Another Tummy Tuck Experience

[Toesinthewater 31]

I had my TT (muscle repair, no lipo*) on 1/10/22. Recovery was what I expected pain wise but not time wise. For some crazy reason I thought I would bounce back in a couple of weeks - NOPE! The first week I needed help doing everything (except wiping my hiney - thank God). The drains were removed on day 8 which did not come quickly enough. I haven't had any major complications, just a minor (small hematoma) that resolved on its own. I'm still a bit tender but I can now sneeze/laugh/cough without my eyes tearing up. My scar is healing ahead of schedule (per surgeon). I tried silicone tape (week 3) but it made me itch so I just massage my scar with coconut oil daily but I do forget some days. I will be having scar revision in the future but that was always part of the plan. I have a high belly button and I also had a tattoo around my belly button. Not one of my smartest moves but what can I say, I was 20 something at the time. My surgeon does not make "T" incisions due to blood supply concerns. Also, since the entire tattoo could not be removed, I didn't want a totally distorted tattoo. So my scar at this time is higher than both he and I would prefer. The scar revision is an office procedure with local anesthesia so I didn't object.

I chose to "stage" my Lipo after my Tummy Tuck. I'm scheduled for lipo on 2/28/22. Why you may ask. I'm having multiple sites done (knees, inner thighs, saddle bags, and flanks). By doing it in "stages" the lipo of the flanks can be more "aggressive" than if I had it with the TT.

[DaisyAndSunshine 303]

Congrats on TT and your recovery. And thanks for sharing your journey. Would love to see some before and after pics may be months down the road.

Good luck for rest of your procedures.

How much did it all cost you? Anything covered by the insurance?

[GreenTealael 25,157]

Congratulations and good luck on round 2!

[Toesinthewater 31]

I looked into going to Miami, FL (Dr. Alex Earle) because of cost but when I took into account all the additional expenses needed for travel (airfares, lodging, food, Uber/taxi) plus my husband was not thrilled once he did research on the possible complications (necrosis, DVT, infection, seroma, hematoma), I went to a local surgeon.

TT: $10,700

Lipo (knees, thighs, saddle bags, flanks): $5,600

Even though it was more than I had estimated ($15k), I'm glad I went with a local surgeon because I did have a couple of minor complications (small hematoma and a suture knot that needed to be trimmed).

[Toesinthewater 31]

Goal of the future scar revision is to move the incision under the tattoo down closer to where my underwear are and to remove more of the tattoo so that the incision looks more like a "handlebar" and less like a "grin". FYI: What's left of the tattoo is the half that was originally above my belly button so you can have some idea how much skin was removed. The Tummy Tuck didn't give me my 20 something stomach back but I'm happy with the results so far. The "final" result won't be apparent for several more months. Plus the Lipo should help.

[GradyCat 3,693]

Thanks for sharing a photo so I could understand what a Tummy Tuck is and how the scar goes.

[learn2cook 556]

This is very helpful!