Mini Abdominoplasty (skin only, no muscle repair) + Inner Thigh Lipo - McMurray, PA

I am a 30 year old mother of two (7 and 3). I am 5'8", 150 lbs. My build is very muscular and curvy, with low body fat. (My PS saw me mostly naked and said, "Where do you hide 150 lbs??") My problem area is below my BB. It has always pooched out, but after two pregnancies and losing all the weight (and then some) through nutrition and exercise, what used to be a pooch is now deflated, hangy, wrinkly, and ugly. (While I was wearing my robe in the first consultation, the PS said, "I can't imagine you have anything under that robe for me to take care of!" Then after I disrobed and leaned over, she said, "Ew, that's ugly." Lol. I appreciate the candor.) Additionally, 98% of my stretch marks are isolated to that same area. The PS recommended a skin-only TT, with no lipo being necessary.

After a great consultation, I came home and continued to research the procedure the PS had recommended. As I thought through all we had talked about, a few points bothered me and are causing me to second guess my procedure:

1. When looking through her photos to show me patient whose results were similar to what I could expect, my PS kept flipping through and saying, "That's not you, that's not you, oh! That's kind of you, except she had to also have lipo. That's not you." So, if my body does not look like any of the full TT candidates... why am I a candidate?
2. My PS commented that she wasn't sure if I had enough skin to stretch far enough so that she would be able to completely eliminate my old BB hole. I didn't think much of it at the time, but I have since researched this scenario and find the results quite unappealing. I don't think I am OK with a second BB scar. Besides, if she already thinks she might not be able to get rid of the old BB, shouldn't we be talking about a mini TT instead? Especially since I am very satisfied with all of my abdomen above my BB...
3. I spend a lot of time in Boca Raton in a bikini. I am doing this procedure so I can feel like a million bucks out there with all those tight bodied girls! I work out hard, eat clean, and take great care of my body. The last thing I want is to end up with an odd looking BB that screams "TUMMY TUCK!!" And on the topic of scars, of course I want the smallest scar that will deliver the results I desire. So would a full hip to hip scar be necessary?
4. I like my natural body (minus that isolated area, which I do NOT like), and I really think I would be satisfied with more natural looking results. I understand that the mini TT delivers only a fraction of the results, but... I think that fraction is plenty for me. I have always appreciated my proportions; that is to say, I gain and lose weight evenly, and do not have any particularly disproportional areas. If I go into a full TT and come out with a super tight abdomen, I worry that I might lose my even proportions by creating a disproportionately small abdomen.

So this is what has been on my mind since my initial consultation and I fully intend to walk into my final consultation next week and really dig into these matters with my PS. I have a lot of confidence in her and feel like we just need to be more clear on expectations and reasonable results.

In the past, my pooch has made me too self conscious to wear low rise or hipster style bikini bottoms. Well, I have two new bikinis on their way to me now- both low rise styles. These are the ones I will be taking with me to help determine scar placement. I am excited at the prospect of a more teeny bikini, since I have always worn full coverage in order to hide my pooch. As soon as they arrive, I will take my Before pictures and get them posted. I will attach the pictures I took after my initial consultation, showing the lines the PS drew for the full skin-only TT. I promise to keep pictures up to date, since that is what I loved seeing in everyone else's posts!

This forum has been extremely helpful to me during my research. It is SO valuable to hear and see real experiences with these procedures. I am excited to jump right in and join the community. I look forward to talking to anyone who wants to share their experience and advice, or accompany me on my adventure! Thanks!

I had my final consultation today!! It went amazingly well! After the initial consult and MUCH deliberation, as I shared previously, I was really doubting that a full skin only TT was right for me. In hind site, I did not really express my goals and expectations and concerns with the PS. So, emboldened by research, I walked into this appointment determined to break through my communication problems and really get it all out on the table.

So I did. I told her that I wanted to switch procedures and I told her why. AND SHE AGREED! As did the other doctor in her practice! She made sure to be very clear about what result I can expect and I was thrilled to know that her projection matched my dream result perfectly.

Then we talked thighs, because I had previously been on the fence about it. Again, this time I was very specific about my expectations and goals and she made me feel VERY confident that we are truly on the same page now. Funny how communication works that way! :)

So it is official! I am scheduled for a mini skin only abdonimoplasty with some minor Lipo to the inner thighs. And I could not be more comfortable and confident with my decision. Before pictures were taken in the PS's office. I have not seen them, but will post them if I can get them to email me copies.

There is not a great deal out there on mini TTs, and far less on skin only mini TTs! So I thought I should mention what she had to say about the recovery of this procedure, as it differs from other versions of the TT:
- I will only have to take antibiotics for 5 days
- I will not need to wear a compression garment after the procedure. (However, since I am doing inner thigh Lipo, I will need to wear a biker-short type garment- but this is only because of the Lipo, not the TT) This is because my procedure is skin only- my muscles will not be tightened and therefore do not need to be severely stabilized by the compression garment.
- I asked her if I could expect to be in class on Thursday, following my Monday procedure. She said absolutely.
- She said I will probably not even need to take the Vicodin.
- No sex for 3 weeks. I was shocked by how short that time frame is, given the location of the procedure! I am thrilled to know that the heeling is expected to be that fast!
- I will be able to sleep in bed right away, with only a pillow under my knees and under my head. A lounge chair type posture is what was described.
- Possibly 2 drains, but likely just 1 drain.

Oh! One more thing- price! The cost of mini skin only TT and inner thigh Lipo comes in approximately $1300 less than the price of a full skin only TT. Bonus!

I am more excited than ever! I will definitely post updates. If anyone is reading this that did a skin only mini, I would love to hear about your experience!

My mini TT and inner thigh lipo is in the morning!!! I have to be at the hospital at 9 am!! My mom is in from out of town, I am leaving my youngest with a friend, dropping my oldest off at school, and heading straight there!! I had a eulogy today for my pooch. It went a little something like this: "........SAYONARA, POOCH!!!" Haha! Eeeeek!!!!! I can't believe it is finally here!!!!!!!