Cherishthepast

Hello! I still experience some back pain towards the end of the day and still have some trouble sleeping comfortably. Do I have any regrets - HELL NO! I'm so very pleased with the way my clothes fit. I feel great and actually think that I look really good - this is a milestone for me as I haven't felt good about my appearance in over 20 years. I walk back straight (don't have a choice with this girdle ) and head high. My husband is very pleased too as I'm a lot more frisky these days. I'm 49 and have big plans to wear a 2 piece bathing suit this summer - perhaps in the privacy of my backyard; in the recent past, I wouldn't have considered this as an option no matter what setting ... Okay this is going to sound stupid, but it's exciting to see my belly button and my mons area without the sagging stomach. I'm still a little swollen but if it doesn't get any better than this and I don't lose another pound, I'm a very happy girl. Yes, this was indeed the icing on the (weight loss) cake.

Hello, I'm consulting w/ plastic surgeons now and would like to know if any of you have had the panniculectomy done w/o the tummy tuck? Did you like the results? Probably stupid question... did you see noticipable results? I believe that I'd be happy with the panni removed, as I told one surgeon, I'm not 20 any more and don't have visions of wearing low rise jeans and tube top (yes, clearly telling my age). I believe I have realistic expectations. All I want is to not have this thing sitting on top of my pubic area any longer. Thanks in advance for your response.

Hi Xavier, Thanks! It actually looks better now, the PS said that in another 2-3 months I'll see the final results. Fortunately and unfortunately, I've not seen any of the costs - never received anything from the hospital, PS or insurance after the surgery. I absolutely love the PS and recommend him highly. I will be going back in another week to get a minor adjustment - I have what they call a "dog ear" on the right side (at the end of my incision). The doc did some lipo in his office a few weeks ago; however it's still there and he'll remove the excess skin under local in his office. Don't hesitate contacting me should you have any additional questions. I wish you continued success.

Hang in there, I know it's easier said than done. It so worth it to follow the dr's orders. Remember your body is healing and trying to digest foods early on isn't a good thing. When you're hungry drink a shake or whatever else is on the approved list of foods for the stage you're in. If all else fails, call you doc and ask for help - let them know that you're hungry, they'll provide you with some safe alternatives. When I was 2 weeks postop I wanted to kill for something solid, after being on liquids for 2 weeks preop I swear I was making sloshing (sp?) sounds when I walked and the gas was unbelievable; anyway, I called my doc and told him I was loosing my mind and asked if I could have a cream based Soup. He gave me the okay, I went out immediately and found something low in fat and sodium and was a happy girl. When the urge to deviate became crazy again, I called the docs office again and again and again - they became my life line. Bottom line, don't give in to the temptation to sneak something that you shouldn't have. Your doc and his staff are there to support you - please use them. Hang in there, it does get better.

Wonderful!!!!! You look amazing.

Thanks for letting me know. I was hoping that it would be a breeze, after the TT anything would be a breeze by comparison.

Congratulations!!! Yes, it's still puffy down in the mons area. It's crazy but my husband thinks it's sexy - go figure. I told a friend recently I no longer have a V but a U in that area now. The PS told me before surgery that this was a possibility and that he would need to do lipo in the area to eliminate it. I recently had some lipo in the right side of my incision to get rid of dog ear and planned to discuss the mons area with the PS (this Tuesday 4/5) but I think it would break my DH heart if the puffy went away - not sure what I'll do. My biggest concern now are the girls. I want breast augmentation but want the same surgeon to do it; unfortunately, he works through a hospital and the cost ($13,000) is twice that of a PS that has a surgical suite in his office.

Hello! Here's my late response, wish I'd seen your post sooner - increase your Protein intake and DO everything the doc says. I was able to have my drains removed in 6 days following my TT w/ MR and have had no problems. I followed the Docs orders to the letter and also increased my protein intake before and after surgery which I believe aided in my healing.

70 pounds down when before pic was taken, the night before my Tummy Tuck w/ Muscle Repair. Night before TT w/ MR and 6 wks after surgery

Hello and congratulations on the insurance approval! My insurance also payed for my TT w/MR, the doc also gave me a little lipo as an extra bonus. You've received some excellent responses. I'll just respond based on my personal experience which will in many cases duplicate what others have said.

Finally, here are my before and after TT pics. I took the pic after a long day so I'm a little swollen - looks far better even swollen than I did before. For whatever reason, my husband could get a clear front photo, I'll try it again some other day.

Thanks! The PS moved my port, however, it's not a low profile. Something tells me that if I continue to loose weight I'll need to revisit this in the future.

I'm over 2 months out since my TT and MR and still use my pillows (6 total) to prop myself and elevate my legs as it feels much better to not lie flat or straight. The incision from the TT is fine (numb); however, the muscle repair is still uncomfortable while in bed or trying to get comfortable to sleep. I don't have any discomfort when I'm up and about.

Thanks! It's muscle repair.

Thanks! Fortunately, my insurance BCBS MA paid for everything. The TT w/MR was 100% covered, the lipo (upper stomach) and moving my port was a gift from the PS. I plan to get the breast aug done in the fall allowing me the opportunity to save the money needed to cover the surgery, which based on consults the range $5,800-$6,400. I hope this helps. Wishing you continued success.

Thanks so very much for your responses, I'll give it another month (3 months out) then start to seriously wean myself of it.

Hello, Though I've been told that I can stop wearing it, I can't seem to stop wearing the darn thing. I actually feel more comfortable with it - PS said that it wouldn't hurt to continue wearing it, so I hope to wean myself at some point - at least before the weather gets hot. Just curious, how long did you guys wear your garment? Did you experiece separation anxiety? Thanks in advance for your replies.

Another vote for Unjury - love all the flavors. I mix the strawberry sorbet w/ raspberry lemonade crystal light. The chocolate, I mix with skim milk for breakfast and late afternoon snack - espcially when I need a chocolate fix. The chicken soup, I have with lunch sometimes and also use it as a base for other soups/sauces.

Congratulations and Thanks! I wear Design Veronique brand, I'm currently wearing style 850, which were ordered by the PS. I ordered new garments from the PS office last week, I'm getting styles 1653H and 1450 - same brand. PS told me to stop wearing but I feel so much more comfortable with it that I'll hold off for awhile; especially since he said it wouldn't cause any problems to continue wearing. I ordered new ones that don't have zippers and also a size smaller as the current garments are starting to bunch up along the side of the zippers. More importantly, I tend not to swell as much with the girdles on. PS said that once the weather heats up I'll be happy to ditch them

Hello Ruthpets - Thanks! and a BIG congrats to you too. The PS told me I could ditch the CG (girdle) during my visit last week (6 weeks out), I told him I was planning to hold on to it for dear life - of course he laughed. I tried living w/o it for a day and was very uncomfortable and actually swelled to the point that I was in extreme pain for the first time in weeks. I put it back on the next day and don't plan to give it up anytime soon. I called him this past Tuesday to see if wearing it would cause me any harm and he said no, though he suggested that I consider a panty girdle to wean myself. I really wanted to get the girls done and get the lift/aug at the same time but chickened out. How is that going? I think that I'll get my breast done this spring. If not, I'll wait until the fall. Continue to hang in there. By the way, yes, I still have swelling tend to get worse by the end of my work day. Also, I went swimming a couple days ago, swam 200 meters felt great. The downside, I woke up in pain 2 days later - felt like I'd done 1000 or more stomach crunches - much better today. I'll try again next week and swim perhaps 100 meters instead of 200.

Hello, Things have been going great! I stopped taking pain meds over 2 weeks ago. Still don't sleep comfortably, I guess that will happen in time. My problem is for the past few days my band is TIGHT; yes, I can get liquids down and must eat really slow to get foods down and I'm tired as hell. Is it normal for the band to tighten like this weeks after a TT? I was fine initially then out of the blue I'm in restriction hell. The Nausea seems to happen after lunch; as a result, I don't have dinner and have no desire to eat or drink after 1:00 or so every afternoon. I've called both PS and LB docs, waiting for a return call. Any words of advise, wisdom....?

I tend to sleep with it more than without. Believe it or not, I really feel more comfortable with it. The only time I take it off when I sleep is when the darn thing pinches my butt. I'm wearing a girdle not a wrap. So far so good. I go back to work tomorrow and can't wait to get out of the house.