TT is over and I'm so happy!

I know many of you are daily contributors to OH. I'm not, I haven't been on much at all since my '07 RNY but I thought some of you that are considering a TT would like to hear from a recent pt. so I hope it's ok that I jump in here. I started out at 242 and now pre-TT I weighed 150. That's only 90 lbs but I'm in a size 8 which is fine with me.

I had my TT surgery on 10/1. It was supposed to be the inverted "T" incision. I had been to a surgeon at U of M and she felt she'd could only do a pann. due to a lateral scar I had from an '83 gallbladder surgery. I loved that dr. I felt so comfortable with her, the staff said she does amazing work and I'd be thrilled with the results but I just had this nagging feeling that if I was going to go through this I'd want the best outcome which would include doing undermining under that old scar. This would tighten the muscles underneath and pull the sides in to give me a true waistline. The U of M doc just didn't feel comfortable doing that, she wasn't sure about blood supply and didn't want to chance anything when it came to healing so all she wanted to do was remove the skin below my belly button, then, pull down the skin above my belly button and close. I decided to get another opinion.

The 2nd surgeon said "no problem" to go under the old scar, after all it was from '83 and the blood supply has been well established by now.  After a lot of though, talking to my PCP and emailing another surgeon for advice I went with dr. #2.
 
On Thursday with only one scar...below my belly button. He said after he removed all the skin above and below my belly button he was able to pull everything together so tightly that he removed all but maybe 3" of that old  scar ( it had been nearly 9" long) and now, that old scar that was under my right breast and probably ~9" long is located WAY below my belly button and is only 3" long  - he was able to remove 6" of the old scar. 

Today I got a look for the first time at everything. I'm holding lots of water in my legs but that's ok, bc for the first time in a very long time, my legs are so full that I don't show any cellulite. I know it won't stay that way but it's nice to see what firm skin looks like!

The scar is literally hip to hip and it's not pretty but so far, I'm very happy. By the end of the night I'm staring at my toes I'm so bent over but the mornings are better and I'm so glad I did this.
 

One final thing, and it's a question. For those of you that have had a TT, did you just use a waist binder or was it longer? The doc's at the University said it'd be a compression outfit that went from a bra down to below my knees. This doc only has me using a waist binder wrap thing. I'm considering getting something longer just bc there's so much fluid in my legs.  And if you're wondering , yes, I still have drains in~Amy

ONLY 90 lbs!  That is awesome!  When have you ever been able to say I ONLY lost 90 lbs! 

I'm really happy you had great results from your TT.  Mornings were better for me also.  By the night I'm pooped.  Even still and I'm almost 5 weeks out.  Its gets better everyday though. 

As for your question...I went to my PS last week for my 1 mo apt.  He told me I didn't have to wear any compression at all.  But he said I could.  He told me to get a spanx like garment to wear.  I did, but I have an arm lift also and It cut into my underarms and I have sores there.  So I will have to wear that after my sores are healed.  I really liked it though, it was support for breasts also.  I got it at Burlington.  Its not a name brand or anything.  I can't wait until I can wear it again.  But getting back to what I'm actually doing now...I had an Adam's binder after my RNY due to minor complication.  I was really glad to have the binder too.  It made me feel like everything was going to stay in place. 

After I went to the PS last week I went without wearing a binder all weekend.  By Sunday night I was so swollen that I was miserable.  I wore my binder all day yesterday and when I went to bed, I hardly had any swelling.  My husband even commented on how little swelling I had. 

I would get something..  Whatever works best for you.  But from my own experience, you will feel better if you find something.  I haven't had the swelling in my butt and thighs, mine is above my waste.  I have a square.  I look like sponge bob!  I really have a square top 1/2!  Silly me!

I was fortunate to only have drains for 1 week.  They weren't having much output.

Good Luck, you are going to continue to see changes for months to come!
Happy TT To you!
Kim

HI!
Congrats on your weight loss and surgery.
I had a TT (anchor cut) 5 weeks ago.  My swelling was pretty much all in my thighs and butt.  I too came home in a binder wrapped around my waist.  Once the swelling started in my legs I climbed into a compression garment (it covers from just above my knees all the way up to just under my breast).  Almost immediately I saw the swelling in the legs going down....in about 3 days the bulk of it was gone.  I'm still wearing the compression garment AND I put the binder on top of it too!  I've been doing this for 4 weeks and I have very little (very minimal amount) swelling in my tummy.  Last night was the first time I took the binder off for the evening.  I figure when just resting and sleeping I don't need the two on anymore so my plan for the next week or so is to wear both during the day and take off the binder at night.

Sounds like you got some GREAT results...so happy for you.  I love my results too!

Best wishes on your recovery.....

I dug through my drawers today and found one I had held onto something like a Spanx garment. It has the bra in it and stretches down just below my waist. There's nothing that I step into, it just gets pulled down. My legs do look a bit better today but man, my thighs are enormous. I'm hoping it's mostly fluids, can't be sure bc I don't think I ever really had a good view of the top of my legs due to the excess skin.

Thanks to the suggestion to drink more. You're right, I need to do that, I haven't been drinking at all. That should help.

Another question - did anyone use wound care items? My dr. is going to recommend "NuGel" when most of the scabbing is gone. It's pricey, $75 for I think, an 8x10 sheet. It is reusable but still, $75! II've ck'd online and can find it for around $60 for 3 sheets, same size. Just wondered what everyone else used. The office administrator at my dr's office said she used it after her TT and it made a big difference in the healing.

Boy you are so luck to have only had your drains for 1 week. I've had both in since 9/11/09. This Friday will be 4 weeks. I am so ready to get them OUT. I have one stitch that is bothering the hell out of me. Hopefully at my next appointment she will take them out.

I have been very fortunate I know!  I hope you get your drains out soon.  I can't imagine having them for that long.  I guess I didn't have mine long enough to bother me.  My husband kept me very medicated my first week home so I don't remember much!  LOL!  He got the directions wrong on my meds and I ran out!  LOL!  I'm really glad I don't remember much! 

It sounds like you got a very nice result. Congratulations!

I had a lot of swellingi in my upper thighs too after my tummy tuck. I came home in a binder like you described. After a couple of weeks I went into a Flexees compression type girdle that I pulled on. I got mine at Kohls. It was softer and so much more comfortable. The added compression on my thighs and butt helped with the fluid in the thighs. I also massaged my thighs gently and firmly with a rolling pin. Rolling up to help stimulate the lymphatic system.

You can even wear the compression type garments and place your binder over top for added support. Elevating your legs will also help. Also make sure you're getting in plenty of fluids. It really does help to push more fluids out. You'll feel so much better once those drains are out. Best of luck to you and thanks for sharing.