Skin only tummy tuck, no MR, no lipo - all I want to do is look in the mirror

I’m 37, 5’2, 128 lbs. 5 c-sections. I had my first baby when I was 18 and the pregnancy destroyed my stomach. I had stretch marks everywhere and the dreaded “apron”. I was so young, I felt like I didn’t even get a chance to enjoy my body as a woman before pregnancy deformed me. I was so self conscious, I absolutely hated my body and avoided looking in mirrors at all cost. 5 years later I met and married my husband. He has always expressed very openly that he loves my body.Still, I definitely did not love it and I did everything I could to make sure that he never saw me fully naked. 4 kids later and it only got worse. I didn’t really know what a tummy tuck was but I knew that one day I wanted to have some type of plastic surgery to remove the stretch marks. To me they were the worst part of my post pregnancy body. I didn’t comprehend how much loose skin I had.At one point I weighed almost 200 lbs because I simply didn’t care. I hated my body anyway and no matter how hard I worked or ate well, there was no amount of exercise or diet that would change the things I hated about my physical self. The idea of having enough money for plastic surgery was laughable to me for a very long time.Finally in 2020 I decided that my husband and I needed to fix our credit and save money. We did and in 2021 we moved into our first house and it was brand new and beautiful. Finally for the first time, I felt like things were falling into place and I could work on myself. I bought a rowing machine and I used it every single day. I started doing keto and walking as much as I could every day. I was in the best shape of my life but still hated my body.One day I decided that I was done. I simply couldn’t live with it any more. So I made a consultation appointment with Dr. Marguerite Aitken. I found her on Google and besides all her excellent reviews, I just felt drawn to her above all the other doctors I researched. I walked out of my consultation knowing that this woman would change my life. She answered every single question and many that I didn’t even know I had. She drew pictures and told me what to expect.She listened and heard me when I told her what I wanted. Surprisingly, she said my core muscles were in excellent shape and although it’s very rare, I would be a good candidate for a skin only tummy tuck. Since the loose skin and stretch marks were my main concern and I wanted the easiest recovery possible, we agreed that a skin only tummy tuck would be the best route for me.Now I am 2 days post op and I just looked at my stomach for the first time. My husband helped me take off my binder and bandages. After a moment of us just starring in the mirror, he said “wow”. I said “you like it?!” And he said “yes, but I am in awe of how happy look.” I am amazed with Dr. Aitken's work.All I want to do is look in the mirror and that is such a liberating and foreign feeling for me. It’s very emotional. And what I love the most is that I can see the results of my hard work. I made my body what it is through consistent hard work. She just helped me uncover what was under all that loose skin.

Feeling amazing! I felt 90% back to normal within a week. Doctor removed both drains at my 1 week appointment and that was a huge relief! I am so happy that I was able to have a skin only TT. This is nothing compared to a c-section (which cuts through your muscles). I never even filled my prescription for pain meds. Been drinking tons of water and I definitely think that’s helped to keep swelling down. Side note: I had a very scary side effect of the scopaline patch (used for nausea). My vision was very blurry! It actually took me a while to realize what caused this. I assumed it was a side effect of the anesthesia and when I couldn’t find anything about it online, I freaked out. So be aware!