Mini TT DONE! no lipo no MR- Appendix Scar revision DONE

Dr Zelken in Orange County is amazing. I felt truly in the best hands. I could've got this procedure done cheaper and locally, but I really wanted to go to someone who was a true artist. Dr. Zelken gave me such a thorough consultation in person and then had an additional zoom consultation with me.

My scar is actually not from a C-section. It's from when my appendix burst at 15 years old so I have had this indent scar for a really long time as a 40-year-old bday gift to myself, I decided to get it revised. My goal was to just have a smoother transition. I was not interested in a tummy tuck. I didn't really want all that goes into that type of procedure. I appreciate it that this doctor did not try to convince me into a tummy tuck like many others have but he totally got it. And he has videos on YouTube of a few procedures doing this exact procedure, which was very attractive to me .

I wasn't looking for perfection. I like my natural body and my natural curves. I did not want my bellybutton being touched. In my opinion, I just have not really seen a tummy tuck that looks natural with a natural belly button.

I had awake surgery - no lipo. Just dealt with the scar alone

I had it done today. Here before and photos from right after. The scar is longer than I had hoped.

The doctor told me that he needed to make the scar longer due to my original scar being asymmetric, and in order to make it even, he had to work a special technique that he hoped he didn't have to, but he did.

So I totally trusted him and I am just trusting the process. From what I imagined, the scar is bigger--- But it's done…

So at this point, I'm just praying and hoping that it fades nicely and I will make every effort to do what I can to help fade it.
That's another thing that attracted me to Dr Zelken. His YouTube videos of doing this procedure have an emphasis on how much time he takes on the suturing. He shares tension and does multiple layers. He took his time working on closing me up. He was very meticulous. And he did it all himself no nurses helping with suturing so im praying it's almost invisible!

Even if I have to do tattoo camouflage in the future, I am open to that. I also wished that there was more space between my belly button and my pubic area. But again, what's done is done. I know for a fact, he did his absolute best work for my body type. He is not sloppy or rushed.

I'm hoping that the scar is low enough to where I can wear a two piece bathing suit and not look weird with my belly button being so low. I am short. Only 4'11!So I didn't have a longtorso or a lot of skin/space to work with. What do you guys think? Any scar advice ??

This was done under local anesthesia in the doctors office. It took about an hour and a half. There was a specific area on the left side under my original scar that was sensitive so I felt the pain as he worked on that area. I definitely felt it. There were many times we had to stop as we worked on that area, but the doctor went slow and gave me more numbing medication-

Outside of that area, everything else was seamless. And I didn't feel anything else outside of that area. Just pressure..

I cannot believe I did this all awake!!

I also cannot believe how much of a chunk he took out! My fear about the long scar makes me wonder if perhaps my scar would be shorter with more space if we took a smaller piece of skin but again, Dr said he had to, to correct my asymmetry…

I was able to Uber to the hotel right after. I felt totally good about that. I took an anti-anxiety pill before the procedure. When all was said and done with my procedure, I felt a little light, but nothing that was dangerous and I was totally in my right mind. When I got to the hotel, I pretty much went to sleep for several hours. Upon waking up, as the local anesthesia was fading, I started to feel pain. Stinging and sharpness. That was worrying me because it was feeling like it wanted to escalate. So I took two extra strength Tylenol's and went back to sleep. That took care of it. We will see how my pain progresses over the next couple of days

I will go back to my doctor tomorrow morning for a check-in before I fly back home. And then I will come back in one week to get the stitches removed.

I will post pictures along the way

My surgery was consulted as appendix scar revision but this was I think more of a mini tummy tuck and mons pubis lift. Especially after I seen how much of a chunk of fat/skin ect he removed. No wonder I’m still sore at 1.5 weeks. I’m not complaining FYI.
I thought it was going to be easier but as my nurse told me “you had a major surgery!”. I had this idea in my head, since it was under local and I literally walked out right after, it was more “minor”.
I’m just sharing to say, be prepared to be in healing mode and resting alot! Especially if you want to baby your scar, which is very important to me!
First week, I tried to lay in a V 80% of the day, making short hunch walks around the house.
I’m in week 2 and I do stuff … take kids to and from school, make meals and light cleaning but that’s about all I can and want to do! I am absolutely still tight and I do not want to put tension or pull on my scar / internal healing. Today, I cleaned a room for an hour and my body told me to stop. I started getting some stinging and a few spasms. I was reminded, I’m still healing. This was a big surgery with 5 layers of suturing.

Time to take off tape, wash scar and leave uncovered moisturized for 2 weeks. Here it is.

As I washed and applied moisturizer, my scar felt “ropey” underneath.

Here’s a pic of the moisturizer that chat gpt recommended as best

So far, I really wish I had some more space between belly button and scar but I know my incision was already high and uneven. I also wish my public hair wasn’t right up on the scar. Wish some skin was left between but I’m still choosing to be hopeful. I’m super happy my “shelf” and indent is gone!! And I’m hopeful the scar will heal beautifully. I already am thinking to do laser hair removal above the scar.