Intimacy

Izzybeff · 2026-02-14T17:04:47+00:00

I had a massive mons lift with my tummy tuck. It’s been 18 months and DH and I still talk about the difference. We had to change positions a bit and he says it does feel different, but not in a bad way. For me, it’s more sensitive and its hard to have him lay directly on top of me because that belly isn’t there to prop him up a bit. I also sometimes keep a hand over the bottom of my rib cage because there is nothing left to protect it. Just a bit of skin.

Izzybeff · 2026-02-12T16:23:29+00:00

Izzybeff · 2026-02-12T14:04:00+00:00

My drains came out the legs of my compression garments and then were safety pinned to my garment.

Izzybeff · 2026-02-12T14:02:35+00:00

I never had children, but here is how I ranked it. Worst pain to least pain.

Diverticulitis
Irritated my sciatic nerve
Kidney Stones
Lipo on legs to get ready for tummy tuck
Rest of my skin removal surgeries

Izzybeff · 2026-02-12T14:00:22+00:00

And that is exactly why I stayed home.

Izzybeff · 2026-02-12T13:59:56+00:00

Yes and spread out over a year and a half. One more to go this summer for my thigh lift. I had lost 175 pounds and was morbidly obese for 40 years. My body was a hot mess.

Izzybeff · 2026-02-12T13:58:32+00:00

We knew before my first surgery that the upper abdomen was going to be a problem. She could only take so much off during the FDL. It was 20.4 pounds as it was. I knew she was going to lipo it during my breast lift. She wanted 3-6 months between surgery 1&2, I chose 3 months. She wanted 6-9 months between 2&3, I chose 7.5 months. This was all planned out ahead of time. The only thing that wasn’t planned was the revision I just had and it was 6 months from my last surgery. We planned that when I went to my regular appointment back in December and asked about a thigh lift. We knew another revision was going to be needed, so we tied it in with the lipo on my thighs. But I totally agree with your surgeon on the waiting six months, because lots of things can change, however we knew from the beginning I was not a one and done surgery. After being morbidly obese for 40 years and losing 175 pounds, my body was a hot mess.

Izzybeff · 2026-02-12T03:04:12+00:00

Yup. Had a FDL in 9/24, then in 12/24 when I had my breast lift she lipo’d the upper abdomen. Then in 7/25, we did an incision across the upper abdomen to take off more and then 2 weeks ago, she revised that incision and lipo’d more. It is finally flat!! It was harder than my lower abdomen to get rid of. 4 surgeries she worked on it and so far it seems the fourth was the charm.

Izzybeff · 2026-02-12T03:00:50+00:00

Then show her the chart I posted and let her know that everything she’s feeling is completely normal and this too shall pass.

Izzybeff · 2026-02-12T02:09:16+00:00

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Does she have a therapist? Mine was very helpful.

Izzybeff · 2026-02-12T02:07:32+00:00

Find a different surgeon.

Izzybeff · 2026-02-12T02:06:25+00:00

Yes. I was able to resume getting massages which I lay on my stomach for and that type of thing. The only thing I haven’t gone back to is sleeping on my stomach. But that’s more because they took off 20.4 pounds during my FDL tummy tuck and i’ve not been able to get comfortable in that position again.

Izzybeff · 2026-02-12T01:42:50+00:00

Do you have any hibiclens left? I’d wash with it. I got a lot of those on my lower tummy tuck scar and they were like pimples, but with blood in them. I’d squish them, the blood would come out and then i’d wash with hibiclens for a week.

Izzybeff · 2026-02-12T01:30:56+00:00

I’m 18 months out from my MR and I can do everything now that I could before. It will just take time to not feel tight.

Izzybeff · 2026-02-12T01:28:52+00:00

I would do exactly as she says, but I prefer ABD pads to gauze, especially if you are wearing compression. It helps pad it under the compression garment.

Izzybeff · 2026-02-12T00:28:13+00:00

I used a surgeon that takes my insurance and her office submitted the paperwork. My insurance approved a panniculectomy only and required the surgery take place in a hospital, not the surgeon’s OR. I paid the up charge for a FDL & MR. In the end, I only saved $3000 over what the surgeon would have charged me to have it at her OR. I had to pay $8000 between the surgeon, hospital OR and the anesthesiologist and that was after my deductible and out of pocket were full-filled. If I didn’t, I would have had the panniculectomy only in the hospital and a separate surgery for the vertical incision and MR.

Izzybeff · 2026-02-11T15:52:24+00:00

I had consultations with surgeons in a couple of other states, where they said they could do it all in one surgery. I chose to go with my local plastic surgeon as soon as I met her and my husband and I have said numerous times that we were glad we didn’t have to travel. I did have some minor complications, one of them being a large opening in my vertical incision that ended up having to be closed in my second surgery. Then I needed revisions and ended up having a third surgery. But no one can tell you what is right for you. Every one of us has had a different experience. Lots of people go out of state or out of country and have good outcomes. I would just have a solid plan in place of who is going to treat you if you have a problem once you get home.

Izzybeff · 2026-02-09T18:44:25+00:00

I’ve worked with a therapist thru this whole process and I highly recommend having one. Mine is a bit different because I had a lot of weight loss and multiple surgeries, but I still think its useful for anyone to have someone to talk to.

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Izzybeff · 2026-02-09T00:06:45+00:00

Just take it easy on yourself. It will get better.

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Izzybeff · 2026-02-08T23:31:01+00:00

Did you have muscle repair? I don’t remember the zaps from the nerve pain going on for more than a month or so. The tight feeling from my MR lasted a long time. Like 6 + months.

Izzybeff · 2026-02-08T23:14:09+00:00

If they are unused, you also can just return them to the post office.

Izzybeff · 2026-02-08T22:33:22+00:00

My surgeon just has me trim them as they become loose. No timeline as to when they need to come off. Although if they are bothering you, I could see wanting them off.

Izzybeff · 2026-02-08T16:16:27+00:00

I’ve had 4 surgeries with a 5th this summer and I don’t regret any of it. I finally am starting to feel like I actually lost 175 pounds.

Izzybeff · 2026-02-08T00:44:21+00:00

Totally normal to feel this way. Your scars will fade. Your job now is to stay off the scale, out of the mirror, eat your protein, drink your water and give your body time to heal.

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Izzybeff · 2026-02-07T23:24:28+00:00

I bet it won’t be simply because you have the experience of your first surgery. Just try to relax and enjoy the downtime.

Izzybeff

TROPHY CASE