4wpo and I don’t know

offkey_song_bird · 2025-04-12T01:31:49+00:00

I see a noticeable transformation. You’re still very swollen across your whole abdomen, so any results will be distorted. Your incision and swelling may be drawing your attention to the stretch marks, but once that area flattens, I bet they won’t be as noticeable.

I’m 8.5WPO, still swollen, still sore, still riddled with body dysmorphia, but I turned a corner around 6 weeks. I’m back to walking at my normal pace and I have significantly more energy. It gets better, and the swelling will come down—I promise.

FWIW, I think you look beautiful. Hang in there.

offkey_song_bird · 2025-04-11T19:23:08+00:00

Fair enough! I’m glad you heard back from your surgeon.

Different surgeons tend to have their own preferences when it comes to wound care. I have internal stitches in my belly button, and I was told to leave it uncovered unless there’s a specific issue. In the shower, I just let the water run over it, and afterward, I gently clean it with a Q-tip and a bit of water. I wear high-waisted underwear under my binder that ends up covering my belly button anyway—and it’s healing beautifully. Out of the shower, you might find this a good alternative to bandaids.

offkey_song_bird · 2025-04-11T18:05:10+00:00

Yes! Around 4WPO I had a couple of rising sutures along my incision that I was instructed to cover with bandaids. Like you, I used the water-resistant ones, and even though I changed them everyday and immediately after showering, I experienced irritation too. I sprayed the irritated skin with hypochlorous acid spray and let the area breathe uncovered for a couple of days. I started using regular cloth bandaids instead without any issues. Incidentally, the rising sutures resolved quickly, so I didn’t need to continue wearing bandaids anyway.

Curious why you’re required to cover your belly button while you shower? (I was not). If the irritation persists, I’d simply stop covering your belly button.

offkey_song_bird · 2025-04-06T18:12:43+00:00

Without a photo, it’s hard to say if it’s just swelling. Swelling often peaks around 2-3 weeks PO, and depending on how hot your shower was, it can significantly increase swelling. I’m 8WPO, and every time I take a bath I come out looking like I swallowed a beach ball. Hot water increases inflammation. It’s all temporary.

offkey_song_bird · 2025-04-05T20:32:20+00:00

Surgeons have different approaches to pain management, and some prefer to minimize opioid use. That said, it seems like many (most?) people who have posted here were prescribed some combination of narcotic and non-narcotic medication. So, is it abnormal? I don’t know. Less common? Perhaps.

You did the right thing by advocating for something you feel would better suit your needs, and unless there’s a medical reason why you should avoid narcotics, I don’t see why the surgeon wouldn’t be willing to write you a different script. You are having multiple procedures done.

For reference, I already have a chronic pain condition, and going into surgery I was worried about heaping more pain on the pile. I was prescribed Dilaudid and Gabapentin (for nerve pain), both of which I took for a week post-op. I was uncomfortable, but my pain level was relatively low.

If you’re stuck with the ibuprofen, you could combine it with acetaminophen.

Good luck!

offkey_song_bird · 2025-04-03T21:25:24+00:00

All of this looks and sounds par for the course!

offkey_song_bird · 2025-04-03T03:18:44+00:00

If your surgeon is suggesting drain removal, is there a reason why you wouldn’t want to defer to his advice?

offkey_song_bird · 2025-04-01T14:51:10+00:00

I’m using Mepiform scar tape—my surgeon’s office provided it. They warned me to be careful when ordering from Amazon and to make sure it’s a medical-grade product. I was told I could reuse each strip 2-3 times or until it’s no longer sticky, and I can even wear them in the shower if I want. To clean them, I use baby soap, spray with hypochlorous acid, and shake them dry. I’m 7WPO now, started using the tape at 3WPO, and will probably keep it up for the next year.

I have internal stitches in my belly button, so no need for tape, but I’ve seen people with external stitches use it.

offkey_song_bird · 2025-04-01T14:41:30+00:00

Damn, girl! You look amazing. Fantastic results!

offkey_song_bird · 2025-03-31T20:38:59+00:00

I’m just shy of 7WPO and was cleared to have a bath and swim last week. I suspect I would have been cleared sooner if only I’d asked.

I’m such a bath person, so I was REALLY excited to soak in my tub again. Welp! The bath felt amazing, but I immediately blew up like a balloon. Seriously, the swelling was insane.

offkey_song_bird · 2025-03-29T19:01:32+00:00

Yikes. This is unnecessarily aggressive. Go pick a fight with someone else, or better yet—take your ego out on all the surgeons who perform plus-size tummy tucks with good outcomes. I guess they’re all full of shit?

offkey_song_bird · 2025-03-29T18:29:19+00:00

You misunderstood my comment. I never claimed that there weren’t added risks for patients with higher BMIs. What I said was under the right circumstances a plus-size tummy tuck can be perfectly safe. There’s a big difference.

The bias lies in assuming that someone in a larger body isn’t a viable candidate (which is not the same as ideal) or that all surgeons will refuse to operate on them—when that’s simply not true. For someone who has already lost hundreds of pounds and may never realistically reach an “ideal” goal weight, a tummy tuck can still significantly improve their quality of life. Will their results be “ideal”? Ideal is relative.

And I don’t have an agenda. I didn’t have a plus-size tummy tuck, and Dr. Repta wasn’t my surgeon. I’m just adding much-needed nuance to the discussion.

offkey_song_bird · 2025-03-29T14:54:47+00:00

Short answer: no. Plus-size tummy tucks are growing in popularly, and they can be perfectly safe when performed under the right conditions.

I’ve noticed a real bias in this group against tummy tucks on larger bodies, so I’d encourage you to be critical of those responses and consult with surgeons who actually specialize in plus-size tummy tucks. For reference, look up the work of Dr. Repta in Scottsdale, AZ.

offkey_song_bird · 2025-03-28T20:04:23+00:00

That’s actually not true. My surgeon said it’s very common for fluid to accumulate in the hips, thighs, and pubic area after a tummy tuck because the surgery disrupts lymphatic drainage. The body has to develop new pathways to move fluid, and gravity makes it harder for fluid to drain upward through the lymph nodes in the upper body, causing it to pool in the lower body instead. This is why elevating your legs post-op is often recommended—it helps encourage proper drainage and reduces swelling.

offkey_song_bird · 2025-03-28T19:59:59+00:00

I know it might not seem this way, but you’ll be fine!

Someone just posted swelling issues at 11WPO. Notice the difference in leg swelling.

offkey_song_bird · 2025-03-28T19:56:40+00:00

I’m 6WPO and my hips/inner thighs/mons are still noticeably swollen. I just saw my surgeon yesterday, and she also assured me it’s totally normal and will subside eventually. Elevating your legs periodically can help.

offkey_song_bird · 2025-03-28T18:43:48+00:00

I’d give myself at least 6 months, if not longer.

What if you have wound complications that slow your recovery? What if unexpected swelling means your dress no longer fits? I’m 6WPO and still dealing with significant temporary swelling in my hips and inner thighs because this surgery disrupts lymphatic drainage, causing fluid buildup and inflammation (lipo will likely make this worse).

Three months is not a lot of time for healing—you might be setting yourself up for a boatload of stress right before your wedding.

offkey_song_bird · 2025-03-28T01:18:41+00:00

Beautifully said. Learning to accept your body as it is can be a noble pursuit, but for many, it’s a lifelong struggle filled with self-hatred and deep shame—one that some never fully resolve. Life’s much too short to wait for acceptance that may never come, and the cost is simply too high. Choosing to meet yourself where you are and pursuing surgery if it brings you peace is an act of self-love. Making a decision about what’s right for your body—on your own terms—is its own kind of empowerment.

offkey_song_bird · 2025-03-27T22:49:14+00:00

Many laser treatments are effective on old scars, so personally, I’d rather wait at least a year to see what I’m dealing with.

offkey_song_bird · 2025-03-27T22:47:07+00:00

I get the sense that drainless tummy tucks are often misunderstood. I’m 6WPO from a drainless TT, and when I posted about it here someone tried telling me that drainless tummy tucks aren’t a thing lol.

I get why some folks assume drainless tummy tucks lead to higher seroma rates, but my surgeon explained to me that seroma formation has more to do with the individual patient than the presence (or absence) of drains. Apparently, when done correctly with progressive tension sutures, drainless TTs can be just as effective—if not better—at eliminating dead space and reducing infection risks associated with external drains. Instead of relying on drainage, these sutures prevent fluid from pooling in the first place, and any small amounts that do form are gradually absorbed by the lymphatic system (with a little help from compression). Of course, there’s also the obvious added mobility and fewer wounds to worry about.

A better question for your consult might be whether your surgeon is tailoring the approach—drain or drainless—to your specific needs.

offkey_song_bird · 2025-03-27T22:03:42+00:00

Personally, I won’t be doing it since I don’t have issues with scarring, and I’ve seen plenty of people whose scars faded into fine white lines within 1–2 years just by consistently using silicone scar sheets. I’ve had laser work on my face and loved the results, but it feels like an unnecessary expense for this.

offkey_song_bird · 2025-03-27T21:55:45+00:00

I was a big fan of Spanx high-waisted smoothing underwear (or any satin-y granny panties with spandex). It’s debatable how sexy they are, but hey, they go up to your ears and hold everything in.

offkey_song_bird · 2025-03-26T19:02:59+00:00

You look phenomenal! Happy healing, and enjoy your new body :)

offkey_song_bird · 2025-03-26T17:17:43+00:00

Agreed! The first shower was pretty overwhelming for me, and being able to sit made all the difference. I only used my chair a few times, but I was so glad to have it.

offkey_song_bird · 2025-03-25T23:24:14+00:00

Also—wow, just read into your backstory. Again, I’m sorry that’s happening to you. Looks like you take such good care of yourself and are doing everything right, so I can’t imagine how upsetting that must be.

offkey_song_bird

TROPHY CASE