tummy tuckers!

For those of you who have had tummy tucks..were you completely at goal when you had the procedure done. If you were not at goal, do you regret having it done if you lost more weight later.....or did it work out ok for you? open to recommendations....my PS goal is not for a model body--it is for comfort of getting this stuff off me that is hanging.............let me know your thoughts..............thanks rae

Hey my little WLS sister, I was 26 lbs past goal. I was a sore puppy when I had it done and regretted it then but I'm glad I did it now. I'm a lot more comfortable. I had to have a second to take care of a problem scar on my left side so he did both to even me out. That was a cake walk compared to the original. It was worth it. kp

Thanks Kev! glad it all went so well! hug r

How long did you have to take off work before after your Tuck? And how long where you in alot of pain? Do you think your Tuck was harder to deal with then your WLS? Dayja

I took two weeks but should have stayed out a month. I ended up with a seroma that could have been it's own country. I was in excruciating pain for a week and it went down from there gradually. It was at it's worst when I sneezed. I had my my rectus abdominus tightened and that's what hurt the most. The RNY was a walk in the park. Remember that everybody is different. Paul had it and was doing great right off the getgo. Some of us it hits petty hard. It's all relative I guess as to how much you have done and what your pain threshold is. What really sucked was the seroma. I had to have my drain put back in. And instead of staying on schedule with the pain meds I decided to try and chase the pain. It won the race. kp

Wow KP finally a response I can agree with. I thought this was going to be a walk in the park just like the WLS. I am still in shock and this is day 3 after TT. The muscles that are involved in every movement are amazing. Thank god I have a saint for a husband and he is a great caregiver. One of my drains is not draining as well as it should, its the bottom drain and the binder is too big but I go for follow up in two days. I think I will call their office now.. Glad to hear your doing well..

Thanks Jennifer.my losing is very slow......i was set up for the tummy tuck in Jan, but i was fortuante to be able to have it moved up to Oct 25.......so i am just trying to balnace all the pros and cons.............thanks so much for your perspective! rae

Rae, I was 20 pounds away from my goal. I still have 10 to go and I am 3 years post op. It hurt like hell but they give you "HAPPY PILLS" and they help. I am so glad I did it. At the same time I also had a hysterectomy. I slice 2 doctors!! Best of luck Robin

I am three and a half weeks post op right now. I am still in the "having pain" part of the recovery, at least for me. As Kevin says, it is very different for everyone, and you don't know where in the pain/recovery spectrum you will fall. I had the anchor cut with muscle repair and hernia repair. The doctor removed 8 pounds of skin at surgery. I was 21 pounds from my goal when I had the surgery, and now I am 5 pounds away. I guess that is a total of 8 pounds skin and another 8 pounds of fat lost. Plus there is still some fluid buildup,too. It is quite common for the surgery to jump start weight loss again. I had still been losing slowly up to the tummy tuck, and had scheduled it four months from my consult. I know I have at least another 5-10 pounds of skin left in the arms/breast/thigh areas, so I am pretty much at my goal now. My appetite is nowhere near what it was pre-tummy tuck, but I am sure it will return to normal soon. I am still taking vicodin for pain, just not so often anymore. Bottom line, if you are close to your goal, the surgery might help you get there. And, it is wonderful to get rid of that huge panni. Debra M. 351/155/150

I've said it before...I'm absolutely glad I did it when I did...I was 20 lbs from my personal goal, about 30 from the Dr.'s goal. It made all the difference in how I felt about myself with all that flab gone. I'd say DO IT!! Hugs, Theresa