40 Yr-old, Active but with Old Body Issues! - Fayetteville, NC

I've always been active, and I had contemplated getting an op after my "baby fat" never disappeared. When my daughter was born I went in for a emergency c section. I was cut crooked, and the left side kept sagging. It wasn't too bad, but after swelling went down, I still had this gross loose skin. I admit, I had my low moment paired with injuries and I gained. I got off my butt, fluctuated in weight, but had kept thinking I could beat this the old fashioned way. I started building my muscle back but still got tired of tucking in this *flab* and figured I'd go for it. A year ago I started researching Docs on the internet. In the past year, I lost 16lbs, gained it back, then lost 23. I found Dr Herring's website & after some final research, made an appt.
At my consultation, the ladies and Dr Herring were very informative. While signing in, I was handed a laminated copy of the privacy policy plus other required-by-law documents. This is the FIRST time I've had a Doc do this. Usually they want you to sign the paper saying you reviewed all those policies, but you have to ask for them (and refuse to sign) until they give them to you. Not so at Dr Herring's office. They answered ALL questions. My appt actually took longer than an hour due to all the information the Dr was giving me. That same day we scheduled my pre-op and the operation date. I received a package of materials to read thru and what to eat, not eat, medications that were a no-no, etc. He even went so far as to show me diagrams and explain in-depth about the anatomy of a tummy tuck. I was concerned about a possible hernia mentioned by my regular doctor, and he said he didn't feel any but if they were there when he ooerated, he could fix those as long as they were not too big. He explained about different possibilities such as cysts, and what he could & couldn't do during the op.
At my pre-op we signed the papers I had received 2 weeks prior, did blood work, and I went to get an EKG to make sure I was ok for surgery. I received another packet - copies of everything I had signed, plus information for my "buddy" I would bring to take care of me.
The day of I brought my "buddy" for after surgery. The Doc still went over the basics with me even tho he already had at the last appt, and spoke to my friend as well on what to expect. They got her info and gave her their info so they could call and vice versa. After surgery I don't remember a lot clearly since I was coming out of it! But I remember being taken to the hospital for my planned overnight stay. Herring's staff personally went with us, got me a wheelchair, and got me checked in. Dr Herring was going to come see me the next day at noon and if all was well, I would be discharged. His staff left very specific instructions for my care while at the hospital (i.e. embolism prevention in the legs, inspira-breather, antibiotics delivered by the IV they left so I wouldn't have to get stuck twice). They thought of everything.
The day after, Dr Herring showed at noon, said I looked great and discharged me. Since I live a bit further away than most of his patients, he scheduled an extra follow up the next morning and then a second follow up a full week after that one.
I received phone calls every other day except Sunday just to check on me and to see if I had any questions. I received nothing but top notch care from the whole office. The front desk lady was awesome and friendly. One of the other staff members is his wife and she has tons of knowledge about these operations and aftercare - she sat with me at the pre-op telling me so much that I couldn't think of a single question. She's great! (She is extremely professional, and some mistake it for cold, but she's really not - just take a second to warm up to her). Dr Herring himself is also very chatty, like a neighbor and not a doctor!