Two Years, At Goal, Tummy Tuck Complications

[loseitsoon 157]

It's been a long time since I have been on here. I had my sleeve on January 9, 2013 and reached my goal of losing 81 lbs in 11 months. I am now 3-4 lbs over that and I have been struggling to lose those few lbs. I am eating about 1,100 to 1,400 calories a day. I know I have to get back on the program of fewer carbs and fewer calories. I got a fitbit a few months ago and that has really helped me get my 10,000 to 18,000 steps in a day. I lost a lot of hair in the first year. It has grown back now but the funny thing is my once straight hair is now curly! Has anyone heard of this happening? I had my vitimins done again at 2 years and I was way over my vitimin B's, so I am not taking any right now. I guess I am getting enough from real food. Everything else was fine.

Last June 6 months after I reached goal I had a Tummy Tuck. It was done in a hospital in Michigan. The surgery went well and I was back in my room but was growing very weak. They discovered I had interal bleeding. So they rushed me back into surgery and I was bleeding all over interally. They fixed this and I still needed to have 2 blood transfusions before I started feeling better. I spent an extra day in the hospital. They can not figure out why this happened to me. I don't think and no one else thinks it was anything the doctor did. I have had lots of extensive work blood done and everything is normal. I have had my other surgeries with no problems. I wasn't taking any meds at the time. I am only thankful that I chose to have my surgery in a hospital. Since I live almost an hour from the hospital I don't know that I would have made it. I can only recommend that anyone having plastics or any other surgery have it in a hospital. If you are in a surgical center and don't live nearby I would stay in a hotel overnight.

I love my tummy now. The surgeon did a wonderful job. Never in my life have I ever had a flat stomach. My scar is nice and flat and even around. I had a normal recovery after I got home. It was not an easy recovery, not a lot of pain but very uncomforable. I wore a compression garment for a few months and a light panty girdle for a few more. He removed about 4.5 lbs of excess skin and fat. Would I do it again? As much as I love it I'm not sure it was worth almost dying over and scaring my family. Think long a hard if this is something you really want to do afterall it is elective surgery.

I am so happy to have had my sleeve, I am so my happier and healthier now. My husband is a happy man too!

[Healthy_life2 8,319]

@@loseitsoon

Thanks for sharing what you had to go through. I envy you're flat stomach. Every surgery comes with risks. I'm sorry you had complications.

[Queen of Crop 1,103]

Thank you so much for your honesty and the photos! I am scheduled for this surgery mid-April and your post has me re-thinking this. Can I ask how much you lost before your surgery? I lost 81 lbs and my stomach isn't exactly hanging but it isn't something that can be corrected with exercise. I'm concerned about wearing a compression garment for months....I think I can do 6 weeks, but do you think it's necessary for months? Why do you have to wear it? And yes, I am having mine done in a hospital. I'm normally not nervous but now I am a bit. Thanks again for this post.

[artymama 170]

You will want to wear the compression garment. It hurt without one and swells without one for me. I am almost 5 months out and still wear a compression tank top all day. I wear the binder while exercising. Be prepared it's a long recovery, but worth it!!!

[Queen of Crop 1,103]

Whoo boy, I am seriously re-thinking this. My lose skin and tummy is not horrible and I'm wondering if the trade-off and the scar at age 61 is really worth it. I am 139# and 5'3' I lost 81 lbs. Any opinions out there? I am scheduled for 13 April but I cancel. I don't want to miss being outdoors and bike riding (I live in Amsterdam) for the spring and summer. And I don't want to fall into a pity party hole because I am hurting....

[loseitsoon 157]

Like you Queen of Crop I am 5'3 started at 211 and lost 81lbs. I am almost 65. I had a lot of lose skin but it covered up pretty good with clothes. Yes you really do need to wear the compression garmet. I really didn't go out of the house for 3 weeks. I had lots of bruising and was very sore. You can not stand up straight for 2-4 weeks. It really did mess up my summer last year. I wore a lighter panty girdle for at least 5 months. It really helps with the swelling. I would be 2-3 inches bigger all around in the evening. I always felt better when I had it on. Some doctors don't believe in them but I think most make you wear some kind of garment. I read realself.com alot during this time. They are full of imformation. If you need more pictures send me a message. You sould be fine if done in a hospital. You will have a nice scar forever. Don't know if that would be a problem at one of your balls? Good luck

[Queen of Crop 1,103]

Thank you so much loseitsoon...I think your post just sealed the deal for me.....and yes, I do get naked a lot more than I used to but I think I'm going to go for the dim candlelit room, vs the surgery and post garment wrap and scar.....I really appreciate your post and the link....and BTW, you look fabulous!

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

Queen I had much worse skin and so it was very worth it but reconstructive plastics is no freaking joke. I planned it for mid October so I wouldn't lose a riding season. The pain was not the issue and I had no complications but recovery was slow, I was hunched over for weeks and yea, it was hard.

No one can decide for you, but the way you describe it...probably not worth it.

For me, I'd do it again but glad I don't need to.

[Queen of Crop 1,103]

Thanks CGJ and everyone else....if I were younger I think I would go for it, but I have cancelled my surgery. I'll see how I feel at the end of this year and maybe I will do it in the winter. The thought of wearing a compression garment as spring and summer comes just doesn't work for me. I'm sad, but I think for now it's the right decision.

[CrazyCatLady 130]

I am coming up on three years postop. I have been evaluated by two separate plastic surgeons, both who suggest they can remove 5-8lbs of tissue from my abdomen alone (the one said 11lbs total with brachioplasty and a 'total body lift').

My goal weight was 185, and I have hovered between 170-175lbs for the past 18 months, even after pregnancy.

I had a major complication after my sleeve (a usually-fatal portal vein thrombus), which has had lifelong consequences. At the same time, I constantly battle pressure ulcerations under my pannus, a nigh-unkillable yeast growth in my bellybutton, and the constant stress ill-fitting clothing. I would be self pay for any plastics, as even with my issues, my insurance doesn't pay for it. I did appeal, but my appeal was denied. So I have contented myself to another 30+ years battling infection and discomfort.

I am glad you made it out of your particular complication in one piece. As an ICU nurse, I have seen my share of those who share your fortune....and those who do not. Thank you for sharing your story.

[Thinkingthinner1109 485]

Could I ask where in Michigan? I am from mid Michigan and I am considering a Tummy Tuck.

[loseitsoon 157]

I'm not sure we can name doctors but mine was from Troy, MI. I had my surgery at Beaumont Hospital Troy. I can't say enough good things about this hospital. After they figured out my problem I had 3-4 nurses with me at all times with consent monitoring for about 4 hours until I had my next surgery. There are many good plastic surgeons on Big Beaver in Troy. Make sure you have it done in a hospital. Good luck to you.

[BayougirlMrsS 3,933]

I had a great experance with my TT.... but then im a "surgery pro".... lol (2 c-sections, gallbladder, hysterectomy, DNC's, WLS)...

My PS didn't use drains... which was one of my requirements... NO DRAINS. Everyone i spoke to that had the TT said hands down the drains were the worst part. and infection is easier. Any-who....

Mine cost 8k..... that was total (dr, hospital, garment, aftercare... etc). Day of i went in to our local facilities, he drew on me, he knew that i planned on wearing bikinis and i wanted a low incision. and i wanted to keep the appearance of my current navel. which he did. Surgery went great, no complications, to the room i went for an over night rest with a morphine pump...(yeah). Next day, work up, of course there was pain... but he prescribed pain meds and Lovenox injections for clotting that i had to get twice a day. Thank god my son and DIL are both RN's they came AM and PM. In about 3 days i was walking down my block from corner to corner.... I still looked like the man on the Evolution chart... hehe.... but walking as soon as possible i think helped a lot. My healing progressed very well and i was back at work in 2 weeks.

this is my before and after... the single shot was taken this am because i had a few people PM me asking what my scar looked like now. So he it is....

six months after, one year   and almost three years after.

Edited March 10, 2015 by bayougirlmrsc

[loseitsoon 157]

Looks good. You must be young, I never could have gone back to work after 2 weeks! The other than the complications the drain was the worst part for me. I really had no pain it was just uncomfortable being unable stand straight for almost 2 weeks. It really is a long recovery for anyone planning a TT.

[samuelsmom 670]

As a nurse for a long time, I would urge anyone to consider this surgery very carefully. If you have terribly hanging skin, or are getting infections under skin folds, or are just miserable with the extra skin then it might be the right decision. I personally would not consider any surgery without thinking long and hard about. There can be complications, and even if everything goes smoothly, there is post-op pain and recovery.

Good Luck with whatever decision you make.