Circumferential Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck plus Butt/Thigh Lift) pics before & after
Replies
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That's excellent news, will step up the process a little more -- hopefully my genetics aren't too lazy... ;-)1
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Wow amazing! I am based in PA too, in Pittsburgh. I am going to have to look this doc up!1
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You look fantastic! Thank you for sharing this with us - I'm sure it will give extra motivation to a lot of people.1
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JulieSHelms wrote: »I forgot to mention in my original post--total weight for skin removal was 3.5 lbs. What a bummer--I thought for sure there were 20 extra lbs hanging there--sure felt like it!
Only 3.5 lbs?! I know it had to feel like more. I had a double mastectomy and I thought for sure it would have been 20lbs of boobs.....nope.....only 4! What the he**!!!6 -
You look amazing. My husband had the 3/4 round cut and it looks nowhere near as good as yours. He has massive scar tissue.1
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You look fabulous! And only 2.5 wks out? Wooo!
Smart of you to wait 9m. You had a nice butt under there! Way to go with that weight loss. I saw your before and after pics a while ago and was awed. Glad you still have your face dimples!2 -
JulieSHelms wrote: »I forgot to mention in my original post--total weight for skin removal was 3.5 lbs. What a bummer--I thought for sure there were 20 extra lbs hanging there--sure felt like it!
Only 3.5 lbs?! I know it had to feel like more. I had a double mastectomy and I thought for sure it would have been 20lbs of boobs.....nope.....only 4! What the he**!!!
Ha! I got you beat on that one--10 years ago (at 275 lbs) I had a reduction because, well, watermelons, and that was 9 lbs of breast tissue removed! (3.5 on one and 5.5 on the other, so very lopsided watermelons
) 2 -
Munchberry wrote: »Glad you still have your face dimples!
I love how you clarified which dimples you were referring to--Lol! The ones south of the border are gone now.
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mom23mangos wrote: »My husband had the 3/4 round cut and it looks nowhere near as good as yours. He has massive scar tissue.
Is 3/4 all still for belly? Men don't usually have butt issues.
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JulieSHelms wrote: »JulieSHelms wrote: »I forgot to mention in my original post--total weight for skin removal was 3.5 lbs. What a bummer--I thought for sure there were 20 extra lbs hanging there--sure felt like it!
Only 3.5 lbs?! I know it had to feel like more. I had a double mastectomy and I thought for sure it would have been 20lbs of boobs.....nope.....only 4! What the he**!!!
Ha! I got you beat on that one--10 years ago (at 275 lbs) I had a reduction because, well, watermelons, and that was 9 lbs of breast tissue removed! (3.5 on one and 5.5 on the other, so very lopsided watermelons )
Hahaha 0 -
JulieSHelms wrote: »mom23mangos wrote: »My husband had the 3/4 round cut and it looks nowhere near as good as yours. He has massive scar tissue.
Is 3/4 all still for belly? Men don't usually have butt issues.
Yes, it was all belly. The cut was at the waistline.1 -
If you don't mind me asking, how tough was the recovery? You're already out and about 2 weeks post op, which is AWESOME! There doesn't appear to be a whole lot of swelling either!1
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You look fantastic, I’m considering the same and sent you a PM. Thank you for posting!!1
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You look great! You had a good Dr. And what can I say about that BUTT. Looks like a 20 years Axx'S (Nice)2
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Wow!1
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You look fantastic. Congrats on your weight loss and maintaining. Thank you for sharing your before and after surgery pics with us.1
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If you don't mind me asking, how tough was the recovery? You're already out and about 2 weeks post op, which is AWESOME! There doesn't appear to be a whole lot of swelling either!
Compared to others I talked to, my recovery was very fast. But to be specific here is how it went:
I was actually supposed to go home the same day of surgery. But as the dr. was filling out my discharge papers I began to bleed through a drain hole. That man stood there in his suit and tie ready to go home, for an hour, putting pressure on the spot while debating taking me back into surgery to find the bleed. He said I bled much more then than during the whole surgery. The drain had somehow nicked a vessel when they moved me out of recovery. Anyway, It stopped but I was admitted for the night for observation, no more problems.
For two days I would describe it as extremely painful (morphine)
The next two days was still painful (oxycodone) then it just stopped hurting and
Next two days was uncomfortable (tylenol)
At one week, I had all stitches (like a thousand of them--took an hour) removed and 3 drains removed. He said I was healing ahead of schedule.
Day 8 I was back at the gym walking (like an old grandmother). I've been to the gym every day since. Probably by day 12 my cardio (walking, elliptical) was back to normal speed and duration. About then I started back with my strength training: squats, lunges, arms.
I'm still not doing any ab exercise--not so much painful--just can't get them to work yet. And running is still out--the jarring of it hurts.
Overall swelling went away after the first few days. But the incision is still swollen now. Below my pants line in the picture above I should be flatter--I have about a 4-month pregnancy look going on. The doc explained that the lymph pathways have been disturbed by the incision, so lymph builds up at the lowest point (just above the pubic line) throughout the day, then goes down while I sleep. New lymph pathways will be built over the next weeks and months and that swelling will get better and better.
I would say at 2.5 weeks I'm 95% functional at home. I just have to move slowly when changing positions, getting in and out of the car takes some time. There hasn't been any pain for awhile now--I just feel like I'm wearing a firmly tight belt.
I've been generally very pleased with the recovery. The only part I really didn't like were the drains--it's really disturbing having 3 tubes coming out of your body like that. All 3 were in the pubic area so I joked with my husband it was like sci-fi porn--I am borg, and all that! Then you have to carry around these 3 lemon sized containers as they collect the drainage. And sleep with them. Just yuck, yuck, yuck! I know some people have to keep them in much longer, so I was delighted to have them pulled at one week!
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you look so amazing1
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Awesome transformation, you have a bottom that many 20 year olds would envy, many 30 year olds would kill for, and most 40 year olds can only dream of..., you did it, congratulations5
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JulieSHelms wrote: »You had an amazing doctor!
He would agree with you. He wasn't at all arrogant but at my consult he encouraged me to visit with other plastic surgeons. He said--"But you won't find a better one in this state (PA), well maybe in Philadelphia...No, not even there. But please go visit around." Lol.
I am VERY interested in your DRs info and the costs associated with the procedure. I'm in NJ but I don't mind taking a trip for great results. I'm not ready to get it done just yet, still working on my muscle fitness but I'd say by next year I'd like a consult and procedure. The saggy skin on my tummy is what kills me the most. I don't have the genetics of my mom so after 3 kids, it's just a disaster area.1 -
The change in your butt is AMAZING! So happy for you!2
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JulieSHelms wrote: »You had an amazing doctor!
He would agree with you. He wasn't at all arrogant but at my consult he encouraged me to visit with other plastic surgeons. He said--"But you won't find a better one in this state (PA), well maybe in Philadelphia...No, not even there. But please go visit around." Lol.
I am VERY interested in your DRs info and the costs associated with the procedure. I'm in NJ but I don't mind taking a trip for great results. I'm not ready to get it done just yet, still working on my muscle fitness but I'd say by next year I'd like a consult and procedure. The saggy skin on my tummy is what kills me the most. I don't have the genetics of my mom so after 3 kids, it's just a disaster area.
Send me a friend request. I think the PM system isn't working reliably right now.1 -
Awesome transformation, you have a bottom that many 20 year olds would envy, many 30 year olds would kill for, and most 40 year olds can only dream of..., you did it, congratulations
Thanks fmps5. Nicest. Compliment. Ever! Over the whole journey, women have been vocal, but very few comments from men.
Thanks to everyone for your encouraging words. I have gone from decades of feeling at worst hideous and at best invisible, to now feeling...normal (if that makes sense). It makes all the sacrifice and hard work really worth it.
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You look amazing and that butt! I have serious butt envy!!2
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JulieSHelms wrote: »You had an amazing doctor!
He would agree with you. He wasn't at all arrogant but at my consult he encouraged me to visit with other plastic surgeons. He said--"But you won't find a better one in this state (PA), well maybe in Philadelphia...No, not even there. But please go visit around." Lol.JulieSHelms wrote: »I wanted to share what feels like my final hurdle in this LONG journey. I lost 130 lbs in 2.5 years. I maintained for about 9 months, then went ahead with the cosmetic surgery to solve the "drippy candle" effect of the loose skin.
First some background:
Age 51
5'8"
SW 302
FW 170
My before and after pics BEFORE surgery:
I look okay with my clothes on, but had very saggy skin underneath. I was actually bothered more by my butt than my stomach. When I would run, it felt like water balloons slapping against my back side. Just gross. That is why I chose the circumferential (goes all the way around) abdominoplasty, instead of the standard tummy tuck that is just in the front. You can understand what they do if you imagine pulling the skin down in the front, like a sweater, and pulling the skin up in the back, like pants. Then trimming off the overlap and sewing it all back together again. The surgery took 5 hours.
I declined the muscle tightening that is typical with tummy tucks. The dr. said my abs were in good shape and recovery is shorter if you don't mess with them.
I had the surgery Jan 31, so I am 18 days post-op. The doctor said I am healing well. I've been back to the gym since my drains were removed at one week. I'm pretty much doing everything again (cardio, strength) except no ab exercises and no running.
There is still some swelling at the incision line. Because it is only 2.5 weeks post-op, the incision is still raw looking in the following pics. It is supposed to fade to clear in about a year. I'm really pleased with the results! I like my new belly button, too.
I'm wearing the same pants before and after for comparison.
If you are considering the surgery yourself and want more info--feel free to message me. I can also direct you to pics that show all of the incision.
IJulieSHelms wrote: »I wanted to share what feels like my final hurdle in this LONG journey. I lost 130 lbs in 2.5 years. I maintained for about 9 months, then went ahead with the cosmetic surgery to solve the "drippy candle" effect of the loose skin.
First some background:
Age 51
5'8"
SW 302
FW 170
My before and after pics BEFORE surgery:
I look okay with my clothes on, but had very saggy skin underneath. I was actually bothered more by my butt than my stomach. When I would run, it felt like water balloons slapping against my back side. Just gross. That is why I chose the circumferential (goes all the way around) abdominoplasty, instead of the standard tummy tuck that is just in the front. You can understand what they do if you imagine pulling the skin down in the front, like a sweater, and pulling the skin up in the back, like pants. Then trimming off the overlap and sewing it all back together again. The surgery took 5 hours.
I declined the muscle tightening that is typical with tummy tucks. The dr. said my abs were in good shape and recovery is shorter if you don't mess with them.
I had the surgery Jan 31, so I am 18 days post-op. The doctor said I am healing well. I've been back to the gym since my drains were removed at one week. I'm pretty much doing everything again (cardio, strength) except no ab exercises and no running.
There is still some swelling at the incision line. Because it is only 2.5 weeks post-op, the incision is still raw looking in the following pics. It is supposed to fade to clear in about a year. I'm really pleased with the results! I like my new belly button, too.
I'm wearing the same pants before and after for comparison.
If you are considering the surgery yourself and want more info--feel free to message me. I can also direct you to pics that show all of the incision.JulieSHelms wrote: »I wanted to share what feels like my final hurdle in this LONG journey. I lost 130 lbs in 2.5 years. I maintained for about 9 months, then went ahead with the cosmetic surgery to solve the "drippy candle" effect of the loose skin.
First some background:
Age 51
5'8"
SW 302
FW 170
My before and after pics BEFORE surgery:
I look okay with my clothes on, but had very saggy skin underneath. I was actually bothered more by my butt than my stomach. When I would run, it felt like water balloons slapping against my back side. Just gross. That is why I chose the circumferential (goes all the way around) abdominoplasty, instead of the standard tummy tuck that is just in the front. You can understand what they do if you imagine pulling the skin down in the front, like a sweater, and pulling the skin up in the back, like pants. Then trimming off the overlap and sewing it all back together again. The surgery took 5 hours.
I declined the muscle tightening that is typical with tummy tucks. The dr. said my abs were in good shape and recovery is shorter if you don't mess with them.
I had the surgery Jan 31, so I am 18 days post-op. The doctor said I am healing well. I've been back to the gym since my drains were removed at one week. I'm pretty much doing everything again (cardio, strength) except no ab exercises and no running.
There is still some swelling at the incision line. Because it is only 2.5 weeks post-op, the incision is still raw looking in the following pics. It is supposed to fade to clear in about a year. I'm really pleased with the results! I like my new belly button, too.
I'm wearing the same pants before and after for comparison.
If you are considering the surgery yourself and want more info--feel free to message me. I can also direct you to pics that show all of the incision
Wow! How much was it?0 -
wow nice results, you have the bum of a 20 year old I can't image the recovery was much fun but I understand why you did and it and you must be so pleased with the results. 1
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Absolutely amazing results! I’m pretty sure I’ll need the same surgery once I hit my goal weight. I’m already sagging everywhere and I still have 100 lbs left to loose.1
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Amazing!! You look fantastic...he did a great job! Your transformation is truly inspirational
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I’m curious if you are in the US, and if so did your insurance cover any of it?0
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