Tummy tuck questions: before kids, recovery time and feeling guilty

I have now been to 3 consults and am starting to get a better feel of what I'll want done.  It's interesting, though, how they all have conflicting opinions.  

I have not have kids and all of them, as a general guideline, do not advise tummy tucks before children.  However the first two were very understanding of my desire to have a tummy tuck after my weightloss.  The first surgeon opened my gown and said "this does not match the beautiful young girl" (brownie points to him).  Surgeons two and three were impressed that it "didn't look nearly as bad" as they thought it would considering my 125lb. weightloss.  The first surgeon had really no problem going ahead with TT and did not think future pregnancy would destroy the results.  Surgeon 2 thought I would probably need a revision but said at that time they could tighten the muscles which I would not need now, never having been pregnant.  Surgeon 3 was least excited about the idea of a pre-future-pregnancy TT but was understanding and just wanted me to know the likelihood that I'd need future surgery to achieve the original results.  She was impressed, though, that I did not have too much skin and that I did not need a fleur-de-lis cut.  I can understand why they recommend waiting until you're finished with children to have the TT--it's a very invasive, expensive surgery and a majority of the time it's done to correct what pregnancy does.  But I guess I feel like my situation is vastly different.  I don't just have a post-pregnancy pooch and a cute baby that makes up for it.  I have bread dough stomach that's been riddled with stretch marks!  I'm not even sure that a post-pregnancy stomach in my mid-30's would bother me so much.  I certainly wouldn't be the first one to have it.  But I can tell you that hanging down skin that reminds me of the extra tires I used to carry DOES BOTHER ME.  I feel like eyes dart to that area.  And I feel puffy in that region.  

I cannot get away from feeling I need to explain myself and why I want this.  I feel so guilty.  I've already had life-altering weightloss surgery.  So many people out there in the world are walking around NOT getting a 10k+ surgery for plastics.  They don't necessarily love their body but they deal with it.  Why can't I?  I feel so guilty like what kind of movie actress wannabe am I that I should pour all this money into plastics?  

Finally, I'm looking at having this done on Thursday, December 17 break from school.  That would be a full TT and breast augmentation.  Can someone give me an idea of what recovery is like?  My theory is to be completely taken care of and have no responsibilities other than watching Christmas movie marathons and drinking hot tea.  Obviously Christmas is a week after when I intend to have surgery.  I'd like to be able to be up and around, go to church, and enjoy the holiday to the extent that I can.  I would not be fixing the meal, and I'd plan to have all my shopping, etc. done.  But I'm trying to get a feel for how recovery typically goes.  I will tell you that WLS was very easy.  I had a little bit of all-around pain the day after surgery and then took tylenol after that.  

I'm getting excited now with more information but also having a hard time rationalizing it.  I'm sure this is all typical.

I'm 55 and had many of the same "why the **** am I worried about what I look like" moments before I did the LBL.  Bottom line, my gut bothered me and made me feel fat.  It's gone and I'm happier for it.

If you're not having muscle tightening, your recovery should be easy (relatively speaking).  All of my pain was from the muscle work.  The incision was numb and it was more of a matter of making sure it healed up and flattened out.

Best of luck!

I don't think a pregnancy would destroy your TT. I ask Dr Capella about this when I had my LBL and he showed me a picture of a few women who had TTs then babies and all the after baby photos. You can always get a small revision if you did have some stretching. Don't FEEL GUILTY! The years we spent fat are more than payment for anything we do now to feel good about ourselves. 

I got pregnant 7 mos out of RNY and, 6 weeks after I had baby number 1, I had a major umbelical hernia repair and a tummy tuck.  At that time, I did not think I would have any other kids, from what I'd been told, so I saw no reason not to have it.  Fast forward a little over 3 years, and I had a surprise pregnancy (again! ..  was on BC with both pregnancies).  I worried, also, that it would destroy my tummy tuck and it didn't.  I am still happy with my stomach now, at a little over 9 years out.  Just wanted to give you a 1st person on that one :)  Good luck!