LOOKING in the mirror, Charlea Carvosso was over the moon, thrilled at her new, flat tummy after surgery in Turkey.
But within weeks of returning home, she was plagued by stomach pain and noticed green pus oozing from her belly button.
Charlea underwent a huge body transformation after opting for gastric sleeve surgery[/caption]
She had turned to food for comfort for years[/caption]
At her heaviest Charlea reached 30 stone[/caption]
After her tummy tuck, Charlea started to experience green puss oozing from her new belly button[/caption]
Fearing an infection, the 37-year-old was stunned when medics uncovered the truth.
It turned out to be a blessing in disguise, when hospital tests revealed a startling discovery that would render her tummy tuck op pointless.
But Charlea had no regrets and was anything but disappointed – for she and her husband, Andy, had a baby on the way.
In fact, Charlea had been pregnant during her tummy tuck operation, despite being told she would likely never get pregnant due to a health condition.
Here, she tells her story as the events unfolded…
‘I can’t be pregnant, I’ve just had a tummy tuck’
PULLING across my seatbelt, I looked out of the plane window and grinned at my husband, Andy.
“Are you excited?” he asked. “Can’t wait!” I beamed back.
We were jetting off to Turkey but we wouldn’t be lounging by the pool sipping on Mojitos.
Because this wasn’t a holiday, I was getting a tummy tuck.
I’d turned to food for comfort for years, until I’d reached 30 stone and decided enough was enough.
After gastric sleeve surgery to remove a large portion of my stomach, I’d shed 18st, then I’d met Andy.
But I still wasn’t 100 per cent happy with my body.
I had lots of loose skin, so took the plunge, paying £2,500 to wave my saggy tum goodbye.
Once we arrived at the hospital, Andy kissed me as I was wheeled away to the operating theatre.
When I came back around, I looked down at my flat belly covered in bandages.
“Everything went well,” the surgeon explained. “But it will take several months to fully recover and you need to wait at least 12 months if you want to try for a baby.”
That was the last thing on my mind and for good reason – in my twenties, I’d been diagnosed with polycystic ovaries and doctors had told me it was unlikely I’d ever be able to have children.
I’d accepted that although I’d love to be a mum, it wouldn’t happen for me
Charlea Carvosso
So, I’d accepted that although I’d love to be a mum, it wouldn’t happen for me.
After resting up, we flew back home and I was thrilled when I admired the results in the mirror.
But three weeks later, as I pottered around the house, I felt a pain in my stomach.
I lifted up my top and my eyes widened – there was green puss oozing from my new belly button.
“Is it infected?” I asked Andy. “I think so,” he winced.
My GP referred me to hospital where I was reassured that the infection would go on its own and sent me on my way with antibiotics.
But 10 days later, my belly button looked even worse.
Then, at work, as I looked at my laptop screen, everything went blurry and turned black.
When I next opened my eyes, I was in hospital surrounded by doctors.
“Your belly button is badly infected, we need to do emergency surgery,” one said.
Charlea with her husband Andy[/caption]
She travelled to Turkey to get a tummy tuck after she was left with loose skin from her gastric sleeve surgery[/caption]
When she went to be treated for the infection, the couple were given the news that Charlea was pregnant[/caption]
I was asked to do a urine sample and had bloods taken while I waited to go down to the operating theatre.
“Don’t worry, I can’t be pregnant, I’ve just had a tummy tuck,” I laughed.
“We just have to be sure,” the nurse replied.
Andy stayed by my side as the hours dragged on.
“I’m so hungry, I really want a chicken and bacon sandwich,” I moaned.
I wasn’t allowed to eat before the surgery but this was such an intense craving.
Weirdly, I hadn’t had a feeling like it since my gastric sleeve surgery.
Finally, the nurse came back to me with a strange expression on her face and took a deep breath.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, in panic.
“We think you might be pregnant,” she said.
My jaw dropped to the floor. “No, that’s ridiculous,” I gasped.
But she was insistent and showed us the blood results.
I looked at Andy with tears in my eyes. “What do we do?” I sobbed.
I’d dreamed of this my entire life, but there was no way it was safe for me to carry a baby because it had only been a month since my surgery.
Well, that craving makes sense now, I thought, as I sent Andy out to grab it.
My miracle baby
The nurse came back to take me for an ultrasound. The sonographer wiped cold jelly over my stomach, but the scarring from my surgery meant he couldn’t see anything.
So, he tried an internal scan.
“Do you want to see your baby?” he asked. “No, I can’t look,” I replied.
Terrified I wouldn’t be able to carry my baby safely, I couldn’t face seeing our little one, not if I’d have to cruelly say goodbye.
“Are they even alive?” I fretted.
“They’re very much alive,” the nurse smiled. “Are you sure you don’t want to look?”
I was 13 weeks pregnant, so our baby had been eight weeks when I had my tummy tuck. Against the odds, they’d survived
Charlea Carvosso
I took a deep breath and said, “Okay, I think I do.”
No matter what happened, this was my miracle baby.
She turned the screen to face me and I saw a small shape bounce around like a beachball in my belly. Tears came down my cheeks.
I was 13 weeks pregnant, so our baby had been eight weeks when I had my tummy tuck.
Against the odds, they’d survived.
The sonographer printed me a picture and when I was wheeled back to the ward, Andy was by my bed, clutching the sandwich.
I showed him the scan and we both burst into tears.
“We have to have this little one,” I begged the doctors. Thankfully, they agreed we could go ahead with our pregnancy.
“But it will be very risky,” one warned.
I didn’t allow myself to get too excited, knowing I could miscarry at any time, especially with the surgery on my infected belly button in just three weeks’ time.
“I just want to enjoy the pregnancy, I don’t want to think about the outcome,” I told Andy.
We agreed that, until we passed the 25-week mark, we wouldn’t buy anything for our impending arrival.
Charlea was 13 weeks pregnant when she underwent the tummy tuck, unknowingly[/caption]
Their son Billy arrived via C-section was named after Andy’s granddad[/caption]
Even though Charlea’s tummy tuck didn’t go to plan, she’d always pick being a mum over a flat tum[/caption]
When I went under the knife again, the surgeon left an 8cm round and 4cm deep hole which nurses came to my home to bandage each day.
But again, the wound became infected, and I was rushed back in for another operation.
As I came round afterwards, I asked, “Can I see my baby?”
The sonographer gave me an ultrasound again and a thudding heartbeat rang out to our relief.
Despite everything, my pregnancy progressed smoothly.
As we’d promised, after 25 weeks, we bought little outfits and decorated the nursery with cuddly toys. It wasn’t until I was 36 weeks that I bought my pram.
Finally, I felt sure our baby was going to come home safely.
Billy was born
Two weeks later, our precious baby was born by C-section – it was a boy.
But as I waited to hear my newborn son cry, there was nothing but silence.
“He’s going to be okay,” Andy reassured me, as doctors got to work.
My heart was in my mouth before, seconds later, a high-pitched squeal filled the room.
Andy held our tiny boy up for me to see.
We called him Billy, after Andy’s grandad who I’d always felt a connection with and he was our bundle of joy.
Amazingly, he had no health problems and we took him home the next day.
Life became filled with nappies and feeds and I loved doting on him.
Now, Billy is 15 months and he’s a calm but mischievous little boy. Quite simply, he’s our miracle.
Even though my tummy tuck didn’t go to plan, I’d pick being his Mum over a flat tum, any day.
Pregnancy and tummy tucks – what are the risks?
IT’S not recommended to be pregnant during a tummy tuck, and the surgery is generally performed after a woman has completed her childbearing.
Not only could this pose a risk to the baby, but it will likely undo the surgical results.
RISKS TO THE SURGICAL RESULTS
Loose skin: The skin that was removed and tightened during the tummy tuck will stretch again during pregnancy, potentially leading to loose, sagging skin postpartum.
Muscle separation: The abdominal muscles tightened during surgery can separate again to accommodate the growing baby.
Need for revision surgery: The loss of the surgical results often means the individual will need another tummy tuck (a revision surgery) to achieve the desired appearance again.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Wait for family completion: Most surgeons recommend completing your family before having a tummy tuck to prevent future negative effects on the surgery’s results.
Allow for recovery: If you do get pregnant after a tummy tuck, ensure you allow adequate time (at least six to 12 months) for initial recovery before conceiving.
