How am I going to get the time off for a tummy tuck?

decembergrad2011, BSN, RN · Sep 4, 2011

I'm not really sure what you're arguing against at this point to be honest. Doing something "for yourself" does not mean that it is not influenced by the increasing beauty standard. Before razors and waxing, women wore stockings to hide their hairy legs, but it was acceptable to have them as long as they were covered. Now that they are readily available, it changed the standard and the general view (in America, at least) is that hairy legs on a female is a hippie thing to do. Shaving/waxing is just standard rather than an unnatural removal of hair for aesthetic appeal. Many women shave/wax regardless of whether anyone sees their legs, but it doesn't mean that they weren't influenced at all by the social norm of having hairless legs.

I just really wonder what women in 30 years are going to be put up against as the norm. It's getting more and more...enhanced. I wonder if in many years from now, all women will be getting plastic surgery after their last pregnancy to get rid of stretch marks and extra skin as readily as waxing/shaving their legs.

It's certainly an interesting concept to explore and has influenced me to do some research.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Sep 4, 2011

I'm not even trying to argue. Just giving my opinion on it.

decembergrad2011, BSN, RN · Sep 4, 2011

Well, I meant "argument" in the debate sense of the word, not fighting. You've been directly responding in disagreement to my posts this whole time, so I assumed you were giving a rebuttal of opinion. I guess I lost your train of thought along the way, as mine have been pretty much focused on how beauty standards have increased and how that influences women's standards for themselves. I was genuinely interested in having a conversation about this if you were, but I see that you are not, so I apologize.

indigo girl · Sep 4, 2011

Ouch! I don't see how anyone could push a medcart around even a month after this procedure. I only know two people that had this done, and both of them had a great deal of pain for some time postop. One of them had had extensive back surgery a few months before the tummy tuck. She couldn't believe how much more painful this surgery was compared to that. Not for the faint of heart (or wimps like me!). If you decide to do this, allow yourself lots of time to recover.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Sep 4, 2011

Well, I meant "argument" in the debate sense of the word, not fighting. You've been directly responding in disagreement to my posts this whole time, so I assumed you were giving a rebuttal of opinion. I guess I lost your train of thought along the way, as mine have been pretty much focused on how beauty standards have increased and how that influences women's standards for themselves. I was genuinely interested in having a conversation about this if you were, but I see that you are not, so I apologize.

Sorry, I just got distracted while responding. I will respond after I get some sleep.

kellyc034 · Sep 4, 2011

I'm going to add my .02 to this, because I have gone through it myself.

The OP stated she isn't doing it to lose weight, she has loose skin that is a problem. If she was doing it to lose weight, GBS or lipo would be involved. It is none of anyone's dang business on here WHY she wants this surgery. She wasn't asking for your opinion of tummy tucks. What she asked was regarding time off and recovery from surgery.

I had GBS and lost 150 pounds. Got preggo with my daughter, gained 50 pounds, and lost that. I know ALOT about loose abdominal skin. It is damn UNCOMFORTABLE. I can handle the bat wings on my arms, and whatever else I have, but the tummy was completely different.

If bad enough it can cause rashes, chafing, and some pretty nasty back pain from pulling you forward.

I had 17 pounds of loose skin removed from my lower abdomen and a tummy tuck when my daughter was almost 2. I paid for this out of pocket. Did I do it for cosmetic reasons? No. You can easily tuck the skin into some jeans and people would never know you had it. I did it because I was sick of my back hurting, getting occasional rashes from rubbing, elastic, and tops of jeans causing me skin irritation.

All that being said...........The recovery is hard. First week is awful. Lots of pain, and I felt like I was in a wetsuit from the surgery itself and the general swelling from trauma. You need at least a month off to recover. If you are doing floor nursing, I would suggest even more. It was a good 3 months before I could have done hospital work again.

I would definitely wait until you have sufficient vacay time, and I'm not sure if you would qualify for FMLA for this, though you might. You would have to look into it. Just do not do it until you have sufficient time to recover. Your body will thank you.

Also, I would have the surgery again in a heart beat. Hell of a recovery, but worth it's weight in gold not to have to deal with all of the side effects and problems of the excess skin I had.

Kelly

samirish · Sep 4, 2011

I had a tummy tuck and it was the most horrible recovery pain imaginable. If I knew then what I know now, I dont think I would of went ahead with it. You WILL be laid up for weeks. I also ended up with a sizable scar, which to me is just as bad as the stretch marks I was getting of rid of through having the tummy tuck.

I also had a breast lift. Im glad I had the breast lift done but I should of passed on the tummy tuck.

Good luck.

happy place · Sep 4, 2011

Congrats for losing the weight!! Can you tell your employer you have to have a hysterectomy or something so they will be empathetic and give you time off?? How about a doctors note stating you cant work??

mazy · Sep 4, 2011

I would think that having a tummy tuck falls into the same category as breast reduction -- yes there is a component of aesthetics but it really is about physical comfort. There are some things that we women have to haul around that can do a real number on our health.

I'm just sayin'.... :cool:

leslie :-D · Sep 4, 2011

I just don't see a person that lost weight or has a large amount of loose skin from having kids, and that person wanting to fix that, the same as someone that is contiuously altering their body to fit hollywoods image of what a girl should look like.

i see what the pp was saying.

overall, our society, as superficial as it is, sensationalizes youth and beauty as being interchangeable, yet as one.

old, aging women are cast aside while the reverance for youth, remains at the top...along with power, prestige and wealth.

our societal priorities, mandate that in order to be anyone, women need cosmetic surgeries, alterations, and enhancements.

and what a money-making business it is!

on the other side of the spectrum, are women who want reasonable, valid alterations in order to enhance their self-esteem.

it's not superficial to want to feel better about your self...there's a difference betw the former and latter.

the former focuses on competition w/other women, in order to maintain status-quo.

the latter is only about the individual.

i think what you and pp are debating, actually overlap, and i can see where the misunderstandings come in.

fwiw, you're both right. :twocents:

while i'll always believe that our country is pretty much shallow and greedy re their priorities, and, how they catapult their agenda through any means possible, i also believe that on an individual basis, there are truly valid reasons as to why plastic surgery is an effective resolution.

leslie

StarLite1980 · Sep 4, 2011

I would agree that plastic surgery has gone to some pretty far extremes.
I just don't see a person that lost weight or has a large amount of loose skin from having kids, and that person wanting to fix that, the same as someone that is contiuously altering their body to fit hollywoods image of what a girl should look like.

In the case of my sister, she is 5'3", and her last pregnancy was a set of twins that she carried full term. She is and has always been physically fit....GI Jane fit! Not everyone's skin has the same elasticity and with her, the twins completely stretched her stomach out. She had a flab of skin that hung lower than her "private parts". It was all skin and it was very uncomfortable for her to wear anything that didn't have an elastic waste. Of course the procedure was not medically necessary in the insurance company's eyes and wasn't covered by insurance, so she paid out of pocket for it. So for her it was not about fitting hollywood's image or what a girl looked like. It was about her being able to function like she used to. She would have bruises and get chaffed areas on her skin. Everyone does things for their own reason. Not everyone is blessed to "snap back" to their pre-pregnancy body. If you were able to do that, then good for you. Most mom's don't have that privilege no matter how much they dedicate themselves to working out and eating healthy.

StarLite1980 · Sep 4, 2011

Also....not making this about my sister. I just want to put out there that there are several reasons why people do this:

1. Superficial reasons to fit the "hollywood" lifestyle

2. Improve ones' body image/self esteem

3. Improve ones' ability to conduct daily activities normally

Anyway, I wish the original poster a lot of luck.