Advice about a tummy tuck
Hi Everyone!
Well it's been awhile since I have posted on OH...but I always know where to come back to when I need real advice!
Okay so, I had my gastric bypass in 2008 (when I was 21), I am turning 25 in another month and have realized that I have lost all I can through diet & exercise. I have decided to get a tummy tuck to get rid of all that loose, sagging (and nagging) skin!
My surgeon that did my GB is also doing my TT (so I trust him implicitly)!
If you could give me some advice on to what to expect, such as...
Work: down time...I have a job where I can spend equal time at a desk and out in the field, I am also a volunteer firefighter. I know that I will be out of commission from firefighting for at least a month or two, but how long should I expect to be out of work? I was planning on taking 7 work days (plus the weekend, so I would have 9 days straight to be at home to recover).
Diet: will I be back on my liquids (I wouldn't mind this for a week or so actually, lol).
Exercise: when can I get back to it?
Pain: anything like GB pain?
Drainage: what's that like?
Full recovery: I obviously can't wait until I'm there
Size: I am currently 5'9" and 198, wear a size 12/14 (depending on the store) and wear a shirt size L. What can I expect to go down to, and how soon do I see that change?
I'm sure I missed something important...so any advice would help!
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Well it's been awhile since I have posted on OH...but I always know where to come back to when I need real advice!
Okay so, I had my gastric bypass in 2008 (when I was 21), I am turning 25 in another month and have realized that I have lost all I can through diet & exercise. I have decided to get a tummy tuck to get rid of all that loose, sagging (and nagging) skin!
My surgeon that did my GB is also doing my TT (so I trust him implicitly)!
If you could give me some advice on to what to expect, such as...
Work: down time...I have a job where I can spend equal time at a desk and out in the field, I am also a volunteer firefighter. I know that I will be out of commission from firefighting for at least a month or two, but how long should I expect to be out of work? I was planning on taking 7 work days (plus the weekend, so I would have 9 days straight to be at home to recover).
Diet: will I be back on my liquids (I wouldn't mind this for a week or so actually, lol).
Exercise: when can I get back to it?
Pain: anything like GB pain?
Drainage: what's that like?
Full recovery: I obviously can't wait until I'm there
Size: I am currently 5'9" and 198, wear a size 12/14 (depending on the store) and wear a shirt size L. What can I expect to go down to, and how soon do I see that change?
I'm sure I missed something important...so any advice would help!
Looking forward to hearing from you!
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Diet: I didn't have to have a spcial diet, just don't eat 8 hours prior to surgery (like all surgery)
Exercise: I forgot...
Pain: The worst horrific unbearable excruciating pain anyone could ever imagine!!!!!!!!!!
Drainage: You have 2 drains and mine were in for 1 month.
Full recovery: Worth it!
Size: It depends where you carry your weight. It can take 3+ months for ALL the swelling to go down.
5" 7' - HW: 328 Current: I stay around 155 :)
"...Because when you stop and look around, this life is pretty amazing."
I guess the pain thing all depends, I had no pain per se, just pressure and feeling of tightness, my stomach area was completely numb. I woke up in no pain and the only sort of pains I remember where the nerve ending zingers I would get once in awhile.
I took off 12 days and then went back full time. I would be swollen by the end of the day, and that hurt my back a bit but that was the worst of the issues.
I had two drains, they came out before I went back to work, I don't recall the exact date but I know on day 12 they were gone. I tucked them in my bra when I went out, they are a vacuum and can suction upwards. Remember to learn to strip the tubing so they don't get blocked. The nurses can show you how.
I walked right from the beginning, I don't exercise other then walking. I had an extended tt with muscle tightening and belly button repositioninng with a neck lift at the same time at a teaching hospital, was under 10 hours, woke up in recovery, stayed there a couple of hours and went home. No issues, no problems, the neck lift was the horror show. The tt was a walk in the park in comparison. As you can tell by reading everyones results are different as well as pain.
It's completely worth it. I still have a perfectly flat stomach 6 years later. Best 4k I ever spent.
I took off 12 days and then went back full time. I would be swollen by the end of the day, and that hurt my back a bit but that was the worst of the issues.
I had two drains, they came out before I went back to work, I don't recall the exact date but I know on day 12 they were gone. I tucked them in my bra when I went out, they are a vacuum and can suction upwards. Remember to learn to strip the tubing so they don't get blocked. The nurses can show you how.
I walked right from the beginning, I don't exercise other then walking. I had an extended tt with muscle tightening and belly button repositioninng with a neck lift at the same time at a teaching hospital, was under 10 hours, woke up in recovery, stayed there a couple of hours and went home. No issues, no problems, the neck lift was the horror show. The tt was a walk in the park in comparison. As you can tell by reading everyones results are different as well as pain.
It's completely worth it. I still have a perfectly flat stomach 6 years later. Best 4k I ever spent.
Yes it is horrible pain but it is worth it. You have to keep your eye on the prize!
Diet: No special diet. You might want to up your protein just to help with healing. I was not hungry for several days after surgery.
Exercise: I couldn't exercise for 6 weeks after.
WOrk: I took off 3 1/2 weeks. i am a RN and part of my work is desk work and the other part patient care. I could not go back to the patient care part until 6 weeks.
Pain: I agree..the worst I have ever had. The first week was horrible..and then each day gets better.
Drainage: I did not have any drains...yeh! My doc does a special technique so he doesn't use them.
Size; I went down a size in pants
from a size 10 to a size 8
I am 3 months out and I can honestly say it was totally worth it. but be prepared for a tough week. Remember no pain, no gain..or loss that is!
please let me know if you have any other questions.
Patty
Diet: No special diet. You might want to up your protein just to help with healing. I was not hungry for several days after surgery.
Exercise: I couldn't exercise for 6 weeks after.
WOrk: I took off 3 1/2 weeks. i am a RN and part of my work is desk work and the other part patient care. I could not go back to the patient care part until 6 weeks.
Pain: I agree..the worst I have ever had. The first week was horrible..and then each day gets better.
Drainage: I did not have any drains...yeh! My doc does a special technique so he doesn't use them.
Size; I went down a size in pants
from a size 10 to a size 8
I am 3 months out and I can honestly say it was totally worth it. but be prepared for a tough week. Remember no pain, no gain..or loss that is!
please let me know if you have any other questions.
Patty
My weight loss journey 
Yeah, it was unimaginable! I have a high pain tolerance but I was screaming and crying and cussing out all the nurses because they kept giving me morphine and demerol and nothing even touched the pain I was feeling! They had to put me back to sleep because it was unbearable! I just can't describe it... I've never felt ANY kind of pain like that in my life... (and I've been through a lot).
Just be prepared... it's worth it though!
Just be prepared... it's worth it though!
5" 7' - HW: 328 Current: I stay around 155 :)
"...Because when you stop and look around, this life is pretty amazing."
unlike the other posters I had absolutely NO PAIN with mine. I used the pain button once when I woke up slept through the night went home and only needed regular tylenol for pain. Now that i've put all the weight back on and am getting wls I know I will have to do it again and I have no fear. Mine had a complication in the incision and it took an entire year to heal because of the problem but even with that it never hurt.
Due to my issue I couldn't exercise til I healed and by then.. a year later.. i had gained most of what I had lost back so that sucked.
Drainage was two drains for a couple of weeks and then I had to have it drained with a needle a few times.
Due to my issue I couldn't exercise til I healed and by then.. a year later.. i had gained most of what I had lost back so that sucked.
Drainage was two drains for a couple of weeks and then I had to have it drained with a needle a few times.
No special diet, except to stop Vit E 2 weeks prior to surgery and Increase my protein 2 weeks prior and 3 months following for good healing!
8 weeks and then I could return to swimming laps, cycling and the gym.
No pain at all! I can honestly say, that IF I hadn't had an incision, I would have never known I had surgery. Same goes for my LBL and Anchor Cut TT, NO pain! Muscle tightening feeling, but no discomfort! (my surgeon is known for this!)
I had 3 drains from my mons area. 2 were out at 10 days and the other out at 2 weeks.
I still have swelling after working a bunch of 12 hr shifts in a row, but I am fully recovered at 9 months out. Actually was fully recovered by 6 months.
I am 5-10 and my weighed 218. I am wearing a 12 and it's loose around th waist. I was wearing a 16.
Please make sure your doctor is going to raise your Mons Pubis. Don't assume, ask, if it is not something you have discussed. Some do and some don't. Some ask for extra money to do it! If it's not raised when you have your TT, it will really look back!
Good Luck!
8 weeks and then I could return to swimming laps, cycling and the gym.
No pain at all! I can honestly say, that IF I hadn't had an incision, I would have never known I had surgery. Same goes for my LBL and Anchor Cut TT, NO pain! Muscle tightening feeling, but no discomfort! (my surgeon is known for this!)
I had 3 drains from my mons area. 2 were out at 10 days and the other out at 2 weeks.
I still have swelling after working a bunch of 12 hr shifts in a row, but I am fully recovered at 9 months out. Actually was fully recovered by 6 months.
I am 5-10 and my weighed 218. I am wearing a 12 and it's loose around th waist. I was wearing a 16.
Please make sure your doctor is going to raise your Mons Pubis. Don't assume, ask, if it is not something you have discussed. Some do and some don't. Some ask for extra money to do it! If it's not raised when you have your TT, it will really look back!
Good Luck!
12/09 and 6/11, 9 skin removal procedures with Dr. Sauceda in Monterrey Mexico
Revised to the Sleeve after losing 271 lbs with the LapBand.
It's interesting when someone chooses the same surgeon for their weight loss surgery as their plastics. To me, they cannot be "experts" at both.
I'm one of the few who did not go down in size. Most people seem to go down 1-3 sizes.
I did mostly stay on liquids the first week or two. I did not feel like eating and my stomach was so tight food going down was uncomfortable to me.
Good luck to you!! I had my RNY around the same time you did!!
Laura
I'm one of the few who did not go down in size. Most people seem to go down 1-3 sizes.
I did mostly stay on liquids the first week or two. I did not feel like eating and my stomach was so tight food going down was uncomfortable to me.
Good luck to you!! I had my RNY around the same time you did!!
Laura
Laura in Texas
53 years old; 5'7" tall; HW: 339 (BMI=53); GW: 140 CW: 170 (BMI=27)
RNY: 09-17-08 Dr. Garth Davis
brachioplasty: 12-18-09 Dr. Wainwright; lbl/bl: 06-28-11 Dr. LoMonaco
"May your choices reflect your hopes and not your fears."
My gastric bypass sugeon did mine as well.
Work: 9 days may be a bit short. With muscle repair you could hurt for awhile. I had 2 hernias repaired at the same time and was in the hospital 6 days. I put in for 8 weeks off. I could have maybe done 6 if I wasn't a special ed teacher. Both are moot for me at this point as I developed necrosis which created 2 open wounds that didn't heal in 8 weeks, so now I am on a wound VAC. While complications are not the norm, you should at least have a contingency plan, just is case.
Excercise: walk as soon as you are able. The rest is usually 6 weeks depending on how you are doing.
I went home with 5 JP drains for 3 weeks.
Full Recovery: still waiting for that one
Size: I am 5'5" and went into my surgery at 166 lbs and a loose size 16 (panni made it impossible to wear anything smaller) . I came out at 140 lbs (now floating between 135 and 140) and a perfect size 10.
If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me.
Work: 9 days may be a bit short. With muscle repair you could hurt for awhile. I had 2 hernias repaired at the same time and was in the hospital 6 days. I put in for 8 weeks off. I could have maybe done 6 if I wasn't a special ed teacher. Both are moot for me at this point as I developed necrosis which created 2 open wounds that didn't heal in 8 weeks, so now I am on a wound VAC. While complications are not the norm, you should at least have a contingency plan, just is case.
Excercise: walk as soon as you are able. The rest is usually 6 weeks depending on how you are doing.
I went home with 5 JP drains for 3 weeks.
Full Recovery: still waiting for that one
Size: I am 5'5" and went into my surgery at 166 lbs and a loose size 16 (panni made it impossible to wear anything smaller) . I came out at 140 lbs (now floating between 135 and 140) and a perfect size 10.
If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me.
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