Having doubts about doing the tummy tuck... looking for any and all feedback!

My tt was the best money I ever spent on anything ever.  Having a flat stomach, in my opinion, is better then anything else on my body getting fixed and I got my arms and neck done also.  I say do it.  It is soooooooooooooooooo worth it.

Thank you so much for your response!    It's encouraging to hear your enthusiasm for it.   I mean, any procedure that could inspire that many "o"s in the word "so" has got to be pretty good.  ;)

I am sure if I got it done, once I was healed and back to my old self, I'd be very glad I did it.  It's just hard to shake fears of complications and sad and guilty feelings for being away from the kids while I heal. 

Did you find the pain and recovery from the TT was significantly worse than your arm and neck work?    I figure I've probably done the "easiest" surgeries first, but even these weren't a walk in the park.

Honestly my neck was the worst of all of them, it felt like briars behind my ears and sadly it didn't even hold up and I had to get it revised, so more briar feeling.  The tt on the other hand held up great even 6 years later and it is more pressure then pain, the swelling sucks but it is worth it really.

Wow  - what a transformation!!  Beautiful!  Thanks for sharing your pictures and your experiences with me. 

I didn't have a neck lift, but just neck lipo... and that was pretty tender.  So I can imagine how much more difficult a fullt lift would be.   Sorry to hear that after all that pain you had to revise anyway.  That must have been pretty frustrating.  But, hey, you look absolutely stunning! 

Had mine February 6th. Its soooo worth it. I feel so much happier when I look in the mirror. I have a post above yours if you want to see pics. Go for it. Your worth it!

Thank you so much!  I love hearing people say how happy they are with this surgery, it's really encouraging.  You look really  great, so I'm glad that you can see how fantastic your results are when you look in the mirror.   So you are less than a month out and you are looking good and you sound pretty functional.  That's reassuring too.

Maybe this is all just typical cold feet?

Cold feet is absolutely natural. Heck - I remember the night before my VSG surgery thinking to myself - Why the heck am I going to rip out 85% of my stomach - am I crazy! - Well after 177 pounds lost and my health regained I am so glad I followed through. You lost the weight and are now healthy, but got silly skin as a punishment for your obesity. Its the finishing touch to your journey to treat yourself to the normal body you deserve. I call plastics - icing on the cake. You got this - your worth it - take care - Shayne

Thank you for your kind and supportive words.  I didn't have such bad cold feet before my VSG because I was convinced that it was necessary to save my life.  This... this feels much more elective (which, of course, it is).    The idea of losing this "overhang" and having a normal body seems so strange and foreign to me, I think that is part of the reason I am scared.  I can't even fathom anything close to "normal" when it comes to my body.   Thanks again!

It's putting the final touches on your journey.  It's like frosting on a cake, ice cream on pie, cheese sauce on broccoli, do you need the topping, no, but it makes everything better.  The short time for recovery will be over before you know it.  Yes, there are weight restrictions.  Your kids will have to climb up on the couch to cuddle with you.  They are old enough to understand being careful around mommy as she has an owie.  You can still snuggle after the stitches are out.  Could there be complications? Of course, but you take it in stride and deal with it. 

For me, it was looking in the mirror and seeing that I was really "normal", not just a woman who'd lost weight but had all the evidence of being MO.  Now, I see some scars, but a flat tummy, boobs up where they belong and looking normal, arms w/o batwings.  I have absolutely no regrets about any of my PS. 

I'd go for it!  It's scheduled and you have child care lined up, and a supportive hubby.

Hey, how come all of your analogies were delicious food analogies?  Haha! ;)  Now I want some ice cream on pie... but I'd better go with the cheese on broccoli instead. 

My kids are definitely old enough to understand and they are surprisingly careful and gentle around me.  They are sweet kids.   But they are also old enough to worry about me a bit, and miss me when I am not playing with them as much as usual.  I'm an at-home parent so the kids are used to me being around all the time and this is a big change.  As much as they are having fun with grandparents and their daddy, they definitely voice that they miss "mommy time". 

I cannot imagine looking in the mirror and seeing a body that looks somewhat "normal".  I don't expect perfection and I don't strive for it either... but just to not see that overhang of belly fat and skin would be so strange.  My arms and neck already look so much better, it is strange to look at myself.... but I'm so excited that I'll get to wear short-sleeves and maybe even (gasp) tank tops for the first time in my life this summer.  I almost feel like I'm pushing my luck to want to look somewhat normal in the gut area too.

So many conflicting emotions...     Thank you so much for your encouragement.  I think you are right that I should just "go for it" while I have everything already in place.    Even the kids have been prepped that while I'm getting better every day (from the last surgery) that soon I'll be worse again... but then get better again.   Once I'm done and healed from surgeries we are planning a trip to the Dells in Wisconsin, so the kids see that a reward for being patient throughout the healing process.  :)  

Thanks again for your response!