Tummy Tuck all done, November 1. 2013

I am a mother of three, 34, 5'2, approximately 150 pounds! I have wanted a tummy tuck after my first baby! My mom had one and 13 years later she still looks amazing. I would only do it with her surgeon. I am of course super anxious about the complications and something happening to me, even though the procedure is done so often and precautions are made. I recently went in for my first consultation, hoping he would tell me I'd be a candidate for a mini tummy tuck. Unfortunately my skin is really bad. With underwear you can't even tell! My stomach is basically flat, but if I sit down, or bend over, holy moly, skin! I am concerned about the recovery as I am single mom, widow, and will not have anyone here other than my mom for a few weeks. Even though my muscles probably need repairing, I do work out, not as much as I should, but I do. So I don't want them touched. Especially after seeing my mom hunched for a few months at least after. I do not have that luxury and will have to return to work soon after. I have a flexible schedule but I am a therapist and I wouldn't want to keep my clients more than two weeks without their appointment. My plastic surgeon has agreed to do a full tummy tuck, skin only with lipo to my hips. I am wondering if anyone has had a skin only tummy tuck and can share with me, results and recovery time. In my research thus far, I find that people state the recovery is faster and you are back to normal sooner than with a full tummy tuck. Any information, experiences, support, will be greatly appreciated. I'm looking at a November 1st date for my operation which gives me plenty of time to get into better shape, diet to lose ten pounds, and of course go crazy obsessing over the what ifs!

I have my second consult this Thursday. I'm not sure about what I should ask. I don't wanna sound pretentious but I wanna make sure he makes my incision as thin as possible, and I know it has to be hip to hip, but my hips are pretty fat and I don't want dog ears (which btw the office had never heard of) so I want the incision to end right before my hip bone. Is this asking to much. To request this from my doctor that knows what he's doing! I'm still so nervous and I am def obsessed, on this site every night researching and reading others stories, and I now feel a bit depressed! I'm sure others have felt this too! I will be setting my date for November 1st. Any recommendations on questions I should ask?!

OK, so I went in for my second consult, just to ease my mind about my obsession I've started since I decided I AM doing this. Not as soon as others, but in November, I will be on the flat side like some of you ladies on here. All of your journeys have helped me know what questions to ask, and what is to be expected. LIke everyone else, I will keep track of my journey, until my surgery and thereafter. I am so excited since I was concerned about where the scar would be, and he said he is able to pull in (a new way) from my hips allowing my scar to not reach all around to my hips, to elimanate any dog ears. He is such a great PS and I am excited to see his work. He is going to make me beautiful I just know it. He said I will need to bring in my most skimpest underwear and he will make the scar there and it will be completely hidden, so now I am a hunt for "the underwear". haha. Victoria secret, here I come! I think I'll buy a g-string.