Question:
Tummy Tuck Anchor Incision
I'm having a tummy tuck and breast redux/lift in October, my PS said to get the best results he wants to make an anchor incision. I was wondering if anyone who has had this type of incision could tell me how the recovery was. Any complications etc. I will be going on an 8 day cruise 8 weeks after the surgery and wanted to know if you felt like traveling after 8 weeks. Also when did your drains come out and how was the swelling and incision after a few weeks. Thanks in advance. — Gail M. (posted on August 16, 2002)
August 16, 2002
I had the hip to hip incision for my tummy tuck. My plastic surgeon said
that the anchor cut is for pretty severe cases of excess skin above the
belly button. He did a great job and I'm not sliced and diced everywhere.
I did have another opinion of a plastic surgeon who was going to do the
anchor cut only because I was a WLS patient. I'm glad I ran from his
office. Even though it's only been 10 days, my incision is very small (no
more then 1/8 of an inch) and looks great. My belly is flat and not
wrinkled anymore!! I still have 2 drainage tubes in my crotch. I'm hoping
to get one removed by Monday and the other removed the following Monday.
They don't want to remove them until your draining less then 20cc a day
from each drain. I'm getting closer since I was at 30 and 40 cc's today.
There the biggest pain - it's not the surgery incision itself!!
— Patty H.
August 16, 2002
Hi...I had TT with anchor incision...my incision goes from breastbone to
pubic bone and hip to hip...and down the sides of my "coochie"
(got a lift there too :0)) Anyway...the recovery was uneventful though
very painful. I never had any kind of surgery like that before...my wls
and prior knee surgery was lap...this was pretty awful. You should be fine
for your cruise...I went on vacation 2 weeks post TT -- drove 6 hours to my
sister in law's place down in DC and did fine. I am now a little more than
2 months out and doing great. I still have some pain if I move the wrong
way or too quickly...the muscles take a long time to heal. And I still
wear my binder at night...it helps with the swelling. I still have slight
swelling, especially on hot humid days when the body tends to retain fluids
anyway. I had my drains in for 8 days...three of 'em...they were the worst
part of it all. Once they were removed, I was happy as a lark. All in
all, I did fine and am quite happy about it all. Good luck!! Click on my
profile to see my after TT pic.
~CAE~
— Mustang
August 16, 2002
I had TT and double mastectomy and TRAM flap reconstruction 3 months ago.
BIG INCISIONS and lots of work. I have a pretty high pain tolerance and
wasn't in agony or anything but I had a hard time sleeping and that's when
I mainly took pain meds. I have a hip to hip incision and then an incision
up to my belly button. 2 drains. I got them out after a little over a
week. 2 things that help me alot: take a fanny pack to the hospital -
when you're walking just tuck the drain bulbs inside it and there's no
chance of the tubing getting snagged or tugging (drains were my main
pain!). Second, they put me in this god-awful binder which kept sliding up
every time I'd move around in the bed. Buy a moderately supportive panty
girdle or shaper type garmet and ditch that binder as soon as you can! My
plastic surgeon said snug bike shorts will work just as good too. Just
pull the drain tubing out the top of the shorts or girdle and stick the
bulbs in the fanny pack. It sure makes life alot simpler! Best wishes to
you!!!
— ronascott
August 16, 2002
I forgot to tell you that my husband and I went to Las Vegas 6 weeks after
my TT and walked a gazillion miles with no problem at all. I think you'll
be fine to go on vacation. We WLS folks are tough cookies!
— ronascott
August 16, 2002
It's probably important to say up-front that no one should try to judge
his/her responses to pain or recovery time based on the experiences of
others. We're all pretty individual folks in those areas. I had my TT
with anchor incision (along with armlift surgery) in November. For me,
this was the least painful in a long series of major surgeries. My surgeon
arranged for an overnight hospital stay for me, but I was up walking...not
even bent-over (!)...that afternoon, and could easily have gone home the
same day of surgery. I had one injection of Demerol in the Recovery Room,
followed by some Percocet tablets during the next couple of days, and was
back to work full-time in 10 days. I had four drains....two on each side
of the lower abdomen, right where the thighs connect to the pelvis. My
surgeon also is one of those who believes in leaving drains in place until
there is little or no drainage at all. Two drains were removed at two
weeks post-op; the third at three weeks; and the fourth at seven weeks (my
surgeon said that that was unusual, but not unheard-of). In my case, the
drains were completely painless while in place, and completely painless
when they were removed....they were only an aggravation to find a way to
pin them to my clothing so that they weren't noticeable at work :-) My
surgeon used no external sutures or staples, so I just have a fine, pink
line which is fading fast. He also doesn't use binders post-op, and my
tummy is completely flat and firm...I couldn't be happier with the results!
I wish you the same great experience :-)
— Diana T.
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