Home from my Tummy Tuck...

JustLookingToo
on 6/9/12 8:06 am - AL
Had my very extended tummy tuck in Pensacola, FL on June 7th. It took me a while to wake up, so I did not get home until after 10:00 pm (surgery was at 9:30 a.m.). Had a two hour ride home, but I don't remember much of it. It was no big deal. They made me get up to try to pee twice before I left the hospital, and it was not bad getting up and walking.

Honestly, I expected the pain to be much worse. It's really just a soreness of the muscles for me. I do have a little more incisional burning today, I suppose because the incisions are starting to heal. She went all the way around, and I guess I have about an eight inch area that she did not cut. Got my money's worth, for sure. I'm was glad to wake up to find the extended tummy tuck. She had marked only the removal of the belly fat to the belly button before she knocked me out.

I'm not big on pain meds, but I am taking them on time for this surgery. It would be VERY painful if I did not have the meds. I'll wean off after a few days and take some Tylenol when needed, but I plan to continue the pain meds and muscle relaxers as long as I feel like they are needed. This is the first time I've ever had to deal with drains, and it's a bit of a pain to have to empty those and carry them around. Hope they come out soon. One is not producing much of anything, but the other is putting out a bunch. Can't really tell what my results are yet since I have not seen my belly without the binder. Followup on Tuesday, so I guess I'll see it then. I'll post photos once I am healed up a bit.

Just wanted to let everyone know that I made it through this surgery and am doing fine. Hope all of you are well.
    
jlyn412
on 6/9/12 10:19 am - Atlanta, GA
So glad you're doing well! Mine is Friday! Would love to see results!

   

TT/TL/AL/BL with Aug 6/15/2012! Looking good so far!

JustLookingToo
on 6/9/12 3:34 pm - AL
Wow, Friday will be here before you know it. No fear!! You'll do just fine. I can't stress enough how mild the pain is compared to what I was expecting. I've had two c-sections, but it's been years, so I guess I overestimated the pain. When they say that it's like "doing too many situps", that's exacty what it's been like for me so far. I don't even feel any incisional pain. I guess I will have a little as they dry up and heal over, but for now, it's a breeze. I have a class on Monday, and while I know it's going to be uncomfortable, I can tell that I'm going to be able to handle it alright. Took an online Microbiology test today and made and 87, lol. Not too bad for someone taking pain meds and muscle relaxers, and with residual brain fog from surgery. 
    
MyLady Heidi
on 6/9/12 11:43 am
Stick the drains in your bra if you want to go out, they are a vacuum and can drain up or down and they look way better that way where you can't see them.  The tt was the best money I ever spent.  I went out today in this cute spaghetti strapped fitted cotton dress, got lots and lots of looks, I find it amusing since I am 47 and I have young guys checking me out as well as old guys.  I catch them looking and lock eyes with them and then half smile, like I caught you. lol

Enoy your new tummy.
JustLookingToo
on 6/9/12 3:11 pm - AL
Lol, I could use a little something extra in my bra, so that's a good idea. I'm having a lot of leaking of fluid around the drain site itself (where the drain comes out of the skin opening). The nurse called yesterday and told me that I bled a lot during surgery, so maybe that's why I'm having this problem? It's the same watery/bloody fluid that is in the drain, but it makes a six or eight inch spot on my clothes. No big deal right now, because I am hanging out at home, but I've got a class on Monday. 

I can see why the young guys check you out. You are GORGEOUS!! 
    
MyLady Heidi
on 6/11/12 5:33 am
Thanks you are sweet, but you are the one with the 30 year old face not me.  I wish I had all sorts of money and time and I would go to Costa Rica and get my face done too. 

As for the drains are you stripping them all the time?  I know they didn't tell me that at first and I didn't know that you were supposed too.  Where you take the drain hose at the base by where it enters your body and squeeze it closed and then run your finger nail up the legth of the hose to make sure nothing is stuck and keep the icky stuff moving out of your body.  Some nurse showed me and it made a world of difference.

Good Luck and I can't wait to see your finished body, you look incredible!
JustLookingToo
on 6/11/12 12:22 pm - AL
Thanks! You are too nice! A friend of my 22 year old son was checking me out the other day as I walked towards him from a distance. Even when I got close, he did not recognize me. Once I told him who I was, I think he wanted to throw up, lol, realizing that I'm in my 50's and a mom, lol. It's really odd getting that kind of attention from men who are young enough to be my son. Sort of yucky. Guess I don't have that cougar mentality, but thumbs up to those who do.

Yes, the time that is needed for all of this surgery is a huge consideration. Even if a person has the money, the time is hard to find. I'd say that at the two week mark, I would have been presentable to go to work, but I remember reading a surgeon's opinion that at two weeks, a person is "presentable" but not "descrete". Totally true, meaning that you would have just enough bruising or swelling that people who know you would be able to tell that something had happened to your face. At three weeks to a month, most people would not notice anything odd. The medical people who were helping me with my TT the other day said that with facelifts, they can "always tell" when a person has had one. They said that with mine (two different people told me this Thursday), they could not tell. Every single person that I told about my face asked for my surgeon's contact info. These are the people who are working with the top cosmetic surgeons in my area, lol.

FINALLY, both of my drains are working. No more leaking. Yes, I've been stripping them from day one, but yesterday I started working harder at clearing the area very near the skin. Guess it worked. Stayed dry all day today. Hid the drains in my bra like you suggested and it worked great! Thanks for that suggestion.

I'll let you know how my office visit goes tomorrow afternoon. Can't wait to see my results! Preparing myself for the worst, and hoping for the best.


    
MyLady Heidi
on 6/12/12 10:31 am
Glad things are going well, now get the camera out so we can drool over your results.  I love to see your after pics.  They are so inspirational!
JustLookingToo
on 6/13/12 1:47 pm - AL
I'll take some in a day or two. I got to see my results yesterday, and I'm loving my new belly button! She gave me a longish, sort of narrow one. Long is good, because I'm 5'10". 

I can't believe what a good job she did. Everything looks great. My husband was really surprised at what a huge difference it made. Even my lap scar have dissappeared for some reason. Don't think they were cut out since they were on my uppper belly (and above her markings), but guess stretching them out made them dissapear. My bra band was actually too big when I put it on the other day, lol. I snapped it as usual, and it slid down my torso as soon as I let go. I'm thrilled about getting rid of that stubborn fat that always pushes up under my boobs when I sit down. 

If I had known what a difference a tummy tuck would make, I would have had one years ago. I always had to diet and entire week just to get rid of that little tummy, even when I was young and thin. Loving my new belly. I'll post pics soon. I did not have a lot of tummy before, but it's a really big difference anyway.
    
Kelly W.
on 6/9/12 12:03 pm - WA
 i am glad you are doing well....I am having a lower body lift and breast lift and augmentation Monday...hope I sound as good as you after only a couple of days!  Would love to see your pics....
Most Active
×