TT May 10th - questions

Hello Everyone!

I know my Dr said it can take a couple months for swelling to go down but gosh!  It has gone down quite a bit but I'm still wearing a compression garment.  I have tank tops that are like spandex that hold me in and I've been wearing them every day - it's going to be in the 90's this weekend and am not looking forward to all the layers...

Look at other peoples progress - their belly buttons look nice and normal - mine, not.  Before my TT I had what looked like a butt crack because of my RNY scar the skin folded vertical in the middle, not horizontal like most.  now after my TT my belly button literally is a vertical slit.  and when i take the compression garment off, i still have a butt crack - although it's way smaller, it's still there.  I keep telling myself it's because I'm still really swollen but is this really it?  when I'm laying on my back it opens nicely and looks More normal - standing, nope, i have the slit again.  So disappointing when you spend that much out of pocket.  My surgeon is fabulous and my left side seems a little more "puffy" and he's said we can talk about a revision if needed and it'd be simple to do - but really who wants to go through this again!? 

Also before my surgery i could feel abs and laying on my back and flexing i could see the bump where they should be - after surgery, i see and feel nothing - i swear they took them out (i know this isn't true because they still hurt when i sneeze or cough) but am i just that swollen?!   my stomach is completely flat from my ribs down to where pubic hair would start - now where my hips are, not so much - huge bumps where it's still swollen.  my hips are about 2 inches wider then lower where your underwear would sit if that make sense? 

He removed almost 6 pounds of excess skin and the difference is amazing - no muffin top. But I'm still too sore to even attempt jeans.  I've been wearing gaucho pants, dresses and yoga pants.  

I know I'm only just a little over a month out - but it's still concerning to see others a month out with nice flat tummies, round belly buttons and defined areas where you can see abs. 

Yes I'll be talking to my Dr when i see him next on July 2nd.

Ugh - just venting...

I had a tt on May 17 and hope I am still swollen as well. I thought the same thing about my abs yesterday, so I am hoping that alot of this is swelling. My swelling seems to be right above my BB down to the pubic area. Yes, the skin is gone, but most of my upper stomach feels bigger than before surgery, it only seems flatter right above the pubic area. At 4 weeks out I am still wearing compression 24/7, but I was told I could take it off as long as I was not active. I am going to try and not wear it at night for a while. I understand about the heat issue, but I do feel more comforable with mine at this point.

Is your belly button fully healed? Mine still has an eraser size scabb in the bottom that doesn't want to seem to fall off, other than that it looks fine. My swelling seems to skip the bb area though and jump from the upper stomach to the incision line and lower.

I think we all heal differently, and I too am amazed by some of the photos that show flat tummies and perfect bb at 4, 3, or even 2 weeks out so don't feel alone.

Yep the BB is healed, it looks reddish but its all the little scar marks, there is no scabs on it and that part isn't swollen.  My hip bone areas are the most swollen yet. 

Also wonder if it's okay to go swimming yet?  There are no open incisions or scabs at this point. 

i had my TT 5/11. my doctor told me you wont see the final result for 3 nmonths. i know im still swollen. we just have to try and be patient

 The doctors vary in terms of how long they want you to wait before submerging yourself in water (bathtub, swimming, etc.). Mine told me to wait a month but I've seen others post that their doctors told them to wait until 6 or 8 weeks out. So to be safe, you should check with your doctor.

I'm a month out too and have some swelling still. It's hard to know how flat my tummy will be once all the swelling is gone but, even like this, it is SO much better than what I had before. I kinda look like what a thin person looks like that has a little bit of round tummy sticking out (like when you see a picture of Jennifer Aniston on a tabloid saying she's pregnant b/c you see a small tummy bump), but fortunately my boobs stick out further so I'm pleased so far. Before my stomach would sit several inches onto my thighs when sitting, now it doesn't at all so I may not be completely flat, but it's a HUGE improvement.

Also, re: your belly button... My doctor gave me a glass marble to gently roll on top of it (making sure not to pu**** into my BB ;)) in a circular motion to help break down the scar tissue and to help give it a little softer of an oval shape. I've seen articles online where people actually tape a marble (maybe for 10 minutes a day) that's pushing into their BB to help get a more round shape, but I don't know if that works.

I check my instructions last night, and mine say no baths or hot tubs until all incisions are healed.

I agree with pagek77 though - check with your doctor and see what they recommend.