Tummy Tuck?

Ok...I'm jumping for joy now..I was approved on my third appeal for my tummy tuck...now a question for those of you who have had one..what am I in for????? Pain, recovery etc. I have had a c-section before..is it similiar pain..worse? I would love any advice!! Hugs, Kimberly

Kimberly, Congratulations! It took me four appeals so I know what you went through. I had mine done by DR Jonathan Saunders 5 weeks ago. I also had my arms done so compared to the arms the tummy was much easier. Coughs and sneezes give you excrutiating pain but the rest of the time it wasn't bad. They'll give you a binder to wear around the incision. After one week mine no longer fit because the swelling had moved down to my hips and kept pushing the binder up. Go to Boscovs and get one of their bodyshapers. Boy,did that make a difference. The support it added was wonderful. I wore mine 24 hours a day except when showering. Now I only wear it in the daytime Dr Saunders gave me silicone strips to put on all the incisions (Mine go from my breasts to the top of my pubic area and then around over half of my hips) It relieves the itching and helps the scar heal better but they are a bugger to keep on! After you shower, rinse the strips in soapy water and then put them on. IMMEDIATELY put on your body shaper and that will keep them in place for the rest of the time. It really wasn't too bad after the first 2 days of pain. Use those pain meds!!! Any other questions just give a yell. I am soooo glad I had it done! Love, Kathleen

I had my tummy tuck 8 weeks ago by Dr. Abdollah Malek. I also had my arms done. The arms were uncomfortable more so than the tummy. But I will say this, I also had extensive liposuction on the upper abs, hips, and on my back, right under my bra strap. He also stitched my ab muscles to make my waist smaller. I am still swollen, although if you look at me straight on, my tummy looks FLAT..........and I can wear smaller panties that hit right at my incision line and it looks like it did before I had my kids.........I don't have one regret!! He told me he took 7 lbs of fat from my abdomen and 5 lbs from everywhere else! How cool is that?The first week I felt like I'd been hit by a truck and needed help literally with everything. I am still numb from my (new) belly button to my incision and as the nerves come back ( a few at a time, it seems) it feels a little weird, like needles and pins. I wore my binder 24-7 for 6 weeks except when showering. I use vitamin E oil on my incisions and my husband swears he can't believe how much they have smoothed out already. My surgeon told me to expect some swelling for 3-6 months. Best of luck to you! Karen Ventresca