Approaching a year since surgery - scars are healed and hidden

I cant say enough about Dr. Shuhao Zhang and his staff at both Gold River Plastic Surgery & Laser Center and Dignity Health Mercy Medical Group. They have been Fantastic! From my first consultation, where I expected to be disappointed was just hoping for some advice, I was immediately put at ease. Dr. Zhang’s advice and expertise gave me hope. I have always been somewhere between thick and obese. Even in high school, when I became more active and committed to working out, I was never thin, just muscular. When I moved from a construction job where I was constantly active to a teaching position, that muscle tone not only decreased, it disappeared behind my added weight. Diets would work on the short term, but I always packed more on after stopping. Between the depression I was having about the weight and my family history of diabetes and heart conditions, I decided to have gastric bypass surgery. That process was difficult, but has been worth it. My health has been great with my blood pressure and blood sugars actually dropping. More importantly, my weight dropped and has stayed gone. One would think that would be enough to make me happy, and it has. However, it left me with a flap of flabby, flappy skin around my waist. I was pleased with most pictures of me, seeing the progress that I had made, but some would show that flap and the depression would set back in. I had never really felt good about taking my shirt off in public and had hoped that the bypass surgery would give me that confidence, but it didn’t. After discussing this with my primary care physician, I got a referral to Dr. Zhang and everything has been incredible since. Dr. Zhang gave me all of my options, from skin removal to full tummy tuck. After a lot of discussion with my family, and finding a way to finance it, I decided on the full tummy tuck. While Dr. Zhang and his staff gave me a lot of hope, I was not completely optimistic. But the staff was always there for me and I had no surprises. I was advised what to expect was always able to talk to Dr. Zhang and his staff when I had a concern. My surgery and healing have been phenomenal. Dr Zhang’s skills really shined on me. I am approaching a year since my surgery, my scars are healed and hidden. While I still see myself as thick, I don’t worry when I want to take my shirt off to get in to the pool. I don’t find myself hiding when I see someone with a camera. My family says they can feel the added confidence I have. Dr. Zhang and his staff have changed my life in a very positive way.