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POSTED UNDER Tummy Tuck REVIEWS

Time for a Change - TT Scheduled - Huntsville, AL

Name: Time for a Change - TT Scheduled - Huntsville, AL
Item: David Gray, MD
Rating: 5
Author: Ceelyn

ORIGINAL POST

Hi, I am a divorced mother of two wonderful boys,...

CeelynJanuary 9, 2011

WORTH IT$6,801

Hi, I am a divorced mother of two wonderful boys, 13 and 9 yrs old. While I am overweight, I have been truely blessed to be in good health. I have been on the weightloss rollercoaster only to get discouraged when the belly would look worst the more I lost. So I finally decided to see if I was a candidate for a TT even though I am 60 lbs overweight and learned I was. I was so excited but scared to death at the same time.

I set my date and paid for it yesterday so no turning back now. I am scheduled for 7 February 2011. OMG!! This is really gonna happen. I just hope that the results are worth it and will encourage me to make them even better thru diet and exercise. I want to feel beautiful again.

I go for my pre-op 18 Jan, so if I can get my nerve up, I will post before pics.

Ceelyn's provider

David Gray, MD

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Ceelyn rating for Dr. Gray:

Overall rating

Doctor's bedside manner

Answered my questions

Time spent with me

Phone or email responsiveness

Staff professionalism & courtesy

Payment process

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Replies (9)

Kimmers25

January 9, 2011

Hi Ceelyn and welcome to RealSelf!

Your day will be here before you know it! How exciting is all that :)

So tell me how you found RealSelf and how you found your doctor?

Once you have this done it will really motivate you to exercise and stay on a program. You feel so wonderful after you have the tummy skin removed that you want to jump for joy. You will feel like a new woman and be glad you did this.

Keep reading through the site and take in all you can and it will really help you. The women on here are so supportive and will basically hold your hand through the process.

Definitely go ahead and post your pics. They will motivate you as you go through your process and allow you to see the changes that take place. Once you post the pics the first time it will be like a weight lifted off your shoulders.

I was a bit freaked out to post my pics at first but it is ok. We have all done it and survived. Nobody will judge you on this site. We have all been there, done that and support each other.

I look forward to reading your posts as you go through the process. Let me know if you have any questions.

Ceelyn

January 9, 2011

Hi Kimmers25. I discovered the site thru Google’ing abdominoplasty. I checked out several other sites but this one seems more informative and I loved reading the posts of the users. Also, my doctor does not post his work publicly (for client privacy) so I was trying to find a review of someone who had used him and this is the only site I found where he was mentioned.
My first consult for which I had to pay for, was with a well know PS group where I live. They are well known with commercials/news chats, etc. The doctor there quoted $11k. After the fact, I remembered my hairdresser had had her breasts done. I found out she used Dr. Gray. She just raved about him and said she had referred a few of her friends for which have used him as well. So I went to see him. He didn’t even charge me for the consultation. I thought that was cool. But I was really torn on whether to have this done after the first consult with the other PS was going to cost so much, so on my way to see Dr. Gray, I just prayed that if this was something I was to do that the cost would be dramatically different. And well, I would say it was. $4200 is quite a difference. But not just the price swayed me. I also like his demeanor as well as his office assistant.

Kimmers25

January 11, 2011

Hi Ceelyn,

WOW that is awesome! Yes that is a big difference in price. You need to be totally comfortable with your doctor and it sounds like you found a really good one. That is great news :)

This is a totally wonderful site for gathering information and being involved with the chats. The women on here are so helpful and will cheer you through your process. It is a little family out here.

Your date will be here before you know it and you will soon have a new smokin hot body!

Ceelyn

January 11, 2011

Yea, that is what I have noticed. People get real on here about their feelings and such. I think that is great. Seems there is always someone else that has/is going thru the same thing.

On a different note, I am having trouble getting my profile pic to show up. I sent in a message but they responded on how to upload my other pics. Is there a trick to upload the profile pic? I have been going thru the 'edit' section and 'browse' and 'save' but nothing yet. Any pointers on that? :)

Ceelyn

February 7, 2011

Well today is the day. I have been up since 4, showered with freshing washed hair. :) Need to be at the hospital by 6:30 and hopefully be underway by 8:30. I could hardly sleep last night. And am very nervous and gittery right now. So keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I am sure with so many others that are making this body/life changing decision and know that you guys are in mine.

Kimmers25

February 8, 2011

Thinking about you and hope you are doing well :) Update when you are able.

flower18

January 10, 2011

Your story is very inspiring and your positive attitude will help you through this big change. This site has been very informative and encouraging and so many of my questions have been answered. Best of luck to you!

Angie_M

January 10, 2011

Less than a month away! I'm so excited for you and hope we can offer you information and support throughout your tummy tuck journey.

Re: Before pics! You can do it! You can do it! :)

If you get a chance, check out Kimmers' Tummy Tuck Survival Guide and my Facebook community Moms Who Want Their Bodies Back.

We're here for you!

Ceelyn

January 11, 2011

Thanks Angiemcc. I have already started making notes from Kimmers' survival guide. Lol I love it. Such great 'real' advice and comic relief at the same time. But I will check out the FB community.

UPDATED FROM Ceelyn

20 days pre

Well I had my pre-op doctor's appt today. Got the...

CeelynJanuary 18, 2011

Well I had my pre-op doctor's appt today. Got the lovely pics made and will hopefully get them to post here within the next couple of days. (Hope I have better luck with those than I have with my profile pic which is still not showing) Also got my prescriptions and "what to do" list. Only 3 more weeks. I am already planning on the next job, boob reduction and lift. But I hope this surgery gives me the encouragement I need to stick with exercise. At least after this, when I lose weight I should be able to see improvement in the belly area.

Next up, doing my hospital pre-registration and blood work Friday.

Replies (0)

UPDATED FROM Ceelyn

10 days pre

So I would like to celebrate with a few friends a...

CeelynJanuary 28, 2011

So I would like to celebrate with a few friends a week before surgery and wondered if having a drink or two will matter? I tried to call my doc but they had already closed for the day/weekend. Anybody out there that might can advise me? I don't plan to get drunk but would like to have a couple. Say goodbye to this old body. :)

Replies (3)

Kimmers25

January 29, 2011

I was told you could have a couple of drinks up to 3-4 days before surgery.....just don't eat the Mexican food the day before surgery!

Ceelyn

January 30, 2011

That is kind of what I figured. I plan on only having 1 just to toast away the old body. :) And I hear ya on the food the day before. Definitely don't want any additional tummy troubles.