My Tummy Tuck

tummy tuck - after abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), muscle adjustment, and liposuction
@LovingIt (5396)
United States
April 13, 2008 3:21pm CST
I had a tummy tuck 9 days ago. For anyone that's interested, here's my story. I had a full abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) with liposuction and muscle adjustments. I was supposed to be at the surgery center at 6:30 am. I got up at 3am and was on the road to the center (over 2 hours from here) by 4am. It had been and still was a really stormy night and it was a scarey drive getting there. About 15 miles before we got there the interstate was under water. I was worried about being late and 10 minutes before time to get there (and still 10 miles away) my cellphone rang. It was my surgeon saying there had been tornados in the area the night before and there was no electricity at the surgery center so they had cancelled all surgeries. Since I had traveled so far, though, he wanted to find another place to do it and told me to find a place to wait it out for a while and he'd call back. After about an hour and half, he called back and had me go to another surgery center and surgery was back on, although for 9am instead of the 7:30 am it was originally scheduled for. Luckily the surgery itself was unevenful. He had thought it would take 4 1/2 hours, but luckily things went better than he thought and it only took 2 1/2 hours. I was in recovery for 2 1/2 hours more, though, instead of the 1 hour they told me to expect. They kept giving me more morphine because I was in pain and they said when they'd get the pain under conrol I'd forget to breath so they kept having to put me on oxygen. LOL. Finally though they were able to give me my oral pain meds and send me out for the 2 1/2 hour drive home, which I made just fine. Getting up and down was difficult, but I managed with the help of my daughter and son-in-law who were nice enough to let me spend the first night with them. By suppertime I had urinated on my own and was well enough to sit at the table and eat some yogurt while they went out to eat. I had to walk in a bent over postion, but getting around really wasn't a problem. I went home (I live alone) the following day and have continued to do well. My main complaint has been lack of sleep (I normally sleep on my stomach and have had trouble getting comfortable enough to sleep well on my back), back pain (from walking bent over) and neck pain (from sleeping in ackward positions). I'm still really swollen and can't even fit into my normal clothes, which is a disappointment as I expected just the opposite, but have been told that it can take 3 months for the swelling to all go away. I have lost 10 pounds, however, so I know that I really do have to be smaller. I get the stitches out Friday (day 14) and am looking forward to my first return visit afer surgery to see how the surgeon feels I'm doing. I do still have a drain which is awkward to deal with, but isn't at all painful. If anyone is considering having this done, I'd be happy to answer any questions that you may have.
2 people like this
3 responses
@mrsjbelle (1640)
• United States
13 Apr 08
Wow, Congrats on that I envy you I would love to have that down. After 2 kids I have pouch. I hope you heal nicely. Just in time for summer huh! :)
1 person likes this
@LovingIt (5396)
• United States
13 Apr 08
Thanks. I'm really excited about it. I just hope what I think is swelling, really is!
@dmtdmt (2)
• United States
16 Dec 09
just wondering how you are feeling now that time has passed? did you end up with an infection as to why you were still so swollen? would you recommend it in terms of your results and how your tummy looks? is the big long scar worth the flat smooth belly? would you rank the pain a 10 out of 10 the first 3 days?? thanks!!1
• United States
20 Sep 09
Hi I had a tummy tuck and hysterectomy 26 days ago. So I know what your going through. My main complaint was the drains mine hurt I hated them was so glad to see them go! I'm still sore I still wear my binder most of the time, it's comfortable to me kinda holds everything still. I was wondering how they cut u , mine is like a v but my friends is straight across??? Ok good luck Liz