Has anyone here ever had a tummy tuck? I'm considering one and i've read a ton of research and have been reading personal stories online but I figured I would ask here too.

By Vicki on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - 02:02 pm:

I have never had one, but my SIL did. Although she was eventually happy with the results, the recovery period was NOT fun for her. Very painful!

By Crystal915 on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - 03:04 pm:

I've done all the research on it, because I plan to have one after I'm absolutely done having children. I have twins, and the pregnancy destroyed my abdominal skin and muscles, I can actually feel the gap where my muscles don't meet. Because of this I know it's the right choice for me. Obviously, I don't have any advice from a BTDT standpoint, I just wanted to let you know you aren't alone.

By Kaye on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - 03:22 pm:

A good friend of mine had one done. She said it was very painful, but worth it. She is a nurse, she came home early and had a nurse friend stay with her for a few days. She looked great and it really made her happy with her body. She said the secret was to lose weight and work out and THEN after 6 months of maintance to have it done. However my friend got pg about a year after and it turned out to be a waste of money

By Conni on Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 03:28 pm:

I looked into it in Costa Rica (cheaper there) and the doc told me she would do a partial tummy tuck on me...Well, I chickened out after researching it. The recovery after breast augmentation is horrid!!! I had that done and the thought of the recovery from the tummy tuck, well, I just wasn't mentally prepared to go thru that pain. LOL!!

She offered to do lipo. But, I didn't want to do that at the time either. A yr later and 25 lbs heavier...(from stress eating while going thru seperation, plus stress eating while I study! lol oh and I sit at my job, as well!! ugh) I am so glad I did not spend the money last summer! As it would have been wasted. One day I will probably do it. But, it will be after I am back into a routine of working out consistantly and am in better shape!!! Your recovery will be much easier if you are in good shape.

The breast augmentation was to replace leaking implants that I had from 9yrs previous. My left boob is always bigger than my right. So when I noticed it was smaller, I knew I had sprung a leak. Anyway, the doc confirmed and we replaced. My husband (soon to be ex) was such a jerk about it. He wanted me to walk around with leaks. So instead of arguing with him I just made my appt and did what I needed to do. He did drive me to the old creepy downtown hospital, walked me in to find out what time to pick me up. That's right, he never offered to stay. HE left and went to work. I guess during the surgery my blood pressure completely bottomed out and err maybe I nearly died?? That's how they kind of made it sound. She said they had to give me a ridiculous amt of fluids to keep things going? And that I would be swollen for quite awhile from all the fluid. OMG, it was so gross!!! Like a big tire around my belly. My husband picked me up after he got off work that night and took me home. The kids helped me during recovery. DH to this day has never said one NICE word about my boobs. He told me that he did not want me to make them huge and that he now thinks they are huge...ummm, I am now a C cup. So he is just a butthead. Isn't like I am a DD or a GGG. I am not sure why I shared this story...this post just brought back memories I guess.

I can't decide if I should go anon.Well, I put Costa Rica in here so you will know who I am anyway....

By Conni on Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 03:39 pm:

Oh yeah!! I also popped a stitch inside my breast from doing too much during recovery. I was having to drive myself to the doctor in a 5 sp manual transmission truck (not suppose to drive for a couple or 3 weeks? Can't remember exacly now) But I was lieing to the doctor and telling her I did not drive myself!!! I had to get there because I was in so darn much pain. CAlled a Taxi they went to the neighbors house and by the time I slowly got down my stairs and outside to yell at them they were gone. Well, giving directions to my house in spanish wasnt so easy for me, so I just gave up on taxi and drove myself. Anyhoo, doc stuck a needle in my boob to drain the fluid (blood from popped stitch I guess?) and it hurt soooooooo bad. Or maybe I am just a big baby. But they warned me it would be painful and had a nurse kind of holding me down. Wow, they weren't lieing, it hurt. LOL

Sorry, I am hogging your post. I had pushed the anger of all that out of my head (angry with how my husb treated me). It all came back when I read your post.

By Anonymous on Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 03:54 pm:

I am surprised I got replies. LOL Thank you for your responses. I am just looking at my options right now but nothing will be scheduled until DH gets his vasectomy. He's been overloaded with work lately so when things calm down we can go on with that. I assume I won't get the procedure until next summer or maybe even fall. I am at my ideal weight although I always "want to lose 5 pounds". I wonder if getting the tuck and losing the skin will make me feel better and realize maybe I don't need to lose more?

By Conni on Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 05:03 pm:

If memory serves it's about half the price in Costa Rica.

By Anonymous on Friday, July 18, 2008 - 11:46 am:

I had a tummy tuck! It was one of the best things I have done for myself. I gained a lot of weight with my pregnancies. After I was done having babies, I lost 60 lbs, and kept it off for 2 years before I decided to have the surgery. My stomach had lots of hanging skin and, was out of proportion with the rest of my body. I will say the recovery was HORRIBLE! I am telling you this so you are prepared. I had a 2-1/2 yr old at home, so I had help for 2 weeks. Dh took a week off, and then I had a girlfriend that came over each day for a week. It took me that long to even be somewhat functioning. I am glad I did research because my doctor told me I would be okay after a few days, WRONG. Also, when picking a doctor, I would suggest going to a few consultations first, make sure they are board certified, and ask lots of question. Also, ask to see before and after pictures of their work. I am so happy with my body. It definitely helped my attitude and self esteem. I would do it again, and have no regrets. Just know the recovery is painful, and does take awhile.

By Tsa on Friday, July 18, 2008 - 11:06 pm:

How much is a tummy tuck???
I always wanted one just never really thought I'd do it.

By Anonymous on Saturday, July 19, 2008 - 10:32 am:

Mine was $5,000.00. I used some of dh's bonus one year. I felt pretty guilty at first. But, dh was great and reminded me that I never spend money on myself.

By Anonymous on Saturday, July 19, 2008 - 10:51 am:

The price range really depends on your geographic location. In my area they range from $7,000-$10,000. I live in an area of some pretty highly sought after surgeons.

By Ginny~moderator on Sunday, July 20, 2008 - 07:37 am:

My concern is that a lot of surgeons, plastic and other, are doing surgery in free-standing surgery facilities that are not part of a hospital. Given all of the things that can go wrong, I would be very concerned about having this kind of surgery outside of a hospital, because if something did go wrong, at least in a hospital they would have everything needed to cope.

By Karen~admin on Sunday, July 20, 2008 - 09:15 am:

Never had any cosmetic surgery, but know a number of people who have and what I do know is this: *most* of the procedures are done in out-patient clinics or out-patient surgery centers of hospitals. My sister had breast reduction surgery in an out-patient clinic - it was less than 1/4 mile from the hospital though. The hospital where I had my hand surgeries had patients who were having some same-day cosmetic procedures done - I saw several who had had breast surgeries and face procedures - this was a full service hospital, not a trauma center though.

By Anonymous on Sunday, July 20, 2008 - 10:30 am:

Mine was done at my doctor's outpatient facility. But, it was 2 blocks from the hospital. I think one of the big things you have to think about is this is major surgery. You have to find a good, board certified doctor. I asked mine lots of questions. Like, how many tummy tucks have you done. You want to make sure this is one of the areas they specialize in. I went to 3 consultations before I picked a doctor. The one I used specialized in tummy tucks, he had practiced for 10 yrs, and was board certified. He showed me before and after pictures of his work, and spent a lot of time with me. He also would not do surgery unless you are at your ideal weight, which I was/am. He also explained the procedure in detail. Now, he was also the most expensive. I would just suggest you take your time when picking your doctor. Also, if you know someone that has had anything done, ask them who they used, and if they were happy with them.

By Anonymous on Monday, July 21, 2008 - 03:56 pm:

I had a tummy tuck and breast augmentation done at the same time exactly two years ago. My tuck was only the skin and did not involved any muscles. Still the recovery was painful. I weighed 118 lbs, 5'5". Tummy was flat and pretty muscular.. just the outer layer of skin was all wrinkly and loose from the pregancies. Boobs were really flabby from breastfeeding all my dks for over a year each. I don't regret doing the operations for a second. For the first time in 9 years, I can wear a bikini and feel confident. I'm not crazy about my belly button, however,.. think it's too long...but my gyno, who obviously sees alot of women with enhancements, said my results were one of the best she's ever seen. Yes... research research and more research. Make sure you check the doc's background and accreditions, including the facilities. Contact a former patient. I was asked if I would go on their contact list. No coaching etc. I think I paid ard $14,000 for both. Good luck in your decision.

By Reds9298 on Monday, July 21, 2008 - 10:28 pm:

I have a friend who had breast augmentation. I know nothing about the cost, what she researched, etc., but I do know that the recovery was painful for her. She never expected her boobs to hurt so much.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

By Anonymous on Tuesday, July 22, 2008 - 10:31 am:

I'm the one who did both the breast aug and tummy tuck together. I have to say the breast recovery hardly bothered me at all. I didn't notice any significant pain there BECAUSE my tummy hurt so much. I had some pooling of dead blood in one area of my tummy, which wasn't draining very well and had to have at least 4-5 follow up visits to have that "lump" drained with needles. Once drained it would fill back up. Of course, I had a drain left in my tummy after the operation for quite awhile but still that one area was giving me a bit of a problem. I still feel some numbness in certain areas in my tummy but that is a common side effect of these types of operation due to minor nerve damage. But despite all this again I do not regret it for a second. It looks great now and I feel great.