Going to Dr Hunstad to Correct Another Doctor's TT and a Butt and Thigh Lift - Huntersville, NC

I have found all of the stories and photos on this site to be so inspirational and informative. I applaud the bravery of the women who have bared all to provide an honest look at what the rest of us have in store. The good, the bad, and the infected! Lol

I just turned 60 and live in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio and was referred to Dr Hunstad in Charlotte by my Dermatologist, who studied under him in Medical School at Michigan State. Last October Dr Hunstad did my face lift. Overall I am happy with the results but I will go into more detail on that another time. Mine is a cautionary tale. Lets just say, be aware that the release you sign permits a trainee or Fellow to operate on you! So half of your face could be done by each doctor! But I digress....

In September of this year (2016) I am going back to Charlotte for a revision of a Tummy Tuck I had performed up here in Ohio 3 years ago along with thigh lipo. While the TT was life altering and I am grateful to be able to wear nice clothes again, my body did not turn out as contoured as I would have liked. In all fairness to my doctor up here, he was trying to work around a lapband and port which I have since had taken out.

After losing 150 lbs over the last decade, I decided to treat myself to a new body, face and breasts/arms... or an attempt to be more like my previously slim younger body. In September, Dr Hunstad is going to go back through my previous TT incision and cinch up my separated muscle from sternum to pubic area, hopefully creating a nice flat continuous stomach instead of this weird "barrel chested" thing I have going on now. Doc told me to drink only liquids for 4 days prior to the surgery so I am really empty and he get get me "nice and tight." He also promised to sculpt my waistline back to the curvy shape I once had and give me back my cute little swayback, which I miss. I feel very "squarish" and "boyishly" shaped now without the feminine curves I had as a younger woman. He also promised to sculpt out an area around the belly button to make it look more natural. I'm trying to get another 20 lbs off to make sure I am really tight!

At the same time, he plans to do a thigh lift and butt lift and will sculpt my "cankles" and calves with lipo. He said to expect that part to be VERY painful. I remember my thigh lipo was also very painful when I had the first Tummy Tuck so I am braced for the pain. I'm very nervous about how far down the scar will have to go, especially after we see how much laxity the lipo will cause. He showed me in a mirror how he plans to pull my entire leg skin up about 6 inches, giving me a simultaneous butt lift. (think of a droopy pair of pantyhose that someone pulls up) Then he will add some fat to the butt to make it look more natural....but hopefully not like a Kardashian! Lol.

I am a Realtor and plan to take off 3 weeks while I recover in Charlotte, close to the HK Center, should any complications arise. I doubt my husband can take 3 weeks off so he will stay for the first week and then go back home while I continue to heal. If I drive they want me to stay 3 weeks but only 2 weeks if I muster the courage to fly.

I'm excited and nervous all at the same time. Having had a previous TT and the thigh Lipo, I know just enough about the pain to be anxious.

I will have my husband take some before photos to upload. Let me just say the unspoken heroes are our significant others who help us bathe, dress our wounds and in my case, hold my hair back while I vomit from the anesthetic. We plan to get to Charlotte a couple days early to have a little personal time before the surgery kills the mood. haha

Getting ready to drive to NC to the Hunstad Kortesis Center. Dr H did a great job on my face lift last year. This year, I'm doing the body lift revision from a poorly done job in Ohio several years ago. The same doc de-bulked my thighs but I never trusted him to do the lift. I'm terrified of the 8 hours under anesthetic but excited to see the results. I'll post After photos when it's done.

The doctor told me to go on a liquid diet for 4 days prior to surgery so he can cinch me tightly. Getting very tired of soup and Slimfast but I want to get it right. I had to search to find a hotel with a "Roll-in" shower. I don't need to actually "roll" but I also don't want to have to step into a bathtub in order to take a shower. Seems like hotels have only one or two of this type of handicap room. We got to Charlotte two days early to settle in before my pre-op appointment and surgery the next day. Hope to have a little fun before the big day. No alcohol 48 hours before surgery, plus no solids......fun fun!