Tummy Tuck Photos - Graphic - not for weak stomach

[Harley Granny]

I was expecting really gross pictures! I think they did a great job! I'll be following you closely as I still have 100 lbs to go.

Thanks for taking us on your journey!

[Ronnie]

Harley Granny, It comes quicker than you think! good luck and stay true to that sleeve and it will be true to you, and you will find yourself 100 lbs lighter. I feel better each day and am excited for March when the arms and boobs are scheduled! After losing so much weight and age playing against me... skin removal surgeries are a necessary evil. But I love what he did with my tummy! It hasn't looked that good since middle school

[Ronnie]

Hi Vegas neon... getting up and down and all that is hard first couple weeks. though noticeable improvement each day. I was in TJ for a full week at hospital then recovery hotel they send you to while they can still care for you. Exceptional work and exceptional care.

[Ronnie]

Eva, the pain is manageable and gets better each day. I was petrified of infection as well, but everything is so sterile, and I take good after care as well. I am not out of the woods yet, so knock on wood!!! I still have some open areas that spot blood from time to time..all very normal

[rhondap46]

I'm curious ... how long did you wait to have your tummy tuck after your weight loss?

[Ronnie]

Oh pineapple, when i get dressed, it is so nice not to have to tuck that big apron into clothing... and down like 2 sizes without it! I am a size 12 now, which I haven't been since 6th grade!!!! I figure I will likely end at a 10/12 somewhere when it is all said and done.

[Ronnie]

I waited about 6 months of a steady weight. I am not looking for skinny. I want healthy and no hanging skin. I have about 30+ lbs of just skin that needs to be removed.

[Happagirl]

Thank you so much for sharing. Wishing you a safe, healthy, quick healing journey.

[bergamini]

Great pics, the improvement is already tremendous after just a few weeks and it is going to heal great, the incisions look very straight and clean to me. You have certainly earned the right to not have to tuck!

[Ronnie]

wishing you the best John, and lots of good mojo from New Orleans coming to you for the month of October! I am 2 weeks out today and feeling so much improved. Though it is a process indeed! Gearing up for next round less than 6 months away. Right now, seems my entire life is dedicated to this transformation i have committed to. "Real Self" is another great site that I have been hanging out on especially during this part of the journey...lots of veterans out there in the plastics arena...

[painfreenow]

Congrats Ronnie, it looks wonderful and I'm sure you feel wonderful We had the same doctor for sleeve I have a question if you don't mind. How much did this procedure cost in TJ, need to start saving. I had abdominal hysterectomy so I can imagine the pain will be something similar and that is only thing I am dreading good luck and once again you look wonderful

[OAM]

Really remarkable! It looks like you had a lower body lift. All the loose skin on your thighs was pulled up and tightened up. Is that normal with a TT? I am also curious as to how would you rate the recovery process in comparison to the sleeve? How long did you have to stay out of work? You must be so excited!!!

[Ronnie]

@OAM, yes I did not expect the benefit to the thighs, but it did help. I still need a thigh lift for sure. I need to repost some update pics, as most of my swelling has gone down, and my incisions have healed and the lines are so nice and straight. It looks much better now. the only issue is I did get an infection about 2 weeks post op, and I had to have the wound debrided as it stalled, so i have a pretty deep wound the size of a nickle that I need to pack daily for the next 6-8 weeks so that it heals from the inside out. But other than that it was the perfect experience. I stayed out of work for 3 weeks and it was much needed. Quite honestly I am just beginning to feel back to somewhat normal. I think if I didn't have the infection, it would have been much faster and has slowed my process some. In the beginning I felt very similar to the sleeve and it actually felt like I was resleeved as I was eating or rather drinking for about 3 weeks post op just like I did for the sleeve, which has been wonderful, as now I am only 13lbs from goal. I have lost 20 lbs since 9/2 tummy tuck day! Of course 10 of that was pure skin removal, but the other 10 was from the sleeve diet for a few weeks. I am thrilled with my results. I go back in March for arms and boobs. This was a bit harder of a recovery, as I had that anchor cut which you have to baby much more than the sleeve. and you really have to sit still in a lawnchair position and sleep in that position for the first few weeks so that you heal. I didn't sit as still as I should, so I slowed my healing a bit. Live and learn. For my arms, I will sit in the chair for the 3 weeks like I am supposed to and not move other than to use the bathroom and walk around the house a few times a day. I took "walk walk walk" to mean do a mile or 2, and so that is what I pushed myself to do. Big misunderstanding and mistake! If your job is physical, you will need at least 4 weeks off, preferably 6. But that also depends on level of TT. I had the big kahuna. If you only need a regular TT, could be shorter. Mine was the cadilac of all TTs... extended TT w/ anchor cut and muscle plication.

[Ronnie]

Hi Sandra, I won't lie, the level of TT I had was not walk in the park! It took a while to heal, but I also was not smart and tried to do too much too soon. sit still for 3 weeks in the lawnchair position and you will be fine. It cost about $3800 for the extensive TT that I had in TJ. I am thrilled with the results. Seeing my profile and my stomach in the mirror now, makes me smile...every day. Can't wait for arms and boobs in March. What a process. I will be much wiser though, and be a lazy bum next surgery, and lay real low for 3 weeks. Live and learn as the saying goes. I am now at my highschool weight and size and feel fantastic. I have about 25 lbs of skin left on me, so that will take me well below high shcool weight back to middle school weight. I am actually only 13 lbs from middle school weight, so just beside myself with joy. I am only 19 lbs overweight at this point according to the NIH charts. I can lose that by end of year. so 2014 will be my big year.... most of the skin removal surgeries will be complete by end of 2014.

[Shelley Boo]

You will look great once all the scarring has healed. I hope my tummy goes back as I couldnt afford to get this done. Fingers crossed.