No Judgement Please! Who Has Had a Tummy Tuck After Kids and Your Thoughts?

In the Eastern world a woman is deemed sexy and desireable for having a "mother's body".

I've learned to love my body. I'm proud of my mommy badge of honor. :)

Me. I love the results. The first three days were painful, the next three weeks were really inconvenient. The scar across my hips is very faint now and I couldn't care less about it.

A good friend of mine had one. She loved the results and is extremely happy she had it done.

I plan on having one at some point...

I have not done it. I am a size 2 and don't need it but you bet I would do it if I felt the need to do so.

Dr. Russell Sparenberg in Plano is fantastic. He took a couple of little nodules out of my abdomen and on my thigh and you cannot see it all ALL. He also worked with my husband after a very bad car accident wit road rash on his hands and you would never know he had the accident.

IF I were to get any type of cosmetic surgery, Dr. Sparenberg would be my go to guy in Plano.

I second what an earlier poster said... I have a friend who did it and she compared it to a c-section and a killer ab workout. She was in pain for a bit.

You do have to maintain because it is not a magic solution. If you don't, the pooch will come back.

Poo Poo on judgements. You do what makes YOU feel good and feel good in YOUR body! Your money, your body, your business. Good luck.

I know of at least two people who have had a tummy tuck. One was successful, the other-very scary. The one who was successful had minimal discomfort, and did very well( she also was one of those who probably didn't really need it in the first place). The other, well, she had gastric bypass surgery, and then lost a bunch of weight. She then decided on a tummy tuck for the loose skin around her middle. She ended up having a terrible infection and almost dying. It was horrendous to say the least.

I've got the protuded stomach and the excess skin around my mid-section. However, their is no way on God's green earth that I would ever voluntarily put myself under. That's just me though, no judgement for anyone else who would want one. I totally understand the desire to. Hell, my own mother had two breast implant surgeries, and a face lift.

If you do decide, make sure you go to a highly recommended plastic surgeon.

Hi A.,

I had a tummy tuck two years ago this May. I will start by saying that it cost $8,500 cash...obviously this is not covered by insurance. Like others pointed out, I have a faint scar that goes from hip to hip but that is a minor trade off for what the surgery did for me. I lost a lot of weight, 84 lbs to be exact and most everything on my body responded but my lower tummy was disgusting...I'll leave it at that. Anyway, the surgery itself wasn't so bad. The doctor inserted several bags of saline into my skin, gave me a nice dose of versed and it was done in less than an hour. Apparently I was awake the entire surgery but have zero memory of it thanks to the versed. My husband cracks up because he said that he took me to lunch afterwards, I was conversational and completely lucid but I have no memory of it at all, me earliest memory was about 6:00 that night. On a scale of 1-10, I would give the pain level about a 6 or 7 but hydrocodone is a wonderful painkiller :-) After the second day I switched to regular tylenol (so I wouldn't be so drowsy). The drainage is a little yuck but it is temporary so not a big deal. The compression garment was my best friend, I think I wore it for a about 2 weeks. It's a very personal decision, some people can obviously be a little, ok, a lot judgemental about cosmetic surgery but you have to do what will make you feel your very best. I would do it again in a heartbeat :-)

No tuck here, but my MIL has had a few. She is tall, therefore she is a big lady, not fat. She hates the thought of being big and always says she is shorter than she really is. What I was told is that she had a tuck after giving birth to my BIL because he was such a large baby. Then about 30 years later, she had another tummy tuck. I never thought she needed the first one, but I think we always have that complex about the perfect body.

I am a little closer to a friend who had two tummy tucks done. She had the first one done and had to call my MIL to ask if it was suppose to hurt that bad. This friend has had 3 boob jobs, 2 tummy tucks, they have sucked the fat out of her arm and put it in her buttocks, and had a cut from one end of her ahem, colin to the other. Her weight is back again in all areas. As for adverse affects, I don't care for the shape of her butt, I can see something like a line or something or the shape is not like a natural butt. As for her tummy, she is big, but her tummy is flat.

The same friend's aunt had one done and the doctor put the stitches too tight. She began to have breathing problems and had to go to the hospital. They called the surgeon in and he clipped a couple of stitches and said she would be fine. Hecho de Mexico!

Size 6 is a great size and if I were you, I wouldn't go through that pain or risk. Love your body the way it is...no judgement.

To hell with what other people think about tummy tucks. Base your decision only on medical opinions and your happiness. Good luck!! Some day I will get a tummy tuck and breast implants. It really sucks going through life with the breasts of a boy ;-)

I unfortunately havent had it done, but I have gone to a consultation for it.
Its expensive.
It is very extensive surgery and hard to recover from.
You will have a scar from hip to hip. It is not like a c-section scar, it is all the way across.
You go home with drainage tubes.
I would love to have it done. But, for how costly it would be, I dont know that I would be happy with a scar from hip to hip.
I just left well enough alone.
I certainly wouldnt judge you for doing it though. I wish I had my pre baby belly back.
Good luck to you in whatever you choose and I hope you are thrilled with it.

T/F Plano, I am a size 2 and I DO need it. :)

I read an article that the muscles over our tummys can separate when we are pregnant, but that there are exercises you can do to strengthen and pull them back into place so the squishyness goes away. I can't remember the link, but googling may help you find them. Good luck!

I'm getting one this summer:) I have a friend who had one and she compaired her to a c section, except with a feeling like you've spent hours working out your abs.

I have not had a tummy tuck...would consider it.

If that's what you need to feel better about yourself and you can afford it. do it.

my cousin had one 3 years ago. She is in GREAT shape, but she couldn't get rid of this little pouch. So she went searching for the best surgeon and got a boob job and tummy tuck. She didn't get any size added to her boobs, just the "meat" back. So there was no drastic change....her belly was great!! She has maintained it by working out and a personal trainer. She had pain and discomfort for several days or weeks afterwards...but it is all good now.

You have to have a GOOD if not GREAT surgeon.

My MIL got one for her 60th birthday. That was about seven years ago, and she has been happy with the results.

My mom had one. She has had a lot of work done. I thought her stomach looked strange after, like really flat but with no muscle definition. And she had a big scar. Make sure you read up on possible complications before you decide. My friends mom ended up with a terrible infection and another surgery to fix it. She was laid up for a month or more.

My aunt has had several cosmetic procedures. She said the tummy tuck was the most painful and had the longest recovery. A friend of mine had one on Feb.1. She had her drains in for over a week and she's still taking it very easy! Luckily, her kids are 8 & 10, so they're pretty self-sufficient.

My stepmother had one a few years back. She is a strong woman, but the recovery totally knocked her for a loop - she was not remotely prepared for it.

Unfortunately, the tummy tuck did not do at all what she expected. I think she expected it would flatten her stomach and give her back the thin waist she once had. Didn't work. She has never exactly said she regretted doing it, but I know she did.

My husband had a tummy tuck after losing 100 lbs. I am considering one in the future after having lost weight. The key to staying in shape is training and moderation!!! So you can undo your money and afforts by blowing it on fat sugar and processed foods. Before he had it he interviewed several surgeons and did his home work, every surgeon is different so you should interview them. In addition expect that you wil be bent over while recooperating, have plastic shunts with bags on you for drainage and it will be a gradual 6 week process. I also think he would go back for a nip and tuck where his love handles used to be. Now they need reducing, The surgeon cant really go all the way around your body. It just isnt good because you have to lay on your back w a tummy tuck. A full body? Too painful!!
If you feel that you dont look good with out this done do it. But understand what will happen, choose your Dr. and get ready for recovery.
Good Luck!

I haven't done it, and probably never will, but I sooooooooo want to! First, I have a few more pounds to lose for sure, but then I know there is going to be extra flab/flappy skin leftover that I'd want to get rid of. It would be so nice! But, I am just not the type to ever get plastic surgery of any kind, barring an accident that caused scarring or something like that.

Not judging those who choose to do it. It's just not for me in reality (though it sure is in my wishes!)

I had one 1.5 yrs ago.
BEST. DECISION. EVER.

I would do it again in a heartbeat.
If you had a C-section...you know what to expect. Tt's the exact same.
If not, coughing and sneezing will be really sore for about 2 weeks. Then you'll be fine. It took me about 10 days to be able to stand fully upright without discomfort. The skin and underlying muscle needs to stretch again.
You won't be able to lift anything more than 10lbs for 6 weeks. (You'll be feeling totally normal long before then.) Consider it "protecting your investment".
I had very little pain, even right after the surgery. About 3 days of discomfort, more than anything. I'm a very active person, so getting up and walking around was a necessity for me.

My surgeon used progressive tension sutures for closing me (no drains for 2 weeks to deal with!), so I never dealt with swelling. At all. No compression garment was needed, and I could see my final results the day I came home.
I still have stretch marks. They were just too much and all over for him to get rid of. But my belly is flat as a pancake, and I love the way I look. I literally never have to worry about anything hanging over the front of my jeans ever again.

PM me with questions.

I had one last Tuesday. It was one of the best decisions I ever made and am extremely happy with the results so far. I know I am only a week in but after having my twins 4 years ago, I have been thinking about it ever since. Finally decided to do it. I lost weight since my twins and was at a normal weight. I work out like a beast (2 times a day if i can, i know it's crazy, just love working out) and eat a Paleo lifestyle (natural, no preservatives, etc). Everything else on my body was looking great except that one little part so finally got it taken care of. It hurt for a few days in the beginning but I am recovering well. The only thing is that I can say, the stronger you are, the more you work out and the better you eat in the beginning, the easier your recovery will be, in my opinion. My c-section hurt way more than this does. Just do research. Hope it all works out for you =)

i was just thinking about this but not so much to wear snug shirts but DH has gone beyond a beer belly to the second flabby tummy under the beer gut. He is trying to lose weight. hopefully when he is successful i hope we might be able to get rid of the excess skin.

under those conditions i would like to know if surgery is a viable option. and what we would need to morgage to be able to afford it.

I don't have any exerpience with what you are asking,so can't help there.

My SIL had one after gastric bypass surgery. She didn't have any complications and is very happy.

I'm like you - size 6 but with the flabby tummy. I love the idea of a tummy tuck, but I hate the thought of the recovery. Have you looked into laser liposuction at all? It sounds a lot less invasive and less expensive, as well.

I also wear a 6 and have some loose skin. Fortunately, the skin fits into my pants and I can wear fitted shirts. I've pondered a tummy tuck, but I'm rather cheap and don't want to pay for one. I'd lose an inch or two if I did it though.

I have a friend that is also slender in general, but her pooch can't be hidden. She has weak abdominal muscles in addition to loose skin. A tummy tuck would not help her much, because she would still have a pooch unless she does something about her abs first.