W.G.
Hi I.,
I have 2 close friends who have had tummy tucks, and not to try to frighten you, but the are VERY painful and the recovery is a tough one.
You WILL need someone there with you as you will be immobilized for quite some time after the surgery, you'll have drainage tubes. Lipo is also very painful. The doc will use a numbing agent during the surgery so it will take a couple days before you feel the worst of it. Make sure you have everything set-up prior to your surgery .. a reclining chair is the best and will be the most comfortable for you.
ICE, ICE, ICE!! If you ice immediately, you'll lessen swelling, bruising, and speed healing. Invest in about 10 LARGE bags of frozen veggies and keep them on your surgery sites AT ALL TIMES as soon as you get home, use ace bandages to secure them. Make sure the person there to help you knows you HAVE TO ICE, as you'll be out of it for awhile and might not remember. Make sure you already have your pain med's and a schedule for taking them, make the person there helping you VERY aware of the medication schedule BEFORE surgery. You REALLY DON'T WANT TO MISS TAKING YOUR PAIN MEDS.
The results are pretty amazing, you'll have that pre-baby flay belly again. Do you know if your doc is going to reconstruct your belly button? Both ladies I know that have had the procedure don't have them any more .. kinda' strange .. but also kinda fun (one of my friends now has a little shamrock tattoo where her belly button used to be).
A tummy tuck is major surgery, don't be fooled into thinking plastic surgery isn't serious business. You're in for a lot of pain and a difficult recovery. Also, don't expect perfection.
You will look unappealing for awhile as your body heals. There will be some swelling (not too much if you remember to ICE) and bruising (use Arnica gel to help break up the blood under the skin that causes the bruises) that will need to heal before you'll see that actual results from your surgery, don't worry if everything looks weird for awhile. It took about a year for my new boobs to "settle in" :)
Jeeze! I'm a total bummer! From my own personal experience with plastic surgery, it was a painful process, but I love the results, I feel so much better about my body - it's a personal decision that a lot of people won't understand or endorse. So, get ready for the ride!
good luck!
~W.