9 weeks New pics. Still dealing with the wound....but, feel great and really happy I did this!! - Kansas City, KS

Hi everyone! I posted in a different place earlier and have had a little bit of traffic but, am hoping for more opinions from the review page. I'm wanting to have my surgery done mid-January my birthday is the 14th and I'd love to get it done as a birthday present to myself. :) I'm a bigger girl, 5'7 214 lbs. Have always had a lower tummy roll and after kids gained another upper roll as well. I have 2 kids of my own 9 and 3 both born naturally and then I carried twins as a surrogate in 2011 and they were born via csection. I usually carry my weight in the 220's...I'd love to be below 200 but, I haven't been that since before having kids. I love my curves and even with these belly rolls get brave enough to show my belly when I dance. I would LOVE the feeling of knowing what a flat tummy looks like. I like the hour glass figure and I'm not worried about my hips or my thigh area. I do have some back fat I wouldn't mind being removed but, for the most part I HATE these belly rolls...I hate having a butt in the front. I hate the way pants and jeans fit.

So, I'm looking for a doctor who can work with someone of my size and shape and give me a flat stomach. I'm not looking for a 6 pack. I like the look of a softer tummy actually but, I do not want these rolls anymore. I REALLY need help with doctors. So far I have Dr. Quinn and Dr. Chharte on my list but, I'm thinking about ditching them both and finding someone else. I have had Dr. Cannova recommended to me and Dr. Hall and Dr. Thompson up north. I'm just so nervous to make the wrong choice of doctor as I'm a single mom and just like most of you here this is a lot of money for me to be paying plus I don't want much to go wrong because I will need to return to work within a reasonable amount of time. So, please give me any suggestions you have of docs who have worked with someone my size and they've come away pleased with their results! Thank you so much in advance for your help!

Hello everyone! I have now added Dr. Hall and Dr.Ponnuru and Dr. Korentager to my list of docs to meet with although Dr. K doesn't have any openings until January!!!! I put myself on his waiting list and hopefully he gets a cancellation. :) both he and Dr. Ponnuru perform the high tension lateral abdominoplasty and I sent him pics and he thinks I would be a good candidate for that procedure. Most of my consults happen in November and I can't wait to get this process started. I'm seeing some posts with women saying due to their larger aprons insurance might help cover the surgery. Also one of the doctor offices mentioned it as well. How often does that really happen? Is there something special I need to mention that might increase the chances of insurance covering part of my surgery? I really appreciate everyones help and your comments. Still feels like a long way off. My 3 year old is getting ready to have hip surgery and she will be in a lower body cast for 5 weeks. I'm not looking forward to that at all...so I know once those 5 weeks are over time should speed up some! Hope everyone is doing well! Thanks! Robyn

Hey everyone! Ok, so I went and met with 2 docs. Yesterday Dr. Hall and today Dr. Ponnuru. Both very nice but, I guess I thought I would walk away feeling like I knew what I wanted. Dr. Hall basically told me he would do the tummy tuck and I would be happy with it he did mention that my upper abs would be difficult because I have some fat so high up. He said he does not do lipo at the same time in that area because its dangerous. So, today, Dr. Ponnuru basically told me the same thing only he said that he thinks I woudn't be happy with just a tummy tuck because he said I would have that fat from my 3rd upper roll and he wouldn't be able to pull it down tight enough to get it to go away. So, both drs basically said the same thing. Dr. Hall I feel was just going to do the tummy tuck and just leave the fat from the highest roll, he didn't mention doing anything about it. Dr. Ponnuru wants me to come in for a lipo procedure first to remove that fat, then come back in a little while later to complete the tummy tuck. I asked why I couldn't do the tummy tuck first and he said that if he did the tummy tuck, then did the lipo to remove the fat then there would be loose skin from the tummy tuck where the fat used to be. If we get rid of the fat first, then tighten the abd as much as possible thats better. Which makes sense...its not exactly what I wanted to hear because I don't want to go under twice and I just want to hurry up and get it done. :) I'm impatient. :) But, I don't want to do the wrong thing and I want the best and safest possible outcome. I would love some opinions...I still have a consult scheduled with Dr. Quinn later this month...but, just wanted to see what you all thought about what was said. I would appreciate any opinions. The one thing about Dr. Ponnuru is that they will submit it to insurance and he said he might be able to get part of it covered...which would help a lot. He said it would help if I had documentation from a doc about the rashes I get under my panus but, I haven't gone to the doctor for that ever...I just put desitin on it and it goes away. I might see if my ob would write something about it for me. Anyway, I would love some opinions...its a difficult time for me to be doing this...my 3 year old is in her lower body cast right now for hip dysplasia which is stressful and today is my deceased husbands birthday...so I'm struggling a bit emotionally... maybe not the best time to try to make a decision. :) Also, one more thing I wanted to mention, and maybe this shouldn't play a part in it but, Dr. Hall's office was nice...a plastic surgery clinic, friendly and warm...Dr. Ponnuru's was much more medical in a hospital setting. I didn't really get a definite...this is where I see myself having surgery from either place really. Dr. Hall didn't really get into my personal life much and Dr. Ponnuru did as a few more questions about my life...which for some reason I want my surgeon to understand my life and my situation as a single working mom. Not sure why thats important to me but, it is. Ok, now I'm rambling...thanks for all of your help!