desperately considering tummy tuck but worried and confused

[miss]

really want to have this procedure. been thinking about it for years. i have had 4 pregnancies, 1 set of twins. 18,18,17,15,13. i have a hanging, strechmarked, jelly belly that is revolting and messing my head up and stopping me enjoying life. really cant afford it, has anyone managed to get it done on the nhs? can anyone point me in the direction of a good surgeon. dont know where to start. i have just emailed first cosmetics, are they any good, has anyone used them? i have an idea of the risks of having surgery, being a nurse. i think it makes me more anxious. those of you who have had the procedure, does it change the way you see yourself, make you happier, not so self concious?can you conceal the long scar you are left with and belly button scar? worried about recovery time, being a nurse i would need to be off shortest time possible. do you use all your holiday or do you get sick leave. any information would be great. thanks

[femina]

I'm not sure I can answer all your questions but I can offer you my experience. I had a FTT/MR two months ago. Like you I was miserable about my stretchmarked yukky tummy. I have two children, one with a c-section, and I gained a HUGE amount of weight with my first then lost it pretty quickly. This left my tummy loose and hanging, it was so bad I gained weight to fill it out a bit, my tummy looked a little better but I was miserable. For me the TT was the only option I had to try and restore my confidence in my looks. So far it has been a long and difficult recovery, not so much in a medical sense, although I did have a hematoma, but in an emotional sense it's definately a rollercoaster ride.
I am still a little swollen but it is going down slowly but I LOVE my new shape, I'm already wearing clothes I wouldn't have even considered before surgery, I'm 32 so I'm not talking crop-tops or anything here just fitted tops that look so much better now. I have got my pre pregnancy curves back and I barely have any stretch marks left. The scar is so much easier to live with than the stretch marks I had before surgery. On the whole I'm very happy I did this and I would do it all again in a heartbeat. It took me years to make the descision and I took out a loan to pay for it, but the way I see it it costs less than a new car and it will last me a lifetime and improve my and my familys standard of life by making me happy and confident again.
I had mine done in a BUPA hospital, I cant reccomend them enough. Excellent, highly regarded surgeon and faultless after care, I have nothing bad to say about the service I recieved from them
I'm afraid I cant tell you about getting the op done on the NHS, I don't think they would have considered me a bad enough case to be honest so I didn't even bother getting a referral from my doctor. Call around and most surgeons offices will be happy to send you a ton of info, it gives you somehwhere to start with an idea of prices etc.
You can see my before and after pics at http://www.picturetrail.com/loola1 the password is mytt.

[nihal]

BTW I just noticed you are in Gloucstershire, I had my TT in the BUPA hospital in Bristol. I would be happy to reccomend my surgeon, numbers etc. Let me know

[miss]

thanks for replying. i know i need to do it for my future to be happier but really scared about taking the initial step.
i want to be able to wear a bikini with confidence instead of covering up with shorts or a sarong. i want to wear fitted clothes maybe get my belly button pierced. i just wish there was an easier way.
My husband is not bothered by my body,he loves me as i am. but he can see what it is doing to me and knows i need to do something. he tells me i am beautiful and says other people think i am really attractive. i do get complements, but nothing goes in because i am so unhappy. i say to him, yes, but other people don,t see me with my clothes off. i also said if he had just met me as i am and i got undressed in front of him, he would think what the hell is that. he says he wouldn't but i think people just say things because they don't want to upset you.
anyway, my stretch marks come about 2 inches above my belly button, would surgery be able to get rid of most of them?

[anny]

I've said this before on this forum but reading the first part of your post I could have been reading something I'd written a year ago. I felt exactly the same way,I was ashamed of my body because I had this disgusting belly, my husband was exactly the same as yours but when he realised how much it was affecting my confidence he backed me all the way. He has been an absolute angel through this with me and I couln't thank him enough (but don't tell him he'll just get a big head! ).
My stretch marks also came up about two inches above my bb and I now have them about half an inch above my scar/pubic line. They are very faint though and hardly show even there, also because the skin is so tight now they dont pucker anymore which is a definate improvement.
I am very lucky and am currently at college so I had the TT done in the summer and didnt have to have any time off, it did mean that the poor kids had a bit of a rubbish summer but I intend to make it up to them next year. I would say three weeks off would be favourable, especially if you have a very physical job, but you could get away with two if you dont have any complications. It would also depend on wether you had the MR which can extend the healing time. Realisticly you wont do anything much for a week and not a lot for two. You will be bent over and swollen for a couple of weeks and housework will be off.
It was six weeks before I was exercising again on the recommendation of my surgeon and I'm still not up to a hard workout. Driving, not for a couple of weeks, but check with your insurance, I wasn't insured for four weeks following abdominal surgery, I could have paid a huge supplement but chose not to.
I spoke to lots of surgeons secretaries and surgical centres but went with BUPA because I felt they were the most reputable and because when I spoke to them they didn't give me the hard sell and were very down to earth. Also my surgeons secretary was so lovely and imformative she stuck out in my mind. I did some research into the few surgeons I had shortlisted and one seemed to stand out. I'll send you his details in a private message.

[super]

Don't worry - it is quite normal to feel as you do now before surgery! at:
Sorry - can't help with TT questions but it looks as though you joined the site at a good time as (as well as grace) there are a few people having or recently had TT surgery!! :clap:
I'm sure (between them all) they will be able to help put your fears at rest!

[anny]

i am having a tt on monday with the hospital group. i am extremely nervous at the moment and, like you, i hated it for so long i ended up just going for consultation, thinking, booking it and now having it done, all in the space of 6 weeks.
i think that when you decide S## it!! i'm having it done, then you will find a way. i had to juggle finances around a bit but have managed it without it making too much of a difference financially. after all, we buy cars, fancy electrical stuff, go on nights out, hols etc without even thinking. spending money on this is forever. you already know you want it done anyway.
i have had to stop smoking (ha, girls on here helped with that too) and that was sooooooo hard. but the £5.00 a day i save on cigarettes will have paid for op in 3 years.
as far as finding surgeon. my honest opinion is that once you find a surgeon you are comfortable with feel easy (easier) about it then you have found the surgeon. none of us can predict an outcome no matter how long we search. i only had couple of consultations and cancelled the others i had booked once i knew i felt comfortable with my surgeon.
shopping around to save money is a waste of time too as they all seem to be around the same price when you consider after care, medications etc.
i paying 5950.00 but am having lipo on flanks and tummy tuck with muscle repair. i get on call help and about 5 follow up app. one place was £1,000 cheaper but didn't include apps in case of infections or things afterwards. you got 2 follow ups and any more needed were charged £200 a time. also medication was payable
grace has been able to help you (as she did me) with the actual experience and i hope i can too by next week.

[super]

JUST DO IT - t least go and talk to a surgeon or two just to find out more.
I've just arrived home from having a tt done on monday and although itrs early days, I think its probably one of the best things I've ever done. If my recovery carries on like this I can see myself back at work by next monday!??

[anny]

whats the pain like? are you controlling it with basic analgesia? Have you anyone looking after you? Are you able to potter around? really worried about day to day life during post op stage. i know my hubby and children will have to manage. but i'm the type to just get on and do it myself rather than wait. i cant stand sitting around when i know there are things to be done.
I have made 1 appointment(harley Group) so far and requested info from others. i really want it done, but then this little voice inside me says what do you want to put yourself through that for. then i panic and think no.
how did you book time off work and what did you tell them? did you take holiday? planning when to have it done is a difficult one, i suppose there is never a good time.
i am going on holiday in December, so would not be wise to do it before then? Will have to get it done in the new year and suffer another cover up holiday. Then its going to be difficult getting time off work. i'll probably try and talk myself out of it by then.

[katiecat]

You can always go to a surgeon. He can tell you what he would do to you, and could walk you through the whole procedure. That way you can make an informed decision. Good luck!