Abdominoplasty with Muscle repair

I started scoping out procedures on this site a couple years ago. After going to a couple lypo consultations i realized that lypo would help but probably not make my tummy look the way I wanted.
I had my first child at 22 via Csection, with the next two at 25 & 29 I had VBACs. Luckily stretch marks don't run in my family but after each child my tummy just got more and more lax. :( i am tall 5'9" and 165lbs. Because of my height the weight carries well on me everywhere except my mid section.
I had a consultation with Dr. Grenley on 6/17. The office is in a nice building near Seattle University. The staff is warm and friendly. I have done way too much research on tummy tucks and the types of techniques so when Dr. Grenley took out a pen and paper to sketch what to expect I was beyond comforted at his knowledge, and expertise. He was speaking my language.
I will need a full TT with muscle repair for my diastisis recti. Because i don't have ample skin there may be a small verticle scar to close the old bellybutton hole. But that insures the TT scar will be lower. I did express that I wanted to lose some weight prior to the surgery and he agreed it would allow more skin Laxicity.
This is the Dr I plan to use. Im still saving $$ because $$ is an issue. My husband doesn't want to see me in pain. But he supports me and loves me with or without the procedure. But this is for me. This tummy/skin gets in the way of the life I want for myself. It gets stuck in my zipper, i have to tuck it in to pants and skirts, when I work out its bouncing and flapping and taunting me the entire time.
Yesterday I received a call from Dr. Grenleys staff inquiring if I had questions. And then a Handwritten note from Dr grenley arrived in the mail thanking me for my time. It's the little things that are making me feel more and more comfortable with my choice. Plus the consultation was FREE through realself. Next step? Make my appt!

This is me pregnant with my eldest (and largest) child! He was almost 11lbs. I was only 21 and ate EVERYTHING with out a care. I spent most of my youth painfully skinny no matter what I ate I was super skinny! So when I got pregnant it felt good to eat and gain weight so i just kept eating. I ate my way into gestational diabetes and a huge (but healthy) baby. I had to have an un planned Csection because he was so big. My tummy paid the price for this. The next two kids were over 8lbs and my poor tummy got more lax with each kid. Love my kids. Want to love my tummy again.

Over the past couple months I have talked myself into AND THEN back out of this procedure. You see... there are two arguments at play here:
1) No way! GirlPower you are beautiful! You are so much more than the way you look. Who cares what anyone else sees. Your tummy is a badge of honor that you grew 3 healthy babies in there. We should be able to see the beauty in our tummys. I don't want any woman to look at her tummy and be ashamed of it! I should be a champion for tummys that look like mine! I have a daughter and one day she might have a post baby tummy. I don't want her to feel bad about that!
2) Yes yes! GirlPower! I had three kids and I deserve to feel great again! I don't want to stuff my tummy down the front of my pants when I sit down. I don't want to wear spanks and undergarments to feel great on a night out with my husband. I want to put on a swim suit and slide down that water slide, and run around with my kids without my tummy taunting me. I want to repair this muscle damage that doesn't allow me to have a strong core and possibly has caused me back issues! I hate when I zip my tummy into my pants on accident OUCH! I want to lay on my side next to my husband in bed without my tummy reaching him before the rest of me. I want my tummy to just be a non-issue. I'm not doing this for anyone else but ME! I can show my daughter that we, as woman, are in charge of our own bodies and we are responsible to honor them anyway we see fit. I have tattoos and piercings. This is just another modification, that takes pain and sacrifice that I feel would benefit my health and well being.

Both of those points of view are 100% correct! But my "Yes" side wins and always does. My tummy gets in the way of the life that I want for myself! I get so excited when I think about what I will be doing 6 months from now. The freedom! Being able to use my core again! Wearing clothes without hiding it!

I have paid my $500 down payment and scheduled my pre-op AND surgery dates! Pre-op is Oct 28th AND Surgery Date is Nov 19th!

November 19th I see you!

Now to make some changes... A surgery is HUGE DEAL! I told myself before I go into surgery I will begin actively living a healthier lifestyle. I want be as healthy as I can so I can heal faster and get back to normal sooner! The setting of this surgery date has me working on a plan which will include a change in lifestyle choices, eating better, yoga, exercise, more water less alcohol. I am currently working on this plan. I don't want to put pressure on myself to lose any certain amount of weight. I just want to be healthier and stronger. I'll check in when I have it in stone :)