Question:
Can anyone who has had TT

tummy tuck aka abdominoplasty please give me some information?? I am scheduled for surgery October 17th for my TT and just need a little insight as to what I will feel like, how long recovery is etc.... Thanks a bunch!!    — chatterbox213704 (posted on September 21, 2003)

September 21, 2003
Kimberly, there is a yahoo-OSSG group for plastic surgery and I bet lots of answers if you ask there! Good luck and congrats..
   — Cindy R.

September 21, 2003
I had a TT June 12, 2002...I won't lie to ya, it was the worst pain I ever felt in my life, except when the epidural didn't work during my inducement with my second baby...HOWEVER, I went into the hospital in a size 8, came out a size 6...and am now a size 4. :o) It was well worth the pain. I was walking upright again within a week. I kept the binder on all the time for the first 6 weeks, and then as needed after that, up to a year later. I had a full TT, with an anchor cut...so my scar goes from breastbone to pubic bone and hip to hip. It's faded quite a bit, but it's there...I still have my belly button, he put that back where it belonged...LOL...and I love my flat belly. I don't wear half shirt a la Britney, but I do wear jeans with a white t shirt tucked in...and that does get the looks better than the half shirts I think..LOL I was in the hospital over night for my TT...went in on a Wednesday morning and was home on Thursday afternoon. I also had my gall bladder removed at the same time. Pain killers were great!! And I had a wonderful nurse who came in and when I complained that the massage boots were causing my legs to sweat, she took them off, rubbed me down with baby powder, opened my window so I could cool off and put my massage boots back on. She was the best. Good luck to you!!
   — Mustang

September 21, 2003
It really depends on your pain tolerance. Mine was 3 weeks ago and I was virtually pain-free (except just above the belly button where my hernia was repaired -- messing with the muscle made me sore). I had to be at the hospital at 9:30 a.m., surgery was at 11:00 a.m. and I was home in my recliner by 6:00 p.m. that evening. The TT itself was a breeze. I'm cut from hip bone to hip bone just above the pubic line and I haven't had any pain below the belly button. I've had 4 other friends who've had TT's over the past 4 months and they've all been surprised that the pain was so minimal....of course, we all had pain medication (Vicodin) every 4 hours!
   — Lynette B.

September 22, 2003
I thought this was a VERY easy surgery. The surgery lasted about 3 1/2 hours and I was alert and awake after 2 hours. They kept me overnight but I could have went home after 3 or 4 hours post-op. I didn't really have any pain. I was given vicodin and I took that and a valium. I was able to stand upright the day after surgery. i could have went back to work in 2 weeks but took an extra week off because I felt like it. The 2 drains in my crotch were the biggest pain to deal with. But they got pulled by the 10th day. Overall, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I have a GREAT looking stomach now!!
   — Patty H.

September 22, 2003
Everybody is different in this just like the WLS. All depends on how much muscle tightening the Dr. does on your abdomen. If you've had kids, probably expect more pain. I had my extended TT, Breast lift and Brachioplasty done on 3/31/03. On a scale of 1-10, the pain was about a 3 (I've had NO kids). Not bad and I had good drugs too! It was a 9.5 hour operation and I was home the next day if you can believe that! Back to work part time in 2 weeks (desk job) and full time at 3 weeks. Zero complications except for some fluid build up but that is an easy and painless fix. Email me at [email protected] if you want to see pictures.
   — Kris T.