Extended Tummy Tuck- advice

[Bagonerves]

Hello..

it’s been a hard slog of just over 2 years and dropping 9 stone in weight through diet and exercise, maintained for 7 months now which I’m content with.

3 children and weight loss.. I’ve been left with excess skin and booked in for an extended tummy tuck (UK/Private) next week 🥹

We have no childcare so from getting there, going in, coming round, hospital stay, I’m doing it all alone, but booked in for 2 nights at the hospital so I’m sure things will be fine!

Any tips on calming nerves as I’ll be alone for the majority and also recovery etc please?

Im a singer by trade and booked a gig 17 days post op.. im hoping I’ll be good for it! 😑 Doable?

Had a C-section with one of my babies and I was genuinely fine with recovery (bit sore for a week but on the whole it was all good) and been told it’s similar.

Also.. thanks for reading!

What is an 'extended tummy tuck' ? Intrigued as have had similar weight loss with a bunch of loose skin around my tummy. That makes it hard to fit clothes. Basically a 12 all over but a 16 round the waist . Can I ask ? How much it will cost ?

Extended is when they go around the hips too.. so scar will be a bit bigger but worth it for me as like you.. I’m a size 12 everywhere but 16 on my tum 😥

11.5k.. I’ve gone with a really great surgeon and had a few consultation’s and I felt his results and attitude fit best for me. Best advice (pre op) would be do lots of research on surgeons. I found the real self website really helpful too 😊

Well done for losing so much!

How did it go OP? Hope you are doing well!

Just over 6 weeks post op.. it was rough! I won’t lie. Anyone saying it’s similar to a C-section is lying 😅

I’ve come out the other side now though. Don’t regret it however it’s put me off getting ANY cosmetic procedures in the future, just not worth putting my body through it again (personally).

thanks for checking in 🙂

In what way was it rough? I’m thinking about having it done in the distant future but I’m worried that it’s such major surgery. How’s everything now for you?

It was rough, as in the recovery. I’m left with huge scars I can’t even look at in all honesty. The repositioning of my belly button and pulling of the tummy to close has meant I’ve now got even more stretch marks than I had before because my tummy is quite tight and caused all new stretch marks. The swelling is still up and down even 5 months on. Bio oil/silicon strips etc and nothings getting better anytime soon.

Like I say.. I don’t regret it, but.. would I have any cosmetic procedures again.. absolutely not.

The monthly cost of the surgery is a huge part of my budgeting monthly, I went in the UK for the surgery and so glad I did, I can’t imagine it being very nice doing all that travelling after such a big op but it did mean it cost a lot more (again don’t regret that part for a second!) so there’s that to factor in too.

The rough part.. the pain was pretty horrendous and nothing like a csection recovery.

The fact I was immobile for a good while, depending on my OH for a hell of a lot in the weeks following (showering, up and down to the loo, dressing etc). I had a complication in surgery and the knock on effect afterwards meant I was very ill for 3 weeks after (needing antibiotics and 3 separate trips to the hospital). Living/Sleeping in restrictive clothing for months following and not being able to exercise until my surgeon signed me off (3 months after TT) was hard for me too.

Were you advised to have lymphatic massage post op? When I had my tummy tuck the surgeon insisted I had it done to help with the swelling. A TT is one of the most invasive cosmetic surgeries you can have and the swelling was awful! I came out of the op 7lbs heavier! I started a 3 weeks course (twice a week) a week or so after the surgery and lost 3lb after the first session.

Where do you find someone who can do that?

The surgeons PA found someone for me.

Thats helpful because although I wouldnt do it right now a tummy tuck is something I do wonder about for me and I wondered who would do the massage and how you know if they are properly qualified etc.

I think a lot of ‘normal’ massage places/people do it nowadays. You’d need to ask if they did and maybe ask to see their certification.

Wow, that sounds horrendous. It’s going to mean I think about it all very carefully before taking the plunge.

Everyone recovers differently from ops. I was mobile the day after mine though I needed help undoing the compression wear to go to the loo for about a week after. It wasn’t too painful as I kept ontop of the painkillers but was off the tablets by day 7. The worst bit was the itching from the liposuction!

I was walking 5km a day by week 3 and back to running (slowly!) 6 weeks and a day after.

Have to agree It’s definitely not the same as a C-section! I had 3 of those. The incision is much bigger for one thing!

I’m currently in my hospital bed recovering from a TT with Vaser Liposuction. I’ve had it done abroad due to surgical reviews and cost. However , I lived in this country a long time and speak the language.

I lost 35kg and it all seemed to be from my tummy. I had a hideous overhang that I had to ‘fold up’ to wear clothes and frequent soreness from it rubbing on my tummy in warm weather.
I couldn’t enjoy my weight loss as no clothes fit. I’m a size 8 for everything except my waist that is a 16/18.

I was 6 hours in surgery .
My Recti abdominal muscles which had separated in pregnancy 23 plus years ago have been rejoined . This means that I can literally not move a muscle if it’s related to my core. I can’t even reposition myself in bed. My husband has to lift me into place.
The pain is quite intense. I would say 8/10. I am watching the clock for my next morphine dose.

i have to sleep in a prone position
I have a catheter in as can’t walk to the loo.
I have no regrets.

You must be so relieved to have had the surgery and be on the gradual road to recovery. How long are you in hospital for? Also, did you have to get down to. A certain BMI before the they agree to do the procedure?
One final question, if that’s ok? Why does the liposuction make you itch?

Another question if you don't mind? How long does it take for the swelling to go down?

It’s rather dangerous to be under a general anaesthetic for 6 hours. This wouldn’t be allowed to happen in the UK

I had an extended TT in 2020 in the UK. I researched my surgeon well and he’s brilliant - one of the best. Recovery was … tough. I was so so sick after a reaction to the anaesthetic so that didn’t help matters at all! You turn a corner on day 4 and then you very slowly improve as each day passes but it’s a long slog

@Twaziquethe swelling takes a total of 6 months or more totally go. You were a corset band for some months afterwards. Of course initial swelling will subside over the weeks but the absolute and total recovery from a TT is up to 12 months.

The worst of my swelling took around 2 weeks to go down (the lymphatic massage definitely helped) but apparently it can take several months/a year to disappear completely.

@NewYearNewDietAgain @PenguinChops hi, I'm new here, looking for opinions on TT and breast reduction.
I've been thinking about surgery since I was about 14. Now 49. Skinny arms and legs but large heavy disgusting breasts and abdomen which obviously got worse after pregnancy.
Recently my child left the nest, my dog died and my husband left me. Also was hit by a kid in a scooter that damaged my knee and leg. I've been soo low but I want to finally do something for myself.
I can't afford a house but have a little savings. Have looked into surgery all over the world but I'm worried about choosing wrong.
Is there any chance you guys could share information about your surgeons and clinics so I can have a look?
Thx

@Wheretofindtherightinfo where in the UK are you?

Swindon

@Wheretofindtherightinfo I’m close to Swindon. Look at Fulvio Urso-Baiarda. He did my surgery and he was amazing. My results are nothing short of astonishing really.

Hes based in Eton

Fab, I will look him up, thank you!