Question:
ANYONE REGRET HAVING TUMMY TUCK?

I was just wondering if there were many people who regret having made the decision to have a tummy tuck. I recently had someone who had it several months ago that I should seriously reconsider. I was so excited about having it done and I don't want to let this get me down but I'm now wondering if there are others who feel the same way.    — THE NEW M. (posted on May 11, 2004)

May 11, 2004
Regret it? Well - let me preface it by saying I had hernia repair/abdominoplasty done at 10 months post-op. I'd started at 365 lbs, had this done at 210 lbs. If the hernia had not been near emergent, I totally would not have gone forward with it. I now need another TT. Don't really look forward to another surgery - and if I could tell anyone my own two cents worth on the issue it would be - wait until you're at LEAST 2 years post-op and have been at a stable low weight for a minimum of 6 months. Hope that helps. Blessings, dina
   — Dina McBride

May 11, 2004
I just had a TT 4 weeks ago. I'm 2 yrs. out from RNY, 160lb loss. I don't regret my TT, but I guess I do feel a big letdown. I know my belly is a whole lot smaller. The apron is completely gone. Everything went well and my incisions are healing in great shape. I do look different, but the swelling seems to have made it's way to my butt, thighs, calves and ankles. Therefore, I feel like I've traded one problem for another. My pants are big in the waist but now I can barely pull them up around my thighs and butt. Instead of losing weight, I feel like I've gained a lot in places I didn't expect. Also, not one person has commented that they can see a difference in me. When I lost weight from wls, people commented all the time. With this, it's as if it never happened, therefore I guess I feel a letdown and disappointment that it didn't make a bigger difference in me. I've been reading on websites about post-op depression and letdown - and maybe I'm just suffering from that response right now. Also, It's early out and maybe I'll reduce swelling and feel better about things down the road. I sure don't want to discourage anyone from having a TT - it's a great, great option for all of us. I'm just experiencing the ho-hums about it right now, and wanted to share my experience thus far. As time goes on, I bet I'll perk up and be thrilled about what I did :) Best of luck to you!!
   — Mary W.

May 11, 2004
I wonder why that person said that? Were they expecting a miracle or unrealistic in what it would look like after? Results vary depending on how a person is built on the inside. If you have alot of muscle tone (I did!) then you will get better results. I have No regrets! I had and extended TT (almost all the way around me and anchor incision)breastlift and my arms done all at once on 3/31/03. I was 18 mo. post op and stable at 170lbs for 5 months. I had 7lbs of skin removed and it made a WORLD of difference! My tummy is completely flat, not wrinkled looking and some of my back fat is gone too. Clothes fit better, I feel better emotionally and more self confident. I was a size 10 pre PS but still felt fat and was even asked if I was pregnant because of the bulge I had. I don't feel that way at all now! I'll send you pics if you would like. Just email me at [email protected]. My advice is to make sure you get a BOARD CERTIFIED Plastic Surgeon. Alot of WLS surgeons do TT's but I've seen some of those results and it isn't pretty! They don't do lipo for contouring so there is a big LUMP of fat sitting on the back of your hips (which makes it hard to fit in some clothes) and they use STAPLES. PS's don't use staples and the scars are MUCH better!
   — Kris T.

May 11, 2004
I went through hell and back, almost died of complications and I would do it all again in a second!!!! Totally flat stomach and very happy!!
   — ZZ S.

May 11, 2004
I had a lower body lift, of which a TT or abdominoplasty is a part of. I don't ever want to go through that extensive grueling surgery and recovery again but I am glad I did it. It has totally changed how clothes fit. The only downside is somewhere along the way I lost a butt. It's a flat as they come now, but it's really not the surgeon's fault, he had to deal with what I gave him to work with. <p>It is very important to analyze exactly what needs to be done so that you get the results you think you will. As one of the other posters mentioned she feels she has traded one problem for many more as she is having trouble with clothes fitting in other areas. This was exactly my concern. I know that if I just had the panni or TT that I would end up with a small gut and huge saddlebags and thighs that would never fit into any pants or skirts. I'd have to keep buying the size I was and then belt the heck out of them to keep them up at the waist. That is why I decided that a lower body lift was the only thing I would consider. I knew even that would not solve the thighs totally but it would hopefully bring them down enough to fit in pants that would fit my gut. <p>At first I could not believe that my waist was now driving the size of my pants as it had always been 2-3 sizes smaller in the past. I was sort of bummed because I was still wearing a 16 but had traded a misses for a women's. However, as time went on and the swelling went down everything has changed quite a bit. There evidently was some swelling in my waist that was not evident. Same in the thighs where the saddlebags had been lipo'd. I am just a little over 11 weeks PO from the LBL. I now consistently wear 14's with some 12's. After my next surgery on June 7th, which will remove the upper pannus above the waist and then my thigh surgery in November I know I will consistently wearing 12's and probably some 10's. My surgeon said at one point that it takes 3 months to truly find out what size you will be and he was right. I also had tons of fluid/drainage problems and had drains in for 8-1/2 weeks, but it still would not change my mind about having the surgery. My insurance only covered the full extended abdominoplasty and I had to pay for the lateral thigh lift. It was worth every penny because I know I would not have been happy with the results otherwise. I am very pleased with the results now that everthing is healing up good and the fluid issues are gone etc. I can go into any store and buy clothes that fit, which truly is a first. Even after PS I kept bringing stuff home but it wasn't fitting right because of the swelling. <p>You must have realistic expectations. My surgeon had me bring in a pair of underwear so he could keep the cut lines within them. I told him to cut wherever it would give me the best results and would allow him to do his best. I'm not looking for a bikini body. A nice tankini or 1-piece is fine with me. Besides with all the scars I will end up with, my skin just won't be bikini material. My body actually might be, but I don't want to scare everyone with all the incisions. I have a tendency for them not to totally fade out and they will likely always be visible, but I'd still make the same decision to have it done. Each person has to decide how bad it is and is it worth it to them to go through another surgery to remove the skin. If my skin had shrunk like the last time I lost 200 lbs I know I would not have gone ahead with PS. But 9 years older and stretching out my skin by 200 lbs again really left me with no choice on the gut area. The next 3 surgeries are much more elective in my mind and are going to happen because I want to complete the process. Not because they are causing any medical problems.
   — zoedogcbr

May 12, 2004
HECK NO!!!!!!!!! I was 2 sizes bigger before the tt (size 8). After the tt, I'm a size 4 with a tiny waist and a belly that I can FINALLY show off. It takes a couple of months to get back to full strength, but it was the BEST plastic surgery that I ever had.
   — Patty H.

May 12, 2004
I had an abdominoplasty W/ MR and an anchor incision and a breast lift April 23rd. The pain was bad for 3 days, then eased up,I returned to work a week post op. I have a totally flat tummy, perky boobs and I dropped a size to a perfect 4. In otherwords, no regrets.
   — Connie M.