Experience with Tummy-Tuck anyone?

[limewave]

As soon as we figure out how we're going to finance the procedure I"m going to get it scheduled. Hopefully squeezed in somewhere between Iceman and Thanksgiving.

[Wahine]

It sounds like you've really thought this through and have come to the conclusion that will work best for you. Good luck with it all!!

[Skippyak]

This is always a thought in my mind, I had always been chubby, had a good first sized baby (8#10) via section, then term twins via vbac (combined weight of 13#10, fraternal so all that too). I never gained much preg weight (18 for number 1 and 23 for the twins) but I was already 40# overweight. I have no DR. Now I am in a normal weight range, near 50, and have a panni, but at 135# and 5"3" I have a lot of visible body fat. I would guess that I could lose 15# from around my middle before I could even justify a tuck. Fortunately back in the day I was an RN and saw way too many thing go wrong that I probably will stick to compression wear, but if I jump rope,. things flap. I have asked my NP and she said no insurance company would be interested even if it were function over form, Like has been mentioned, risk in tucks might be increased when nutrition related, for people who lose weight in a non surgical and healthy way, one assumes the risks of post op healing would be optimal if you eat a good diet with protein and fresh foods. I always thought I would get a tuck and a hyster and a magic op that would tighten my pelvic floor, but the older I get the more I realise that this is not very likely LOL. I suppose my total weight loss was about 65-70 pounds. Ig you go ahead I would be really interested, my state has a lot pf plastic surgeons and apparently is pretty competitive $ wise. But I too want to know the impact on exercise. I still fell my section scar even 17yrs later.

[shootingstar]

Best of luck limewave.

[limewave]

It sounds like a few people are interested in updates so I will try and give some pre and post-up reports here. Right now DH and I are looking into funding the procedure (we don't have that kind of money laying around). We are hoping to have that figured out today. As soon as I get the green light, I will be calling the doctor's office to schedule the procedure.

I have had 2 previous surgeries: bilateral bunionectomy and a laparatomy (which was supposed to be a full hysterectomy). I don't think either one has hindered my ability to exercise. In case of the bunionectomy--it has allowed me to do much more! I do occasionally feel the screws in my feet--like when the weather is changing.

I am not looking forward to the long, slow, and undoubtedly painful recovery. However, I have done it several times before. I imagine this will be similar to the laparatomy. I have had to 'start over' several times: for both surgeries, two pregnancies, and a broken foot. I am familiar with the drill and am not overly concerned with having to take 8-12 weeks off from exercising.

As I mentioned, I have been struggling with feelings of selfishness regarding having this done and even self-image. I consider myself to be strong and capable. I am not one of those people that stand in front of the mirror picking myself apart. However, I do believe there are a lot of situations where I don't even realize I am compensating/hiding parts of my body. At one point in time I told myself that this extra skin and floppiness is just the consequence I have to live with for the bad decisions I made early on in life. I've carried it with me for over a decade--like baggage. It's been my burden. I am finally at a place where I feel like I don't need to carry that with me anymore. I can let that go. I'm not that person, I haven't been that person since I was 21 years old. It's time for the outside to finally, for the first time in my life, be a reflection of who I am on the inside.

I'll do another update when I get things scheduled . . . .

[OakLeaf]

I would definitely look into insurance coverage at least for repairing the diastasis recti. They might likely consider other parts of the procedure cosmetic (although if your flap gives you so much irritation, perhaps a dermatologist could sign off too??) - but if you could get the hospital charges and the anaesthesiologist and part of the surgeon covered, that would go a LONG way.

Good luck!

[limewave]

We already looked into insurance. The diastasis recti is considered cosmetic. I was told that since I had lost over 100 pounds, part of the procedure would be covered. But I needed medical documents showing the weight loss. Unfortunately most medical records are destroyed after just 7 years, as I recently learned. I wasn't able to produce a medical document proving I had lost significant weight. Even though I have all sorts of pictures, non-official records, and doctor's willing to give a notarized statement--insurance will not accept that as sufficient evidence

[Helene2013]

I wish you good luck. I'm sure once it is behind you (all healed) you'll probably say that this was one of the best decision - health wise.

I know I had breast reduction almost 3 years ago and I can't believe how much it changed everything. And I'm not only talking looks. The other day I was complaining about my bike and my husband said yes, but with the new bike, you no longer have that shoulder pain you kept having with your old hybrid. True. Never complained once about such pain.

Then this morning, it flashed on me! I had that reduction. And I had not ridden a bike since then. So it could only be that, not only the bike fitting that is good.

Yesterday I was thinking how fun it is to ride with no "boobs" hanging down, weiging on me. I keep saying this is the best physicial thing I could do to me. And because they had to remove about 1 pound on each breast, it was covered by our medicare plan. I did have to pay for the lipo on both sides as the surgeon said if we do not do it, there would be a big chance that it leaves you with what they call doggie ears (it's like flaps on the sides) and this was not covered. But still. Not a minute do I regret this. Can't say the same for hubby. Too him a while to get used to seeing me from a E cup to C. And if it had been for me, it would have been a B. But doctor said he will remove what he thinks goes with my body. So a C it was. He likes it balanced!

All this to say I encourage you to do it if you can do it. Not easy recovery (breast reduction is nothing). I could have gone to work after a week but he gave me a month's off to be on the safe side (no arm lift over your shoulder, no heavy weight - like 10 pounds or more for 30 days). No sports for 6 weeks, etc...but it was so oh all worth it.

Hubby was afraid I'd start to want one surgery after the other one now that I liked what I saw/had. Told him no way. I am ok with the rest of myself. Nothing that I could not "remove" without proper diet and exercice plan. And it still my thinking 3 years later.

Good luck.

[OakLeaf]

most medical records are destroyed after just 7 years, as I recently learned.

... I used to get older records for my clients all the time. Did you check with hospitals where you were admitted while you were heavy? Sometimes those records will be microfilmed and stored off-site and take longer for them to retrieve, but it would be pretty irresponsible IMO for a hospital to destroy records so quickly ... I think the only times I couldn't get records because of passage of time they were 20 years or more ...

[limewave]

I tried all avenues. Repeated requests, etc. I was told that they were unequivocally destroyed. And I did not have a hospital stay or visit during that tiem period

[Tokie]

I have a friend who lost 185+ lbs via gastric bypass ( more than 1/2 her pre-bypass weight!)Before her weight gain, she was an Olympic class cyclist. She has almost a whole body tuck and is again a strong cyclist and has no complaints. Well, I take that back- I recall that she wished that her breast lift didn't leave her as well endowed as she once was. For her, I seem to recall that the recovery was at least 3 months. You will have scars-but nicer than the loose flesh that is bothering you I imagine.

[limewave]

Update #1, 7 weeks pre-op
We were able to close on financing for the surgery last week. Fortunately I did have some money in savings that I could dedicate to this procedure, but I was short the total amount for the diastasis recti repair, full abdominoplasty, and--since I'm going under anyways, a bilateral brachioplasty. To be honest, my arms have always bothered me more than my tummy. Especially with all the sports I do and tank tops that are required. I know that I will never, ever, ever want to do surgery again if I don't have to and so I'm doing my arms!

I did some online research and read one negative and frightening experience after another so that I nearly backed out. But then I found a few positive ones and that gave me hope. I've decided at this point to stop reading the internet!

Now that my hospital room has been reserved and the down-payment cashed things are getting real. I'm starting to notice all sorts of things that I never paid attention to before. Suddenly the extra skin on my arms and tummy are really bothersome, annoying and uncomfortable no matter what activity I'm doing. I especially notice it when running and biking. Having been overweight my entire life and then having the extra skin--I have no idea what to expect post-op with repaired abdominal muscles and a flat-ish tummy. There are all sorts of core exercises that I have never been able to do no matter how committed I was to making my body do it! I'm curious to see how my running and biking may change. I have chronic IT band and lower back issues and I wonder if having a stronger core (my abdominal muscles in the correct place) will help correct that? I don't know.

This is the first update. I may do one more pre-op.

[Catrin]

Hang in there Limewave! As someone who has lost close to 100 lbs and have already have two major stomach surgeries I certainly understand why you want to do this. Do let us know how things progress!

[Blueberry]

Limewave-

Thank you for sharing this experience with us! Sending good vibes and healing thoughts for after your surgery.

[zoom-zoom]

I am SO thrilled for you! I can't wait to hear how this all goes. I've considered removing my belly flap and my batwings, but don't know anyone IRL who has done these procedures, so it would be nice to have that personal input if I ever decided to proceed, myself. Good luck through all of this, so exciting!