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4 YEARS POST-OP! - 1/11/16 - 1/11/20

Final check-in... I’m now 51 years old ...

While I’m still pretty thrilled with my aesthetic results and enjoying the whole not-having-to-hide-my-belly anymore, this past few months has been a roller-coaster.

In May, I began a new diet - counting macros specific to me. I was very successful with it through early November. I actually got down to about 126lbs and was feeling ok. It was a LOT of eating for me, but I stuck with it! But, sometime in mid-May, I started to get more than just occasional little electrical shock feelings in my low/mid belly. These have progressed to full-on, unexpected, persistent full-abdominal-wall muscle spasms/contractions ALL OVER AGAIN.

If you read back, you’ll see that I dealt with them for months and months after the original surgery. It’s so discouraging! Some of them can double me over! The worst of them happen as I’m sleeping and I wake so disoriented! Oddly, the most painful areas when it’s happening and even after is the fronts of both of my hips, where they meet my quads. It’s almost like I was reattached too tight there, is the best way I can describe it.

I don’t know. The doctor couldn’t explain them and had never heard of them. But now it worries me. Not only are they disruptive, they can be strong and painful. :( I don’t tell my family or anyone else, because I don’t want to worry them ... or see the look of, “why did you go through with this?” I feel very alone in this because I’ve never read another story like mine. I’ve actually considered talking to a therapist about it. It helps to actually write this out.

I also never got the feeling in my abdominal muscles back. I can still feel the skin of my belly, but nothing beneath it. I’m worried some damage was done that will never heal or go away. My little granddaughter is 16mos now and very actively climbing all over me, and that means a LOT of contact with my stomach. Every time she (or the little one I babysit 2 days a week) touches it, I get a really nauseous feeling - like, GROSS, nauseous. Sometimes I try to keep her a bit distant which I don’t want anyone noticing - and I HATE doing because I love having her close to me and playing with her! It makes me sad. Other people I can keep at bay. Not so easy with little toddlers!

Despite all this, I’d still recommend tummy tuck and / or muscle repair. Just be sure to ask your doctor about ALL potential risks! I had read up and knew the BIG risks, like anesthesia... but the surgeon kind of skimmed over “numbness” as in, “you could have some numbness around the incision site that may or may not go away.” But, I never would have imagined It changed how I live my life. ESPECIALLY my “summer” life!

Anyway, here are some pictures from last summer and from today.

I hope all are doing well with your journeys!

3 YEARS POST-OP CONTINUED!

And just for fun ...

I’ll include a couple of pics of my granddaughter, because she’s too ridiculously adorable not to share! We’re having more fun being grandparents then we ever would have imagined!

Hope you all Enjoy!

3 YEARS POST-OP!! 1/11/16 - 1/11/19

3 years ago this moment I was in some serious pain, scared of what the next minutes, hours, days would bring, yet TOTALLY CONFIDENT that I’d made the right choice and done the right thing for me!

Fast Forward 3 Years: I wasn’t wrong!!

I’m STILL just THRILLED with my results! And I still believe I’ll never do anything more brave in my lifetime!

This year has been a real doozy! My mom has some health issues that required my time and attention, my daughter & her husband moved in for 10 months while their new home was being fully renovated - and in that time, they gave us our first Granddaughter! ... But worst of all — “THE CHANGE” has begun. Before hitting 50 this past summer, my body was pretty regular and predictable. Let me tell you, that has ALL changed! Suddenly, in September, my hormones (thereby, my cycle) went absolutely HAYWIRE! The two downsides: I feel like I have a period more than I don’t monthly. And I put on weight (despite no change in diet or exercise) and I can NOT drop it! I’m up about 7-8lbs from my post-surgery date weight of about 131. There’s an up side though! The gain hasn’t impacted my tummy AT ALL. Still flat and tight!! My hips, thighs & arms took the hit!

But, I’ve decided to take it easy on myself.

In 2018, I accomplished my New Year’s Resolution and completed 400 “Yoga with Adriene” home practices. Yes, it sounds like a LOT. And, yes. It WAS a LOT! But it was awesome - and did wonders for my attitude overall. AND, my core is insanely strong from all of the planks, ab work and balancing! I love the feeling of strength!

I do still feel some residual effects of my recovery, but it’s minimal. My sides still can get really itchy from the lipo, and every once in a great while, I’ll get a weird twinge or cramp... and it’s likely I’ll never regain the feeling of my abdominal wall, but like I’ve said before, I’m used to it and can live with it!

That’s it for now.

Over these three years, I’ve learned that I’m still a work in progress. There are some things we have less control over than others, and that’s ok!

Wishing everyone who stops to read this well! You all deserve whatever happiness you desire!

Provider Review

Dr. George Chatson
Overall rating
Doctor's bedside manner
Answered my questions
After care follow-up
Time spent with me
Phone or email responsiveness
Staff professionalism & courtesy
Payment process
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There's not a single negative thing I can say about my experience with Dr. Chatson! From my first consultation, to the multiple post-op follow up appointments I've had with him, it's been nothing but very positive. I find him to have a kind, caring, easy-going, yet confident personality. He's knowledgable, highly professional, and he's skilled through years of experience. He's answered all of my questions and concerns. Most importantly, he's made himself available to address any concerns, should they arise, between scheduled appointments. Thankfully, I haven't had to take advantage of that! When I set out to find a plastic surgeon after years of wanting to have abdiminoplasty, it was fate that brought me to his website. I'd been sitting in my car that morning, parked on Prospect Street in Nashua, across from the old YMCA building. I'd been feeling badly about myself and my body, having just left the gym around the corner, so I was sitting there in my car to say a prayer to my dad. He'd been the Physical Director at the Y and had suffered a heart attack and died there early one October morning in 1983. His name was George. I was 15 then. Anyway, I asked him to help guide me to just the right surgeon who could help me get my old body back. From there, I drove home, dropped my workout bag and picked up my iPad. I googled "Nashua Plastic Surgeon" and the very first name and photo to come up was Dr. GEORGE Chatson ... Located on ... wait for it ... PROSPECT STREET in Nashua! Little had I known I'd been sitting literally a few hundred feet from Dr. Chatson's office just a half hour earlier! So, I called and booked my consult and the rest is history! (Thank you, Dad! You were right!) After I had the initial consultation, I felt confident enough to book my surgery date. I was thrilled to finally be moving forward for myself, confident in my choice of surgeon, and both excited and nervous about what my outcome would be. About a month before my procedure, I had an annual appointment at my OB/GYN. When I told her I was scheduled for abdominoplasty, she asked who my doctor was. As soon as I said, "George Chatson," she told me that I'd be "in EXCELLENT hands" and that she'd seen his work and that she suspected I'd have great results! Now that I'm 9 weeks post-op, I can fully say that I have ZERO regrets about my choice to have the surgery or for having selected Dr. Chatson to perform it! He and his staff have ALL been considerate and kind, and I couldn't be happier! All follow-up appointments are covered in the overall cost of the procedure, including any future minor revisions - which is GREAT! ... I do have small 'dog-ears' at the ends of my incision, but Dr. Chatson told me in advance of my surgery that it was a possibility, so I was informed. And at my follow ups, has assured me that they are easily revised right in his office within a few months. At my pre-op appointment, I'd also asked Dr. Chatson to draw on my tummy where he thought my incision might be so that I could kind of get used to seeing where my scar would be. It was pretty much right on, and I also appreciated that he told me in advance about potential surgical complications. I felt I went to the surgery canter well prepared. I look forward to continuing to see Dr. Chatson, and would HIGHLY RECOMMEND him to other patients seeking plastic surgery!