Dr. Davoudi Worked a Miracle on This Body - Duluth, GA

Ok, let's see. Sometime around September 2014 I realized despite having lost 60 lbs and grueling 2 hour daily workouts, my 2 tummies were not going away. Tired of camouflaging the rolls, I logged onto Real Self and started to read up on lipo and tummy tucks. I started out hoping (but knowing better) that I just needed lipo but as I read, the realization set in that I actually would be more likely to need a tummy tuck.

So, after investing significant time in research, I setup an appointment with Dr. Davoudi. To make a long story short, I am extremely critical - the type to change dentists if they leave me waiting more than 15 minutes - so I shocked myself when after just minutes with Dr. Davoudi I knew he would be my plastic surgeon. His demeanor, knowledge and confidence were comforting. Dr. Davoudi spent as much time as I needed explaining the procedure and walking me through why lipo alone was not a good option for me.

During the consultation, the staff took photos and after seeing the sausage rolls that had quietly settled on my back, I decided they too needed to be addressed. I made a deposit, set a date and planned to return in December for pre-op for a tummy tuck (with muscle repair) and lipo of the flanks and upper belly area.

Later that evening I stood stark naked in front of the mirror and realized my breasts which rested comfortably on belly #1 would have nowhere to lay once the bellies were gone. I then panicked thinking I'll have a beautiful, flat tummy and these deflated, 36 D LONG breasts hanging over that tummy.

Within a day or two I reached out to the lovely Latoya, had Dr Davoudi review my breasts and received an updated quote. I figured if I was going under the knife I may as well handle all the major trouble spots. So, rather than just a tummy tuck, I was not getting a Mommy Makeover.

Now to the stats I should have started off with...I am a 37-year old mother of 2 ages 15 and 20. At my highest I weighed 247 lbs (no I wasn't pregnant). I joined Weight Watchers at work, eliminated toxic people from my life and at the time of the consultation I was 191 lbs (5'6" tall).

I continued hitting the gym, taking vitamins and buying all sorts of supplies for my surgery. The week before the surgery Dr. Davoudi recommends a liquid diet. I was traveling for the holidays so I ended up doing liquid diet for just 4 days. I weighed myself on surgery day and weighed in at 184 lbs.

So- surgery day...I should start off by saying I had never had anesthesia. I have never even been cut..I gave birth naturally (no epidural) so I had no idea what to expect. Dr. Davoudi does his surgeries in a hospital (which was a must for me) so upon arrival, I checked in and shortly thereafter I was led to a room where my stats were taken, I changed and put on my lovely compression socks. My veins are rebels so they eventually had to bring in this cool machine called a vein finder to start my IV. The anesthesiologist came in to talk to me. She put me at ease after I informed her of my tendency get nauseous after most meds. Within 30 minutes I was wheeled into the OR and I remember nothing until I awakened.

There wasn't much pain when I woke up but I for some reason was very ready to go home. When approved for release, I stood up to get into the wheelchair and it started...oh did it...I was overcome with nausea. The nurse gave me a bag and I started heaving. Mind you it is around 5 pm and I have not eaten since the previous day. I felt so horrible I asked to just go home in the hospital gown. I could not stand long enough to dress myself in the clothes I had so carefully selected.

I reclined the car seat for the ride home. Once I arrived, I walked straight to my anti-gravity chair ...still heaving. I should add heaving is hell on earth after muscle repair. The pain was horrible. I was sweating from the nausea. That anesthesia worked a number on me despite the anti-nausea meds. I can't count the number of times I vomited over the next 12 hours. It was not fun. I feared I was popping stitches in my belly that night. Boy oh boy was it rough.

When my stomach finally settled I got into a routine of taking my pain meds and anti-nausea pills. I slept on and off in an anti-gravity chair with an egg crate pad and blankets on it. It was a yucky first few days. I had a drain in each armpit for the breasts and 2 at the top of my lady parts. My mother emptied the the drains and tracked how much I was putting out. In the meantime, my pain was little to nothing along the incision and breasts. The problem was the fact that I was like a rag doll...no abdominal muscles so getting up and down was no fun.

In light of this major surgery here are things I am thankful to have had (in no particular order):

1. Dr Davoudi - he checked up on me via phone and was available anytime I needed him before and after surgery.

2. My family - I was in need of TLC..They had to bring me food and drinks, get me to the bathroom etc.

3. The anti-gravity chair - I slept in that thing for 6 weeks...I had to force myself to try the bed

4. Raised toilet seat- In light of my non-existent ab muscles getting up and down was not easy. This seat was a must

5. Cane - I needed support getting around and did not want a walker

6. Milk of Magnesia - I have never been constipated until I took those pain meds. Your tummy is already tight add gas and compacted you know what and things get ugly. Colace did nothing MOM saved me...just don't take too much - I did

6. Pillows (lots of pillows) You need them for various reasons. You will use them

I may think or more later.

Ok, so recovery...This surgery requires real healing and recovery. It is not for the faint of heart. I had the armpit area drains removed within days of surgery. The other two were in for the longest 3 weeks of my life. The area was sore and I hated to stand up and sit down because the drain tubes would move. Then trying to put on pants...ugh. Every morning I would awaken and pray my drainage had decreased. I cannot express how much I hated those drains...

Then there was the back pain. You cannot stand up straight until your body is ready. My body wasn't 100% straight for close to a month. After the first week, my back began to ache...That ache intensified to such an extent that I resorted to using my son's old crutches around the house. It was HORRIBLE. I even had to ride in one of those little carts around the grocery store. I endured that back pain for 3 of the longest weeks of my life. I did find some relief when I found a good lymphatic massage place. I walked in there looking so pitiful. I had my cane and sad sweatsuit 2 sizes too big to accommodate those darn drains. After she worked on me I left standing a little straighter and feeling some relief. I started seeing her every other day! Note, I have never experienced pain in the incisions (breast or tummy).

Now the return to work, I worked from home starting 4 days after my surgery. After 18 days while still hunched and in excruciating back pain. I lasted a good 6 hours before I could barely move. I swelled up like a balloon causing me to hunch more and more each hour.I was not yet in a garment because of the drains. I had on a binder and shapewear shorts. By the time I returned home the leggings were so tight I had to cut myself out of them! My legs were extremely swollen since the day of the surgery. My butt...OMG..HUGE. Gravity pulls things down and all my swelling was in my lower extremities.

After my failed return to work, I began to increase my fluid intake, continued to avoid salt and started elevating my feet. The swelling subsided slowly and by the beginning of week 4, I returned to work. It wasn't easy. I was very uncomfortable and if I sat for too long, I would tighten up and start hunching over to a greater degree. On day 1 of my return to work, I went to the restroom. Lifted my shirt and realized my binder and tank top were all wet....I was leaking from my incision. I immediately called Dr. Davoudi's office and was seen the next day. I was NERVOUS. Long story short, Dr Davoudi open a small spot on my incision to allow fluid to drain. I was immediately able to stand straighter which gave my back relief. I had to stuff the opening with saline covered gave for about 2 weeks and voila, the fluid was gone and it closed.

Now my results...nothing short of AMAZING. I told Dr Davoudi I wanted curves and he delivered. My butt looks like I had a BBL even though he did not touch my butt. The amazing work he did on my back makes me looke more shapely and defined the area between my back and butt. My breasts, again, AMAZING. He did not cut the crease area I have one incision from the nipple. I initially thought he slipped an implant in because my super long breasts looked so perky. He somehow took my own breast tissue and despite having no volume at the top (severe ptosis) worked them into perky 36 Cs. I also had massive aereolas which he made proportional to my new perky boobies. Oh and I should add Dr. Davoudi threw in a little lipo of that weird little extra boobage under the armpits. Now for my tummy...OMG...this tummy is so flat and beautiful. My belly button is very natural, incision nice and low and these curves are everything I wanted and MORE. Dr. Davoudi delivered. I went from a L/XL in shirts to a medium. I have not worn a medium since maybe high school.

My results were so impressive, others have booked with Dr Davoudi. I can, without hesitation recommend him. As I mentioned before, this is MAJOR surgery. YOu must know what you are getting into. I worked 5 days a week kickboxing and bootcamp style. Despite all that, I needed substantial recovery time. Ultimately, the results were so worth it!!!

I'll be back with pictures.

Photos taken at 7 weeks

A little before and after...