David Zabel, MD

I have been wanting a tummy tuck for at least 8 years now. I booked my surgery last week and paid it in full! Getting my lab work done tomorrow and in 6 more days I will be on the flat side!!! I do not tolerate pain well so that is what I am most afraid of. Also, I have been reading reviews on this site for about 1 year and 1/2 and from what I hear this will be an emotional journey with a lot of swelling! The countdown is on everyone!!! Updated on 23 Feb 2016: So my nerves are really setting in now!! I can't believe after all this time I will finally get my TT in less than 48 hours from now.. I am very nervous but I honestly can't wait! I am hoping everything goes smooth Updated on 25 Feb 2016: I had my procedure done today. I was there all day and just got home. I am in terrible pain. I have not looked at my incision yet,, Surgery went good and I am excited to see my results when I heal Updated on 27 Feb 2016: I am in a lot of pain. Not able to manage my pain at all right now and it's a Saturday night so can't call the doc either. I can't wait to start feeling some relief because right now I don't Updated on 28 Feb 2016: Hi everyone , ugh in a really depressed stage right now. I have a lot of swelling today and I still have quite a bit of pain. My pain meds are gone now so I am using over the counter meds. I am supposed to see my ps this week so I will keep you updated and put up more picks soon Updated on 5 Mar 2016: So ladies, since my last post, I have improved a lot. I am sore still and I do still have swelling but the no more bad pain. Each day seems to get better. I did have an issue with my belly button.. Ps said the blood supply was cut off so it is a little nasty right now but should heal ok. Other then that I am doing good. Drains removed yesterday. Boy is that a relief! Overall , very happy so far. I know I am far from final result but I like what I see so far.. Updated on 16 Mar 2016: Sorry I have not updated in awhile but I have not been doing good at all this past 4 to 5 days. Fever, chills, infection, muscle aches. Then to top it all off, a couple days ago my incision came open in a couple areas and fluid is pouring out of it. To the point that I can't even walk to the bathroom without it coming out all over the floor. Very frustrated Updated on 8 Apr 2016: I thought I would look really great right now but I am stressed out and very unhappy. Here are my pics where my belly buldges over incision ... Not flat at all

I had always wanted breast surgery but felt I needed to wait till after I had kids. I decided on a Mommy makeover. My breasts went from a b to d after breast feeding for a short period of time. After surgery I had high profile saline under the muscle 300cc with lift. After surgery I was a full C cup. 4 mths later I had a revision on my rt side for the implant to drop. At the time I weighed 119lbs,5'5 small build with narrow rib cage. I also had a mini tummy tuck with liposuction. At time of surgery I thought I was having a full tummy tuck. I'm not at all happy with my results. My pouch is gone but I still have loose skin and a vertical belly button. I've since gained 8 lbs in 5 years. My body has drastically changed. I'm now wearing a 36 ddd. My loose skin on my belly is filled out from added weight still remains flat. So I'm happy about that. You can't tell that I have implants. I will send pics later on today. It's my first time at writing about my surgery.

Very pleased with the level of expertise of Dr. Zabel, his staff, Wilmington Hospital and the Christiana Care organization Pain well controlled Overnight stay, surgical glue ( no stitches), no JP drains Back to work in 2 weeks, 0 complications and thoroughly pleased with professionalism, results and care

So far I think it was definitely worth it! After my 2nd pregnancy my body was almost back to normal, only I had loose, stretched skin below my belly button and no amount of core work was going to make it go away. Day of surgery: I was in some pain right after surgery. I had muscle tightening, mini tummy tuck, and hernia repair. I was having muscle spasms after surgery that were really painful. After the Vicodin kicked in, we made the trip home. Once I was home, I wasn't in mug pain at all and slept most of the time. It hurt like hell to get up and walk. PO day 1: I am feeling pretty comfortable. It still hurts to walk or stand but not as bad as yesterday.

This is me so far…everyday is an improvement. I’m 47 and gave birth to 3 children. I stay active at the gym 4-5 days a week but my pouch never budged. This procedure was life changing after all these years. I’ll be going back to Dr Rhee for breast augmentation next!

I've been told I've always had a nice rack. Some even went so far as to accuse me of having implants before, which isn't the case. Now, after nursing 3 wonderful kids, and 40 is right around the corner, it's time to get the girls back to where they started, and give them some much deserved self esteem along the way. My issue was trying to find a doctor I felt comfortable with and who would help me navigate to get my end result which was a great look, nice youthful breasts that were pleasing to the eye. Updated on 17 Nov 2015: I'm so excited for Thursday! I am arranging all my ducks so everything will be ready for post-op. I will have plenty of help from my husband, mother and two older daughters. I am anticipating the hardest part of my recovery will be not being able to pick up my baby, but have planned that my helpers will allow me to hold her by sitting her on me, etc. I have received some feedback from people whom I've told about the surgery such as, "You're going BIGGER!!??" I'm finding it difficult to explain that an implant with a lift doesn't necessarily mean I'm going for the pole dancer or Dolly look. Just a fuller, more youthful look. My doctor knows my expectations but I can't help but think in the back of my mind that I've picked the wrong size, going with 300cc. I have a few questions about what to wear post-op. I do t own many button downs and am thinking I may need to invest in a couple before Thursday. Any advice? Updated on 23 Nov 2015: I'm very excited and am looking forward to getting it done. I have no second thoughts and I'm pretty sure it's because I've wanted this ever since I started having kids. Now that I'm done and my youngest baby is almost a year, it's time to get them back where they belong. Updated on 23 Nov 2015: Surgery went very well. Dr Zabel ended up doing a lift, reduction and the sub muscular saline implant. In order to get the final look I want he was able to take out some of my own breast tissue with the reduction. He filled the implants to 325, which was a little bigger than I had in mind (300), but still used the 300cc Mentor Saline Moderate Profile implants. I was very impressed that not only did the nursing staff at the hospital call the day after surgery to check in with me, but Dr Zabel did himself. He also included his cell number in case I needed to reach him over weekend. I told him I was pleased already and can tell that they will be exactly what I had in mind when they finally come down and settle in. I'm bruised, but I anticipated that and have been using Arnica to help with the bruising and swelling. My recovery is going way better than expected. Someone went so far as to tell me it was as bad as childbirth. I couldn't disagree more. I stopped pain pills just 2 days out and have been taking Motrin to help with swelling, etc. since. So far the worst part of recovery is not being allowed to pick up my baby and not working out. But I'll deal with it for the time being. Tomorrow is my post op appointment. Updated on 2 Dec 2015: So... I have some real mixed feelings and a few questions. I love the size, was immediately pleased with the size currently as well as the size I will be 6 months from now. Exactly what I was going for. My surgeon explained that my scars at first WILL look funny, around the nipples will seem as though they were "sinched" like scrub pants, if you can imagine. I was totally prepared for that look. Which is EXACTLY what my right breast looks like. Actually perfect. However, my left breast nipple resembles a rectangle and that scares the hell out of me. I have a few proposed theories... - he let an assistant see the left and he did the right... - he practiced on the left and perfected it on the right... - it will all even out as my implant has begun to descend on my left side and not my right... I know breasts are not "supposed to be" completely symmetrical. However, I'm very disappointed in my left side. Does anyone have any input or advice?? Updated on 9 Dec 2015: So, tomorrow I will be three weeks out. I met with my surgeon about my left nipple, which is nothing short of rectangular. He assured me it should heal normally, especially given the fact that they use a "cookie cutter" sort of thing to make the cut around the nipple for size perfection. I'm still not sold because it doesn't look like much has changed in a week. In addition, he's now having me wear a strap 24/7 to help urge the right implant in its proper place. I'm wondering if my right pectoral muscle is so tight that it's keeping it up high. I'm a pretty impatient person so this waiting for the finished product is really wearing on me. I was warned about the "sinched" look around the nipple lasting several months so I know that it will eventually smooth out. I just wish I knew of other cases where the same situation occurred. (Specifically the rectangular nipple.) If anyone has any wisdoms to offer, please put me at ease!!

I've had consult after consult going back 7 years. After my first c-section no one told me that I needed to work out to keep from getting the c-section bulge. Then baby #2 came along with c-section number 2 and again the extra weight. 14 years later, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol now motivates me to get my tummy tuck and breast reduction. I'm tired of sleeping with 10 pillows to support my back. So I think my decision to get this done is more health related rather then just to have a flat stomach. Updated on 15 Feb 2015: Hello RS, I am overly excited about tomorrow. I go for my scheduling and any pre-op that I may have before my surgery. Being a diabetic I have to be extra careful of everything I do especially this type of surgery. I keep seeing many women on here with the tummy tuck, however they have a box shape and that concerns me. I am not the most curvy, and don't want that box shape. This will be discussed tomorrow until them loves have a safe night. Updated on 15 Feb 2015: Will be so glad when I no longer have this. I will be even happier to lose the weight and I longer need insulin!! Updated on 3 Mar 2015: Yesterday was the big day 3-2-2015. My day started at 6 am and ended around 11 am. I went to the surgery center here in Newark delaware, and every one was so nice and made me feel very comfortable. I came home around 11 and thank God for support. This process would not be a one person thing. The real journey begins now. I'm sore but it's manageable. I am so glad I got me a lift recliner. Updated on 20 Mar 2015: Here are some updated post op pictures. This is week 2. Still very swollen but the post is better than the pre.