Tales of a Tummy Tuck
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After the birth of my first baby, I remember the hospital physiotherapist checking my abdominal muscles.
“Ooh, that’s a big gap!” she exclaimed after measuring a four centimetre separation.
Two years followed, I had another baby. Becoming a mother had changed my body shape. My once little pot-belly now sagged and hung over my pubic area. I remember attending a birthday party and receiving directed glances from acquaintances, as they eyed my large tummy. Surely they were thinking ‘how can she look pregnant when she had her baby months ago?’
Over the years several people assumed I was pregnant when I wasn’t. I was tired of the embarrassing scenario – I would explain that I was not “with child” and they would guiltily apologise. At my most recent encounter, a stranger asked if I knew the sex of my unborn baby- when I was very much NOT pregnant. I stammered I didn’t know.
The lovely lady wasn’t being rude and I didn’t want to make the situation any more awkward.
I felt I had loss my sense of self. The rest of my body I could live with- but I now had the tummy of a 70 year old, when I should have the stomach of a woman in her 30’s. I’m all for ageing gracefully, but there was nothing graceful about this. I felt so undesirable and it was beginning to affect many areas of my life.
I made the decision to have a tummy tuck – abdominoplasty – on a whim, but I immediately immersed myself in research.
I felt uncomfortable travelling overseas for plastic surgery; I had children to think about and God forbid anything go wrong. I wanted to be in safe hands, recovering in hospital in Canberra, not miles away. I researched the best Canberra surgeon using online plastic surgery forums and local Canberra Facebook mother’s groups.
Meeting with my chosen surgeon was daunting, but exciting. He discovered that my abdominal muscles were still separated after my births, and my stomach and pubic area had “collapsed”. I discovered that abdominoplasty eliminates the back pain that many women suffer after childbirth and abdominal separation. Posture is also greatly improved. The sewing of my abdominal muscles really was reconstructive surgery, with the added aesthetic bonus of losing my awful stomach “flap”, as my surgeon so eloquently put it.
Prior to having a tummy tuck, there were many things that I was completely unaware of.
For those that contemplate this type of surgery, or are just curious, here are some details about the post-operative recovery:
- I was unable to stand up straight after the operation. I was hunched over for days, and I only started to stand up straight after about two weeks post-surgery.
- It is extremely painful. Finding a comfortable position to sleep is difficult. As I moved about during the following weeks, I found sitting for long periods of time incredibly uncomfortable.
- I woke up from surgery with draining tubes coming out of my pubic area. I hobbled around my hospital room, painfully ensuring I didn’t get the tubes caught as I carried my bag of drained fluids. I felt like a little old lady carrying her handbag! These were in place for several days.
- With all the swelling in the first few days, it was hard to gauge how flat my stomach would be. But when the swelling subsided, my joy was immeasurable! Definitely worth the $15,000 plus price tag.
- I wore a post-operative garment for six weeks post-surgery. A tip: purchasing two garments is well worth the money!
- Moving around as much as possible is so helpful during recovery. I did plenty of walking (at my own pace) and the nurses informed me this can help speed up recovery.
- I was unable to lift for several weeks. With small children, this makes life very hard! Having someone to help me out during this time was essential for my recovery.
I am now several weeks post-surgery and feeling fabulous. My surgeon cut off 1.8 kilos of skin. I cannot believe that’s how much my flap of skin weighed! I feel like I am embracing my old self again. The dull back ache I experienced has disappeared. My young children say they miss my “wibbly-wobbly belly”, but I for one, don’t!
Disclaimer: This story represents the writer’s own views. Please consult with your health practitioner for medical advice.
An anonymous response from a reader:
“I am 10 months post op from my tummy tuck, the recovery was gruelling. I too made the decision on a whim and if I had truly understood how gruelling it was going to be I would have thought longer and harder about it. Ī am relatively happy with the results but will wait for 12 month mark to see the final end result. I had two kg of excess skin removed and finally feel more like ‘me’ again.
One piece of advice I would give is not to be enticed to a non-hospital-over-night-stay-at-a-fancy-hotel offer [they may give you]. This is major surgery; a fully equipped hospital with nursing staff and appropriate equipment for a few days would have really helped my initial recovery a lot more.”
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