Question:
ANYONE REGRET HAVING TUMMY TUCK?
I was just wondering if there were many people who regret having made the decision to have a tummy tuck. I recently had someone who had it several months ago that I should seriously reconsider. I was so excited about having it done and I don't want to let this get me down but I'm now wondering if there are others who feel the same way. — THE NEW M. (posted on May 11, 2004)
May 11, 2004
Regret it? Well - let me preface it by saying I had hernia
repair/abdominoplasty done at 10 months post-op. I'd started at 365 lbs,
had this done at 210 lbs. If the hernia had not been near emergent, I
totally would not have gone forward with it.
I now need another TT. Don't really look forward to another surgery - and
if I could tell anyone my own two cents worth on the issue it would be -
wait until you're at LEAST 2 years post-op and have been at a stable low
weight for a minimum of 6 months.
Hope that helps.
Blessings,
dina
— Dina McBride
May 11, 2004
I just had a TT 4 weeks ago. I'm 2 yrs. out from RNY, 160lb loss. I don't
regret my TT, but I guess I do feel a big letdown. I know my belly is a
whole lot smaller. The apron is completely gone. Everything went well and
my incisions are healing in great shape. I do look different, but the
swelling seems to have made it's way to my butt, thighs, calves and ankles.
Therefore, I feel like I've traded one problem for another. My pants are
big in the waist but now I can barely pull them up around my thighs and
butt. Instead of losing weight, I feel like I've gained a lot in places I
didn't expect. Also, not one person has commented that they can see a
difference in me. When I lost weight from wls, people commented all the
time. With this, it's as if it never happened, therefore I guess I feel a
letdown and disappointment that it didn't make a bigger difference in me.
I've been reading on websites about post-op depression and letdown - and
maybe I'm just suffering from that response right now. Also, It's early
out and maybe I'll reduce swelling and feel better about things down the
road. I sure don't want to discourage anyone from having a TT - it's a
great, great option for all of us. I'm just experiencing the ho-hums about
it right now, and wanted to share my experience thus far. As time goes on,
I bet I'll perk up and be thrilled about what I did :) Best of luck to
you!!
— Mary W.
May 11, 2004
I wonder why that person said that? Were they expecting a miracle or
unrealistic in what it would look like after? Results vary depending on how
a person is built on the inside. If you have alot of muscle tone (I did!)
then you will get better results. I have No regrets! I had and extended TT
(almost all the way around me and anchor incision)breastlift and my arms
done all at once on 3/31/03. I was 18 mo. post op and stable at 170lbs for
5 months. I had 7lbs of skin removed and it made a WORLD of difference! My
tummy is completely flat, not wrinkled looking and some of my back fat is
gone too. Clothes fit better, I feel better emotionally and more self
confident. I was a size 10 pre PS but still felt fat and was even asked if
I was pregnant because of the bulge I had. I don't feel that way at all
now! I'll send you pics if you would like. Just email me at
[email protected]. My advice is to make sure you get a BOARD CERTIFIED
Plastic Surgeon. Alot of WLS surgeons do TT's but I've seen some of those
results and it isn't pretty! They don't do lipo for contouring so there is
a big LUMP of fat sitting on the back of your hips (which makes it hard to
fit in some clothes) and they use STAPLES. PS's don't use staples and the
scars are MUCH better!
— Kris T.
May 11, 2004
I went through hell and back, almost died of complications and I would do
it all again in a second!!!! Totally flat stomach and very happy!!
— ZZ S.
May 11, 2004
I had a lower body lift, of which a TT or abdominoplasty is a part of. I
don't ever want to go through that extensive grueling surgery and recovery
again but I am glad I did it. It has totally changed how clothes fit. The
only downside is somewhere along the way I lost a butt. It's a flat as
they come now, but it's really not the surgeon's fault, he had to deal with
what I gave him to work with.
<p>It is very important to analyze exactly what needs to be done so
that you get the results you think you will. As one of the other posters
mentioned she feels she has traded one problem for many more as she is
having trouble with clothes fitting in other areas. This was exactly my
concern. I know that if I just had the panni or TT that I would end up
with a small gut and huge saddlebags and thighs that would never fit into
any pants or skirts. I'd have to keep buying the size I was and then belt
the heck out of them to keep them up at the waist. That is why I decided
that a lower body lift was the only thing I would consider. I knew even
that would not solve the thighs totally but it would hopefully bring them
down enough to fit in pants that would fit my gut.
<p>At first I could not believe that my waist was now driving the
size of my pants as it had always been 2-3 sizes smaller in the past. I
was sort of bummed because I was still wearing a 16 but had traded a misses
for a women's. However, as time went on and the swelling went down
everything has changed quite a bit. There evidently was some swelling in
my waist that was not evident. Same in the thighs where the saddlebags had
been lipo'd. I am just a little over 11 weeks PO from the LBL. I now
consistently wear 14's with some 12's. After my next surgery on June 7th,
which will remove the upper pannus above the waist and then my thigh
surgery in November I know I will consistently wearing 12's and probably
some 10's. My surgeon said at one point that it takes 3 months to truly
find out what size you will be and he was right. I also had tons of
fluid/drainage problems and had drains in for 8-1/2 weeks, but it still
would not change my mind about having the surgery. My insurance only
covered the full extended abdominoplasty and I had to pay for the lateral
thigh lift. It was worth every penny because I know I would not have been
happy with the results otherwise. I am very pleased with the results now
that everthing is healing up good and the fluid issues are gone etc. I can
go into any store and buy clothes that fit, which truly is a first. Even
after PS I kept bringing stuff home but it wasn't fitting right because of
the swelling.
<p>You must have realistic expectations. My surgeon had me bring in
a pair of underwear so he could keep the cut lines within them. I told him
to cut wherever it would give me the best results and would allow him to do
his best. I'm not looking for a bikini body. A nice tankini or 1-piece is
fine with me. Besides with all the scars I will end up with, my skin just
won't be bikini material. My body actually might be, but I don't want to
scare everyone with all the incisions. I have a tendency for them not to
totally fade out and they will likely always be visible, but I'd still make
the same decision to have it done. Each person has to decide how bad it is
and is it worth it to them to go through another surgery to remove the
skin. If my skin had shrunk like the last time I lost 200 lbs I know I
would not have gone ahead with PS. But 9 years older and stretching out my
skin by 200 lbs again really left me with no choice on the gut area. The
next 3 surgeries are much more elective in my mind and are going to happen
because I want to complete the process. Not because they are causing any
medical problems.
— zoedogcbr
May 12, 2004
HECK NO!!!!!!!!! I was 2 sizes bigger before the tt (size 8). After the
tt, I'm a size 4 with a tiny waist and a belly that I can FINALLY show off.
It takes a couple of months to get back to full strength, but it was the
BEST plastic surgery that I ever had.
— Patty H.
May 12, 2004
I had an abdominoplasty W/ MR and an anchor incision and a breast lift
April 23rd. The pain was bad for 3 days, then eased up,I returned to work
a week post op. I have a totally flat tummy, perky boobs and I dropped a
size to a perfect 4. In otherwords, no regrets.
— Connie M.
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