Question:
I have 2 questions, first how painful is a tummy tuck compared to RNY?

And second, has anyone ever had a tummy tuck, a thigh lift and your arms cut all at the same time? My surgeon wants to do it all at once and I'm wondering about the pain. If any of you can help me out that would be great!    — Shara L. (posted on March 11, 2003)

March 11, 2003
I had a T/T, with a anchor cut, The insicion(sp) went around my pubic area, to past my hips. My pannis went almost all the way around me. I also had a hernia repair, 1 small, 1 large with mesh, and gall bladder removal. All done at the same time. I had Rny open about 16 months ago, and for me, this last 3 in 1 surgery about kicked my butt.I really feel it was the hernia repair that got me the most, although I had a lot of staples. Just had them removed today. I feel much better each day. I know it will be worth it once all the swelling goes down. Good luck...
   — Marie A.

March 11, 2003
I have had just the tt in November. I found it to be much worse than the gastric bypass. It was hard to move around for the first month, had three drainage tubes that made it difficult to do anything, and it was simply more painful to me.
   — twenc

March 11, 2003
I had a tt and liposuction on my upper arms done at the same time. This was a MUCH easier surgery because they didn't cut through any muscles. I had 2 drainage tubes in my pubic area for the tt and my arms bandaged from my elbows to my shoulders.
   — Patty H.

March 11, 2003
Hi, I just had my TT in January and it was MUCH more painful then the open RNY. I also had muscle tightening done so every move I made hurt- It took me a good 4 weeks to feel semi normal-just in time to have it revised and a wound closure because my wound opened up. That was last Thursday. I am feeling okay now. Not trying to scare you, but for me it was a lot worse.
   — Marcie B.

March 11, 2003
Hi, I am almost 4 weeks post op - check out my profile for details...I had arms, boobs, some lipo and lateral thighs done...all of which was skin removal...only the breasts dealt with muscle since the implant goes under the muscle...I was back to work by 2.5 weeks - part time but with anything the more you move around the faster you recover - that is without over doing....HOWEVER the big difference in pain is if the tummy tuck includes muscle work or is just skin removal...cutting and tightening the muscles is painful and slows the recovery but if you made it through open RNY the pain you experience will be so worth it...I am really looking forward to when I can schedule part 2 of my reconstructive surgery and have the tummy and medial thighs done! Good luck to you! Diane
   — Diane Z.

March 11, 2003
I had the entire lower body lift (w/ the muscle tightening for abdominoplasty) and a breast lift at the same time, and I was fine. I took my pain meds on time the first week (very important!), and my pain never got above a 3 on a scale of 1 to 10. I kept hearing about the TT, how painful it was, but for me it was a piece of cake. I had more pain waking up from my lap RNY! I guess everyone is different.
   — mom2jtx3

March 12, 2003
I had plastic surgery on 2/18 and thought it was MUCH easier than my Open RNY. I had a combination panniculectomy, belt lipectomy and hernia/muscle repair. I took my pain medication the first two days home and haven't taken it since. Sure I get a bit uncomfortable but it's well worth it!
   — Pamela B.