I'm sitting in the hospital on my laptop I had a full tummy tuck today and I feel great. This was the easiest surgery I have ever had.

Took them 3 hours and they also fixed a hernia, I think most of the time was for them to sew and glue me back together.

I should be home tomorrow after Breakfast. I'm sure there is gonna be some bad spots yet to come but I am glad this part is over. I was so scared.

I am so agrivated I had another dr appt today and I am still swelled so still have the binder on and get to keep the lovely drain for one more week.

He did say I was healing very nicely

Better to keep the drain than have it out too quick. I have seen some nasty abscesses where doc took drains out too quick. Tummy tuck is a big surgery. Bear with it, you will be glad in the long run.

Corliss

Hi:

I hope your drains come out soon. It's so much better when you don't have them anymore. Just gotta give time for all of the draining, then before you know it you'll be enjoying your flat tummy. It's so worth the wait!

As far as the binders go it could be several more weeks before you are able to stop wearing the binder and can start wearing a spanx-type garment instead. I had my tummy tuck almost two months ago and I just went two days in a row without wearing a spanx and I'm not swelling, knock on wood!

I love my band and my new flat tummy!

Take care.

Sue

you can get spanx at nordstrom racks too. they are normally fairly cheep. also you can figure out what size you wear from the back of the box if its not the kind that comes in a box I would look on their website to figure out your size.

finally they took out the last drain after 27 days. The first one didn't hurt at all to come out this one did a little but not terrible. I still have to wear the compression garment since I am still swelled but I can deal with that so far.

Good for you... Drain Free at last. I know that has got to make you feel a bit more normal. So have you had to wait to shower all of this time? That would drive me nuts.

Take care,

Laura

I was able to shower I made a necklace out of ribbon and hung the drain on that and took my shower. I wasn't allowed to shower for about the first 5 days after surgery.

Laura:

Doctors vary on this. I was able to shower on Saturday after a Thursday surgery. Please make sure you're not lightheaded before you dare step in the shower. You might want to ask your DH to join you (for support in case you get weak, of course):wub: Some people use shower chairs the first week or so.

Sue

My hubby just stood outside of the shower and watched me. No way was he getting in there with me!

My hubby just stood outside of the shower and watched me. No way was he getting in there with me!

But that takes out all the fun. Or was it because the fun would not been allowed to happen is why he stayed outside? :wub:

I am now a little over 4 week out from the tt. He did the anchor cut but did not tighten muscles. I paid extra money to get the top part of my belly tightened.

Now I have a question. The top part of my belly still looks saggy. I also look like I am about 4 months pregnant. What I want to know is this normal? Will the saggy part flatten? When I ask the Dr. he says it wasnt like that in the operating room. I am starting to worry and not sure what I need to do if it don't fix itself when I am no longer swelled.

I am now a little over 4 week out from the tt. He did the anchor cut but did not tighten muscles. I paid extra money to get the top part of my belly tightened.

Now I have a question. The top part of my belly still looks saggy. I also look like I am about 4 months pregnant. What I want to know is this normal? Will the saggy part flatten? When I ask the Dr. he says it wasnt like that in the operating room. I am starting to worry and not sure what I need to do if it don't fix itself when I am no longer swelled.

Scrappy:

Have you been wearing a compression garment to limit the swelling? Have you gained weight since the tummy tuck? I am 9 weeks post op and I don't have much swelling. I stopped wearing the compression garments last week. I have a little bit of flab right below my rib cage in the middle near my port. It's not very noticeable, and probably just to me. I'm guessing she couldn't play around with that area because my port was there. I am very happy with the results I have so far. I don't expect much to change. You're only 4 weeks postop so I would give it a little more time. If you haven't been wearing a compression garment, try one that goes right up below your bra to limit the swelling. I've heard that people don't get the final results from a tummy tuck until 6 months postop, so you've still got a long ways to go. I hope things improve for you soon. I'd hate to be disappointed after going through so much.

I love my band and my new flat tummy!

Sue

I am still wearing the compression garment. He says I can take it off next week when I go see him again. I am trying not to get too agrivated yet but it does have me worried.

I am now a little over 4 week out from the tt. He did the anchor cut but did not tighten muscles. I paid extra money to get the top part of my belly tightened.

Now I have a question. The top part of my belly still looks saggy. I also look like I am about 4 months pregnant. What I want to know is this normal? Will the saggy part flatten? When I ask the Dr. he says it wasnt like that in the operating room. I am starting to worry and not sure what I need to do if it don't fix itself when I am no longer swelled.

Okay am i missing something? I thought you paid him 4000 more to take care of your rolls in upper stomach. He did not tighten muscles correct? Then if he didn't tighten muscles he didn't do an actual tummy tuck, he just cut the loose skin off the upper part of the tummy for the extra 3000 you paid him and the 1000 was for extra time in the OR? I would be very very angry.

I think I would get a copy of my operative report first, and unless he had told you in advance he was not tightening your stomach muscles, he owes you some money or a revision. If he explained before hand that he would only cut excess skin he should have also explained to you that this would not give you the flat stomach that a tummy tuck gives.

That is horrible to not give complete information either way. He may even be liable for malpractice. :cursing:

There is a plastic surgeon who has a thread on this board. I would post and ask him any questions I had and I would deal with my doctor politely but objectively. I would not make any accusations but ask for information and be careful to document everything he tells you. Ordinarily I am not litiginous but having just been through a face lift and brachioplasty I know how much pain and what a slow recouperation it is and this should not be taken lightly.

Hugs to you hon, and I hope all goes well as possible.

Corliss

When we first started talking about the he said he was gonna tighten the muscle, but later before my surgery he did say he was not gonna mess with the muscle, so I did know that ahead of time but he did tell me that what he do would get rid of the saggy belly. I do know I didn't get the full tt.

I really do like this doctor. I don't want to start grouching at him just yet. Maybe in a few weeks it will start looking better. I am trying to just give it time, but if the sagginess does't go away I do want to push him to fix it. Not sure how long I should wait till I get pushy.

I wish you all the best! It feels good losing sizes, but this belly skin seems always in the way of a smaller size. Hopefully by next summer I can get lots of skin cut off and a boob job! Take care:thumbup: