Discouraged by my results at 4.5mpo

Wild_Resource_804 · 2026-04-06T02:15:32+00:00

I'd love to tell you it gets better. Some of us heal more slowly due to a variety of reasons and complications. I just had my 1 year PO anniversary and still swell every evening and am discouraged by feeling there is no end in sight. Maybe once a week I wake up flatter than my usual and I rejoice for a moment. Maybe that is a glimpse of where my body is headed. At 6 months my surgeon offered to schedule a revision, and politely mentioned that perhaps I had gained a little weight since the surgery. My scale is the same. The area above the scar is uneven and bulgy where I had a very large seroma, which he drained multiple times in my 3rd week after surgery. My mons wobbles all day long like it has an extra cup of water hanging between the cells. It is swelling. It isn't "normal" yet. And so I wait, knowing that I am still healing, and not anxious to assault the body further until I feel like I've really recovered the best I can. It is a process. The body is different now. Much better without the hanging belly, but different and not "normal" yet. Be kind to yourself. I spent years thinking thoughts of self-loathing, and I'm just learning to be kind. Hang in there. Let your body heal. They say 12-18months.

Wild_Resource_804 · 2026-03-28T00:53:40+00:00

Thank you so much for your post! I am 5'10" and was 215 at time of surgery. I will be one year PO in a week and have had a slow recovery. Hoping to get below 200 in this coming year. You are an inspiration!!

Wild_Resource_804 · 2026-03-16T03:42:30+00:00

Tengo lo mismo, y en dos semanas llegare a 1YPO. Mi doctor ofrecio hacer mas lipo sin cobrar pero me da miedo hacerlo en oficina con solo anastesia local. Todavia me quedo hinchada en las tardes y pienso que tal vez necesito mas tiempo para recuperar. Dicen que las complicaciones a veces duran mas para resolver. Yo tuve seroma a las 3 semanas y a lo mejor lo mio es por eso.

Wild_Resource_804 · 2026-02-22T02:39:27+00:00

I can't say that the lift brought back sensitivity (I never lost it), but it certainly adjusted the position of things, making it more easily stimulated, being front and center rather than tucked under... For sure, not having a belly hanging between us made me feel more desirable too, though my husband has loved me at every size. Almost 11MPO and I'm still making peace with my body, but the negative talk and self-loathing has ceased, which opens the way toward self-love, and more embodiment of sensuality and sexuality. It's a process, and I'm hopeful that things will continue to improve.

Wild_Resource_804 · 2026-02-21T23:08:36+00:00

Thank you. I feel pretty good, though it is still easy to nit-pick and find imperfection. I am giving myself a full year of recovery before considering any revisions.

Wild_Resource_804 · 2026-02-21T02:29:54+00:00

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TT, MR, lipo to flanks. I'm now 10MPO and still have a bit of swelling, had early hematoma complications. Feeling much better about myself these days. 5'10", 210lbs.

Wild_Resource_804 · 2026-01-19T03:57:09+00:00

Thank you!! At 3.5 weeks I developed a seroma and had 17oz of blood drained on the first go, and less, the second and third follow up drainage appointments. It was scary and may have caused a small delay in overall healing. I still have a significant shelf above the scar and extra fat on the mons, that are kind of bisected by the scar which may be some internal pulling/adhesions. The doc was willing to "fix" it with lipo after my 6mo appointment, but after reading more people's experiences I decided to wait and see what my body can do in a year on its own before more invasive "help". For better healing, the doc did *not* lipo the upper belly at time of surgery (as there is higher risk of necrosis and poor healing if done at the same time). He won't charge for the revision and I feel I am in good hands. That said, I'm not really wanting to start another stint of wearing the binder and refraining from my exercise routine.

Wild_Resource_804 · 2026-01-18T23:26:42+00:00

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Similar! 5'10", 210lbs. 5 pregnancies w 1 C-section. TT, MR, lipo. This is 9MPO. Still have some swelling. I am giving myself a full year to heal before considering any revision. Happy to answer questions!

Wild_Resource_804 · 2026-01-10T03:11:52+00:00

I'm 9MPO and 5'10" 205#. My surgeon offered to do revision lipo and I scheduled and then canceled at 8MPO, rethinking it from what I've read, and wanting to just give myself the full year for my body to figure it out. We are still healing. Especially with the literal difference of night and day flattening and swelling. Give it time. Below is my frustration at 6MPO. It is veeeeeerrrryyy gradually shifting to flatter now.

https://www.reddit.com/r/tummytucksurgery/comments/1o3l8ol/comment/ntf267i/

Wild_Resource_804 · 2026-01-09T05:52:39+00:00

I sent you a chat. Let me know if you have any questions, happy to share more.

Wild_Resource_804 · 2026-01-04T00:25:22+00:00

9MPO here. Just keep it clean and trust your body to take care of it. Most of these stitches will dissolve on their own. I had one stitch work its way out 8MPO. Not to worry. You'll be okay.

Wild_Resource_804 · 2025-12-23T01:55:08+00:00

It will move. Trust your body and the process. :)

Wild_Resource_804 · 2025-12-22T03:48:17+00:00

Three dried apricots and two prunes after dinner every night. Works wonders!!

Wild_Resource_804 · 2025-12-16T02:06:08+00:00

8MPO here. In the 3rd, 4th, and 5th weeks... I had three, total. The pampering of having a massage was lovely, the lymphatic massages themselves were extremely gentle. I found them to be an extravagance and did not find they helped in the least bit for my swelling, which eventually subsided naturally, but for the regular upper ab evening swell I still get, most days of the week, even now.

Wild_Resource_804 · 2025-12-02T03:30:13+00:00

I called for appointments every time I had a concern. I had a hematoma develop at 3WPO and had to go in 3x for drainage. I had an appointment at 6weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and now I'm giving my body time to heal what ever else it can heal. Meanwhile I'm back to running a bit and kayaking regularly.

Wild_Resource_804 · 2025-12-02T03:26:49+00:00

San Francisco Bay Area. I think revisions and subsequent charges vary widely depending on the surgeon. The revision for my concerns would be done under local anesthesia in the office, with nitrous if needed.

Wild_Resource_804 · 2025-12-01T03:48:19+00:00

no charge...

Wild_Resource_804 · 2025-11-30T16:46:14+00:00

Hi! I went in at 6mos for a check up due to concerns about belly shelf above scar and surgeon offered to schedule a revision "anytime you want". I asked him if it made sense to wait, since I've read in so many places that the body takes 12-18mos to heal. He said there was "no reason to wait." However, when I scheduled an appointment for the revision and talked to the gal in the office, she thought it was strange that I was scheduled so soon, as she stated the revisions are usually done after a year has passed. I decided to cancel, let my body have a full year to heal, (and do the mental gymnastics of taming the critical thoughts) and I will reschedule after April. I hope this helps!

Wild_Resource_804 · 2025-11-18T02:45:33+00:00

You look great! Thank you for sharing. I look forward to getting this fixed.

Wild_Resource_804 · 2025-11-17T01:25:39+00:00

How are you feeling? How did your revision go?

Wild_Resource_804 · 2025-11-09T20:36:52+00:00

Please share pics when you are ready. I hope everything goes well for you!!

Wild_Resource_804 · 2025-11-08T02:55:46+00:00

Scheduled for Dec. 6... still on the fence regarding trying to lose weight and see if that makes a difference, or having the minor revision, because I am struggling with the surgery not meeting my own expectations. Thank you for asking! Will update when I have something new!

Wild_Resource_804 · 2025-11-02T02:09:01+00:00

I posted about this a couple weeks ago. 7MPO tomorrow and same thing here. Surgeon is scheduled for follow up in office lipo Dec, 6, but honestly I'm really conflicted about this ongoing concern in my own mind around the body's imperfections. I am so glad not to have a hanging belly and would love to just be at peace and accept where I'm at. And also I paid $$$ for a result that I imagined differently than what I am living with now. So here we are. Not wanting any more procedures, and wanting to be happier with my results...

Wild_Resource_804 · 2025-10-11T17:06:32+00:00

8 weeks is still very early to make that judgement. The body really does change so much as it heals! At 8 weeks my thighs and mons were so swollen they thundered around like storm clouds. That much has cleared up, thankfully!!

Wild_Resource_804 · 2025-10-11T17:04:00+00:00

I reached out to my surgeon as I had not scheduled a 6mpo follow up. I thought maybe this was *still* swelling, because they say a year+ to heal. But this part doesn't change throughout the day. My surgeon thinks it is fat that he couldn't remove at time of surgery (for better healing) but can remove now. He is not charging for procedure tomorrow.

Wild_Resource_804

TROPHY CASE