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My Recovery From A Tummy Tuck

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It has been about 2 1/2 weeks since I had my tummy tuck surgery and I am finally feeling up to sharing about the initial experience and recovery from a tummy tuck as well as some results!

Recovery from a tummy tuck

Prepping For Surgery

I had 15 days between my consult and my surgery to prepare and wrap my brain around the things were going to be changing drastically.  I spent hours talking with people that had been through the experience before.  I ordered all the things, had to have a COVID test because it is required before surgery and picked up prescriptions.

Tummy Tuck Consult in Colorado

I am not someone that does well relinquishing control and in the current state of the world I am really struggling, but I knew I was going to need help and thankfully I had a team of amazing family and friends who were able to quarantine and take care of me but mostly take care of our kids while I recovered.   You can read more about why I decided to have a tummy tuck here and no it was not just for vanity

Day of Surgery

The day of surgery I showered, and followed explicit directions not to eat and only drink the apple juice they prescribed and then I arrived at the surgery center.  It was weird because with COVID no one can go in and wait with you.  It is just me, awkwardly by myself, waiting to be cut open.  The nurses were great and we had a good laugh when they gave me a pregnancy test only to realize that I had a hysterectomy 3 years prior.

Tummy Tuck surgical prep

They got me started on an IV, the anesthesiologist came in and spoke with me, my doctor came in and marked me up. I decided not to take a picture of that because I just felt like, I didn’t want to hate my old body and see it for the last time like that.  Then it was back to surgery.  I woke up groggy, was told I was their favorite patient they had had in a while and sent home a few hours later.

Recovery From a Tummy Tuck

I will be writing a whole post about what you need as far as home supplies to recover from a tummy tuck but for now, I just am going to share about how my personal recovery was.  As you can see below, I was a wreck. I had 24 hour care for the first week of recovery and my children were either with my mother or aunt.

tummy tuck nightgown

Did I need the care?  Probably not, as I slept for a solid week but it was SO nice to have my friends and family there to help me up when I needed to pee or to grab a glass of water or medication for me.  I lived in a nightgown and a dress for the first week and had compression socks on as well to avoid blood clots.

tummy tuck walker

I slept in a recliner with a billion pillows and had a folding table next to me where I had a constant stock of saltine crackers, pineapple juice, protein drinks and medication.  The doctors do want you to walk around periodically and I was SO thankful to have this loaned walker to move about without worrying about falling.

tummy tuck binder

You also are in a binder for basically 24 hours a day, which honestly is both wonderful and awful at the same time.  You can take it off for short periods but my doctor wants it on for a solid 4 weeks.  I should state that I had what is called a drainless tummy tuck, so I did not have to deal with tubes and body liquids at all, and seems to actually be easier to recover from then what I have read from people who undergo the standard tummy tuck with drains.

How was the Pain?

I feel like I have a pretty high pain tolerance.  My mom will tell you that I would cry wolf when I was a kid, but personally that was more for attention than for actual pain.  I have had 2 c-sections and a laparoscopic total hysterectomy.  Pain was manageable.  Was it painful?  YES!  Is it manageable?  Absolutely!  I did also opt to have an extended pain numbing injection as I was told it greatly helps with recovery.  I was standing straight up within a few days…many patients it takes weeks to do so.

drainless tummy tuck healing

You have a large, hip to hip incision and they also relocate your original belly button to a new area of skin, while sewing your abs together like a corset, repairing any hernias and cutting off skin.  It hurts, you will need pain meds, but as long as you actually follow the doctors orders and rest and take those meds on a schedule, the pain is manageable.  I would say for me personally it was on par with my c-section pain.

Tummy Tuck 2 Week Results

I took this photo the morning of surgery.  I wear this swimsuit a lot.  I love it, I feel like it is comfortable and I feel good in it.  Yes, even when I had that mommy tummy.  Morning of surgery I weighed 189 lbs…my heaviest weight since pregnancy.  I am stating this because, tummy tuck surgery is NOT weight loss surgery and I came out of it only 6 lbs lighter…but the results…

before tummy tuck

…I took this picture today.  My belly button is still healing, you can’t see the steri-strip covering my incision and my hair isn’t even brushed.  It is clear that my body underwent a huge transformation and that my surgeon did an excellent job in keeping my curves looking natural but more importantly fixing my abdominal muscles.  I still have stretch marks, my boobs have fed two children and are not perky, there’s my chubby thighs and the booty, but NONE of that even matters.

2 weeks after tummy tuck

Because, the main reason this tummy tuck happened was because of my back and guess what hasn’t been in pain?  I have had nearly zero pain from my back since the muscles and hernias were repaired.  I feel amazing and am so happy with the results.  My body is still very much healing and will be for a while, but that back pain is a memory.  I am feeling happy, healthy and confident and will be wearing this swimsuit (from Venus Fashion) a lot.  So there it is, there is me…it’s crazy to share, but if it helps someone, then there it is.

Have any questions about a recovery from a tummy tuck? Drop them in the comments.

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Cristne

Monday 19th of February 2024

Hi ! You look great and thank you for sharing this journey! I’m wondering did you schedule this when the kids were in school or out of school - and why ? ❤️

Laura

Tuesday 27th of February 2024

Hi Cristne!

Thank you for the sweet comment. I had surgery during the summer, simply because that is when the doctor could get me in, however, I would have chose the summer regardless because I am a teacher and taking a week off is difficult. My kids were a bit older and I had basically 24 hour care for the first week for me and my kids.

Thanks! Laura

Renee

Thursday 19th of October 2023

I thank you for sharing your journey! I work out 5 days a week, am very active, eat healthy, but can’t seem to get rid of my mom pooch. I’ve noticed some incontinence issues lately with sneezing, coughing, and high impact exercises. I have. 3” separation in my abdominal muscles. I’m 47, have had 2 c-sections, breast implants, and a laparoscopic tubal. I thought the laparoscopy was the most uncomfortable! The implant surgery felt a little uncomfortable and like my breast’s were swollen like when I was breastfeeding. Other than the pain meds they administered after each surgery, I only took ibuprofen to manage the pain and I found that very manageable. I used a post partum binder and was standing straight by the end of week 1. I’m seriously considering a drainless tummy tuck in the next 6 months. I’m wondering how close the tummy tuck recovery is to the c-section for comparison.

Laura

Tuesday 24th of October 2023

Hi Renee! Apologies for the delay. I was on vacation. The pain and recovery was much harder especially the first week. I was basically asleep for a week and my mom and husband and best friends had to help take care of my children.

Dana

Tuesday 17th of January 2023

Hi Laura! So glad I found your post. Going for my consult this Saturday and ready to be free of back pain. I’ve had lower back and hip pain since my full hysterectomy 6 years ago. I’m 54 with 3 grandkids and 2 on the way. I’m used to being active and this past year I have been battling depression with this debilitating back pain. Ready to get back to me! Your post is so encouraging and helpful. It makes me sad that this surgery isn’t discussed more often for back pain for women. Something I have studied and came to my own conclusion after years of suffering. How can we fix this?

Ready to get on the other side of recovery!

Laura

Tuesday 31st of January 2023

I am so sorry this did not show up until today! I hope your consult was awesome! Its been a life changing surgery for sure! Yay and I am TRYING to share all that I can to help others. Thank you!

Lissette

Monday 6th of June 2022

Great article. You’re results are amazing. Very natural look. Thank you, I am ready for my tummy tuck in 3 weeks. I am 180 lbs now, lost 10ths since I scheduled my procedure. Can’t wait to get rid of my sagging belly.

Laura

Wednesday 22nd of June 2022

Yay! Hope it all goes well! You will look great!

Bethany Wellbrock

Monday 4th of April 2022

Who was your dr in colorado? I’m looking for one, and if you mind sharing cost? Thank you

Laura

Monday 4th of April 2022

Hi! I dont share my doctors info in my posts for a few reasons (he was great, theres some copyright issues). You can go ahead and email me laura@wegotthefunk.com and also check out this post for the price. https://wegotthefunk.com/how-i-paid-for-my-tummy-tuck/

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