odd to put yourself through this. I had longed for surgery since having my first DC 10 years ago. For me, there was also a medical element - I had a hernia caused by muscle separation which meant my intestine was sitting just beneath my skin (above the navel). I experienced pain and bloating everytime I ate or drank. I have IBS so that complicates matters but still, even avoiding trigger foods, I rarely ate and enjoyed it. So I focused on this aspect of the op - since i would have had a hernia repair in any case so why not neaten myself up whilst I am at it !

I did almost bottle it, inbetween having my premeds and going to theatre. When they came to take me to theatre I had a bit of a panic attack - thank goodness for my lovely friend who was with me - she just gave me a big cuddle and said to focus on the end result, not the method!

I felt pretty awful on and off for two weeks, mixed in with feelings of elation. I was never in any real pain - more a discomfort. I finally feel like I am definitely on the road to recovery now and have much more freedom of movement.