Better then Expected Abdominoplasty Experience

Someone asked to see a picture of the bulge I was talking about…here it is. The second picture shows how if I pull my abdominal muscles up and in it will go away a bit …but no one can walk around like that forever.
I lift weights at the gym and can work out my abdominals lightly. I still have mild pain when I do crunches and I can’t do a full sit up without hands from a lying position. But, my core feels strong and I am happy to say I have not pulled out my lower back since the surgery. Even though you can’t see here, I can see my abdominal muscles again. I still have major decreased sensation in a line down the middle of my abdomen. Overall I’m very happy with the results

One year after my surgery, I’m working out my abs at the gym and can finally see them again! I can do core exercises without fear of my back giving out. I’m still very happy with my results. The scar continues to fade. The only thing I’m slightly disappointed with is the bulge I can see in my lower abdomen (below incision line) which is the result of the muscles pulling up when they were tightened. I think this may have been unavoidable. I thought it was swelling but he told me at my follow up that it was not.

Dr Rahban is a passionate, competent and knowledgeable doctor. He is way beyond average...he is excellent! He is not just a surgeon, he is also an artist with an appreciation for beauty. This often overlooked artistic attribute, is extremely important when putting your trust in someone to reconstruct your body. My husband and I chose Dr Rahban by first reviewing top rated plastic surgeons in the US, and then narrowed it down further by looking at photos from different websites. Dr rabhan had great after photos. The things that really stand out and make this surgeon different, and the things you should really be concerned about when having an abdominoplasty are: the scar, how they sow the muscles together, the bellybutton, and not having “doggy ears”.
Dr Rahban closes the incision himself, something he takes great pride in, and not every surgeon does. He states this reduces scarring by a significant amount. He also does an interrupted stitch when repairing the diastasis recti, which I feel is really important so that the stitching holds. With 15 years experience, He knows how to close the incision so that you are not left with horrifying dog ears, and he makes beautiful bellybuttons!
Dr Rahban took care to give me time to ask questions on a few different occasions before my surgery until I had nothing left I could possibly ask him! At six weeks post op I love my belly button, and my incision looks great and is healing well. The recovery (which I dreaded the most) was truthfully not half as bad as I expected. Pain was absolutely manageable and I was able to get around with minimal assistance by day 3. Just do what he says (lay flat on your back, don’t go for walks, And wear your brace at all times. I chose to stay In Beverly Hills for a full two weeks after surgery (I live in Arizona). Although it was hard to leave my kids for that amount of time, it was the best decision I could have made. I had the time and space to take it easy both physically and mentally. And as Dr Rabhan put it, it went by “in the blink of an eye”
If I could give anyone advice who is looking into an abdominoplasty, do your research. Do no go for what’s cheap or easy. Listen to your intuition. Ask questions. Care about your scar, belly button and diastasis recti closure (if you have that condition). Traveling to Beverly Hills for your surgery is not something you should be afraid of or intimidated by. Everyone in Dr. Rahban’s office is friendly and responsive to your needs.
I’m looking forward to being able to workout again without worrying about my back and am so thankful to have found such a wonderful surgeon to repair my diastasis and give me an abdomen I’m excited about again!