Jerald R Sultz

I had a consultation with Dr. Jerald Sultz in November 2012. I was in fantastic shape with an elephant skin stomach. My then boyfriend asked me to wait so we could get married and have one more.

I went for two consultations this time - Dr. Koch and Dr. Sultz (NOT Schultz). I was very very comfortable with Dr. Sultz.

We talked about getting multiple procedures done at the same time and he told me no. He explained how lipo on the abdomen during a tummy tuck interrupts the blood flow and I could get an infection. He showed me a picture (gross). He also told me that he would not do a breast lift at the same time for reasons of infection due to time open on the table. Fair enough - he won my trust.

I was quoted for an extended tummy tuck with muscle repair, lipo of the flanks, inner and outer thighs, and armpits. Garments included and pre-op estimated.

Scheduled for June 24th to wait for my two older children's kindergarten and pre-k graduations. And to lose some weight!

Updated on 17 Feb 2015:
So, I took photos in a shirt and the same series with the stomach exposed. One set holding it in and the other not. All gross. My muscle separation is so terrible. When I flex, the ab muscles flex vertically and there is a big gap. If I wear pants and bend over I throw up in my mouth a little because my actual stomach is barely covered.

Updated on 22 Jun 2015:
I've been on a low-carb diet since May 14 and I have lost ten pounds. I decided with my doctor to drop everything besides the tummy tuck with muscle repair in exchange for a more aggressive cut. I hope it's worth it!

Updated on 25 Jun 2015:
The day of the surgery my pain was horrible. The nurses gave me something really strong and sent me home groggy. They rushed me out without letting me rest - very rude.

The pain was bad yesterday but today I have no pain. I am on Tramadol and Ibuprofen. I have already halved my Tramadol dose and I plan to be narcotic-free by Saturday night.

I am walking kind of hunched, sleeping in a recliner, loopy from the meds. Eating is not a problem but passing anything may not be on the list for today.

I have not seen my incision yet - I am wrapped in a surgical binder with a layer of cotton padding underneath. My two drains are not producing much. I itch a little bit on my body from the anesthesia.

I have been getting up once an hour to walk a little bit to prevent clotting. My mother is here helping my husband and I with the three boys. My plan is to shave my legs today. I have no pain but I also know that I have to keep my activity level to a minimum so I can heal fast!

Updated on 26 Jun 2015:
My doctor sent with a t incision. It has not really bothered me until today when he started poking at me. He mentioned that the blood supply wasn't that great at the t flap. Fingers crossed.

Updated on 27 Jun 2015:
One of my drains was filling with air and it turns out that my skin around the drain incision had loosened and was allowing air into my abdomen.

After my impromptu visit he sealed it up with bacitracin and gauze. Fingers crossed. Three days post-op is way too early to lose my lower drain.

I had called the doctor earlier in the day to let him know that my possible necrosis seemed to be growing. He told me to put a heating pad on it to encourage blood flow.

I had the heating pad on for about six hours on low over my binder and house dress. When he saw me tonight he was very pleased with the results and told me to continue with the heating pad to see if all necrosis can be avoided.

Updated on 28 Jun 2015:
My doctor told me to keep my binder on a little snug. Yoga pants (not tight) and sitting in my recliner apparently cut off the blood supply.

I took off my panties, put on my house dress, laid back in my recliner with a blanket rolled under my knees, heating pad on low for two days straight.

It got a little better but not enough. I was told not to put anything on my incision at all but I had to try something. I figured, if the skin was dying anyway I might add will try to save it. I dabbed on bacitracin in one spot in case it did harm. Thirty minutes later it looked better. I spread it over my entire incision, over the tape but not belly button. Twenty minutes later it is red and no longer purple! I hope that this means I will avoid all necrosis.

Updated on 29 Jun 2015:
I am draining high so I have both drains until Monday.

It looks so gross but doing much better. The doctor removed the steri strips and it took off some compromised skin, so now I have two open spots. Yuck!

I decided to apply arnica gel to the closed parts of my tummy to see if the bruise would go away.

Updated on 29 Jun 2015:
Some improvement already on the huge bruise. The spots dried out and look black. Yuck!

Updated on 1 Jul 2015:
Showering, or sitting on a stool with drains attached to a lanyard around my neck, is such a pain. My back burns after getting ready. My left drain site still lets in air so I keep it gooped shut. My tattered skin is healing up. I don't even think about swelling - I don't care. I wish that is what my issue was and not tissue death or infection due to an open drain site. I finished my second course of antibiotic today. Fingers crossed I don't get an infection between today and Monday when I see my surgeon next.

Updated on 8 Jul 2015:
My tummy is healing so slowly!! I got my drains out two days ago and now the fluid is draining from my disgusting broken skin. Now my dark skin area is turning yellowish/white like when you get a scan wet. So gross. I've been wearing a first aid pad under my compression garment.

Updated on 8 Jul 2015:


Updated on 13 Jul 2015:
You can see the bright pink/red edging which is the skin growing in. The wound still looks mutilated but it is not painful.

I stood up straight yesterday and experienced a very sharp pain in my incision... Oops? I am now walking with my shoulders turned in but back straight. Muscles feel tight. Which is to be expected.

I had a pain in my upper abs (obvious but not crippling, then dull) on one side for a few days. I really hope I didn't mess anything up. I can feel the ab muscle protruding a bit, like it's flexed.

I see my surgeon again Thursday. I saw him last week and he said I'm not infected and he did not debride the wound.

The wind is still leaking all of my serious fluid which is gross but I am not accumulating it which is good. I am only swollen at the bottom of my abdomen and it isn't that bad.

I have been washing my broken area twice a day with soap and water, and changing the pad three to four times a day.

The pad still has red and yellow and it is a little smelly. I have a heightened sense of smell (think pregnancy but never went away) so I do not believe it is infected.

I'm hoping this wound gets excited and heals quickly! I've been listening to subliminal surgery recovery tracks. At this point I'll try anything!

Updated on 15 Jul 2015:
I haven't worn my night gowns since before my last pregnancy in 2012.

Updated on 17 Jul 2015:
I feel like a rap song.

Lots of granulation (good healing) on the side opposite my vertical incision. Yay!

I saw my surgeon yesterday and I asked him to remove the soggy dead lump of grey skin. He obliged. And then my healthy flap flopped over to the right side, away from the incision line. Only a small movement left a black hole. Where does it go? No clue. I can't see the bottom and I'm certainly not going to mess with it!

Why? The dissolvable stitches, well, dissolved! The cruddy skin was actually bridging the gap. FML.

My surgeon said, "just keep it clean and it will heal." I respect him greatly but I am kind of a worrier. I asked about a wound vac and he said I should go see a wound specialist if it will quelch my fears - even if they tell me to keep it clean and it will heal, lol.

I spent the morning calling the wound care centers within twenty miles of my house. The soonest I can be seen is Monday afternoon. I'll take it! I am also on about six cancellation lists just in case something opens up today.

It doesn't hurt but it is scary. I know it will be amazing and a distant memory in six months. In the meantime, I'm totally grossed out and freaked out.

Oh, and I've been instructed to continue to walk bent over. So glad I didn't bother buying that walker that I heard was such a waste of money. Ugh.

Updated on 21 Jul 2015:
I went to ECMC wound care center yesterday for some debridement and encouragement. They had to cut off some of the new growth to get to the yucky stuff because my granulation was growing in like a cone above a bed of slough. It didn't hurt during but I was so upset/anxious that I did cry.

It was messy! And boy did it hurt later and today.

It should go quickly now. I compared my progressive pictures and I am pleased with the healing progress.

Updated on 29 Jul 2015:
I've been cleaning the wound twice a day and bacitracin with a pad twice per day. I use the heating pad at night. It's pulling together, finally.

Updated on 30 Jul 2015:
I visited the wound care center today and the doctor did some debridement and measured the area. The skin is closing up faster than the new tissue is growing inside. I have some tunneling on the insides of the wound. The hole measured almost exactly half of what it was 11 days ago.

I was prescribed Santyl cream to help with the debridement at home. Http://www.santyl.com.

I have a follow up appointment in 2 weeks although I do not have to go back if I don't want to.

Besides the world and I'm loving the results. The muscles above my belly button still passed out and they are still sore. My scar is very thin and low.

Updated on 1 Aug 2015:
Almost the size of a quarter!

Updated on 4 Aug 2015:
I stuck a big bandaid on the wound and finally had naked, um, story time with my husband... With the lights on... For the first time EVER. Yay!!! (Second marriage).