Survived my full TT with MR! **New Pics!**- Clinton Township, MI

I am so happy to have found this site! I have been lurking for awhile and decided with just 2 days until my Full TT with MR, I need to finally post my story!

I am 35 years old and I am 5.5" and weigh 142 lbs. I am a mother to 3 beautiful kids ages 6, 4 and 2. The first two were vaginal births and my 3rd was a c-section. I swear I never had that pooch of hanging skin until after the c-section, even after already having two kids. In the passed year and a half I have lost 82 lbs! I did it by completely changing my diet and with lots of exercise. I went from someone who dreaded exercise to now I cannot go a day without a workout or else I'm crabby! I work out with a personal trainer once a week and she always takes my measurements once a month. I kept thinking my tummy would go away if I worked hard enough....what a eventually came to realize is that no matter how hard I worked it stayed the same even though everything else on me was losing inches...even my calves! I heard a commercial for a medical spa in the area that offered cool sculpting...they use a special machine to freeze the fat cells and costs about $1200. I made a consultation and at that appt. they basically told me I would be very unhappy with the results....that it was for someone who had fat in their abs and does not tighten skin. The dr. said I was the perfect candidate for a full TT and that I also had muscle separation. That was all news to me! I was shocked...but looking back I don't see why I was so shocked! I should have known based on what my trainer had been telling me. So....I then became obssessed with researching TT and looking at before and after pics. I found a plastic surgeon that is board certified and performs the surgery at a hospital that is much closer...he also happens to be 3800 bucks cheaper than the medical spa quote I got. I feel more comfortable with it being in a hospital. When I went to that consultation he agreed that I am the perfect candidate for a TT and that I do in fact have muscle separation. He had me lay on my back and do a crunch, lift my legs and do all kinds of things to feel my abs and how far they are separated. I felt he was very thorough! I have two friends that used him for breast augmentation and were both really happy with him. I booked my surgery for one month later....which is this Wednesday, July 18! EEK! I am super excited. Actually what I am most nervous about is the fact that I have VERY sensitive crazy skin that rarely heals without complications. I always get infected...no matter how clean I keep the incision. I am really hoping I can heal without issues. I am also allergic to adhesive so that could be an issue! They may have a bit of a challenge covering my incision.

I feel prepared. I have my pain meds filled, bought palmers vit E oil, bromelain, arnica tablets and gel, have lots of med supplies. My DH took off Wed, Thurs and Fri...and we temporarily live with my parents so I will have their help too...with me and with taking care of our kids. I am most worried about my 2 year old. He is such a mommy's boy...I don't know how he is going to handle me not being able to pick him up and do everything for him. He will just have to deal! My DH is going to have to work really hard and distracting him. My older two kids know I have a c-section scar from the babies birth so I have just told them that it hurts and the dr. has to fix it.

Oh and I just became a licensed Zumba Instructor this passed Saturday! I am so anxious to heal up quickly so I can start teaching! I know not to rush things and to take my time with healing and that if I overdo it, it could be bad. I can't wait to not have to hide and disguise my tummy in my workout attire...well all clothes! I went from being between a 16-18 to a size 4 now! I have never been a 4 in my life...I wore a 10 in high school and was active in dance and stuff then and felt I looked pretty good at that time. I am in the best shape of my life...finally at 35....but this tummy has GOT to GO! And it is! In two days!!