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Talksurgery adheres to the Health On the Net Foundation's Code of Conduct
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My Tummy Tuck Story
Pros:
Midriff bulge is gone
Clothes fit better
Man-made bellybutton is cuter than the old one
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Cons:
Longer to heal than expected
Difficulty standing upright
Emotional stress
Sometimes things do go wrong
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Cost:
$4,900 ($6,000 considering work I missed)
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Healing time:
Still healing - 3 months later
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Pain-o-meter: 5
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I lost 73 pounds 4 years ago on a special diet. I have kept most of it off, but no matter what exercises I did, nothing was working to remove the excess skin and rolls I had after the weight loss. My personal physician told me nothing would remove it but a tummy tuck.
I finally had the funds to undergo the operation, but did much online research and actually saw the results of a friend who had the same procedure with the doctor I ultimately chose. She is older than me by a few years, and one month after her surgery she was out dancing and doing just great. She went back to work the 5th day after her surgery - so I thought this would be a piece of cake.
I was WRONG! This is like major surgery and your body reacts to the anesthesia, the muscle repair and the pain meds you take. One thing I did learn and continue to learn through my participation in a Tummy Tuck Support group online is that NO two people have the same experience. No two surgeons do the same technique, and no two recoveries are the same.
When asked if I would do it again, I tell people well NO .. but ask me again in 6 months. My midriff bulge above the waist is gone. Some clothes already fit better although I still have some swelling at my waist. My man made belly button is cuter than my old one.
As each day goes by I do see improvement, and ultimately I know I will be happy with the results. But my advice to you who are considering this procedure... is be prepared. The results will probably be great - but getting there may be more than you bargained for!
Here are more details:
How results differed from what I expected:
I do believe once the wound is completely closed, and the swelling completely gone I will be happy. But for the last three months I have been asking myself why did I spend THIS much money to go through this much agony.
Biggest fears pre-procedure:
It would not turn out as I had hoped.
Healing aids used:
Wore a binder afterwards for support and to help reduce swelling. Found due to walking funny my feet and legs hurt, so I did seek relief through massage. Now using Vitamin E oil on my scar.
Number of doctors consulted:
2
Number of years I thought about having the procedure:
4
Had an elective procedure before:
No
Complications or follow-up procedures:
The fifth day out I started running a temp and had picked up some airborn bacteria. The infection became an abscess at the center of my incision. I took antibiotics for 10 days. On the 14th day after surgery when my stitches were removed, the center of my incision opened up to reveal a gaping hole with infection. From that point until the present, we pack the wound twice a day in an effort to help it heal from the inside out.
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This information is not to substitute for professional medical advice. You
should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or
disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider. Please
consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have
regarding your condition.
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Gender:
Female
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Age:
48
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Ethnic group:
Caucasian
Education:
Community college or university
Country:
United States
State/Province:
Oklahoma
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Women experience greater overall weight gains and more notable weight fluctuations than men.
(Source: the Role of Weight Management in the Health of Women" by Sachiko T. St. Jeor, professor and director of Nutrition Education and Research at the University of Nevada, School of Medicine)
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